An environmentally friendly peg hook made from a paper based material that can be used on a display. The paper material can be recycled or is degradable in a land fill. The peg hook includes an anchor structure for securing the peg hook to a wall of a display through a slot in the wall. The peg hook can include a single hook structure or multiple hook structures in a single row or multiple rows.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a paper based hook structure for holding product on a display, and more particularly, to a paper based peg hook structure that extends outward from a back wall of a display for supporting multiple items.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Hooks that are used to hold goods on displays have historically been formed from plastic or metal materials. These materials can be expensive given the large number of hooks needed. Additionally, while most metal and certain plastics can be recycled, it is necessary to remove them from the displays even if the display is made from a recyclable material like paperboard. In most instances, the hooks are thrown out with the displays and can linger in landfills for years.

The present invention provides a peg hook structure that can be easily recycled (especially with a paper display) or which will degrade quickly if thrown out.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an environmentally friendly solution to current plastic peg hooks used for displays. A sustainable paper based peg hook structure is provided for holding multiple items on a display. The peg hook can be utilized on permanent or temporary display fixtures. Unlike plastic hooks, paper based materials are easier to recycle and will break down quickly in landfills.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, an environmentally friendly hook comprises a paper anchor for securing the hook to a display and a paper support structure extending outward from a first end proximate the anchor to a second distal end. The support structure is configured to hold items hanging from the support structure.

The anchor is flat and includes an upper channel and a lower cutout. The upper channel and the lower cutout separate the anchor into a first portion for positioning behind a wall in the display and a second portion for positioning in front of the wall of the display.

The support structure can be an elongated beam that extends generally horizontal when the hook is secured to the display. The elongated beam can include an upwardly extending portion at the distal end.

The peg hook can include a detachable slot blocking segment extending from the elongated beam. The slot blocking segment includes a channel for engaging the upper channel of the anchor.

The peg hook can be formed from multiple layers of paperboard. For example, the hook can be formed from three layers of paperboard glued together. More or fewer layers can be implemented as necessary or desired for a particular use.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, an environmentally friendly multiple peg hook is provided. The multiple peg hook comprises a paper top support, a plurality of paper hooks extending below the top support and a paper anchor for securing the hook to a display. The top support, first plurality of paper hook portions and second plurality of paper hook portions can be part of a single blank of material. The plurality of paper hooks can be four hooks in a single row.

The plurality of paper hooks can include a first plurality of paper hook portions connected to a second plurality of paper hook portions. The first plurality of paper hook portions can be connected to a first side of the top support and the second plurality of paper hook portions can be connected to a second side of the top support.

The multiple peg hook can include a front wall extending downward from an end of the top support. The anchor can be connected to one of the plurality of hooks at the back end of the peg hook.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, an environmentally friendly hook having multiple rows of hooks for use on a display is provided. The hook comprises a paper lower support structure, a first row of paper hook portions supported by the lower support structure and a second row of paper hook portions supported by the lower support structure. The paper lower support structure, the first row of paper hook portions and the second row of paper hook portions can be formed from a single blank of paper material.

The hook also includes a paper anchor for connecting the hook to a wall of display. Additionally, the hook further comprises a paper front wall and paper side walls connected to the lower support structure.

The hook can include a first hook segment which has a first hook from the first row of paper hooks and a first hook from the second row of paper hooks. Additionally, the hook can include a plurality of hook segments, each having a hook in the first row and a hook in the second row.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention is directed to peg hooks for displaying goods that are made from a paper material. The material can include cardboard, corrugated paper materials, laminated paper materials, and other similar paper related materials. The paper hooks can be recycled, or if thrown away, are biodegradable and environmentally friendly.FIGS.1-3illustrate three blanks of paper material that can be used to form the hooks.

FIG.1shows a first blank of a paper based peg hook10.FIGS.4-6show the first paper based peg hook10connected to a display. The peg hook10includes an anchor portion12and a hook or support structure14projecting outward from the anchor portion12. The anchor portion12is used to secure the peg hook10to a wall of a display (historically, such walls were made of peg board having a plurality of holes—pegs connected to hooks and other similar structures could be secured to the board using one or more of the holes). The support structure14is an elongated beam that extends essentially horizontally (when the anchor portion is secured to the wall of the display) and includes an upwardly extending or inclined portion16at an end distal from the anchor portion12. The support structure14can be used to support or hold product18to be displayed.

