Patent Application
20240067421
The present disclosure relates to a hang tab device, and more specifically, to a paper hang tab device for affixation to a package to hang and display the package with a tamper-evident seal.
Retail stores and other establishments often include displays, racks, and other equipment for displaying items to customers. These items may be displayed for a variety of reasons, such as, for example, being offered for sale, presented for their aesthetic characteristics or to advertise various models, presented as memorabilia or collectibles, for other reasons, or for a combination of such reasons. In some cases, such displayed items are packages (e.g., boxes), or are contained within packages. It may be desired to hang a package for display, and to maintain the package in a closed configuration. It may also be desired to facilitate opening of the package by a user, and to present visible indication that the package has been opened or has remained in an unopened state.
Accordingly, various items to be sold and/or displayed at retail stores may be provided in packages with a hanging feature such as a hang tab for hanging and displaying the packages. The hang tabs may have an opening or slot through which, e.g., a wire rack or peg may be inserted to thereby hang the package, and can be adhered to the box or package thereby hanging from the wire rack. The hang tab may further provide a tamper-evident seal by sealing the package through, e.g., an adhesive, such that a customer may confirm that the package is in a new condition, and has not been previously opened, when the hang tab seal remains unbroken and undamaged. Such hang tabs may be made of plastic material such as PVC, PP, PS, PE or PET. Some may be made of transparent polyester resin that does not obscure the package the tab is adhered to.
Structural and environmental considerations may also play a role in designing a package and a hang tab used for the package. What is needed is a hanging device for a package that can hold and hang the package and maintain the integrity of the package prior to being received by an end user and that can indicate prior opening of the package, but be easily removable and increase recyclability of the packaging, while providing robustness, eco-friendly materials, secure closure mechanisms with intuitive user experiences, and aesthetic elements.
Apparatuses and systems for hanging a package with technical benefits are provided. Some embodiments are directed to a hang-tab package-sealing system including a hang-tab sealing assembly and a package. The hang-tab sealing assembly includes a paper outer layer and a paper inner layer. The paper outer layer includes a hanging panel including a first opening, a tear-away panel adjacent to and integral with the hanging panel, a first kiss-cut path extending in a longitudinal direction along a boundary between the hanging panel and the tear-away panel on one surface of the outer layer, and a pair of second kiss-cut paths spaced apart from each other and extending on the tear-away panel in the longitudinal direction at another surface of the outer layer. The second kiss-cut paths are offset from the first kiss-cut path. The paper inner layer includes a second opening that corresponds to the first opening. The package is movable between an open and a closed configuration and includes a tuck flap and a side wall. The tuck flap and the side wall are parallel to each other when the package is in the closed configuration. The inner layer is affixed to the tuck flap and disposed between the tuck flap and the package side wall when the package is in the closed configuration. The package is sealed in the closed configuration by a first adhesive adhering a portion of the tear-away panel to an outer surface of the package side wall and a second adhesive adhering a portion of the inner layer to the tuck flap.
Some embodiments are directed to a hang tab assembly for sealing and hanging a package. The assembly includes a paper outer layer and a paper inner layer. The paper outer layer includes a hanging panel including a first opening, a tear-away panel adjacent to the hanging panel, a first kiss-cut path extending in a longitudinal direction along a boundary between the hanging panel and the tear-away panel on an upper surface of the outer layer, and a second kiss-cut path extending in the longitudinal direction on a lower surface of the tear-away panel. The second kiss-cut path is offset from the first kiss-cut path in a transverse direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction. The paper inner layer includes a second opening corresponding to the first opening, and is coupled to the outer layer. The assembly may also include a first adhesive disposed on the lower surface of the tear-away panel entirely to one side of the second-kiss-cut path, and a second adhesive disposed on a lower surface of the inner layer facing away from the upper surface of the outer layer.
Some embodiments are directed to an apparatus for sealing a package. The apparatus includes a first panel formed of paper, a second panel formed of paper and extending from the first panel in a first direction in an integrated manner where the second panel includes at least one grip portion extending outward in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, a primary kiss-cut path extending along a boundary between the first panel and the second panel at a first surface of the second panel and the first panel, and a pair of secondary kiss-cut paths extending on the second panel parallel to the primary kiss-cut path on a second surface of the second panel opposite the first surface, where the pair of secondary kiss-cut paths is offset from the primary kiss-cut path in the first direction.
The disclosure will be readily understood by the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like structural elements, and in which:
Reference will now be made in detail to representative embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the following descriptions are not intended to limit the embodiments to one preferred embodiment. To the contrary, it is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as can be included within the spirit and scope of the described embodiments as defined by the appended claims.
