AU727374B2 - Side indicator hangers - Google Patents

Description

1- P/10(11 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 199 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

9 Name of Applicant: Actual Inventors: Address for service in Australia: Invention Title: SPOTLESS PLASTICS PTY. LTD.

Stanley F. GOULDSON, David J. MARSHALL and William W. BUSH CARTER SMITH BEADLE 2 Railway Parade Canmberwell Victoria 3124 Australia SIDE INDICATOR HANGERS AND MFFHOD AND At.A A mz-N290LUa i1 l ffANCERS IU~AdLYqU~l.1T xV"r-1rn ALr5A£im'LAu 2JvA statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us SIDE INDICATOR HANGERS Field of the Invention This invention relates to a garment hanger having a side sizer indicator.

Background of the Invention: For purposes of displaying garments suspended on hangers in an orderly manner to the retail customer, certain retail stores desire to affix an indicating means on the side of the hook of the hanger where the hook meets the hanger body.

The indicating means identifies some attribute of the garment suspended from the hanger, such as size, quality, colour, manufacturing data, or pattern.

To accommodate the various types of hangers available in the industry, numerous indicating means have been developed in a variety of shapes, sizes and materials. Similarly, hangers have been developed to accommodate a variety of different indicating means.

US Patent 4,115,940 discloses a side sizer indicator for a garment hanger, having a removable indicia carrying tab. The indicia is attached to a web contiguous to the hanger body which is-joined to both the body and the hook.

The small size and the removable nature of this. indicia generated concern on the part of some garment hanger manufacturers that prompted the development of S 20 non-removable or child proof indicia for garment hangers.

US Patents 5,096,101 and 5,199,608 disclose garment hangers with lacking or irremovable information tabs, which hangers use a rib or thickened body portion to surround the indicia and block access to the underside of the indicia.

US Patent 5,441,182 also discloses a garment with a locking information clip having hook like elements or a raised platform to seat the clip, each of which prevents easy removal of the clip.

Environmental concerns have also generated a desire for hangers having information indicia which are essentially unremovable for the average consumer, but removable with the appropriate tooling for reuse and recycle purposes.

Inasmuch as the indicators are generally colored plastic, it is highly desirable in any recycling program to remove the indicator before grinding "the hangers for reuse.

TNB:NB:##29061 RES I 30 September 2000 Further, in a reuse program, it is necessary to remove the old size indicia before fitting a new one.

An example of a garment hanger with a child proof size indicator and a special tool for removing the indicator is illustrated in US Patent 5,449,099. As taught is in this patent, the hanger may be moulded with cuts in the protective rib which surrounds the clip to enable manual access by a special tool. This system however does not enable automated removal of the size indicia as necessary for commercially viable reuse or recycle programs.

US Patent 5,611,469 discloses a Hanger with Identification Clip having a through opening in the attachment web between the attachment rib and the :I childproof safety rib. However, once the indicator is mounted, the opening is covered and cannot be used to provide entry of an indicator detachment tool.

Summary of the Invention: e Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved 15 garment hanger having an indicator detachment opening which allows an indicator to be attached to a hanger in one or more of the foregoing ways, but which permits removal of the indicator in an automated operation that reduces the likelihood of damage to the indicator or to the hanger.

The invention therefore provides a garment hanger adapted to have an 20 information indicator mounted thereon, wherein said indicator has side walls, said indicator further defining at least one internal projection; said garment hanger comprising a body having a hook member joined to said body at one end thereof, and a web adjacent said hook and said body for receiving said indicator, said web defining an engagement rib which cooperates with said internal projection to secure said indicator to said web, said web further having a security means to prevent outward movement of said side walls and disengagement of said projection and said engagement rib, said web defining at least one through opening, said opening, extending through said security means so as to be partially covered by said indicator.

In an embodiment of the invention, the indicator attachment area TNB:NB:##29061 RES 3 3 October 2000 includes a raised area for seating the indicia which prevents unauthorised or inadvertent removal, since the raised area causes a finger nail or other sliding tool to "jump" when it engages the raised portion. In this embodiment, the indicator attachment area includes a through opening which also extends through the raised area, and any locking ridges formed on the indicator attachment area. This opening enables an automated wedge tool to be inserted through the opening and engage the indicator on one side and a reaction surface on the other to remove the indicator from the hanger.

