Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Title: DISPLAY DEVICE
This invention relates to display devices ~or articles
of clothing.
When clothing is exposed for sale on a counter, it is
preferred that the articles be kept separate and folded
to maintain the shape of the articles to display them to
best advantage.
Knitwear, such as sweaters, is normally folded and
packed in bags of clear film, and customers have access
by opening the bags, which have peelable closures for
the purpose. Unfortunately, the clear film used i5
rather glossy and hence the reflected light tends to
obscure the colour of the packed garment. Accordingly,
customers have a clear need to open the bag to inspect
the garment. Many customers remove the garments from the
bags and frequently do not put them back, or even refold
them. This leads to a need for refolding and replacing
by store staff and there is a possibility that garments
and bags may be mismatched, which may lead to sizing
errors and customer dissatisfaction.
Shirts are normally packed on support cards, and secured
to them by pins or clips, the packaging also normally
includiny a collar support. The act of packaging itself is
fairly tlme-consuming and involves accurate location of pins
and/or clips.
In the case of both shirts and sweaters, it is normal
for the folding to including folding the sleeves backward and
inward from tha shoulder position and then turning them down on
an oblique fold so as to lie generally parallel with the sides of
the garment and each other. The garment is then folded up rear~
wardly, with the sleeves, so that the lower part of the garment
is behind the upper part. When packaging shirts, pins or clips
are used to maintain the shirt in this position, normally with a
card insert to maintain the shape of the shirt. Knitwear is nor-
mally loosely folded.
Cardigans, however, are usually rather differently
folded, the sleeves being folded generally across the garment.
The present invention also relates to a display device for such
garments, or for sleeveless garments.
In accordance with the invention, there is provided a
display device for yarments comprising a first suppor-t element
constructed of a transverse support having downwardly inclined
upper surfaces extending towards opposite ends of said support,
whereby said support is adapted to overlie the outer surface and
to follow the contour of the shoulders of a garment; a pair of
second support elements arranged inclined downwardly and sepa-
rately attached to the first support element inwardly of said
downwardly inclined upper surfaces, whereby said second support
elements are adapted to pass through a neck aperture of the gar-
ment so as to each be located in a shoulder zone and within the
interior of the garment ad~acent to one end of said first support
element; and a pair of retalning means mounted on either side of
the center of said first support element to receive and retain an
upwardly folded lower region of the garment. Suitably the
retaining means comprise clips. Desirably the device further
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includes a pair of bars attached one to either side of the center
of said first support element, each of said bars located in a
position to define a fold line for return folding of a sleeve of
the garment, said bars having a ~ree end to facilitate the fold-
ing of a sleeve thereover.
In one embodiment of the present invsntion the devicefurther comprises a pair of bars attached to the first support
element and having a position so as to define a fold line for
return folding of a sleeve. Suitably the bars are rigidly
attached to the flrst support element. Desirably the said bars,
over at least part of their length, each have an oblique orienta-
tion such that the sleeve can be return folded around one o said
bars into substantially parallel relationship with a side of the
garment and with the other sleeve. Suitably the first support
element is extended downwardly from its shoulder zone to form a
frame and in which said frame includes a bottom bar around which
the garment may be folded to bring the said lower region of the
garment towards the retaining means. Desirably the device is
integrally moulded from a polymer material with the property of
forming integral hinges.
Our present invention as defined above is to be distin-
guished from known garment display hangers utilizing attachment
clips and from known garment display cards or frames, optionally
with hanging hooks, facilitating folding and display of shirts.
Examples of the first-named category are shown in U.K.
Patent Specifications 2,074,023, 1,175,616 and U.S. Patent
4,248,363, or in U.K. Patent Specification 2,120,542 in a differ-
ent manner. In the first three of these~ the generally conven-
tional sloping or arcuate top bar of a clothes hanger is placed
inside the shoulders of a garment, such as or ~acket and spaced
clips, e.g. along a transverse cross-bar as bars are used to sup-
port usually another garment such as a shirt or trousers or pos-
sibly a fold in the first garment. The top bar passes within
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(no-t across the outside o) the shoulders, and is not associated
with any secondary support elements to locate and display the
neck and shoulder areas especially. In the invention of
2,120,542, an adjustable skirt or like hanger is formed with a
telescopic transverse member with end clips; again, no first sup-
port across garment shoulders, and second
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supports within such shoulder, are envisaged.