The following disclosure relates to hang tabs that may be used in packaging finished goods, where the hang tabs are made of paper adhered to the outside of the packaging or package, are easily opened by an end user, and serve to provide a tamper-evident seal while keeping the package closed. As described herein, packages with hang tabs provide secure finished goods packaging in a closed configuration and allow the packages to be hung for display. Moreover, such hang tabs allow an end user to recycle the entire package materials and further allow the package to be displayed aesthetically at a retail store.
Some embodiments include a package hang tab composed of one or more layers made of paper adhered to each other (other environmentally friendly recyclable or biodegradable materials are also envisioned). In some embodiments, each of the layers has a corresponding opening to be hung on a rack or peg. In an illustrated embodiment, one or more layers is formed with offset kiss-cuts on each side for allowing the respective layer to be torn laterally within the layer when a user pulls on a grip portion of the layer to separate a tear strip from the hang tab and thereby allow the package to be opened. Further, when the layer is thus laterally torn; tamper-evident interior surfaces of the paper layer are created and exposed because a lower portion of the layer remains adhered to the package while the upper portion is torn off. The layers composed of the package hang tab may be formed of the same material or different materials that are recyclable.
Once the hang tab is torn, partially or completely, by a user, resealing is not possible due to the characteristics of the unitary paper layer. This feature provides a packaging solution utilizing environmentally friendly materials while allowing for the hang tab functioning as a tamper-evident seal to provide added assurance to a customer or a retailer that the packaging has not been opened or tampered with (e.g., there has been no “unauthorized” opening of a package prior to the intended opening).
Hang tabs may be used for retail packages (i.e., finished packaging for containing and conveying a product to a user such as may be used in a retail setting, not shipping packaging providing outer packaging for containing a packaged product during shipment) that one may expect to find on the shelf in a retail store, and which one may open after purchase to directly access their product. The hang tabs may be made out of recyclable and/or biodegradable materials, such as paper, cardboard, greyboard, or other cellulose-based products that can reduce environmental impact. The packages to which the hang tabs are applied may be similarly formed of recyclable and/or biodegradable materials, such as paper, cardboard, greyboard, cardboard corrugate, or other cellulose-based products (e.g., the package may be formed of the same material as the hang tab). This can help reduce environmental impact, especially when it is intuitive for a customer to properly recycle the packaging with hang tab and it may be recycled in a single-stream system.
Packages used with such hang tabs as described herein may contain a product, for example, an electronic device such as, for example, headphones, or smartphone, or accessories for an electronic device. In any case, the hang tabs made of paper may be used in any retail store having various shaped wire racks or pegs for displaying products packaged in packages and secured sealed by the hang tabs.
These and other embodiments are discussed below with reference to
In some embodiments, hang tab assembly 100 can be used to display an item, such as a package 10 or an item contained therein. In some embodiments, package 10 may be a box. The displayed item, however, in some embodiments does not have to be a box or be contained within a package (e.g., a box), but can be any item to which the hang tab assembly 100 can be affixed. In such embodiments, hang tab assembly 100 may be affixed directly to the item.
Hang tab assembly 100 may be one unitary layer or formed of two or more layers. In some embodiments, hang tab assembly 100 may include one layer, that is, an outer layer 200. In some embodiments, hang tab assembly 100 may include two layers, that is, outer layer 200 and an inner layer 300, each of which may be formed of a suitable paper material. In some embodiments, each layer may be formed of multi plies (e.g., multi-ply papers) of fibers (e.g., solid bleached primary fibers) pressed in one paper layer which provides desirable strength and stiffness while being able to be torn internally (e.g., in a direction parallel to the paper's surfaces) as will be described in more detail below.
In some embodiments hang tab assembly 100 may further include a support layer 400 arranged between outer layer 200 and inner layer 300 such that support layer 400 may have one side attached to outer layer 200 and the opposite side attached to inner layer 300. Support layer 400 may be formed of paper different from or the same as outer layer 200 and inner layer 300. In selecting the materials for each layer, particularly outer layer 200, the thickness may be a factor to be considered due to the normal force and the shear force applied when tearing away kiss-cut portions, as will be described later in this disclosure. These are merely examples such that any paper having comparable strength and design can be considered.
Referring to
In some embodiments, outer layer 200, inner layer 300, and support layer 400 may have surface areas different from each other. For instance, while lengths of at least portions of each of outer layer 200, inner layer 300, and support layer 400 in a longitudinal direction (e.g., x-direction in
In addition, the thickness of each layer (i.e., outer layer 200, inner layer 300, and support layer 400) may be the same or different from each other, based on the type of papers, as described above, used for each layer.