In use, as will be described more fully below, the indicator or side sizer is disengaged from the indicator attachment area by inserting a wedge through the opening or aperture to thereby release the indicator from the garment hanger.

Brief Description of the Drawings: The foregoing and other objects of the invention may now be more readily .:'•ascertained from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments 15 thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings; in which: Figure 1 illustrates a front elevation view of the hook of a hanger incorporating a typical side sizer locking attachment mechanism, and the through opening or the present invention formed therein; g Figure 1(a) illustrates a front elevation view of a portion of a hanger o o 20 incorporating a side sizer locking attachment mechanism, and a modified form of the through opening of the present invention formed therein; Figure 2 illustrates an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the garment hanger and indicator of Figure 1; Figure 3 illustrates an enlarged sectional view of a portion of a second type of garment hanger and side sizer indicator.

Figure 4 illustrates a diagrammatic view of the first means for detaching apparatus an indicator in the detaching position; Figure 5 is an illustrative view of the wedge and garment hanger with indicator just before detachment of the indicator; Figure 6 is an illustrative view of the wedge and garment hanger with indicator at the moment of detachment of the indicator.

TNB:NB:##29061.RESI 30 September 2000 Figure 7 is a plan view of one embodiment a manual detachment mechanism constructed in accordance with the present invention; Figure 8 is a cross-section view of the manual detachment apparatus illustrated in Figure 7 taken along section lines 8-8' of Figure 7.

Figure 9 illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of the detaching apparatus according to the present invention with a feeding rail, a plurality of hangers thereon, and a first plate for receiving a hanger; Figure 10 illustrates a second sequential view of the detaching apparatus according to the present invention with a second plate securing the hanger, while the wedge removes the indicator; !i Figure 11 illustrates a third sequential view of the detaching apparatus according to the present invention with a first plate releasing the processed hangers, while the second plate maintains a separation; Figure 12 is an isometric schematic illustration of the detachment apparatus of the present invention illustrating the control and actuating mechanisms therefore.

.Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments: In the preferred embodiment, the improved hanger of the present invention is formed of styrene which provides a clear virtually transparent hanger for maximum display of garments suspended therefrom. Alternately, the hanger could be formed from K resin, H.I. styrene, polypropylene or other suitable thermoplastic.

The hanger 1 illustrated in Figure 1 is equipped with a hook 14 for engaging a rod or other supporting means, and a body 12 for supporting, a garment to be hung on the hanger. A web 16 extends between the hook 14 and the body 12 to provide an indicator attachment mechanism to receive an indicator 18 which bears an indicia or colour, or both, relating to a characteristic of the garment suspended from hanger body 12. As illustrated in Figure 1, it is common for the indicator 18 to be attached to the web member 16 by snapping it downwardly over an attachment rib in the direction of arrow A, illustrated in Figure 1. The web also includes a second rib 22 which may be used to childproof the hanger and prevent easy removal of the indicator 18.

Environmental concerns on the part of large retail sales organisations have TNB:NB:##2906[.RESI 30 September 2000 prompted a desire for hangers having side sizers 18 that are essentially unremovable for the average customer and, thus, "childproof' within the meaning of that term as described by the garment industry. The industry also desires that the side sizers be removable with the appropriate tooling for reuse and recycle purposes, but at present no automated apparatus is available for this removal. Inasmuch as the indicators are generally colored plastic, it is highly desirable in any recycling program to remove the indicator before grinding the hangers for reuse. If the program is a reuse program rather than a recycling program, it is necessary to remove the old size indicator before attaching a new one.

The present invention includes a hanger having a side sizer indicia tab wherein the tab is essentially unremovable for the average consumer, but removable with the indicator detachment mechanism of the present invention. To enable removal of the tab, at least one through opening 24 is formed in web 16 which extends through the web, and through the security rib 22 which prevents access or 15 "finger purchase" on the edges of indicia 18. Alternately, the through opening may extend through both the attachment rib 20 and the security rib 22, or may extend to the attachment rib, with a cut through the attachment rib 20 as illustrated in the •enlarged portion of Figure 1 Figure 2 illustrates in cross-section, web 16 of hanger 1 having a side sizer 20 indicia 18 attached thereto. As illustrated in Figure 2, the size indicia 18 includes a pair of inwardly extending barbs or ridges 26a, 26b which snap over the enlarged retention rib 20 of web 16. A variety of internal rib or barb constructions are known in the prior art and illustrated in the various patents referred to in the summary of the prior art above.

