POINT-OF-SALE DEVICE INCLUDING PLURAL PANELS WITH SEVERAL PANELS HAVING INFORMATION ABOUT ARTICLE ON THE DEVICE

Abstract

A point-of-sale device for an article sold at a retail shop is mounted on a horizontally extending rod on a pegboard. A structure enabling the device to be presented to a prospective purchaser of the article includes an arrangement enabling the device to be hung on the rod. The structure includes plural interconnected panels having a common edge. In different embodiments, the device includes two, three and four panels respectively having four, six and eight faces including graphical and text information about the article that is carried on an exterior face of a panel. The text is in different languages. A pair of panels includes a non-permanent fastener arrangement for holding the pair of panels in abutting relation.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a point-of-sale device for an article to be sold at a retail shop, wherein the device is adapted to be mounted on a horizontally extending elongated element of a vertically extending mounting structure, and wherein the device includes plural panels with information about the article.

BACKGROUND ART

One type of point-of-sale device, particularly used for hardware articles, includes horizontally extending elongated elements on a vertically extending mounting structure of a retail shop. Typically, the vertically extending mounting structure is a pegboard and the horizontally extending elongated elements are rods carried by anchors on the pegboard. The point-of-sale device typically includes a cardboard panel that carries the article in a blister pack or other similar container including a transparent portion, enabling a prospective buyer to see the article. The panel includes an opening enabling the entire point-of-sale device to be carried by the rod and enabling the point-of-sale device to be removed from the rod for inspection by a prospective purchaser. The panel includes text and illustrations with information concerning the article. The information includes, inter alia, how to assemble and/or use the article. However, the amount of space available for the information, as well as for promotional material concerning the article, is limited because the panels are relatively small, because of the limited amount of space a retailer is willing to allocate to the point-of-sale device in a retail shop.

However, United States retailers are now requiring the information on point-of-sale devices of the foregoing type to be in one or more languages other than English, so that the information on the point-of-sale devices must be in English, Spanish and/or French in many instances. This requirement exacerbates the space problem because the retailer will not permit the point-of-sale device to occupy a greater area in the retail shop. However, lettering and graphical information on the point-of-sale device must have a fairly large minimum size. Otherwise, the information is of virtually no value to many prospective customers and/or users of the purchased article.

It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved point-of-sale device that is adapted to be mounted on a horizontally extending elongated element of a vertically extending mounting structure of a retail shop.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a point-of-sale device adapted to be mounted on a horizontally extending elongated element of a vertically extending mounting structure of a retail shop, wherein the device can provide a substantially increased amount of information, without requiring additional area in the shop.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved point-of-sale device for hardware articles to be sold at a retail shop, wherein the device is adapted to be mounted on a horizontally extending elongated element of a vertically extending mounting structure of the shop and the point-of-sale device includes information about the article in plural languages, with lettering and graphics sufficiently large to be acceptable to a prospective purchaser, and wherein the point-of-sale device does not occupy additional area in the shop, compared to the prior art.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved point-of-sale device adapted to be mounted on a horizontally extending elongated element of a vertically extending mounting structure of a retail shop, wherein the point-of-sale device includes plural interconnected panels carrying information about an article carried by the point-of-sale device and wherein the panels, after being accessed by a prospective purchaser, can be easily returned to the initial condition thereof, for further inspection by other prospective purchasers and future use by an actual purchaser.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a point-of-sale device for an article to be sold at a retail shop is adapted to be mounted on a horizontally extending elongated element of a vertically extending mounting structure of the retail shop and comprises a structure for enabling the device to be presented to a prospective purchaser of the article at the retail shop. The structure for enabling the device to be presented includes an arrangement for enabling the device to be hung on the elongated element. The structure includes plural interconnected panels having one or more common edges. The panels are folded about the one or more common edges so that the device, when hung on the elongated element has substantially the same area as the largest panel. At least three faces of the plural panels include information about the article that is carried on the device in a manner enabling the article to be visible to the prospective purchaser while the device is hanging on the elongated element.

Preferably, at least one of the panels includes a non-permanent fastener arrangement for holding a pair of the panels in an abutting relation while the point-of-sale device is on the elongated element. In one arrangement, the non-permanent fastener arrangement is on the pair of panels and includes a hook and loop fastener arrangement on the pair of panels and that holds the plural panels together. In a second arrangement, the non-permanent fastener arrangement is on the pair of panels and includes an easy on and off adhesive arrangement on the pair of panels and that holds the plural panels together. In a third arrangement, the non-permanent adhesive arrangement is a gel adhesive on a single face of the device.

