The present disclosure relates generally to point-of-purchase (POP) displays and, more particularly, to POP displays having components fabricated from re-pulpable and/or recyclable materials as an alternative to non-recyclable materials.
A POP display is a marketing tool used by retailers to showcase and promote products at the point where customers make their purchase decisions. These displays are typically located near the checkout counters or in other high-traffic areas of the store. In recent years, there has been a growing concern about the environmental impact of components of POP displays made of non-recyclable materials, such as plastic hooks. Plastic waste is a contributor to environmental pollution and may have negative impacts on wildlife, ecosystems, and human health. Despite these concerns, many retailers continue to use POP displays with plastic components because of their low cost and durability. However, there is growing interest among consumers and retailers to transition to more sustainable materials, such as recycled plastics or biodegradable materials.
In one aspect of the present disclosure, a POP display for hanging packages is disclosed. The POP display may include a backboard fabricated from a re-pulpable material, wherein the backboard has a front surface, a rear surface opposite the front surface, and a mounting area with a lower slot extending through the backboard from the front surface to the rear surface and with an upper slot disposed above the lower slot and extending through the backboard from the front surface to the rear surface. The POP display may further include a hanger assembly having a display rod fabricated from a re-pulpable material and having a mounting end and a dispensing end opposite the mounting end, and a mounting bracket fabricated from a re-pulpable material and having a horizontal bracket flange, a vertical bracket flange, and a first flange bend defining a transition between the horizontal bracket flange and the vertical bracket flange, wherein a rod aperture is formed through the vertical bracket flange proximate the first flange bend. The vertical bracket flange may be inserted through the upper slot from the rear surface to the front surface and the horizontal bracket flange may be inserted through the lower slot from the rear surface to the front surface, and the mounting end of the display rod may be inserted through the lower slot from the front surface to the rear surface and into the rod aperture so that the dispensing end of the display rod is disposed distal to the backboard.
In another aspect of the present disclosure, a hanger assembly for a POP display for hanging packages is disclosed. The backboard may have a front surface, a rear surface opposite the front surface, and a mounting area with a lower slot extending through the backboard from the front surface to the rear surface and with an upper slot disposed above the lower slot and extending through the backboard from the front surface to the rear surface. The hanger assembly may include a display rod fabricated from a re-pulpable material and having a mounting end and a dispensing end opposite the mounting end, and a mounting bracket fabricated from a re-pulpable material and having a horizontal bracket flange, a vertical bracket flange, and a first flange bend defining a transition between the horizontal bracket flange and the vertical bracket flange, wherein a rod aperture may be formed through the vertical bracket flange proximate the first flange bend. The vertical bracket flange may be inserted through the upper slot from the rear surface to the front surface and the horizontal bracket flange may be inserted through the lower slot from the rear surface to the front surface, and the mounting end of the display rod may be inserted through the lower slot from the front surface to the rear surface and into the rod aperture so that the dispensing end of the display rod is disposed distal to the backboard.
In a further aspect of the present disclosure, a POP display for hanging packages is disclosed. The POP display may include a backboard having a front surface, a rear surface opposite the front surface, and a mounting area with a lower slot extending through the backboard from the front surface to the rear surface. The POP display may further include a hanger assembly having a display rod having a mounting end and a dispensing end opposite the mounting end, and a mounting bracket having a horizontal bracket flange, a vertical bracket flange, and a first flange bend defining a transition between the horizontal bracket flange and the vertical bracket flange, wherein a rod aperture is formed through the vertical bracket flange proximate the first flange bend. The horizontal bracket flange may be inserted through the lower slot from the rear surface to the front surface, and the mounting end of the display rod may be inserted through the lower slot from the front surface to the rear surface and into the rod aperture so that the dispensing end of the display rod is disposed distal to the backboard.
Additional aspects are defined by the claims of this patent.
The hanger assemblies 18 may have a multi-piece construction as shown in
The mounting bracket 24 may similarly be fabricated from layered paperboard, cardstock or other re-pulpable material. An exemplary mounting bracket 24 is illustrated in the enlarged view of
The mounting bracket 24 may also include a rod aperture 40 through the vertical bracket flange 28 proximate the first flange bend 30. The rod aperture 40 may be sized and shaped to receive and engage a mounting end 42 of the corresponding display rod 22 of the hanger assembly 18 with a dispensing end 44 of the display rod 22 disposed distally from the mounting bracket 24.
The backboard 14 as shown is configured for mounting of the hanger assemblies 18 thereto.
