Abstract:
A tie-on headband positioning device using post and rail separated slots for compact spreading of headband material in a flat configuration providing compacted storage, shipping, and display of the headband. The device is likewise suitable for use with other elongated flexible bands other than headbands, such as scarves, socks, or hose.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE 
     This is based on and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/162,024 filed May 15, 2015. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to improvements in product packaging, transportation, and display for flexible lengths of material. More particularly, the invention relates to improvements particularly suited for the packaging, transportation, and display of tie on headbands. In particular, the present invention relates specifically to a tie card using apertures to form a post and rail construction for controlling the positioning of a headband. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, headbands, scarves, and other elongated pieces of cloth are known in various forms. From prior references it may be seen that the prior art is very limited in their teaching and utilization, and an improved cloth band tie card and method are needed to overcome these limitations. 
     Based on the foregoing, it is desirable to provide a display card for elongated flexible bands, such as headbands, that displays the entire band neatly and with minimal damage to the band. It is further desirable for the display card to display the band in a flat manner, minimizing bulk. It is further desirable for the display card to display the band with an ornamental knot, similar to the intended use of the band. It is further desirable for the display card to allow for compact spreading of band material in a doubled elongated flat configuration providing non-wrinkling compacted storage, shipping, and display of the band. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In general, in a first aspect, the invention relates to a display card for displaying a flexible band, the display card comprising: a front, a back, a top, a bottom, a right side, and a left side; a first side aperture; an upper mid aperture; a second side aperture; a lower mid aperture; a bottom aperture; a first post, where the first post is located between and defined by the first side aperture and the upper mid aperture; a second post, where the second post is located between and defined by the second side aperture and the upper mid aperture; a mid rail, where the mid rail is located between and defined by the upper mid aperture and the lower mid aperture; and a bottom rail, where the bottom rail is located between the lower mid aperture and the bottom. 
     The first side aperture and the second side aperture may each be vertically elongate and the first side aperture may be parallel to the second side aperture. The first side aperture and the second side aperture may be parallel to the right side and the left side. The first side aperture may be located closer to the left side than to the right side, the second side aperture may be located closer to the right side than to the left side, and the upper mid aperture may be horizontally elongate and located between the first side aperture and the second side aperture, where the upper mid aperture is separated from the first side aperture by the first post and the upper mid aperture is separated from the second side aperture by the second post. The first side aperture, the second side aperture, and the upper mid aperture may be located closer to the top than to the bottom. 
     The upper mid aperture and the lower mid aperture may each be horizontally elongate and the upper mid aperture may be parallel to the lower mid aperture. The upper mid aperture and the lower mid aperture may be parallel to the top and the bottom. The upper mid aperture may be located closer to the top than to the bottom and the lower mid aperture may be located closer to the bottom than to the top. The upper mid aperture and the lower mid aperture may be centered relative to the right side and the left side. 
     The display card may further comprise a bottom aperture, where the bottom rail is located between and defined by the lower mid aperture and the bottom aperture. The bottom aperture may be a notch in the bottom. The display card may further comprise a hanging aperture located between the upper mid aperture and the top. 
     The display card may further comprise the flexible band, where the flexible band is elongate and has a first end, a second end, and a midpoint located midway between the first end and the second end. The midpoint of the flexible band may be located at the bottom, while the flexible band may wrap around the bottom rail, pass through the bottom mid aperture, pass in front of the mid rail, pass through the upper mid aperture, wrap around the first post and the second post, and pass through the first side aperture and the second side aperture. The first end and the second end may be tied in a knot located between the first side aperture and the second side aperture and in front of the upper mid aperture. 
     In a second aspect, the invention relates to a method of displaying the flexible band on the display card. The method may comprise: passing the first end through the lower mid aperture from back to front; pulling the first end until the midpoint is adjacent the bottom; passing the first end and the second end through the upper mid aperture from front to back; passing the first end through the first side aperture from back to front and passing the second end through the second side aperture from back to front, or passing the first end through the second side aperture from back to front and passing the second end through the first side aperture from back to front; and tying the first end and the second end together. 
