A display hanger is disclosed including a first and a second panel, at least one stress-relief member formed in one of the first or second panel, the stress-relief member having an inner surface that is secured to an inner surface of an opposing panel of the hanger, for example by an adhesive. The at least one stress-relief member moves stress away from the leading edge of the adhesive and more evenly distributes the stress across a wider area of the base of the display hanger. This results in the adhesive being under lower stress, which reduces adhesive failure in less than desirable situations since the display hanger material becomes the point on failure instead of the adhesive bond.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to a display hanger and, more specifically to an improved display hanger for supporting an article, the display hanger having built-in stress-relief to distribute force across the display hanger to reduce adhesion failure and avoid separation of the display hanger.

BACKGROUND OF RELATED ART

Retailers utilize a variety of devices in order to display and discourage theft of their goods. For example, display hangers are often utilized to support an article being sold by hanging it on a display unit. One type of display hanger used for displaying fashion accessories is a “fold-over” display hanger, so named because the hanger begins as a flat sheet that is cut into a particular shape which is then folded over and secured with adhesive to create the display hanger. The folding, or creasing of the sheet is generally done by hand, and the number of creases or folds can vary greatly depending upon the design of the display hanger. This type of display hanger can be utilized for a variety of accessory items, such as scarfs, hair accessories, necklaces and the like, is cost effective and utilizes minimal display space at retail with optimal product exposure. Two such display hangers are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,593,025 and 7,015,815, which are also owned by the Applicant of the present disclosure.

Display hangers may optionally incorporate an electronic article surveillance (EAS) sensor, or other security sensor such as an RFID sensor, that is attached to the display hanger. These types of sensors are typically secured to the hanger and are either removed or rendered inactive at checkout. One common form of EAS sensors is a flat, thin, flexible rectangular member that is applied adhesively to a flat or curved exterior surface of the article or the hanger. In some cases the sensors are visible to consumers, and in other cases the sensors are hidden from view in order to prevent unauthorized removal. In either case, if the sensors are not rendered inactive or removed, they will be sensed by the system causing an alarm to signal to be activated, for example when the consumer exits the store. Article display hangers having security sensors perform the function of both supporting and displaying the article while also protecting it from theft.

SUMMARY

Conventional fold-over display hangers begin flat, may be assembled by hand, can be made from coated cardboard or plastic, and secured by adhesive once folded.FIGS. 1A-1Dillustrate one example of a conventional fold-over display hanger (11). Since fold-over display hangers are assembled by hand, inconsistent assembly can occur which may lead to failure in the retail environment. The most common type of failure is that of the adhesive bond securing the inner surfaces together. Failure of the adhesive bond may result from a lack of consistent and sufficient bonding by the assembly worker, overloading of the fold-over hanger by placing an overly heavy accessory item in a too-small fold-over hanger, the use of foam inside the fold-over hanger which can generate a spring-like force against the leading edge of the adhesive bond, environmental conditions such as extreme heat (especially in overseas shipping containers), to name a few examples of factors that may contribute to the degradation and/or failure of the adhesive.

It has been discovered that adhesive failures most commonly occur as a wedge at the leading edge of the adhesive bond where higher stresses often occur causing separation (i.e., leading edge adhesive failure).FIGS. 1E-1Gillustrate such a prior art separation wedge (13), which can ultimately result in failure of the adhesive (15).

In order to relieve the stress in the area of the leading edge to prevent a separation wedge from forming, the display hanger of the present application includes a first and a second panel, at least one stress-relief member or tab formed in at least one of the first or second panel of the display hanger, the at least one stress-relief member having an inner surface that is secured to an inner surface of an opposing panel of the hanger, for example by an adhesive substance. The provision of at least one stress-relief tab in one panel of the display hanger moves the stress point away from the leading edge of the adhesive and more evenly distributes the force across a wider area of the base of the display hanger, with no “wedge effect” to cause adhesive separation. The result is that the adhesive is under lower stress, thus allowing the fold over to perform without failure in less than desirable situations because the display hanger material becomes the point on failure instead of the adhesive bond.

In one embodiment, the at least one stress-relief member is a single tab that is generally centrally located from either edge of the second or rear panel, and may have a generally rectangular or somewhat arcuate or curved shaped, or other shape as may be appropriate.

In another embodiment, the at least one stress-relief tab includes a pair of side stress-relief tabs that are located on either side of the rear panel and extend inwardly from either edge, the side tabs having a generally rectangular or somewhat arcuate or curved shape, or other shape as may be appropriate.

