A MOUNTING DEVICE

Abstract: A mounting device (1) for engaging a sheet having a slot, the mounting device (1) having a first portion (3) hingedly connected to a second portion (5), the first and second portions (3, 5) each comprising a body portion (9, 17) defining an angle with an engagement portion (13, 19), wherein when the engagement portions (13, 19) have been passed through a slot of a sheet, the first and second portions (3, 5) can be hinged to extend the engagement portions (13, 19) such that the engagement portion (13, 19) cannot return through the slot. Such a mounting device can be used for attaching a hooking device (11) to a packaging box (27) such that the hooking device (11) is centrally mounted above the box (27). Improved display of the box can thereby be provided.

Description: 1 A MOUNTING DEVICE This invention relates to mounting devices, and in particular to a mounting device for engaging a sheet having a slot. More particularly, the invention may be used with packaging to which a hook or other device needs to be attached. It is well known to package small items, such as underwear, in cardboard boxes for display purposes in department stores or other shops. If the boxes are to be suspended from a rail, it is well known to provide means attached to the box for engaging the rail. One example of this is a box which includes an extended flap having an aperture, for example, through which the rail can pass to support the box. Another known technique is to apply a plastics hook to the box through a slit defined adjacent one edge of the box. The hook has a post carrying resilient prongs which, when the post and prongs have been passed through the slit in the box, spring outwardly to prevent retraction of the post through the slit, thereby securing the hook to the box. As will be appreciated, the prior art hooks tend to be positioned adjacent an edge of the packaging, which results in the packaging "falling forwards" when suspended from a rail. This is a bigger problem with wider boxes and can result in the products looking untidy and messy on the rail. Further, if a hook having a post with resilient prongs is used, the post and/or prongs can interfere with products in the packaging and, indeed, may snag the products in certain cases. Hence, there is a clear demand for an improved mounting device for attaching a hook to packaging, such as a box. Further, ideally it should be possible to mount a hook centrally in a side of a box, thereby allowing the box to be suspended more neatly. The present applicant has invented a mounting device which satisfies this need. According to the present invention, there is provided a mounting device for engaging a sheet having a slot, the mounting device having a first portion 2 hingedly connected to a second portion, the first and second portions each comprising an engagement portion, wherein when at least one of the engagement portions has been passed through a slot of a sheet the first and second portions can be hinged to extend the engagement portions such that the at least one engagement portion cannot return through the slot. Such a mounting device can be used for packaging to enable a hook to be mounted from outside the packaging centrally in a side of the packaging. More particularly, the packaging may be a box, perhaps for food, toys or clothing, which is formed from a sheet of cardboard material. Preferably the first and second portions each comprise a body portion defining an angle with an engagement portion. The first and second portions are preferably locked in position when the engagement portions are extended. The body portions may include means for locking the first and second portions in position. Such a locking means may comprise a snap catch. The snap catch may comprise a cam on one portion and an aperture edge on the other portion, the cam passing the aperture edge to lock the body portions. Alternatively, a stub or pin may be formed on one of the first and second portions which engages an aperture or recess on the other of the first and second portions to lock the portions together. Many other forms of locking means will, of course, be envisaged by those skilled in the relevant art. In a preferred embodiment, the engagement portion of at least one of the first and second portions includes two tongues. More preferably, the two tongues are separated by a tongue of the other of the first and second portions. More preferably, the tongues of the first and second portions extend in opposite directions. Preferably at least one of the body portions abuts a sheet when the mounting device engages the sheet. This abutment, in combination with the engagement portions, helps to clamp the mounting device on the sheet. Firm securement is thereby achieved. In a preferred embodiment, one of the first and second portions includes means for attaching the mounting device to a rail or the like. The attachment means may be a hook or hooking device, but other appropriate means may alternatively be included. A label area may be provided on one of the body portions for displaying information relating to the contents of the packaging. Preferably the device is manufactured from plastics material, preferably polypropylene. Other materials may, or course, alternatively be used. The complete device is preferably a one piece molding. Alternatively, however, the first and second portions could interengage during assembly to define a hinge. If the first and second portions are independent prior to assembly, they may be identical in shape with one portion simply being reversed relative to the other portion for assembly purposes. As a result, only one mold may be required. This arrangement is particularly appropriate if the mounting device is a handle for packaging or the like. Preferably at least one of the engagement portions includes means for retaining the mounting device connected to a sheet prior to the engagement portions being extended. More particularly, the retention means preferably comprise a barb or other device for passing through a slot in a sheet to hold the mounting device in contact with the sheet. As a result, the body portions of the mounting device may lie flat against the sheet during transport, thereby avoiding any wastage of space caused by the mounting device extending above the sheet. 4 Although the angle between a body portion and an engagement portion could be less than 90°, the angle is preferably substantially 90°. More preferably, the angle is actually a right angle. The present invention further provides packaging comprising a sheet material defining a slot and a mounting device as claimed herein engaging the slot. The packaging may take the form of a box, and the slot may be formed centrally in a side of the box. The invention is, however, not limited to this use. In a particular embodiment, the mounting device may be a handle for packaging. If this is the case, the handle may provide two pairs of engagement portions, with one pair spaced from the other pair for passing through a respective slot in the sheet of the packaging. By having two separately spaced slots, the load applied to the packaging is spread over a larger area of the sheet, thereby avoiding unwanted failure of the sheet. The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a mounting device according to the present invention prior to installation; Figure 2 is a rear view of the mounting device of Figure 1 ; Figure 3 is a sectional side view in the direction Ill-Ill shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of the mounting device in an active position for supporting a box shown in phantom lines; Figure 5 is a sectional side view in the direction V-V shown in Figure 4; Figure 6 is a schematic plan view of a handle according to the present invention prior to installation; Figure 7 is a perspective view of the handle of Figure 6 engaging a sheet; Figure 8 is a plan view of the handle of Figure 7 showing the positions of the extended engagement portions; Figure 9 is a side view of the handle of Figure 6 showing one engagement portion extending through a sheet of packaging; and Figure 10 is a side view of the handle of Figure 8 with the engagement portions extended. With reference to the drawings, a mounting device 1 according to the present invention comprises a first portion 3 and a second portion 5. The first portion 3 and the second portion 5 are formed as a one-piece molding from polypropylene or other plastics material with an integral hinge 7 therebetween. The first portion 3 comprises a body portion 9, a hook 11 , a tongue 13 and a cam-shaped detent 15. The second portion 5 comprises a body portion 17, a pair of engagement portions 19 and a stepped edge 21 defining an aperture 23 with the first portion 3. The first and second portions 3,5 are free to hinge about hinge 7 from a first position shown in Figures 1-3 to a second position shown in Figures 4 and 5. When the mounting device 1 is in the second position, the engagement portion 13 of the first portion 3 and the engagement portions 19 of the second portion 5 extend in opposite directions as clearly seen in Figure 4. When the mounting device 1 is in this second position, the body portion 9 of the first portion 3 is received in a stepped region 25 of the body portion 17 of the second portion 5. Further, as the mounting device 1 moves from its first position to its second position, the cam-shaped detent 15 eases past the stepped edge 21 of the second portion 5 to act as a locking means for holding the mounting device 1 in its second position. The mounting device 1 is particularly suited for engaging a sheet 26 having a slot, such as a sheet of cardboard forming a side of a packaging box. Such a box 27 is shown in Figure 4 with the mounting device 1 duly engaged. To clamp the mounting device 1 to the box 27, the engagement portions 13,19 are inserted through a centrally positioned slot (not clearly shown) in the box 27 whilst the mounting device 1 is in its first position. The first and second portions 3,5 are then brought together as shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5 such that the engagement portions 13,19 extend in opposite directions as shown in Figure 4. These engagement portions 13,19 abut one side of the cardboard sheet 26 of the box 27 whilst the body portions 9,17 of the first and second portions 3,5 overlap the ends of the slot to abut the opposite side of the cardboard sheet 26. In this way, the sheet is clamped between the engagement portions 13,19 and the body portions 9,17. The mounting device 1 with its hook 11 is thus securely fixed to the box 27. To disengage the mounting device 1 from the box 27, it is a simple matter to separate the first and second portions 3,5 by overcoming the locking means provided by the detent 15 and the stepped edge 21 such that the engagement portions 13,19 can once again become aligned and withdrawn through the slot. Reengagement can be achieved by the reverse procedure. As a result of the device 1 according to the present invention being able to engage a slot centrally within a sheet 26, a packaging box 27 may be mounted either in a portrait orientation or in a landscape orientation simply by providing the slot in the required side of the box. Whichever orientation is chosen, the box 27 will be held horizontal without the box "falling forwards", as has been the case with prior art boxes. Further, by virtue of the engagement portions 13,19 lying flush with the sheet 26, snagging of articles within the box 27 is unlikely to occur. The ability to apply the device 1 in a secure fashion from outside the box 27, rather than from the inside of the box, is also a great advantage. Turning now to Figures 6-10 of the drawings, a handle assembly mounting device 101 is shown. This mounting device 101 comprises a first portion 103 and a second