DISPLAY HANGER
A display hanger comprises a mounting structure and a hanger rail. The mounting structure is configured to be secured to an item of merchandise and includes a clamping member. The hanger rail is pivotably attached to the mounting structure, and wherein the clamping member clamps the hanger rail in an orientation for supporting the merchandise.
Latest CRAFTMADE INTERNATIONAL INC. Patents:
The marketing of merchandise in retail establishments is frequently performed by suspending the merchandise or the packaging therefore from a horizontally-oriented display hook that extends outwardly away from a shelf. Such display hooks include, for example, a simple wire rod hook, which may have a slightly turned up distal end, and a wire loop hook, which is formed by a pair of laterally spaced arms whose forward end portions are integrally joined by a substantially U-shaped nose.
To suspend the merchandise or the packaging from one of the display hooks noted above, an end of the display hook is passed through an appropriately sized aperture in each piece of the merchandise or its packaging. As successive numbers of the merchandise or packaging are slid onto the display hook, a supply of the retail merchandise is presented for convenient viewing and selection by a retail consumer.
If, however, the merchandise or its packaging fails to include an aperture suitable for receiving one of the display hooks, a display hanger may be affixed to each item of merchandise to remedy the problem. With the display hanger secured to the item of merchandise, the end of the display hook is passed through the display hanger. Again, as successive numbers of the merchandise employing the display hanger are slid onto the display hook, a supply of the retail merchandise is presented for convenient viewing and selection by a retail consumer.
For a more complete understanding of the present application, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Referring to
Mounting structure 12 is generally used to secure display hanger 10 to an item of retail merchandise. In the illustrated embodiment of
A thickness 28 of back plate 16, which is generally measured between rear surface 24 and forward surface 26, may vary depending on a number of aspects. For example, thickness 28 of back plate 16 may depend upon the material used to construct back plate 16, the desired characteristics of mounting structure 12 (e.g., strength, flexibility, etc.), the overall cost of material of mounting structure 12, and the like. Thickness 28 of back plate 16 may be constant over an entire horizontal length 30, measured from one side 22 to an opposing side 22, and over an entire vertical height 32, measured from top 18 to bottom 20, or may vary at and between these extremes.
In some embodiments, back plate 16 of mounting structure 12 may have a different overall shape than that shown in
Still referring to
As shown, a size of open end 44 formed between clamp arms 38 is reduced in the illustrated embodiment of
Referring to
In the illustrated embodiment of
Sleeves 50 may take a variety of suitable forms. In particular, sleeves 50 may be fashioned from generally rectangular members, structures having a semi-circular profile, projections resembling a hemisphere, and the like. Likewise, sleeves 50 need not be outfitted with a passageway extending entirely therethrough as illustrated in
Back plate 16, clamps 36, and sleeves 50 of mounting structure 12 may be constructed from a variety of suitable materials such as, for example, plastic, metal, or combinations thereof. Back plate 16, clamps 36, and sleeves 50 of mounting structure 12 may be unitarily formed from a single piece of material or constructed from a collection of separate and distinct components secured together. In the latter case, the components (e.g., back plate 16, clamps 36, and/or sleeves 50) may be secured together through a process of ultrasonic bonding, by a welding procedure, using an adhesive, and the like, depending on the materials chosen for the components. In some embodiments, the entire mounting structure 12 may be unitarily formed from a single piece of plastic.
As shown in
In the illustrated embodiment of
To construct display hanger 10 of
With sleeves 50 projecting from packaging 58, bottom end portions 66 of hanger rail 14 are biased away from each other and aligned with insertion openings 54 in sleeves 50. Once aligned, the biasing force acting upon the bottom end portions 66 is released and bottom end portions 66 spring inwardly toward each other and into insertion openings 54 in sleeves 50. In this configuration, hanger rail 14 is securely supported by mounting structure 12 and suspended from sleeves 50. In this arrangement, hanger rail 14 is generally able to freely pivot about sleeves 50 of mounting structure 12. Should hanger rail 14 need to be disengaged from mounting structure 12 for any reason, bottom end portions 66 need only be drawn away from each other and out of insertion openings 54 in the sleeves 50.
