Article display device

An article display device to be hung from a hook or the like hanging component of a display structure, includes a one-piece body with first, second, and third contiguous sections. The first, second and third sections include generally coextensive side edges. The first section includes a first opening for receiving a hook or the like hanging component of an article display structure. The second section is disposed below the first section and includes an area for including advertising indicia/information. The third section is disposed below the second section and includes a second opening bound on all sides for inserting an article therethrough. The height of the second section is larger than the height of one of the first and third sections.

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Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is generally directed to display devices, and more particularly to an article display device which can be used to display foldable articles, such as wallets.

The retail industry, particularly the department stores and shops normally dedicate thousands of square feet of ground and shelf space to display and showcase thousands of items. It would not be an exaggeration to state that at any given time tens of thousands items are on simultaneous display in a large department store. The retail businesses constantly introduce new items to attract the attention of the consumers. While competing for consumers attention on one hand, and constantly balancing the need to display thousands of items with limited time and labor available for such on the other hand, the retailer are faced with many challenges. One of the challenges includes the speed with which thousands of items have to be displayed or arranged on the racks or walls. For instance, garments must be properly secured onto hangers prior to being displayed on floor or wall racks. Likewise, ties are often individually threaded through specially designed hangers prior to being suspended from a floor rack or wall hooks. Other items, such as wallets, are typically shipped in boxes to be laid out on tables for display. Frequently, bi-fold or tri-fold wallets are loosely stacked on tables or in cases for the consumers to see and choose from.

The prior art includes various garment and article hangers, display devices, and holders, examples of which are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,065,946; 3,241,733; 3,246,812; 3,790,045; 3,945,500; 4,932,571; 5,123,577; 5,328,065; 5,429,284; 5,501,378; 5,620,118; and 5,857,597.

However, the conventional devices are complicated in design, difficult to use, prone to easy damage, and expensive to manufacture. In addition, the prior art devices are typically designed only to hang articles thereby leaving no or insufficient space for including advertising indicia or information relating to the product, manufacturer, etc. This is because it is the article itself that normally carries this type of information.

In view of the drawbacks associated with conventional devices, there is a need in the industry for an article display device that is simple in design and construction, easy to use, and which includes an area for providing advertising information relating to the product, manufacturer, and/or other advertising information.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an article display device which overcomes the drawbacks associated with conventional devices.

An object of the present invention is to provide an article display device which is simple in design and construction, and easy and inexpensive to manufacture.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an article display device which can be used to hang and display various items in a relatively fast and easy manner.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an article display device which can be easily used to hang and display bi-fold and tri-fold wallets.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide an article display device which is monolithic in construction thereby making it easy and inexpensive to manufacture. The monolithic construction eliminates the need for assembly by a user and renders it less prone to damage. The article display device of the present invention is therefore more durable, easy to use, and more desirable.

Yet an additional object of the present invention is to provide an article display device which can be made from a variety of materials, such as cardboard, hard or soft plastic, foam, wood, or metal materials.

Still yet an additional object of the present invention is to provide an article display device which includes an area for providing various advertising indicia and/or information about the product, manufacturer, other advertising or related information, etc., adjacent the product being displayed. This construction facilitates attracting the consumers attention by providing all the necessary information close to the product.

In summary, the main object of the present invention is to provide an article display device which is simple in design and construction, inexpensive to manufacture, durable, easy to use, and provides an area for including product, manufacturer, and/or other advertising information.

One of the above objects is met, in part, by the present invention, which in one aspect includes an article display device to be hung from a hook or the like hanging component of a display structure, having a one-piece body with first, second, and third contiguous sections. The first, second and third sections include generally coextensive side edges. The first section includes a first opening for receiving a hook or the like hanging component of an article display structure. The second section is disposed below the first section and includes an area for including advertising indicia/information. The third section is disposed below the second section and includes a second opening bound on all sides for inserting an article therethrough. The height of the second section is larger than the height of one of the first and third sections.

Another aspect of the present invention includes an article display device to be hung from a hook or the like hanging component of a display structure, which includes a generally rectangular one-piece body with first, second and third contiguous sections. The body includes generally planar uninterrupted front and rear surfaces, and the first, second and third sections include generally coextensive side edges. The second section is disposed below the first section and includes an area for including advertising indicia/information. The third section is disposed below the second section and includes a second opening bound on all sides for inserting an article therethrough. The height of the second section is larger than the height of one of the first and third sections.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One of the above and other objects, novel features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment(s) of invention, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an article display device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is rear elevational view of the device shown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3-4 illustrate the steps involved in hanging a bi-fold wallet (shown in phantom lines) from the article display device of the present invention;

FIGS. 5-6 illustrate the steps involved in hanging a tri-fold wallet (shown in phantom lines) from the article display device of the present invention; and

FIGS. 7-12 illustrate alternative embodiments of the article display device shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) OF THE INVENTION

As best shown in FIGS. 1-2, the article dispensing device ADD of the present invention includes a body portion 10 made of a suitable material, such as cardboard, hard or soft plastic, foam, metal, wood, or the like durable material. The body 10 is preferably of a one-piece monolithic construction that could be molded. Front and rear surfaces 12 and 14 of the body 10 are preferably completely generally planar or flat, and uninterrupted. The body 10 is preferably few millimeters to one quarter-inch thick, but may be flexible for the ease of manipulation in hanging an article, such as a bi-fold wallet BW, or a tri-fold wallet TW (FIGS. 3-6).

