EP0623300B1

EP0623300B1 - Garment hanger sizing system

Info

Publication number: EP0623300B1
Application number: EP19940303207
Authority: EP
Inventors: Robert Bredeweg; Russell O. Blanchard; Donald F. Morgan; Edward Joseph Dooley
Original assignee: Batts Inc
Current assignee: Batts Inc
Priority date: 1993-05-05
Filing date: 1994-05-04
Publication date: 1998-12-09
Anticipated expiration: 2014-05-04
Also published as: CA2122801C; AU678819B2; CA2122801A1; TW306997B; DE69415074D1; ES2127352T3; EP0623300A1; CN1100289A; AU6182394A; MXPA94003300A; KR970010878B1; DE69415074T2; BR9401883A; CN1167378C

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION:

This invention relates generally to an improved system for indicating the size of a garment suspended from a garment hanger. Specifically, this invention relates to an improved system for easily indicating the sizes of the garments on hangers in retail outlets. Structurally, the garment hanger is equipped with a size-indicating tab that cannot be easily removed from the hanger after it is attached thereto without destroying the tab. The tab and tab-holder mounted on the hanger are of an improved ergonomic design that reduces the likelihood of carpal tunnel syndrome in assembly-line workers who attach the tabs to the hangers. The tab is provided in stick form to decrease the assembly time and improve the manufacturing process for size-indicating garment hangers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The concept of a garment hanger that includes a label indicating the size of the garment hung thereon is well-known. However, modern safety standards require a size-indicating tab to be irremovable once installed on a hanger. From the standpoint of safety, if a small tab can be easily removed from a hanger, it may become lodged in a child's throat. But another problem has arisen in wake of the development of permanently attached size-indicating tabs. Specifically, the tabs are difficult to attach to the hangers and assembly-line workers may develop carpal tunnel syndrome as a result of installing the tabs on the hangers.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common nerve disorder affecting the hands, wrist and forearm of its victims. Specifically, carpal tunnel syndrome results from the compression of the median nerve at the wrist, within the carpal tunnel. The carpal tunnel acts as a conduit for important nerves, blood vessels and tendons extending through the wrist to the thumb and fingers. The compression of nerves in the carpal tunnel causes sensory and motor changes in the median distribution of the hand. Carpal tunnel syndrome usually occurs in women between ages 30 and 60 and poses a serious occupational health problem. Assembly-line workers, packers and persons who repeatedly use poorly designed tools are most likely to develop this disorder. Any strenuous use of the hands, including sustained grasping, twisting or turning, may aggravate this condition.

Thus, a need exists for an improved size-indicating tab that is easier for the assembly-line worker to install on a garment hanger and easier to manufacture. The size-indicating tab must also include the non-removable aspects previously known so as to not create a child-safety problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

With the above considerations in mind, the present invention proceeds from the garment hanger described in US-A-5 096 101, which forms the basis of the preamble of claim 1, so as to include the characterising features of that claim, with preferred features of the invention being set forth in the subsidiary claims.

The garment hanger assembly resulting from the present invention is safe to use in homes with small children and is further easy to manufacture and avoids requiring the assembly-line worker to perform an excessive amount of grasping, twisting or turning which may lead to development of carpal tunnel syndrome.

A preferred garment hanger assembly in accordance with the invention will now be described in some detail.

The garment hanger assembly has hang means connected to a middle portion of the garment support. A recess tab-holding section is preferably mounted to one side of the hook or hang means where the hang means is connected to the garment support member. The tab-holding section includes a wall that is preferably connected to both the hang means and the garment support member. The wall extends outwardly towards the consumer as the garment and hanger are hung from a rack. The wall terminates at a bullet-shaped member which serves as a male connector for the tab. The bullet-shaped member is connected to the end of the wall at the base of the bullet-shaped member.

The U-shaped size-indicating tab has a front end thereof disposed between two side members. The opposing side members extend away from the consumer and terminate in two inwardly-curved ends. The front end of the tab serves as a rigid hinge connection between the two opposing side members and the outer front wall of the front end serves as a space for indicating the size of the garment.