As illustrated in Figure 1 and Figure 2, a security rib 22 is also provided on web 16 to prevent the easy removal of the indicia by enabling "finger purchase" under one of the inwardly directed legs 28a, 28b, of the size indicia 18.

An alternate security arrangement is illustrated in Figure 3, wherein the web 16 receives an indicator 18 in the matter illustrated by arrow A in Figure 1. The web 16 of the hanger illustrated in Figure 3 is formed somewhat differently in crosssection and uses an alternate means for thwarting the easy removal of the indicator September 2000 18. As illustrated in Figure 1, the web 16 includes a first rib 20, which cooperates with internal barbs or ridges 26a, 26b to secure the indicator to the web 16. Web 16 also includes an enlarged rib 30 which stabilises the indicator 18 to prevent undesirable movement of the indicator in normal use. The arrangement illustrated in Figure 3 also includes a security land 22a which is elevated above the planar surface 16a, of web 16. In practice, this elevated land 22a and the curved portion 22b cause a fingernail or:other removal device to "jump"" the gap between the indicator 18 and the land 22a, making it extremely difficult for the average consumer to remove the indicator 18.

The present invention uses at least one through opening 24 formed in web 16 to enable the removal of the "non-removable" indicators 18. The through opening 24 includes a reaction surface 24a and an opening which extends through the web and through the security rib 22 or the security land 22a to a space 24b underlying the indicator 18. The through opening may extend through both the attachment rib 15 20 and the security rib 22, or may extend to the attachment rib, with a cut through the attachment rib 20 as illustrated in the enlarged portion of Figure The through opening should not be so large as to permit "finger purchase" on the underside of the indicator, and should be transverse to the indicator 18.

~The removal of the "non-removable" indicator 18 will be described with 20 respect to Figures 5 and 6 which illustrate in cross-section the web 16 of hanger 1, and the indicator 18 of Figure 2 together with the removal tool of the present invention.

As illustrated in Figure 5, the indicator 18 is securely attached to web 16 by virtue of the retention rib 20 and internal barbs 26a and b which engage the retention rib 20. The open ends 28a, 28b are also supported on web 16 on either side of through opening 24.

To remove the side sizer indicator 18, a wedge tool is inserted into the through opening 24 between the reaction surface 24a and the inwardly extending legs 28a, 28b. As the wedge tool penetrates through the through opening 24, a first side of the wedge tool 100a engages the reaction surface 24a while the tapered removal edge 100b engages the inwardly extending arms 28a and 28b of the TNB:NB:##29061.RESI 30 September 2000 8 indicator 18. The downward motion indicated by the arrow B in Figure 6 results in a laterally outward pressure in the direction of arrow C on the inwardly extending legs 28a, 28b causing the mid portion of the indicator to bow outwardly, to a point where the barbs or ribs 26a, 26b which are formed of plastic, will be resiliently deformed and slide over the retention rib 20 to the position illustrated in Figure The resilient quality of the plastic materials from which the indicators 18 are normally formed creates a sudden release of the indicator 18 from web 16, expelling the indicator 18 in the direction of arrow C. The rate of downward movement of the wedge tool 100 determines to some extent the forcefulness of the detachment of indicator 18 from web. 16, and the detachment process can be regulated to some extent by varying the penetration rate of wedge tool 100 through the through opening 24. A thin blade type wedge tool may also be employed in combination with a through opening 24 which cuts through the attachment rib 20 to ensure complete removal of the indicator in the event of multiple security ribs.

The automated detachment of the indicator 18 from the hangers 1 will be described with respect to Figure 6. One or more hangers are suspended from an angled rod 105 (illustrated in Figure 12), which may gravity feed the hangers to the first means 107 for removal of the indicator. The first means 107 may reciprocate ."!into a support position by virtue of a support and drive mechanism 133. A plurality S 20 of blocks 200, 202 and 204 may define a template for securing the hanger from undesirable movement, and in combination with angled rod 105, define a registration means for aligning the hanger with the automatic detachment wedge 100. Wedge tool 100 is mounted to the first means, which reciprocates wedge 100 through the through opening 24 defined in hanger 1. In a preferred embodiment, it is driven by a pneumatic cylinder or electric solenoid.

