Hanging device

Abstract

A hanging device (20) for suspending a banner (22) or other signage item from elevated anchors. The hanging device (20) includes a strip (40) made from a suitably strong by relatively thin gauge material (e.g., a multi-axial polyethylene or a polyester film) and a non-foam pressure sensitive adhesive (42) applied to the inner surface of the strip's outer tab portions (44, 46). The strip (40) can have an asymmetrical shape, can have a shortened neck portion (48) and/or the tab portions (44, 46) can each be in the shape of rectangle with a cut-off corner in the shape of a triangle. A plurality of the hanging devices (20) can be provided on a sheet of release liner (52) and each hanging device (20) can be peeled therefrom in one step.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application entitled “HANGING DEVICE” and filed on Jan. 27, 2000 under Express Mail Label Number EJ887878388US. The entire disclosure of this provisional application is hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates generally as indicated to a hanging device and, more particularly, to tab devices that are attached to banners, posters, point-of-purchase displays, and other items so that they can be hung at a desired location.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Banners, posters, point-of-purchase displays, and other signage items are used to advertise, promote, attract or otherwise display information at exhibition halls, reception areas, show rooms, shopping malls, retail stores and/or sports arenas. With particular reference to a banner, it commonly has a rectangular shape and is made of a material such as vinyl, Tyvek®, Typar®, polyethylene, Coroplast®, and/or poster board. A banner is typically suspended by cables, string, rope or other types of tie members from elevated anchors.

[0004] In the past, banners and other signage items have been hung using the hanging devices depicted and disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,378,515. (This patent is owned by the assignee of the present invention and its entire disclosure is hereby incorporated by reference.) These hanging devices can be attached to the corner of the banner or attached to the edge of the banner. The tie member(s) can pass through aligned openings in the banner and hanging devices or alternatively can pass through a loop formed by the hanging device. Also, instead of using tie member(s), the hanging device can be looped around the supporting structure, such as a fence link or a sign frame.

[0005] A hanging device, such as the ones disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,378,515 each comprise a strip having end tap portions and a neck portion therebetween. A foam adhesive is placed on inner surfaces of the strip for eventual banner attachment and each of the tab portions has an opening. The hanging devices are each provided with release liner sections covering the sections of foam adhesive.

[0006] To use the hanging device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,378,515, one section of the release liner is peeled from one tab portion and this tab portion is positioned on one side of the banner at the desired location. The other section of the release liner is then peeled from the other tab portion and this other tab portion is secured to the opposite side of the banner. (Thus, it requires two separate peeling steps to remove the release liner.) If a tie member is to extend through an opening in the banner, a punch (e.g., letter opener, pen, etc.) is inserted through the now aligned tab openings to form a hole in the banner and, if desired for appearance or other purposes, the loop formed by the neck portion is trimmed off. If the tie member is to extend through the loop formed by the neck portion, these punching and trimming steps do not need to be performed. If the neck portion is to be looped directly around the supporting structure, this looping is performed while folding the other tab portion over and securing it to the opposite side of the banner.

[0007] When hanging devices are secured to the banner and the banner is suspended, each of the hanging devices will be subjected to the downward force of gravity as well as wind load in outdoor applications. Accordingly, the strip material must be a suitable tensile strength to prevent ripping or tearing and the adhesive must be of a suitable shear strength to prevent detachment of the strip from the banner. In the past, this gravitational strain was addressed by using a relatively thick (e.g., about 23 mil) high density polyethelene strip material. Typically, adhesives are stronger in the shear direction than the peel direction whereby gravitational strain is not a primary concern in adhesive selection.