The stress-relief display hanger described herein provides the functionality and other advantages associated with a conventional fold-over display tag while providing reduced stress at the leading edge of the adhesive to provide for a more secure display tag with reduced chance of failure. The lower stress also allows for the use of lower strength adhesive with performance that has been shown to outperform conventional fold-over display hangers in a side-by-side test.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

The phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. Any references to examples, embodiments, components, elements or devices described herein referred to in the singular may also embrace embodiments including a plurality, and any references in plural to any embodiment, component, element or device herein may also embrace embodiments including only a singularity. References in the singular or plural form are not intended to limit the presently disclosed device, its components, structure, or elements. The use herein of “including,” “comprising,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” and variations thereof is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. References to “or” may be construed as inclusive so that any terms described using “or” may indicate any of a single, more than one, and all of the described terms. In addition, as used herein the term “article” refers to any item or product supported on a display hanger, and is not limited to the particular articles disclosed herein. As also used herein, the terms “EAS sensor” or “EAS marker” are used in the conventional sense to mean any of a number of electronic article surveillance sensors, as would be known to those of skill in the art. For example, the EAS sensor may comprise a ferro magnetic member. EAS sensors are widely available and may be purchased from such companies as Sensormatic Electronics Corporation of Boca Raton, Fla., but are not limited thereto and may include any other type of sensor for deterring theft of an article.

A first embodiment of a stress-relief display hanger10for supporting an article such as a necklace, jewelry, scarf, hair accessories, or the like, is illustrated inFIGS. 3A-3E. Display hanger10may be a fold-over style hanger that is folded, pleated or creased during assembly into a desired shape, the shape and number of folds, pleats, or creases being variable, depending upon the desired display hanger design, as would be known to those of skill in the art. Stress-relief display hanger10includes a first or front panel12having an inner surface12aand an outer surface12b, a second or rear panel14also having an inner surface14a, an outer surface14band at least one stress-relief member16formed in the rear panel14, in the present embodiment. The at least one stress-relief member16may be formed in the rear panel14by cutting a portion of the rear panel14, between the inner surface14aand the outer surface14binto a desired shape, for example a generally rectangular tab, as shown, or into other desired shapes. The at least one stress-relief member16also includes an inner surface16a(FIG. 2) and an outer surface16b. The inner surface16aof the at least on stress-relief member16is adhered to the inner surface12aof the front panel12when assembled. The inwardly flexing, at least one stress-relief member16flexes inward toward the inner surface12aindependently of the rear panel14when the stress-relief display hanger is subjected to forces “F”, as described in greater detail below.

In the present embodiment, the stress-relief tab16is a single tab that is generally centrally located from either edge14eof the rear panel. The at least one stress-relief tab16may also include a hinged portion18that aids in allowing the stress-relief tab16to flex inward, toward the inner surface12aof front panel12. Either side of the hinged portion18may optionally also include a pair of openings or holes17on either end of the hinged portion18that may be provided to help prevent tearing of the stress-relief tab16. Holes17are optional and may be eliminated, as desired. An EAS marker (not shown) may also optionally be secured to the display hanger10, on any of the inner surfaces12a,14a, outer surfaces12b,14b, or base20, in order to deter theft of the display hanger and the article, as would be known to one of skill in the art.

Referring now toFIGS. 2 and 3E, in order to secure a portion of the front panel12and a portion of the rear panel14in the assembled position, an adhesive may be disposed on a selective area of the inner surface12aof the front panel, on a selective area of the inner surface14aof the rear panel, or on both inner surfaces12a,14a. The selective area of adhesive includes a first area that is either disposed on at least a portion of the inner surface16aof the stress-relief tab16itself, or on the inner surface12a,14aof the opposing panel12,14to which the stress-relief tab16is secured during use, as described above. In the present embodiment, in addition to the first area of adhesive that secures the stress-relief tab16to the inner surface12aof the front panel12, an area that is above the stress-relief tab16, namely upper portion12cand14cof the display hanger10, is secured together, again for example, by adhesive being placed on the inner surfaces of one or both of the upper portions12c,14c. Alternate methods of securing may be utilized other than adhesive, as would be known to those of skill in the art. Additionally, an area of the display hanger10that is adjacent the stress-relief tab16may also optionally include adhesive15, if desired. In the present embodiment, the portion of the display hanger10beneath or below the at least one stress-relief tab16, i.e. lower portions12d,14d, are not secured to each other such that the area of the lower portions12d,14dof the front panel12and rear panel14are spaced at a distance from each other, in order to create an opening or void26for receiving the article to be supported therein.

