DEPLOYABLE AND RETRACTABLE HANG TAB FOR ARTICLES

Abstract

The present invention relates to a hang tab for suspension of an article comprising a body having upper and lower portions. The upper portion comprising an aperture configured to hang the hang tab with an attached article thereon to a hanger and the lower portion comprising a generally semi-circular configuration which facilitates inserting the hang tab into an attached article.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefits of priority to U.S. Prov. Pat. App. 60/958,936 filed on Jul. 10, 2007, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to display products having a hang tab, and in particular, to a deployable and retractable hang tab for holding and displaying articles, such as computer mouse, CDs, DVDs, and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various designs and techniques are known for providing hang tabs. Hang tabs are often made from clear plastic sheet such as PVC, PP, PS, PE or PET. The hang tabs generally have an opening or slot, usually in the form of a squat, isosceles triangle, having an apex that can receive a single wire hanger and having a base wide enough to receive multiple wire hangers. Hang tabs are generally adhered to the box or package they support, and they are usually formed to fold flat against the package they are adhered to, until the package is removed from a packing case and hung up for sales display. One disadvantage of the known hang tab is that the hang tabs require relatively aggressive, pressure-sensitive adhesive to ensure that the hang tab is reliable in holding an object or package on a supporting wire for an indefinite length of time. A drawback to adhesively attach a hang tab to a box or package is the fact that the hang tab is permanently fixed to the box or package, usually to the exterior of the package. The adhesively attached area is visible on the exterior of the package, running over graphical areas and potentially causing an aesthetically displeasing look to consumers. Another disadvantage of adhesively attached hang tabs is that the adhesive can peel or shear over time causing the hang tab to fail. Another drawback of many hang tabs is that they are often not needed for products that may either hang on a rack or alternatively stand on a shelf. When standing on a shelf many hang tabs remain obtrusively visible when not needed.

Therefore, there is a need for a low cost hang tab which can be attached to a package with or without the use of adhesive, and which can be deployed, or extended when needed. There is also a need for a hang tab that can be attached either before or after package assembly and still remain mostly concealed when not in use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a hang tab for holding and displaying various products such as a computer mouse, CDs, DVDs, and the like in a retail store. The hang tab is attached to the carton or box after assembly of the box, or from the inside of the box before assembly of the box. The hang tab attaches to or is otherwise restrained within a hang tab interface that is a specially cut section of the package (the interface) that provides a receptacle for attachment. The hang tab is designed so that when the hang tab is not in use, it can be at least partially or substantially concealed within the box or carton without falling irretrievably down into or out of the box and without taking up the extra head space that some hang tabs use.

Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention relates to a hang tab for suspension of an article comprising a body having upper and lower portions. Generally, the lower portion may simply comprise a portion which has a larger width than the upper portion while in other variations the lower portion may define a curved, arcuate, or generally semi-circular configuration which facilitates insertion of the hang tab into the package hang tab interface. The curved lower portion is illustrated as an exemplary variation of the possible shapes into which the lower portion may be configured and is not intended to be limiting. Accordingly, the lower portion may be designed into any number of shapes or configurations so as to inhibit the inadvertent removal of the hang tab from the hang tab interface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A full understanding of the invention can be gained from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows the hang tab and the hang tab interface;

FIG. 1A shows a package with the hang tab retracted for shelf display or for shipment;

FIG. 1B shows a package with the hang tab in the deployed position for hanging on a display rack;

FIG. 2 shows the hang tab interface into which the hang tab shown in FIG. 1 is inserted;

FIG. 3 shows the beginning of the manner in which the hang tab is inserted into an already assembled package;

FIG. 4 shows the beginning of the rotation of the hang tab into the hang tab interface as part of the manner of insertion in one embodiment;

FIG. 5 shows the hang tab almost fully rotated into the hang tab interface in the manner in which the hang tab is inserted into the interface;

FIG. 6 shows the hang tab fully rotated and in the fully deployed position, ready to hang on a store rack;

FIG. 7 shows the hang tab in the retracted position for shipping or for display by standing upright on a store shelf;

FIG. 8 shows an alternate embodiment wherein the hang tab is attached adhesively to the package, e.g., inside the package, during manufacturing;

FIG. 9 shows the alternate embodiment of FIG. 8 with the hang tab section separated from the adhesive section.

