Patent Application
20200277117
This disclosure relates generally to product display packages and, more particularly, to a hang tag for elongated tools such as drill bits.
Unless otherwise indicated herein, the materials described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted as prior art by inclusion in this section.
There are a variety of display packages designed for presenting relatively small products that are sold at retail as well as other stores, where the products are conveniently placed on rods or hooks that extend from a wall or display case. These display packages are commonly known as clip or hang tags which are designed to hold the product and provide a surface for an information label while providing an aperture which allows the hang tag to be hung on the outwardly extending rod or hook.
Drill bits and other elongated tools have been displayed using hang tags. In order to maximize the amount of drill bits that can be displayed in a given volume, it is desirable to reduce the size of the hang tags. Accordingly, relatively thin, elongated hang tags have been designed which have a mounting aperture at the upper end, an intermediate area on which labels can be placed, and a lower portion adapted to receive and hold the product, such as a drill bit, screwdriver and other tools.
A significant concern, particularly with drill bits which can be expensive relative to other similarly sized products, is shoplifting by customers who simply walk out of a retail establishment with the product. In response to this issue, security tags are often placed on the hang tags. Another concern with regard to drill bits is that customers have been known to switch the hang tag of an expensive drill bit with the hang tag of a less expensive drill bit.
Accordingly, it would be beneficial if a hang tag package could protect a tool such as a drill bit and provide for informational display and mounting while reducing the overall size of the package and product. It would be further beneficial if a hang tag were more difficult to disassemble the hang tag package from known hang tag packages to prevent removal of the product prior to sale and/or to hinder switching of hang tags.
A summary of certain embodiments disclosed herein is set forth below. It should be understood that these aspects are presented merely to provide the reader with a brief summary of these certain embodiments and that these aspects are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. Indeed, this disclosure may encompass a variety of aspects that may not be set forth below.
In accordance with one embodiment, a hang tag package includes a base portion including an upper mounting portion, a first display portion located beneath the mounting portion and including a first window through which a tip portion of an elongated tool is viewable from the front of the base portion, and a body portion located beneath the display portion, the body portion including at least one integrally formed first welding pad. The hang tag package further includes a bridge strap including at least one integrally formed second welding pad ultrasonically welded to the integrally formed first welding pad whereby the elongated tool is entrapped between the body portion and the bridge strap.
In one or more embodiments, the hang tag package further includes an adhesive adhered to at least one anchoring structure of the base portion and to the elongated tool thereby adhering the elongated tool to the base portion.
In one or more embodiments, the body portion further includes a second window and the elongated tool is aligned with the second window such that a portion of the elongated tool is visible through the body portion from the front of the body portion.
In one or more embodiments the bridge strap includes at least one neck extending partially about the elongated tool.
In one or more embodiments the at least one neck is shaped complementary to a facing portion of the elongated tool.
In one or more embodiments the body portion includes side panels extending along the sides of the second window. Each side panel includes one of the first welding pads to which the second welding pads are ultrasonically welded.
In one or more embodiments, the body portion includes an anti-walking ridge associated with each welding pad, wherein the anti-walking ridges are configured to restrict movement of the bridge strap with respect to the body portion during an ultrasonic welding operation.
In one or more embodiments the two side panels are not co-planar.
In one or more embodiments the bridge strap includes an upper neck extending partially about the elongated tool and a lower neck extending partially about the elongated tool. A backing extends between the upper neck and the lower neck and is aligned with the second window.
In one or more embodiments, the bridge strap further includes a rib extending alongside the backing and spaced apart from the backing. The hang tag package further includes a label including a first end portion attached to the rib, the label extending from the first rib, around a front side of the body portion, over the backing, and to the rib whereat a second end portion of the label is attached to the first end portion of the label.
In one or more embodiments at least one of the upper neck and the lower neck is configured to closely conform to the elongated tool such that rotation of the elongated tool with respect to the at least one of the upper neck and the lower neck is inhibited.
In accordance with one embodiment, a method of forming a hang tag package includes providing a base portion including an upper mounting portion, a first display portion located beneath the mounting portion and including a first window, and a body portion located beneath the display portion, the body portion including at least one integrally formed first welding pad. The method includes positioning an elongated tool on a backside of the base portion such that a tip portion of the elongated tool is viewable from the front of the base portion through the first window. Then a bridge strap is ultrasonically welded to the body portion by ultrasonically welding at least one integrally formed second welding pad of the bridge strap to the at least one integrally formed first welding pad thereby entrapping the elongated tool between the body portion and the bridge strap.
In one or more embodiments, the method includes adhering at least one anchoring structure of the base portion to the elongated tool with an adhesive thereby adhering the elongated tool to the base portion.
In one or more embodiments of the method positioning the elongated tool on the backside of the base portion further includes aligning the elongated tool with a second window of the base portion such that a portion of the elongated tool is visible through the body portion from the front of the body portion.
In one or more embodiments the method includes positioning at least one neck of the bridge strap partially about the elongated tool prior to ultrasonically welding the bridge strap to the body portion.
