Abstract:
I provide a hang tag, preferably used for a saleable item such as clothing, that is convertible into a storage container. The storage container can then be used to store the purchased item. In a method of use, a user can remove the hang tag from a recently purchased saleable item of clothing, and, through a series of folds and interlocking of panels, create the storage containers in which the user could place the item.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 12/814,081 filed Jun. 11, 2010, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    This disclosure generally relates to a device that can convertibly be used as a hang tag for an item and a container for the item. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Many items for sale, in particularly clothing items, utilize hang tags as a way to convey information about the item the tag is hanging from. Hang tags on garments today are usually used to convey information about a product including, but not limited to, a brand name, description of the garment, garment benefits, size information, price, fabric content, care instructions, marketing information, where the garment was manufactured, and distribution information. These hang tags are disposable and are not kept by the consumer. Hangs tags known in the art generally do not have any other purpose than to convey information such as listed above. 
         [0004]    The items that the hang tags are attached to are typically stored somewhere after purchase. Most typically, this requires use of a dresser or similar furniture piece. Drawers can be messy with many small items. Drawer organizers are helpful but expensive. Moreover, the purchaser may be at an atypical location where they do not have access to their home storage areas or any storage areas at all. In these situations, a storage area can be separately purchased for the item, but the portability and disposability of such storage areas are lacking. Additionally, in today&#39;s world of being more ecologically friendly, re-purposing of any printed matter is important. Disposing of an item when it can serve a valuable purpose for the end user such as drawer organization is not environmentally efficient. 
         [0005]    Therefore, a need exists in the art for hang tags that are utilized for reasons other than the display of information. There is a further need for such a device that provides an immediate and portable storage area for the purchased item and that can serve as a drawer organizer. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    I solve these needs and provide a novel hang tag with two foldable examples and method for using the same. The two foldable examples include a hang tag for providing information about an item and a storage area that can be used for the same said item. 
         [0007]    This disclosure further contemplates a convertible hang tag formed from a foldable blank, the foldable blank including a front panel having a multiplicity of sides, at least three end panels hingedly attached to the sides of the front panel wherein each end panel includes at least one interlocking mechanism to interlock with an adjacent end panel; at least one front panel aperture in the front panel; and at least one end panel aperture in at least one of the end panels, wherein the at least one end panel aperture overlaps the at least one front panel aperture when the end panel containing the at least one aperture is hingedly folded toward the front panel. 
         [0008]    This disclosure further contemplates a convertible hang tag for identification of clothes, including a front panel having a multiplicity of sides, at least three end panels hingedly attached to the sides of the front panel such that each side is hingeldy attached to at least one end panel, and wherein each end panel includes at least one opening and at least one tab extending outwardly from an edge thereof, such that the at least one tab of one panel can interlock with at least one opening of an adjacent panel to form a storage area. 
         [0009]    This disclosure further contemplates a method for converting a tag for identifying an item into a container, including the steps of unfolding a tag to provide a front panel having a multiplicity of sides and at least three end panels hingedly attached to the sides of the front panel, and interlocking the end panels together to form a storage area. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    Without restricting the full scope of my disclosure, various preferred forms of the disclosure and its related articles are illustrated in the following drawings. 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of a hang tag blank having four end panels. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of a second example of the hang tag with adhesive closures. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a back view of the second folded example of the hangtag. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a closed view of a first example with a sticker closure. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a front view of the first folded closed example of the hang tag. 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a front view of the first folded example on an item. 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a front view of a square first folded example. 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a side perspective view of the hang tag blank being folded into a second folded example. 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is a side perspective view of the second folded example. 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  is a top perspective view of the second folded example. 
           [0021]      FIG. 11  is a top perspective of a second folded example with adhesive closures. 
           [0022]      FIG. 12  is a top perspective view of the second folded example containing an item. 
           [0023]      FIG. 13  is a plan view of a hang tag blank having eight end panels. 
           [0024]    Fig,  14  is a front view of a first folded example of the hang tag having eight end panels. 
           [0025]      FIG. 15  is a flat view of a further example a hangtag. 
           [0026]      FIG. 16  is a plan view of the hangtag of  FIG. 15  when folded into a first folded example, 
           [0027]      FIG. 17  is of a side perspective view of the hangtag of  FIG. 15  folded into a second folded example. 
           [0028]      FIG. 18  is of a plan view of the hangtag of  FIG. 15  folded into a second folded example. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0029]      FIG. 1  shows a foldable blank combination device generally designated by reference number  10 . As discussed below, blank  10  can be folded into either a tag that can hang off an item, typically a piece of saleable merchandise, or placed into a container for holding the same item. Blank  10  includes front panel  12  and at least three end panels  14  that are hingedly attached to front panel  12 . In preferred examples, end panels  14  are hingedly attached to front panel  12  along fold lines  16  with outer edges  11  that are at least the same length as fold line  16 . In alternate examples, end panels can be attached to front panel  14  with other devices, such as binding or laced string, that allow for relative, hinged movement between the front and end panels. 
