Brassiere Hanger And Display System

Abstract

A brassiere hanger includes hanger arms arranged and constructed to receive the shoulder straps of a brassiere for displaying the brassiere in a dependent relation from said brassiere hanger. The brassiere hanger is so constructed that a plurality of brassiere hangers and the respective brassieres associated therewith may be stored in stacked relationship with the brassiere hangers one atop each other at the bottom of the stack and the respective brassieres one atop each other at the top of the stack.

Description

The present invention relates generally to hangers and, more particularly, to a brassiere hanger for supporting a brassiere in a display position and for storing the brassiere in a storage position.

There are numerous patents in the prior art which are directed to garment hangers of varying construction including those especially constructed and adapted to display brassieres. Such brassiere hangers are most frequently constructed to resemble the upper shape of a female torso thereby shaping the cups of the brassiere to a female-like form. Although such brassiere hangers adequately display brassieres, they suffer from numerous disadvantages including the bulkiness of such hangers; the weight thereof; and, the difficulty in attaching and securing the brassiere to the hanger.

Accordingly, it is broadly an object of the present invention to provide a brassiere hanger for displaying a brassiere.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a brassiere hanger which is generally light weight and relatively compact.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a brassiere hanger in which the brassiere may be quickly and securely fastened to the brassiere hanger for display and storage.

Brassieres are normally shipped from a manufacturer or wholesaler to a retail store in boxes or containers which usually include three brassieres. If such brassieres are not already on brassiere hangers, the retailer takes the brassieres out of the box, and separately hangs each brassiere on a brassiere hanger for display purposes. This requires the retailer to have a separate supply of brassiere hangers for use with the boxed brassieres. Furthermore, the procedure is time consuming and is therefore undesirable.

Attempts have been made to box the brassieres at the factory with the hangers attached thereto. However, when such brassieres and the attached brassiere hangers are shipped or stored three sets in a container to a retailer, the brassieres are often crushed or otherwise damaged by the weight of the brassiere hangers. Furthermore, the brassieres and their associated brassiere hangers are often difficult to remove from the shipping or storage container. Of course, it may be suggested that such damage may be overcome by boxing each brassiere and its brassiere hanger in a single container. However, this greatly increases the packaging costs and is not practicable.

Accordingly, yet another object of the present invention is to provide a brassiere hanger constructed and arranged so that a plurality of brassieres and their brassiere hangers may be shipped or stored in a container without the brassieres being crushed or otherwise damaged by the brassiere hangers.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a brassiere hanger in which the individual brassieres and the brassiere hangers associated therewith may be quickly and easily removed from a storage or other container for displaying the brassieres in a display position.

In accordance with an illustrative embodiment demonstrating objects and features of the present invention, a first brassiere hanger includes a centrally disposed hook and upwardly and outwardly extending first and second hanger arms. Each of the first and second hanger arms include strap-receiving means which are constructed and arranged for receiving the first and second shoulder strap of a first brassiere. The strap-receiving means define a transverse axis about which the first brassiere hanger and its brassiere may be moved relative to each other, the brassiere being normally supported in dependent relation from the first brassiere hanger for display. The first brassiere hanger is utilizable with at least a second brassiere hanger of like construction having a second brassiere connected thereto, to form a brassiere storage and display system in which the first and second brassiere hangers and their respective first and second brassieres are stored in a container in a stacked relation. The stacked relation is such that the first brassiere hanger is at the bottom of the stack and the first brassiere is at the top of the stack. The second brassiere hanger is disposed above the first brassiere hanger and the second brassiere is disposed beneath the first brassiere.

The above brief description, as well as further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of a presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiment of the present invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view showing a brassiere hanger according to the present invention having a brassiere connected in dependent relation thereto and indicating the relationship of the brassiere hanger and its associated brassiere in a display position;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front elevation view of the brassiere hanger of FIG. 1 according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view, taken substantially along the line 3--3 of FIG. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows, showing various details of a tag display member which may form part of the hook of the brassiere hanger;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view, taken substantially along the line 4--4 of FIG. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows, showing various details of the upwardly and outwardly extending hanger arms which form part of the brassiere hanger;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged front elevation view taken substantially along the line 5--5 of FIG. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the details of the hook which forms part of the brassiere hanger;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged front elevation view showing the details of the strap-receiving means which forms part of the brassiere hanger;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view, taken substantially along the line 7--7 of FIG. 6 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 8 is a top perspective view showing a plurality of brassiere hangers and their associated brassieres in a brassiere storage and display system according to the present invention, such view indicating the brassieres hangers and brassieres in a first storage position;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view, taken substantially along the line 9--9 of FIG. 8 and looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the stacked relationship of the brassiere hangers and their associated brassieres when in the first storage position;

FIG. 10 is a front perspective view showing removal of the brassiere hangers and their respective brassieres from a storage container;

FIG. 11 is a top perspective view of the brassiere hangers and their associated brassieres in a second intermediate position in which said brassieres and said brassiere hangers are arranged prior to the final display of the brassieres on the brassiere hanger; and

FIG. 12 is a front perspective view showing one of said brassiere hangers and its associated brassiere in a third display position.