In one or more embodiments of the method positioning the at least one neck of the bridge strap partially about the elongated tool includes positioning at least one neck of the bridge strap partially about a complementarily shaped facing portion of the elongated tool.
In one or more embodiments of the method providing the base portion includes providing a body portion which includes a first side panel extending along a first side of the second window, and a second side panel extending along a second side of the second window. The at least one integrally formed first welding pad includes a first side welding pad integrally formed with the first side panel and the at least one integrally formed first welding pad includes a second side welding pad integrally formed with the second side panel. Additionally, the at least one integrally formed second welding pad includes a third welding pad integrally formed with the bridge strap and the at least one integrally formed second welding pad includes a fourth welding pad integrally formed with the bridge strap. Accordingly, ultrasonically welding the bridge strap to the body portion includes ultrasonically welding the third welding pad to the first side welding pad and ultrasonically welding the fourth welding pad to the second side welding pad.
In one or more embodiments of the method the first side panel is not co-planar with the second side panel.
In one or more embodiments the method includes positioning an upper neck of the bridge strap partially about the elongated tool prior to ultrasonically welding the bridge strap to the body portion, positioning a lower neck of the bridge strap partially about the elongated tool prior to ultrasonically welding the bridge strap to the body portion, and aligning a backing of the bridge strap with the second window, the backing extending between the upper neck and the lower neck.
In one or more embodiments of the method at least one of the upper neck and the lower neck is configured to closely conform to the elongated tool such that rotation of the elongated tool with respect to the at least one of the upper neck and the lower neck is inhibited.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of this disclosure will become better understood when the following detailed description of certain exemplary embodiments is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:
The following description is presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the described embodiments, and is provided in the context of a particular application and its requirements. Various modifications to the described embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the described embodiments. Thus, the described embodiments are not limited to the embodiments shown, but are to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein.
The upper mounting portion 108 includes a mounting window 114 which in the embodiment of
The display portion 110 is located immediately below the upper mounting portion 108 and includes a display window 116 and a backwardly extending lip 118. The lip 118 includes a mouth 120 through which a tip 122 of the drill bit 102 extends. The display window 116, which in this embodiment is fully encircled but in other embodiments is open to one of the sides of the hang tag package 100, allows a customer to see the tip 122 of the drill 102.
The body portion 112 is located immediately beneath the display portion 110 and includes two side panels 124 and 126. As shown more clearly in
The angled configuration further provides for centering of the drill bit 102 on the body portion 112 and aligns the drill bit 102 with both the display window 116 and a display window 130 in the body portion 112 in embodiments including the display window 130. Accordingly, since the mouth 120 allows the drill bit 102 to be positioned directly against the backside 128 (see
Returning to
In some embodiments, the anchoring structures provide increased surface areas for the adhesive 144. The adhesive 144 engages the anchoring structures 142 and the drill bit 102 to inhibit rotation and/or removal of the elongated product from the hang tag package 100. In some embodiments, the elongated tool is provided with a debossed area which, along with the debossed structures 142, provides enhanced securement for the adhesive. When provided on the drill bit the debossed area in some embodiments is located beneath a flute.
In one embodiment, the adhesive is selected to act in a manner similar to a rubber cement. To wit, the adhesive acts substantially like a gasket which increases friction by remaining at least somewhat tacky rather than by providing an unbreakable connection with the elongated tool. The adhesive thereby resists rotation of the elongated tool while being easily removed from the elongated tool when the elongated tool is removed from the hang tag package. In one embodiment such an adhesive is commercially available from DHM Adhesives Inc. of Calhoun, Ga. under the trade name DHM-798 which is a hot melt polyolefin based glue with excellent adhesion to plastics, fiberglass, metal, and most substrates.
Returning to
The bridge strap 106 includes four integrally formed welding pads 158, 160, 162, and 164 which, as discussed in further detail below, are welded to the welding pads 150, 152, 154, and 156, respectively.
The bridge strap 106 further includes a backing portion 166 and two support ribs 168 and 170. The backing portion 166 traps the drill 102 and the underling adhesive 144 against the body portion 112. The welding pads 150, 152, 154, and 156 of the body portion 112 are configured such that when welded to the welding pads 158, 160, 162, and 164, the bridge strap 106 is aligned with the body portion 112. Hence, the backing portion 166 is aligned with the display window 130 in embodiments including the second window 130.
The support ribs 168 and 170 and the backing portion 166 are used to support the label 105 as described with reference to
The label 105 is configured such that when attached to the base portion 104 and the bridge strap 106, the window 178 is aligned with the display window 130 with the front label portion 176 centered about the display window 130 in embodiments including the display window 130. In any event, the front label portion 176 extends over at least a portion of each of the side panels 124/126. Additionally, the rear label portion 180 is centered on the backing portion 166. Accordingly, the front label portion 176 is clearly visible to provide detailed information regarding the elongated tool to a consumer while the hang tag package 100 is on display, and the rear label portion is available for additional information such as warning information and coding labels.