[0008] When hanging devices are secured to the banner and the banner is suspended, each of the hanging devices will also be subjected to outward “memory forces” as strip material is urged back to its flattened preassembled condition. These memory forces will cause the tab portions to pull away from the banner and each other whereby the adhesive must be strong enough in the peel direction to withstand these pulling forces. These design considerations were addressed in the past by providing a relatively long neck length (e.g. about equal to the combined lengths of the end portions), a thick foam adhesive (about 5 mils to about 10 mils) and adhesive on tab-adjoining portions of the neck. The elongated neck and the “snap locking” tab-adjoining portions reduced the outward pressure of the “memory forces” and the flexible foam adhesive absorbed the shear stress by deflection.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The present invention provides a hanging device which can be made with a shortened neck portion, without adhesive on tab-adjoining areas of the neck portion, and/or without the use of foam adhesive. This hanging device can be constructed so that, when compared to a conventional hanging device having these features, it can provide a substantially as strong or stronger resistance to gravitational and wind forces, it can be constructed with a minimization of strip material and a maximization of adhesive surface area, it can form an easier-to-cut neck loop, it can be made thinner and thus less conspicuous, and/or it can be more easily and economically manufactured.

[0010] More particularly, the present invention provides a hanging device comprising a strip and a pressure sensitive adhesive. The strip has two outer tab portions and a neck portion therebetween and the pressure sensitive adhesive is located on an inner surface of the tab portions. In this manner, the strip can be folded at the neck portion and the tab portions applied to opposite sides of the signage item.

[0011] The strip is made from a high strength polymer, such as a cross-laminated polyolefin (e.g., high density polyethylene film) or a polyester (e.g., poly(ethylene terephthalate glycol)). With this type of strip material, a relatively thin gauge (e.g., 3 to 12 mil or 10 to 12 mil) still provides sufficient tensile and tear strength and is generally more flexible than the thicker (e.g., 23 mil) strip material used in earlier hanging devices. This thinner more flexible construction reduces the outwardly pulling “memory forces” once the hanging device is assembled on the signage item.

[0012] The adhesive can be a non-foam adhesive, such as a film adhesive, that has a thickness in the range of 2 mil to about 6 mil. In addition to substantially reducing the overall thickness of the hanging device, the use of a non-foam adhesive has manufacturing advantages. Specifically, a release liner having an appropriate adhesive pattern can be used so that multiple hanging devices can be simultaneously die cut without worrying about the alignment or wandering problems associated with foam adhesives.

[0013] The strip can also be constructed with a shorter neck portion. Specifically, for example, in one embodiment the neck portion 48 can be less than 40% of the length of the strip 40, in one embodiment the neck portion 48 can be less than of 30% the length of the strip, and/or in one embodiment the neck portion 48 can be less than 25% of the length of the strip. This shorter and thinner neck is less conspicuous on a banner and easier to clip off with scissors if the neck loop is not required for mounting purposes. Additionally or alternatively, adhesive is not needed on the inner surface of the neck portion. This construction results in a greater percentage of the strip's surface area being in the tab portions and a maximization of adhesive surface area secured to the signage item.

[0014] The strip can have an asymmetrical shape in the longitudinal dimension and/or the neck portion can have a longitudinal center line that is transversely offset from a longitudinal center line of a widest part of the tab portions. The tab portions can each be in the shape of a rectangle (e.g., a square) with a cut-off corner in the shape of a triangle (e.g., a right isosceles triangle). This particular shape allows the sides of the rectangle not forming the cut-off corners to serve as T-square-like guides when assembling the hanging device to the signage item. A notch can also be provided to further facilitate corner alignment.

[0015] The hanging devices can be precision cut on continuous run of release liner in multiple rows and/or multiple columns. In this manner, a plurality of the hanging devices can be provided on a common release liner in sheet or roll form which is easy to package in desired volumes and desired dispensing modes depending on intended uses. For example, the hanging devices can be provided on individual sheets (of varying lengths) or provided on a continuous roll. Also, when it is time to assemble a hanging device on a banner, it can be easily peeled from the release line in one step thereby resulting in substantial time savings when a large quantity of hanging devices are being assembled.

