Abstract:
A garment tag is provided that includes a band having a first opening for attaching to a first fastener of a garment and a second opening for attaching to a second fastener of the garment, the band having a first display portion that displays printed information regarding the garment at a fold in the garment when the garment is in a folded state. The first and second fasteners may be buttons and the first and second openings may be slots. The first display portion may be defined by two creases in the band, the creases being spaced apart by the approximate width of the garment fold. The band may also be pre-folded at the creases.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The invention is related, in general, to a garment tag, and in particular to a garment tag to display information about the garment, and more specifically to a readily visible garment tag for attachment to a folded garment arranged for sale in a stack of like folded and labeled garments. 
     Labels and hangtags are well known for the general purpose of identifying various features of garments. However, such labels and hangtags are commonly affixed to the garment in such a manner and location that the information appearing thereon, and even the label or hangtag itself, is usually hidden when the garments are folded and stacked for storage or display. Many types of garments, including shirts, are displayed in stacks of like garments on retail shelves and displays. 
     In the case of shirts, information about the shirt is commonly displayed on a tag sewn onto the inside of the shirt near the collar and on a hangtag. Moreover, when shopping for such shirts, consumers are often presented with a stack of folded shirts, with the collar and front of each shirt facing up with the collar being farthest away from the eye of the consumer. Such stacks are often placed on a shelf, table, rack, or in a cube-type merchandising display arrangement. Alternatively, the shirts, for example, may be stacked as pairs of folded shirts, where a shirt is stacked on top of another shirt such that the collar of one shirt is opposite from the collar of an adjoining shirt. 
     By virtue of such stacked configurations, the aforementioned collar tag and/or hangtag are often hidden. As a result, a consumer searching for a particular size of shirt, from among the stack of folded shirts, for example, would have to lift one or more shirts up from the stack in order to access a particular shirt to view the sizing information on the collar tag or hang tag. For example, in searching for a particular size of shirt in the stack, the consumer may spend considerable time and effort removing shirts from a stack, while also inadvertently disturbing the stack, thereby making searching more difficult for other consumers, and requiring the merchant to expend resources to frequently monitor, straighten, and reorganize the stack of shirts. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is desirable to have a garment tag which will permit a manufacturer or retailer to store and/or display a stack of a plurality of folded garments while maintaining the visibility and legibility of certain garment information appearing on a portion of the garment tag which remains visible at least while the garments are stacked. A garment tag is provided that includes a band having a first opening for attaching to a first fastener of a garment and a second opening for attaching to a second fastener of the garment, the band having a first display portion that displays printed information regarding the garment at a fold in the garment when the garment is in a folded state. The first and second fasteners may be buttons and the first and second openings may be slots. The first display portion may be defined by two creases in the band, the creases being spaced apart by the approximate width of the garment fold. The band may also be pre-folded at the creases. 
     The garment tag can be made of at least one of paper, paperboard, cardboard, plastic, woven fabric, ribbon, and card stock. 
     The band may also be configured to be formed substantially in a circular shape, wherein a portion of the band between the fold and the first fastener is substantially semicircular, and another portion of the band between the fold and the second fastener is substantially semicircular. The printed information may display information related to at least one of a: scanning bar code, garment size, brand identifier, manufacturer, garment item number, garment care information, recycling symbol, garment identifier, garment color, garment fit type, and garment style. The garment tag may further include a radio-frequency identification (RFID) chip. 
     The band openings may be configured to be attached to the fasteners when the garment is in an unfolded state, and wherein the garment is subsequently folded. Moreover, the band openings may be configured to be attached to the fasteners subsequent to the garment being folded. The band also may have a second display portion located between the first opening and the first display portion, and may also have a third display portion located between the second opening and the first display portion. 
     The first and second openings may be positioned proximate to a longitudinal centerline of the band extending through the first, second, and third display portions. The first and second openings may be positioned at proximal and distal ends of the band. The first and second openings may be slots configured to extend in at least one of the following directions: substantially parallel to the longitudinal centerline, and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline. The first display portion is positioned approximately midway between the proximal and distal ends of the band. 
     In another aspect of the invention, a garment tag is provided that includes a band having a first fastener for attaching into a first opening of a garment and a second fastener for attaching into a second opening of the garment, the band having a portion that displays printed information regarding the garment at a fold in the garment when the garment is in a folded state. 