Preferably, an exterior face of one of the panels carries the article and all faces of the device carry information about the article. Usually, the information about the article is graphical and textual, with the textual information being in different languages.

In a preferred configuration, when the device is folded about the at least one edge (a) a first face of a first panel of the device is completely exposed to a prospective purchaser as the purchaser looks at the first face of the first panel, and (b) a portion of a first face of a second panel of the device is exposed to a prospective purchaser as the purchaser looks at the first face of the first panel, a first language being on the first face, a second language being on the exposed portion of the second face.

In accordance with a first embodiment, the device includes two panels having a common edge, wherein the panels are folded together at the edge to form a four page booklet.

In accordance with a second embodiment of the invention, the device includes three panels, such that a first of the panels is a center panel, a second of the panels is an exterior panel having a first common edge with the center panel, and a third of the panels is an exterior panel having a second common edge with the center panel. The third panel is folded along the second edge so that a first face thereof abuts a first face of the first panel. The second panel is folded along the first common edge so that a first face thereof abuts a second face of the third panel. The first face of the second panel and the second face of the third panel are in abutting relation. Preferably, the non-permanent faster arrangement is on at least a first face of the second panel to hold the first face of the second panel and the second face of the third panel in abutting relation.

In accordance with a third embodiment of the invention, the device includes four panels, such that a first and a second of the panels are interior panels having a first common edge, while the first and third panels have a second common edge. The third and fourth panels are exterior panels. The third panel is folded along the second edge so that a first face of the third panel abuts a first face of the first panel. The first panel is folded along the first edge so that a second face of the third panel abuts a first face of the second panel. The fourth panel is folded along the third edge so that a first face of the fourth panel abuts a second face of the first panel. A first face of the fourth panel and the second face of the first panel abut. Thus the device has two exterior faces that are second faces of the second and fourth panels. Preferably, the non-permanent fastener arrangement is on the second face of the fourth panel and/or the second face of the second panel.

The above and still further objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of specific embodiments thereof, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pegboard carrying a horizontally extending elongated element, which in turn carries a point-of-sale device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the point-of-sale device of the type illustrated in FIG. 1, wherein the panels are folded on each other;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the device illustrated in FIG. 1, wherein the panels are open, i.e., not folded on each other;

FIG. 4 is a back view of the device illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, wherein the panels are open and a hook loop fastener arrangement is carried by the illustrated panels;

FIGS. 5 a, 5 b and 5c are front views of a second embodiment of the point-of-sale device in accordance with the invention, wherein FIG. 5a is a front view of the device, as it is hung on a horizontally elongated element, FIG. 5b is a front unfolded view of the device illustrated in FIG. 5a, and FIG. 5c is a back unfolded view of the device illustrated in FIGS. 5a and 5b, wherein the illustrated panels carry easy-on, easy-off adhesive;

FIGS. 6 a and 6b are respectively unfolded front and back views of a point-of-sale device including three panels; and

FIGS. 7 a and 7b are respectively unfolded front and back views of a further embodiment of a point-of-sale device including four panels.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The point-of-sale system of FIG. 1 includes vertically extending, wall-mounted pegboard 40 including circular holes 42. Pegboard 40 fixedly carries fixtures 44 and 46, on which are fixedly mounted horizontally extending elongated elements in the form of rods 48, 50, 52 and 54, pairs of which are connected together by vertically extending struts 56 and 58, as well as horizontally extending struts 60. Struts 56 and 58 respectively fit into openings of fixtures 44 and 46.

Point-of-sale devices 62 and 64 are respectively hung on rods 48 and 50 behind placard 67, which is mounted on rods 52 and 54 and includes information about article 66, carried by point-of-sale devices 62 and 64. Because the features of devices 62 and 64 are the same, the present detailed description of the drawings includes a description of only device 64.

Point-of-sale device 64 includes two cardboard panels 70 and 72, formed from a common sheet, so that the panels are connected to each other by a common edge 74. Panels 70 and 72 have exterior faces, with the exterior face of panel 70 carrying transparent container 66, in which are located hardware elements, in the form of picture hangers 76, as well as nails 78 for securing the picture hangers to a wall. Panel 70 includes an elongated horizontally extending opening 80, enabling the panel to be hung on rod 54. It is to be understood that any suitable article can be carried by container 66.

