DISPLAY STRIP

Abstract

A display strip includes a strip of material having a top portion with a hole, an intermediate adhesive portion attached to a first package, and a lower portion with second attachment structure (such as a tab or overlapping tabs) adapted to engage the hole on an identical second package. By this arrangement, the plurality of product can be hung in series, with each successive product hanging from an adjacent one of the product. A related method includes hanging a plurality of product in a serial vertical arrangement where each successive product hangs from an adjacent one of the product. By this arrangement, a lowest one of each successive product can be removed from the above-adjacent product. Alternatively, the product selected for removal can be spaced above a bottom one of the plurality of product, such that more than one of the product is removed from the vertical arrangement for purchase.

Description

This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of provisional application Ser. No. 60/808,393, filed May 25, 2006, entitled DISPLAY CLIP STRIP.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to display strips, and methods of attaching and displaying product along strips, such as at the end of an aisle, from a shelf, or from a wall.

Display strips are often used to display product at the ends of aisles or along shelves and walls in retail stores. Traditionally, a strip of material is die-cut to include multiple vertically-spaced tabs, or is formed to include multiple vertically-spaced adhesive attachment locations. A top of the strip is attached to a shelf with the strip hanging downwardly, and product is attached to each of the tabs or adhesive attachment locations. This creates a highly visible display of product, and allows customers to easily pull off product one at a time for purchase. However, a strip that is only partially filled with product has a poor appearance, which can reduce sales of product. Another problem is that customers may pull off product from a middle of the display, resulting in unsightly gaps between the product on the display strip. It is desirable to provide a system where product can be supported in a vertically-arranged display without the distraction and poor appearance caused by half-empty display strips. It is further desirable to provide a system that causes customers to pull off the bottom one of the product being displayed. Also, it is desirable to provide a system where store employees can restock product onto the display as needed. Still further, it is desirable to have a system where, if the store does not want product hung in a strip, they still can have an apertured tab available on the product for hanging the product for display (i.e. individually).

Thus, a system having the aforementioned advantages and solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a display strip includes a relatively short strip of material having a top portion with first attachment structure, an intermediate portion adapted for attachment to a first package, and a lower portion with second attachment structure adapted to engage the first attachment structure on an identical second package.

In a narrower aspect, the intermediate portion includes adhesive.

In another narrower aspect, the first attachment structure is a hole.

In still another narrower aspect, the second attachment structure includes at least one tab. It is contemplated that the second attachment structure can also include an overlapping tab that provides an increased retention strength over a non-overlapped tab.

In another aspect of the present invention, a display system includes a plurality of product each having a strip of material attached near a top thereof, with one of the product and the strip having a hole near a top of the product and with the strip having a tongue configured to engage the hole of an adjacent one of the plurality of product. By this arrangement, the plurality of product can be hung in series, with each successive product hanging from an adjacent one of the product.

The present invention also includes a method comprising steps of providing a plurality of product, and hanging the plurality of product in a serial vertical arrangement where each successive product hangs from an adjacent one of the product.

In a narrower aspect, the method includes a step of removing a lowest one of each successive product from the above-adjacent product.

In still another narrower aspect, the method includes a step of removing a selected one of the product, the selected one being spaced above a bottom one of the plurality of product such that more than one of the product is removed from the vertical arrangement.

These and other aspects, objects, and features of the present invention will be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art upon studying the following specification, claims, and appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a display strip embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the display strip attached to a product package.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a plurality of the product shown in FIG. 3 but attached in a vertical serial arrangement, with each successive product being hung from an adjacent product.

FIG. 4 is a front view of another display strip.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a plurality of product each having the display strip of FIG. 4 and hung in a vertical serial arrangement.

FIG. 6 is a front view of another display strip.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a plurality of product each having the display strip of FIG. 6 and hung in a vertical serial arrangement.

FIG. 8 is a front view of another display strip.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a product having the display strip of FIG. 8 attached to the product, and that is capable of being hung in a vertical serial arrangement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A display strip 20 (FIG. 1) includes a strip of material having a top portion 21 with attachment structure (such as a hole or aperture 22), an intermediate portion 23 with adhesive material 24 thereon having a bonding strength sufficient for secure attachment to a first product/package 25 (FIG. 2), and a lower portion 26 with a second attachment structure (such as a tab 27) adapted to engage the hole 22 on an identical second package 25 (FIG. 3). The strip 20 can be any size, shape and thickness suitable for attachment to and for supporting a particular product. For example, it can be 1½″ by 3¾″ of 0.5 mm thick clear plastic material commonly used for display strips. Notably, the strip material can be increased in thickness or stiffness for heavier product, . . . or reduced in thickness and strength for lighter weight product. The illustrated top aperture 22 is about 1¾″ wide by ⅜″ high, and the mating tab 27 is about 1″ long by ¼″ wide. The patch of adhesive is about ¾″ high, and extends a full width of the strip 20.