     In another aspect of the invention, a garment tag is provided that includes a band having a first adhesive area for attaching to a first area of a garment and a second adhesive area for attaching to a second area of the garment, the band having a portion that displays printed information regarding the garment at a fold in the garment when the garment is in a folded state. The first adhesive area and the second adhesive area may include at least one of a permanent adhesive and a non-permanent adhesive. The first adhesive area and the second adhesive area may also include a removable backing that can be removed to expose the adhesive. 
     In another aspect of the invention, a tagged garment is provided that includes a garment having a first fastener and a second fastener; and a band having a first opening attached to the first fastener of the garment and a second opening attached to the second fastener of the garment. The band has a first display portion that displays printed information regarding the garment at a fold in the garment when the garment is in a folded state. 
     In yet another aspect of the invention a plurality of tagged garments arranged in a stack is provided. Each garment in the stack has a first fastener and a second fastener, and a band having a first opening attached to the first fastener of the garment and a second opening attached to the second fastener of the garment. The band has a first display portion that displays printed information regarding the garment at a fold in the garment when the garment is in a folded state. 
     In another aspect of the invention a method of making a garment tag is provided. The method includes the steps of making a band, forming a first opening at a proximal end of the band, forming a second opening at a distal end of the band, creating two creases in the band, the creases spaced apart by the approximate width of a garment when the garment is in a folded state, and applying printed information to a display portion of the band, the display portion of the band located between the two creases. 
     In another aspect of the invention, a method of applying a garment tag to a garment is provided, the garment tag comprising a band having first and second openings respectively positioned at proximal and distal ends of the band. The band further has a first display portion that displays printed information regarding the garment at a fold in the garment when the garment is in a folded state. The method includes the steps of attaching the first opening to a first fastener of the garment and attaching the second opening to a second fastener of the garment. The method may further include the step of folding the garment so that the display portion of the garment tag folds over the fold in the garment. The method may also further include the step of folding the garment so that the display portion of the garment tag covers at least a portion of the fold in the garment. 
     Moreover, the method may further include the step of stacking two or more folded garments, each garment having a garment tag applied thereto. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows an embodiment of a garment tag attached to a folded garment, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, viewed from a front and right side of the folded garment. 
         FIG. 2  shows the garment tag shown in  FIG. 1 , viewed from a rear and right side of the folded garment. 
         FIG. 3  shows a plan view of the garment tag shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  as an unfolded blank. 
         FIG. 4  shows a plan view of an alternate embodiment of the garment tag shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . 
         FIG. 5  shows a stack of labeled garments shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         FIG. 6  shows an unfolded garment tag attached to a garment that is not folded. 
         FIG. 7  shows a plan view of an alternate embodiment of the garment tag shown in  FIGS. 1-6 . 
         FIG. 8  shows a plan view of another embodiment of the garment tag shown in  FIGS. 1-7 . 
         FIG. 9  shows a plan view of another embodiment of the garment tag shown in  FIGS. 1-8 . 
         FIG. 10  shows another stack of labeled garments stacked in an alternate configuration to that shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  shows an embodiment of the garment tag  1  attached to a folded garment  2 , which is shown, for example, as a folded shirt  2 , and more preferably, a folded shirt  2  with a collar  3 , fastened with buttons  4  down the front that close a vertical opening between the left and right sides of the shirt  2 . The combination of the garment tag  1  and the folded garment  2  comprise a labeled shirt, which can be manufactured, packaged, and sold together. The garment tag  1  is attached to buttons  4 A and  4 B of the folded shirt  2  and extends around and covers a portion of a bottom side  7  of the folded shirt  2 . 
     The shirt  2  is folded, such as for retail display, with the collar  3  appearing on a front side  5  and top side  6  of the folded shirt  2 . A series of spaced and longitudinally aligned buttons  4  are attached to the shirt  2  and extend downwardly from the collar  3  toward and around the bottom side  7  and up a rear side  8  of the folded shirt  2  ( FIG. 2 ). The buttons  4  on the front side  5  and rear side  8  of the folded shirt  2  are longitudinally aligned with longitudinal axis A-A. The longitudinally aligned buttons  4  on the front side  5  and rear side  8  of the folded shirt  2  correspond to the buttons  4  on the front of the shirt  2  when unfolded ( FIG. 6 ), which are used to close a vertical opening at the front of the shirt  2 . The buttons  4  described herein can be attached to the fabric of the shirt  2  with a button shank (not shown), which may include a metal shank, plastic shank, a threaded shank, and like connections. As used herein, a button shank also includes threaded connections between a button and the folded shirt  2 . 
     The garment tag  1  is comprised of a band  9  that is configured to attach to at least first and second buttons  4 A and  4 B, respectively, of the folded shirt  2 . As shown in the embodiment in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the band  9  is an elongate member having a uniform width W and is aligned above and parallel to axis A-A and the buttons  4  of the folded shirt  2 . The band  9  may be formed from at least one of paper, paper board, cardboard, plastic, woven fabric, card stock, or other suitable material, and can be formed by conventional punching, cutting, splicing, and joining methods. The band  9  is preferably configured to attach to at least a first button  4 A on the front side  5  of the folded shirt  2  and a second button  4 B on the rear side  8  of the folded shirt  2 , while also extending around the bottom  7  side (i.e., third side) of the folded shirt  2 . 
     The band  9  shown in  FIGS. 1-4  includes a plurality of planar portions  9 A,  9 B, and  9 C. In this embodiment, a first longitudinally extending planar portion  9 A extends along the first side  5  of the folded shirt  2 , the first portion  9 A having a first end  10 , and the first attachment means being located proximate to the first end  10 . For example, a first slot  14  ( FIG. 3 ) formed near the first end  10  can be used to attach the first end  10  to the first button  4 A. 
     The band  9  also includes a second longitudinally extending planar portion  9 B extending at least from a second end  11  of the band  9  along the second side  8  of the folded shirt  2 , the second attachment means being located proximate to the second end  11 . For example, a second slot  15  ( FIG. 3 ) formed in the second end  11  can be used to attach the second end  11  to the second button  4 B of the folded shirt  2 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the band  9  is folded such that its first portion  9 A extends over the front side  5  of the folded shirt  2  at least from the first end  10  of the band  9  towards the bottom side  7  of the folded shirt  2  and the second longitudinally extending portion  9 B extends over the rear side  8  of the folded shirt  2  from the second end  11  of the band  9  towards the bottom side  7  of the folded shirt  2 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the band  9  includes a third longitudinally extending planar portion  9 C extending along the bottom side  7  of the folded garment  2  between the first  9 A and second portions  9 B. 
     The length of the first, second, and third portions,  9 A- 9 C, of the band  9  may be different from each other. As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the angles between the first and third portions,  9 A and  9 C, respectively, and between the second and third portions,  9 B, and  9 C, respectively, are about ninety degrees, substantially forming the garment tag  1  with a u-shaped cross section. Of course, as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, other angles between the first, second, and third portions are possible. 
       FIG. 3  shows the embodiment of the garment tag  1  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  in an unfolded condition. In a preferred embodiment the band  9  has a substantially uniform width W in the longitudinal direction, which is preferably about the same as the width of the placket  16  of the folded shirt  2 . The dotted lines  12  and  13 , which may or may not appear on a surface of the band  9 , delineate the first, second, and third portions,  9 A- 9 C, respectively, of the band  9 . The length L 3  of the third portion  9 C is preferably about equal to the dimension of the bottom side  7  (i.e., third side) of the folded shirt  2 . Moreover, the length L 1  of the first portion  9 A and the length L 2  of the second portion  9 B are suitably configured to permit the attachment of the first and second attachment means to the first button  4 A and the second button  4 B, respectively, while disposing the third portion  9 C at least covering a portion of the bottom side  7  of the folded shirt  2 . 
     The formed garment tag  1 , shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  has an inner side configured to face the surface of the garment the garment tag  1  is attached to. Moreover, the garment tag  1  has an outer side, which can include information displayed thereon. As shown in the embodiment of the garment tag  1  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the information can be printed in at least one of callout regions  17 A,  17 B, and  17 C of the band  9  corresponding to respective portions  9 A,  9 B, and  9 C. Preferably, printed matter is printed at least in callout region  17 C of portion  9 C. Of course, the inner side may also include information displayed thereon. Such information displayed in the callout regions can include information about the garment, and more specifically, can include at least one of garment size, garment fit type (e.g., slim fit, regular fit, loose fit), brand identifier, manufacturer, garment item number, garment care information, recycling symbol, recycling number, garment color, garment feature type (e.g., oxford collar, pinpoint collar, French cuff), garment fabric type, and garment style. 
