One-piece clothes hanger

Abstract

The present invention relates to a one-piece clothes hanger (1) with a hook portion (5), two shoulder portions (3) projecting therefrom and a trouser-holder portion (4) connecting the ends of the two shoulder portions (3). The clothes hanger (1) is made from a biodegradable material. The invention is characterised in that the clothes hanger (1) has, at least in some portions, a pore structure with differently shaped pores (7) and / or a grid structure with differently shaped grid openings (14).

Description

[0001] One-piece coat hanger

[0002] The present invention relates to a one-piece coat hanger. Although coat hangers as such have been around for years, the development of reusable or compostable coat hangers has recently come into focus due to stricter regulations and general environmental awareness.

[0003] For example, a biodegradable coat hanger is described in GB 2 458 769 A. It describes a coat hanger made from a material based on bagasse or empty palm fruit bunches using thermoforming. The hanger weighs 45g and is compostable within twelve weeks.

[0004] Another coat hanger made of biodegradable plastic is described in US 2010 / 0213222 A1, for example. It states that a coat hanger must have very thin walls (< 3 mm) to biodegrade more effectively. Therefore, a coat hanger with a symmetrical grid structure is described.

[0005] The inventors of the present invention have found that biodegradability can be further improved.

[0006] To solve this problem, a one-piece coat hanger having the features of claim 1 is provided.

[0007] In particular, it is characterized by the fact that it has a pore structure with differently shaped pores, at least in sections.

[0008] Alternatively or additionally, it can also have a grid structure with differently shaped grid openings.

[0009] For the present invention, a pore structure differs from a lattice structure in that pores are essentially considered round, oval, or organic openings and / or cavities. In contrast, the lattice structure focuses on the lattice-like design, meaning that bars or ribs form the coat hanger. Both the pore and lattice structures can be designed to be visually pleasing and eye-catching.

[0010] The differently shaped pores or differently shaped grids can increase biodegradability. This is because not only does the pore openings or grid openings achieve a high surface-to-volume ratio, but because the pores themselves are each shaped differently, or the grid openings themselves are each shaped differently, this also results in a statistically better attack geometry for the biological degradation of the ironing material. Biodegradability describes, for example, the ability of organic chemicals to be broken down biologically, i.e. by living organisms (particularly saprobiotics) or their enzymes. Ideally, this chemical metabolism proceeds all the way to mineralization, so that the organic compound is broken down into inorganic substances such as carbon dioxide, oxygen and ammonia; however, degradation can also stop with stable transformation products.

[0011] For example, the bracket can easily decompose naturally in soil or compost. The varied and asymmetrical shape of the lattice openings or pores simultaneously provides high stability while maintaining a low weight and material consumption. Since these pore openings or lattice openings are distributed completely randomly in their cross-sectional diameter and / or design across the bracket, a dense arrangement of them can be achieved. Differently shaped pores or lattice openings specifically mean that the circumferential geometry that defines the opening can be shaped differently in each case.

[0012] It is sufficient that at least two pores or two lattice openings are shaped differently, but advantageously the predominant proportion (e.g. more than 50% by number) of the lattice openings or pores are shaped differently or essentially all pores or lattice openings are shaped differently.

[0013] Alternatively or additionally, the different shape of the pores or lattice openings can also relate to their area ratio, so that pores or lattice openings of different sizes are provided.

[0014] However, the coat hanger is made of a biodegradable material and is constructed as a one-piece coat hanger and contains a hook section as known per se, two shoulder sections dependent thereon and, at the ends of the two shoulder sections, a trouser holder section connecting them.

[0015] A biodegradable plastic can be used as a biodegradable material. Biodegradable plastics can be made from thermoplastic starch, cellulose, degradable polyesters, and polylactide (PLA).

[0016] According to an advantageous development of the invention, the majority of the pores have an asymmetrical shape, in particular they are organic shapes. Organic shapes, as the name suggests, are shapes that are developed from natural forms. They have, for example, a fluid, smooth, continuous appearance and are formed by curves and circles. In nature, real shapes include leaves, plants, insects, clouds, and animals. Organic shapes are distinguished from synthetically constructed forms, which do not usually occur in nature. Insofar as the above applies to the pores, this naturally also applies to the lattice openings. The lattice openings can also be asymmetrical and, in particular, can also have organic shapes. Due to the asymmetrical orThe organic shape provides greater stability for the hanger, allowing for different geometric and surface areas for decomposition. A side effect of the organic shape is that it immediately visualizes for the user that this hanger is natural and biodegradable. Thus, the visual shape can indicate the hanger's use.