Referring now to the drawings and, more particularly, to FIGS. 2-6 thereof, a brassiere hanger according to the present invention is generally designated 10. Brassiere hanger 10, which may be constructed of light weight plastic or the like, includes a centrally disposed hook, generally designated 12, having a curved end 14 which is adapted to rest on an appropriate hanger bar (not shown) as is well known in the art. Hook 12 includes a neck 16 which extends generally downwardly from curved end 14 and which terminates at a tag-display member 18. As indicated in FIG. 5, curved end 14 and neck 16 of hook 12 define flanges 20, 21 which add structural strength to the curved end and neck of hook 12.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, tag-display member 18 is generally planar in shape having a substantially circular outer periphery 22. Tag-display member 18 defines a tag-display surface 24 which is adapted to receive an appropriate tag which may contain information, for example, size, price, etc. of the particular brassiere which is displayed by the brassiere hanger. More particularly, an appropriate tag (not shown) may advantageously be generally circular in configuration and may be cut slightly larger than tag-display surface 24. Tag-display member 18 advantageously includes flanges 26, 28 which are disposed along part of the outer periphery 22 of the tag-display member. Thus, the over-sized tag (not shown) may be inserted against tag-display surface 24 and between flanges 26, 28, the flanges thereby holding the tag in place against tag-display surface 24.

Brassiere hanger 10 includes first and second hanger arms generally designated 30, 32, respectively, which are connected to centrally disposed hook 12 at tag-display member 18. First hanger arm 30 and second hanger arm 32 extend generally outwardly and upwardly from the tag-display member. First hanger arm 30 and second hanger arm 32 are of substantially identical construction and, for the purposes of brevity, only first hanger arm 30 will be described.

First hanger arm 30 includes a generally horizontally disposed hanger arm element 34 which extends outwardly from tag-display member 18 in a generally horizontal direction. A generally outwardly and upwardly disposed hanger arm element 36 extends from the horizontally disposed hanger arm element 34 in an upwardly and outwardly direction. As indicated in FIGS. 3 and 4, first hanger arm 30 is constructed with flanges 38, 40 thereby adding structural strength to the hanger arm. Second hanger arm 32 is of a like construction.

A first strap-receiving means, generally designated 42, is disposed at the top-most end of first hanger arm 30 and, as will be explained hereinafter, is adapted to receive the shoulder strap of a brassiere. Similarly, a second strap-receiving means, generally designated 44, is disposed at the top-most end of second hanger arm 32. The first strap-receiving means 42 and second strap-receiving means 44 are of substantially identical configuration and, for the sake of brevity, only first strap-receiving means 42 will be described.

Referring more particularly to FIGS. 6 and 7, first strap-receiving means 42 is shown as including a first strap-receiving element 46 which extends in a generally horizontal direction and is adapted and constructed to receive and have draped thereon the shoulder strap of a brassiere. A second strap-receiving element 48 is connected to one end of the first strap-receiving element and extends, in a generally horizontal direction, atop the first strap-receiving element. Similarly, a third strap-receiving element 50 is connected to one end of first strap-receiving element 46 and extends beneath the first strap-receiving element in a generally horizontal direction. Additionally, third strap-receiving element 50 is connected to the outwardly and upwardly extending hanger arm element 36 of first hanger arm 30 thereby securing first strap-receiving means 42 to the first hanger arm 30.

First strap-receiving element 46 and second strap-receiving element 48 define a generally U-shaped strap-receiving channel 52 into which the shoulder strap of the brassiere is inserted thereby allowing the brassiere shoulder strap to rest on or be draped over first strap-receiving element 46. In order to prevent the shoulder strap of the brassiere from slipping out of U-shaped strap-receiving channel 52, first strap-receiving element 46 includes upwardly extending nubs 54, 56 and second strap-receiving element 48 includes downwardly extending nub 58. Nubs 54, 58 are in space confronting relation and, along with nub 56, provides a constricted entrance-way to U-shaped strap-receiving channel 52 thereby preventing the shoulder strap of the brassiere from sliding out of the U-shaped channel.

