Patent Application
20130146725
1. Field
The embodiments relate to hangers, and in particular to merchandizing hangers.
2. Description of the Related Art
Packaging of products is important for presenting merchandise, reducing the footprint necessary for displaying merchandise and for storage. Products are typically placed on shelves for display, hung on hooks attached to pegboards or a similar support base or wall, or remain in shipping boxes.
Merchandise that is presented in pairs has additional challenges as the pair may become separated. Additionally, presentation of a pair of goods is important to the sale of the goods as well as reduction of storage footprint and ease of showcasing the products. Usually these pairs of items may be boxed or enclosed in packaging. This type of presentation and display of the merchandise, however, prevents potential buyers from being able to see all aspects of the product or actually touch the product without removing the product from the packaging.
One embodiment of the invention includes a merchandise hanger comprising a first hanging portion having a first arm and a second arm. A second hanging portion includes a third arm and a fourth arm. A center portion is attached to the first hanging portion and the second hanging portion. The first hanging portion and the second hanging portion removably couple to merchandise.
Another embodiment of the invention includes a system including a merchandise hanger with a first holding portion comprising a first arm and a second arm. A second holding portion comprises a third arm and a fourth arm. A center portion is coupled to the first holding portion and the second holding portion. A display card is coupled to the merchandise hanger.
Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, which, when taken in conjunction with the drawings, illustrate by way of example the principles of the invention.
The embodiments are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the Figures of the accompanying drawings and in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which:
The following description is made for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention and is not meant to limit the inventive concepts claimed herein. Further, particular features described herein can be used in combination with other described features in each of the various possible combinations and permutations. Unless otherwise specifically defined herein, all terms are to be given their broadest possible interpretation including meanings implied from the specification as well as meanings understood by those skilled in the art and/or as defined in dictionaries, treatises, etc.
The description may disclose several preferred embodiments of merchandizing hanger devices, as well as operation and/or component parts thereof. While the following description will be described in terms of merchandizing hangers for clarity and to place the invention in context, it should be kept in mind that the teachings herein may have broad application to all types of systems, devices and applications.
One embodiment of the invention provides a merchandise hanger comprising a first hanging portion having a first arm and a second arm. A second hanging portion includes a third arm and a fourth arm. A center portion is attached to the first hanging portion and the second hanging portion. The first hanging portion and the second hanging portion removably couple to merchandise.
In one embodiment of the invention the first hanging portion 110 and the second hanging portion 120 are connected by the center portion 180. In one example, the first arm 110 includes a connector portion 111, the second arm 115 includes a connector portion 116, the third arm 120 includes a connector portion 121, and the fourth arm 125 includes a connector portion 126. In one embodiment of the invention, the center portion 180 is coupled with a connecting portion 140 of the first hanging portion, which includes an opening/slit 147 that is configured to connect to a coupling portion 146 and hanging card 130. In one example, the connector portions 111, 116, 121 and 126 form open loops or channels. In another embodiment of the invention, the connector portions 111, 116, 121 and 126 form closed loops or channels. In one example, the connector portions 111, 116, 121 and 126 allow for ease in connecting/attaching the means for strapping 170 of the kneepads 150/151 to the first and second hanging portions 140 and 145.
In one example, the first hanging portion 140 and the second hanging portion 145 are configured to hold a means for strapping 170 of respective kneepads 150/151 of a pair of kneepads. In one embodiment of the invention, the means for strapping may comprise, elastic straps, non-elastic straps, adjustable straps, non-adjustable straps, etc. In one example, the means for strapping 170 may include an attachment button 171 (
In one embodiment of the invention, the connector portion 111 of the first arm 110 and the connector portion 121 of the third arm 110 each are molded upward and include a tab 410 (
In one embodiment of the invention, the connector portion 116 of the second arm 115 is molded outward (perpendicular) toward the connector 121, and the connector portion 126 of the fourth arm 125 is molded outward (perpendicular) toward the connector 111. In one example, if the means for strapping 170 comprises an adjustable strap, the adjustable strap is initially set in a predetermined length range such that the set length provides for attaching the attachment opening 172 to the attachment button 171 placed within a connector 116/126 with a snug fitting.
In one embodiment of the invention the first and second hanging portions 140/145 include a through hole 190 configured to hold a merchandise tag element associated with kneepads 150/151. In one embodiment of the invention the through holes 190 provide a means for coupling kneepads 150/151 to the merchandising hanger 100 to help prevent easy removal from the merchandising hanger 100 by unclasping of the attachment opening 172 from the attachment button 171 of the means for strapping 170.
In one embodiment of the invention, the center portion 180 includes an opening 247 that is configured to hold another section of the coupling portion 146, which also connects through an opening (not shown) in the hanging card 130. The coupling portion 146 is connected through the opening 147, the opening 247 and the opening in the hanging card 130 to attach the hanging card to the merchandizing hanger 100.
By using the means for strapping 170 of kneepads 150/151 to attach the kneepads 150/151 to the merchandising hanger 100 it is not necessary to have additional material or attaching elements to connect the kneepads 150/151 to the merchandising hanger 100. Kneepads 150/151 are held in an aesthetic manner so that the complete kneepads 150/151 can be viewed front and back, and the kneepad 150 may be rotated away from kneepad 151 without any portions being hidden. Additionally, the kneepads 150/151 being held by the merchandising hanger 100 can be tried on without damaging to packaging.
In one embodiment of the invention the merchandising hanger 100 is formed via molding methods and is made out of recyclable material, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), etc. In one example, the hanging card 130 and the coupling portion 146 may be made of similar material as the merchandizing hanger 100, paper products, fabric material, etc.
In the description above, numerous specific details are set forth. However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these specific details. For example, well-known equivalent components and elements may be substituted in place of those described herein, and similarly, well-known equivalent techniques may be substituted in place of the particular techniques disclosed. In other instances, well-known structures and techniques have not been shown in detail to avoid obscuring the understanding of this description.
Reference in the specification to “an embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “some embodiments,” or “other embodiments” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments is included in at least some embodiments, but not necessarily all embodiments. The various appearances of “an embodiment,” “one embodiment,” or “some embodiments” are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiments. If the specification states a component, feature, structure, or characteristic “may”, “might”, or “could” be included, that particular component, feature, structure, or characteristic is not required to be included. If the specification or claim refers to “a” or “an” element, that does not mean there is only one of the element. If the specification or claims refer to “an additional” element, that does not preclude there being more than one of the additional element.
While certain exemplary embodiments have been described and shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such embodiments are merely illustrative of and not restrictive on the broad invention, and that this invention not be limited to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described, since various other modifications may occur to those ordinarily skilled in the art.