[0017] According to another variant, the pore structure can be formed by a foamed, biodegradable plastic. One option is a variant in which the outer surface of the coat hanger is essentially closed and thus smooth, meaning the pores are not visible from the outside (to the average human eye). Alternatively, a variant in which the outer surface is open-pored and the pores are visible from the outside. Both variants make the coat hanger lightweight and also enable rapid biodegradation. However, the variant with open pores on the surface is preferable.Nevertheless, due to the thin-walled surface layer, biodegradability of the closed-surface variant can also be achieved, because once the surface is attacked, there is a large surface-to-volume ratio of the pores inside, which leads to rapid decomposition.

[0018] According to a further variant, the pores of the pore structure are formed by openings in the coat hanger. These openings penetrate the hanger body formed by the coat hanger, e.g., transversely to the hanging direction. In particular, the cross-sectional area of ​​the opening of each of the predominant portion of the pores is more than 1 cm. 2 Square centimeters per opening. In particular, all pores together have an opening area of, for example, 150 cm 2 on.

[0019] In this variant, for example, the coat hanger is not made of a foamed biodegradable plastic, but the biodegradable material, in particular the biodegradable plastic, is injection-molded and the openings are kept free, for example, by inserts in the mold.

[0020] These openings, which are larger than the foamed pores, are visible to the eye even when viewed from a distance and penetrate the hanger body transversely to the direction of suspension.

[0021] Here, the hanging direction is the direction from the hook section to the trouser holder section. There are two transverse directions perpendicular to this: one is the direction of extension of the shoulder sections. This is referred to as the shoulder section extension direction, and the further direction perpendicular to it is referred to here as the transverse direction for the sake of simplicity. The coat hanger thus has a hanging direction (vertical direction), a shoulder section extension direction that also corresponds to the extension direction of the trouser holder section, and a transverse direction that is the direction transverse to the two aforementioned directions. The coat hanger can be formed from a hanger body that is a substantially planar element and is delimited, for example, in the transverse direction by two parallel surfaces and circumferentially outwardly by an outer boundary edge.Between the trouser holder section and the shoulder sections there is an inner hole which is bordered by an inner boundary edge of the coat hanger.

[0022] The shoulder sections are formed by arms. These are also bounded in the transverse direction by planar arm surfaces. The arm surfaces are called arm surfaces to distinguish them from the planar web surfaces that form the planar web that forms the trouser holder section. The corresponding planar sections that bound the hook section are called hanger surfaces for simplicity.

[0023] The arm surfaces and / or the web surfaces and / or the hanger surfaces are each permeated by pores, thus these corresponding surface sections form a plate-shaped configuration which is permeated by the openings in the transverse direction.

[0024] According to a preferred development, the bracket body is surrounded on the outside by an outer boundary edge that completely defines the bracket body, and on the inside by an inner boundary edge that completely defines the bracket body. The outer boundary edge and the inner boundary edge have, for example, a transverse thickening. This can have a substantially round or oval cross-section or a planar cross-section and be designed as a rib whose planar surfaces extend in the transverse direction.

[0025] This planar surface can be enclosed by the boundary ribs or transverse thickenings in such a way that this thickening or rib protrudes from the surface in the transverse direction from one side or projects beyond the planar surface on both sides.

[0026] The planar surface is thus formed by a plate element permeated by pores, the thickness of which is less than the transverse diameter of the transverse thickening.

[0027] This plate element preferably extends in the direction of suspension of the bracket, i.e., in the vertical direction. In this direction, the plate element can be corrugated in its cross-sectional view.

[0028] Alternatively or additionally, the plate element can be corrugated in the direction of extension of the trouser holder section, i.e. in the direction of extension of the trouser holder section.

[0029] One or more waves can be provided in the cross-section in the aforementioned directions. This corrugation provides additional stability, thus providing a lightweight, stable, and biodegradable hanger.

[0030] The aforementioned pores provided in the plate element can each be defined by a boundary edge in the form of a rib or thickening. This provides further increased stability. Thus, a boundary edge similar to the boundary edge of the hanger body itself is provided here. It may be that not only the shoulder sections, the hook section, and the trouser holder section are permeated with pores to form the planar element.

[0031] The trouser holder section may also not have any pores or grid structure, but be a continuous, essentially unperforated element.

[0032] According to another variant, the grid structure is covered.

[0033] The lattice structure is formed, for example, by ribs whose rib-bounding surfaces run in the transverse plane direction. The ribs can have a round, oval, or any other cross-section. These ribs are held in a frame formed by the surrounding edge. The surrounding edge can be formed by the aforementioned thickening or be a rib in itself.

