Display card for merchandising strips and method of manufacturing same

Abstract

A merchandising display card for displaying products is disclosed. The display card is a sheet that includes a number of slits that are adapted to receive tabs from the packaging of the products to be displayed. An adhesive is applied to the sheet in areas adjacent the slits. Tabs from the products are inserted through the slits and are then brought into contact with the adhesive. The adhesive is of sufficient strength to prevent the tabs from being withdrawn through the slits. The tabs are provided with perforations so that when a consumer wishes to purchase the product, they pull on the product, the perforations tear and the product is released from the display card.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Technical Field

[0002] This invention generally relates to a display card for merchandise and to a method for manufacturing the same. More particularly, the invention relates to a display card for merchandise that includes a means for a product to be displayed on the card. Specifically, the invention relates to a display card having a combination of a slit and an adhesive disposed proximate the slit for receiving and securing a tab extending from a product.

[0003] 2. Background Information

[0004] Retailers have frequently used clip strips or clip sheets for displaying products that are too small to place on shelves or that are seasonal in nature. The strips or sheets are hung on other product displays or on shelf supports so that they do not take up valuable shelf space.

[0005] The clip strips and sheets used in the prior art are typically manufactured from a lightweight plastic that has been die-cut to produce a plurality of upwardly extending pegs that are each flanked by two downwardly extending legs. The products for display need to be mounted onto a cardboard backing sheet that includes an hole toward its upper end. The peg of the clip strip is inserted through the hole and the legs engage over a portion of the uppermost end of the cardboard backing sheet. In this manner the product is attached to the clip strip or sheet. The attachment of the products onto the clip strip or sheet is a labor intensive operation inasmuch as every single product has to manually be mounted onto a peg on a clip strip. Once the products are mounted onto the clip strips or sheets, they are packaged and sent to the retailer. During transit, the products tend to become disengaged from the pegs. It is not uncommon for retailers to find that around 50% of the products have become detached from the clip sheets or strips. It is then up to the retailer to reinstall the products onto the strips. The clip strips or sheets are then hung onto the displays or shelf supports so that consumers can see them.

[0006] Apart from the disengagement of the products from previously known clip sheets and strips during shipping, these products have also had other disadvantages for the retailer. The first of these is that a fairly limited number of products may be displayed on anyone clip strip or sheet. Secondly, when consumers remove the products from the clip strips, they may accidentally disengage other products from the strip. Once a peg has been used, it tends to become slightly deformed and consequently if a consumer attempts to reattach products onto the clip strip, they tend to fall off again. After a few attempts the consumer is likely to give up and place the product on another shelf. This leaves the retailer with the problems of not having products adequately on display in the store and secondly having to repeatedly reattach products onto the strips or sheets. Even if the products remain on the sheets, the displays tend to be messy in appearance. This does not enhance the aesthetic appeal of the clip strip display and does not aid in selling the product.

[0007] Several devices have been developed to address these problems with the clip sheets. These devices have included metal rods with metal clamps mounted on them, or thin metal strips with upwardly extending metal hooks. In some instances, like the device with metal clamps, the problem of products disengaging during shipping have been greatly reduced. The devices are, however, far more expensive to manufacture and still require the manual installation of products.

[0008] There is still therefore a need in the art for an inexpensive, easily manufactured and shipped, display card for displaying various products.

[0009] The device of the present invention is a sheet that has a simple, but effective means for securing products to it. The sheet includes a number of slits that are adapted to receive tabs from the packaging of the products to be displayed. An adhesive is applied to the sheet in an area adjacent the slits. The tabs from the products are inserted through the slits and then brought into contact with the adhesive. The adhesive is of sufficient strength to prevent the tabs from being withdrawn through the slits. The tabs may be provided with perforations so that when a consumer wishes to purchase the product, they pull on the product, the perforations tear and the product is released from the display card.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The preferred embodiments of the invention, illustrative of the best mode in which applicant has contemplated applying the principles, are set forth in the following description and are shown in the drawings and are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims.

[0011] FIG. 1 is front view of the display card of the present invention;

[0012] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the display card of FIG. 1;

[0013] FIG. 3 is a perspective front view of the display card of FIG. 1 showing a product being mounted thereon;

[0014] FIG. 4 is a perspective rear view of the display card of FIG. 1 showing products mounted thereon;

[0015] FIG. 5 is a perspective front view of the display card of FIG. 1 showing a product being removed therefrom;

[0016] FIG. 6 is a side view of a possible production line for the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] The device of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1 through 5.