When the tab is installed on the tab-holding section of the hanger, the front display wall, indicating the size of the garment, faces outward or frontward, toward the consumer. In a relaxed position the two inwardly curved ends of the tab are separated by a distance. This defined distance is approximately equal to the thickness of the wall that connects the bullet-shaped member to the hanger. When the tab is inserted over the bullet-shaped member, the inwardly curved ends extend past the base of the bullet-shaped member and snap inward toward their relaxed position and either positively engage or at least abuttingly engage the wall which connects the bullet-shaped member to the hanger.

In the preferred embodiment, the inwardly curved ends of the opposing side members of the tab are further characterized as terminating in substantially flat inner walls that engage the wall that connects the bullet-shaped member to the hanger. Each flat inner wall of a curved end is disposed between a rounded edge and a relatively square edge. The rounded edge is the distal or outermost portion of the tab and provides a smooth engagement between the tab and the narrow front end of the bullet-shaped member when the tab is pushed over the bullet-shaped member during installation of the tab. The square edge of each inwardly curved end is disposed adjacent to the base portion of the bullet-shaped member after the tab is installed. The engagement of the square edges of the curved ends of the tabs with the base portion of the bullet-shaped member precludes removal of the tab from the hanger without substantially damaging or destroying the tab.

As the tab slides over the tab-holder, the curved outer edges of the inwardly curved ends of the opposing side members of the tab slide over the tapered front end of the tab-holder and over the flared rear end of the tab-holder and engage the receiving sections of the wall disposed immediately rearward of the flared rear end of the tab-holder. The tapered front end of the tab-holder is received in a slot disposed in the inside front wall of the front end of the tab.

A child or anyone else is precluded from removing the tab from the tab-holder without a sharp tool in two ways. First, the inner square edge of the inwardly curved ends engages the flared rear end of the tab-holder and will not slide outward over the flared rear end of the tab-holder without a substantial prying action which would require a sharp instrument. Further, the wall that connects the tab-holder to the hanger includes two opposing outwardly projecting ribs. The two outwardly protruding ribs and the flared rear end of the tab-holder define the two sections that receive the flat inner walls of the inwardly curved ends of the tab after installation of the tab over the tab-holder. The two opposing ribs prevent even the smallest hands from obtaining a purchase on the outer curved edges of the inwardly curved ends of the tab. Accordingly, the tab cannot be removed from the tab-holder without a sharp instrument.

It will be noted that the ribs and the flared rear end of the base member may include slots for accommodating a tab-removal tool in the event that an incorrect tab is mounted on the hanger and needs to be removed. The narrow channels do not compromise the child-proof qualities of the hanger and tab because they are too narrow for even the smallest fingers to extend through.

Because the opposing side members of the tab do not include any finger, member or other protuberance, a strip of tabs may be easily manufactured by molding a single elongated tab and placing a series of equally spaced cuts through the opposing side members that fall short of the front end of the tab. The result will be a series of tabs provided in stick form whereby the tab disposed at the distal end of the stick may be easily snapped off as it is inserted on to the tab-holding section of the garment hanger. An even larger quantity of tabs may be provided in a coiled form of still varying quantities and lengths. The use of the size-indicating tabs and stick or coil form greatly reduces wasted time and motion associated with orientating the tabs prior to each application of a tab to a garment hanger. The. operator may simply hold the stick upward, insert the tab disposed at the distal end of the stick or coil on to the tab-holding section of the garment hanger and as the tab is inserted over the tab-holding section the tab will break off the end of the stick and the operator is in position and ready to insert the next tab on the next garment hanger. The repetitive motion carried out by the assembly-line worker is greatly reduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a partial front elevational view of a garment hanger, tab-holder and tab made in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a section view taken substantially along line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is the same section view shown in Figure 2 illustrating the tab as it is being initially inserted over the tab holder;

Figure 4 is the front elevation view of the tab showing the front display wall thereof;

Figure 5 is a partial front elevational view of an alternative embodiment of the invention;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 6-6 of Figure 5 to an enlarged scale;

Figure 6A is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 6A-6A of Figure 6 to an enlarged scale.

