Apparel apparatus – Supports – bases and strands
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-16
2001-02-06
Mohanty, Bibhu (Department: 3741)
Apparel apparatus
Supports, bases and strands
Reexamination Certificate
active
06182871
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This application is to further precisely defining the variation and enhancement of U.S. patent application No. 08/812,530 filed Mar. 8, 1997.
This invention relates generally to apparatus for facilitating a user to select, coordinate, appraise and harmonize garment clothing without actually putting on the garment.
The prior art reveals many garment hangers having a facial drawing combined with a garment hanger for store display purposes. For example only, attention is directed to the following U.S. Pat. Nos:
Des. 253,447 1,096,018 3,126,237 4,739,911
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is firstly directed to an apparatus especially configured to encourage children to produce and display handicraft works while also encouraging them to properly care for their articles of clothing, as disclosed in applicant's issued U.S. Pat. No. 5,649,651. The embodiments of the invention include a frame member defining a display region configured for removably accommodating a child's handicraft. In a first preferred embodiment, the frame member is especially configured for accommodating a substantially planar, i.e., two dimensional, handicraft in the display region.
In accordance with the preferred embodiments, first and second elongate arms extend in opposite directions from the frame member for supporting articles of clothing. Additionally, a hook member extends from the frame member for vertically suspending the frame member from a horizontally oriented support surface, e.g., on a stationary hook, a door top, or a rod.
In accordance with the first embodiment, the frame member defines the periphery of a display area for accommodating a substantially planar handicraft having a decorative front face of a person or a cartoon character. The handicraft may include different forms of presentation such as a picture, drawing, painting, photograph or needlework. The concept of handicraft includes the formation of art, picture, facial illustrations with the support of computers, computer software, computer printer as means to form the personalized handicraft. The frame member preferably includes a backing panel and a transparent display panel. The display panel is preferably configured for removable mounting on the frame member thus allowing the handicraft to be placed between the backing and display panels with its decorative front face visible through the transparent display panel.
An enhancement of this prior art may be in the form of a photograph representing the life-size visual representation of a particular user's face. Such apparatus can be especially featured to provide an unusual application so as to assist the user in selecting clothing articles which coordinate to form an attractive outfit for that user. It is known in the art to provide facilities in tourist spots to capture user's facial illustration by photographic techniques and print the facial image in reduced size on a plate, mug or T-shirt for souvenir purpose. The concept of the invention can be readily extended to provide a garment hanger equipped with a life-size facial illustration of the user in these tourist spots so as to provide a more meaningful and useful souvenir. Another application of the invention is for an apparel retail shop to instantly capture the life size facial image of the preferred customer and print it on the medial portion of a garment hanger. The customer then make use of this special apparatus to support and coordinate their selected apparel and has a quick appraisal of the harmony effect with his/her face on it without actually putting on the apparel.
In accordance of a third embodiment, the invented apparatus can be configured to receive a regular garment hanger supporting an apparel. This design enables the customer to have an instant viewing of the apparel to see if it matches with his/her face without removing the garment from its hanger and put it onto the first embodiment for displaying with a facial image of the user.
In accordance of another preferred embodiment, the frame member is configured in the form of a stand. A display region is formed proximate to the top of the stand for the displaying a personalized facial image. Receiver means such as hooks or receiver slots are provided behind the display region to receive the hook of a garment hanger. For a user to coordinate or appraise the look with particular garment, the garment supported on regular hanger is attached to one of the receiver means to suspend the garment such that the garment looks to be wear by the user. The receiver means can be configured to enable vertical position adjustment so that the relative position of the garment from the facial image of the user can be adjusted to a proper location. A simple way to enable vertical adjustment is to offer more than one receiver hooks, one on top of another. For the apparatus to be used in a fashion store, in order to facilitate changing the facial image for different customers, the facial image is recommended to be printed onto a cardboard instead of printing directly onto the display region. This cardboard is then attached with the display member by attachment means such as double side tape or magnetic materials.
In order to provide a personalized facial image for a customer, the fashion store is equipped with a camera, the facial image of the customer is captured and digitized into electronics data. A code word is assigned to distinguish the digital image of one customer from another. Instead of interchangeably displaying the facial image onto the display apparatus, this facial image can be permanently printed onto a garment hanger having an adequately large display region located on top of the garment hanger and make it a personalized coordination apparatus. This personalized coordination apparatus is an invaluable hospitality facility for a frequent customer than the floor standing version. The customer may carry the personalized hanger around different areas of the store, and try different desirable apparel without actually putting on the apparel on. The set up increase the efficiency for customers to check the matching of apparel and encourage them to try more different designs without actually putting the apparel on. As a result a store with limited space can handle a greater customer flow because the time spent by a customer to complete the transaction is reduced. The number of changing rooms required the customer's shopping requirements is also reduced. The room efficiency is particular important for stores having a limited floor space. Another advantage is that some garment of special nature such as T-shirt of delicate material is not recommended to be tested as they tend to be deformed by customers.
The term personalize is important to distinguish the invention with the prior art having a hanger and a facial drawing displayed at the medial portion of the hanger, such as Tully, U.S. Design Pat. No. 253,447. In addition to the photo facial image of the user, this garment coordination apparatus is differentiated from the prior art with an important personalized nature. That is, the hanger created for one person may not be suitable for another person. A personalized coordination apparatus is a process with which a consumer has the right of choice which real person face image to be put onto the display region, most situations the facial image selected is that of the consumer, relatives, friends or other specifically selected person. The personalized process is defined by any of the following characteristics when compared with a commercial display hanger having a facial drawing. In a first situation, the facial image of the coordination apparatus is owned by the owner of the coordination apparatus, or it belongs to the person known to the consumer, such as relatives and known friends. Secondly, mostly one or two pieces of the coordination apparatus is required per owner; this property is distinctive with commercial displaying hangers having the same unique beautifully designed face made in high number of quantity. The i
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