     Passing the first end and the second end through the upper mid aperture from front to back may further comprise pulling the first end and the second end simultaneously until the flexible band is taught and lies flat in front of the mid rail. The method may further comprise placing the first or second end, as appropriate, to the left of the display card prior to passing it through the first side aperture from back to front such that the flexible band folds 90° behind the first post. Similarly, the method may further comprise placing the first or second end, as appropriate, to the right of the display card prior to passing the second end through the second side aperture from back to front such that the flexible band folds 90° behind the second post. Tying the first end and the second end together may comprise forming a square knot in front of the upper mid aperture. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a complete cloth band tie card and installed band in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic view of a tie card positioned next to an elongated band; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic view of the band positioned through the lower horizontal slot; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic view of the band folded over the bottom rail and the ends positioned through the upper mid aperture; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic view of the back of the card showing how the band is folded around the back of the bottom rail; 
         FIG. 6  is a back schematic view showing an end inserted one of the side apertures; 
         FIG. 7  is a back schematic view showing both ends inserted through the side apertures; 
         FIG. 8  is a front schematic view showing both ends inserted through the side apertures; 
         FIG. 9  is a front schematic view showing the ends tied in a half knot; 
         FIG. 10  is a front schematic view showing the ends tied in a full knot for final construction; and 
         FIG. 11  is a back schematic view showing the back completed construction. 
     
    
    
     Other advantages and features will be apparent from the following description and from the claims. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The devices and methods discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific manners in which to make and use this invention and are not to be interpreted as limiting in scope. 
     While the devices and methods have been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be noted that many modifications may be made in the details of the construction and the arrangement of the devices and components without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. It is understood that the devices and methods are not limited to the embodiments set forth herein for purposes of exemplification. 
     In general, in a first aspect, the invention relates to an improved cloth band tie card and method. In accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a tie-on-band display is provided using a tie card for mounting a cloth band such as a headband, scarf, or other elongated flexible object. The unique structure of the tie card of the present invention presents the band in a flat configuration with an ornamental tie knot. The device and method may use a base card forming a post and rail construction utilizing separated slots for compact spreading of headband material in a doubled elongated flat configuration providing non-wrinkling compacted storage, shipping, and display of the headband. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 through 11  of the drawings, one exemplary embodiment of the present invention is generally shown as a tie-on-band display  10 . The tie-on-flexible band display  10  may use a tie card  100  for mounting a flexible band  300 . The unique structure of the tie card  100  of the present invention may present the flexible band  300  in a flat configuration with an ornamental tie knot  350 . 
     The tie card  100  may provide the hanging and mounting base. The tie card  100  may have a left card side  102 , card top  104 , right card side  106 , card bottom  108 , card front  110 , and card back  112 . The tie card  100  may include a hanging aperture  120  for hanging on a horizontal rod or projection. The hanging aperture may include an access neck  122  leading to an upper gravity notch  124  or may be a circular or other shaped opening. The tie card  100  may also include a first side aperture  130 , upper mid aperture  150 , second side aperture  170 , lower mid aperture  190 , and bottom aperture  210  defining a first post  140 , second post  160 , mid rail  180 , and bottom rail  200  for installation of the flexible band  300 . 
     The flexible band  300  may be a headband, as shown, or a scarf, sock, legging, band, collapsing hose, or other elongated flexible item. The flexible band  300  may be constructed with an elongated band body  302  having a first band end  304  and a second band end  306 . The elongated band body  302  may also include a band midpoint  308  and a left band side  310  and right band side  312 . 
     The flexible band  300  may be affixed to the tie card  100  at the top and bottom of the tie card  100 . As shown in the drawings, the flexible band  300  may be tied at the top of the tie card  100  using a first side aperture  130  separated by a first post  140  from an upper mid aperture  150 , which may be separated by a second post from a second side aperture  170 . The top of the tie card  100  may be separated from the bottom of the tie card  100  by the mid rail  180 . The flexible band  300  may then be woven into the bottom of the tie card  100  using the mid rail  180  and the lower mid aperture  190  along with the bottom rail  200  and the bottom aperture  210 . 