     The garment tag  1  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  is preferably disposed over at least a portion of the bottom side  7  of the folded shirt  2  that would otherwise be readily visible to a consumer when the labeled shirts  2  are stacked, as, for example, is shown in  FIG. 5 , without having to move or otherwise disturb the folded shirts  2  of the stack. Preferably, the portion  9 C is disposed covering at least the placket of the folded shirt  2 , such that, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the garment tags  1  attached to the plurality of labeled shirts are preferably aligned with each other and axis A-A. Where information, such as shirt size, is displayed on the third portions  9 C, the alignment of the third portions  9 C can facilitate readily identifying and selecting a particular shirt size by disposing the sizing information in one continuous column. 
     The first and second attachment means, proximate to the corresponding first and second ends,  10  and  11 , respectively, are preferably configured to attach to the corresponding first and second buttons, and more preferably, to corresponding button shanks of those buttons. As shown in  FIG. 3 , a first slot  14  is formed in the first end  10  and a second slot  15  is formed in the second end  11 . The first slot  14  includes an entrant region  14 A suitably dimensioned to permit at least the first button shank to be drawn therein. The second slot  15  includes an entrant region  15 A suitably dimensioned to permit at least the second button shank to be drawn therein. In addition, the entrant regions  14 A and  15 A can also be configured to permit entry of the respective first and second buttons,  4 A and  4 B, therethrough. Each of the entrant regions  14 A and  15 A extend longitudinally inwardly fixed distances, which may be different, and may be dependent upon the sizes of the corresponding buttons which can pass therethrough. The first slot  14  terminates at an enlarged aperture  14 B formed in the band  9 . The enlarged aperture  14 B is configured to accommodate and retain the first button shank. The second slot  15  terminates at an enlarged aperture  15 B formed in the band  9 . The enlarged aperture  15 B is configured to accommodate and retain the second button shank once past the entrant region  15 A. Each of the enlarged apertures  14 B,  15 B, may be formed as a circle, oval, square, or other curvilinear or polygonal shape sufficient to accommodate the respective first and second button shanks disposed therein. The width of the entrant portions  14 A,  15 A, may be less than the width of the corresponding button shanks drawn therein, such that there is some frictional resistance between the interior edges of the slots  14  and  15  and the corresponding button shanks. Moreover, the enlarged apertures  14 B and  15 B can have a width that is at least the width of the corresponding button shanks disposed therein. By virtue of this arrangement, the entrant regions  14 A,  15 A, and the enlarged apertures  14 B,  15 B, provide a positive closure and retention of the corresponding button shanks in the enlarged apertures  14 B,  15 B, when each corresponding button shank is passed through the corresponding entrant regions  14 A and  15 A and into the enlarged apertures  14 B and  15 B. 
     The garment tag  1  described above, may be attached to the folded shirt  2  by inserting the first and second buttons  4 A and  4 B into the respective first and second slots  14  and  15 , such that the button shank of each corresponding button is disposed in the entrant regions  14 A and  15 A thereof, and translating the button shanks toward and into the corresponding enlarged apertures  14 B and  15 B from the entrant regions  14 A and  15 A. The garment tag  1  can be retained on the button shanks by the enlarged apertures  14 B and  15 B at least until a sale of the labeled folded shirt  2  to the consumer, after which the consumer may detach the garment tag  1  prior to using the garment at least by reversing the steps of attaching the garment tag  1  described above. 
     Various modifications of the embodiments of the garment tag  1  are possible. For example, it will be appreciated that the band  9  may, in alternative embodiments, be arranged to extend around and at least partially cover one or more other sides or folds of the shirt without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the garment tag may be configured to extend around the top side  6  of the folded shirt  2  so as to wrap around the collar of the shirt  2 . Such an embodiment may be useful for displaying indicia on an outer surface of a portion of the garment tag covering the top side  6  proximate to the collar in a case where the labeled shirts are displayed with the top side  6  of the folded shirt  2  viewable by the consumer in a stack of labeled shirts, such as when the shirts are alternately stacked as described earlier. Moreover, while the band  9  has been shown as extending substantially parallel to axis A-A, in at least one alternative embodiment, the band  9  may be configured to extend at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis A-A. Modifications of the first and second slots  14  and  15  of the band  9  are also possible. For example, in at least one alternate embodiment, the slots  14  and  15  may be configured to omit the enlarged apertures,  14 B and  15 B, at the end of the respective slots  14  and  15 . In such an embodiment, friction between the button shank and the slot, as well as friction between one of the buttons  4 A and  4 B, the garment tag  1 , and the folded shirt  2 , facilitate retaining the garment tag  1  in the first and second slots  14  and  15 , respectively. 