The exterior faces of panels 70 and 72 carry text and graphical information concerning picture hangers 76 and nails 78. The text information is typically multilingual, e.g., being in English, Spanish and French. The area of each of panels 70 and 72 of point-of-sale device 64, as it hangs on rod 54, is substantially the same as the prior art devices that included only a single panel and which carried an article or articles in a transparent container. However, considerably greater information is provided by point-of-sale device 64 than the prior art devices having the same area in the vertical plane, because panels 70 and 72 are folded together to form a four-page booklet.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, panels 70 and 72 respectively include exterior faces 82 and 84. Exterior face 82 carries container 66 in which are fixedly mounted picture hangers 76 and nails 78. In addition, exterior face 82 of panel 70 includes text material 86 and graphical material 88 concerning the use and assembly of picture hangers 76, while the exterior face of panel 84 includes additional text material 90 and additional graphical material 92.

Reference is now made to FIG. 4, a view of the back interior faces 94 and 96 of panels 70 and 72. Faces 94 and 96 bear additional text material 98 and graphical material 100 concerning picture hangers 76 and nails 78. For example, text material 98 and graphical material 100 can indicate how the hangers are to be installed. Text material 98 is typically in different languages and/or includes detailed information about the hangers 76 and nails 78.

A hook and loop fastener arrangement is carried on interior faces 94 and 96, in proximity to the edges of the faces remote from common edge 74. The hook and loop fastener arrangement includes hook carrying pad 102 and loop carrying pad 104. Pads 102 and 104 are approximately equidistant between the top and bottom edges of panel 72, such that pads 102 and 104 respectively, including the hooks and loops, face each other and are aligned and mate while panels 70 and 72 are folded about edge 74. Thereby, panels 70 and 72 are securely held in place while the point of sale display device 64 is mounted on rods 48 and 50. Hook and loop fastener pads 102 and 104 enable panels 70 and 72 to be opened, by pulling at the edges of the panels, so that the panels turn about edge 74. If a prospective purchaser who has removed point of sale device 62 from rod 48 decides to purchase hangers 76 and nails 78, the prospective purchaser merely refolds panels 70 and 72 so that the hook and loop fasteners 102 and 104 re-engage each other. If the prospective purchaser decides not to purchase hangers 76 and nails 78, the prospective purchaser returns point of sale device 64 to rod 54 after pushing panels 70 and 72 against each other, causing the panels to be secured to each other by the hook and loop fasteners.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 5a, 5b and 5c that are different views of another point of sale device 110 having two panels, 112 and 114. FIG. 5 is a front view of device 110 in a folded condition, FIG. 5b is a front view of both exterior faces 112 and 114 of two-panel point of sale device 110 in an unfolded condition, and FIG. 5c is a front view of the interior faces 130 and 132 of two-panel point of sale device 110. Device 110 is similar to device 64, except that (1) device 110 occupies a smaller area on rod 54 than that of device 64, since device 110 carries on exterior face 115 a single hanger 76 and a single nail 78, and (2) device 110 uses a less expensive fastener than a hook and loop fastener.

Point of sale device 110 is mounted on rod 48 so that exterior face 115 of panel 112 faces a prospective purchaser. Panels 112 and 114 have a common edge 116, about which panels 112 and 114 are folded to an abutting position. Exterior face 115 of panel 120 carries text material 120 about hanger 76 and nail 78. Additional text material 132 and graphical material 134 about hanger 76 and nail 78 are carried on the exterior face of 128 of panel 114, so that when a prospective purchaser removes point of sale device 110 from rod 48, the prospective purchaser is apprised of information about hanger 76 and nail 78. Interior faces 130 and 132 of panels 112 and 114, respectively, also include text material 133 that is typically in a language different from the language on the exterior faces 115 and 128; interior face 132 also includes graphical information 134.