In a like manner, first strap-receiving element 46 and third strap-receiving element 50 define a generally U-shaped strap-receiving channel 60 which includes nubs 62, 64 extending downwardly from the first strap-receiving element and nub 66, extending in a space confronting relation with nub 62, in an upwardly extending direction. Nubs 62, 64 and 66 thereby provide a constricted entrance-way to U-shaped strap-receiving channel 60 thereby preventing the shoulder strap of a brassiere from slipping out of the U-shaped channel once the strap has been inserted therein.

To facilitate in inserting the shoulder strap of a brassiere into U-shaped strap-receiving channels 52 and 60, first strap-receiving element 46 is somewhat longer in length than either second or third strap-receiving elements 48, 50. More particularly, the left hand end of first strap-receiving element 46 extends beyond the left hand ends of second strap-receiving element 48 and strap-receiving element 50 thereby providing an extension about which the shoulder strap of a brassiere may be draped, the shoulder strap then being inserted into into U-shaped channels 52, 60.

Second strap-receiving means 44 is of a like-construction to first strap-receiving means 42 and is adapted to receive the other shoulder strap of a brassiere. First strap-receiving means 42 and second strap-receiving means 44 define a transverse axis 68 about which brassiere hanger 10 and its associated brassiere may be moved relative to each other, as will be explained hereinafter.

Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional brassiere, generally indicated 70, is shown as supported by brassiere hanger 10. More particularly, brassiere 70 includes brassiere shoulder straps 72, 74 which are held, respectively, by first strap-receiving means 42 and second strap-receiving means 44 thereby enabling the brassiere to be supported by the brassiere hanger in a dependent relation when the brassiere and the brassiere hanger are in a display position. More particularly, shoulder strap 72 of the brassiere is inserted into U-shaped strap-receiving channels 52, 60 by sliding the shoulder strap through the constricted openings of the channel. The brassiere strap is then draped-over first strap-receiving element 46 and is prevented from slipping off of the first strap-receiving element by nubs 54, 56, 58 of U-shaped strap-receiving channel 52 and nubs 62, 64, 66 of U-shaped strap-receiving channel 60. In a similar manner, strap 74 is held by second strap-receiving means 44. Straps 72, 74 depend downwardly from a first strap-receiving element 42 and second strap-receiving means 44, respectively, such that the shoulder straps of the brassiere are at the outer-most extremity of first hanger arm 30 and second hanger arm 32. This enables brassiere 70 to be free-swinging from the brassiere hanger thus permitting the brassiere to be moved relative to the brassiere hanger. Such relative movement is desirable when the brassiere is in a display position since such movement enables a buyer to adequately examine the brassiere.

Referring to FIGS. 8-12, a plurality of brassiere hangers having a respective plurality of brassieres associated therewith are shown in a first storage position in a container 76. More particularly, a first brassiere hanger 10a, a second brassiere hanger 10b and a third brassiere hanger 10c, substantially identical to each other and identical to the brassiere hanger shown in FIGS. 1-7, are adapted to receive respective brassieres 70a, 70b, 70c. First brassiere 70a is connected to first brassiere hanger 10a at brassiere shoulder straps 72a, 74a which are inserted, respectively, into first strap-receiving means 42a and second strap-receiving means 44a. Similarly, the shoulder straps 72b, 74b of second brassiere 70b is inserted, respectively, into the first strap-receiving means 42b and the second strap-receiving means 44b of second brassiere hanger 10b; and, the shoulder straps 72c, 74c of third brassiere 70c are inserted into respective first strap-receiving means 42c and second strap-receiving means 44c of brassiere hanger 10c.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 8 and 9, brassiere hangers 10a, 10b, 10c and their respective brassieres 70a, 70b, 70c are shown in a first storage position in container 76, the brassiere hangers and their respective brassieres being in a stacked relation. More particularly, brassiere hangers 10c, 10b, 10a are stacked one atop each other beneath brassieres 70a, 70b, 70c which are also stacked one atop each other on top of the brassiere hangers. It should be noted, however, that brassiere hangers 10a, 10b, 10c are turned-under their respective brassieres so that first brassiere 70a is on top of the stack of brassieres and first brassiere hanger 10a is at the bottom of the stack of brassiere hangers. In a like manner, third brassiere hanger 10c is at the top of the brassiere hanger stack while its respective third brassiere 70c is at the bottom of the brassiere stack. Lastly, second brassiere hanger 10b is intermediate first brassiere 10a and third brassiere 10c in the brassiere hanger stack while second brassiere 70b is intermediate first brassiere 70a and third brassiere 70c in the stack of brassieres. By so stacking the brassiere hangers and their respective brassieres one atop each other, each brassiere is in substantial registry with each other and, since the brassieres are at the top of the stack, the brassieres are not crushed or otherwise damaged by the brassiere hangers. Additionally, since the brassiere hangers are turned under their respective brassieres, the centrally disposed hooks 12a, 12b, 12c of the brassiere hangers are arranged such that the hooks may be easily accesible for removal of the brassiere hangers and their respective brassieres from container 76.