Examples of the second category are shown in U.K. Patent
Specifications 1 341 561, 1 381 43~ and 2 058 001. None
of these show a first support element across the
shoulders and second support elements within the neck
aperture and inside the shoulders. None of the~ moreover
show latches or clips to rece!ive or retain an upwardly
folded lower region as utilised in the present invention.
All of them show display cards or frames specifically
for shirts in which the primary location point is within
the two folded leaves of a relatively firm shirt collar,
but not within the neck aperture and inside each
shoulder zone. Also, the retention of any folded region
is effected only by a simple fold-over line, or by a
buttoning point, both on a median line. Both of these
features are suitable for lightweight but firmly creased
shirt material; neither is suitable for heavier, bulkier
or looser knitted mateial without a formed collar.
Thus, the valuable combination of a first support across
the shoulders(which usually generally defines the
overall displayed width), second supports within
shoulders (e.g. to locate and display the neck region
especially for softer, bulkier material~ and positive
receiving
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latches or clips for folded portions (again especially
suitable for heavier materials) is not hitherto shown in
the prior art.
The invention can be embodied in several ways.
Thus, there may be provided a pair of rigid or hinged
bars attached to the first support element and having a
position so as to define a fold line for return folding
of a sleeve.
For example, for a display device suitable for a sweater
the rigid or hinged bars, over at least part of their
length, have an oblique orientation such that the sleeve
can be return folded into substantially parallel
relationships with a side of the garment and with the
other sleeve.
However, a display device more suitable for a cardigan
would possess rigid or hinged bars which over at least
part of their length extend substantially vertically
down from the shoulder zone such that the sleeve can be
return folded, using the bar as a fold indication,
2D generally across the garment.
Whether or not such bars are provided, it is possible to
extend the first support element downwardly from its
shoulder zone to form a frame including a bottom bar
todefine a fold line for upward folding of the garment
to bring a lower portion of the garment towards the
latch or clip means. Clearly, if no bars, oblique or
vertical, exists to define sleeve fold lines, such a
display device is more suitable for a sleeveless garment.
The said second support elements can be rigidly or
hingedly mounted on the first support element.
The garment display device is conveniently integrally
moulded in a plastics material with the property of
forming integral hinges, particularly polypropylene.
Other materials may be used. One advantage of the use of
such materials is that latches or clips may be
integrally moulded generally in the plane of the display
device, and then bent out from that plane to act as
latches or clips.
The clips used in the display device are mounted on, or
adjacent to, the first support element. By "adjacent" to
such element is usually meant that they can be attached
to or integral with the rigid or hinged sleeve-fold bars=
The device may also include a collar support for a shirt.
By using a device of this nature, garments may be
displayed in a folded form and the garment shape is
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substantially retained without the need for enclosing
bags.
The invention will be further described with reference
to the accompanying drawings, i.n which:-
Figure 1 is an elevational view of a display deviceaccording to the one form of the invention illustrated
in its normal position of use;
Figure 2 shows the display device of Figure 1 in
conjunction with a garment at an early stage of folding;
Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the
garment at a later stage of folding;
Figure 4 shows the garment completely folded;
Figure 5 shows a variant of part of Figure l;
Figure 6 shows another variant, of another part of
Figure lo
Figure 7 is a rear elevational view of an alternate form
of device in a completely unfolded position;
Figure 8 is a front elevation of a device of Figure 5 in
a fully folded position; and
Figure 9 shows a further alternative form of device.