         [0030]      FIG. 1  shows a preferred example of a symmetrical blank  10  having four end panels of substantially the same size. The number of end panels can vary widely while maintaining the advantages can include substantially any number greater than two. For example,  FIG. 10  shows a blank having eight side panels. It will be understood by one skilled in the art that changing the number of end panels will change the shape of the ultimately formed tag or container without substantially changing the functionality. In preferred examples, the number of sides of front panel  12  is equal to the number of end panels, but it is not required. Due to this variety, front panel  12  can be a variety of shapes depending on the number of end panels  14  used. In one preferred example, shown in  FIG. 1 , front panel  12  is substantially a square shape. At least one aperture  32  is formed in front panel  12  or end panel  14 . Apertures  32  are used to hang the device from an item in one of the devices functional examples. As shown in  FIG. 1 , blank  10  can include two apertures  32  of circular shape. One skilled in the art could understand, however, that the shape or even the number of apertures can vary within the spirit of my disclosure. 
         [0031]    Blank  10  is preferably made of any foldable material known in the art. Most typically, blank  10  would be of a paper material having enough stiffness to enable portions of the blank to be folded in an upward direction. Alternatively, the blank  10  may be made from a more rigid material that is scored, perforated, hinged, indented or the like to allow folding at predetermined locations. The size of the blank can be increased or decreased in scale as needed. 
         [0032]    In preferred examples, each end panel includes at least one opening  18  and at least one tab  20  hingedly extending from side  22 . For simplicity&#39;s sake, the preferred examples have each panel including only one opening  18  and only one tab  20  as pictured in  FIG. 1 . It is conceivable, however, to have multiple tabs and openings on each panel. For example, an end panel  14  could have two tabs substantially next to one another on side  22  and two corresponding openings also next to each other. In alternate examples, any interlocking mechanism known in the art can be utilized. For example, as shown in  FIG. 2 , an alternate interlocking mechanism example comprises a tab  25  that includes a peel away paper  23  on an adhesive strip  21 . In the example shown in  FIG. 2 , end panels  14  do not require openings  18 . 
         [0033]      FIGS. 3-5  show a first folding example of blank  10  into tag  38 . Each end panel  14  is hingedly moved along fold lines  16  toward front panel  12 . The end panels are folded as shown in  FIG. 3  such that each end panel partially overlaps a first adjacent end panel and is in turn partially overlapped by a second adjacent panel. The end panels are held in place by the friction and pressure provided by the other end panels. In this foldable example, the panels are not interlocked by openings  18  or tabs  20 . Tabs  20  are folded inwardly and are not visible or in use when tag  38  is formed. In another example, shown in  FIG. 4 , the end panels can also be folded to overlap opposite panels and held in place with a tag securing mechanism, such as removable sticker  13 . 
         [0034]    When the panels are folded into tag  38 , the apertures  32  are folded on top of one another such that a deeper aperture  40  is created, having the thickness of one front panel and at least one side panel. As shown in  FIG. 3 , aperture  40  is visible from the front side of tag  38 .  FIG. 6  shows tag  38  attached to an item  42 . In preferred examples, item  42  is a saleable merchandise wherein tag  38  provides identifying information for it. To best take advantage of the features of the box, item  42  is foldable such that it can later fit into the container folded example depicted in  FIGS. 8-12 . Most typically, this would be a clothing item, one example of which is  FIG. 6 . In preferred examples, the tag is provided on items such as underwear, jock straps, sports bras, bras, athletic apparel, bike shorts, capri pants, shirts, t-shirts, camisoles, shapers, longline underwear, pantyhose, shaping pantyhose, leggings and boy shorts. One skilled in the art would understand, however, that the tag could be used on numerous other products as well. 
         [0035]    Tag  38  is attached to item  42  using a fastening device or assembly  44 . In preferred examples, the tag is attached to the item via at least one aperture in the tag. In these examples, fastening assembly  44  includes a pliable material  46  such as a string that is entered through the apertures  40  of tag  38  and a fastener  46  such as a safety pin. As one skilled in the art would understand, however, other types of fastener assemblies could be used with aperture  40  to attach tag  38  to item  42  such as a tag gun. 
         [0036]    Any portion or side of front panel  12  or an end panel  14  of tag  38  can be imprinted with any type of printing desired. Most typically, this will be identifying information such as a logo of the clothing manufacturer, care instructions, reordering information, contact information, folding instructions, country of origin, materials and material percentages and the like. Tag  38  can also be imprinted with any color or design. 
