Abstract:
A device for securing and displaying a saw blade, the device including a body portion having a first through hole adapted to receive a hanger, a cavity for housing a security device, and a locating profile. The device also includes a cover including a second through hole. The body portion and the cover are one structure coupled by a hinge such that the post extends from one of said body portion or said cover, and an aperture in the other of said body portion and said cover. The post is also adapted to extend through the saw blade into the aperture to secure the saw blade to the device. The through holes are aligned when the post extends through the aperture and the aligned through holes are adapted to house a security hanger.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to saw blades, and more particularly to a hanger tag for security and display purposes. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0002]    In one embodiment, the invention provides a device for securing and displaying a saw blade. The device includes a body portion having a first through hole adapted to receive a hanger, a cavity for housing a security device, and a locating profile. The device further includes a cover including a second through hole. The body portion and the cover are one structure coupled by a hinge such that the post extends from one of said body portion or said cover, and an aperture in the other of said body portion and said cover. The post is also adapted to extend through the saw blade into the aperture to secure the saw blade to the device. The through holes are aligned when the post extends through the aperture and the aligned through holes are adapted to house a security hanger. 
         [0003]    In another embodiment the invention provides security and display device, the device including a saw blade having an aperture and a tang. The device also includes a body including a locating profile, a first through hole adapted to receive a hanger, a post having a flange on a distal end, and a cover secured to the body by a hinge and having a second through hole. The cover further includes a rim that engages the recess an aperture. The flange has a larger diameter than the aperture. The post is adapted to extend through the aperture of the saw blade into the aperture to secure the saw blade to the device. Further, the through holes are aligned when the post extends through the aperture and the aligned through holes are adapted to house a security hanger. 
         [0004]    Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1   a  illustrates a perspective view of a security hanger tag for a saw blade according to one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0006]      FIG. 1   b  illustrates an additional perspective view of the security hanger tag for a saw blade of  FIG. 1   a.    
           [0007]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of the security hanger tag for a saw blade of  FIG. 1   a  having a saw blade coupled to the tag. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  illustrates an additional perspective view of the security hanger tag for a saw blade f  FIG. 1   a.    
           [0009]      FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of a security hanger tag for a saw blade according to another embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0010]    Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. 
         [0011]    Embodiments of the invention described herein relate to a molded packaging device to hold and display a reciprocal saw blade. The packaging device provides a tamper resistant security device while still permitting visual and tactile inspection of the saw blade prior to purchase by a consumer.  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3  illustrate a security hanger tag  10 , or hanger tag, according to one embodiment of the invention and for use with a reciprocating saw blade  20  (shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ). The hanger tag  10  includes a body  30  connected to a cover  34  by a hinge  38 . The hanger tag  10  has a unitary body, such that the body  30 , cover  34 , and hinge  38  are injection molded as a single piece of polymer material. Accordingly, the integral hinge  38  is of the type commonly referred to a “living hinge.” The hanger tag  10  may be molded from ABS, acrylic, nylon, polycarbonate, polypropylene, PVC, or other suitable material. In further embodiments, the hanger tag  10  may be molded from a fiber reinforced material. In still further embodiments, the hanger tag  10  may be molded from a biopolymer, or a natural fiber reinforced biocomposite material. In yet further embodiments, the body  30  and cover  34  may be separate and discrete parts, connected to one another by a hinge  38  integral to either of the body  30  or cover  34 . In still further embodiments, the body  30 , cover  34 , and hinge  38  may be all be separate and discrete parts assembled together to form the hanger tag  10 . 
         [0012]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3 , the body  30  includes a tag cavity  42 , a hang hole  46 , a post  50 , and a locating profile  54  adjacent the post  50 . The cover  34  includes a hang hole  58  and an aperture  62 . In the illustrated embodiment, the cover  34  includes a rim  66 , which helps to locate the cover  34  on the body  30  and seals the tag cavity  42  when the cover  34  is closed upon the body  30 . The rim  66  is received within the tag cavity  42  such that the cover  34  is prevented from sliding translationally with respect to the body  30 . As such, the rim  66  acts as secondary barrier or wall that encloses the tag cavity  42  when the cover  34  and the body  34  are engaged. 
         [0013]    With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the tag cavity  42  is a recess formed in the body  30  and sized to accommodate a security tag or electronic article surveillance (EAS) label, such as a Sensormatic® Ultra-Strip® label (not shown). The dimensions of the tag cavity  42  may be tailored to suit the particular EAS label intended for use in the hanger tag  10 . The hang holes  46 ,  58  of the body  30  and cover  34  are dimensioned to accommodate the particular merchandizing hooks with which the hanger tag  10  will be used to display products. As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the hang holes  46 ,  58  are rectangular in shape. In further embodiments, the hang holes  46 ,  58  may be of another shape, for example, round, square, or elliptical as dictated by the merchandizing display. In still further embodiments, the body  30  and cover  34  may include fewer or more hang holes  46 , 58  of the same or different geometries as dictated by the merchandizing display. 