Turning first to Figure 1, the display device shown
comprises a first support element 1, as seen from the
rear, on the forward side of the support element 1,
there is provided a pair of second support elements 2
which are hingedly or rigidly fixed to the support
element 1 and are adapted, as shown particularly in
Figures 2, 3 and 4 to enter through the neck aperture of
a garment such as a sweater and to pass beneath the
shoulder portions thereof to attach the display device
removably to the sweater with the support element 1
passing across the back of the garment in the shoulder
area. For the display of shirts, the support elements 2
fit under the collar visibly or unseén at the top area
of the shirt by means of a flexible form or by similar
means at the 7one 2a.
The support element 1 is continued to form a generally
rectangular frame having side bars 3 and a bottom bar 4.
Fixedly mounted on the shoulder parts of the support
element 1 are a pair of oblique bars 5. Second support
elements 2 may be in a plane offset from the support
element 1 to allow display of different types of garment
with varying thicknesses of fabric at the neck area. The
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ratio of dimensions of the elements 1, 3 and 4 will
depend on si e range of the garments to be displayed -
at the one extreme menswear, at the other end babywear
or similar.
Each bar has associated with it at least one latch or
clip 6. Such latches or clips may be on, or in the
region of, the support element 1 or located along the
length of th0 bars 5.
In use the second support elements 2 are introduced into
the neck of the garment illustrated at 7 in Figures 2, 3
and 4. A first sleeve 8 of the garment 7 is then folded
across the back of the garment beneath one bar 5 but
along the other as illustrated in Figure 2. The sleeve 8
is then folded down to the position shown in Figure 3,
using one bar 5 to form an oblique fold line to guide
such foldingO The second sleeve is then similarly
treated so as to take up the position shown at 8a in
Figure 3. In this position, it will be seen that the
sleeves 8 and 8a lie generally parallel with each other
and with the sides of the garment 7. The side members 3
of the fra~e also have a function in ensuring that the
sleeve is not folded too far across.
From the Figure 3 position, a lower portion 9,
illustrated with ribbing in Figure 3, is folded up using
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the bottom bar 4 as a guide until the lower portion can
be engaged with clips or latches 6 as illustrated in
Figure 4O
Figure 5 shows a variant of part of Figure l, more
specifically of the upper right hand side as
illustrated. The configuration of the bars l, 2 and 3 is
generally similar although as shown at 50 the support
element 2 and the side bars 3 can lie sLightly below the
level of the central part of support element l. Rounded
end 52 helps the fitting of the display device into the
neck. Clip 56 is integrally moulded and extends from an
initial vertical portion of bars 5, beiny integrally
connected thereto by a thinner portion 56a. The clip 56
can thus be bent for use at right angles to the general
plane of the device, and its arcuate limb 56b and the
resilient stem orificed at 56c ensures good retention.
Figure 6 shows how a vertical bar 65 with a suitable
clip 66 can replace oblique bar 5. For a cardigan, it
will be found convenient to fold the sleeve under bar
65, back out to the edge at 63 and inward again. The
folded-up garment portion generally retains these sleeve
folds.
It will be appreciated that display devices not
possessing any bars such as 5, 55 or 55 also fall within
the scope of the invention.
Figures 7 and 8 show an alternative form of support or
display device in which the frame 3 and 4 has been
omitted and in which bars 15 are hinged. A principal
support device is shown at 11, and hingedly attached
thereto are a pair of second support elements 12 to
enter the neck aperture of the garment when in the
position shown in Figure 8. ~inged bars lS are shown in
Figure 7 in their free position and in Figure ~ in the
position in which sleeves can be folded about them. The
principaL support element 11 is provided with a pair of
bosses 16a which cooperate with the apertures 16b on
folded latch members 16 to engage and lightly hold the
lower portion of a folded garment.
Figure 9 shows a still further alternative arrangement
in which the second support element illustrated at 22 is
hinged along a line 22a to the first support element 21.
The first support element 21 is again extended by side
frame elements 23 which lead into a lower frame element
24. Bars 25 are hinged about integral hinges 25a to the
principal support element 21, and clips 26 are formed
integrally with the principal support element 21 to
receive the lower portion of a garment.
Various modifications may be made within the scope of
the invention.