[0016] The hanging device can be used with signage items in commercial settings (e.g., exhibition halls, reception areas, show rooms, shopping malls, retail stores and/or sports arenas) and in consumer settings (e.g., school yards, office halls and home locations). Moreover, the hanging device can be used with non-signage items. For example, the hanging devices can be used to suspend or tie down plastic film items such as plastic liners used inside cargo containers, fitted car covers, protective drop cloths for painting purposes, etc.

[0017] If the anchors (to which the attached hanging devices are secured) are elevated, the item may be considered suspended and, if the anchors are not elevated, the item may be considered tied down. In either event, the hanging devices of the present invention allow such anchoring without the use of grommets. The hanging device is less expensive and easier to install than grommets, and may form a much stronger fastening point than a grommet because it spreads stresses over a much larger surface area.

[0018] The present invention provides these and other features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and annexed drawings setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed.

DRAWINGS

[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a banner suspended with hanging devices according to the present invention.

[0020] FIGS. 2A-2B are close-up schematic views of different ways of using the hanging device on the banner according to the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 3 is a top view of a hanging device according to the present invention, the device being shown in a flat preassembled condition.

[0022] FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the hanging device in a flat preassembled condition.

[0023] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a plurality of hanging devices as provided on a release liner according to the present invention.

[0024] FIGS. 6A-6D are perspective views of a method of assembling the hanging devices according to the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 7 is a side schematic view of the hanging device once assembled to the banner.

[0026] FIGS. 8A-8C are schematic views of a method of making the hanging devices according to the present invention.

[0027] FIGS. 9A-9D are top perspective view of other hanging devices according to the present invention.

[0028] FIG. 10 is a top view of another hanging device according to the present invention, the device being shown in a flat preassembled condition.

[0029] FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the hanging device of FIG. 10.

[0030] FIG. 12 is a close-up schematic view of using the hanging device of FIGS. 10 and 11 to hang the banner directly to a wall or window.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] Referring now to the drawings, and initially to FIG. 1, hanging devices 20 according to the present invention are shown attached to a signage item which, in the illustrated embodiment, is a banner 22. The banner 22 has a rectangular shape and can be made of any suitable material such as vinyl, Tyvek®, Typar®, polyethylene, Coroplast®, and/or poster board. In the banner 22 shown in FIG. 1, cables, string, rope or other types of tie member(s) 24 are used to suspend the banner 22 from elevated anchors (not shown).

[0032] As shown in FIGS. 2A-2F, the hanging device 20 can be used in a variety of ways with signage. For example, the hanging device 20 can be attached to a corner of the banner 22 (FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C) or can be attached to the edge of the banner 22 (FIGS. 2D, 2E and 2F). The tie member(s) 24 can pass through aligned openings in the device 20 and the banner 22 (FIGS. 2A and 2D) or alternatively, can pass through a loop formed by the hanging device (FIGS. 2B and 2E). Also, instead of using tie member(s) 24, the hanging member 20 can be looped around a part of the supporting structure, such as a fence link 26 (FIG. 2C) or a sign frame 28 (FIG. 2F).

[0033] One of the hanging devices 20 is shown in a flat preassembled condition in FIGS. 3 and 4. The hanging device 20 comprises a strip 40 and an adhesive film or layer 42. The strip 40 has end tab portions 44 and 46 and a neck portion 48 therebetween. The adhesive 42 is on the inner surfaces of the tab portions 44 and 46 for eventual banner attachment and each of the tab portions 44 and 46 has an opening 50. The adhesive 42 may be a pressure sensitive adhesive.

