Abstract:
The present invention relates to a device for holding and facilitating the unloading therefrom of packaged merchandise onto a display peg. More particularly, the device includes a substantially rigid member for holding a group of packages together. The member has opposing ends and is sized and shaped so as to pass through hanging holes provided in the packages. The member also has a generally uniform cross-section along its entire axial length and includes an opening extending through the member between the opposing ends. The opening is provided with a size which is substantially greater than a cross-sectional area of the display peg so as to facilitate the insertion of the display peg into the opening through one of the opposing ends for permitting the packages to be placed onto the display peg with the aid of the member. The present invention also relates to a method for loading the packages onto the display peg using the device.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/903,506, filed Jul. 30, 2004, which claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/492,128, filed Aug. 1, 2003, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to devices for displaying packaged merchandise and, more particularly, to devices for loading packaged merchandise onto pegboard displays.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Pegboard displays have been popular in the retail industry for displaying lightweight merchandise. Typically, merchandise packages are loaded individually onto pegboard displays. As a result, the conventional loading method is inefficient and time-consuming. Given the narrow profit margin on which most retail outlets operate, cost saving in this activity is desirable.  
         [0004]     A recent solution to the problem mentioned above has been the “power panel”. The “power panel” is a ready made package of a number of loaded pegs in a box, which is simply hung up on a shelf wall. This displaying method has disadvantages in that it is expensive and does not provide means of recharge if there is a substantial difference in the sale of different items in the panel.  
         [0005]     Various devices have also been developed for facilitating the loading of merchandise onto a display peg. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 4,143,772 discloses a device having a plug which connects by a cord through a rear hole of a cup-shaped coupler. The plug and coupler can be joined together to form a loop that holds merchandise. The coupler can be separated from the plug and connected to the end of a display peg, so that the merchandise can slide onto the peg. Because the device needs to be uncoupled prior to the loading of the merchandise onto a display peg, the merchandise loading process is made rather complicated and/or inefficient.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The present invention overcomes the disadvantages and shortcomings of the prior art discussed above by providing a new and improved device for holding and facilitating the unloading therefrom of packaged merchandise onto a display peg. More particularly, the device includes a substantially rigid member for holding a group of packages together. The member has opposing ends and is sized and shaped so as to pass through hanging holes provided in the packages. The member also has a generally uniform cross-section substantially along its entire axial length and includes an opening extending through the member between the opposing ends. The opening is provided with a size which is substantially greater than a cross-sectional area of the display peg so as to facilitate the insertion of the display peg into the opening through one of the opposing ends for permitting the packages to be placed onto the display peg with the aid of the member.  
         [0007]     The present invention also relates to a method for loading packaged merchandise onto a display peg using a loading device having a substantially rigid member. More particularly, the member includes opposing ends, as well as generally uniform cross-section substantially along its entire length. The member has an opening extending through the member between the opposing ends. The opening of the member has a size which is substantially greater than a cross-sectional area of the display peg so as to facilitate the insertion of the display peg into the opening. The method includes the steps of passing the member through hanging holes provided in packages and inserting the display peg into the opening of the member through one of the opposing ends such that the display peg passes through the hanging holes of the packages. The member is then removed from the hanging holes of the packages such that the packages are loaded onto the display peg.  
         [0008]     When constructed in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the loading device includes at least one, but preferably two, sets of flares. Each flare set is formed at one of the two opposing ends of the substantially rigid member, such that the flare(s) of the first flare set extend from the member at one of the opposing ends thereof and the flare(s) of the second flare set extend from the member at another one of the opposing ends. The flares of the first flare set and the second flare set are foldable with respect to the substantially rigid member and are preferably formed monolithically therewith. The loading device may be positioned within a box for transport. The box has, for example, a bottom and a top and the member is positioned to extend between the bottom and the top. The flares are positioned at a normal angle with respect to the planar panels, such that the flares may be positioned flush against two opposing ends of the box.  