The anchor portion12includes a first portion20that is position-able behind a wall22of the display and a second portion24that is positioned in front of the wall22. A top channel26separates an upper portion of the first portion20from an upper portion of the second portion24of the anchor portion12, and a lower channel28separates a lower portion of the first portion20from a lower portion of the second portion24of the anchor portion12. The top channel26has a generally rectangular configuration and the lower channel28has a generally triangular configuration.

To secure the peg hook10to the wall22of the display, the first portion20of the anchor portion is inserted through a slot30on the wall22. The anchor portion12is then pushed down to wedge the bottom edge of the slot into the lower channel28so that the lower portion of the second portion24of the anchor portion12is positioned against the outer surface of the wall22just below the bottom edge of the slot.

As shown inFIGS.4-6, a slot blocking segment32can be inserted into the top channel26of the anchor portion12. The slot blocking segment32extends outward beyond the width of the slot30to prevent the upper portion of the second portion24of the anchor portion12from falling though the slot30and locking the peg hook10in place. The slot blocking segment32includes a channel34that will interlock with the top channel26of the anchor portion12. The slot blocking segment32can be separate from the peg hook10, or it can be detachably connected to the peg hook10as shown inFIG.1.

Referring toFIG.5, the peg hook10is shown having three layers36,38,40of a thick cardboard. Depending on the thickness of the material and the desired end use of the peg hook10, fewer or more layers could be used. Moreover, other similar paper based materials can be used. The layers36,38,40are preferably glued together.

FIG.2shows a second blank for a second paper based peg hook42for supporting goods on a display.FIGS.7-8show the second peg hook42on a display. The second peg hook42includes a generally rectangular top support structure44and a plurality of separate hook structures46extending downward from the top support structure44. The hook structures46are in a row projecting outward from the wall22of the display. A front wall48extends downward from an end of the top support structure44distal from the wall22.

Referring to the blank of the peg hook42inFIG.2, the top support structure44is connected to a first hook portion50on a first side and a second hook portion52on a second side. The two hook portions50,52are combined to form the plurality of hook structures46.

Specifically, the hook portions50,52are each connected at (what will turn into) a top edge to one of two bottom panels54,56, respectively, that are connected to the top support structure44by a double fold line58. The double fold line58enables the bottom panels54,56to fold 180 degrees so that each is positioned immediately below and parallel to the top structure44. The bottom panels54,56are sized so that each positions the hook portions50,52midway between the sides of the support structure44. The hook portions50,52can be folded 90 degrees from the bottom panels54,56and abut each other to form the plurality of hook structures46having a double thickness of material.

The end of each hook portion50,52includes an anchor portion60,62. The anchor portions60,62also combine to form an anchor of double thickness that is used to secure the peg hook42to the wall22through a slot30. The front wall48can include an end flap64that can be folded back into slots66,68in the front-most portion of the hook portions50,52to secure the front wall48in place.

FIG.8shows two of the peg hooks42holding goods18. Each good18is on its own hook structure46.

FIG.3shows a third blank for a paper based peg hook70and a slightly modified fourth blank for a paper based peg hook72.FIGS.9-12show perspective views of the constructed peg hooks70,72. The peg hooks70,72each include a bottom support structure74,74′ and rigid side walls76,76′ that maintain two rows of spaced apart hook structures78,78′.

The bottom support structure74,74′ includes moveable flaps80,80′ that rotate upward to a vertical position to expose the hook structures78,78′ on each side of the flap80,80′. The flaps80,80′ are held in place by the shape of cut outs in the side walls76,76′ and by outer panels88,88′ that are folded back into the interior of the hook70,72. The outer flaps88,88′ include slots89,89′ which receive the moveable flaps80,80′ when the moveable flaps80,80′ are in the vertical position.

The peg hooks70,72also include front walls82,82′ held in place by fold over flaps84,84′. Additionally, the peg hooks70of the third blank include top panels90connected to each side wall76.

As shown inFIGS.9-11, the third peg hook70has a generally boxy configuration. The fourth peg hook72, shown inFIG.12has a triangular body portion extending from the front wall82′. The front wall82′ can be modified to conform to the shape of the body if desired. Anchors can be provided to connect the peg hooks70,72to a wall of a display.

Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be protected otherwise than as specifically described.