[0034] The individual ribs can be inclined to each other and do not have to be straight, but can also be curved.

[0035] The individual ribs can have different cross-sectional thicknesses or different cross-sectional thicknesses along their length.

[0036] This brings further asymmetry and better stability.

[0037] It may be that the rib structures in the hanger body are separated from one another, for example a rib structure section in the hook section, another rib structure section which passes through both shoulder sections and another rib section which is separated therefrom and passes through the trouser holder section.

[0038] For example, three separate rib structure sections are provided.

[0039] The rib structure may, in a transverse view from the side, correspond to the configuration of a leaf, in particular to one of the following leaf types: linden leaf, oak leaf, beech leaf.

[0040] Further advantageous embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

[0041] Fig. 1.1 a first embodiment of a bracket with a bracket body, which in

[0042] is interspersed with openings in the transverse direction,

[0043] Fig. 1.2a shows a further variant of the bracket shown in Fig. 1.1, in which a plate element permeated by pores is held in a frame consisting of an inner and outer transverse thickening,

[0044] Fig. 1 ,2b a cross-sectional view along the line VV in Fig. 1 ,2a,

[0045] Fig. 1.3a a further development of the example from Fig. 1.2a and b, where pore openings are each completely surrounded by a thickening or rib,

[0046] Fig. 1,3b a cross-sectional view along the line VV in Fig. 1,3a, Fig. 1.4a a further development of the example from Fig. 1.2a and b, wherein here the plate element permeated with pores is corrugated in the horizontal or shoulder section extension direction,

[0047] Fig. 1.4b is a cross-sectional view along the line HH in Fig. 1.4a,

[0048] Fig. 1.5a a further development of the example from Fig. 1.2a and b, where the porous plate element is corrugated in the vertical direction,

[0049] Fig. 1 ,5b a cross-sectional view along the line VV in Fig. 1 ,5a,

[0050] Fig. 1.6a a further development of the example in Fig. 1.4a, b and 1.5a, b, in which the plate element permeated by pores is corrugated in the vertical and arm extension direction,

[0051] Fig. 1 ,6b a cross-sectional view along the line VV in Fig. 1 ,6a,

[0052] Fig. 2.1 a variant of the clothes hanger from Fig. 1 , wherein the trouser holder section is not permeated by pores,

[0053] Fig. 2.2. a a variant of the clothes hanger from Fig. 2.1a, b, where the trouser holder section is not permeated by pores,

[0054] Fig. 2.2. b is a cross-sectional view along the line VV in Fig. 2.2a,

[0055] Fig. 3.1. a an embodiment in which the coat hanger has a grid structure with

[0056] has grille openings,

[0057] Fig. 3.1.b is a cross-sectional view along the line VV in Fig. 3.1a,

[0058] Fig. 4.1. a shows an embodiment in which the coat hanger is made of a foamed biodegradable plastic material, and

[0059] Fig. 4.1.b is a cross-sectional view along the line VV in Fig. 4.1a.

[0060] The figures essentially describe four groups of exemplary embodiments. A first group is shown in Figs. 1.1 to 1.6, a second group in Figs. 2.1 and 2.2, a third group in Fig. 3.1, and a fourth group in Fig. 4.1.

[0061] In the figures, identical elements are provided with identical reference numerals.

[0062] The clothes hanger is designated by reference numeral 1. The clothes hanger 1 forms a hanger body 2, which has two shoulder sections 3, a trouser holder section 4, and a hook section 5.

[0063] In the first exemplary embodiment, the hanger body is delimited in the transverse direction, i.e. in the direction into the plane of the drawing, by two planar surfaces 6 which are flat with the exception of the pore openings 7. The outer boundary edge in the circumferential direction of the hanger is provided with the reference numeral 8, the inner boundary edge which delimits the opening 10 between the shoulder sections 3 and the trouser holder section 4, is provided with the reference numeral 9. The inner and outer boundary edges 8, 9 merge into the planar boundary surfaces 6 in a curve and in the transverse direction without any overhang, and thus the hanger body itself has a rounded shape which is only penetrated by the pore openings 7 in the transverse direction.

[0064] The transverse direction should always represent the direction of an axis that runs centrally through the opening 10, the hanging direction is the vertical direction because it represents the direction from the hook section 5 to the trouser holder section 4, the third direction perpendicular to this is called the trouser holder section extension direction or shoulder strap section extension direction.

[0065] In the exemplary embodiment in Fig. 1.1, the pore openings 7 are all organically shaped and each have different sizes. At least two, in particular more than eight or even more than ten such openings have a different surface area and also different contours.