The body 10 includes an upper hook section 16, a middle information or indicia section 18, and a lower hanger section 20. Preferably, the width of the hook section 16, the information section 18, and the hanger section 20, generally correspond to each other to provide generally coextensive left and right side edges 22 and 24. Preferably, the height H2 of the information section 18 is larger than the individual heights H1 and H3 of the hook section 16 and the hanger section 20, respectively. More preferably, the height H2 of the information section 18 is equal to, or more than the combined height (H1+H3) of the hook section 16 and the hanger section 20.

The hook section 16 includes a preferably centrally disposed through opening 26 for receiving a hook or the like hanging member 28 of a display structure, such as a wall-mounted display board or shelf (not shown) (FIG. 4).

The information section 18 is provided for including advertising information relating to the product, the manufacturer, or other advertising information. As shown by way of an example in FIG. 1, the information section 18 includes material and configuration-related details 30 about an article, such as a wallet, on the right side, and a rendition 32 of railroad cars and tracks on the left side. In this regard, it is noted herewith that the information 30 and 32, shown in FIG. 1, are for illustration purposes only and other indicia/information may be provided, as desired. It is further noted herewith that although the information section 18 is specifically provided for including product, manufacturer, and/or other advertising information, the hook section 16 may also be used to provide related or other information, such as a logo 34, brand name or trademark 36, and price information 38.

The hanger section 20 includes a generally transversely extending through opening 40 bound on all the sides, and a lower hanger bar 42. Preferably, the opening 40 includes left and right end portions 44 and 46 that are rounded. The width and height of the opening 40 is selected so as to easily accommodate an article, such as a bi-fold wallet BW, or a tri-fold wallet TW (FIGS. 3-6).

As best shown in FIG. 2, the rear surface 14 of the body 10 may be provided with additional information, such as a bar code 48, and configuration details 50 for the article in display.

The procedure for hanging an article, such as a bi-fold wallet BW, and a tri-fold wallet TW, will now be described with reference to FIGS. 3-6. In this regard, it is noted that a bi-fold wallet BW is a wallet that is typically rectangular in shape and includes left and right pocket portions 52 and 54 that are connected by a continuous fold portion 56 (FIGS. 3-4). On the other hand, a tri-fold wallet TW typically includes three pocket portions 58, 60 and 62 that are connected by continuous fold portions 64 and 66 (FIGS. 5-6). When folded, both the bi-fold wallet BW and tri-fold wallet TW form a generally rectangular compact unit for carrying currency, credit cards, drivers license, etc.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, when it is desired to hang a bi-fold wallet BW from the article display device ADD of the present invention, one of the left and right pocket portions 52 and 54 is inserted through the opening 40 (FIG. 3 shows pocket portion 54 being inserted) until the fold portion 56 is aligned with the hanger bar 42. At that point, the inserted pocket portion (54) is folded down such that the left and right pocket portions 52 and 54 come to face each other (FIG. 4). The fold portion 56 is then firmly seated over the hanger bar 42 and the article display device ADD may than be suspended for display by inserting the hook 28 through the opening 26. It is noted herewith that the foregoing is merely one illustration for hanging a bi-fold wallet BW from the article display device ADD, and can be varied. For instance, the left pocket portion 52 may first be inserted through the opening 40 from the front of the article display device ADD.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, preferably two pocket portions 60 and 62 are inserted through the opening 40 of the article display device ADD, in a manner that the fold portion 64 is aligned with the hanger bar 42. The inserted pocket portions 60 and 62 are then folded down to face the pocket portion 58, and the fold portion 64 is firmly seated over the hanger bar 42 (FIG. 6). The article display device ADD may than be hung on a display structure by inserting the hook 28 through the opening 26. It is noted herewith that the foregoing is merely one illustration for hanging a tri-fold wallet TW from the article display device ADD, and it can be varied. For instance, the pocket portion 62 may alone be inserted through the opening 40 such that the fold portion 66 is secured over the hanger bar 42, and then the pocket portion 58 is folded up to be sandwiched between the pocket portions 60 and 62 to hang the wallet TW from the article display device ADD.

In order to remove either the bi-fold wallet BW or the tri-fold wallet TW from the article display device ADD, one merely needs to slightly move up the wallet from the hanger bar 42 and then follow the above-noted steps in reverse.

FIGS. 7-12 illustrate alternative embodiments of the article display device ADD, which are similar to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-6, with the exception of the configuration of the through opening in the hanger section 20. (It is noted herewith that like reference numerals have been used in various embodiments to denote similar features or elements.)

As shown in FIG. 7, the left and right end portions 68 and 70 of the through opening 72 are generally cone-shaped. On the other hand, the through opening 74 of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8, is generally elliptical in shape.