portion 105 each having a body portion 109 defining a hand grip 111. Each portion 103,105 is identical, with one portion simply having been rotated about 180° for engagement with the other portion to define a hinge line 107. The handle assembly 101 functions in a similar fashion to the mounting device of the previous figures and does not need to be described further here. As can be seen in Figures 9 and 10, the engagement portions 113,119 each define a barb 120 which helps to retain the handle assembly 101 in position on a sheet 126, with the body portions 109 lying parallel to the sheet 126 (see Figure 9), during transportation of the sheet 126 and mounting device 101. In this way, the mounting device 101 can be applied at a factory or other assembly point and simply erected on site by bringing the two body portions 109 together, preferably with a snap connection. Although the engagement portions 113,119 could engage a single slot in a sheet, additional strength can be obtained by having two shorter slots (not shown), each receiving a pair of engagement portions 113,119. As can be seen in Figures 6 and 7, a finger tip dimple 128 is formed adjacent the edge of each body portion 109 to facilitate separation of the first and second portions 103,105 during disengagement of the mounting device 101 from the sheet 126. It will of course be understood that the present invention has been described above purely by way of example, and that modifications of detail can be made within the scope of the invention.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A mounting device for engaging a sheet having a slot, the mounting device having a first portion hingedly connected to a second portion, the first and second portions each comprising a body portion defining an angle with an engagement portion, wherein when the engagement portions have been passed through a slot of a sheet the first and second portions can be hinged to extend the engagement portions such that the engagement portions cannot return through the slot. 2. A device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first and second portions can be locked in position when the engagement portions are extended. 3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the body portions include means for locking the first and second portions in position. 4. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the locking means comprise a snap catch. 5. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the snap catch comprises a cam on one portion and an aperture edge on the other portion passed which the cam passes to lock the body portions. 6. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the engagement portion of at least one of the first and second portions includes two tongues. 7. A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the two tongues are separated by a tongue of the other of the first and second portions. 8. A device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the tongues of the first and second portions extend in opposite directions. 9. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least one of the body portions abuts a sheet when the mounting device engages the sheet. 10. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least one of the engagement portions includes means for retaining the mounting device connected to a sheet prior to the engagement portions being extended. 11. A device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the retention means comprise a barb for passing through a slot in a sheet. 12. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the mounting device is a handle. 13. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein one of the first and second portions includes means for attaching the mounting device to a rail or the like. 14. A device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the attachment means include a hooking device. 15. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a label area is provided on one of the body portions. 16. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the device is manufactured from plastics material, preferably polypropylene. 17. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the device is a one piece molding. 18. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the angle between a body portion and an engagement portion is substantially 90°. 19. A mounting device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the angle between a body portion and an engagement portion is a right angle. 20. A mounting device for engaging a sheet having a slot, the mounting device having a first portion hingedly connected to a second portion, the first and second portions each comprising an engagement portion, wherein when at least one of the engagement portions has been passed through a slot of a sheet the first and second portions can be hinged to extend the engagement portions such that the at least one engagement portion cannot return through the slot. 21. A mounting device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings. 22. Packaging comprising a sheet material defining a slot and a mounting device as claimed in any preceding claim engaging the slot. 23. Packaging as claimed in claim 22, wherein the packaging is a box. 24. Packaging as claimed in claim 22 or claim 23, wherein the slot is formed centrally in a side of the box. 25. Packaging as claimed in any one of claims 22 to 24, wherein the slot comprises two apertures for receiving the engagement portions. 26. Packaging in combination with a mounting device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

Inventors: EDWARDS WILLIAM JOHN, KILBY RAYMOND PAUL, EDWARDS, WILLIAM, JOHN, KILBY, RAYMOND, PAUL
Applicants: EDWARDS WILLIAM J, FERGUSON U K LTD, KILBY RAYMOND PAUL, EDWARDS, WILLIAM, JOHN, FERGUSON (U.K.) LTD., KILBY, RAYMOND, PAUL
Application year: 1999
Main classification: B65D5
IPC codes: B65D5, B65D25