         [0037]    In the example in  FIGS. 3-5 , apertures  40  are shown in a corner of tag  38 . This creates a diamond-shaped tag as it hangs off of item  42 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . In alternate examples, apertures  40  can be located in other locations around the tag. One such example is shown in  FIG. 7 , wherein the apertures  40  are substantially centered along one side of front panel  12 . To create this example, apertures  32  of  FIG. 1  will have to be located elsewhere on blank  10 . This example will create a square tag  38  as it hangs off item  40 . As would be readily understood, the apertures can be located elsewhere on the tag other than those locations depicted in  FIGS. 1-7 . 
         [0038]    As shown in  FIGS. 8-11 , blank  10  can be folded into a second folding example. As shown in  FIG. 8 , at least one tab  20  of end panel  14  is entered into an opening  18  of an adjacent end panel  14 , thereby interlocking the two adjacent panels together. Each tab extends from side  22  of end panel  14  and is designed to fit into an opening  18  in a substantially adjacent end panel. One skilled in the art will understand that the precise shapes and sizes of tabs  20  and openings  18  can vary widely while still maintaining the same functionality. In preferred examples, tabs  20  includes opposing converging sides  24  that converge as tab  20  extends from side  22 . Converging sides  24  extend to a crown  26  having a flat top side  28  and rounded sides  30 . Rounded sides  30  meet converging sides  24  at two opposing indents  36 . 
         [0039]    Opening  18  is preferably a slit through which a portion of tab  20  can fit through, thereby interlocking two adjacent side panels. In this example, a length “l” of opening  18  is smaller than a length “L” of crown  26  but greater than the length “L 1 ” between the converging sides  24 . Opening  18  can accept crown  26  if crown  26  is entered on through opening  18  on a suitable angle. After entry, opening  18  can hold crown  26  on one side of the opening while the remainder of tab  20  is on the other side of the opening, thereby interlocking adjacent end panels  14  as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
         [0040]    Each tab  20  is entered into an opening in an adjacent end panel, interlocking the end panels together, until a container  48  is formed. As shown in  FIG. 9 , completed container  48  provides a storage area  50  into which items can be placed. In preferred examples, shown in  FIG. 12 , the item placed in storage area  50  is the same item  42  to which tag  38  was attached. To this end, a purchaser can buy an item  42  and simultaneously receive a storage container for the item that can be used as needed. This provides a purchaser with an inexpensive, portable and disposable alternative to purchases requiring separate boxes or containers to hold their purchases. 
         [0041]      FIG. 11  shows an alternate example wherein a container is formed when self adhesive tabs  25  are adhered onto adjacent end panels  14 . 
         [0042]    I thereby provide a method for storing an item by converting a tag for identifying an item into a storage container for the item. The method includes the steps of unfolding a tag to provide a front panel having a multiplicity of sides and at least three end panels hingedly attached to the sides of the front panel and interlocking the end panels together to form a storage area. The item can thereafter be stored in the storage area. The resulting storage area is also preferably stackable with other like storage areas formed from like tags. 
         [0043]    In further examples, the combination device can come in various shapes.  FIGS. 13-14  show an octagonal combination device that can be folded into two separate folding examples. Blank  52  includes an octagonal front panel  54  having sides  56 . At least one aperture  64  is cut into the front panel at a location near sides  56 . Eight end panels  58  are attached to each side  56 , creating fold lines at each side  56 . Each end panel  58  includes at least one opening  60  and at least one tab  62 . At least one of the end panels includes at least one aperture to overlap at least one aperture  64  on the front panel. As shown in  FIG. 13 , front panel  54  includes two aperture holes and two adjacent end panels  58  have one aperture each, such that when the end panels are folded toward each other, each aperture of the adjacent end panels cover one aperture of the front panel. In alternate examples, the apertures are in different locations on blank  52 . 
         [0044]    Functionally,  FIG. 13  octagonal blank  52  is the same as blank  10  of  FIG. 1 . Each end panel  58  can be folded along fold lines  56  toward front panel  54  such that each end panel overlaps one adjacent end panel and is overlapped by an opposing adjacent end panel. This forms a first foldable example that can be hung from a saleable item as a tag  66  as shown in  FIG. 14 . Tag  66  can be imprinted with any design desired such as a clothing logo. Alternatively, each end panel  58  includes at least one opening  60  and at least one tab  62  such that they can be interlocked together to form a storage area for the saleable item. In this example, the storage area has a generally octagonal shape. As could be readily understood by one skilled in the art, the combination device can include substantially any number of sides and any number of panels greater than two and any known interlocking mechanism known in the art such as a peel away strip can be utilized. 
