Garment hanger

Abstract

A garment hanger ( 10 ) has at least one arm ( 12 ) connected to a suspension portion ( 11 ). The garment hanger has a first moulded portion ( 20 ), forming a first proportion of the at least one arm and suspension portion, mated and joined to at least a second moulded portion ( 40 ), forming a remaining second proportion of the at least one arm and suspension portion, to form a hollow, enclosed monocoque structure. The garment hanger may be provided with fingers ( 830 ) to which loops or straps of a garment may be attached to suspend the garment from the garment hanger thereby. Alternatively, or in addition, the monocoque garment hanger may include engagement means ( 730 ) for engaging a suspension hook of a further garment hanger such that the further garment hanger may be suspended from the monocoque garment hanger.

1 - 32 . (canceled)  
   
   
       33 . A garment hanger having at least one arm connected to a suspension portion, the garment hanger comprising a first moulded portion, forming a first proportion of the at least one arm and the suspension portion, mated and joined to at least a second moulded portion, forming a remaining second proportion of the at least one arm and suspension portion, to form a hollow, enclosed monocoque structure without internal strengthening ribs in which a majority of stresses to which the garment hanger is subject are carried by an outer skin of the garment hanger, wherein, in use, the first moulded portion is an upper portion of the garment hanger and at least one of the portions of the at least a second moulded portion is a lower portion of the garment hanger.  
   
   
       34 . A garment hanger as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein the first proportion is substantially a half.  
   
   
       35 . A garment hanger as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein the first portion is welded to at least one of the portions of the at least a second portion.  
   
   
       36 . A garment hanger as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein the first portion is joined to at least one of the portions of the at least a second portion by adhesive.  
   
   
       37 . A garment hanger as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein the first portion is joined to at least one of the portions of the at least a second portion by cooperating clip means on the first portion and on the at least one of the portions of the at least a second portion.  
   
   
       38 . A garment hanger as claimed in  claim 33 , comprising bar means substantially horizontal in use for supporting a garment thereby.  
   
   
       39 . A garment hanger as claimed in  claim 38 , wherein the bar means is an extruded bar.  
   
   
       40 . A garment hanger as claimed in  claim 38 , wherein the bar means comprises a bar at least partially coated with a non-slip material having a higher coefficient of friction than material of the bar.  
   
   
       41 . A garment hanger as claimed in  claim 40 , wherein the bar is coated on an upper, in use, surface.  
   
   
       42 . A garment hanger as claimed in  claim 40 , wherein the bar is coated on at least one substantially vertical, in use, surface.  
   
   
       43 . A garment hanger as claimed in  claim 38 , wherein the garment hanger has two opposed arms and the bar means passes through apertures in the opposed arms of the garment hanger such that opposed ends of the bar means are each located within the garment hanger.  
   
   
       44 . A garment hanger as claimed in  claim 38 , wherein an upper face of the bar means is substantially convex and a lower face is substantially planar.  
   
   
       45 . A garment hanger as claimed in  claim 33 , comprising two opposed arms and loop engaging means for supporting a garment from a loop thereby.  
   
   
       46 . A garment hanger as claimed in  claim 45 , wherein the loop engaging means comprise a respective loop engaging means in a respective cavity in each of the opposed arms.  
   
   
       47 . A garment hanger as claimed in  claim 45 , comprising bar means, wherein the loop engaging means comprise a respective loop engaging means in respective cavities in the bar means proximate respective opposed ends of the bar means.  
   
   
       48 . A garment hanger as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein the garment hanger is at least partially of translucent or transparent material.  
   
   
       49 . A garment hanger as claimed in  claim 33 , comprising alignment means for aligning the first portion with at least one of the portions of the at least a second portion for joining the first portion to the at least one of the portions of the at least a second portion.  
   
   
       50 . A garment hanger as claimed in  claim 33 , comprising engagement means for engaging suspension means of a further garment hanger for suspending the further garment hanger from the engagement means.  
   
   
       51 . A garment hanger as claimed in  claim 50 , wherein the engagement means are located in the suspension portion.  
   
   
       52 . A garment hanger as claimed in  claim 50 , wherein the engagement means are hook means.  
   
   
       53 . A method of manufacturing a garment hanger having at least one arm connected to a suspension portion, comprising the steps of: 
 a. moulding an upper first portion of the garment hanger comprising a first proportion of the at least one arm and suspension portion;    b. moulding at least a second lower portion of the garment hanger comprising a remaining second proportion of the at least one arm and suspension portion; and    c. joining the upper first portion to the at least a second lower portion to form a hollow enclosed monocoque structure without internal strengthening ribs in which a majority of stresses to which the garment hanger is subject are carried by an outer skin of the garment hanger.    
   
   
       54 . A method as claimed in  claim 53 , wherein the first proportion is substantially one half.  
   
   
       55 . A method as claimed in claims  53 , wherein the step of joining the upper first portion to at least a second lower portion includes at least one of adhering, welding or connecting with cooperating clip means located on the upper first portion and on at least one portion of the at least a second lower portion.  
   
   
       56 . A method as claimed in  claim 53 , wherein the garment hanger has two opposed arms, comprising the further steps of: 
 a. providing apertures proximate outer extremities of the arms;    b. providing bar means; and    c. inserting the bar means through the apertures such that when the upper first portion is joined to the at least a second lower portion opposed ends of the bar means are located within the garment hanger.    
   
   
       57 . A method as claimed in  claim 56 , wherein the step of providing bar means comprises extruding a bar.  
   
   
       58 . A method as claimed in  claim 57 , wherein the step of extruding the bar includes co-extruding a non-slip coating on the bar.  
   
   
       59 . A method as claimed in  claim 53 , wherein the step of moulding at least a second lower portion comprises moulding loop engaging means in the at least a second lower portion.  
   
   
       60 . A method as claimed in  claim 53 , wherein the step of moulding at least a second lower portion comprises moulding engagement means in the at least a second lower portion for engaging suspension means of a further garment hanger for suspending the further garment hanger from the garment hanger.  
   
   
       61 . A method as claimed in  claim 60 , wherein the step of moulding engagement means comprises moulding engagement means in the suspension portion.  
   
   
       62 . A method as claimed in claims  60 , wherein the step of moulding engagement means comprises moulding hook means.