Adhesive strips 136 and 138, of the easy-on and easy-off adhesive type, such as is available from 3M Corporation on POST-IT NOTES or on 3M adhesive tape having a permanent adhesive on one side and a non-permanent adhesive on the other side, are respectively carried along the outer edges of interior faces 130 and 132 of panels 112 and 114. Strips 136 and 138 have the same lengths and are spaced above the bottom edge of panels 112 and 114 so the strips mate with each other when panels 112 and 114 are folded about edge 116, so faces 130 and 132 abut. As a result, strips 136 and 138 perform the same function as hook and loop fasteners 102 and 104, i.e., enabling panels 112 and 114 to be secured to each other and easily opened for access to the text and graphical information on interior faces 130 and 132 of panels 112 and 114.

Panel 112 includes an elongated horizontally extending slot 122 having a size and shape enabling point of sale device 110 to be easily placed on and removed from rod 54.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 6a and 6b, respectively illustrations of first and second sides of an unfolded three panel point of sale device 139 that can be mounted on rod 48. Point of sale device 139 includes panels 140, 142 and 144, such that central, i.e., interior, panel 140 and exterior panel 142 have a common edge 146, while central panel 140 and exterior panel 144 have a common edge 148. Edges 146 and 148 are parallel to each other, and extend longitudinally along the interior sides of exterior panels 142 and 144, and the opposite sides of interior panel 140. Interior panel 140 includes exterior, obverse face 150 that carries hanger 76 and nail 78, both enclosed in transparent cover 66.

Central panel 140 is taller (i.e., has a greater vertical extent) than exterior panels 142 and 144, while panel 142 is taller than panel 144. Panel 140 includes exterior face 150 and interior face 157; panel 142 includes interior faces 156 and 158; and panel 144 includes exterior face 160 and interior face 162. Panel 142 is folded about edge 146 so that face 158 of panel 142 abuts face 157 of panel 140. Then, panel 144 is folded about edge 148 so that face 162 of panel 144 abuts face 156 of panel 142. As a result, when device 139 is folded about edges 146 and 148 the entire face 160 of the shortest panel 144 is initially presented to a prospective purchaser when the purchaser removes device 139 from rod 48 and turns the device around from the face 150 on which are mounted cover 66 that carries hanger 76 and nail 78. Text in the primary language of the region where device 139 is sold (English, in most of the United States of America) appears exclusively on face 144. The upper portion of face 156 of panel 142, between the top edges of panels 142 and 144, is presented to the prospective purchaser when the purchaser removes device 139 from rod 48 and turns the device around. Text in a first secondary language, e.g. Spanish, appears on the upper portion of face 156, as well as the remainder of face 156. Hence, a purchaser who is fluent in the first secondary language realizes that he should fold panel 144 away from panel 140 to read the text in the first secondary language on all of face 156.

The upper portion of face 157 of panel 140 between the top edge panels 140 and 142 is presented to the prospective purchaser when the purchaser removes device 139 from rod 48 and turns the device around. Text in a second secondary language, e.g. French, appears on the upper portion of face 157, as well as the remainder of face 157. Hence, a purchaser who is fluent in the second, secondary language realizes he should fold panel 144 away from panel 140 to read the text in the second secondary language on all of face 157.

To hold panels 140, 142 and 144 in the stated folded position, the outer edge of interior face 162 of the shortest panel 144 carries a non-permanent, adhesive mass in the form of adhesive gel 164 that engages face 156 of panel 144 when panels 142 and 144 are folded, as stated, about edges 146 and 148. Adhesive gel mass 164 can be made of GLUE DOTS (allegedly disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 5,935,670). Gel mass 164 has a tackiness rating such that there is no tearing of face 156 when face 162 is pulled from face 156. We have found that a 4″ by 6″ panel of a two panel device, as illustrated in FIGS. 2-4, can be held together by a circular GLUE DOT having a low tackiness rating, a ½″ diameter and a thickness of ⅜″. If the diameter and thickness are less than ½″ and ⅜″, respectively, the GLUE DOT does not reliably hold the two panels together. The GLUE DOT low tackiness rating adequately holds the panels of such a two panel device together and is such that the panel faces remain in tact (i.e. do not tear) when the panels are pulled apart.

The gel adhesive is easily applied and needs to be on only one surface. Hence, the gel adhesive avoids the need to align the strips of FIGS. 5a, 5b and 5c, or the hook and loop fasteners of FIG. 4. In the embodiment of FIG. 4 a gel non-permanent adhesive mass can replace hook and loop pads 102 and 104, such that the gel adhesive mass is located on only one of faces 70 or 72, e.g., where pad 102 or pad 104 is located. In the embodiment of FIGS. 5a, 5b, and 5c a gel non-permanent adhesive mass can replace strips 136 and 138, such that the gel adhesive mass is located on only one of faces 130 or 132, e.g., where strip 136 or strip 138 is located.

Horizontally extending elongated slot 152, at the top of panel 140, above the upper edges of panels 142 and 144, has a size and shape enabling point of sale device 139 to be easily placed on and removed from rod 54.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 7a and 7b of the drawing, respectively illustrations of first and second opposite unfolded sides of point of sale device 169 including four panels 170, 172, 174 and 176 that are folded relative to each other to appear as a single panel point of sale device when hung on rod 48. Device 169 includes wholly interior panels 170 and 172, as well as panels 174 and 176 having both interior and exterior faces. Edge 180 extends vertically along the sides of panels 170 and 172 and connects the sides of panels 170 and 172 together; edge 182 extends vertically along the sides of panels 172 and 174 and connects panels 172 and 174 together; and edge 184, extends vertically along the sides of panels 174 and 176 and connects panels 174 and 176 together.

Panel 170 includes interior faces 190 and 191; panel 172 includes interior faces 192 and 193; panel 174 includes exterior face 195 and interior face 196; and panel 176 includes exterior face 197 and interior face 198. Exterior face 195 of panel 174 carries hanger 76 and nail 78 behind transparent cover 66. Device 169 is folded so that exterior face 195 of panel 174 faces outwardly toward a prospective purchaser when device 169 is hung on rod 54, by virtue of the rod extending through horizontally extending elongated slot 199 at the top of panel 174, above the top edges of panels 170, 172 and 176. To facilitate folding device 169, (1) top edge of panel 172 includes cut out 201 that extends horizontally from edge 182 and includes 90° of the circumference of a circle as the cut out turns towards the top edge of panel 172, where the cut out is extending vertically and (b) panel 170 includes cut out 203 that extends horizontally from the open vertical edge of panel 170 and includes 90° of the circumference of a circle as cutout 201 turns toward the top edge of panel 170, where cutout 201 ends as it is extending vertically. Front exterior face 195 of panel 174 carries text information 204 and graphical information 206 about hanger 76 and nail 78, while the interior and exterior faces 190, 191, 192, 193, 197 and 198 of panels 170, 172 and 176, as well as the interior face 196 of panel 174, include substantial text and graphical information concerning hanger 76 and nail 78.

Panels 170, 172, 174 and 176 are bent about edges 180, 182 and 184 so the total area facing a prospective customer looking at device 169 while the device is hanging on rod 54 is the area of the front, i.e., exterior, face 195 of panel 174. To this end, panel 170 is turned about edge 180, so face 190 of panel 170 and face 192 of panel 172 abut, then abutting panels 170 and 172 are turned together about edge 182 so that face 191 of panel 170 abuts interior face 196 of panel 174, causing face 193 of panel 172 to face oppositely from, and be aligned with, face 195 of panel 174. Then, panel 176 is turned about edge 184 so that the interior face 198 of panel 176 abuts face 193 of panel 172, causing face 197 of panel 176 to be the back exterior face of device 169.

As a result of the foregoing folding process, the exterior vertically extending edge of panel 176 is aligned with vertically extending edge 182 that is between panels 172 and 174. To secure panels 172 and 176 to each other, the vertically extending outside edge of interior face 198 of panel 176 fixedly carries vertically extending elongated easy-on/easy-off adhesive strip 200, and the side of panel 193 adjacent edge 182 fixedly carries vertically extending elongated easy-on/easy-off adhesive strip 202. Strips 200 and 202 have the approximately the same length, and are aligned with and abut each other when device 169 is folded about edges 180, 182 and 184, as stated.

Adhesive strips 200 and 202 can be replaced by a single permanent adhesive gel mass, similar to adhesive gel mass 164. In such a case, the adhesive gel mass is secured to the exterior edge of face 198 of panel 176 at a location where the center of strip 200 is illustrated in FIGS. 7a and 7b, or on face 193 at edge 182, at a location where the center of strip 202 is illustrated.

To open device 169 from the folded position to the open position illustrated in FIGS. 7a and 7b, a prospective purchaser, after removing the device from rod 54, pulls the interior face 198 of panel 176 from face 193 of panel 172 so that adhesive strip 200 is separated from adhesive strip 202. After faces 193 and 198 are separated from each other, panel 170 is folded away from panel 172 about edge 180 to expose all eight panels to the prospective purchaser so the prospective purchaser is able to view all the text and graphical information on device 169.