         [0009]     The present invention also relates to a method for loading packaged merchandise onto a display peg using a loading device that includes a substantially rigid member and at least one, but preferably two, flare sets. More particularly, the member includes opposing ends, as well as generally uniform cross-section substantially along its entire length. The member has an opening extending through the member between the opposing ends. The opening of the member has a size which is substantially greater than a cross-sectional area of the display peg so as to facilitate the insertion of the display peg into the opening. The member is formed from planar Each flare set is formed at one of two opposing ends of the substantially rigid member, such that the flare(s) of the first flare set extend from the member at one of the opposing ends thereof, and the flare(s) of the second flare set extend from the member at another one of the opposing ends thereof. The flares of the first flare set and the second flare set are foldable with respect to the substantially rigid member. The method includes the steps of passing the member through hanging holes provided in packages, inserting the display peg into the opening of the member through one of the opposing ends such that the display peg partially passes through the hanging holes of the packages, folding the flares of a flare set toward one another, and pushing the packages from the member over said flare set onto the display peg. The member is then removed from the hanging holes of the packages. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]     For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following detailed description of the present invention considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a peg hook loader according to the present invention which has been installed with packaged merchandise;  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a detailed perspective view of the peg hook loader of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the peg hook loader of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view of the peg hook loader of  FIG. 1  prior to mounting the peg hook loader onto a common peg hook;  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is a schematic view of the peg hook loader of  FIG. 1  which has been mounted on a peg hook with the packaged merchandise;  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view of the peg hook loader of  FIG. 1  which has been removed from the product, leaving the packaged merchandise mounted on the peg hook;  
         [0017]      FIG. 7  is a schematic view of a second peg hook loader according to the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 8  is a schematic view of a third peg hook loader according to the present invention that has a substantially rigid member and a pair of flare sets;  
         [0019]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the rigid member of  FIG. 8 ;  
         [0020]      FIG. 10  is a schematic view of the peg hook loader of  FIG. 8  prior to mounting the peg hook loader onto a peg hook having an extended peg hook tip;  
         [0021]      FIG. 11  is a schematic view of the peg hook loader of  FIG. 8 , which has been mounted on the extended peg hook tip with the packaged merchandise;  
         [0022]      FIG. 12  is a schematic cross-sectional view of the peg hook loader of  FIG. 8  positioned within a box;  
         [0023]      FIG. 13  is a schematic view of a flexible tab; and  
         [0024]      FIG. 14  is a schematic view of the peg hook loader of  FIG. 1  in combination with the flexible tab of  FIG. 13 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0025]      FIG. 1  illustrates a peg hook loader  2  according to the present invention that has been installed within a bundle  4  of products or packages  6  (i.e. packaged merchandise). Each product  6  is provided with a cardboard header tag  8  having a triangular opening (i.e., hanging hole)  10  therein. Other products  6  may be provided with hooks (not shown) to hang the products  6 . The products  6  are secured for transport within the bundle  4  by a paper tape  12  that is wrapped around the bundle  4 .  
         [0026]      FIGS. 2 and 3  provide views of the peg hook loader  2  in more detail. The peg hook loader  2  has a hollow member  14  with opposing open ends  16  and  18  and an open interior (i.e., an opening)  20 . Preferably, the hollow member  14  is sufficiently structured to support a product or bundle of products as the products are being placed on a peg with the peg hook loader  2 . The hollow member  14  is formed from a sheet of thin corrugated material that has been scored and folded so as to have a substantially uniform triangular cross-section (see  FIG. 3 ). A reinforcing strip  22  closes the hollow member  14  along one edge, providing the hollow member  14  with a closed cross-section, and provides additional structural strength to the hollow member  14 . The size of the hollow member  14  depends on design of the product  6  or product bundle  4  with which it is to be used. The outside dimensions of the cross-section are selected so that the hollow member  14  may be inserted through an opening or hook of the product which may then hang from the peg hook loader  2  (see  FIG. 1 ). The inside dimensions of the open ends  16  and  18  and the open interior  20  are selected so that the hollow member  14  may fit over a typical peg hook. The hollow member  14  has a length L which, preferably, is sufficient to pass through the openings or hooks of two or more products  6 . For instance, the open interior  20  of the hollow member  14  can have a size much greater than the cross-sectional area of a display peg hook so as to facilitate the insertion of same into the open interior  20 . Moreover, the hollow member  14  can be constructed such that its cross-section corresponds substantially, in shape and size, to the opening  10  of the package  6 .  
         [0027]     Still referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the hollow member  14  includes a plurality of substantially planar panels  19   a - 19   c  and a pair of fold lines  21   a,    21   b  which extend along in a generally axial direction. More particularly, the fold line  21   a  is formed between the panels  19   a,    19   b,  while the fold line  21   b  is formed between the panels  19   b,    19   c.  The panels  19   a,    19   c  include edges  23   a,    23   b,  respectively, which are juxtaposed with one another such that the cross-section of the hollow member  14  is substantially triangular.  
         [0028]      FIGS. 4-6  illustrate a preferred method of using the peg hook loader  2  to transfer the bundle  4  of products  6  to a peg hook  24 . Referring now to  FIG. 4 , the peg hook loader  2  is again shown installed within the bundle  4 . The peg hook  24  is a common peg hook typical of retail display devices. The peg hook loader  2 , with the associated bundle  4  is then placed over the peg hook tip  26  and slid along the body  28  of the peg hook  24 .  FIG. 5  shows the peg hooker loader  2  mounted on the peg hook  24  with the open interior  20  of the peg hook loader  2  surrounding the body  28  of the peg hook  24 . The peg hook loader  2  is then slid out of the openings  10  of the bundle  4 , leaving the bundle  4  of products  6  on the peg hook  24 . The products  6  can then be separated from each other by removing the paper tape  12 . As shown, the method of  FIGS. 4-6  provides a very simple way of transferring a product onto a retail display in numbers of 2-12 or greater, depending on the length L of the peg hook loader  2 .  