[0034] A plurality of hanging devices 20 of the present invention can be provided on a sheet and/or roll of release paper 52 as is shown in FIG. 5. The release paper 52 has a release coating (e.g., silicone release coating) adhered to the surface in contact with the tab portion 46 and 48. In the illustrated embodiment, the release paper 52 has holes aligned with the openings 50 in the strip 40 to ensure easy removal of the hanging device 20. Other constructions are possible with, and contemplated by the present invention. For example, the release paper 52 could be cut to the same shape as the strip 40 and/or could be in sections which only covers the adhesive on the tab portions 44 and 46. In this manner, a plurality of the hanging devices can be provided on a common release liner in sheet or roll form which is easy to package in desired volumes and desired dispensing modes depending on intended uses. For example, the hanging devices can be provided on individual sheets (of varying lengths) or provided on a continuous roll. Also, when it is time to assemble a hanging device on a banner, it can be easily peeled from the release line in one step thereby resulting in substantial time savings when a large quantity of hanging devices are being assembled.

[0035] To use the hanging device 20 of the present invention, it is peeled from the release paper 52 in one step (see FIG. 5) and one tab portion 44/46 is positioned on one side of the banner 22 at the desired location. (FIG. 6A.) The other tab portion 46/44 is then folded over and secured to the opposite side of the banner 22. (FIG. 6B.) If the tie member 24 is to extend through an opening in the banner 22 (FIGS. 2A and 2D), any available punch (e.g., letter opener, pen, etc.) can be inserted through the now aligned openings 50 to form a hole in the banner 20 (FIG. 6C) and, if desired for appearance or other purposes, the loop formed by the neck portion 48 can be trimmed off (FIG. 6D). If the tie member 24 is to extend through the loop formed by the neck portion 48 (FIGS. 2B and 2E), these punching and trimming steps do not need to be performed. If the neck portion 48 is to be looped directly around the supporting structure (FIGS. 2C and 2F), this looping is performed while folding the other tab portion 46/44 over and securing it to the opposite side of the banner 22 (FIG. 2B). It may be noted that if the hanging device 20 is intended for uses wherein a hole is not punched as shown in FIG. 6C, the device 20 can be made without the openings 50.

[0036] When all of the hanging devices 20 are secured to the banner 20 and the banner 20 is suspended (FIG. 1), each of the hanging devices 20 will be subjected to the downward force of gravity as shown in FIG. 7. The strip material must be of a suitable tensile strength to prevent ripping or tearing and the adhesive 42 must be of a suitable shear strength to prevent detachment of the strip 40 from the banner 22. Also, the hanging device 20 will be subjected to any memory in the strip material from its flattened preassembled condition. This memory, if present, will cause the tab portions to pull away from the banner 20 and each other. The adhesive 42 must be strong enough in the peel direction to withstand these pulling forces.

[0037] According to the present invention, the strip 40 may be made of a high strength polymer such as a multi-axial high density polyethylene film. The term “high density” polyethylene refers to a polyethylene having a density in the range of about 0.940 to about 0.965 g/cm3. The film may be stretched in a manner that results in molecular reorientation.

[0038] The strip material may have a multi-layered construction may be comprised of about 2 to about 9 layers and, in one embodiment about 3 to about 9 layers, and in one embodiment about 3 to about 7 layers. In the multi-layered constructions, the layers may be arranged so that the grain of one layer is orthogonal to the grain of the next layer. This multi-axial orientation results in the strip material having relatively high tensile and tear strengths in thinner gauges when compared to commercial embodiments of earlier hanging devices. Thus, relatively thin gauges of the material can be used to make the strip 40 and still provide the same or superior tensile and tear strength characteristics. Suitable strip materials include cross-laminated high density polyethylene films available from Van Leer Flexible Packaging, Houston, Tex. under the trade name VALERON™.

[0039] The strip 40 may instead be made of a high strength polymer such as a polyester film, for example, poly(ethylene terephthalate glycol) films. This material may be transparent. An advantage of using transparent strip material is that the presence of the hanging device 20 on the banner 22 may be disguised and/or that the full color or image of the graphic is visible.

[0040] The thickness of the strip 40 may be between about 3 mil to about 15 mil. If the strip material is a cross-laminated high density polyethylene film material (e.g., VALERON™), it can have a thickness of between about 3 mil to about 12 mil, and in one embodiment between about 6 mil and 11 mil, and in one embodiment between about 7 mil and 10 mil, and in one embodiment between about 8 mil and about 9 mil, and in one embodiment about 8.6 mil. If the strip material is a polyester such as poly(ethylene terephthalate glycol) film material, it can have a thickness of between about 5 mil and about 20 mil, and in one embodiment between about 10 mil and about 20 mil, and in one embodiment between about 15 mil and about 20 mil, and in one embodiment about 15 mil.

[0041] In force-measuring tests performed on the strip material (prior to being formed into the strip), an 8.6 mil gauge of VALERON™ material had approximately 60% the stress resistance of a 23 mil of the high density polyethylene gauge used in earlier hanging devices. Moreover, when these two materials (at these same gauges) are compared in fabricated hanging devices, the VALERON™ device tests stronger than the other device.

[0042] When a thinner gauge of strip material is used for the strip 40, its flexibility promotes conformity to its folded position. As such, there is essentially no memory forces from the strip's flattened preassembled condition causing the tab portions 44 and 46 to pull away from the banner 22 and each other. This decreases the demands on the strength of the adhesive 42 in the peel direction thereby allowing the use of a non-foam adhesive, such as a high tack double sided tape or a free film adhesive. These non-foam adhesives are much less expensive than the conventionally used foam adhesives and do not have the same manufacturing disadvantages (e.g., misalignment and wandering) as foam adhesives.

[0043] Also, non-foam adhesives are much thinner than foam adhesives. If the strip material is a cross-laminated high density polyethylene film material, the adhesive can be a free film adhesive having a thickness between about 2 mil and about 10 mil, and in one embodiment between about 3 mil and about 9 mil, and in one embodiment between about 3 mil and about 8 mil, in one embodiment between about 3 mil and about 7 mil, and in one embodiment between about 3 mil and 6 mil, and in one embodiment between about 3 mil and about 5 mil and in one embodiment about 4 mil. If the strip material is a polyester such as poly(ethylene terephthalate glycol) film material, the adhesive can be 3M 950 and have a thickness between about 2 mil and about 10 mil, and in one embodiment between about 3 mil and about 9 mil, and in one embodiment between about 3 mil and about 8 mil, and in one embodiment between about 3 mil and about 7 mil, and in one embodiment between about 3 mil and 6 mil.

[0044] The reduction in strip thickness and adhesive thickness results in the reduction of the device's overall thickness thereby making the hanger device 20 less conspicuous on a banner or other signage item. For example, if the strip material has a thickness of about 8 mil to 9 mil and the adhesive has a thickness of about 4 mils to 5 mils, the hanging device 20 will have a thickness in the range of about 13 mils. By way of comparison, commercial embodiments of earlier hanger devices made from high density polyethylene strip material and a foam adhesive, typically have thicknesses in the range of about 30 mils to about 40 mils.

[0045] The elimination of memory forces due to the thin flexible nature of the strip 40 also allows a shorter neck portion 48 to be used and does not require adhesive to be applied to the neck portion 48. This shorter and “adhesive-less” version of the neck portion 48 is less conspicuous on the banner 22 and forms a neck loop that is easy to trim. Also, reducing the length of the neck portion 48 reduces the overall amount of strip material while increasing the surface area of the adhesive. The length of the neck portion 48 can be less than about 40% of the length of the strip 40, and in one embodiment less than about 30% of the length of the strip 40, and/or in one embodiment less than about 25% of the length of the strip 40.

[0046] The use of thinner strip material also allows several improvements to be made in the manufacturing method. In a method of making the hanging devices 20 according to the present invention, a release liner material 60 is coated with a pattern of adhesive 62 corresponding to the die cut pattern. (FIG. 8A). In the illustrated embodiment, this pattern comprises lengthwise rows 64 which are separated by a distance dneck corresponding to the length of the neck portion 48. The outer rows have a width wtab corresponding to the length of the tab portion 44/46 and the inner rows have a width w2tab corresponding to twice the length of the tab portion 44/46.

[0047] The patterned release liner material 60 (adhesive side up) is aligned with strip material 66 and run through a mulitiple parts die 68. The die 68 precision cuts the strip material in multiple rows and/or multiple columns of hanging devices with excessive strip material 70 therearound which is then removed. (FIG. 8B.) The die 68 can be constructed so that the forming of the openings 50 in the strip 40 also results in punching aligned openings in the release liner material 60. Such a removal of the adhesive and the release liner below the openings 50 eliminates the possibility of the strip “hole” material sticking to the strip 40 during removal from the release liner.

[0048] This production run 72 can then be slit into single rows of hanging devices 20 and cut into appropriately sized sheets or rolls of release liner 52 with a plurality of hanging devices 20 releasably secured thereon. (FIG. 8C.) The user can conveniently remove one of the hanging devices 20 from the release liner 52 in a single step when ready to assemble on a signage item.

[0049] Referring now back to FIGS. 3 and 4, the strip 40 has edges 40a-40j defining the tab portions 44 and 46 and the neck portion 48. The edges 40a and 40c are end edges defining the longitudinal ends of the strip 40 and the tab portions 44. The remaining edges 40b and 40d-40j are side edges defining the longitudinal sides of the strip 40, the tab portions 44 and the neck portion 46. For the purposes of this specification, the length of the strip 40 is considered the distance between the end edge 40a and 40c and the length of the strip portions 44/46 is considered the part of this distance occupied by that portion 44/46. Also, the width of the strip 40 and the width of the portions 44/46 is considered the distance in a direction transverse to the length direction.

[0050] The edges 40 each follow a straight path (e.g., not curved) and are joined at angled intersections which can be sharp as shown or slightly rounded if easier for manufacturing purposes. In the illustrated strip 40, the end edge 40a is joined to the side edge 40b by a 90° intersection, the side edge 40b is joined to the end edge 40c by a 90° intersection, the end edge 40c is joined to the side edge 40d by a 135° intersection, the side edge 40d is joined to the side edge 40e by a 135° intersection, the side edge 40e is joined to the side edge 40f by a 90° intersection, the side edge 40f is joined to the side edge 40g by a 90° intersection, the side edge 40g is joined to the side edge 40h by a 90° intersection, the side edge 40h is joined to the side edge 40i by a 90° intersection, the side edge 40i is joined to the side edge 40j by a 135° intersection and the side edge 40j is joined to the end edge 40a by a 135° intersection.

[0051] In the illustrated strip 40, the tab portion 44 is defined by end edge 40a, an outer part 44b of side edge 40b, and side edges 40h, 40i and 40j. The tab portion 46 is defined by end edge 40c, an outer part 46b of side edge 40b, and side edges 40d, 40e and 40f. The neck portion 48 is defined by a central part 48b of the side edge 40b and the side edge 40g.

[0052] The tab portions 44 and 46 are symmetrically arranged and shaped relative to a widthwise centerline of the neck portion 48 whereby the tab portions have the same length dimensions and have the same width dimensions. The illustrated tab portions each have a rectangular with triangular cutoff corner shape and, more particularly, have a square shape with a corner cut off in the shape of a right isos triangle. The opening 50 can be centrally located relative to the “uncut” rectangle or square.

[0053] The neck portion 48 is rectangularly shaped and has one longitudinal side edge 48b coextensive with one longitudinal edge 44b/46b of each of the tab portions 44/46. The edge 48b includes a notch 56 aligned with the neck portion 48. The other side edge 40g of the neck portion 48 is joined by angled intersections to side edge 40h of the tab portion 44 and to side edge 40f of tab portion 46. These intersections are right angles (90°) in the illustrated strip 40. Thus, the tab portions 44/46 each include a side edge 40h/40f adjoining a side edge 40g of the neck portion 48 at an angled intersection.

[0054] The strip 40 is not symmetrical in the longitudinal dimension because the neck portion 48 does not extend between longitudinal center sections of the tab portions 44 and 46 as in prior art hanging devices. Instead, the neck portion 48 has a longitudinal center line that is transversely offset from a longitudinal center line of a widest part of the tab portions 44 and 46. In this manner, the side edges of the tab portions 44/46 opposite the cut-off corner (44b and 40h/46b and 40f) forms a T-square guide when the hanging device 20 is placed on the top of the banner 22 (FIGS. 2A and 2B) and the side edge 40b forms a straight edge guide when the hanging device 20 is placed on the top edge of the banner 22 (FIGS. 2D, 2E and 2F). Also, the notch 56 in the edge 48b creates a corner for alignment with the banner's corner when and thus allows a user to “feel” where the strip 40 is to be lined up with the banner corner.

[0055] Other hanging devices 120, 220, 320 and 420 according to the present invention are shown in FIGS. 9A, 9B, 9C and 9D, respectively. With respect to the hanging device 20, like reference numerals proceeded by “1”, “2”, “3” and “4” designate like parts. As shown, the strip 40 of the hanging device 20 of the present invention can be constructed in various ways depending upon its desired appearance and/or intended application. For example, the width of the tab portions 46 and 48 relative to their length can be increased or decreased (e.g., compare hanging device 120 to hanging device 220), the length of the tab portions 46 and 48 relative to their width can be varied (e.g., compare hanging device 120 to hanging device 320), the shape of the tabs' cut-off corners can be changed (e.g., compare hanging devices 120, 220 and 320), and/or the length of the neck portion 48 can be altered (e.g. compare hanging device 420). Additionally or alternatively, the openings 50 can be omitted if the neck loop will be used for hanging purposes (e.g., hanging device 120).

[0056] Another hanging device 520 according to the present invention is shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. In this device 520, adhesive is 542 is applied to both sides of one or both of the tab portions 544/546. In this manner, the banner 22 can be hung directly to a wall or window 30 as shown in FIG. 12, thereby adding yet another hanging option.

[0057] One can now appreciate that the present invention provides a hanging device which can be made with a shortened neck portion, without adhesive on tab-adjoining areas of the neck portion, and/or without the use of foam adhesive. The hanging device can be used with signage items in commercial settings (e.g., exhibition halls, reception areas, show rooms, shopping malls, retail stores and/or sports arenas) and in consumer settings (e.g., school yards, office halls and home locations). Moreover, the hanging device can be used with non-signage items. For example, the hanging devices can be used to suspend or tie down plastic film items such as plastic liners used inside cargo containers, fitted car covers, protective drop cloths for painting purposes, etc.

[0058] Although the invention has been shown with respect to certain preferred embodiments, equivalent and obvious alternations will occur to those skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of this application. The present invention includes all such alterations and modifications and is limited only by the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A hanging device for folded attachment to an item to be suspended or tied down, said device comprising a strip and an adhesive; the strip comprising two outer tab portions and a neck portion therebetween; the adhesive being located on an inner surface of the tab portions so that the strip can be folded at the neck portion and the tab portions applied to opposite sides of the item; and wherein the strip is made from a polymer and has thickness between 3 mil and about 20 mil.

2. A hanging device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the polymer is a polyolefin.

3. A hanging device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the polymer is a high density polyethylene film.

4. A hanging device as set forth in claim 3, wherein the thickness of the strip is between about 3 mil and about 12 mil.

5. A hanging device as set forth in claim 4, wherein the adhesive is a non-foam adhesive.

6. A hanging device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the polymer is a polyester.

7. A hanging device as set forth in claim 6, wherein the polyester is poly(ethylene terephthalate glycol).

8. A hanging device as set forth in claim 7, wherein the strip has a thickness between about 10 mil and about 20 mil.

9. A hanging device as set forth in claim 8, wherein the adhesive is non-foam adhesive.

10. A hanging device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the thickness of the strip is between about 3 mil to about 15 mil.