While there have been described and illustrated specific embodiments of the invention, it will be clear that variations in the details of the embodiments specifically illustrated and described may be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A point-of-sale device for an article to be sold at a retail shop, wherein the point-of-sale device is adapted to be mounted on a horizontally extending elongated element of a vertically extending mounting structure of the retail shop, comprising a structure for enabling the device to be presented to a prospective purchaser of the article at the retail shop, the structure for enabling the device to be presented including an arrangement for enabling the device to be hung on the elongated element, the structure including at least three interconnected panels that are folded on each other about at least one common edge of the panels that are next to each other, the device having only two exterior panels when the device is hanging on the elongated element, the two exterior panels having interior and exterior faces when the device is hanging on the elongated element, the panels being folded abut the at least one common edge so that device when hanging on the elongated element has substantially the same area as the largest panel, at least five faces on the plural panels including information about the article, the article being carried on the device in a manner enabling the article to be visible to the prospective purchaser while the device is hanging on the elongated element.

2. The point-of-sale device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the panels includes a non-permanent fastener arrangement for holding the exterior panels in an abutting relation while the panels are folded about at least one edge.

3. The point-of-sale device of claim 2, wherein the non-permanent fastener arrangement is on the exterior panels and includes a hook and loop fastener arrangement that holds the plural panels together when the panels are folded above the at least one edge.

4. The point-of-sale device of claim 2, wherein the non-permanent fastener arrangement is on a pair of the panels and includes an easy on and off adhesive arrangement that holds the plural panels together.

5. The point-of-sale device of claim 2, wherein the non-permanent fastener arrangement is on at least one of the exterior panels and includes a non-permanent adhesive gel that holds the exterior panels together when the panels are folded above the at least one edge.

6. The point-of-sale device of claim 5, wherein the adhesive gel is on only one of the panels.

7. The point-of-sale device of claim 6, wherein the non-permanent gel adhesive is made of GLUE DOTS and has a low tackiness rating.

8. (canceled)

9. The point-of-sale device of claim 1, wherein an exterior face of one of the panels carries the article, and all faces of the device carry information about the article.

10. The point-of-sale device of claim 9, wherein the information about the article is graphical and textual, the textual information being in different languages, a portion of the textual information in each language being on different panels and viewable to the perspective purchaser when the device is hanging on the elongated device.

11. The point-of-sale device of claim 2, wherein the number of panels is equal to three, a first of said panels being a center panel, a second of said panels being an exterior panel having a first common edge with the center panel, a third of said panels being an exterior panel having a second common edge with the center panel, the third panel being folded along the second edge so that a first face thereof abuts a first face of the first panel, the second panel being folded along a first common edge so that a first face thereof abuts a second face of the third panel, the non-permanent faster arrangement being on at least the first face of the second panel to hold the first face of the second panel and the second face of the third panel in abutting relation.

12. The point-of-sale device of claim 11, wherein a second face of said first panel carries the article.

13. The point-of-sale of claim 12, wherein the information about the article is graphical and textual, the textual information being in different languages, a portion of the textual information in each language being on different panels and viewable to the perspective purchaser when the device is hanging on the elongated device.

14. The point-of-sale device of claim 2, wherein the number of panels is equal to four, first and second of said panels being interior panels having a first common edge, third and fourth of said panels being exterior panels, the first and third panels having a second common edge, the second and fourth panels having a third common edge, the third panel being folded along the second edge so that a first face of the third panel abuts a first face of the first panel, the first panel being folded along the first edge so that a second face of the third panel abuts a first face of the second panel, the fourth panel being folded along the third edge so that a first face of the fourth panel abuts a second face of the first panel, the non-permanent fastener arrangement being on at least the first face of the fourth panel.

15. The point-of-sale device of claim 14, wherein the second face of the second panel carries the article.

16. The point-of-sale device of claim 15 wherein the information about the article is graphical and textual, the textual information being in different languages, a portion of the textual information in each language being on different panels and viewable to the perspective purchaser when the device is hanging on the elongated device.

17. (canceled)

18. The point-of-sale device of claim 1, wherein an exterior face of one of the panels carries the article and all faces of the device carry information about the article.