         [0045]      FIG. 15  depicts a further alternate example of a tag  68  formed from a foldable blank  70 . Blank  70  includes front panel  72  and at least three end panels  74 . As shown in  FIG. 15 , the front panel  72  defines a generally rounded shape and has four end panels  74  hingedly attached thereto along fold lines  76  positioned at the outer perimeter  69  of the front panel  72 . The blank  70  may be provided with a generally circular front panel  72  four end panels  74  that are generally semi-circular in shape, each of which are approximately the same size and approximately half the size of the front panel  72 . As shown, the outer edges  71  of end panels  74  have a length substantially the same as the diameter of the front panel  72 . However, additional end panels  74  or arrangements are possible. Additionally, the front panel  72  may be generally oval or elliptical and the end panels  74  may be a portion of an oval or ellipse. 
         [0046]    As shown in  FIG. 15 , each end panel  74  includes at least one tab  78  hingedly extending from a corner of the end panel  74  generally parallel to the outer edge  71 . Preferably, end panels  74  are provided with a tab  78  hingedly extending from each corner of the end panel  74 . 
         [0047]    As shown, tabs  78  are provided with a notch or slit  80  extending orthogonally to the outer edge  71  through a portion of the tab  78 . As shown, a notch or slit  80  may be positioned on the tab  78  either along the outer edge  71  of the end panel  74  or along the edge of the tab  78  facing the front panel  72 . For example, the notch or slit  80  may be positioned on one side of the tab  78  along the outer edge  71  whereas the slit or notch  80  of nearest tab  78  of an adjacent end panel  74  is positioned along the edge of the tab  78  facing the front panel  72 . Alternating the positioning of the notch  80  on adjacent edge panels  74  allows for adjacent tabs  78  to interlock. Alternatively, one or more tabs  78  may be provided with an interlocking mechanism similar to that of  FIG. 1  or  2  or any other suitable interlocking mechanism. 
         [0048]    Additionally, as shown in  FIG. 15 , a tag securing mechanism  82  may be provided to assist in retaining the hang tag  68  in a first folded configuration. More preferably, tag securing mechanisms  82  may be provided on at least two end panels  74  positioned on opposite sides of the front panel  72 . Where provided, the tag securing mechanism  82  may define two rectangular shaped tabs  84  separated by a notch or slit  86  and extending orthogonally from the central portion of the edge  71 . End panels  74  provided with a tag securing mechanism  82  are identified in  FIG. 15  as  74   a  and end panels  74  not provided with a tag securing mechanism  82  are identified in  FIG. 15  as  74   b.    
         [0049]      FIG. 16  shows a first folding example of blank  70  folded into tag  68  wherein each end panel  74  is hingedly folded along fold lines  76  toward front panel  72 . Preferably the two opposing end panels  74   b  not provided with a tag securing mechanism  82  are folded first such that the end panels  74   b  at least partially overlap the front panel  72 . Subsequently, the two opposing end panels  74   a  having tag securing mechanisms  82  are folded such that these two end panels  74   a  at least partially overlap the other two end panels  74   b  not provided with a tag securing mechanism  82 . 
         [0050]    The tag securing mechanism  82  of the opposing end panels  74   a  can be engaged by interlocking the slits  86  so that one tab  84  of a tag securing mechanism  82  is positioned over the opposing end panel  74   a  and the other tab  84  of the tag securing mechanism  82  is positioned under the opposing end panel  74   a . Alternatively, the end panels  74  can be secured using a mechanism shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  or any other suitable mechanism. In this folded example, the end panels  74  are not interlocked by tabs  78 . Tabs  78  are folded inwardly and are not visible or in use when tag  68  is formed. 
         [0051]    As shown in  FIG. 17 , blank  70  can be folded into a second folding example. As shown in  FIGS. 17 and 18 , the slit or notch  80  of one tab  78  of end panel  74  can be brought into interlocking engagement with the slit or notch  80  of a tab  78  of an adjacent end panel  74 , thereby interlocking the two adjacent panels  74  together. Each tab  78  is interlocked with a tab  78  of an adjacent end panel  74 , interlocking the end panels  74  together, until a container  88  is formed. As shown in  FIGS. 17 and 18 , completed container  88  provides a storage area  90  into which items can be placed. As shown, the storage area  90  has a generally rectangular shaped cross-section. 
         [0052]    I create a method and apparatus for identifying an item of sale and storage of the item after purchase. Various changes and modifications can be made without departing from its scope or spirit. For example, each end panel does not have to be identical in shape, and can have varying lengths and widths as relative to each other. 
         [0053]    While the preferred examples of my disclosure have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of my disclosure, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims.