Abstract:
A point of purchase display includes a card stock having a number of slots therein, the slots being covered by a flap portion that is hinged at the bottom. Inserting of a right angle device through a slot perforates the material initially holding the flap in place and allows the flap to provide a hinge-like function that may be cooperative with the right angle device to retain it with desired retention characteristics. A method for displaying a right angle device in a point of purchase display. Another embodiment of point of purchase display has a slot and a shoulder in card stock material which cooperate with the right angle device to retain it and the card stock material as a unit for displaying.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0001]    This invention relates, generally, as indicated, to point of purchase displays and, more particularly, to display cards for mounting relative to an object for display for sale or the like.  
         BACKGROUND  
         [0002]    There are various types of display devices, some of which are known as point of purchase display. It is difficult to design a point of purchase display for displaying clearly and efficiently the device being displayed for sale when that device is relatively cumbersome, rigid, or has a relatively large size in one or more directions and/or directions while being relatively small or thin in other dimensions.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0003]    Briefly, according to one aspect of the present invention, a point of purchase display includes a card-like device of adequate rigidity to retain its shape absent an input, such as a bending, folding or like force, and a number of slot-like openings in the card-like device of a size, shape and placement to receive an elongate member having a given thickness and width accommodated by the slot-like openings.  
           [0004]    According to another aspect, a point of purchase display includes a card-like device of adequate rigidity to retain its shape absent an input, such as a bending, folding or like force, and a number of slot-like openings in the card-like device of a size, shape and placement to receive an elongate member having a given thickness and width accommodated by the slot-like openings, and a foldable portion of the card-like device foldable to at least partly fill a respective slot-like opening and having adequate resiliency when unfolded to maintain some degree of engagement with an elongate member in the slot-like opening.  
           [0005]    A method of displaying right-angle devices that have two legs oriented at generally right angles relative to each other, comprising  
           [0006]    inserting one leg through a slot-like opening in a card-like device that has a number of slot-like openings in vertically spaced apart relation,  
           [0007]    allowing the other leg of the right-angle device to extend outward from the card-like device, and  
           [0008]    allowing overlap of the one leg of each of two right-angle devices partly to overlap each other to urge each other to maintain a relatively stable relation to the card-like device and to each other while mounted in the card-like device.  
           [0009]    A method of displaying right-angle devices that have two legs oriented at generally right angles relative to each other, comprising  
           [0010]    inserting one leg through a slot-like opening in a card-like device that has a number of slot-like openings in vertically spaced apart relation,  
           [0011]    allowing the other leg of the right-angle device to extend outward from the card-like device, and  
           [0012]    using a folded flap-like portion of card-like device material to engage at least a portion of one of the legs of a right-angle device to help retain it in position relative to the card-like device.  
           [0013]    A point of purchase display for a right angle device that has two legs oriented at relatively right angles to each other and an opening in one of the legs, comprising  
           [0014]    a card having a main body,  
           [0015]    notch in the main body for fitting within the opening in one of the legs such that at least part fo the card engages part of the material of the leg,  
           [0016]    and a slot in the main body for receiving part of the other.  
           [0017]    To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims. The following description and the annexed drawings set forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention. These embodiments are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed. Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the drawings.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]    In the annexed drawings:  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 1 is front view of a point of purchase display embodying the invention;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the display of FIG. 1—the view from both sides is the same or nearly the same;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 3 is a top view of the display of FIG. 1—the view from both the top and the bottom are the same or nearly the same;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 4 is a front view of the display of FIG. 1 with right angle devices positioned therein;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 5 is a side view of the display of FIG. 1 with the right angle devices positioned therein;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 6 is a back view of the display of FIG. 1 with the right angle devices positioned therein;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 7 is an isometric view of an exemplary right-angle device used in the point of purchase displays of the invention; and  
         [0026]    [0026]FIGS. 8, 9 and  10  are, respectively, front, end and schematic isometric, partly in section, of another embodiment of point of purchase display embodying the invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION  
       [0027]    Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like parts in the several figures, and initially to FIGS.  1 - 3 , a point of purchase display  10  is illustrated. The display  10  is made of sheet material, such as cardboard stock, that tends to retain its shape unless deformed, bent or folded by adequate force applied thereto. The display can be made of other materials, if desired, although cardboard is quite convenient and reasonably priced. The display  10 , therefore, may be considered a card-like device.  
