Boot hangers

Abstract

A footwear hanger 10 to display pairs of shoes or boots [fig.1 200] on a display rail [fig.1 150] using heel tabs. The hanger has a hook 20 with space 21 to engage the rail around its axis. A label ar

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a boot hangers, for example for use in displaying pairs of boots on a rail in a retail environment. In particular, but not exclusively, the boots are connected to the hanger via heel tabs. BACKGROUND

[0002] It is known to display pairs of boots for sale in retail environments on boot hangers suspended from rails. One known form of hanger 100 suitable for this purpose is shown by reference to the accompanying Figures 1 to 4 and comprises a hook portion 112 and a cross member 114, in which a mid-point of the cross member is connected to the hook portion 112. The hook portion 112 and the cross member 114 are integrally formed together and both lie in a common plane. The hook portion 112 comprises a hook 120 for suspension from a rail 150, and a planar label portion 130, which typically includes display information, such as a size marker.

[0003] The cross member 114 includes firstand second heel tab slots 116a, 116b arranged symmetrically on the cross member and each having a slot axis substantially coincident with a longitudinal axis of the cross member 114. Each heel slot includes an opening 117a, 117b formed on an upper side of the cross member 114. In use, a left boot 202 of a pair of boots 200 is attached to the hanger 100 by inserting the associated heel tab 204a thereof through the opening 117a and into the first heel tab slot 116a. Correspondingly, a right boot 203 of a pair of boots 200 is attached to the hanger 100 by inserting the associated heel tab 204b thereof through the opening 117b and into the second heel tab slot 116b.

[0004] With such an arrangement, the boots 200 are displayed with toe portions 205 pointing toward the front of the display, as shown in Fig. 1. By virtue of a centre of gravity of the boots 200 being forward of the hook portion 112, the boots 200 have a tendency to pivot forward on the display (i.e. toes down; heels up), which tends also to tilt the hanger 100 forwardly on the rail 150, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 4, and can result in the heels of a pair of boots resting on and potentially marring the toes of a pair of boots behind. This may be problematic in that resulting bending and twisting forces Ft, particularly on a busy, crowded display, can lead to distortion of the hanger 100, especially at the base of the hook 120 where it joins the label portion 130. A resulting distorted hanger 100 is shown in Fig. 3. Also, the tendency to pivot forward on the display means that the label portion 130 points away from an angle of view 170 of a customer (Fig. 4), making it difficult to read. This is especially problematic in difficult to reach areas, such as on low hanging rails.

[0005] Two-part boot hangers are also known, in which a cross member part is pivotably connected to a hook portion so that the cross member, hence a pair of boots suspended therefrom, can rotate with respect to the hook portion and the rail from which it hangs. This may help to relieve the rotational forces on the base of the hook, but can result in an untidy display and is a relatively complex item to manufacture.

[0006] It is an object of the invention to mitigate these problems. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0007] Viewed from a first aspect, the present invention provides a hanger for the display of a pair of boots on a rail, the hanger comprising: a hook portion, configured to suspend the hanger from the rail in use and defining a hook axis; and a cross member configured to suspend the pair of boots therefrom and defining a cross member longitudinal axis, wherein the cross member is fixedly connected to the hook portion with the cross member longitudinal axis disposed substantially parallel to the hook axis.

[0008] Advantageously, by orienting the cross member at 90 degrees to the hook portion and in a fixed relationship, boots suspended on the cross member are consistently and reliably displayed with the toe portions facing left- or right-wards on the display relative to an axis of the rail. The heels of one pair of boots are thus prevented from contacting the toes of an adjacent pair of boots on the rail, since the adjacent pairs of boots are arranged side-to-side rather than heel to toe.

[0009] The hanger is typically for use with a rail having a predetermined cross-sectional area. Accordingly, the hook axis may be designed to be substantially concentric with the centre of the rail when, in use, the hanger is suspended from the rail. Preferably, the rail will have a round cross-sectional area and thus the axes of the hook portion and the rail itself will be concentric. Advantageously, having a hook matching the rail eliminates twisting forces because the hook is free to rotate on the rail.

[0010] The hook portion typically further comprises a planar label portion between a base of the hook and the cross member, wherein the plane of the label portion is perpendicular to the hook axis. In other words, the hook and the label portion are in a common plane. The label portion is used to display information on the hanger, typically including a size marker corresponding to the boots as suspended from the hanger, in use.

[0011] The cross member may be connected to the hook portion at a mid-point of the cross member.

[0012] The cross member may include first and second heel tab slots towards respective first and second ends thereof. Many styles of boot typically include a heel tab attached to the heel portion of each of the left and right boots of a pair. Accordingly, heel tab slots may be used to receive the respective heel tabs as a convenient way to temporarily and releasably secure the boots to the hanger. Each of the heel tab slots may be substantially aligned with the cross member longitudinal axis. The heel tab slots may each have an opening on an upper side of the cross member - i.e. open towards the hook portion. This provides a secure attachment of the boots to the hanger, making use of gravity to prevent the heel tabs from becoming disengaged with the respective heel slots (e.g. slipping out of the slots).