As shown inFIGS. 1G and 2, the adhesive15securing the inner surface16aof the at least one stress-relief tab16moves the primary stress point away from the leading edge of the adhesive151(prior artFIG. 1G) and more evenly distributes the force “F” across a wider area of a base20of the display hanger10, with no “wedge effect” causing adhesive separation. The result is that the adhesive is under lower stress allowing the display hanger to perform in less than desirable situations without failure because the display hanger material becomes the point of failure, instead of the adhesive bond. In addition to helping prevent inadvertent separation due to adhesive failure, another benefit of utilization of the stress relief tab16is that it makes it more difficult for a consumer to separate the front and back panels of the display hanger in an attempt to steal the article. In the prior art, a consumer could separate the panels by applying minimal force in order to remove the article undetected. In the present invention, when a consumer attempts to separate the front panel12from the rear panel14, the stress-relief tab16makes separation more difficult because the primary stress point is no longer at the leading edge of the adhesive151of the stress-relief display hanger10.

Referring now toFIGS. 4A-4E, there is shown a second exemplary embodiment of the stress-relief display hanger110for supporting an article. In this embodiment, the same or similar elements as the embodiment ofFIGS. 3A-3Eare labeled with the same reference numbers, preceded with the numeral “1”. As shown in the figures, the at least one stress-relief tab116includes a pair of stress-relief tabs116that extend from either edge114eof the rear panel114inwardly toward a center of the rear panel114. The pair of stress-relief tabs116may have any of a variety of shapes, which may include a generally angular shape leaving a central, trapezoid shape119remaining on the rear panel114, as shown in the present embodiment. As also described above, each of the pair of stress-relief tabs116includes an inner surface116a, an outer surface116band also includes a hinged portion118that allows each of the pair of stress-relief tabs116to flex inward, toward the inner surface112aof front panel112, as described above with reference to the first embodiment.

Each of the pair of stress-relief tabs116is flexed inwardly until the inner surface116aof the pair of stress-relief tabs116are secured by adhesive to the inner surface112aof the front panel112. Portions of the rear panel114adjacent the pair of stress-relief tabs116, including the central, trapezoid shape119below the upper portion114c, may be intentionally not secured to the front panel in order to better distribute stress to the base120of the display hanger. The resulting display hanger likewise displays good adhesive properties with reduced risk of failure, as described herein above.

Referring now toFIGS. 5-8, there is shown several exemplary embodiments of the stress-relief display hanger for supporting an article as described above with respect to the first and second embodiments. In these embodiments, the same or similar elements as in the previous embodiments are labeled with the same reference numbers, preceded with the numerals “2, 3, 4 and 5”, respectively. The only difference in the embodiments ofFIGS. 5-8are the shapes, sizing and positioning of the at least one stress-relief tabs216,316,416, and516, which are shown for illustrative purposes only as any variety of shapes, sizes and number of tabs may be utilized other than those illustrated. InFIG. 5, a central, generally arcuate stress-relief tab216is shown, similar to the stress-relief tab of the first embodiment. InFIG. 6a pair of generally rectangular stress-relief tabs316are shown, centrally located on a larger display hanger310. The tabs316are likewise similar to the stress-relief members of the first embodiment, but include two members instead of one, together being centrally located on rear panel314.FIG. 7illustrates a pair of side stress-relief tabs416similar to the tabs of embodiment two, but with a more square geometry. InFIG. 8, a pair of generally arcuate stress-relief tabs516is shown, centrally located on a larger display hanger510similar to the stress-relief tabs ofFIG. 7. As will be appreciated, there may be one, two or more stress-relief tabs on a display hanger in various shapes and positions depending on the size of the hanger, and the article to be displayed, the stress-relief tags mitigating the wedge stress effect regardless of the shape, size or location.

Referring now toFIGS. 9A-9E, there is shown a seventh exemplary embodiment of the stress-relief display hanger610for supporting an article. In this embodiment, the same or similar elements as described above with respect to the first embodiment are labeled with the same reference numbers, preceded with the numeral “6”. As shown and described with respect to the first embodiment, the at least one stress-relief tab616is also a single tab that is generally centrally located in the top of the rear panel of the stress-relief display hanger610. By way of illustration, the stress-relief display hanger610has a generally oblong or rectangular shape with rounded corners, but the stress-relief display hanger can take a variety of shapes and sizes and is not limited to a square or rectangular shape. As also described above, the stress-relief tab616includes an inner surface616a, an outer surface616bthat is secured to the inner surface612aof the front panel612.