While sandwiched in this position, the wedge tool 100 is driven through the through opening 24 in hanger 1 in the manner previously described with respect to Figure 3. Wedge tool 100 may be easily driven by a pneumatic cylinder attached to the back plate 107. Alternately, electromagnetic or hydraulic drive mechanisms may be utilised as desired. The penetration of wedge tool 100 results in the forcible detachment of the indicator 18 as illustrated in Figure 6. The first means 107 may TNB:NB:##29061.RESI 30 September 2000 then be reciprocated out of engagement with the hanger 1 to provide for removal and/or reuse of the hanger.

Thus, the detachment mechanism illustrated in Figure 6 cycles repetitively to automatically detach a plurality of the "non-removable" indicators 18 from a plurality of hangers 1.

As illustrated in Figure 6, the first means 107 includes a slot 107a to allow reciprocation of the means 107 about hanger rod 105. Alternately, first means 107 could be formed as a laterally reciprocating plate traversing the space between the support rod 105 and the hanger body 12, provided the wedge tool 100 is reciprocated to a position approximate that of through opening 24. While in the start of downward position illustrated in Figure 6, the hanger 1 may be further aligned for processing by means of removable template blocks which are illustrated in dotted lines at 200, 202, and 204 in Figure 7. These blocks may be secured to the back plate 107 by means of alignment pins or screws 206. The template blocks 200- 15 204 enable a variety of hanger configurations and styles to be automatically S.processed by the apparatus of the present invention. Blocks 200-204 provide registration blocks for the hanger 1 that maintain the hanger in a proximate location for entry of wedge tool 100 through the through opening 24. Blocks 202 and 204 also define there between an exit window for the forcible expulsion of indicator 18 20 when the wedge tool 100 is driven through the through opening 24.

Alternatively, recesses may be milled into the first means 107 to provide a stabilising template for the hanger 1 to be processed, and to provide an exit path for indicator 18.

A vacuum tube 126 may also be provided adjacent to the exit path defined between blocks 202 and 204 to receive the indicator 18 and convey it to a collection bin for further processing or recycling.

Referring now to Figures 7 and 8, there is illustrated a tool for manually removing the indicators 18 from hanger 1. Figure 7 illustrates a plan view of the manual removal tool, while Figure 8 illustrates a section view taken along section line 8-8' of Figure 7.

The device for manually removing an indicator from a garment hanger can i TNB NB:##29061 RESI 30 September 2000 be handheld, or may have a rectangular shape as illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 for bench mounting. The device includes a plate 138 which can be made of metal or moulded plastic and includes a recessed area 139 for receiving the hanger and a wedge tool 100 which extends upwardly from the recessed area 139 to engage the through opening 24 in the hanger having an indicator to be removed. The wedge tool 100 performs exactly the same function as previously described with respect to Figures 4-6. The only difference is that with the manual detachment mechanism, the hanger 1 is manually positioned with the wedge tool 100 entering the through opening 24, and then the hanger is pressed downwardly against the recess in plate 139 to effect removal of the indicator 18. An alignment pin 105a and alignment blocks 200a and 204a may be provided to assist the operator in aligning the hanger :0 .0 1 to engage the wedge tool 100 in the through opening 24. As the hanger is pressed 0 0 00•into engagement with the recessed area 139, the wedge tool 100 removes the indicator 18 in the direction of arrow C as illustrated in Figure 7.

Another embodiment of the automated detachment of the indicator 18 from the hangers 1 will be described with respect to Figures 9-11. As illustrated in Figure 9, a support rod 105 is angled downwardly and receives a plurality of hangers 1 00o• thereon which slide downwardly along rod 105 until they reach back plate 107.