19. The point-of-sale device of claim 1, wherein the number of panels is equal to three, a first of said panels being a center panel, a second of said panels being an exterior panel having a first common edge with the center panel, a third of said panels being an exterior panel having a second common edge with the center panel, the third panel being folded along the second edge so that a first face thereof abuts a first face of the first panel, the second panel being folded along the first common edge so that a first face thereof abuts a second face of the third panel.

20. The point-of-sale device of claim 19, wherein when the panels are folded as stated a second face of said first panel is an exterior face that carries the article.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein the panels are folded as stated: (a) a second face of the second panel is an exterior face including text information when the active is a primary language, (b) the first panel has a top portion above a top portion of the third panel and above a top edge of the second panel, (c) the top portion of the third panel is above the top edge of the second panel, the second face of the third panel, (d) the top portion of the including information about the article in a first secondary language, the second face of the third panel, (e) the remainder of the second face of the third panel including at least some additional text information about the article in the first secondary language, (f) the top portion of the first face of the first panel including text information about the article in a second secondary language, (g) the remainder of the first face of the first face including text information about the article in the second secondary language.

22. The point-of-sale device of claim 1, wherein the number of panels is equal to four, first and second of said panels being interior panels having a first common edge, third and fourth of said panels being exterior panels, the first and third panels having a second common edge, the second and fourth panels having a third common edge, the third panel being folded along the second edge so that a first face of the third panel abuts a first face of the first panel, the first panel being folded along the first edge so that a second face of the third panel abuts a first face of the second panel, the fourth panel being folded along the third edge so that a first face of the fourth panel abuts a second face of the first panel, the device having two exterior faces, the two exterior faces being second faces of the second and fourth panels.

23. The point-of-sale device of claim 22 wherein the second face of the second panel carries the article.

24. The point-of-sale device of claim 23 wherein at least one of the second face of the first panel and the second face of the fourth panel include a non-permanent fastener arrangement.

25. The point-of-sale device of claim 23 wherein the second face of the first panel and the second face of the fourth panel include a non-permanent fastener arrangement, the fastener arrangements on the first and second panels engaging each other when the device is folded as stated.

26. The point-of-sale device of claim 23 wherein when the device is folded about the at least one edge (a) a first face of a first panel of the device is completely exposed to a prospective purchaser as the purchaser looks at the first face of the first panel, and (b) only a portion of a first face of a second panel of the device is exposed to a prospective purchaser as the purchaser looks at the first face of the first panel, a first language being on the first face, a second language being on the exposed portion of the second face.

27. The point-of-sale device of claim 1, wherein a first of the panels has a vertical extent greater than a second of the panels, the first and second panels being folded such that (a) a first face of the first panel is initially completely exposed to the prospective purchaser when the purchaser vertically looks at the back face of the device, the article being carried on a front face of the device, and (b) a first face of the second pane is only partially exposed to the prospective purchaser when the purchaser vertically looks at the back face of the device, a first language being exclusively on the first face of the first panel, a second language being exclusively on the first face of the second panel.

28. The device of claim 1, wherein the device has a nonpermanent fastener arrangement holding the panels together when the device is hanging on the elongated element, the nonpermanent fastener arrangement consisting of a nonpermanent adhesive gel arrangement carried on the interior face of only one of the panels, the nonpermanent adhesive gel arrangement abutting the interior face of one of the other panels to hold the panel carrying the gel arrangement in place with said one other panel when the device is hanging on the elongated element, the nonpermanent adhesive gel arrangement abutting an interior face of one of the other panels to hold the panel carrying the gel arrangement in place with said one other panel when the device is hanging on the elongated element, the interior face carrying the gel arrangement or the interior face of said one other panel being on an exterior panel, the abutting relation of the gel arrangement and said one other panel holding all the panels in place when the device is hanging on the elongated element.

29. The point-of-sale device of claim 28 wherein the panels are cardboard having the information printed thereon, the gel arrangement having a tacking rating such that when the panel carrying the gel and said one other panel are separated there is no tearing of the interior face of said one other panel.

30. The point-of-sale device of claim 1 wherein one of said panels has a greater vertical extent than the remaining panel(s) and includes an opening through which the horizontally extending elongated element is adapted to extend to form the structure for enabling the device to be hung on the elongated element, said opening being above top edges of the remaining panel(s) so that when the device is hanging on the elongated element the elongated element extends only through said opening.