[0066] Thus, when viewed transversely, the bracket has a pebble-like opening design of rounded river pebbles, with the pebbles forming the corresponding pore openings

[0067] 7 form.

[0068] In the variants in Fig. 1.2 to 1 .6 there are further details on the inner boundary edge

[0069] 8 in the area of ​​the trouser section. There, ribbing is provided in the direction of the trouser holder to prevent the trousers from falling off. On the outer edge 9, ribbing is also provided in the area of ​​the shoulder sections 3, but here it extends in the transverse direction. However, this will not be discussed further; such a design could also be provided for the hanger in Fig. 1.1, which is not shown there.

[0070] In the following, only the differences with regard to the design in Fig. 1.1 are described.

[0071] In Fig. 1.2, the bracket body has a slightly different shape. Essentially, a plate element 11 permeated with pores is provided here, which essentially forms the bracket body. A circumferential boundary rib 12, which is an example of a thickened portion, is provided on the outer boundary edge 8 or the inner boundary edge 9 of the bracket body 2. This can have a substantially semicircular shape, as can be seen in the cross-sectional arrangement along the line VV in Fig. 1.2.b. The plate element 11 permeated with pores then adjoins the planar side of the semicircle. The thickness of the plate element 11 in the cross-sectional direction is thinner than the corresponding thickness of the boundary rib 12. This design offers a further reduction in material combined with greater stability, although here too the asymmetric and organic pores achieve accelerated biodegradability. The design from Fig. 1.Figure 3 is a further development of the variant shown in Figure 1.2. Here, the individual pores are defined at the edges by pore-limiting ribs 12a, which extend transversely to the plate element 11 on both sides. This allows for further stability. These pore-limiting ribs are clearly visible in the cross-sectional view in Figure 1.3.b.

[0072] The design in Fig. 1.4 is a further development of the design in Fig. 1.2, wherein here the plate element 11 permeated by pores is designed to be corrugated in the trouser holder section extension direction, ie in the horizontal direction in its cross-sectional direction, as shown in Fig.

[0073] 1.4.b.

[0074] The variant in Fig. 1.5 is a similar development to the development in Fig. 1.4, except that here the waviness is not provided in the trouser holder or arm extension direction of the hanger, but in the vertical direction, ie in the hanging direction, as in Fig.

[0075] 1.5.b can be seen.

[0076] The design shown in Fig. 1.6a and b is essentially a combination of the design shown in Fig. 1.4 and 1.5, and the porous plate-shaped element 11 is corrugated in the suspension direction and in the direction of the trouser holder section extension. This double corrugation provides additional stability.

[0077] Fig. 2.1 is a further development of the design from Fig. 1.1 , whereby here no pores are provided only in the area of ​​the trouser holder section 4.

[0078] A corresponding further development of the embodiment from Fig. 1.2 is shown in Fig. 2.2a and b.

[0079] The design shown in Fig. 3.1a and b shows a variant in which no pore structure is provided, but rather a lattice structure. In this variant, the lattice structure is formed by ribs 13. These ribs 13 can have different diameters. The ribs 13 of the design shown in Fig. 3.1a and b have a leaf-like organic structure. Here, too, the individual lattice openings 14 have a different geometry in their cross-section and with respect to their boundary edge. As a variant of the examples with the continuous pores in the plate element, this is an alternative that also combines high stability with easy biodegradability.

[0080] In the example in Fig. 3.1a and b, three grid areas are provided which are separated from each other, namely a grid area in the area of ​​the trouser holder section 4, an area in the area of ​​the hook section 5 and an area in the area of ​​the shoulder sections 3.

[0081] The exemplary embodiment in Fig. 4.1 a and b shows a variant in which the hanger body 2 is made of a foamed, biodegradable plastic material, with a continuous layer on the surface so that the pores are not visible from the outside. As shown in Fig. 4.1 b, foamed pores are provided on the inside. These pores are much smaller than the pores in the examples from Figs. 1.1 to 1.6 and 2.1 and 2.2, which form continuous openings there. The design in Figs. 4.1 a and b also makes the hanger light yet stable and also leads to a high surface-to-volume ratio and thus to easy biodegradability.

[0082] However, these pores do not penetrate a planar plate element as macroscopic pores, as in the examples from Figures 1.1 to 1.6 and 2.1 and 2.2, but are constructed as microscopic pores in the manner of a sponge with different pore sizes.

[0083] The hanger is an integral hanger made of a monomaterial, with the corresponding hooks, arm and trouser holder sections being integrally connected to one another.