Alternately, a screw rod conveyor may be used for rod 105 to sequentially advance 0 20 a plurality of hanger 1 into position for detachment of the indicators 18. In the initial start position, the back plate 107 is extended downwardly, straddling rod 105 as illustrated in Figures 4 and 12. When at least one hanger la has been received against the back plate 107, a front plate 106 is reciprocated downwardly and the direction of the arrow D in Figure 10 by a pneumatic drive motor 204. Front plate 106 includes a rounded wedge engagement surface 106a which penetrates the hangers supported on rod 105 and separates hanger la from the remainder of the hangers 1 as the front plate 106 is driven downwardly. The front plate 106 and the back p late 107 are mounted for reciprocation on support means 133 and are driven upwardly and downwardly by pneumatic drive motors 108a, 108b via connecting rods or pistons 109, 110. It should be noted that in Figures 9-11 the relative proportions of the various components have been exaggerated to clarify the 1 TNB:NB:##29061I.RES1 30 September 2000 11 operation of the device, and the depiction in Figures 9-11 is intended to be illustrative in a schematic sense, and not a literal depiction of the elements As illustrated in Figure 10, the front plate 106 has been extended downwardly to its second position commensurate with the start position of back plate 107. Hanger la has been separated for the remainder of the hangers 1 and is now sandwiched between front plate 106 and back plate 107. While sandwiched in this position, the wedge tool 100 is driven through the through opening 24 in hanger la and into a matching cavity on front plate 106 in the manner previously described with respect to Figures 5 and 6. Wedge tool 100 may be easily driven in the direction of arrow B in Figure 10 by a pneumatic cylinder 102 attached to the back plate 107.

9*99 After the indicator has been removed from hanger la, the wedge tool 100 is retracted, and back plate 107 is raised to the position illustrated in Figure 11 while front plate 106 remains in its downward position. This enables 'the hanger la to slide down the support rod 105 in the direction of arrow E where it may be collected or advanced for further processing by a screw rod conveyor or the like.

After the hanger la is free of the detachment mechanism, plate 107 is reciprocated downwardly to the position illustrated in Figure 9, and the front plate 106 is raised to the position illustrated in Figure 9 to allow the collected group of ".hangers to slide down support rod 105 into engagement with back plate 107 at the 20 start position as previously with respect to Figure 9. Thus, the detachment mechanism illustrated in Figures 9-11 cycles repetitively to detach the "nonremovable" indicators 18 from a plurality of hangers 1.

As illustrated in Figure 4, the back alate 107 includes a slot 107a to allow reciprocation of the back plate 107 about hanger rod 105. Alternately, back plate 107 could be formed as a, laterally reciprocating plate traversing the space between the support rod 105 and the hanger body 12, provided the wedge tool 100 is reciprocated to a position approximate that of through opening 24. Figure 4 is an illustration of the apparatus taken along section lines 7-7 of Figure 10. It is understood that back plate 107 is supported by the support means 133 and is reciprocated upwardly and downwardly in the direction of arrow F by means of the pneumatic drive 108(b) as previously described with respect to Figures 9-11. While S TNB:NB:##29061.RES1 30 September 2000 in the start of downward position illustrated in Figure 4, the hanger 1 may be further aligned for processing by means of removable template blocks which are illustrated in dotted lines at 200, 202, and 204 in Figure 4. These blocks may be secured to the back plate 107 by means of alignment pins or screws 206. The template blocks 200204 enable a variety of hanger configurations and styles to be automatically processed by the apparatus of the present, invention. Blocks 200-204 provide registration blocks for the hanger 1 that maintain the hanger in a proximate location for entry of wedge tool 100 through the through opening 24. Blocks 202 and 204 also define there between an exit window for the forcible expulsion of indicator 18 when the wedge tool 100 is driven through the through opening 24.

~Alternatively, recesses may be milled into the back plate 107 to provide a stabilising template for the hanger 1 to be processed, and to provide an exit path for indicator 18.

diIt is to be noted that the blocks 200-204 are no greater in thickness than the 15 clearance between the front plate 106 and back plate 107 to enable the hanger to be securely captured there between for removal of the indicator 18. A vacuum tube 126 may also be provided adjacent the exit path defined between blocks 202 and 204 to receive the indicator 18 and convey it to a collectionbin for further processing or recycling.

20 As illustrated in Figure 4, the apparatus is schematically illustrated in isometric form with the indicators 18 on the opposite side of rod 105, and the wedge tool 100 mounted on the opposite side of plate 107. In a preferred embodiment, the detachment apparatus may be driven pneumatically and further include a position control means 111, an air control means 114, a first timer 116, a second timer 117, and an air valve 137. The air valve 137 generates and/or controls pressurised air by which the detachment apparatus is controlled and driven.

The air valve 137, the timers 116 and 117, the actuating means or pneumatic cylinders 108, 108b, the air control means 114 and the position control means 111 are respectively connected by air tubes for pneumatic control. The entire apparatus, including a reciprocating support 133, which is not illustrated in Figure 12 is supported to a fixed mount as indicated at 120.