         [0028]    As is illustrated in the drawings, the display  10  is relatively longer than it is wide. The display  10  has a number of slot-like openings  11  that are able to be formed therein. More particularly, the slot-like openings  11  include a portion  12  of the cardboard stock that are outlined or designated by perforations  13 , which can be of frangible (breakable) material portions. The frangible perforations  13  may be made by stamping through part or portions of the cardboard stock. A bottom portion  14  of each slot-like opening  11  may serve as a hinge to allow a portion of the cardboard stock material to be bent about the hinge to form a flap  15 . The hinge  14  is in effect a living hinge in that the amount of material that has to bend to provide a suitable large opening or suitably shaped opening  11  to accommodate a right-angle device or other device intended for insertion in the opening  11 . Other types of hinges may be used, although the illustrated living hinge is convenient, functional and relatively inexpensive in that no additional parts are necessary-the perforations  13  can be broken and the flap  15  can be folded down.  
         [0029]    For convenience of reference the display  10  has a front  16  and a back  17 , and it also has a top  18  and a bottom  19 . An opening  18   a  in the top  18  of the display  10  is provided to facilitate suspending the display  10  from a rack, pin, etc.  
         [0030]    An example of a right-angle device  20  is illustrated in FIGS.  4 - 7 ; in FIGS.  4 - 6  the right angle device  20  is mounted in the point of purchase display  10 . As can be seen, the right-angle device has a pair of legs  21 ,  22  that extend generally at right angles to each other. The precise angular relation is not critical. The legs  21 ,  22  are of relatively thin gage material; but they have some width and some length extent. One leg  21  is relatively smooth or straight, although, if desired, it could have some other shape characteristics to it. Relative to the display  10 , the leg  21  may extend generally in parallel with and adjacent to the back  17 . Leg  22  extends outwardly somewhat perpendicularly with respect to the front  16  of the display. The slot-like openings  11  may be spaced relative to each other such that the leg  21  of each of two right-angle devices  20  extend in parallel somewhat overlapping relation while the legs  22  thereof remain extending outward from the front  16  of the display  10 . Accordingly, such overlapping legs  21  tend to cooperate with each other to tend to maintain orientation of the legs  22  as the display  10  is moved somewhat while suspended from a rack, support or the like and even while the display  10  is moved from place to place and becomes briefly oriented in other than an upright relation such that the top  18  is above or higher than the bottom  19 .  
         [0031]    In use of the display  10 , a number of right angle devices can be inserted into respective slot-like openings  11 . The end of a given leg  21  may be pressed against a flap portion  15  of the cardboard stock of the display  10  so as to break the perforations  13 , if this is the initial insertion of an object into the display or not break the perforations if they already are broken, and allow the flap  15  to bend about the hinge  14 , if the first time for using the display. If there are no perforations, then there would be no need to break them; and, accordingly, the leg could simply be inserted from the front  16  of the display  10  through a slot-like opening  11  toward the back  17  and then manipulated so as to extend generally in parallel to the back  17 .  
         [0032]    The folded flap  15  may tend to function to urge the right-angle device  20  to a given orientation, this under cooperative relation of the hinge  14 . If the right-angle device  20  is inserted from the front  16  tending to urge the flap toward the back  17 , then the flap tends to urge the legs  21  away from the back  17  and the legs  22  in a slightly downward tilted direction. However, if the right-angle devices  20  are inserted into the openings leg  22  first such that the flap  15  tends to fold forward of the front  16  of the display  10 , then the flap tends to urge the leg  22  more straight out or perpendicularly to the front of the display  10 . In this latter case the top edge of the flap tends to engage the underside of at least part of the leg  22  and to firm up the support thereof.  