[0084] In the exemplary embodiments, small hook elements 15 are also provided integrally on the hanger body 2, which can serve, for example, to hang straps of women's camisoles or bras. The position of these hook elements 15 varies slightly in the various exemplary embodiments. However, the position is not limited to the specific arrangement; rather, the position in one of the embodiments can also be the same in one of the other embodiments.

[0085] According to a subordinate aspect of the invention, a method for producing this bracket can also be protected as such.

[0086] This method may involve injecting and foaming a material into an injection mold, wherein the material is a biodegradable plastic material.

[0087] Alternatively, the pores or ribs can be formed, such as for the variants in Figures 1.1 to 1.6 and 2.1, 2.2, and 3.1, and formed in an injection mold, with the corresponding grid openings and pores then being produced by inserts in the mold.

[0088] List of reference symbols

[0089] 1 coat hanger

[0090] 2 bracket bodies

[0091] 3 shoulder sections

[0092] 4 Trouser holder section

[0093] 5 Hook section

[0094] 6 planar surfaces

[0095] 7 pore openings

[0096] 8 Outer boundary edge

[0097] 9 Inner boundary edge

[0098] 10 Opening

[0099] 11 plate element permeated by pores

[0100] 12 limiting rib

[0101] 12a Pore limiting rib

[0102] 13 rib

[0103] 14 grille openings

[0104] 15 Hook element

Claims

Patent claims 1. One-piece clothes hanger (1) with a hook section (5), two shoulder sections (3) projecting therefrom and a trouser holder section (4) connecting the ends of the two shoulder sections (3), wherein the clothes hanger (1) is made of a biodegradable material, characterized in that the clothes hanger (1) has, at least in sections, a pore structure with differently shaped pores (7) and / or a grid structure with differently shaped grid openings (14).

2. One-piece clothes hanger (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that a predominant proportion of pores (7) each have an asymmetric, in particular organic geometry, and / or wherein a predominant proportion of grid openings (14) each have an asymmetric, in particular organic geometry.

3. One-piece clothes hanger (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the pore structure is formed by a foamed biodegradable plastic, wherein the pores (7) are not visible on an outer surface of the clothes hanger (1) and the outer surface is substantially closed, or wherein the pores (7) are visible on an outer surface of the clothes hanger and the outer surface is substantially open-pored.

4. One-piece clothes hanger (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the pores (7) of the pore structure are formed by openings (10) in the clothes hanger (1), which penetrate the hanger body (2) formed by the clothes hanger (1) transversely to the hanging direction and in particular each have a cross-sectional area of ​​more than 1 cm 2 have.

5. One-piece clothes hanger (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the hanger body (2) formed by the clothes hanger (1) is a substantially planar element, wherein the shoulder sections are formed by arms which are delimited transversely to the hanging direction by planar arm surfaces, wherein the trouser holder section (4) is formed by a planar web which is delimited transversely to the hanging direction by planar web surfaces, and wherein the hook section (5) is formed by a planar hanger which is delimited transversely to the hanging direction by planar hanger surfaces, wherein the arm surfaces and / or the web surfaces and / or the hanger surfaces are penetrated by the openings (10).

6. One-piece clothes hanger (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the hanger body (2) is delimited circumferentially around its outer boundary edge (8) and inner boundary edge (9) by a transverse thickening, and the planar surfaces which delimit the hanger body in the transverse direction are formed by a plate element (11) permeated by pores, the thickness of which is less than the transverse diameter of the transverse thickening.

7. One-piece clothes hanger (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the plate element (11) is corrugated in the hanging direction of the hanger, i.e. in the vertical direction and / or in the extension direction of the trouser holder section (4).

8. One-piece clothes hanger (1) according to one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the pores (7) are each delimited by a thickening, in particular a rib (12), which completely surrounds them directly at their boundary edge.

9. One-piece clothes hanger (1) according to one of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that the trouser bar has no pore structure or grid structure.

10. One-piece clothes hanger (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the grid structure is formed by ribs (13) which, together with a frame (12) circumferentially delimiting the hanger body (2) on the inside and outside, form the differently shaped grid openings (14).

11. One-piece clothes hanger (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the ribs have different cross-sectional thicknesses.

12. One-piece clothes hanger (1) according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that separate rib structures are formed in the hook section (5), the two shoulder sections (3) and the trouser holder section (4), wherein the rib structure in the shoulder sections (3) is a common rib structure of both shoulder sections.

13. One-piece clothes hanger (1) according to one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the rib structure in a lateral view corresponds to a rib structure of a sheet.

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