Hang tab assembly 100 may further include a double-sided adhesive 700 (“third double-sided adhesive 700”) for affixing support layer 400 to outer layer 200. Double-sided adhesive or third adhesive 700 may have a shape corresponding to support layer 400 to be entirely attached thereto. Hang tab assembly 100 may further include a double-sided adhesive 800 (“fourth double-sided adhesive 800”) for affixing support layer 400 to the inner layer 300. Similar to adhesive 700, double-sided adhesive or fourth adhesive 800 may have a shape corresponding to support layer 400 to be entirely attached thereto. Double-sided adhesives 700, 800 also include openings that correspond to first, second, and third openings 220, 320, and 420 to allow a package 10 to which hang tab assembly 100 is affixed to be hung as described above. In some embodiments (e.g., embodiments omitting support layer 400), outer layer 200 and inner layer 300 may be directly affixed to each other (e.g., using a double-sided adhesive such as third adhesive 700 or fourth adhesive 800). Adhesives described herein may be, for example, a pressure-sensitive adhesive, a double-sided adhesive tape, or glue. In some embodiments, the adhesives may be transparent to minimize interference with the aesthetic of package 10.
The above-described configuration can provide durability to hang tab assembly 100 when assembled and in use for hanging a package 10. In addition, hang tab assembly 100 according to some embodiments can provide a tamper-evident seal function alerting a potential buyer (or retail clerk or any other person) that the package having hang tab assembly 100 has been opened or not by leaving an overt visual indication that a seal of hang tab assembly 100 has been opened as will be described in further detail below.
In some embodiments, outer layer 200 of hang tab assembly 100 can provide the tamper-evident seal function. For example, outer layer 100 may be a unitary body composed of two panels having different shapes. Outer layer 200 of hang tab assembly 100 may include a hanging panel 240 in which first opening 220 is defined (e.g., at its center), and may include a tear-away panel 260 that extends integrally from the hanging panel 240 in the y-direction as one single integrally formed panel. As shown in
In some embodiments, support layer 400 and third and fourth adhesives 700 and 800 may have the same surface area. Outer layer 200, particularly hanging panel 240, may have a surface area greater than those of support layer 400 and third and fourth adhesives 700 and 800, but smaller than that of inner layer 300. Put another way, hanging panel 240 may have a greater length in the transverse direction than that of support layer 400 and a lesser length in the transverse direction than that of inner layer 300.
In addition, first and second adhesives 500, 600 may be prepared on first and second removable protective liners 520 and 620, respectively, as shown in
Release liners described herein may be formed of, for example, plastic or paper, and may be thinner and more flexible than hang tab assembly 100, more specifically, outer layer 200, inner layer 300, and support layer 400. A user can easily remove removable protective liner 620 to expose second adhesive 600 and then remove removable protective liner 520 to expose first adhesive 500 in order when affixing hang tab assembly 100 to a package, which will be described later.
In some embodiments, hang tab assembly 100 has functions of securely hanging a package and providing a tamper-evident seal as mentioned above. The hanging function can be achieved by the openings of each layer of hang tab assembly 100, the overall thickness and the weight of hang tab assembly 100, and the way in which hang tab assembly 100 is affixed to a package. The tamper-evident seal function may be achieved by outer layer 200 having a plurality of “kiss-cuts” formed thereon in combination with the manner and structure by which hang tab assembly 100 is affixed to the package.
For example, referring to
As shown in the drawings, the “kiss-cuts” described herein may be formed on outer layer 200 to provide a user-friendly mechanism for opening the package while also providing a tamper-evident seal that maintains sufficient structure for hanging. The term “kiss-cut” or kiss cutting is a form of cut (e.g., formed by die cutting or scoring) where the cut cuts partially through the material, but not entirely through the material such that the depth of cut is less than the thickness of the material and terminates inside the substance of the material (e.g. a cut having a depth roughly half of the thickness of the material). In this way, a kiss-cut can allow the paper material of, e.g., outer layer 200, to retain a high degree of strength in a direction parallel to its paper surfaces through the portion that is not cut through by the kiss cut, while allowing the paper material to more easily separate in a controlled manner when a force is applied in a perpendicular (normal) direction.
