Rotatable Hook Hanger for Compact Garment Shipping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Garment hangers with metal hooks occupy significant space in shipping containers, leading to increased shipping costs due to the need for larger packaging volumes.

Innovation Solution

A collapsible hook hanger design featuring a rotatable metal hook that can transition from an upright position for retail use to a folded position during transportation, reducing the overall footprint and allowing for more efficient packaging.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the hook is kept in an upright position for retail use, then the hanger functions properly for displaying garments, but the shipping container occupies more space leading to increased shipping costs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehanger functionalityVSAvoidshipping container volume

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The hook is designed to be rotatable between an upright position for retail use and a folded position for shipping. The drum mechanism allows the hook to rotate dynamically, enabling the hanger to adapt its configuration based on whether it is being used or stored/transported, thus resolving the contradiction between functionality and space efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The hook can be rotated from a vertical orientation (upright position) to a horizontal or angled orientation (folded position) by rotating the drum within the fixture. This dimensional change allows the hook to occupy significantly less space during shipping while maintaining full functionality when upright

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Stability of the object's composition

If the hook is designed to be fixed in an upright position, then the hanger provides stable support for garments, but the shipping costs increase due to larger packaging volume requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehanger stabilityVSAvoidpackaging volume

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The hook system transitions from a static fixed position to a dynamic rotatable position. The drum can rotate to allow the hook to move between upright (stable for use) and folded (compact for shipping) positions, enabling the system to provide stability when needed while minimizing volume during transport

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The drum is rotatably received within the fixture's circular opening, creating a nested structure where the drum fits inside the fixture. This nesting allows the hook mechanism to be compact during shipping while still providing full functionality when deployed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS8113393B2Collapsible hook hanger

Publication Date: 2012.02.14 SOURCING SOLUTIONS INT

AI summary

A collapsible hook hanger having a metal hook moveable between an upright position for displaying garments and a folded position for reducing the footprint of the hanger during packaging/transportation of pre-hung garments.