In the present embodiment, the stress-relief display hanger610additionally includes a securing member623supported thereon to aid in securing the article628to the hanger610. In the present embodiment, the securing member623is a cable tie received through a pair of openings624in the body of the hanger610. Alternatively, the securing member623may be any type of flexible, tear resistant strap, tie or other element either separate or unitary with the hanger610, as would be known to those of skill in the art. In the present embodiment, the securing member623and openings624are located in the lower portion of the rear panel614dadjacent to the base620, but may alternatively be located anywhere that the inner surfaces612a,614aare not adhered to each other. The securing member623and openings624may also be located on the base620. Although received through openings624in the present embodiment, the securing member623may be secured or supported by the base620in alternate ways, including by the use of slots, or adhesive, or by being formed as a single, unitary member as part of the display hanger610.

Referring now toFIGS. 10A and 10B, a comparison showing testing of comparable display hangers in order to test adhesion of a display hanger having a stress-relief tab centrally located (FIG. 10A) and a prior-art display hanger without a stress-relief tab (FIG. 10B), is illustrated. As illustrated, after being subjected to the same amount of stress during testing,FIG. 10Ashows no adhesive separation whileFIG. 10Bhas significant adhesive separation resulting from the stresses. Accordingly, the stress-relief display hanger of the present application provides reduced stress at the leading edge of the adhesive that allows for a more secure display tag with reduced chance of failure.

Assembly of the stress-relief display hanger will now be described with reference toFIGS. 2-9E. The article to be displayed may be positioned on the display hanger either prior to or after the hanger is assembled. If placed prior to assembly, the article is positioned at a point that, when assembled, will display the article. For example, in one embodiment, if the article is a necklace, it may be placed where the base20of the hanger is located, when assembled. If desired, a securing member623, which may be a tie or other member as is known in the art, may be provided to further secure the article628to the display hanger10. The securing member623may be inserted through a pair of openings624, provided in or adjacent to the base20, in order to receive the securing member623. The securing member is inserted through the pair of openings624and through the article628and the ends of the securing member623are thereafter secured, for example to each other as would be known to those of skill in the art. When the securing member623is a cable tie, the leading end of the tie is inserted into the trailing end, and the tie is adjustable in one direction in order to tighten the tie and secure the article, while not allowing removal of the leading end, as is also known in the art.

A portion of the front panel is then secured to a portion of the rear panel of the hanger. To secure the front and rear portions, adhesive15is exposed or disposed, for example by removing a protective covering or otherwise applying the adhesive, as known to those of skill in the art. As described above, the adhesive may be positioned on at least the inner surface16aof the at least one stress-relief tab16, or on the inner surface12aof the panel to which the stress-relief tab16is secured during use. Adhesive may additionally be disposed on other portions of the inner surfaces12a,14aof the front and/or rear panels12,14of the display hanger, provided that at least a portion of the lower portion of the front and/or rear panels remain adhesive-free in order to create an opening or void26for receiving the article to be supported therein. Once exposed, the inner surface12aof the front panel12and the inner surface14aof the rear panel14are folded inwardly and secured to each other. The inner surface16aof the at least one stress-relief tab16is also secured by the adhesive to the opposing inner surface12aor14aof the panel to which the stress-relief tab16is secured during use. When stress is applied to the stress-relief hanger10, such as through a heavy article628or a consumer attempting to remove the article628, the stress is distributed away from the leading edge of the adhesive151eliminating the “wedge effect” allowing the fold over to perform without failure. An EAS marker may additionally be secured to the stress-relief display hanger10on any surface to deter theft.

The provision of at least one stress-relief tab moves the stress point away from the leading edge of the adhesive and more evenly distributes the force across a wider area of the base of the display hanger, with no “wedge effect” to cause adhesive separation. The result is that the adhesive is under lower stress thus allowing the fold over to perform without failure in less than desirable situations because the display hanger material becomes the point on failure instead of the adhesive bond.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. For example, the materials disclosed herein may be readily changed, as may the dimensions and geometric configurations. The display hanger may be a different configuration other than fold-over hangers, provided there is a front and rear panel secured together that need stress mitigated. If a fold-over hanger is utilized the number of folds, pleats, or creases may range in number, without limitation, and is also not limited to a particular shape, design or style. The stress-relief tab locations and shapes can vary depending upon the design of the display hanger and can be utilized with existing designs of hanger. The disclosure is not limited to any particular display hanger shape or size. In addition, although a hinged portion is shown and described, other ways of allowing the stress-relief tabs disclosed herein to flex inwardly may be provided, including the absence of a hinged portion and flexing by provision of the tab alone. Finally, although shown as a unitary piece, the display hanger may be formed of one or more separate pieces.