Figure 7 is the same sectional view shown in Figure 6 illustrating the tab after it has been inserted over the tab-holder;

Figure 8 is a left side elevational view of an alternative embodiment of a tab illustrating the left side display wall;

Figure 9 is a front elevational view of the tab illustrated in Figure 8 illustrating the front display wall;

Figure 10 is a left side view of a coil or stick of tabs made in accordance with the present invention illustrating the cuts disposed in the opposing side members thereof;

Figure 11 is a front view of a coil or stick of tabs made in accordance with the present invention; and

Figure 12 is a perspective view of a garment hanger, tab-holder and stick or coil of tabs of the alternative embodiment of the invention particularly illustrating the ease of installation of a tab on a tab-holder while the tab is connected to a stick of tabs.

It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale and that the embodiments are sometimes illustrated by graphic symbols, phantom lines, diagrammatic representations and fragmentary views. In certain instances, details which are not necessary for an understanding of the present invention or which render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It should be understood, of course, that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Like reference numerals will be used to refer to like or similar parts from Figure to Figure in the following description of the drawings.

As seen in Figure 1, the garment hanger 10 includes a hang means 11 which is connected to the garment support member 12. In the retail environment, the distal end 13 of the hang means 11 is hung over a rack and is directed away from the consumer. Therefore, the size-indicating tab 24 is directed outward, toward the consumer. The tab-holding section, indicated generally at 15, (see Figures 2 and 3) is preferably connected to both the hang means 11 and the garment support member 12.

Referring to Figures 1 through 3 collectively, the tab-holding section 15 includes a wall 16 which is connected to the garment support member 12 and the hang means 11. The wall 16 is connected to the bullet-shaped member 17 at the base portion 18 thereof. In the preferred embodiment, outwardly extending

ribs

21, 22 may be disposed on the wall 16 to provide structural support and block access to the tab 24 after installation. Upper and

lower ribs

51, 52 respectively also block access to the tab 24 after installation. The bullet-shaped member terminates at a narrow front end 23.

The size-indicating tab 24 engages the tab-holding section 15 as seen in Figure 3. The tab 24 includes two opposing

side members

25, 26. Both opposing

side members

25, 26 are attached to the front end 27 of the tab 24. The front end 27 includes a front display wall 28 and a slot 29 for accommodating the front end 23 of the bullet-shaped member 17.

The opposing

side members

25, 26 terminate in two inwardly curved ends 31, 32. The inwardly curved ends 31, 32 feature rounded edges 33, 34, inwardly facing

walls

35, 36 and

square edges

37, 38.

As the tab 24 is inserted over the bullet-shaped member 17, the rounded edges 33, 34 initially engage the front end or nose 23 of the bullet-shaped member. The rounded configuration of the edges 33, 34 along with the general rounded configuration the front end 23 of the bullet-shaped member 17 make it easy to slide the curved ends 31, 32 of the tab 24 over the bullet-shaped member 17. It will be noted from Figures 1 and 2 that the distance between the inwardly facing

walls

35, 36 of the tab 24 is generally about the same thickness as the wall 16 and the distance between the inwardly facing

walls

35, 36 is substantially less than the average thickness of the bullet-shaped member and substantially less than the thickness represented by the base portion 18 of the bullet-shaped member 17. Thus, the tab 24 must be made of some resilient material, such as plastic or other thermoplastic materials, and must be forced over the bullet-shaped member 17.

The rounded edges 33, 34 and the rounded configuration of the bullet-shaped member 17 enables the tab 24 to be inserted over the bullet-shaped member 17 with a minimum of effort. Once the tab 24 is pushed past the bullet-shaped member 17, the inwardly facing

walls

35, 36 are accommodated in the receiving sections 41, 42 that are disposed between the

ribs

21, 22 and the base portion 18 of the bullet-shaped member 17. Any attempt to pull the tab 24 out of the tab-holding section 15 will result in the engagement of the

square edges

37, 38 against the

square edges

43, 44 of the base portion 18 of the bullet-shaped member 17. Thus, to remove the tab 24 from the tab-holding section 15, the opposing

side members

25, 26 must be grasped, spread apart so that the flat

inner walls

35, 36 of the inwardly curved ends 31, 32 clear the

edges

43, 44 of the base portion 18 of the bullet-shaped member 17. This sort of simultaneous grasping and pulling requires dexterity that is beyond the capabilities of small children.

Referring to Figures 2, 3 and 4 collectively, the tab 24 includes 3 areas for the display of the garment size. The front display wall 28 extends frontward or outward and faces the consumer as the consumer browses along full racks of clothes in a retail store.