As mentioned, in some embodiments outer layer 200, formed of paper, includes kiss cuts to effect its functions of sealing, supporting, opening, and providing tamper-evidence relative to a package to which it is affixed. For example,
Assuming that outer layer 200 shown in
In some embodiments, outer layer 200 may include two first kiss-cut paths 280A on upper surface 20 and two kiss-cut paths 280B, 280C (“second and third kiss-cut paths 280B, 280C”) on lower surface 30. For instance, portion “D” in
Outer layer 200 may further include first adhesive 500 on a portion of lower surface 30 thereof. As tear-away panel 260 is pulled, this applies a force to outer layer 200 at the kiss-cuts by an upward (e.g., in the z-direction, see
The tears are formed within the paper material of outer layer 200, extending in a direction parallel to the surfaces of outer layer 200 between interior ends of adjacent kiss-cut paths that are on opposing sides of outer layer 200 (e.g., between kiss cut paths 280A and 280B) or between a kiss cut path and an outer edge of tear-away panel 260, thereby exposing an interior of the paper forming outer layer 200 between kiss-cut paths. The exposed interior provides visibly unfinished, rough, or fuzzy exposed surfaces 900 at peripheral portions 280D and 280E of tear-away portion 262 and at tamper-evident portions 280F and 280G. Because tamper-evident portions 280F and 280G remain affixed to package 10, the exposed interior of the paper at these portions provides a visible indication tha the package has been unsealed.
Each of peripheral portions 280D, 280E and tamper-evident portions 280F, 280G have a partial (e.g., half) thickness of outer layer 200 before pulled away, while a center portion 280H is entirely torn away with peripheral portions 280D and 280E maintaining the full thickness of outer layer 200.
Here, the thicknesses after being pulled away at the kiss-cuts may depend on the depth of each kiss-cut. Such that if the first kiss-cut path or paths (e.g., 280A) are cut more than halfway through the paper, peripheral portions (e.g., 280D, 280E) may have thickness corresponding to the depth of the first kiss-cut path or paths. Similarly, if second and third kiss-cut paths (e.g., 280B, 280C) are cut into more than halfway through the paper, tamper-evident portions (e.g., 280F, 280G) may have thickness corresponding to the depth of the second and third kiss-cut paths.
After the tearing away is completed, portion “A” (or portions “A” and “D”) which have adhesive 500 on lower surface 30 remain affixed to package 10 while portion “B” can be separated from the package, thus unsealing the package while providing clear indication that the package has been opened. More specifically, portion “A” (or portions “A” and “D”) can be affixed to a side surface of package 10 and portion “C” can be partially affixed (e.g., indirectly through other structure of hang tab assembly) to an opening top (e.g., tuck flap) of package 10, while portion “B” can be entirely separated from package 10. Exposed surfaces 900 at the separation portions may have irregular shapes and sizes, which can vary based on the material composition. As shown, outer layer 200 is separated into three portions creating a space between “A” and C”, corresponding to the length of center portion 280H in the y-direction, due to center portion 280H defined by second and third kiss-cut paths 280B, 280C.
In addition, distances between each kiss-cut path, particularly between adjacent kiss-cut paths on opposing sides of their respective panel that are intended to create tears (e.g., first kiss-cut path 280A and second kiss-cut path 280B), is a factor for allowing the subtle and ideal internal separation (e.g., lateral tearing) of outer layer 200 as shown in the drawings for providing a tamper-evident effect while allowing easy opening of the seal. The kiss cuts operate in pairs, each kiss-cut offset from a kiss cut (or a through cut/edge) on the other side of outer layer 200. As described above, the kiss-cuts terminate within the material of outer layer 200, such that their terminal ends are buried within the material. As a normal force is applied to material at one side of the paired kiss cuts, the material of outer layer 200 will fail creating a tear between the buried ends of the kiss cuts (see, e.g.,
As will be described below, the distance between each kiss-cut path may be between 1 mm to 6 mm, particularly, the distance between first kiss-cut path 280A and second kiss-cut path 280B may be between in a range of, e.g., 2 mm-6 mm, while the distance between second kiss-cut path 280B and third kiss-cut path 280C may be in a range of, e.g., 1 mm-4 mm (e.g., 1 mm-2 mm.
Referring to
In some embodiments, second and third kiss-cut paths 280B, 280C may be offset from first kiss-cut path 280A in the y-direction to allow the tearing of outer layer 200 into two portions. As described above, the distance between first kiss-cut path 280A and second kiss-cut path 280B in the y-direction may be between, e.g., 2 mm and 6 mm, or more preferably 4 mm, to allow the normal force and shearing force to tear outer layer 200 into two layers by a user's manipulation. Similarly, the distance between second kiss-cut path 280B and third kiss-cut path 280C in the y-direction may be between, e.g., 1 mm and 4 mm, or more preferably 2.5 mm.