         [0014]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the tag post  50  protrudes from the body  30  and includes a barbed end  70 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the barbed end  70  is sized to fit through an aperture  74  formed in a tang  78  of the saw blade  20 . When the cover  34  of the hanger tag  10  is closed upon the body  30 , the post  50  extends through the aperture  62  in the cover  34 , thereby securing the saw blade  20  to the hanger tag  10 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the aperture  62  and barbed end  70  are sized with respect to one another so that once the barbed end  70  extends through the aperture  62  the cover  34  cannot be removed without damaging or destroying the hanger tag  10 . In this regard, the hanger tag  10  reduces the likelihood of theft of an attached saw blade  20  because the saw blade  20  cannot be easily removed from the hanger tag  10  and the EAS label located within the hanger tag  10  cannot be tampered with. In further embodiments, the aperture  62  and barbed end  70  may be sized to permit the cover  34  to be secured to the body  30  and released from the body  30  multiple times without damage to the hanger tag  10 . 
         [0015]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the locating profile  54  forms a relief in the body  30  and has a depth equal to or slightly greater than a thickness of the saw blade  20  with which the hanger tag  10  is intended to be used. Together with the post  50 , the locating profile  54  locates the saw blade  20  on the hanger tag  10  and prevents the blade  20  from moving relative to the hanger tag  10 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the geometry of the locating profile  54  follows the profile of the saw blade tang  78  of the saw blade  20  with which the hanger tag  10  is intended to be used, preventing the saw blade  20  from pivoting about the post  50 . 
         [0016]    In the illustrated embodiment, the locating profile  54  is such that a saw blade  20  may only be connected to the hanger tag  10  in one direction (i.e., saw teeth facing to the left). In further embodiments, the locating profile  54  may allow a saw blade  20  to be connected to the hanger tag  10  in more than one direction. In still further embodiments, the locating profile  54  may be designed to complement the profile of more than one saw blade tang  78 , such that the hanger tag  10  can be used to hang and display more than one type of saw blade  20 . In yet further embodiments, a depth of the locating profile  54  may be equal to or slightly greater than an integer multiple of the thickness of the saw blade(s)  20  with which the hanger tag  10  is to be used. For example, the depth of the locating profile  54  may be equal to two or three times the thickness of a blade  20 , in order to accommodate two or three saw blades  20  on the hanger tag  10 . In still further embodiments, the depth of the locating profile  54  may be greater or less than the thickness of the saw blade(s)  20  with which the hanger tag  10  is intended to be used. Accordingly, adjustments may be made to the cover  34  to accommodate the thickness of the blade(s)  20  to be attached to the hanger tag  10 . 
         [0017]      FIG. 4  illustrates a hanger tag  110  according to another embodiment of the invention. Hanger tag  110  is substantially similar to the hanger tag  10  illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 , and is designed to be used in a substantially similar manner; therefore, like structure will accordingly be labeled with like reference numerals. Discussion of the hanger tag  110  will be limited to the features that differ from those of hanger tag  10  discussed above. 
         [0018]    With reference to  FIG. 4 , the locating profile  154  differs from the locating profile  54  discussed above with respect to hanger tag  10 . In particular, locating profile  154  is symmetrical about a longitudinal axis of the hanger tag  110  such that a saw blade  20  may be attached to the hanger tag  110  in one of two directions (i.e., saw teeth to the left, or to the right). As discussed above with respect to hanger tag  10 , in further embodiments the locating profile  154  may be designed to follow the profile of more than one saw blade tang  78 , such that the hanger tag  110  can be used to hang and display more than one type of saw blade  20  (i.e., a double tang saw blade). 
         [0019]    Although the embodiments of the hanger tag  10  and  110  have been described with respect to a reciprocating saw blade  20 , the hanger tag  10  and  110  may be used on other types of saw blades, including jig saw and sabre saw blades. Further, the hanger tag  10  and  110  may be used to display and reduce the theft of commercial goods that are typically displayed on merchandising racks to permit visual and tactile inspection by consumers prior to purchase. Still further, the hanger tag  10  and  110  may be used to reduce the theft of commercial goods that are displayed in a box or bin (i.e., independent of a merchandising rack) to permit visual and tactile inspection by consumers prior to purchase. 
         [0020]    Although particular constructions embodying independent aspects of the present invention have been shown and described, other alternative constructions will become apparent to those skilled in the art and are within the intended scope of the independent aspects of the invention. Thus, the invention provides, among other things, a device for securing and displaying saw blades. Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims.