Patent Application
20080296242
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to merchandising systems for displaying merchandise in a retail store, and more particularly to a hanger configured to display paired wearable merchandise while maintaining security and pair integrity of such merchandise.
2. Background Art
In retail stores, conventional sales techniques for consumer products typically require that they be displayed on shelves or suspended from hangers such that consumers may readily view them and, when appropriate, remove them for the purpose of examination and evaluation. Typically, consumer products will either be enclosed in packaging, and/or suspended from a hanger.
Packaging of products will typically provide a greater protection of the product, and increased theft deterrence. However, for certain products, particularly those which are to be worn by a user, such packaging may interfere with the consumer's evaluation of the product. The opportunity for a customer to come into physical contact with the merchandised article is especially beneficial in the context of wearable merchandise because a prospective consumer will typically desire to handle such merchandise and determine its comfort and fit prior to purchase. Accordingly, wearable products are often displayed using a hanger system which will allow for removal and further evaluation of the product separate from its packaging.
Paired merchandise, such as gloves, kneepads, and similar items pose an additional challenge of maintaining pair integrity. Removal, handling, and fitting by a consumer will often result in separation of paired merchandise, requiring a retail employee to locate, identify, and reunite the pairs. This may also result in loss of individual articles from a pair, or purchase of a mismatched pair by a consumer, resulting in another mismatched pair remaining in the retail store. Because mismatched pairs and unsold individual articles of a pair will often be returned to the manufacturer, this will result in decreased efficiency and an increased cost for the manufacturer, retail store and consumer.
Furthermore, theft of removable merchandise from such display hangers may also occur. Often, wearable merchandise is not suitable for the placement of theft-deterrent devices, or the inclusion of such devices would cause additional expense or hinder the consumer's evaluation of the merchandise. Accordingly, there exists a need for a merchandising system that is configured to securely maintain pair integrity while still providing the consumer an opportunity to handle and properly evaluate paired products.
Variations of the invention include a hanger system for securing and displaying paired merchandise items. The hanger system may include various components such as tabs, securing devices, and fasteners, to securely retain the paired merchandise items. The hanger system may be cost-effectively formed as a single unit.
Variations of the invention relate to a merchandise hanger system kit, such include typically including a merchandise hanger, paired merchandise items, and various components for creating and/or maintaining a desired relationship between the paired merchandise items and the merchandise hanger.
Variations of the invention relate to a method for displaying paired merchandise items in a retail display area. Such methods involve the securing of the paired merchandise to a hanger system configured to be displayed in a retail display area, utilizing various components to maintain pair integrity and the security of the connection between the merchandise items and the hanger.
Other aspects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the appended claims.
As shown in
A pair of retention members, generally indicated at 8, are operatively connected to the ends of the support member 6. A tab 10 is disposed at the distal end of each retention member 8. The tab 10 may be of any desired length and configuration, and will typically be at least partially oriented in a different direction from the longitudinal axis of the retention member 8. Various embodiments of the tab 10 may include, but are not limited to, L-shaped (terminating substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the retention member 8), J-shaped (curved such that a portion is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the retention member, and terminating in a portion that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the retention member 8), and U-shaped (similar to J-shaped configuration, and having the terminal portion extend substantially back to, or beyond a portion of, the support member 6) configurations. Such configurations advantageously create an increased retention of products or portions thereof disposed in the retention member 8.
As used herein, the term “tab” has no set configuration, but instead refers to a terminal portion of the retention member 8 which varies in one or more ways (orientation, width, etc.) from the preceding portion of the retention member 8. The operative connection between the tab 10 and retention member 8 may be of any type known in the art, and in one or more embodiments, these two elements will be molded as a single piece. Retention members 8 will typically be substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the hanger system 2, while tabs 10 may often be configured with at least some portion being substantially non-parallel to the longitudinal axis of the hanger system 2.
As shown in
As used herein, the terms upper, lower, top, and bottom are based on a suspended orientation of the hanger system (e.g., as when the hanger system 2 is suspended in a display area of a retail store). The terms proximal and distal are relative to an imaginary line bisecting the hanger system 2 in a vertical direction, when the hanger system 2 is in a suspended orientation.
In the embodiment of
The size, and the location of each suspension element 20 on each merchandise item 18, may vary. In various embodiments, the merchandise items 18, tabs 10, and/or retention members 8 will have a size and/or configuration that is compatible with the other. For example, wider merchandise items 18 will typically require a wider hanger system 2, and the width of the suspension element 20 might reflect the width of the retention member 8 or vice versa. The dimensions and/or configuration of the support member 6 may also vary depending on the type and size of merchandise items to be displayed, configuration of desired retail display area, and other factors.
Any number of fasteners 22 may operatively connect a plurality of merchandise items 18 at any desired location(s). The fasteners 22 may be of any type known in the art, including but not limited to, Tach-It® plastic barbs, cable-ties, and any other suitable connecting elements. The merchandise items 18 may also be configured to more effectively operatively connect to a fastener 22, by, for example, the disposition of holes, lanyards, clips, and/or other elements therein. As used herein, the term “fastener” is not limited to any particular configuration and may comprise any device capable of operatively connecting two items such that the distance between them is restricted.
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As is apparent from the various configurations described herein, the term “tab” is used to identify an element that is connected or connectible to a distal portion of the hanger system 2, and which typically includes a different directional orientation than the longitudinal axis of the hanger system 2. Although described herein as separate elements, the support member 6 retention member(s) 8 and tab(s) 10 may together or in any combination comprise an integral unit, and variations may be molded as a single piece. Furthermore, unless specified in a particular embodiment, each of these may have any desired location with respect to any other member. For example, in one embodiment, the retention member(s) 8 and/or tabs 10 may have a relatively central location, largely beneath the support member 6.
Advantages of the various embodiments described herein are numerous, and include, but are not limited to, providing a potential consumer the ability to comfortably wear a wearable merchandise item while it remains secured to its packaging, maintenance of pair integrity while allowing greater interaction with potential consumer, increased theft deterrence, increased efficiency in retail setting, and decreased waste. Further advantages include the possibility of re-use of the hanger system by the consumer, manufacturer, and/or retailer.
Embodiments of the invention, and the various components thereof may comprise any material or combination of materials known in the art. Furthermore, the various surfaces of embodiments of the hanger system 2 may be of any configuration known in the art, including decorative configurations, and configurations optimized for the operative connection of labels and advertising content (e.g., predetermined flat surfaces for the placement of stickers, etc.). The hanger system 2 and various components thereof may comprise any desired color, or combination of colors, and may also be transparent.
As used herein, the terms “merchandise hanger system,” “merchandise hanger,” and “hanger system” are used interchangeably. While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that other embodiments can be devised which do not depart from the scope of the invention as disclosed herein. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be limited only by the attached claims.
