Abstract: A display card with a surface is formed of a paper product. The card has spaced, oppositely oriented, integral die cut flap members each of which is positioned to be generally perpendicular to the card surface. One or more products are placed on the card, between the flap members. A fastener is then applied to the card, over the products, with the ends of the fastener anchored to the card, at either side of the products. In this manner, the products are securely mounted on the display card, eliminating the need for a blister package.

Abstract: A display card with a surface is formed of a paper product. The card has spaced, oppositely oriented, integral die cut flap members each of which is positioned to be generally perpendicular to the card surface. One or more products are placed on the card, between the flap members. A fastener is then applied to the card, over the products, with the ends of the fastener anchored to the card, at either side of the products. In this manner, the products are securely mounted on the display card, eliminating the need for a blister package.

Abstract: The connector attaches pots to form an assembly. The connector includes a rigid part adapted to extend into the interior of a pot, a rigid exterior part adapted to extend between the pots and a moveable member, attached to the exterior part, having an unattached end spaced from the interior part. As the connector is mounted on a pot, the interior part is inserted into the pot interior and the upper portion of the pot pushes the unattached end of the moveable member away from the interior part. After the rim of the pot clears the unattached end of the moveable member, the end returns to its original position and lodges under the rim to secure the pot to the connector. A pot separating member extends downwardly between the pots and has one or more sets of outwardly extending arms which retain the pots in their upright orientation as the assembly is transported.

Abstract: The connector includes a base and at least two pot engaging parts extending from the base. Each of the engaging parts has a surface adapted to face the wall of a pot, a first engaging member extending in a plane substantially parallel to, but spaced from, the engaging part surface, and two second engaging members extending in a direction opposite to the direction of the first part. The second engaging members are spaced from the first engaging member such that the wall of a pot may be situated between the first engaging member, on the one hand, and the two second engaging members, on the other hand. The second engaging members each have a pot wall contact portion. The contact portion of each of the second engaging members is inclined toward the first engaging member and away from the engaging part surface to accommodate the curvature of a pot wall.

Abstract: The connector includes a base and at least two pot engaging parts extending from the base. Each of the engaging parts has a surface adapted to face the wall of a pot, a first engaging member extending in a plane substantially parallel to, but spaced from, the engaging part surface, and two second engaging members extending in a direction opposite to the direction of the first part. The second engaging members are spaced from the first engaging member such that the wall of a pot may be situated between the first engaging member, on the one hand, and the two second engaging members, on the other hand. The second engaging members each have a pot wall contact portion. The contact portion of each of the second engaging members is inclined toward the first engaging member and away from the engaging part surface to accommodate the curvature of a pot wall.

Abstract: The hangtags with pre-punched openings are supplied on a roll with adjacent tags connected end-to-end by one or more elements which space the ends of the hangtags a short distance apart. Each hangtag in turn is aligned with an article to be tagged. A plastic fastener is received through the opening in the hangtag and the article, to attach the hangtag to the article. The connecting elements are severed simultaneously to separate the attached hangtag from the next hangtag by pulling the article from the apparatus such that a pull force is perpendicular to the hangtag end and is transferred through the fastener to the attached hangtag. The connecting elements are formed such that the pull force necessary to separate the hangtags is less than the force necessary to tear the portion of the hangtag body surrounding the fastener receiving opening. A reciprocating mechanism holds the next hangtag, as the attached hangtag is removed. It may also sever some or all of the connecting elements as it moves into position.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for actuating a tag attaching tool of the type which dispenses plastic fasteners from a clip of fasteners in response to the depression of a trigger. Each of the fasteners has a T-bar. The fasteners are dispensed by severing the fastener from the clip and ejecting the T-bar of the fastener through the hollow slotted needle of the tool. The tag attaching tool is actuated in two stages. During the first actuation stage, the trigger of the tool is partially depressed as the tool and an abutment are moved relative to each other such that the lead fastener is severed from the clip of fasteners. During the second actuation stage, the trigger of the tool is depressed completely, as the tool and abutment are moved further toward each other, causing the severed fastener to be ejected from the hollow needle of the attaching tool.

Abstract: The tag attaching tool is actuated in two stages. During the first actuation stage, the trigger of the tool is partially depressed such that the lead fastener is severed from the clip of fasteners. During the second actuation stage, the trigger of the tool is depressed completely, causing the severed fastener to be ejected from the hollow needle of the attaching tool.

Abstract: The connector connects a supported hanger and a supporting hanger. The connector engages the supported hanger at spaced points to avoid swaying of the supported hanger relative to the supporting hanger. The hangers are connected with their centers of gravity aligned so as to prevent tipping under the weight of the supported apparel. The connector is received on the supporting hanger so as not to obscure an indicia bearing clip mounted on the arcuate bar engaging part of the support hanger.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically attaching tags to articles employs a simplified tag feed mechanism in the form of a pivotally mounted spring-loaded tag feed plate. The plate receives the printed tag from the tag dispenser. The plate, with its tag, and the article to be tagged, are moved together, either manually or by action of a pneumatic cylinder, toward an attaching device such that the needle penetrates the article and the tag at the same time. The attacher is actuated to dispense a fastener through the needle. The spring-loading of the plate then urges the plate away from the needle, allowing the article with its anchored tag to be removed, once the plate clears the needle. The tag dispenser is then actuated to dispense the next printed tag.