Outer side walls

45, 46 also provide a place to display the size of the garment.

Thus, a new sizing system is provided for the garment industry which reduces the aggravation and strain associated with carpal tunnel syndrome as well as providing a hanger that is safe for use in homes with small children. The tab 24 may be installed by pushing inward or in a plane represented by the front end 23 of the bullet-shaped member and the wall 16 or, the tab 24 may be inserted using a rolling action made easier by the rounded edges 33, 34 disposed at the distal ends of the

side members

25, 26 of the tab 24. The accommodation of the front end 23 of the bullet-shaped member 17 in the slot 29 in combination with the flat inwardly facing

walls

35, 36 of the curved ends 31, 32 provides rocking-free stability of the tab once installed on the hanger. The stability afforded by the installed tab 24 also precludes removal of the tab 24 from the hanger 10.

Because the opposing

side members

25, 26 would have to be stretched substantially outward in order to remove the tab 24 from the hanger 10, the tab 24 would be substantially damaged and rendered useless if it were successfully removed. Rendering the tab 24 useless after one removal ensures that worn or structurally tired tabs 24 will not be installed on hangers 10 which may find their way into the homes of consumers with small children. The structure of the tab 24 ensures that it will be used only once.

Referring now to the embodiments of Figures 5-12, the garment hanger 110 includes a hang means 112 which is connected to a garment support member 114. In the retail environment, the distal end 116 of the hang means or hook 112 is hung over a rack (not shown) and is directed away from the consumer. Therefore, the tab-holding section, indicated generally at 118 (see also Figures 6 and 7), is directed toward the consumer. The tab-holding section 118 is also preferably connected to both the hang means 112 and garment support member 114 by the wall 120.

Referring to Figures 5 through 7 collectively, the tab-holding section 118 includes the wall 120 which is connected to the hand means 112 as well as the garment support member 114. The wall 120 extends outward and is connected to the tab-holder 122. A pair of outwardly

protruding ribs

124, 126 are disposed along the wall rearward of the tab-holder 122. The

ribs

124, 126 provide structural support to the tab-holding section 118 and the

ribs

124, 126 block access to the tab 128 after installation as explained below. The upper rib 130 and lower rib 132 also block access to the tab 128 after installation of the tab 128 on to the tab-holder 122.

The tab-holder 122 is best illustrated in Figures 6 and 7. The flared base portion 134 is connected to the wall 120 and includes two outwardly projected

ledges

136, 138. The outward distal end of the tab-holder 122 features a tapered front end 140. In the embodiment shown in Figures 6 and 7, the tab-holder 122 is bullet-shaped. The slots or

channels

142, 143, 144 (see Figure 5) are intended to accommodate a tab-removing tool (not shown) in the event an incorrect size-indicating tab is mounted over the tab-holder 122. However, the

channels

142, 143, 144 are sufficiently narrow so as to preclude a small child's finger from obtaining a purchase on the curved ends 152, 154 of the tab 128 (see below). The

channels

142, 143, 144 extend from through the

ribs

124, 126, through the receiving

sections

174, 176 and through the

ledges

136, 138 to enable an assembly-line worker to quickly pry the curved ends 152, 154 of the tab 128 over the

ledges

136, 138 with an appropriate tool (not shown).

Still referring to Figures 6 and 7, the tab 128 includes a front end 146 disposed between two opposing

side members

148, 150. Each opposing

side member

148, 150 terminates in an inwardly

curved end

152, 154 respectively. Each

curved end

152, 154 features a rounded outer edge 156, 158 respectively, a flat

inner wall

160, 162 respectively, and a squared or sharp

inner edge

164, 166 respectively. The inner walls 168, 170 of the opposing

side members

148, 150 respectively are substantially smooth and free of abutments and protuberances. The inner wall of the front end 146 features a slot or groove 172 that accommodates the tapered front end 140 of the tab-holder 122. The receiving

sections

174, 176 of the wall 120 receive the flat

inner walls

160, 162 of the inwardly curved ends 152, 154 respectively upon installation of the tab 128 over the tab-holder 122.