It is contemplated that the first attachment structure is not limited to only a hole or aperture. For example, it could include a tab or strip of material, or multiple holes, or a peg . . . or simply a flat surface for attachment by adhesive (i.e., where the second attachment structure is an outwardly-facing patch of adhesive). It is contemplated that the second attachment structure may (or may not) include overlapping tabs 28, and may include other attachment structure, such as the outwardly-facing adhesive discussed above.

By this arrangement, the plurality of product 25 (FIG. 3) can be hung in series, with each successive product hanging from an adjacent one of the product. A related method includes hanging a plurality of product in a serial vertical arrangement (FIG. 3) where each successive product hangs from an adjacent one of the product. By this arrangement, as shown in FIG. 3, a lowest one of each successive product 25 can be removed from the above-adjacent product 25. Alternatively, it is noted that the product 25 selected for removal can be spaced above a bottom one of the plurality of product, such that more than one of the product will be conveniently removed by the customer with a single pulling motion from the vertical arrangement for purchase.

Additional embodiments are shown below. In each embodiment, identical or similar features and characteristics are identified using similar numbers, but with the addition of a letter “A” or “B” or the like. This is intended to reduce redundant discussion, and not for another purpose.

The display strip 20A (FIG. 4) includes a strip of material having a top portion 21A with attachment aperture 22A, an intermediate portion 23A with adhesive material 24A, and a lower portion 26A with an attachment tab 27A. The illustrated strip 20A is similar to strip 20, but the tab 27A is about 1″ wide. This creates a more stable engagement of the tab 27A with the aperture 22A (FIG. 5), since the edges of the tab 27A approximately abut the edges of the aperture 22A. Notably, the edges of the tab 27A are slightly angled to facilitate insertion into the mating aperture 22A.

The display strip 20B (FIG. 6) includes a strip of material having a top portion 21B with attachment aperture 22B, an intermediate portion 23B with adhesive material 24B, and a lower portion 26B with a pair of attachment tabs 27B. The illustrated strip 20B is similar to strips 20 and 20A, but an overlapping tab 28B is provided between the tabs 27B. This creates a more stable engagement of the tab 27B with the aperture 22B (FIG. 7), since the overlapping tab 28B holds product downwardly on the tabs 27B.

The display strip 20C (FIG. 8) includes a strip of material having an intermediate portion 23C with adhesive material 24C, and a lower portion 26C with an attachment tab 27C. However, the top portion (21) is eliminated. Instead, the “top portion” with attachment aperture 22C is formed in the product packaging material itself. This is possible where the product packaging is stiff enough and structurally strong enough to support the weight of multiple product hung in a vertical serial arrangement. The illustrated strip 20C has a tab 27C similar to strip 20.

It is to be understood that variations and modifications can be made on the aforementioned structure without departing from the concepts of the present invention, and further it is to be understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.

Claims

1. A display strip comprising:

a relatively short strip of material having a top portion with first attachment structure, an intermediate portion adapted for attachment to a first package, and a lower portion with second attachment structure adapted to engage the first attachment structure on an identical second package.

2. The display strip defined in claim 1, wherein the intermediate portion includes adhesive.

3. The display strip defined in claim 2, wherein the first attachment structure is a hole.

4. The display strip defined in claim 3, wherein the second attachment structure includes at least one tab.

5. The display strip defined in claim 4, wherein the second attachment structure includes a second tab overlapping the at least one tab.

6. The display strip defined in claim 1, wherein the first attachment structure is a hole.

7. The display strip defined in claim 1, wherein the second attachment structure includes at least one tab.

8. The display strip defined in claim 7, wherein the second attachment structure includes a second tab overlapping the at least one tab.

9. A display system comprising:

a plurality of product each having a strip of material attached near a top thereof, one of the product and the strip having a hole near a top of the product and the strip having a tongue configured to engage the hole of an adjacent one of the plurality of product, whereby the plurality of product can be hung in series, with each successive product having from an adjacent one of the product.

10. A method comprising steps of:

providing a plurality of product; and

hanging the plurality of product in a serial vertical arrangement where each successive product hangs from an adjacent one of the product.

11. The method defined in claim 10, including a step of removing a lowest one of each successive product from the above-adjacent product.

12. The method defined in claim 10, including a step of removing a selected one of the product, the selected one being spaced above a bottom one of the plurality of product such that more than one of the product is removed from the vertical arrangement.