In addition, hang tab assembly 100 may include one or more grip portions 260A at an end of tear-away panel 260 in the longitudinal direction for a user to grip and pull away tear-away panel 260. Due to first, second, and third kiss-cut paths 280A, 280B, 280C, portions of tear-away panel 260 can be laterally torn into two layers by a pulling force as shown in
For instance, with reference to
As shown, tear-away panel 260 is firstly separated into two partial layers in the z-direction by exposing peripheral portions 280D and 280E having exposed surfaces 900 as partial thickness tom away portions of tear-away panel 260 and tamper-evident portions 280F and 280G as partial-thickness non-torn away portions of tear-away panel 260, respectively facing torn-away peripheral portions 280D and 280E. Center portion 280H, together with peripheral portions 280D and 280E may form a T-shape cross section (see
In some embodiments, a lower surface of remaining-on tamper-evident portion 280F (e.g., lower surface 30 of tear-away panel 260) can be securely attached to package or item 10 to which hang tab assembly 100 is affixed by first adhesive 500. On the other hand, remaining-on tamper-evident portion 280G is not directly attached or adhered to the same panel of package 10 (though may be indirectly adhered to another portion of package 10 that is movable with respect to the portion to which tamper-evident portion 280G is adhered, as explained elsewhere herein), thus allowing opening of package 10 when the torn-away layer of the tear-away panel 260 is completely removed.
As described above, the kiss-cut paths formed on tear-away panel 260 can create separation within tear-away panel 260, thus providing clear visual evidence that an adhered package 10 has been opened or otherwise tampered with when tear-away panel 260 is disturbed via unsealing (e.g., surfaces on remaining-on portions 280F and 280G being exposed as shown
When in the use configuration sealing package 10, openings (e.g., the first, second and third openings 220, 320, and 420 and openings of first and second adhesives 500 and 600) of hang tab assembly 100 may be positioned over a display hook or other support to hang tab assembly 100 (and package 10) therefrom. In this way, package 10 can be displayed (e.g., for purchase in a retail environment) while remaining sealed to protect its contents from tampering. Further, since tuck flap 14a may be inserted within package side wall 12 in the use configuration, it can be hidden from view. In other words, hang tab assembly 100 in some embodiments may not be attached to a top surface of package 10 (e.g., an upper surface 14b), thereby minimizing the visual effect of hang tab assembly 100 on package 10. In other embodiments, hang tab assembly 100 may be further affixed to top surface of package 10 to provide further stability and improved adherence.
In some embodiments, support layer 400 is entirely adhered between outer layer 200 and inner layer 300 by adhesives (e.g., third and fourth adhesives 700, 800). Support layer 400 may have a thickness that is substantially equal to that of side wall 12 (e.g., as shown in
Once the location of hang tab assembly 100 is determined, the user can tear or peel off second removable protective liner 620 to expose second adhesive 800 at step S3. The person may align and affix hang tab assembly 100 to tuck flap 14a of package top 14 using second adhesive 600 at step S4 (see
Once hang tab assembly 100, more specifically, inner layer 300, is affixed to package 10, the fixture used in step S1 can be removed and a sled, which can keep package 10 in shape, can be placed into package 10 as optional at step S7, and package 10 can be closed by tucking in tuck flap 14a inside (e.g., inner side of tuck flap 14a) package 10 while leaving outer layer 200 out at step S8. At step S7, an item to be packaged can be inserted in package 10 with the sled before closing package 10 (such item could be inserted at any other time before package 10 is sealed). Then, package 10 can be optionally placed back into the fixture used in step S1 at step S9. The person can tear off first removable protective liner 520 to expose third adhesive 700 attached on tear-away panel 260 of outer layer 200 as shown in step S10 (see
In addition,
To un-seal package 10, a person may grasp any one of grip portions 260A as a part of tear-away panel 260 and pull from the left to right or right to left with sufficient force to cause tear-away panel 260 to break into two layers to tear away at kiss-cut paths, as described above and shown, e.g., in
In some embodiments, any surface finishing may take place after the components are cut from the blank, or alternatively prior to the blank being cut into separate sheets for assembling to a final product. Additionally, some operations may be performed concurrently. All or some of the surfaces of the packaging may be coated, or laminated, which may increase structural strength properties such as rigidity, which may protect a product within the packaging, or avoid scratching, and which may further improve the surface properties toward preferred haptics or optics.
The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the described embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the specific details are not required in order to practice the described embodiments. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of the specific embodiments described herein are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not target to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise forms disclosed. It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings.
It is well understood that the use of personally identifiable information should follow privacy policies and practices that are generally recognized as meeting or exceeding industry or governmental requirements for maintaining the privacy of users. In particular, personally identifiable information data should be managed and handled so as to minimize risks of unintentional or unauthorized access or use, and the nature of authorized use should be clearly indicated to users.