[0018] The display card is generally represented by the number 210. Display card 210 comprises a sheet 212 that may be manufactured from any suitable material such as plastic or cardboard that is of sufficient strength and rigidity to hold the product 220 to be displayed thereon.

[0019] Display card 210 defines a plurality of holes 216 through which hooks 218 may be received to hang card 210 for display in a retail store. Any other suitable mechanism may, however, be provided for hanging or holding display card 210 in a store.

[0020] Display card 210 further defines at least one slit 230 that is adapted to receive a tab 232 of the packaging of a product 220 therethrough. Preferably, card 210 has a plurality of rows of slits 230 therein. Display card 210 has a front side 212a and a rear side 212b and rear side 212b of card 210 includes an adhesive 214 that is applied to sheet 212 adjacent slit 230. Preferably, a plurality of rows of adhesive strips 214 are applied to sheet 212 adjacent the rows of slits 230. While adhesive strips 214 are shown disposed below slits 230, they may be positioned above slits 230 or on either side of each slit 230. While adhesive strip 214 is shown as extending from one edge 222a of sheet 212 to the opposite edge 222b of sheet 212, it may alternatively be applied at predetermined discrete intervals across the width of card 210. In this case a number of short strips of adhesive (not shown) are applied in each row across display card 210. Each short strip may be positioned proximate one slit 230 in each row of slits.

[0021] Adhesive strips 214 may be lengths of double-sided adhesive tape that are applied to card 210 during production. Alternatively, strips 214 may be glue that is extruded onto card 210 during production. Adhesive strips 214 are preferably manufactured from an adhesive tape or glue that has a pull strength of between 0.20 lbs/sq. inch and 2 lbs/sq. inch. This pull strength is sufficient to hold products 220 on sheet 212 to prevent accidental removal of product 220 therefrom.

[0022] Each slit 230 is adapted to receive a tab 222 that extends from the packaging of the products 220. Tabs 222 are inserted into slits 230. As is shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, during production, tabs 222 may be bent in the direction of arrow C (FIG. 3) so that they extend normally (i.e. at 90 degrees) from products 220 either before or after insertion of tabs 222 into slits 230. Once tabs 222 are received through slits 230, tabs 222 are bent so that they come into contact with adhesive strips 214. Moderate pressure is applied to secure or bond tabs 222 to adhesive strips 214. The pull strength of the adhesive is sufficient to hold product 220 on sheet 212 and prevent accidental removal of product 220. Products 220 are therefore sufficiently secured to display card 210 for shipping and display. Moreover, the pull strength of the adhesive in adhesive strips 214 is strong enough to prevent removal of tab 222 from strip 214.

[0023] When a consumer wishes to remove a product 220a from display card 210, they grasp product 220 and pull in the direction of arrow D (FIG. 5). Tabs 222 are preferably provided with perforations 224 so that when the consumer pulls on product 220a, the perforations tear leaving a first portion 222a of tab 222 stuck on display card 210. A second portion 222b of tab 222 remains on product 220a. The consumer cannot reattach product 220a onto display card 210 once it has been removed.

[0024] A possible production line for manufacturing the present invention is shown in FIG. 6. The production line has eight stations. At Station L, a sheet 212 of suitable material is placed onto the first end 300a of a conveyor belt 300. Sheet 212 is moved by conveyor belt 300 into Station M where a die 302 is moved in the direction of arrow X into contact with sheet 212. Die 302 is adapted to cut slits 230 into sheet 212 and may also cut holes 216 into sheet 212. Sheet 212 is then moved into Station N where adhesive tape 214 from a roll 304 is applied to sheet 212. Sheet 212 is then moved into Station O where sheet 212 is flipped so that adhesive tape 214 is disposed proximate conveyor belt 300. Conveyor belt 300 is preferably of the type that includes a plurality of apertures with which the strips of adhesive tape 214 may be aligned so that sheet 212 does not become attached to conveyor belt 300. Any other suitable mechanism for preventing adhesive 214 from sticking to conveyor belt 300 may be used without departing from the scope of the present invention. Sheet 212 is then moved into Station P where products 220 having tabs 222 extending therefrom are brought into the proximity of slits 230 (not shown in FIG. 6). Tabs 222 may extend normally (i.e. at 90 degrees) from products 220 or may be bent into that position either immediately prior to inserting through slits 230 or immediately after insertion through slits 230. Tabs 222 are inserted through slits 230. Sheet 212 is then moved by conveyor belt 300 into Station Q where a mechanism, such as an inclined plane 306 causes tabs 222 to be bent and brought into contact with adhesive tape 214. Conveyor belt 300 then moves sheet 212 with attached product 220 into Station R where sheet 212 is dropped into a box 308.