The removal of the brassiere hangers and their respective brassieres from container 76 and the first storage position shown in FIG. 8 may be quickly and easily effected by grasping together hooks 12a, 12b, 12c and by lifting the hangers out of the container. FIG. 10 illustrates the position of the brassiere hangers and their respective brassieres after the brassiere hangers have been removed from storage container 76.

The next step in the removal of the brassieres from a first storage position to an ultimate display position is to rotate the brassiere hangers, in the direction indicated by arrow 78 (see FIG. 10) thereby relatively moving the brassiere hangers and the respective brassieres. By such relative movement, the brassiere hangers and their respective brassieres are moved to a second intermediate position indicated in FIG. 11. In such second intermediate position, the brassieres have kept the same position relative to each other as in the first storage position. In other words, brassiere 70a is atop brassiere 70b which, in turn, is atop brassiere 70c, such stacked relation substantially the same as the stacked relation of the brassieres in FIG. 8. However, the brassiere hangers have been moved, about transverse axis 68, such that the brassiere hangers are now in a stacked relationship opposite to the position of FIG. 8. In other words, brassiere hanger 10a is now atop brassiere 10b which, in turn, is atop brassiere 10c. Furthermore, as indicated in FIG. 11, the upwardly and outwardly extending hanger arms of the brassiere hangers are now disposed on opposite sides of transverse axis 68 (in contrast to the first storage position of FIG. 8 in which the upwardly and outwardly extending hanger arms are on the same side of transverse axis).

Once the brassieres are in the second intermediate position of FIG. 11, first brassiere hanger 10a, which is now at the top of the hanger stack, may be grasped at hanger hook 12a thereof and may be easily moved to a third display position, indicated in FIG. 12, in which brassiere 70a is supported and in depending relation from brassiere hanger 10a for display of the brassiere. It is to be noted that the upwardly and outwardly extending arms of brassiere hangers 10a and brassiere 70a are again on the same side of transverse axis 68.

In a like manner, brassiere hanger 10b and brassiere hanger 10c may be removed, one at a time, from the stacked relation shown in the second intermediate position of FIG. 11 for displaying their respective brassieres in a third display position in which the brassieres hang downwardly from the brassiere hangers.

Obviously, other modifications of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. For example, the brassiere hangers may be utilized to store and display other garments such as slips or the like. It is to be understood, therefore, that the embodiment described hereinabove is merely an example of the application of the principles of the invention. Additional embodiments may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A brassiere hanger adapted to receive a brassiere having first and second shoulder straps comprising a centrally disposed hook, first and second hanger arms disposed on opposite sides of said hook and each including a first hanger arm element and a second hanger arm element, each of said first hanger arm elements extending generally outwardly of said hook and each of said second hanger arm elements extending generally upwardly and outwardly from its corresponding first hanger arm element, first and second strap-receiving means on the end of each of said first and second hanger arms, respectively, for receiving the first and second shoulder straps, respectively, of a brassiere, said first and second strap-receiving means each including first and second strap-receiving elements, said first and second strap-receiving elements defining respective strap-receiving channels adapted to receive the respective shoulder strap of said brassiere.

2. A brassiere hanger according to claim 1 wherein said first and second strap-receiving means each include a projection disposed on said first strap-receiving element cooperating with said second strap-receiving element to define a constricted opening for said strap-receiving channel.

3. A brassiere hanger according to claim 2 wherein said centrally disposed hook defines a tag-displaying member constructed and arranged for receiving and for displaying information related to said brassiere.

4. A brassiere hanger according to claim 2 wherein each of said strap-receiving channels is substantially U-shaped, said strap-receiving channel being generally parallel to said first hanger arm element with said strap-receiving opening opening away from said centrally disposed hook.

5. A brassiere hanger for the storage and display of a brassiere having shoulder straps comprising a centrally disposed body member, a hook projecting in one direction from said body member, respective arms projecting on opposite sides of said body member and each including a first hanger arm element extending generally outwardly of said body member and a second hanger arm element on the end of the first hanger arm element and extending substantially in said one direction, and strap receiving means on the end of each of said second hanger arm elements of the respective arms for receiving the shoulder straps of the brassiere, each of said strap receiving means including members disposed on a common axis extending generally crosswise of said hook and defining respective strap receiving channels for the shoulder straps of said brassiere, said hanger and brassiere being movable relative to each other about said axis such that the brassiere and said hanger may be in one orientation relative to each other for storage and in another orientation relative to each other for display wherein said hanger is hung from said hook and the brassiere depends by its straps from said hanger arms.