Since the label 105 is overlapped at the rib 170, none of the writing or illustrations on the label will mismatch in a critical area. Moreover, the label 105 conceals the security tag 184 positioned within the depression 140. Because of the ribbed structure of the bridge strap 106, a lesser amount of materials is required thereby lowering costs and weight of the hang tag package 100. The material used for the label is selected to provide puncture resistance so that consumers do not puncture the label 105 when handling the hang tag 100. To this end, in one embodiment, the label 105 is formed using 60# bi-orientated polypropylene (BOPP).
Also shown in
Referring again to
Continuing with
One or both of the neck 196 and the neck 198 is/are sized and shaped to conform to the size and shape of the drill bit 102 or other elongated tool to provide additional stability to the hang tag package. By way of example,
The bridge strap 196″ in some embodiments is incorporated with a base portion which includes a protuberance. By way of example, in embodiments wherein one or more of the anchoring structures 142 (see
In some embodiments, the elongated tool is provided with a debossed anchoring structure/opening into which a bossed anchoring structure of the body portion 112 extends to inhibit or prevent relative movement between the elongated tool and the body portion 112. In some embodiments, the debossed anchoring structure and bossed anchoring structure only prevent pulling the elongated tool out of the hang tag, e.g., when the debossed anchoring structure is a flute. In other embodiments the debossed anchoring structure and bossed anchoring structure prevent pulling the elongated tool out of the hang tag and further prevent rotation of the elongated tool with respect to the body portion, e.g., when the debossed area does not extend axially along the shaft for a distance which allows pulling the elongated tool out of the hang tag.
The hang tag package 100 is assembled in one embodiment according to the method 200 of
At block 204 the security tag 184 is affixed in the depression 140 in some embodiments. An adhesive is applied to the base portion 104 at block 206. In some embodiments, the adhesive is applied in depression 140 and the security tag is affixed in the depression 140 in a following step. Once the adhesive is applied, the elongated tool is inserted onto the body portion (and the adhesive). The angled side panels 124 and 126 help to align the elongated tool on the body portion 112. In embodiments including flutes or openings and protruding (bossed) anchoring structures 142, the anchoring structures 142 further assist in aligning the elongated tool on the body portion 112. Alignment of the elongated tool in some embodiments includes alignment of the elongated tool with one or more of the display windows 116 and 130.
The bridge strap 106 is then positioned on the body portion 112 (block 210). In particular, the bridge strap 106 is aligned with the body portion 112 by positioning the welding pads 158, 160, 162, and 164 of the bridge strap 106 on the welding pads 150, 152, 154, and 156 of the body portion 112. The anti-walking ridges 186/188/190/192 assist in aligning the bridge strap 106 as each of the guide surfaces 194 are positioned immediately adjacent an associated anti-walking ridge.
In order to achieve contact between the respective welding pads, the bridge strap 106 in some embodiments is flexed by forcing the welding pads of the bridge strap against the welding pads of the body portion thereby pressing the elongated tool against the body portion 112 with the backing portion 166.
At block 212 the bridge strap 106 is welded to the body portion 112. To this end one or more of the body portion welding pads and the bridge strap welding pads are provided in some embodiments with features, e.g., ridges, to assist in the welding process which in some embodiments is an ultrasonic welding process. The anti-walking ridges 186/188/190/192 interacting with the guide surface 194 prevent the bridge strap welding pads from moving off of the base portion welding pads during the welding process. The process ends at block 214 when a label 105 is attached to the welded bridge strap and body in the manner discussed above.
While
The base portion 234 is similar to the base portion 104. Rather than a display window 130, however, the base portion 234 includes a rib 240 which is configured to be inserted within a flute (not shown) or opening (not shown) of the elongated tool 232. The rib 240 prevents the elongated tool 232 from being pulled out of the hang tag package 230. The base portion 234 further includes two pairs of alignment guides 242. The alignment guides 242 align the elongated tool 232 on the base portion 234 in preparation for ultrasonic welding of the bridge straps 236 to the base portion 234. In some embodiments, an adhesive is applied between the elongated tool and the alignment guides 242 to resist rotation. In some embodiments, one or more of the bridge straps 236, rib 240, and alignment guides 242 are incorporated into the base portion 104.
In the above embodiments, the hang tag package provides a number of advantages. The angled body portions provide enhanced strength and customer viewing. The hang tag package provides for viewing of both ends of the elongated tool and to the central portion of the elongated tool. The hang tag package further provides access to the shank of the elongated tool so a customer can verify compatibility of the elongated tool with other tools while preventing removal of the elongated tool prior within a retail facility. The hang tag package is easily assembled and does not incorporate small fasteners which can be difficult to control during assembly.
While the disclosure has been described with reference to various embodiments, it will be understood that these embodiments are illustrative and that the scope of the disclosure is not limited to them. Many variations, modifications, additions, and improvements are possible. More generally, embodiments in accordance with the patent have been described in the context or particular embodiments. Functionality may be separated or combined in blocks differently in various embodiments of the disclosure or described with different terminology. These and other variations, modifications, additions, and improvements may fall within the scope of the disclosure as defined in the claims that follow.