     The first side aperture  130  may be constructed as a left vertical slot  131 . The left vertical slot  131  may be shaped using a left outer edge  132 , left top edge  134 , left inner edge  136 , and left bottom edge  138 . 
     The first post  140  may be a left post formed between the left inner edge  136  of the first side aperture  130  and the upper mid left edge  152  of the upper mid aperture  150 . 
     The upper mid aperture  150  may be formed as an upper horizontal slot  151 . The upper horizontal slot  151  may be shaped with an upper mid left edge  152 , upper mid top edge  154 , upper mid right edge  156 , and upper mid bottom edge  158 . 
     The second post  160  may be a right post formed between the upper mid right edge  156  of the upper mid aperture  150  and the right inner edge  176  of the second side aperture  170 . 
     The second side aperture  170  may be a right vertical slot  171  formed with a right outer edge  172 , right top edge  174 , right inner edge  176 , and right bottom edge  178 . 
     The mid rail  180  may be positioned between the upper mid aperture  150  and the lower mid aperture  190 . 
     The lower mid aperture  190  may be formed as a lower horizontal slot  191  with a lower left edge  192 , lower top edge  194 , lower right edge  196 , and lower bottom edge  198 . 
     The bottom rail  200  may be positioned between the lower mid aperture  190  and the bottom aperture  210 . 
     The bottom aperture  210  may be constructed as a bottom edge notch  211 . The bottom edge notch may have a bottom left edge  212 , bottom top edge  214 , and bottom right edge  216 . 
     As seen in  FIGS. 2 through 4 , to install the flexible band  300  on the tie card  100 , the flexible band  300  may be folded around the bottom aperture  210  at the midpoint  308  with the first band end  304  on the card front  110  of the tie card  100  and the second band end  306  on the card back  112  of the tie card  100 . As best seen in  FIG. 3 , the second band end  306  may be inserted from back to front through the lower mid aperture  190  so that the band  300  captures the bottom rail  200 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . The tie card  100 , including the bottom rail  200 , may be constructed from flat cardstock, allowing the flexible band  300  to lay flat. In this manner, the midpoint  300  of the flexible band  300  may be tensioned against the bottom edge  214  and the body  302  may be laid flat against the front and back of the card  100  and held in position by the edges  212  and  216 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , both the first band end  304  and the second band end  306  may be then inserted from front to back through the upper mid aperture  150  such that the flexible band  300  passes in front of the mid rail  180 . Once again, the flat construction of the mid rail  180  may allow the flexible band  300  to lay flat. 
     A shown in  FIG. 6 , the second end  306  may be then folded ninety degrees and inserted back to front through the second side aperture  170  such that it passes around the back of the second post  160 . As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the first end  304  may be similarly folded ninety degrees in the opposite direction and inserted back to front through the first side aperture  130  such that it passes around the back of the first post  140 . The configuration of slots  131 ,  151 , and  171  may help to keep the flexible band  300  relatively flat. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the first and second band ends  304  and  306  may then be tied in a first half knot  400  and second half knot  402  to form a square knot  404  with the ends  304  and  306  forming decorative tails dangling from the square knot  404 . As shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , forming the apertures  210 ,  190 ,  150 ,  170 , and  130  as slots  211 ,  191 ,  151 ,  171 , and  131  may allow the flexible band  300  to lay flat against the card  100  except for the bulk of the flat-natured square knot  404 . The slots  211 ,  191 ,  151 ,  171 , and  131  are shown positioned at ninety degree angles from the vertical to horizontal, but these can be varied to achieve different effects on the appearance. 
     It will be appreciated that the present invention provides a combination storage and display device for a cloth band. 
     Whereas, the devices and methods have been described in relation to the drawings and claims, it should be understood that other and further modifications, apart from those shown or suggested herein, may be made within the spirit and scope of this invention.