This invention relates to the hole saws, and particularly to hang tags and display packaging for hole saws.
A hole saw is a tool that allows a user to make circular cut-outs in a material such as wood, steel, fiberglass, plastic, etc. Typically, a hole saw comprises a cylindrically shaped body with a circular cutting edge provided at one end of the body. The other end of the cylindrical body includes a mounting portion that defines a bore configured to removably secure the hole saw to an arbor or mandrel of a driving tool, such as a power drill.
Display packages have been developed that enable most types of tools and tool accessories to be displayed in stores by hanging the packaged product on rods or hooks that extend from a wall or display case. These display packages are commonly known as hang or clip tags which are designed to hold the product in a manner that is easily viewable, provide a surface for an identifying label, provide a hanging slot for placing the hang tag on a rod or hook, and retain a security device, such as a Sensormatic tag, to deter theft.
Hang tag packaging for tools and tool accessories is typically designed to retain the tool or tool accessory in a safe manner while leaving as much of the tool or tool accessory exposed or visible for easy viewing by a customer. For example, in displaying tools and tool accessories that have cutting edges, it is a common practice for display packaging to cover the cutting edge in some manner so the cutting edge does not pose a risk to customers or employees. The cylindrical body and circular cutting edge of hole saws, however, has made it difficult for hole saws to be secured to a hang tag in a manner that maximizes visibility of the hole saw while leaving the cutting edge protectively covered. As a result, hole saws are typically packaged in boxes that completely cover the hole saw. While effective, this type of packaging is usually more expensive and takes up more space than hang tag type display packaging.
What is needed is a hang tag assembly for a hole saw that enables a hole saw to be secured to a hang tag in a manner that maximizes exposure of the hole saw while protectively covering the circular cutting edge of the hole saw, and that is inexpensive to manufacture and easy to install.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method of packaging a hole saw includes positioning a circular cutting edge portion of the hole saw against a planar surface of a base member of a hang tag assembly. The base member includes a post that extends from the planar surface into a hollow interior defined by the hole saw. A cap member of the hang tag assembly is positioned adjacent a mounting portion of the hole saw. The cap member includes a stem and a display card portion. The stem is advanced through a bore defined in the mounting portion and into the hollow interior of the hole saw. The post is then secured to the stem within the hollow interior of the hole saw.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, a hole saw display package includes a hole saw and a hang tag assembly. The hole saw includes a cylindrical body having a cutting edge portion and a mounting portion. The cylindrical body defines a hollow interior, and the mounting portion includes an outer surface that defines a bore for receiving an arbor of a driving tool. The hang tag assembly includes i) a base member having a planar surface and a first linking structure that extends from the planar surface, ii) a cap member having an inner surface and a second linking structure that extends from the inner surface, and iii) a display card portion attached to the cap member. The cutting edge portion of the hole saw is positioned against the planar surface of the base member. The inner surface of the cap member is positioned adjacent the outer surface of the mounting portion. The second linking structure extends through the bore defined in the outer surface and into the hollow interior of the hole saw. The first linking structure is secured to the second linking structure within the hollow interior to affix the cap member to the base member.
In accordance with yet another embodiment, a hang tag assembly for a hole saw includes i) a base member including a planar surface and a first linking structure that extends from the planar surface; ii) a cap member including an inner surface and a second linking structure that extends from the planar surface; and iii) a display card portion attached to the cap member. The display card portion defines a hanging slot. The first linking structure and the second linking structure are configured to be secured to each other to affix the cap member to the base member. The planar surface of the base member is configured to be placed against a circular cutting edge portion of a hole saw. The inner surface of the cap member is configured to be positioned adjacent a mounting portion of the hole saw. The second linking structure is configured to extend through a bore defined by the mounting portion when the inner surface is positioned adjacent the mounting portion of the hole saw. When the planar surface of the base member is positioned adjacent the cutting edge portion of the hole saw and the inner surface of the cap member is positioned adjacent the mounting portion of the hole saw with the second locking structure extended through the bore, the first linking structure and the second linking structure are configured to meet within a hollow interior defined in the hole saw.
For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and described in the following written specification. It is understood that no limitation to the scope of the invention is thereby intended. It is further understood that the present invention includes any alterations and modifications to the illustrated embodiments and includes further applications of the principles of the invention as would normally occur to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains.
Referring to
As depicted in
The second end portion 20 of the cylindrical body 16 comprises the cutting portion of the hole saw 14 and includes a circular cutting edge portion 22 that is centered on the axis A. The circular cutting edge portion 22 resides substantially in a single plane S that is perpendicular to the axis A. The diameter of the cylindrical body 16 and circular cutting edge 22 defines the size of the hole saw 14. Hole saws, such as the hole saw 14, range generally in size from five-eighths of an inch to six inches in diameter although smaller and larger hole saw diameters are possible.
In one embodiment, the cutting edge portion 22 includes a plurality of cutting teeth (not visible). The number, size, and geometry of the teeth can be varied for cutting different materials. In embodiments, slots, or gullets, (not shown) may be formed between the cutting teeth to provide openings for the exit or removal of cutting debris. In other embodiments, the cutting edge 22 may be encrusted with a hard, gritty material, such as diamond or carbide, (not shown) for use in boring holes in materials, such as brick, concrete, glass, and stone.