Still referring to Figures 6 and 7, upon installation, the outer rounded edges 156, 158 of the

ends

152, 154 of the tab first engage the tapered front end 140 of the tab-holder. The rounded edges 156, 158 slide smoothly over the tab-holder 122 and the flared base portion 134 of the tab-holder 122. When the tab 128 has been pushed far enough over the tab-holder 122, the curved ends 152, 154 and specifically the flat

inner walls

160, 162 of the curved ends 152, 154 respectively are received in the receiving

sections

174, 176 of the wall 120 (see Figure 7).

Removal of the tab 128 from the tab-holder 122 is precluded by the complementary structures of the tab 128 and the tab-holding section 118. Specifically, the ribs 124, 126 (despite the

access channels

142, 143, 144) prevent small fingers from obtaining a purchase or grip on the curved outer edges 156, 158 of the tab 128. Second, the engagement of the sharp or squared

inner edges

164, 166 against the

ledges

136, 138 of the flared base portion 134 prevent the tab 128 from being grasped by its opposing

side members

148, 150 and pulled off of the tab-holder 122. The mating-type engagement of the tapered front end 140 of the tab-holder 122 in the slot 172 disposed in the front end 146 of the tab 128 provides a relatively tight fit of the tab 128 over the tab-holder 122 and therefore precludes manipulation of the tab 128 by a child in an attempt to remove the tab 128 from the tab-holding section 118 of the garment hanger 110. In addition, the upper rib 130 and lower rib 132 (see Figures 5) also preclude small fingers from obtaining a purchase on the tab 128.

Turning to Figures 8 and 9, the size of the garment may be indicated on the outer display walls 186, 188 (see also Figure 6) of the opposing

side members

148, 150 respectively as well as the front display wall 190 (see also Figure 6) for a clear indication of the size of the garment from three sides. The front end 146 or front display wall 190 of the tab 128 also includes an upper edge 192 and lower edge 194. The upper edge 192 and lower edge 194 are detachably connected to adjacent tabs 128 when the tabs are provided in a stick or coil of tabs as shown in Figures 5, 10 and 12.

Turning to Figure 12, an improved method of installing a size-indicating tab 128 on a garment hanger 110 is illustrated. Using the stick or coil of tabs 196 that has been severed or cut at the opposing

side walls

148, 150 to provide a stick of tabs 128 connected at the upper and

lower edges

192, 194 of the front ends 146, an operator may insert a first tab 128 on to the tab-holding section 118 of the garment hanger 110 and the lower edge 194 of the front wall 190 will easily snap off of the adjacent tab. The operator maintains control of the stick or coil of tabs 196 and is ready to quickly insert the next tab 128 on to the next tab-holding section 118 of the next garment hanger 110. Minimal dexterity is required because the operator need not pick up a small tab 128 from a dish or tray of tabs, line it up against the tab-holding section 118 of a garment hanger 110 and then insert the small tab 128 on to the tab-holder 122. The stick or coil of tabs 196 provided by the detachable connections of the upper and

lower edges

192, 194 of the front walls 190 of the tabs enables an operator to handle the small tabs 128 with greater ease and further improves the speed at which the tabs 128 may be installed on to the hangers 110.

Figures 10 and 11 illustrate a stick or coil 196 of tabs 128 that are made from molding a series of tabs 128 and then placing a series of equally spaced cuts or slits 197 through the opposing side members 148, 150 (see Figures 6 and 7) but leaving the front display walls 190 connected to each other. As seen in Figure 12, the connection of one tab 128 to another tab 128 at the front end 146 or front wall provides a detachable connection and the tab 128 being installed on to the tab-holding section 118 of a garment hanger 110 will naturally snap off the distal end of a stick or coil 196 of tabs 128. The operator then maintains possession and control of the stick or coil 196 of tabs 128 and is ready to install the next tab 128 disposed at the distal end of the stick or coil 196 of tabs onto the next succeeding garment hanger 110.