[0013] Where the hanger includes heel tab slots, and where the cross member is connected to the hook portion at a mid-point, it is preferable that the first and second heel tab slots are equidistant from the mid-point of the cross member. This ensures gravitational balance when, in use, boots are secured to the cross member.

[0014] The connection of the cross member to the hook portion may include reinforcing members. Thus, the connection may be strengthened, to provide greater resistance to distortion that may be caused by twisting or bending of the cross member relative to the hook portion. One exemplary form of reinforcement is the provision of gussets.

[0015] The hanger may be formed as a unitary item by thermoplastic moulding. By being formed as a unitary piece, the hanger has no mechanical joints that may be liable to failure. Thermoplastic moulding, such as injection moulding, is a convenient and industrystandard method of forming hangers. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Embodiments of the invention are further described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1 to 4 illustrate known hangers for display of a pair of boots on a rail, and problems associated therewith: Figure 1 is a photograph of an existing boots display; Figure 2 is a diagram from a side view showing twisting forces on such a known hanger; and Figure 3 is a representation of a known hanger that has distorted at a junction of a base of the hook with a label portion; Figure 4 is another diagram from a side view showing a tilted display angle of a label portion; Figure 5 is a perspective side view of a hanger according to the invention; Figure 6a is a front plan view of the hanger of Fig. 5; Figure 6b is a side plan view of the hanger of Fig. 5; Figure 7a illustrates a front view of a hanger according to the invention as displayed on a rail; Figure 7b corresponds to Fig. 7a, but additionally showing a viewing angle of a label portion; and Figure 7c corresponds to Fig. 7b, but is a side plan view. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] A hanger 10 according to embodiments of the invention is shown by reference to Figs. 5 to 7c. The hanger has a hook portion 12 and a cross member 14. The hook portion 12 comprises a hook 20 for suspension from a rail 150, and a planar label portion 30, which typically includes display information, such a size marker, as is known in the art. The hook 20 includes an opening 21 sized to allow the hook 20 to pass for insertion on to or removal from the rail 150. The hook 20 defines a hook axis 25 at the origin of a radius of curvature of at least a main portion of the hook. As depicted, the hook 20 comprises a substantially semi-circular portion 20a with a constant radius of curvature centred on the axis 25 from a free end adjacent the opening 21 to a base end that contiguously extends in to a short, substantially straight root portion 20b, which in turn conjoins with the label portion 30. The hook 20 and the label portion 30 both lie in a common plane, which is perpendicular to the hook axis 25.

[0018] The hook 20 is dimensioned for suspension from a rail 150 having a predetermined cross-sectional area. More particularly, the rail 150 typically has a round cross-sectional area and thus a diametrical extent. In the illustrated example, the hook 20 has a radius of curvature of about 11 mm corresponding to a 22 mm diameter rail. The hook axis 25 is thus designed to be substantially concentric with the centre of the rail 150 when, in use, the hanger is suspended from the rail. It will be appreciated that the rail may take other cross sectional shapes, but a round profile (at least on the upper surface where the corresponding substantially semi-circular portion 20a of the hook 20 will bear, in use) may have advantages as explained below.

[0019] The cross member 14 comprises a substantially rectangular part, defining a cross member longitudinal axis 14a. A mid-point of the cross member 14 is fixedly connected to the hook portion 12 at a connection point 18, such that the cross member longitudinal axis 14a is perpendicular to the common plane of the hook 20 and the label portion 30, together comprising the hook portion 12. The cross member longitudinal axis 14a is thus disposed substantially parallel to the hook axis 25, but displaced a vertical distance there below. The hook portion 12 and the cross member 14 are integrally formed together, conjoined by a solid columnar connection point 18. It is envisaged that in certain embodiments the cross member 14 may be connected to the hook portion 12 away from a mid-point of the cross member. However, by connection at the mid-point, the arrangement may be symmetrical and the weight borne by the hook portion 12 may thus be in the plane thereof.

[0020] At a most basic embodiment, the cross member 14 could simply comprise a solid rod-like piece, and respective first and second boots 202,203 of a pair of boots 200 could be suspended therefrom by passing respective heel tabs 204a,204b over the opposed ends of the rod-like piece. However, the boots 202,203 would be liable to slip off. A retention member in the form of a flange or lip could be included at each of the opposed ends of the rod-like piece to improve retention. However, a preferred means of securing heel tabs 204a,204b to a cross member 14 is to include heel tab slots.

[0021] The cross member 14 thus includes first and second heel tab slots 16a,16b towards respective first and second ends thereof. Each of the heel tab slots 16a, 16b is substantially aligned with the cross member longitudinal axis 14a. The heel tab slots 16a, 16b each have an opening 17a,17b on an upper side of the cross member 14- i.e. open towards the hook portion 12. This provides a secure yet releasable attachment of the boots 202,203 to the hanger 10. The heel tab slots 16a, 16b and the openings 17a, 17b to the heel tab slots 16a, 16b are wider than in prior hangers, to allow for easier access and to accommodate larger, heavier boots.