TNB:NB:##2906.RES 1 30 September 2000 13 As illustrated in Figure 12, the position control means 111 includes a first detector 112 for the position of the front plate 106 and a second detector 113 for the position of back plate 107. The first detector 112 and the second detector 113 work on a pneumatic basis and have a similar structure. First and second detectors 112 and 113 each include contact plates which are contacted with the upper sides 106 of the back plate 107 respectively. In the upper positions, the front plate 106 and the back plate 107 press upwardly on ,the contact plates respectively, to create a pneumatic signal in the position control means 111, thereby permitting a steady controlled movement of plates 106 and 107.

The actuating means 108a, 108b controls the movements of the two plates 106, 107 and the control sequence is such that the front plate 106 cannot move upwardly when the back plate 107 is not in its lowermost position, and the back plate 107 cannot move upwardly when the, front plate 106 is not in its lower most position. This ensures that the hangers having side sizer indicators to be detached do 15 not slide along feeding rail 105 under the plates 106, 107 when not being processed.

The first timer 116 controls the regular cycle of the movement of the two plates 106 and 107, whereas the second timer 117 enables a repeated downward movement of the front plate 106, if, for example, the hook of a hanger 1 is bent or S-damaged, or the indicator 18 is bent or damaged. In this case, the timer 117 gives a 20 signal to the actuating means 108a to lift the front plate 106 up again and to retry to move it downwardly. This is repeated until the hanger 1 is properly received within the alignment blocks 202, 204 of plate 107 so that front plate 106 can move to its lower position without resistance.

It is understood that although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described and that various modifications may be made by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention is defined in the following claims. While the detachment apparatus of the described embodiment is pneumatically driven, the detachment apparatus could be driven by electrical, mechanical or other appropriate drive means.

Furthermore, the present invention has been described and illustrated in connection with a single type of side sizer indicator 18, although it is understood TNB:NB:##29061.RESI1 30 September 2000 14 that the present invention can be used without adaptation, or easily adapted to accommodate virtually any type of side sizing indicator.

While it has been shown and described what is considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will, of courses, be understood that various modifications and changes in form or detail can be readily made without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is, therefore, intended that the invention not be limited to the exact form and detail herein shown and described nor to anything less than the whole of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

*C

TNB:NB:##29061.RESI 30 September 2000

Claims (9)

1. A garment hanger adapted to have an information indicator mounted thereon, wherein said indicator has side walls, said indicator further defining at least one internal projection; said garment hanger comprising a body having a hook member joined to said body at one end thereof, and a web adjacent said hook and said body for receiving said indicator, said web defining an engagement rib which cooperates with said internal projection to secure said indicator to said web, said web further having a security means to prevent outward movement of said side walls and disengagement of said projection and said engagement rib, too:% said web defining at least one through opening, said opening. extending S through said security means so as to be partially covered by said indicator.

2. A garment hanger as claimed in claim 1 wherein said information indicator is a side sizer indicator which includes first and second side walls with at least one barb on each side wall, and said web includes at least one security rib which is engaged by said bqbs. *too

3. A garment hanger as claimed in claim 1 wherein said information indicator is a side sizer indicator which includes first and second side walls wherein 55 said at least one projection includes an engagement barb and a security barb an each Side wall, and said web includes at least one security rib adjacent said engagement rib, which ribs are engaged by said barbs to secure said indicator to said hanger.

4. A garment hanger as claimed in claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein said through opening extends through said security means and said engagement rib.

5. A garment hanger as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said security means is a rib which prevents access to open edges defined by said sidewalls.

6. A garment hanger as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said through opening extends through said security rib and said engagement rib.

7. A garment hanger as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said security means is an elevated land which receives an open edge defined by said TNB:NB:##29061.RES I 30 September 2000 sidewall 7.

8. A garment hanger as claimed in claim 7 wherein said through opening extends through said elevated land to said engagement rib.

9. A garment hanger as claimed in claim 7 wherein said through opening extends through said elevated land and said engagement rib. A garment hanger substantially as hereinbefore described with references to Figures 1 and 2 and Figures la and 3 of the accompanying drawings. DATED: 3 October 2000 FREEHILLS CARTER SMITH BEADLE Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: 0 15 SPOTLESS PLASTICS PTY LTD 0 0 0 e. S TNB:NB:##29061.RES I 3 October 2000