FIG. 10A shows the alternate embodiment shown in FIG. 8 attached to the inside of a package.

FIG. 10B shows the attached alternate embodiment of the hang tab shown in FIG. 10A in the detached position, pulled up for deployment.

FIG. 10C shows the deployed alternate embodiment of the hang tab shown in FIG. 10B retracted after deployment.

FIG. 11 shows an example of a carton or package blank with the hang tab interface positioned on one of the folding edges.

FIG. 12 shows the exemplary carton or package blank with the alternate hang tab embodiment shown in FIG. 8 positioned and adhered to the blank prior to folding and gluing operations during the gluing converting process.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While this invention is susceptible to embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail various embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated.

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the top section of a display package 10 having a deployable and retractable hang tab 12 attached thereto in accordance to one embodiment, with the hang tab in the retracted position. FIG. 1B is perspective view of the top section of a display package 10 having a deployable and retractable hang tab 12 attached thereto, with the hang tab in the deployed position. The display package 10 may be constructed from a foldable material, such as, for example, paperboard, linerboard, folding board, folding boxboard, etc., and preferably from folding bristol. It is well within the scope of this invention to use any suitable material well known or later developed in the art such as, for example, plastic, thin sheet metal or the like. The deployable and retractable hang tab 12 is configured to be inserted into an interface portion 13 of the display package 10. The hang tab 12, when inserted, slides between a hanging position as shown in FIG. 6, and the partially or substantially concealed position as shown in FIG. 7. As will be described in greater detail, the removable hang tab 12 may be used to suspend a package from a typical store rack system.

The display package 10 includes an interface 13, as shown in FIG. 2, which is sized and configured to provide for the insertion (as illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5), retention (as illustrated in FIG. 7), and deployment (as illustrated in FIG. 6). The interface 13 is designed as a series of tabs and offset cuts, performed at the time of manufacturing during the die-cutting process, along an edge 14 of a package 10 as shown in FIG. 2, that permit the insertion, rotation, capture, extension and retraction of the hang tab. The size of the opening into the package 10 defined along interface 13 and shown in FIG. 1, as defined between the boundary points 30, may be sized along its length to be large enough to permit the insertion of the hang tab 12 when the hang tab 12 is oriented with the shoulders 21 angled, e.g., perpendicular, relative to the interface 13. However, the opening between boundary points 30 may be sized to be smaller than the width of the hang tab lower portion 20 such that the upper portion 18 of the hang tab 12 may be pulled through interface 13 yet is inhibited from further withdrawal by the width of the lower portion 20 relative to the interface 13. One of ordinary skill in art would appreciate that the display package 10 may be designed in a variety of shapes and sizes for various products.

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the removable hang tab 12 and the interface 13. The hang tab 12 is defined by an upper body portion 18 and a lower body portion 20. The upper body portion 18 is provided with a central aperture 22 used for hanging the hang tab 12 with an attached article thereon to a display hook (not shown). The shape of central aperture 22 can be varied greatly depending on degree and depth of interlocking desired. As such, the shape of the central aperture 22 can be rectangular, angular, convoluted or sub-divided, irregular, etc., but still falls within the scope of the present invention. The central aperture 22 typically includes an apex 24 that is wide enough to receive hooks.

The lower portion 20 may have a width larger than the upper portion 18 and sized accordingly for insertion and retention within a hang tab interface defined within the carton or box. Moreover, the lower portion may simply comprise a portion which has a larger width than the upper portion while in other variations the lower portion may define a curved, arcuate, or generally semi-circular configuration which facilitates insertion of the hang tab into the package hang tab interface. The curvature of the lower portion may extend radially away from the upper portion while the interface between the lower and upper portions may define a straight line or shoulder 21 for inhibiting the unintended removal or withdrawal of the hang tab 12 from the hang tab interface 13, as described in further detail below. The curved lower portion 20 is illustrated as an exemplary variation of the possible shapes into which the lower portion 20 may be configured and is not intended to be limiting. Accordingly, the lower portion 20 may be designed into any number of shapes or configurations so as to inhibit the inadvertent removal of the hang tab from the hang tab interface.