In operation, hanger rail 14 is generally moveable between one or more unsecured positions 74 as shown in
To transition hanger rail 14 from an unsecured position 74 to secured position 80 of
In secured position 80, a portion of side portions 64 and top portion 62 of hanger rail 14 are situated vertically above top periphery 78 of packaging 58. With top portion 62 in this position, detent 68 is free to receive display hook 70 in the manner illustrated in
If the merchandise needs to be removed or taken off display and stored, packaged, or transported, a force is applied to top portion 62 or side portion 64 of hanger rail 14 in a direction generally away from exterior surface 76 of packaging 58 or the merchandise. When a sufficient amount of the force is applied, the clamping force exerted by clamps 36 holding hanger rail 14 in secured position 80 is overcome. When this occurs, hanger rail 14 is again permitted to freely pivot about sleeves 50. Therefore, packaging 58 and/or the merchandise may be conveniently stored, packaged, or transported without interference from a hanger rail projecting beyond top periphery 78 of packaging 58 or the top of the merchandise if display hanger 10 is affixed directly thereto.
From the foregoing, those skilled in the art will recognize that display hanger 10, which is operably coupled to an item of retail merchandise and/or the packaging therefore, is moveable between various positions to either support the item of merchandise or permit the item of merchandise to be conveniently packed, stored, or transported.
Claims
1. A display hanger, comprising:
- a mounting structure configured to be secured to an item of merchandise, the mounting structure including a clamping member; and
- a hanger rail pivotally attached to the mounting structure, and wherein the clamping member clamps the hanger rail in an orientation for supporting the merchandise.
2. The display hanger of claim 1, wherein the hanger rail is pivotably attached to the mounting structure by a pair of spaced apart sleeves.
3. The display hanger of claim 1, wherein the clamping member comprises at least one clamp forming a channel having an open end for receiving a portion of the hanger rail.
4. The display hanger of claim 1, wherein the mounting structure includes a sleeve having an insertion opening configured to receive a portion of the hanger rail.
5. The display hanger of claim 1, wherein the hanger rail is pivotally moveable about approximately one hundred eighty degrees relative to the mounting structure.
6. The display hanger of claim 1, wherein the hanger rail includes a top portion and bottom end portions, the top portion and the bottom end portions transverse with and spaced apart by side portions.
7. The display hanger of claim 1, wherein the hanger rail is positionable against a rear surface of packaging supporting the item of merchandise.
8. The display hanger of claim 1, wherein the mounting structure includes an attachment aperture for securing the mounting structure to the item of merchandise.
9. The display hanger of claim 1, wherein the hanger rail comprises a medially located detent for balancing the merchandise when supported from a display hook.
10. A display hanger, comprising:
- a mounting structure configured to be secured to an item of merchandise, the mounting structure including a sleeve and a clamp, the sleeve having an insertion opening; and
- a hanger rail having a portion thereof inserted in the insertion opening such that the hanger rail is pivotably attached to the mounting structure, and wherein the clamp secures the hanger rail in an orientation suitable for supporting the item of merchandise.
11. The display hanger of claim 10, wherein the hanger rail is pivotable about the sleeve about approximately one hundred eighty degrees.
12. The display hanger of claim 10, wherein the hanger rail includes a detent located medially along a top portion thereof.
13. The display hanger of claim 10, wherein the hanger rail is locatable within a peripheral boundary of the item of merchandise in at least one position.
14. The display hanger of claim 10, wherein the hanger rail projects beyond a periphery of the item of merchandise when secured by the clamp.
15. The display hanger of claim 10, wherein a back plate of the mounting structure is secured to one side of packaging supporting the item of merchandise and the hanger rail is disposed on another side of the packaging.
16. The display hanger of claim 10, wherein at least a portion of the mounting structure extends through packaging supporting the item of merchandise.
17. A method of configuring an item of merchandise for display, comprising:
- inserting a portion of a mounting structure through packaging configured to support the item of merchandise; and
- pivotally coupling a hanger rail to the portion of the mounting structure inserted through the packaging.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein inserting the portion of the a mounting structure through the packing comprises inserting a sleeve and a clamp through the packaging.
19. The method of claim 17, wherein pivotally coupling the hanger rail to the mounting structure comprises inserting a portion of the hanger rail into a sleeve of the mounting structure.
20. The method of claim 17, further comprising adhering the mounting structure to the packaging using an adhesive.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 1, 2008
Publication Date: Apr 1, 2010
Applicant: CRAFTMADE INTERNATIONAL INC. (Coppell, TX)
Inventor: Matthew WEISS (Highland Village, TX)
Application Number: 12/243,537
International Classification: A44B 21/00 (20060101);