Thus, a new sizing system is provided for the garment industry which is both easier and faster to install which reduces the aggravation and strain associated with carpal tunnel syndrome as well as provides a hanger that is safe for use in homes with small children. The tab 128 may be installed by pushing inward on the tab 128 disposed at the distal end of a stick or coil 196 of tabs 128. The lack of any fingers or protuberances on the inner surfaces 168, 170 of the opposing

side members

148, 150 substantially decreases the amount of rocking or twisting involved in installing a tab 128 over the tab-holding section 122. The accommodation of the tapered front end 140 of the tab-holder 122 in the slot 172 of the front end 146 of the tab in combination with the engagement of the flat inwardly facing

walls

160, 162 with the receiving

section

174, 176 provides a rocking-free stability of the tab once installed on the hanger. The stability afforded by the installed tab 128 precludes removal of the tab 128 from the hanger 110. As seen in Figure 12, the tab 128 may be installed easily by engaging an index finger 198 with the front display surface 190 of the tab 128 and pushing the tab 128 onto the tab-holder 122.

Because the opposing

side members

148, 150 would have to be stretched substantially outward in order to remove the tab 128 from the hanger 110, the tab 128 would be substantially damaged and rendered useless if it were successfully removed. Rendering the tab 128 useless after one removal ensures that worn or structurally tired tabs 128 will not be installed on hangers 110 which may find their way into the homes of consumers with small children. The complementary structures of the tab 128 and the tab-holding section 118 ensure that the tab 128 will be used only once.

Although only two embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it will at once be apparent to those skilled in the art that variations may be made within the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is limited solely by the scope of the hereafter appended claims and not by any specific wording in the foregoing description.

Claims

A garment hanger assembly having garment support means (12), hang means (11), and a sizing system for indicating the size of a garment carried by the garment hanger (10), wherein the size-indicating system includes a base member (16) extending away from the garment hanger (10), a seat member (17) at the distal end of the base member (16) with that portion of the seat member (17) which is adjacent the base member (16) having a greater thickness than the thickness of the distal end of the seat member, and a size-indicating tab (24) having a generally U-shaped configuration which includes a bight portion (27) and a pair of side walls (25, 26) which extend in generally the same direction from the bight portion of the tab towards the hanger (10), the bight portion (27), when the tab (24) is assembled to the seat member (17), being disposed at the distal end of the seat member, the innermost end of each side wall (25, 26) having an end portion which projects inwardly towards the base member (16) when the tab (24) is assembled to the seat member (17), the open distance between the inwardly-projecting end portions of the side walls (25, 26) which project towards the base member (16) being less than the thickness of the seat member (17) adjacent the base member (16) so as to resist separation of the tab (24) from the seat member (17), there being blocking means (21, 22) which project outwardly from the base member (16) on each side thereof at a location beneath the inwardly-projecting end portion of the innermost end of each side wall (25, 26), the blocking means being located so close to the innermost ends of the side walls as to preclude obtaining a finger purchase on the innermost ends of the tab side walls, characterised in that no portion of the side walls (25, 26) between the innermost ends and the bight portion (27) is in separation-restraining engagement with the seat member (17), and that the inwardly projecting end portions are disposed adjacent to and immediately rearward of the seat member (17) when the tab (24) is assembled thereto.
A garment hanger assembly according to claim 1, characterised in that at least one channel (142, 143, 144) is formed in blocking means (21, 22) on each side of the base member (16), the channel, or each channel, being sufficiently narrow to preclude finger purchase on the innermost end of the tab (24) while being sufficiently wide and deep to receive a tool by which the innermost end portions of the side walls (25, 26) of the tab (24) may be pried apart a distance sufficient to enable the tab to be removed from the garment hanger.
A garment hanger assembly according to claim 2, characterised by channel means in the seat member (17) which extend at least part way towards the outermost end of the seat member, the channel means being aligned with a channel in the blocking means (21, 22) to enable a tool to slide smoothly through the blocking means and the seat member in the process of removal of the tab (24) from the seat member.
A garment hanger assembly according to claim, characterised in that the tab (24) is an end-tab in a plurality of size-indicating tabs (196) which are aligned end-to-end in series, the tabs being integrally connected one to the other by a thin cross section which is sufficiently small to provide no significant resistance to snapping-off one tab from the balance of tabs by finger-applied pressure during the assembly of a leading tab in a series of tabs to the garment hanger (10).
A garment hanger assembly according to claim 4, characterised in that the aligned tabs (128) are connected at the outermost portion of their bight portions.
A garment hanger assembly according to claim 5, characterised in that the tabs (128) are initially formed as an extrusion, following which the individual tabs are formed by severing the ends of the side walls (25, 26) and, also, some, but not all, of the bight portions.