As shown in FIG. 9, the opening 76 is generally semi-elliptical in shape with the flat surface 78 thereof preferably disposed adjacent the hanger bar 42. Likewise, the opening 80 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 10 is generally semi-elliptical in shape and includes a generally semi-circular central notch 82 in the curved section thereof. The flat surface 84 of the opening 80 is also preferably disposed adjacent the hanger bar 42.

As shown in FIG. 11, the opening 86 is similar to opening 40, but includes generally square left and right end portions 88 and 90. The opening 92 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 12 is generally plano-concave in configuration with the flat surface 94 thereof preferably disposed adjacent the hanger bar 42.

It is noted herewith that the orientation of the openings 76 (FIG. 9), 80 (FIG. 10), and 92 (FIG. 12) may be reversed (upside down) such that the respective flat surfaces 78, 84 and 94 thereof, are disposed adjacent the information section 18.

While this invention has been described as having preferred sequences, ranges, steps, materials, structures, components, features, and/or designs, it is understood that it is capable of further modifications, uses and/or adaptations of the invention following in general the principle of the invention, and including such departures from the present disclosure as those come within the known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains, and as may be applied to the central features hereinbefore ser forth and fall within the scope of the invention and of the limits of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An article display device to be hung from a hanging component of a display structure, comprising:

a) a one-piece body including first, second, and third contiguous sections;
b) said first, second, and third sections including generally coextensive side edges;
c) said first section including a first opening for receiving a hanging component of an article display structure;
d) said second section being disposed below said first section and including an area for including advertising information;
e) said third section being disposed below said second section and including a second opening bound on all sides for inserting an article therethrough; and
f) the height of said second section being larger than the height of one of said first and third sections.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein:

a) the height of said second section is larger than the height of each of said first and third sections.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein:

a) the height of said second section is generally equal to the combined height of said first and third sections.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein:

a) said body includes generally planar uninterrupted front and rear surfaces.

5. The device of claim 2, wherein:

(a) said body includes generally flat front and rear surfaces.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein:

a) said second opening extends generally transversely and includes generally rounded ends.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein:

a) said second opening extends generally transversely and includes angled ends.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein:

a) said opening extends generally transversely and is generally elliptical in shape.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein:

a) said opening extends generally transversely and is generally semi-elliptical in shape.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein:

a) said opening includes a notch.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein:

a) said opening extends generally transversely and includes generally square ends.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein:

a) said opening extends generally transversely and is generally plano-concave in shape.

13. The device of claim 1, in combination with a wallet.

14. An article display device to be hung from a hanging component of a display structure, comprising:

a) a generally rectangular one-piece body including first, second, and third contiguous sections;
b) said body including generally planar uninterrupted front and rear surfaces;
c) said first, second, and third sections including generally coextensive side edges;
d) said first section including a first opening for receiving a hanging component of an article display structure;
e) said second section being disposed below said first section and including an area for including advertising information;
f) said third section being disposed below said second section and including a second opening bound on all sides for inserting an article therethrough; and
g) the height of said second section being larger than the height of one of said first and third sections.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein:

a) the height of said second section is larger than the height of each of said first and third sections.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein:

a) the height of said second section is generally equal to the combined height of said first and third sections.

17. An article display device to be hung from a hanging component of a display structure, consisting essentially of:

a) a one-piece body including first, second, and third contiguous sections;
b) said first, second, and third sections including generally coextensive side edges;
c) said first section including a first opening for receiving a hanging component of an article display structure;
d) said second section being disposed below said first section and including an area for including advertising information;
e) said third section being disposed below said second section and including a second opening bound on all sides for inserting an article therethrough; and
f) the height of said second section being larger than the height of one of said first and third sections.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein:

a) the height of said second section is larger than the height of each of said first and third sections.

19. The device of claim 17, wherein:

a) the height of said second section is generally equal to the combined height of said first and third sections.

20. The device of claim 18, wherein:

a) said body includes generally planar uninterrupted front and rear surfaces.

21. The device of claim 18, wherein:

(a) said body includes generally flat front and rear surfaces.

22. The device of claim 17, wherein:

a) said second opening extends generally transversely and includes generally rounded ends.

23. The device of claim 17, wherein:

a) said second opening extends generally transversely and includes angled ends.

24. The device of claim 17, wherein:

a) said opening extends generally transversely and is generally elliptical in shape.

25. The device of claim 17, wherein:

a) said opening extends generally transversely and is generally semi-elliptical in shape.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein:

a) said opening includes a notch.

27. The device of claim 17, wherein:

a) said opening extends generally transversely and includes generally square ends.

28. The device of claim 17, wherein:

a) said opening extends generally transversely and is generally plano-concave in shape.
Patent History
Publication number: 20060060492
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 22, 2004
Publication Date: Mar 23, 2006
Inventors: Harsh Sethi (Ashburn, VA), Punita Sethi (Ashburn, VA)
Application Number: 10/945,975
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: 206/495.000
International Classification: B65D 73/00 (20060101);