         [0029]     It should be appreciated that the present invention provides numerous advantages over the prior art discussed above. For instance, because the bundle  4  of products  6  is gathered together as a single assembly (i.e., triangular opening  10  of the products  6  are aligned and ganged together via paper tape  12 ) and then shipped to a retail outlet, loading of the bundle  4  onto the peg hook  24  can be achieved in a simple and efficient manner. That is, the peg hook tip  26  of the peg hook  24  is aligned with the triangular opening  10  of the products  6  and is then inserted therethrough in a substantially single motion or step. Moreover, because only the peg hook loader  2  is used for quick and easy loading of the products  6 , the present invention provides a cost-effective loading method.  
         [0030]     It should be noted that the present invention can have numerous modifications and variations. For example, the hollow member  14  may be of a flexible or semi-rigid construction, rather than being rigid. The hollow member  14  may be fabricated from a wide range of materials that will be known to persons having ordinary skill in the art, such at plastics, paperboard, thin metal sheet, and so forth. It also is not necessary for the hollow member  14  to have a triangular cross-section as shown in  FIG. 2 , but may have a cross-section having another shape, such as a circle or trapezoid, depending on the shape of the openings  10  of the bundled product  4 . The reinforcing strip  22  may be omitted or additional reinforcing strips may be provided as needed to provide structural support to the peg hook loader  2 . Moreover, the cross-section of the hollow member  14  does not need to have a closed shape, but may have an open shape such as a half circle, an arc or an inverted “V”, depending on the shape of the openings  10  and the amount of support needed to support and stabilize the individual products  6  within the bundle  4 . The products  6  may be secured within the bundle  4  by any of a number of known devices, such as plastic end caps or plastic tape with a light tack adhesive. Further, the peg hook loader  2  can be used in connection with many different types of packages or items, such as polybags, paper or cardboard headers or boxes.  
         [0031]      FIG. 7  presents a second embodiment of the peg hook loader  2  wherein the hollow member  14  has been flared at open end  16 . A flare such as flare  30  serves to prevent the peg hook loader  2  from becoming disengaged from the bundle  4  during shipping. In the embodiment of  FIG. 7 , the flare  30  was formed by folding the thin corrugated material of the hollow member  14  back upon itself such that it is monolithic with the hollow member  14 . The flare  30  can be easily straightened by applying a slight pressure to it, allowing the peg hook loader  2  to be removed from the bundle  4 . That is, the flare  30  can be movably affixed to one of the ends  16 ,  18  of the hollow member  14 . In other embodiments, both open ends  16  and  18  may be flared. The hollow member  14  may be fabricated, and its ends  16  and  18  may be flared, by any of a number of methods currently known in the art.  
         [0032]      FIGS. 8-12  present a peg hook loader  102  constructed in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention. Elements illustrated in  FIGS. 8-12  which correspond substantially to the elements described above with reference to  FIGS. 1-7  have been designated by corresponding reference numerals increased by one hundred. The embodiment of the invention shown in  FIGS. 8-12  is constructed in manners consistent with the foregoing description of the peg hook loader  2  shown in  FIGS. 1-7 , unless it is stated otherwise.  
         [0033]     Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the peg hook loader  102  includes a hollow member  114  having four substantially planar panels  119   a - d  delineated by three folds  121   a - c.  The hollow member  114  is formed from a sheet of thin corrugated material having a substantially rectangular shape that has been scored and folded. The thin corrugated material is folded to form the hollow member  114 , such that the first panel  119   a  and the fourth panel  119   d  overlap to form a first side of the triangular hollow member  114 , a second panel  119   b  forms a second side of the triangular hollow member  114 , and a third panel  119   c  of the rectangular member forms a third side of the triangular hollow member  114 . The hollow member  114  has opposing open ends  116  and  118  and an open interior  120 .  
         [0034]     The hollow member  114  is flared at each of the open ends  116  and  118 . The peg hook loader  102  has a first flare set  132  formed at the open end  116  and a second flare set  134  formed at the open end  118 . The first flare set  132  includes four flares  136   a - d  corresponding to panels  119   a - d,  respectively, such that flare  136   a  overlaps the flare  136   d  and is secured thereto with an adhesive. The second flare set  134  includes four flares  138   a - d  corresponding to panels  119   a - d , respectively, such that the flare  138   a  is overlaps the flare  138   d  and is secured thereto with an adhesive. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the first flare set  134  and the second flare set  136  are formed by folding the thin corrugated material of the hollow member  114  back upon itself such that the first flare set  132  and the second flare set  134  are monolithically formed with the hollow member  114 . Although it is preferred that the flares  136   a - d  and  138   a - d  are monolithically formed with the panels  119   a - d,  such is not required, and any one or more of the flares  136   a - d  and  138   a - d  may be formed separately with respect to the panels  119   a - d.  The hollow member  114 , the first flare set  132 , and/or the second flare set  134  may be fabricated by any suitable method known in the art.  
         [0035]      FIGS. 10-11  illustrate a preferred method of using the peg hook loader  102  to transfer the bundle  104  of products  106  to a peg hook  124 . The peg hook  124  is a common peg hook typical of retail display devices and includes a peg hook tip  126  and peg hook body  128 . The peg hook tip  126  of  FIGS. 10-11  is longer than the peg hook tip  26  of  FIGS. 4-6 , and the angle formed between the peg hook tip  126  and peg hook body  128  may be less than the angle formed between the peg hook tip  26  and the peg hook body  28  of  FIGS. 4-6 , so as to prevent full insertion of the peg hook body  128  through the peg hook loader  102 .  
         [0036]     The peg hook loader  102  has been installed within a bundle  104  of products or packages  106 . Each product  106  is provided with a cardboard header tag  108  having a triangular opening (not designated). The products  106  are secured for transport within the bundle  104  by a paper tape  112  that is wrapped around the bundle  104 .  
         [0037]     The peg hook loader  102 , with the associated bundle  104  is placed over the peg hook tip  126 . Due to the added length of the peg hook tip  126  and/or the reduced angle formed between the peg hook tip  126  and the peg hook body  128 , the peg hook loader  102  slides about the peg hook tip  126  until one or more of the panels  119   a - d  abut against the peg hook body  128 . The peg hook body  128  folds back one or more of the flares of the first flare set  132  (or the second flare set  134 ), so as to prevent the bundle  104  from sliding off of the member  114 . However, each one of the flares  136   a - d  and  138   a - d  are flexible, so as to be easily straightened by applying slight pressure thereto, which allows the bundle  104  to be slid off of the member  114 . The products  106  can then be separated from each other by removing the paper tape  112 .  
         [0038]     Referring to  FIG. 12 , the first flare set  132  and the second flare set  134  may also serve to prevent the peg hook loader  102  from becoming disengaged from the bundle  104  during shipping. The peg hook loader  102  may be positioned inside a box  140  having a top  142  (e.g., a lid), a bottom  144 , two sidewalls  146  and  148 , and another two sidewalls (not shown). The peg hook loader  102  may be vertically positioned inside the box  140 , such that the first flare set  132  is folded to be flush with the bottom  144  and the second flare set  134  is folded to be flush with the top  142 . The peg hook loader  102  and/or the box  140  are sized and shaped such that the box  140  may form a friction fit with the peg hook loader  102  at ends thereof.  
         [0039]      FIGS. 13-14  illustrate a bundle  204  constructed in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. Elements of the bundle  204  illustrated in  FIGS. 13-14  which correspond substantially to the elements described above with reference to  FIGS. 1-7  have been designated by corresponding reference numerals increased by two hundred. The embodiment of the bundle  204  shown in  FIGS. 13-14  is constructed in manners consistent with the foregoing descriptions of the bundle  4  and the bundle  104  unless it is stated otherwise.  
         [0040]     A bundle  204  is shown with a plurality of products  206 . The products  206  are secured for transport within the bundle  204  by a paper tape  212  that is wrapped around the bundle  204 . Each product  206  is provided with a cardboard header tag  208 . A flexible tab  250  is attached to the cardboard header tag  208 . The flexible tab  250  may be formed separately from the cardboard header tag  208 , but is preferably formed monolithically therewith. The flexible tab  250  has a triangular opening  252  for passage of the peg hook loader  2  therethrough. The flexible tab  250  also has a channel  254  that extends from the opening  252  to a surface of the flexible tab  250 .  
         [0041]     A peg hook loader, such as the peg hook loader  102 , may be used to position the bundle  204  on a peg hook, such as the peg hook  124 . A consumer, for example, may then remove the product  206  from the peg hook  124  by sliding product from the peg hook tip  126 . Additionally or alternatively, the user may bend the flexible tab  250  such that the size of the channel  254  increases, thereby allowing the peg hook body  128  to pass through the channel  254 , allowing removal of the product. For example, when the peg hook  124  has many products displayed thereon, a consumer can remove product displayed toward the back of the peg hook  124  without having to first remove product displayed toward the front of the peg hook  124 .  
         [0042]     Although the invention disclosed herein has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present invention. It is therefore to be understood that numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.