     Another embodiment of the garment tag is shown in  FIG. 4 , where, unlike the slots  14  and  15  shown in  FIG. 3 , the respective entrant regions  14 A,  15 A, of the slots extend completely to respective outer edges  10  and  11  of the band  9 . Where the regions of the band  9  bordering the slots  14  and  15  are formed from suitably flexible and resilient material, the entrant regions  14 A and  15 A of those slots may be formed by forming a slit without removing any material such that the slots have negligible width. In such an embodiment the width of the slit may be enlarged by deflecting portions of the band  9  on either side of the slit relative to each other. By virtue of such an arrangement, the portions on either side of the slit can be deflected a sufficient amount to draw the button shank therein. 
     While the garment tag  1  has been shown and described above as attached and presented with a folded garment (e.g., a shirt  2 ), in another embodiment, the garment tag  1  can be configured to be attached to an unfolded garment  2 , such as an unfolded shirt shown in  FIG. 6 . The garment tag  1  can be connected to buttons  4 A and  4 B as described above when the shirt is unfolded, and by virtue of subsequently folding the shirt, the garment tag  1  can be folded or otherwise formed around the fold (bottom side  7 ) of the shirt  2 , while remaining attached to the shirt  2 . Preferably, folding the shirt  2  will dispose the third portion  9 C over the fold (bottom side  7 ) of the shirt  2 . 
     In another alternate embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 , the band  9  may also be configured to be formed substantially in a circular shape. In such an embodiment, the first portion  9 A and the second portion  9 B are configured to be substantially semicircular. In such an embodiment, the center of the circular band  9  is preferably at the midpoint of the band  9 . 
     An alternate embodiment of the garment tag  1  shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , is shown in  FIG. 8 , where the direction of the slots  14  and  15  is configured to extend at angle with respect to the longitudinal axis A-A. As shown in  FIG. 8 , the slots  14  and  15  extend substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A-A. 
     While the garment tag  1  has been shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  as comprised of a band  9  formed of substantially planar portions  9 A- 9 C, it should be noted, that in at least one other embodiment (not shown), the band  9  is not folded in planar sections  9 A- 9 C, but is instead attached to the first and second buttons  4 A and  4 B and allowed to simply curve around the bottom side  7  of the folded shirt  2  so that the third portion  9 C covers at least a portion of the bottom edge  7  of the folded shirt. 
     Moreover, while in a preferred embodiment the garment tag  1  includes openings for attaching to buttons  4 A and  4 B of the folded shirt  2 , in alternate embodiments, the openings may also be configured to attach to other types of fasteners, including, but on limited to, various toggles, clips, hooks, snap closures, and magnetic closures. Also, the attachments may be configured to attach to connections, such as for example, thread, between such fasteners (e.g., buttons) and the folded garment  2 . 
     In yet another embodiment shown in  FIG. 9 , the garment tag  1  is configured to be attached to the garment  2  with at least one of a permanent and a non-permanent adhesive. In such an embodiment, the garment tag  1  includes a band  9  having a first adhesive area  91  for attaching to a first area of the garment and a second adhesive area  92  for attaching to a second area of the garment. The adhesive may be applied to the first and second adhesive areas and covered with a removable backing  93 . The backing  93  can be removed to expose the adhesive prior to attachment of the garment tag  1  to the garment  2 . Also, in place of adhesive, hook and loop fasteners can be used. 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , the labeled shirts  2  may also be stacked in an alternate configuration from that shown in  FIG. 5 . In  FIG. 10  the shirts  2  are stacked vertically as in  FIG. 5  with the front side  5  of each shirt  2  facing in the same direction (e.g., upwardly). However, every other shirt  2  in the stack is disposed  180  degrees apart from adjoining shirts  2  with respect to a vertical axis through the plurality of labeled shirts  2 . A consumer viewing the stack shown in  FIG. 10  will therefore be presented with an aligned column of garment tags  1  attached to every other shirt  2 . 
     While the present invention has been described with respect to what is presently considered to be the preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. To the contrary, the invention is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.