In the variation shown in FIG. 1, the lower body portion 20 has generally a semi-circular configuration which facilitates inserting the hang tab 12 into the display package 10. The hang tab 12 is generally formed to be in a concealed position within the display package 10 until the display package 10 is ready to be hung up for sales display. The hang tab 12 may be made of clear polyester resin so as to remain unobtrusive on the display package 10. The hang tab 12 is typically made from a synthetic resin, such as PVC, HDPE, PETG, polyethylene (PE) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The hang tab 12 is flexible and relatively thin, typically having a thickness between 0.006 and 0.030 inches. A typical hang tab 12 may have an aperture 22 of about 1.25 inches in width and about 0.25 inches high with a top notch 24 adding about 0.125 inches to the height. The exact size and shape may vary depending upon the particular application. The amount of material around that aperture may also vary depending on a number of factors, e.g., the weight of the packaged product, the thickness and strength of the various materials, etc. These values are merely provided as illustrative dimensions and are not intended to be limiting.

There are several commonly known methods of manufacture of the hang tab 12. One of these methods is related to a flat steel rule die cutting. Steel rule cutting dies, are commonly used for cutting paper, plastic, and cloth. A steel rule cutting die typically comprises a base substrate or backing board in which a groove matching the desired pattern to be cut is formed. A length of sharpened blade, known as a steel rule, is formed to the shape of the desired pattern to be cut and is embedded in the corresponding groove in the board. The steel rule has a sharpened cutting edge extending away from the board. A single steel rule cutting die is often constructed with multiple blades or cavities as to enable cutting of multiple patterns with a single pass through the press. Multiple cavities or patterns can be nested together on the substrate in an efficient configuration to minimize scrap. Alternatively, the hang tab 12 can be made by die cutting. The hang tab 12 can be cut from a web (roll) or from sheets of material. Although the hang tab 12 is made from plastic, but one ordinary skilled in the art would appreciate that the hang tab 12 can be made from paper or some combination of paper and plastic, or a variety of other materials and material combinations.

As mentioned above, the size of the opening into the package 10 defined along interface 13 is defined between the boundary points 30, which may be sized along its length to be large enough to permit the insertion of the hang tab 12 when the hang tab 12 is oriented with the shoulders 21 angled, e.g., perpendicular, relative to the interface 13. The hang tab interface 13 may further include one or two tabs 31 on either or both ends of boundary points 30 which may be formed by a pair of offset cuts formed on opposite ends of the tabs 31. The tabs 31 are designed to allow the slot 22 of upper portion 18 to be threaded between the tabs 31 and prevent the hang tab 12 from falling into the display package 10 when in the retracted position. The tab upper portion may be slightly offset from the edge 14 of package 10 such that the tab upper portion 18 is engaged between tabs 31 and remains at least partially exposed outside the package 10 to prevent the hang tab 12 from falling into the box when in the retracted position and also to facilitate the grasping and deployment of the hang tab for display.

FIGS. 2-5 illustrate one example in which the hang tab is inserted into the display package. After the display package 10 is assembled, the hang tab 12 may be grasped by one of the top corners, e.g., between thumb and forefinger if done manually. Next, the hang tab 12 may be oriented at an angle relative to its normal hanging position, e.g., 90 degrees, and inserted into hang tab interface 26, as depicted in FIG. 3. Once the hang tab 12 is nearly fully inserted, the hang tab 12 may be rotated (as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5) to its normal orientation, as shown in FIG. 6. The hang tab 12 may be pulled up relative to the display package 10 to orient the tab 12 in the hanging position, as shown in FIG. 6, or retracted down into the display package 10 by threading the hang tab slot 22 outside of the interface tab 16 to the hang tab's concealed position, as illustrated in FIG. 7 and as described above.

Alternatively, the hang tab 12 may be inserted and/or attached prior to or during construction of the display package 10. Prior to assembly of the display package 10, the hanging portion of hang tab 12 may be slid into or through the display package interface from the inside of the box into its fully deployed position. After assembly of the display package 10, the hang tab 12 may be retracted or pushed down to its undeployed position for shipping.