[0025] The method of manufacturing display card 210 for merchandising product 220 that has a tab 222 extending from its packaging, comprises the steps of:

[0026] a) punching or die-cutting at least one slit 230 into a sheet 212;

[0027] b) applying adhesive strips 214 to an area of sheet 212 adjacent slit 230;

[0028] c) bringing product 220 sufficiently close to sheet 212 so as to allow tab 222 to be inserted into slit 230;

[0029] d) bending tab 222 so that tab 222 contacts adhesive strip 214;

[0030] e) applying pressure to tab 222 so that it bonds to adhesive strip 214.

[0031] The method of manufacturing display card 210 may further include the step of:

[0032] (a) bending tab 222 so that it lies at 90 degrees to product 220 immediately prior to insertion of tab 222 into slit 230.

[0033] Alternatively, the method manufacturing display card 210 may further include the step of:

[0034] (a) bending tab 222 so that it lies at 90 degrees to product 220 immediately after insertion of tab 222 into slit 230.

[0035] In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed.

[0036] Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.

Claims

1. A display card for merchandising a product that has a tab extending from its packaging, the display card comprising:

a sheet, the sheet defining at least one slit that is adapted to receive a tab extending from the product packaging;

an adhesive applied to an area of the sheet adjacent the slit, the adhesive being adapted to secure the tab thereto.

2. The display card as defined in claim 1, wherein the sheet has a front surface and a rear surface and the adhesive is applied to the rear surface.

3. The display card as defined in claim 2, wherein the adhesive is applied in a band across the rear surface.

4. The display card as defined in claim 1, wherein the sheet defines a plurality of rows of slits and the adhesive is applied to the rear surface of the sheet in a plurality of rows, each adhesive row lying adjacent a row of slits.

5. The display card as defined in claim 4, wherein the sheet has two opposing edges and the adhesive is applied in bands from one of the edges to the other opposing edge.

6. The display card as defined in claim 4, wherein each row of adhesive is made up of a plurality of short strips and each short strip lies adjacent one slit.

7. The display card as defined in claim 1, wherein the adhesive has a pull strength in the range of 0.20 lbs/sq. inch to 2 lbs/sq. inch.

8. The display card as defined in claim 1, wherein the adhesive is a two-sided tape that is applied to the sheet.

9. The display card as defined in claim 1, wherein the adhesive is glue that is extruded onto the sheet.

10. The display card as defined in claim 1, wherein the adhesive has a pull strength of between 0.2 lbs/sq. inch and 2 lbs/sq. inch.

11. The display card as defined in claim 10, wherein the adhesive is of sufficient strength to prevent the tab from being withdrawn from the slit when the product is removed from the display.

12. The display card as defined in claim 11, wherein the tab is provided with perforations and the adhesive is of sufficient strength to prevent the product from being removed from the display card unless the perforations on the tab tear.

13. The display card as defined in claim 12, wherein a portion of tab remains stuck to the adhesive when the product is removed from the display card.

14. A method of manufacturing a display card for merchandising a product that has a tab extending from its packaging, the display card being a sheet that defines at least one slit that is adapted to receive the tab therethrough and an adhesive applied to an area of the sheet adjacent the slit, the adhesive being adapted to secure the tab thereto, the method of manufacture comprising the steps of:

a) punching or die-cutting at least one slit into a sheet;

b) applying adhesive strips to an area of the sheet adjacent to the slit;

c) bringing a product sufficiently close to the sheet so as to allow the tab to be inserted into the slit;

d) bending the tab so that the tab contacts the adhesive strip;

e) applying pressure to the tab so that it bonds to the adhesive strip.

15. The method of manufacturing a display card as defined in claim 14, further comprising the step of:

bending the tab so that it lies at 90 degrees to the product immediately prior to insertion of the tab into the slit.

16. The method of manufacturing a display card as defined in claim 14, further comprising the step of:

bending the tab so that it lies at 90 degrees to the product immediately after insertion of the tab into the slit.