Referring to
The bore 26 is configured to receive an arbor of a driving tool. In one embodiment, the interior wall 24 of the bore 26 defines one or more grooves or recesses 34 arranged parallel to the bore axis B. The grooves 34 are configured to receive complementarily configured splines (not shown) provided on the arbor. The grooves and splines cooperate to prevent rotational movement of the hole saw with respect to the arbor. In alternative embodiments, the interior wall 24 can be threaded for meshing engagement with complementary threads (not shown) provided on the arbor (not shown). The arbor for a hole saw is configured to carry a drill bit, or pilot bit, (not shown) for boring a centering hole for the hole saw 14. When the arbor is secured to the hole saw, the pilot bit extends from the arbor in alignment with the axis A through the hollow interior of the hole saw to position the tip of the pilot bit beyond the cutting edge portion 22 of the hole saw 14.
In some cases, a hole saw adapter 23 may be used to secure a hole saw 14 to the arbor of a driving tool. Referring to
Referring now to
The base member 38 of the hang tag assembly 10 includes an inner facing surface 42 and an outer facing surface 44. When the base member 38 is secured to the cap member 36, the inner facing surface 42 is arranged facing toward the cap member 36. The inner facing surface 42 is generally planar so it can sit flush against the circular cutting edge 22 of the hole saw 14 and is sized to enable the inner facing surface 42 to overlap the entire circular cutting edge 22. In the embodiment of
The cap member 36 of the hang tag assembly 10 includes an inner facing surface 46 that faces toward the base member 38 and an outer facing surface 48 faces away from the base member 38. The inner facing surface 42 of the cap member 36 is configured for positioning adjacent the outer surface 28 of the mounting portion 18 of the hole saw 14. The cap member 36 has a size and shape that enables the inner facing surface 42 to overlap substantially the entire opening 30 to the bore defined in the outer surface 28 of the mounting portion 18.
The cap member 36 includes a display card portion 50. The display card portion 50 has a generally planar configuration that defines a hanging slot 52. The hanging slot 52 enables the hang tag assembly 10 (with the hole saw 14 secured thereto) to be supported by a hook (not shown) in a display rack. In one embodiment, the display card portion 50 is formed integrally with the cap member 36. In other embodiments, the display card portion 50 can be formed as a separate component that is affixed to the cap member 36. The hang tag assembly 10 is configured to support the hole saw 14 with the axis A of the hole saw arranged generally parallel to the display card portion 50 although in other embodiments the display card portion 50 can have other orientations with respect to the hole saw. In another alternative embodiment, the display card portion 50 can be incorporated into the base member 38 of the hang tag assembly 10 rather than the cap member 36.
Referring to
As depicted in
The cap linking structure 60 comprises a stem that extends generally perpendicularly from the inner facing surface 46 of the cap member 36. The stem 60 is sized to extend through the bore 26 defined in the mounting portion 18 of the hole saw 14 (
The base linking structure 58 of the base member 38 comprises a post or column that extends generally perpendicularly from the inner facing surface 42. When the inner facing surface 42 of the base member 38 is positioned adjacent the circular cutting edge 22 of the hole saw 14, the post 58 is located within the hollow interior 32 of the hole saw 14. As best seen in
Referring to
As depicted in
The stem 60 includes a ridge portion 80 having a width or diameter that is greater than the width or diameter of the portions of the stem 60 adjacent the ridge portion 80. As depicted in
The ridge portion 80 of the stem has an outer diameter that is slightly greater than the width or diameter of the opening 72 into the channel 68 defined by the flange structures 74. The outer diameter of the ridge portion 80 is less than the inner diameter of the remaining portions of the channel 68. To secure the post 58 and the stem 60 together, the ridge portion 80 of the stem 60 is aligned with the opening 72 to the channel 68 and pressed against the flange structures 74 that surround the opening 72 as depicted in
Once the ridge portion 80 of the stem 60 is advanced past the flange structures 74 and into the channel 68, the narrower portion of the stem 60 permits the flange structures 74 to relax and return to their normal positions as depicted in
When the ridge portion 80 of the stem 60 is locked in the channel 68, the inner facing surface 42 of the base member 38 and the inner facing surface 46 of the cap member 36 are retained a predetermined distance E apart from each other. The distance E corresponds substantially to the height of the hole saw. The height of the hole saw corresponds to the distance between the outer surface 28 of the mounting portion 18 and the circular cutting edge 22 (
The hang tag assembly 10 is also configured to prevent or limit rotational movement of the hole saw 14 with respect to the cap member 36 and base member 38. Referring again to
The dimensions and shapes of the base member 38, cap member 36, post 58, and stem 60 can be modified to accommodate hole saws of different heights, diameters, arbor hole diameters, and arbor hole configurations.
In the embodiments of
A flowchart depicting a method of packaging a hole saw is shown in
The post extending from the base member includes an interior wall that defines a channel configured to receive the stem portion that extends from the cap member. The stem and the interior wall of the post are configured to have a snap-fit engagement with each other to secure the cap member to the base member. To secure the stem to the post, the cap member is pressed toward the base member until the stem snaps into place in the channel of the post (block 114). When secured together, the post and stem serve to position the cap member a predetermined distance from the base member that corresponds to the height of the hole saw.
The configuration of the hang tag assembly provides advantages over previously known packaging assemblies for hole saw. For example, the use of snap-fit type locking features enables the cap member to be locked to the base member without having to use a separate tool while making them difficult to separate the without using a separate tool or breaking one of the parts. When a hole saw is secured between the cap member and the base member as described above, the locking features of the linking structures are substantially enclosed within the hollow interior of the hole saw which further enhances security. In addition, the design of the hang tag assembly allows for nearly full exposure of the hole saw on store shelves and display racks while maintaining the cutting edge safely covered.
While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same should be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character. It is understood that only the preferred embodiments have been presented and that all changes, modifications and further applications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.
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