         [0033]    In using the invention a right-angle device can be inserted into one of the slot-like openings and retained therein for display for possible sale. A customer may withdraw the right-angle device from the slot-like opening to purchase the right-angle device.  
         [0034]    According to another method of the invention for displaying right-angle devices that have two legs oriented at generally right angles relative to each other, one leg is inserted through a slot-like opening in a card-like device that has a number of slot-like openings in vertically spaced apart relation, the other leg of the right-angle device is allowed to extend outward from the card-like device, and an overlap is provided for one leg of each of two right-angle devices partly to overlap each other to urge each other to maintain a relatively stable relation to the card-like device and to each other while mounted in the card-like device.  
         [0035]    According to another method of displaying right-angle devices that have two legs oriented at generally right angles relative to each other, includes inserting one leg through a slot-like opening in a card-like device that has a number of slot-like openings in vertically spaced apart relation, allowing the other leg of the right-angle device to extend outward from the card-like device, and using a folded flap-like portion of card-like device material to engage at least a portion of one of the legs of a right-angle device to help retain it in position relative to the card-like device.  
         [0036]    According to the above methods, the right-angle device  20  can be inserted from the back  17  of the display  10  whereby the flap  15  tends to provide support for the right-angle device; or from the front  16  to allow more flexibility, as was described above.  
         [0037]    Turning to FIG. 7, an exemplary right-angle device  20  is illustrated. It has back or vertical leg  21  and front or horizontal leg  22 . In the horizontal leg  22  is an opening  30 , and at the edge of the front leg is a flange  31 . The leg  22  and its opening  30  are designed to retain a water bottle or some other bottle or device therein while the vertical leg  21  is placed in a person&#39;s belt, pants, skirt, or the like to facilitate carrying the bottle or the like on the person. Reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 6,394,329 where such a right-angle device  20  is disclosed. The entire disclosure of such patent is incorporated by reference.  
         [0038]    It will be appreciated that other types of right angle devices also may be used in connection with the display  10  of the invention and/or in combination with the display as a combination invention.  
         [0039]    As is illustrated at  40  in FIG. 1, for example, information may be provided on the display to illustrate or to convey how to use or the various ways to use the right-angle device. One example at  40  shows a runner or walker, and this indicates that the right-angle device could be worn in the belt of a person to carry a water bottle or sports drink while exercising, going for a walk, etc. Other illustrations and information also could be printed or otherwise formed on the sheet material of the display  10  to illustrate and to convey relevant information regarding use of the right-angle device  20 .  
         [0040]    Briefly turning to FIG. 8, another point of purchase display  40  is illustrated. The display  50  includes a sheet material, such as cardboard stock  51 . The sheet material  51  has a slot  52  across the face thereof and has a notch or shoulder  53  with overlapping portions  54 ,  55  of sheet material. The slot  52  is sized and shaped to receive the leg  21  of the right-angle device  20  or some other such device. The notch or shoulder  53  is of a size and shape to fit withing the opening  30  of the leg  22 , while the overlapping portions  54 ,  55  of the sheet material  51  are positioned relative to the top and bottom of the leg  22 , as shown, to cooperate with such leg to retain the sheet material and the leg  22  together. Moreover, with a portion of the leg  21  extending through the slot  52 , as shown, and, thus cooperating with the sheet material  51 , and the shoulder or notch  53  cooperating with the leg  22 , the display  50  and right-angle device  20  are retained as a unit. The display  50  may include printing or the like thereon to advertise the right-angle device and use thereof.  
         [0041]    While particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, it is understood that the invention is not limited correspondingly in scope, but includes all changes, modifications and equivalents coming within the spirit and terms of the claims appended hereto.