HANGER COMBINATION FOR DISPLAYING MERCHANDISE

• US 20030106980A1
• Filed: 02/11/2002
• Published: 06/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sau Fong Hui
• Original Assignee: Sau Fong Hui
• Inventors: Hui, Sau Fong
• Granted Patent: US 6,609,693 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/489
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/0006 Hangers for hanging articles on bars, tringles, bracket arms or the like dress holders, e.g. for clothing, shoes, A47G25/00; packages for hanging B65D; lockable clothing holders E05B69/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 1/162 Picture members for connection to a conventional wall hook or nail

Abstract

A hanger combination useful for the display of merchandise items has a base plate and a hanger rail. The hanger rail is attached to the base plate such that the hanger rail can be alternatively moved between a retracted hanger rail position wherein the hanger rail is proximal to the base plate and an extended hanger rail position wherein the hanger rail is spaced apart from the base plate.

Claims

1. A hanger combination suitable for displaying merchandise, the hanger combination comprising:

(a) a base plate for fastening to the back of an item of merchandise; and

(b) a hanger rail slidably attached to the base plate such that the hanger rail can be alternatively moved between a retracted hanger rail position wherein the hanger rail is proximal to the base plate and an extended hanger rail position wherein the hanger rail is spaced apart from the base plate by a distance of at least about ½

inch.

2. The hanger combination of claim 1 wherein the hanger rail in the extended hanger rail position is spaced apart from the base plate by a distance of at least about 1 inch.

3. The hanger combination of claim 1 wherein the hanger rail in the extended hanger rail position is spaced apart from the base plate by a distance of at least about 1¼

inch.

4. The hanger combination of claim 1 wherein the base plate has one or more holes therethrough for fastening the base plate to the back of an item of merchandise.

5. The hanger combination of claim 1 wherein the base plate comprises an elongate strip having a pair of opposed ends and wherein a hole is disposed through the elongate strip at each of the opposed ends.

6. The hanger combination of claim 1 wherein the hanger rail is generally linear.

7. The hanger combination of claim 6 wherein the length of the hanger rail is between about 3 inches and about 3½

inches.

8. The hanger combination of claim 6 wherein the hanger rail has at least one connection member indentation.

9. The hanger combination of claim 8 wherein the hanger rail has a pair of spaced apart connection member indentations.

10. The hanger combination of claim 9 wherein the pair of spaced apart connection member indentations are spaced apart by a distance between about 1½

inches and about 2 inches.

11. The hanger combination of claim 1 wherein the hanger rail is attached to the base plate by a pair of opposed base plate attachment members, each of the base plate attachment members being slidably attached to the base plate.

12. The hanger combination of claim 11 wherein the base plate comprises a pair of base plate indentations, each base plate indentation slidably retaining one of the base plate attachment members.

13. The hanger combination of claim 1 wherein the hanger combination is attached to the back of an item of merchandise.

14. The hanger combination of claim 13 wherein the item of merchandise comprises a hanger frame.

15. The hanger combination of claim 9 wherein the base plate has an upper edge and a lower edge, and wherein the upper edge is sculpted to have a base plate horizontal depression sandwiched between a pair of base plate raised portions, each base plate raised portion being adapted to nest within one of the connection member indentations.

16. The hanger combination of claim 1 wherein the base plate defines a central elongate aperture.

17. A method of shipping and displaying a plurality of merchandise items each having a merchandise perimeter, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) attaching to the back of each merchandise item to a hanger combination comprising;

(i) a base plate for fastening to the back of an item of merchandise; and

(ii) a hanger rail slidably attached to the base plate such that the hanger rail can be alternatively moved between a retracted hanger rail position wherein the hanger rail is proximal to the base plate and an extended hanger rail position wherein the hanger rail is spaced apart from the base plate by a distance of at least about ½

inch;

the hanger rail combinations being attached to each merchandise item, such that, in the retracted hanger rail position, the hanger rail is disposed within the perimeter of the merchandise item;

(b) moving the hanger rail on each hanger combination to the retracted hanger rail position;

(c) packing the plurality of merchandise items in a single container;

(d) shipping the container to a retail establishment;

(e) removing merchandise items from the container at the retail establishment;

(f) moving the hanger rail on at least one chosen merchandise item from the retracted hanger rail position to the extended hanger rail position; and

(g) hanging the at least one chosen merchandise item at the retail establishment by disposing the hanger rail over one or more generally horizontal rods projecting from a surface within the retail establishment.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the merchandise item comprises a picture frame.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the hanger rail is generally linear.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the hanger rail has a pair of spaced apart connection member indentations.

21. The method of claim 17 wherein the hanger rail is attached to the base plate by a pair of opposed base plate attachment members, each of the base plate attachment members being slidably attached to the base plate.

22. The hanger combination of claim 19 wherein the base plate comprises a pair of base plate indentations, each base plate indentation slidably retaining one of the base plate attachment members.

23. The hanger combination of claim 20 wherein the base plate has an upper edge and a lower edge, and wherein the upper edge is sculpted to have a base plate horizontal depression sandwiched between a pair of base plate raised portions, each base plate raised portion being adapted to nest within one of the connection member indentations.

24. The hanger combination of claim 17 wherein the base plate defines a central elongate aperture.