Abstract:
A display system for displaying retail products which includes a display board and at least one package One of the display board and package includes a peg engageable in a keyhole-shaped slot in the other of the display board and package. The package is formed from a blank which includes a plurality of fold lines and tabs. The product is placed on the blank and the blank is folded around the product. Tabs are secured together to lock the package in place. The display board includes at least one hole near its uppermost edge to hang it from a display in a retail environment.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Technical Field 
   This invention generally relates to retail display and packaging systems. More particularly, the invention relates to a display and packaging system that include a cooperative peg and keyhole slot on the package and display board. Specifically, the invention relates to a display system that includes a cardboard blank which is folded directly around the product during manufacture to form a package which is then engaged with a display board. 
   2. Background Information 
   A wide variety of display systems have been provided in the retail sector for displaying various products to potential consumers. Retailers have frequently used display boards in the form of clip strips or clip sheets for displaying products that are too small to place on shelves or that are seasonal in nature. The strips or sheets are hung on other product displays or on shelf supports so that they do not take up valuable shelf space. These clip strips and sheets are typically manufactured from a lightweight plastic that has been die-cut to produce a plurality of upwardly extending pegs that are each flanked by two downwardly extending legs. The products for display need to be mounted onto a cardboard backing sheet that includes an hole toward its upper end. The peg of the clip strip is inserted through the hole and the legs engage over a portion of the uppermost end of the cardboard backing sheet. In this manner the product is attached to the clip strip or sheet. The attachment of the products onto the clip strip or sheet is a labor intensive operation inasmuch as every single product has to manually be mounted onto a peg on a clip strip. Once the products are mounted onto the clip strips or sheets, they are packaged and sent to the retailer. During transit, the products tend to become disengaged from the pegs. It is not uncommon for retailers to find that around 50% of the products have become detached from the clip sheets or strips. It is then up to the retailer to reinstall the products onto the strips. The clip strips or sheets are then hung onto the displays or shelf supports so that consumers can see them. 
   Apart from the disengagement of the products from previously known display boards during shipping, these products have also had other disadvantages for the retailer. The first of these is that a fairly limited number of products may be displayed on any one clip strip or sheet. Secondly, when consumers remove the products from the clip strips, they may accidentally disengage other products from the strip. Once a peg has been used, it tends to become slightly deformed and consequently if a consumer attempts to reattach products onto the clip strip, they tend to fall off again. After a few attempts the consumer is likely to give up and place the product on another shelf. This leaves the retailer with the problem of not having products adequately on display in the store and having to repeatedly reattach products onto the strips or sheets. Even if the products remain on the sheets, the displays tend to be messy in appearance. This does not enhance the aesthetic appeal of the clip strip display and does not aid in selling the product. 
   Several devices have been developed to address these problems. These devices have included metal rods with metal clamps mounted on them or thin metal strips with upwardly extending metal hooks. In some instances, like the device with metal clamps, the problem of products disengaging during shipping have been greatly reduced. The devices are, however, far more expensive to manufacture and still require the manual installation of products. 
   It is common in the art to package products in boxes for both shipping and display purposes. A typical packaging process requires several steps, including cutting out blanks for a box, assembling a box from the blank, placing the product into the box, sealing the box and then shipping the same to the retailer. The more steps involved in the process, the more expensive the process becomes. 
   There is therefore still a need in the art for an inexpensive system for both packaging and displaying products. 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide a system for packaging that includes building the package or box directly around the product. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a system for displaying the package that allows for easy and rapid engagement between the assembled package and cooperative display card. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrative of the best mode in which applicant has contemplated applying the principles, is set forth in the following description and is shown in the drawings and is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the display system in accordance with the present invention showing the display board and the packages for engagement thereon; 
       FIG. 2  is a front view of a display board; 
       FIG. 3  is a cut-away rear view of a plurality of packages engaged on the display board; 
       FIG. 4  is a partial cross-sectional side view of the package and display board prior to engagement; 
       FIG. 5  is a partial cross-sectional side view of the package when the peg from the display board is initially inserted into the slot on the package; 
       FIG. 6  is a partial cross-sectional side view of the package fully engaged with the display board; 
       FIG. 7  is a close up of the peg from the display board fully engaged in the slot in the package; 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the package in the unfolded state; 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the package showing the product being positioned onto the blank prior to folding; 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the package showing the sides of the blank being folded around the product; 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the package showing the progressive folding of the blank to cover the back of the product; 
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the package showing the progressive folding of the blank to partially cover the top of the product; 
       FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the package showing the folding down of the back flap of the blank; and 
       FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a display system in accordance with the present invention showing the display board and the packages for engagement thereon; 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1–7 , there is shown a display system for retail packaging in accordance with the present invention, which system is generally referred to by the number  10 . Display system  10  includes a display board  12  and at least one package  14  for holding products  100  for sale. Display board  12  includes at least one hole holes  216  proximate its upper edge  18  which allows it to be hung from a hook or similar device (not shown) of a retail merchandising rack. 
   Display board  12  is preferably molded from a rigid plastic but any other suitable material may be utilized for this purpose. Board  12  has an upper edge  18 , side edges  20 , bottom edge  22 , front surface  24  and back surface  26 . A plurality of package-engaging pegs or buttons  28  are disposed on front surface  24 . Buttons  28  extend outwardly from front surface  24  and each button includes a head piece  30  and a shaft  32 . As may be most clearly seen from  FIGS. 4–7  buttons  28  are preferably integrally formed with front surface  24 . Head piece  30  has a greater diameter than does shaft  32 . Alternatively, a peg may be inserted through display board  12  so that the button  28  is disposed proximate the front surface  24  of board  12 . While head piece  30  is shown as being circular in shape, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that any shape head piece may be utilized, such as a square, without departing from the scope of the present invention. Similarly, while shaft  32  is shown as being cylindrical, it can of course be manufactured with any cross-sectional shape, such as a square cross section. However, the width of shaft  32  should be smaller than the width of head piece  30 . 
   Package  14  is adapted to hold a product  100  therein. While any product may be held inside package  14 , the product shown in the attached figures is a plurality of adhesive tape dispensers. Referring to  FIGS. 4–8  it will be seen that package  14  is made up from a cardboard blank, generally referred to by the number  34 . Blank  34  has a plurality of sections that are interposed with fold lines. When blank  34  is folded around product  100 , a generally cubic-shaped package  14  is formed. Package  14  has an interior cavity  36  in which product  100  is contained. 
   Referring to  FIG. 8 , blank  34  has a base  38 , a rear  40 , a first side  42  and a second side  44 . Base  38  and rear  40  are generally square-shaped. Base  38  is disposed intermediate first side  42  and second side  44  and side fold lines  46  are disposed between base  38  and each of first and second side  42 ,  44 . A first tab  48  extends from first side  42  and a rear fold line  50  is disposed therebetween. First side  42  includes a curved side wall  52  and a second tab  54  extends therefrom Second tab  54  is foldable about a first side fold line  56 . First side  42  further includes a second side fold line  58  and a third tab  60  extends therefrom. A fourth tab  62  extends from second side  44  and a rear fold line  64  is disposed therebetween. Second side  44  also includes a curved side wall  66  and a fifth tab  68  extends therefrom. A third fold line  70  is disposed between the fifth tab  68  and second side  44 . A sixth tab  72  extends from second side  44  and a fourth fold line  74  is disposed therebetween. Rear  40  extends from sixth tab  72  and a front fold line  76  is disposed therebetween. A seventh tab  78  extends from rear  40  and a rear fold line  80  is disposed therebetween. 
   In accordance with the invention, rear  40  defines a keyhole-shaped slot therein, said keyhole slot being generally referred to by the number  82 . Keyhole slot  82  includes a rounded area  84  integrally formed with a slotted area  86 . While area  84  is disclosed as being rounded, it may be configured to any other shape suitable to receive button  28  therethrough. For example, if head piece  30  of button  28  is square in shape, area  84  could similarly be square in shape. Area  84  is configured to be slightly larger than head piece  30  and slotted area  86  is configured to be slightly wider than shaft  32 . The width of area  84  is greater than the width of slotted area  86 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 8–13 , when blank  34  is to be folded around product  100 , product  100  is lowered onto base  38  in the direction of Arrow E ( FIG. 9 ). Referring to  FIG. 10 , first and second sides  42 ,  44  are folded upwardly into contact with the side walls  88  of product  100  and second and third tabs  54 ,  60  are folded inwardly over product  100 . First tab  48  and fourth tab  62  are folded inwardly to contact rear surfaces  90  of product  100  ( FIG. 11 ). Fifth tab  68  and sixth tab  72  are folded inwardly over product  100  and tabs  68 ,  72  cover second tab  54  and third tab  60  ( FIG. 12 ). A small quantity of adhesive (not shown) is applied to one of second and fifth tabs  54 ,  68  to bond them together. Similarly, a small quantity of adhesive (not shown) is applied to one of third and sixth tabs  60 ,  72  to bond them together. Rear  40  is folded downwardly and inwardly over rear surfaces  90  and first and fourth tabs  48 ,  62  ( FIG. 13 ) and seventh tab  78  is then tucked into cavity  36  (shown in  FIG. 4 ) so that seventh tab  78  lies in contact with the inner surface  38   a  of base  38 . As may be seen from  FIG. 13 , when first and fourth tabs  48 ,  62  are folded over rear surfaces  90 , their ends are disposed a spaced distance apart from each other so that slotted area  86  is not obstructed. As may be seen from  FIGS. 1 and 4 , when blank  34  is folded around product  100  to form package  14 , two windows  102 ,  104  are formed in package  14 . Windows  102 ,  104  allow consumers to view a part of the product  100  held within package  14 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 4–7  when it is desired to place package  14  onto display board  12 , rear  40  of package  14  is moved in the direction of Arrow A and is brought into proximity with front surface  24  of display board  12 . Rounded area  84  is brought into the proximity of head piece  30  of button  28 . Package  14  is pushed into contact with front surface  24  so that head piece  30  is received through rounded area  84 . In this position, head piece  30  lies between the interior surface  96  of rear  40  and the rear surface  90  of product  100 . Package  14  is then moved downwardly in the direction of Arrow C. This relative movement causes the rounded area  84  and then slotted area  86  to move downwardly with respect to head piece  30  and shaft  32 . At this point, head piece  30  cannot be easily removed from slotted area  86  because the width of head piece  30  is greater than the width of slotted area  86 . The downward movement of package  14  is continued until shaft  32  abuts the end  98  of slotted area  86 . Package  14  is then suspended from display board  12 . 
   When a user desires to remove a package  14  from display board  12 , the process is simply reversed. The package  14  is grasped and moved upwardly in the direction of Arrow D ( FIGS. 5&amp;6 ). This causes the shaft  32  to move out of engagement with end  98  of slotted area. The upward movement continues until head piece  30  lies in proximity of rounded area  84 . Package  14  is then moved in the direction of Arrow B ( FIG. 4 ) until head piece  30  slips out of rounded area  84 . Package  14  is then freed from display board  12 . If the consumer decides not to purchase the product  100 , the can quickly and easily replace the package  14  back onto the display board  12  by reinserting the head piece  30  into rounded area and allowing the package to move downwardly in the direction of Arrow C. 
   While it has been disclosed that the pegs or buttons  30  are disposed on display board  12  and the keyhole slots  82  are disposed on the packages  14 , it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the pegs  30  could be disposed on the packages  14  and the keyhole slots  82  could be formed on display boards  12 , without departing from the spirit of the present invention. This second embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIG. 14 , where packages  214  have a button  230  formed on rear side  240  thereof; and display board  212  includes a plurality of keyhole slots  282 . As with the previous embodiment, the packages  214  of products  200  are secured to display board  212  by engaging buttons  230  in keyhole slots  282 . Keyhole slots are oriented so as to allow packages  214  to held on display board  212  by gravity. Display board  212  may be hung from a display unit (not shown) by inserting hooks (not shown) through holes  216  in board  212 . 
   In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. 
   Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.