11. A hanging device as set forth in claim 10, wherein the thickness of the adhesive is between about 3 mil and 6 mil.

12. A hanging device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the neck portion has an inner surface extending between the inner surfaces of the tab portions and wherein the inner surface of the neck portion is free from adhesive.

13. A hanging device as set forth in claim 1, wherein a length of the neck portion is less than 40% of the length of the strip.

14. A hanging device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the tab portions are substantially symmetrical relative to a widthwise centerline of the neck portion whereby the tab portions have the same length dimensions and have the same width dimensions and wherein the strip is asymmetrical relative to a longitudinal dimension.

15. A hanging device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the tab portions are each in the shape of a rectangle with a cut-off corner.

16. A hanging device as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least one of the tab portions has adhesive located on an outer surface.

17 In combination, the hanging device set forth in claim 1 and a release liner releasably secured to the adhesive.

18. In combination, a release liner and a plurality of the hanging devices set forth in claim 1 releasably secured to the release liner in such a manner that a hanging device can be peeled from the release liner in one step.

19 The combination set forth in claim 16, wherein the tab portions each comprise an opening and wherein the release liner has openings aligned with the openings in the tab portions.

20. A method of making a plurality of hanging devices as set forth in claim 1, said method comprising the steps of: aligning strip material and release liner material having a pattern of adhesive thereon; and die cutting the strip material to form the hanging devices.

21. A method of securing an item comprising the steps of attaching a hanging device as set forth in claim 1 to the item and attaching the hanging device to an anchor.

22. A method as set forth in claim 21, wherein the anchor is elevated whereby the item is suspended from the anchor.

23. A method as set forth in claim 21, wherein the anchor is non-elevated relative to the item whereby the item is tied down by the anchor.

24. A method of hanging or tying down an item comprising the steps of securing a hanging device as set forth in claim 15 to the item and attaching the hanging device to a supporting surface with the adhesive on the outer surface of the tab portion.

25. In combination, a signage item and a plurality of the hanging devices as set forth in claim 1 attached thereto.

26. A hanging device for folded attachment to an item, said device comprising a strip and a pressure sensitive adhesive; the strip comprising two outer tab portions and a neck portion therebetween; the pressure sensitive adhesive is located on an inner surface of the tab portions so that the strip can be folded at the neck portion and the tab portions applied to opposite sides of the item; and wherein the adhesive is a non-foam adhesive.

27. A hanging device for folded attachment to an item, said device comprising a strip and a pressure sensitive adhesive; the strip comprising two outer tab portions and a neck portion therebetween; the pressure sensitive adhesive is located on an inner surface of the tab portions so that the strip can be folded at the neck portion and the tab portions applied to opposite sides of the item; and wherein the strip is asymmetrical relative to a longitudinal dimension.

28. A hanging device for folded attachment to an item, said device comprising a strip and a pressure sensitive adhesive; the strip comprising two outer tab portions and a neck portion therebetween; the pressure sensitive adhesive is located on an inner surface of the tab portions so that the strip can be folded at the neck portion and the tab portions applied to opposite sides of the item; wherein the neck portion has a longitudinal center line that is transversely offset from a longitudinal center line of a widest part of the tab portions and wherein the tab portions are each in the shape of a rectangle with a cut-off corner in the shape of triangle.

29. A hanging device for folded attachment to an item, said device comprising a strip and a pressure sensitive adhesive; the strip comprising two outer tab portions and a neck portion therebetween; the pressure sensitive adhesive is located on an inner surface of the tab portions so that the strip can be folded at the neck portion and the tab portions applied to opposite sides of the item; wherein at least one of the tab portions has adhesive located on an outer surface.