Abstract: The connector connects a supported hanger and a supporting hanger. The connector engages the supported hanger at spaced points to avoid swaying of the supported hanger relative to the supporting hanger. The hangers are connected with their centers of gravity aligned so as to prevent tipping under the weight of the supported apparel. The connector is received on the supporting hanger so as not to obscure an indicia bearing clip mounted on the arcuate bar engaging part of the support hanger.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically attaching tags to articles employs a simplified tag feed mechanism in the form of a pivotally mounted spring-loaded tag feed plate. The plate receives the printed tag from the tag dispenser. The plate, with its tag, and the article to be tagged, are moved together, either manually or by action of a pneumatic cylinder, toward an attaching device such that the needle penetrates the article and the tag at the same time. The attacher is actuated to dispense a fastener through the needle. The spring-loading of the plate then urges the plate away from the needle, allowing the article with its anchored tag to be removed, once the plate clears the needle. The tag dispenser is then actuated to dispense the next printed tag.

Abstract: To reduce the force necessary to anchor the double "T" bar attachments, the filament of each attachment is made longer than the shortest (perpendicular) distance between the "T" bars to avoid the necessity of stretching the filament beyond its original length as it is dispensed. The filament lies in the same plane as the "T" bars to permit it to be fabricated on conventional stretching equipment. Preferrably, each end of the filament is formed at an acute angle relative to a line perpendicular to the "T" bar to which it is attached. The attachments can be supplied in continously connected ladder stock form or in a clip of parallel spaced attachments, situated between connector bars. In clip form, the attachments are fed along a correspondly shaped channel through the housing. In order to reduce the peak force necessary to sever the "T" bars from the respective connector bars, blades are located within the housing such that they cut at different times during the trigger stroke.

Abstract: First and second oppositely oriented, spaced apart tandem printers are simultaneously computer controlled to print both sides of labels on a continuous web of blank labels. The front and back designs, the number of labels to be printed and the number of labels on the web between the printers are each entered into the computer and stored. The first printer is actuated to print label fronts and the web is advanced. The second printer is not actuated to print label backs until the first printer has printed the fronts of a number of labels equal to the number of labels between the printers. After the first printer has completed printing the fronts of the required number of labels, the second printer will continue printing an additional number of label backs equal to the number of labels between the printers. Sets of different labels can be printed sequentially.

Abstract: Within a rigid housing cavity, freely moveably received members respectively support oppositely oriented spaced needles. Double "T" bar end type attachments situated between parallel connector bars are dispensed through the needles to attach buttons. Depressing protrusions accessible from the exterior of the housing moves the needle support members to alter the needle spacing to accomodate buttons with a variety of thread hole spacings. In order to reduce the peak force necessary to sever the attachments from the connector bars, the connector bars are severed from the ends of each attachment at slightly different times during the trigger stroke. A triangular linkage associated with the trigger provides a mechanical advantage which increases at an increasing rate, transmitting maximum force towards the end of the stroke, as the filament connecting the "T" bars stretches around the portion of the button between the thread holes.

Abstract: One or both ends of the connector bar is extended outwardly beyond the main section of the bar to which the attachments are mounted. The extended end provides access to the clip from the exterior of the attacher housing, permitting the clip to be manually advanced if the feed mechanism fails. An element may be situated on one extended end to facilitate grasping. In a clip having two connector bars, the ends of both bars extend in the same direction. The extended ends may be bent towards each other and may be connected to form a bridge. A second aspect of the invention relates to a connector bar which has an element designed to cooperate with the housing to prevent advancement of the clip all the way through the housing channel, thereby requiring the operator to remove the empty connector bar from the device for better control of disposal.

Abstract: Within a rigid housing cavity, freely moveably received members respectively support oppositely oriented spaced needles. Double "T" bar end type attachments situated between parallel connector bars are dispensed through the needles to attach buttons. Depressing protrusions accessible from the exterior of the housing moves the needle support members to alter the needle spacing to accomodate buttons with a variety of thread hole spacings. In order to reduce the peak force necessary to sever the attachments from the connector bars, the connector bars are severed from the ends of each attachment at slightly different times during the trigger stroke. A triangular linkage associated with the trigger provides a mechanical advantage which increases at an increasing rate, transmitting maximum force towards the end of the stroke, as the filament connecting the "T" bars stretches around the portion of the button between the thread holes.

Abstract: One or both ends of the connector bar is extended outwardly beyond the main section of the bar to which the attachments are mounted. The extended end provides access to the clip from the exterior of the attacher housing, permitting the clip to be manually advanced if the feed mechanism fails. An element may be situated on one extended end to facilitate grasping. In a clip having two connector bars, the ends of both bars extend in the same direction. The extended ends may be bent towards each other and may be connected to form a bridge. A second aspect of the invention relates to a connector bar which has an element designed to cooperate with the housing to prevent advancement of the clip all the way through the housing channel, thereby requiring the operator to remove the empty connector bar from the device for better control of disposal.

Abstract: One or both ends of the connector bar is extended outwardly beyond the main section of the bar to which the attachments are mounted. The extended end provides access to the clip from the exterior of the attacher housing, permitting the clip to be manually advanced if the feed mechanism fails. An element may be situated on one extended end to facilitate grasping. In a clip having two connector bars, the ends of both bars extend in the same direction. The extended ends may be bent towards each other and may be connected to form a bridge. A second aspect of the invention relates to a connector bar which has an element designed to cooperate with the housing to prevent advancement of the clip all the way through the housing channel, thereby requiring the operator to remove the empty connector bar from the device for better control of disposal.

Abstract: One or both ends of the connector bar is extended outwardly beyond the main section of the bar to which the attachments are mounted. The extended end provides access to the clip from the exterior of the attacher housing, permitting the clip to be manually advanced if the feed mechanism fails. An element may be situated on one extended end to facilitate grasping. In a clip having two connector bars, the ends of both bars extend in the same direction. The extended ends may be bent towards each other and may be connected to form a bridge. A second aspect of the invention relates to a connector bar which has an element designed to cooperate with the housing to prevent advancement of the clip all the way through the housing channel, thereby requiring the operator to remove the empty connector bar from the device for better control of disposal.