A further alternative for attaching the hang tab 12 to the display package is done automatically, at the time of package gluing. FIG. 8 shows this alternative embodiment 15 of the hang tab, wherein the hang tab has an extended section 34 on the lower portion that may remain in place by a perforated cut. Below the perforated cut, the extended section 34 can be affixed adhesively to the box by a strip or dots of adhesive 33, during, for example, the automatic or manual gluing process. The perforation can be later broken by pulling on the upper portion of the hang tab 15 after assembly or at the store, separating the extended bottom 34 from the rest of the hang tab 32 and creating a gap 35, as shown in FIG. 9. The hang tab may be applied to the inside of the display package blank as shown in FIG. 10A during transit through the gluing machine (not shown), and fixed in place by the adhesive strip 33 or adhesive spot(s). After gluing, a small portion 25 of the top of the hang tab 12 is accessible so that the hang tab 12 can be grasped and pulled out to the fully deployed position. The hang tab 12 may also be later retracted by pushing it back down into the display package 12, at which point the hang tab interface will guide the hang tab 12 into the same retracted position as the manually inserted hang tabs as shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 11 shows an example of a carton or package blank 50 with the hang tab interface 13 positioned on one of the folding edges 14. A typical carton blank 50 such as the one shown may be next folded and glued through a gluing machine by folding the blank 50 180 degrees along creases 40 and 14 so that the glue flap 41 is positioned under the end flap 42. Glue is typically applied to the glue flap 41 prior to folding. Carton or package blank 50 is shown for illustrative purposes and the hang tab may of course be utilized with any number of packaging configurations and designs if so desired.

FIG. 12 shows the example of how the hang tab may be positioned or otherwise attached to the carton or package blank 50. As shown, the hang tab may be placed and adhered in position relative to the hang tab interface prior to any folding and gluing operations during the gluing converting process. With the hang tab pre-placed, the hang tab portion may be readily deployed after the package blank 50 has been assembled. The hang tab variation illustrated is the embodiment shown above in FIG. 8; however, other variations of the hang tab may be utilized with or without adhesive depending upon the application.

While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its scope. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A hang tab for suspension of an article, comprising:

a body having upper and lower portions, the upper portion defining an aperture configured to hang the hang tab with an attached article thereon to a hanger and the lower portion having a width which is larger relative to a width of the upper portion,

wherein the lower portion is configured to facilitate insertion of the hang tab into an attached article and inhibit inadvertent withdrawal of the lower portion from the article.

2. The hang tab of claim 1 wherein the upper portion defines a curved or arcuate portion.

3. The hang tab of claim 1 wherein the lower portion defines a curved or arcuate shape extending radially from the upper portion.

4. The hang tab of claim 3 wherein the lower portion defines a semi-circular shape.

5. The hang tab of claim 1 wherein the lower portion further defines an extended portion delineated via a perforated boundary, the extended portion being removable therefrom along the boundary.

6. The hang tab of claim 1 wherein the attached article comprises a hang tab interface through which the hang tab is at least partially retractable.

7. The hang tab of claim 6 wherein the hang tab interface defines an opening between boundary points which is sized to allow passage of the hang tab therethrough when angled relative to the hang tab interface yet inhibit withdrawal of the hang tab lower portion when reoriented relative to the hang tab interface.

8. The hang tab of claim 6 wherein the hang tab interface further defines one or more tabs formed by offset cuts defined along the interface which are sized to engage the hang tab upper portion.

9. A method of hanging an article for display, comprising:

providing a hang tab body having upper and lower portions, the upper portion defining an aperture configured to hang the hang tab with an attached article thereon to a hanger and the lower portion having a width which is larger relative to a width of the upper portion;

inserting the hang tab body at an angle relative to the article at least partially into a hang tab interface defined along the article; and

rotating the hang tab body relative to the article such that the upper portion is retractable through the hang tab interface while the lower portion is inhibited from withdrawal from the interface.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising deploying the upper portion through the hang tab interface.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising retracting the hang tab body into the interface such that a portion of the upper body is engaged along one or more tabs defined along the interface and inhibited from further retraction into the article.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the hang tab lower portion comprises a width which is larger than a width of the upper portion.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the hang tab lower portion defines a curved, arcuate, or semi-circular shape extending radially from the upper portion.