[0022] By way of example, the illustrated hanger 10 has a total height, from the top of the hook 20 to the bottom of the cross member 14, of 90 mm, a total width (i.e. the lateral extent of the label portion 30) of 44.5 mm, and a total depth (i.e. the length of the cross member 14) of 110 mm. The cross member 14 and the label portion 30 each have a material thickness of 4 mm. Whilst the hook 20 could have the same thickness too, it may also be slightly thinner, and is illustrated as being 3.5 mm in thickness. The exemplary cross member 14 of the illustrated embodiment has a height of 13.5 mm and includes heel tab slots 16a,16b that are 26 mm in length, 5 mm in height, and have openings 17a,17b 8 mm wide.

[0023] It will be understood that other dimensions are possible. For example, thicker and / or larger dimensions could be used for hangers designed to suspend larger or heavier boots; conversely, lighter or smaller boots, such as for children, could be accommodated on correspondingly smaller and / or narrower dimensions.

[0024] With a symmetrical arrangement of the cross member 14 relative to the hook portion 12, and with the respective heel tab slots 16a,16b also arranged symmetrically - i.e. each equidistant from the mid-point - the weight of the pair of boots 200 will be central on the hanger 10 and thus be in the plane of the hook portion 12. As such, there will be no force acting to urge the plane of the hook portion 12 away from vertical. Thus, the hanger 10 will be balanced and vertically aligned on the rail 150 in use, as best seen in Fig. 7c. This has an additional advantage of ensuring that the label portion 130 stays vertically aligned and thus readily viewable from an angle of view 170 of a customer.

[0025] If a pair of boots 200 is displayed with toe portions 205 pointing towards hook opening 21 (i.e. towards the left, as shown in Figs. 7a and 7b), then a centre of gravity of the pair of boots 200 is likely to be leftward of the cross member 14, which would mean a tendency for the hanger 10 to rotate R anticlockwise as viewed, to bring that centre of gravity into vertical alignment with the centre of the rail 150. By having a hook 20 that has a profile which matches the surface of the rail 150 on which it bears (and by having coincident axes), the resulting rotation will readily occur and will not result in any significant twisting or bending forces through the hanger 10.

[0026] The connection of the cross member 14 to the hook portion 12 may include reinforcement, for example in the form of thicker material at the connection point 18, or more particularly in the form of reinforcing members, such as gussets 19, which may be integrally formed with the hanger 10. Thus, the connection may be strengthened, to provide greater resistance to distortion that may be caused by twisting or bending of the cross member 14 relative to the hook portion 12.

[0027] The hanger 10 may be formed as a unitary item by thermoplastic moulding. By being formed as a unitary piece, the hanger has no mechanical joints that may be liable to failure. Thermoplastic moulding, such as injection moulding, is a convenient and industrystandard method of forming hangers.

[0028] Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the words “comprise” and “contain” and variations of them mean “including but not limited to”, and they are not intended to (and do not) exclude other moieties, additives, components, integers or steps. Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the singular encompasses the plural unless the context otherwise requires. In particular, where the indefinite article is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as well as singularity, unless the context requires otherwise.

[0029] Features, integers, characteristics, or groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment or example of the invention are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described herein unless incompatible therewith. All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and / or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and / or steps are mutually exclusive. The invention is not restricted to the details of any foregoing embodiments. The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

1. A hanger for the display of a pair of boots on a rail, the hanger comprising:a hook portion, configured to suspend the hanger from the rail in use and defining a hook axis; anda cross member configured to suspend the pair of boots therefrom and defining a cross member longitudinal axis, wherein the cross member is fixedly connected to the hook portion with the cross member longitudinal axis disposed substantially parallel to the hook axis.

2. The hanger of claim 1, for use with a rail having a predetermined cross-sectional area, wherein the hook axis is substantially concentric with the centre of the rail when, in use, the hanger is suspended from the rail.

3. The hanger of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the hook portion further comprises a planar label portion between a base of the hook and the cross member, wherein the plane of the label portion is perpendicular to the hook axis.

4. The hanger of any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cross member is connected to the hook portion at a mid-point of the cross member.

5. The hanger of any preceding claim, wherein the cross member includes first and second heel tab slots towards respective first and second ends thereof.

6. The hanger of claim 5, wherein each of the heel tab slots is substantially aligned with the cross member longitudinal axis.

7. The hanger of claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the heel tab slots each have an opening on an upper side of the cross member.

8. The hanger of any of claims 5 to 7, when dependent on claim 4, wherein the first and second heel tab slots are equidistant from the mid-point of the cross member.

9. The hanger of any preceding claim, wherein the connection of the cross member to the hook portion includes reinforcing members.

10. The hanger of any preceding claim, formed as a unitary item by thermoplastic moulding.

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