Installation of a hanger assembly 18 at a mounting area 50 of the backboard 14 may begin with the upper edge 54 and the upper vertical portion 34 of the mounting bracket 24 being inserted from the rear surface of the backboard 14 through the upper slot 52. With the upper vertical portion 34 inserted, the front edge 38 and the horizontal bracket flange 26 may be pressed through the lower flange slot 58 and cause the lower flange flap 62 to rotate forward about the lower flange slot score line 64. Resiliency of the material of the backboard 14 will tend to rotate the lower flange flap 62 back toward the lower flange slot 58, and thereby apply force to the horizontal bracket flange 26 and create friction and some resistive force against the horizontal bracket flange 26 sliding backward out of the lower flange slot 58. With the mounting bracket 24 installed, the mounting end 42 of the display rod 22 may be pressed through the display rod slot 66 from the front surface of the backboard 14 and into the rod aperture 40 of the mounting bracket 24. The mounting end 42 of the display rod 22 may cause the display rod flap 70 to rotate rearward about the display rod slot score line 72, with the display rod flap 70 creating friction and some resistive force against the display rod 22 sliding forward out of the display rod slot 66. The display rod 22 and the rod aperture 40 may be sized and shaped so that the display rod 22 may be press fit into the rod aperture 40 and retained therein by friction sufficient to prevent the display rod 22 from being easily pulled out of the rod aperture 40. If necessary, adhesive, clips, tacks, brads or other fastening mechanisms may be used to secure the display rod 22 to the mounting bracket 24.
With the hanger assembly 18 mounted on the backboard 14, multiple hanging packages 12 of the product may be loaded onto the hanger assembly 18 by sliding the sombrero holes 20 of the hanging packages 12 over the dispensing end 44 of the display rod 22. The display rod 22 functions as a cantilever that is mounted to the vertical bracket flange 28 and supported by the horizontal bracket flange 26. The weight of the hanging packages 12 will press the vertical bracket flange 28 into the rear surface of the backboard 14 to support the hanging packages 12 and prevent the display rod 22 from rotating downward.
Those skilled in the art will understand that the angle between the horizontal bracket flange 26 and the vertical bracket flange 28 formed at the first flange bend 30 may be varied to orient the display rod 22 such that the hanging packages 12 will not slide off the display rod 22. In some implementations, the angle between the bracket flanges 26, 28 may be set so that the display rod 22 extends approximately horizontally or slightly upward from the backboard 14. In other implementations, the bracket flanges 26, 28 may be configured such that the display rod 22 is angled upward as the display rod 22 extends from the backboard 14 so that gravity will tend to slide the hanging packages 12 toward the backboard 14. In still further implementations, it may be desired to have the display rod 22 angled downward so that gravity may cause the hanging packages 12 to feed away from the backboard 14 and toward the dispensing end 44 of the display rod 22. In such implementations, the bracket flanges 26, 28 are configured with a greater angle therebetween so that the horizontal bracket flange 26 is angled downward. To prevent the hanging packages 12 from freely sliding off the display rod 22, a package retention notch 80 as shown in
As shown in
With the hanger assembly 112 mounted on the backboard 14, multiple hanging packages 12 of the product may be loaded onto the hanger assembly 112 by sliding the sombrero holes 20 of the hanging packages 12 over the dispensing end 44 of the display rod 22. The display rod 22 functions as a cantilever that is mounted to the vertical bracket flange 118 and supported by the horizontal bracket flange 116. The weight of the hanging packages 12 will press the vertical bracket flange 118 into the rear surface of the backboard 14 to support the hanging packages 12 and prevent the display rod 22 from rotating downward. The angle between the horizontal bracket flange 116 and the vertical bracket flange 118 formed at the flange bend 120 may be varied to orient the display rod 22 approximately horizontal, or angled upward or downward in a similar manner as described above for the hanger assembly 18 depending on the requirements for a particular implementation of the POP display 110. When the display rod 22 is angled downward, the package retention notch 80 may be provided in the display rod 22 to prevent the hanging packages 12 from sliding off the display rod 22.
The POP displays 10, 100, 110 in accordance with the present disclosure are fabricated from sustainable materials that may be re-pulpable for use in future paper products. The design is intended to be versatile and adaptable to a wide range of products, and it is also intended to be easy to assemble and disassemble. Overall, the present disclosure seeks to provide a sustainable alternative to traditional POP displays incorporating plastic hangers and other non-recyclable components, while still offering the same marketing benefits for retailers and visibility for products. By using recyclable, re-pulpable or biodegradable materials, the entire POP displays 10, 100, 110 can be tossed in a recycle bin after use without the necessity of picking out non-recyclable components such as the plastic pegs use with previously known POP displays, thereby reducing the environmental impact of the retail marketing devices.
While the preceding text sets forth a detailed description of numerous different embodiments, it should be understood that the legal scope of protection is defined by the words of the claims set forth at the end of this patent. The detailed description is to be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possible embodiment since describing every possible embodiment would be impractical, if not impossible. Numerous alternative embodiments could be implemented, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this patent, which would still fall within the scope of the claims defining the scope of protection.
It should also be understood that, unless a term was expressly defined herein, there is no intent to limit the meaning of that term, either expressly or by implication, beyond its plain or ordinary meaning, and such term should not be interpreted to be limited in scope based on any statement made in any section of this patent (other than the language of the claims). To the extent that any term recited in the claims at the end of this patent is referred to herein in a manner consistent with a single meaning, that is done for sake of clarity only so as to not confuse the reader, and it is not intended that such claim term be limited, by implication or otherwise, to that single meaning.
This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/492,699 filed Jun. 12, 2023, which is incorporated by reference herein.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63492699 | Jun 2023 | US |