Abstract:
A product display tag comprising a front surface; and perpendicular side edges configured for attachment to a commercial product wherein the front surface is attached to the perpendicular side edges and a plurality of attachment sites for attaching said display tag to said product along the perpendicular side edges.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/010,025, filed on Jan. 4, 2008, which is incorporated fully herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a product hang tag, sell tag or sleeve, and more specifically to multi-point attaching hang tag with multi-page or multi-leave features and a method of making such a hang tag. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Point of sale presentation is often one of the most important yet underappreciated aspects of successful marketing of retail goods. When product features are easily visible and clearly displayed a potential buyer quickly and easily gains an understanding of the product, its advantages over a competitor&#39;s goods, and insight into unique product features which could prove useful in the purchasing decision. It is a well accepted principle that the retail display of products is a substantial factor in marketing success. Where product features, usefulness, advantages and the like can be easily discerned using an economical arrangement carried by the product, sales will typically be greater and returns less. 
         [0004]    With certain products, providing an efficient and successful means to display the product and its key features has proved challenging. For example, some school or office products, such as binders or organizers, often have their most useful components and features inside the binder or organizer. Many of the most recent advances in these products have included new and useful internal compartments and attachments. These products, however, are usually packaged and displayed in stores in a manner such that the binder or organizer is packaged in a manner that keeps it closed; making it impossible for a prospective purchaser to see what is inside. 
         [0005]    In certain instances, in order to allow a consumer to view the internal components of a binder or organizer, the binder or organizer is packaged, shelved and displayed in a manner such that that a user can manipulate and open the binder to view the internal components. Such an unrestricted display arrangement, however, is not desirable. The constant opening and manipulation of the product by consumers leads to a poor shelf life. As subsequent consumers repeatedly open and view the product, some units can become damaged or deteriorate to the point where they can no longer be offered for sale. Furthermore, loose internal components can be lost or separated from the commercial goods resulting in a high rate of returns and exchanges. Such damaged or deficient products can lead to a lower profit margin for both the retail store and the manufacturer of the product. 
         [0006]    In order to prevent the constant consumer manipulation, some binders, organizers or other book like products have been packaged in a manner wherein the product cannot be easily opened at the retail store. In such circumstances, cardboard, paper, plastic or other known packaging material is wrapped around the product such that the product may not be easily opened. In other instances, the product may be packaged in a box, a clamshell package, sleeve or another type container. Such packaging, however, is also not desirable because the internal components of the packaged product are not easily visible to the consumer. As a result, the advantages of the product over others may not be fully comprehended or appreciated by the consumer. 
         [0007]    Furthermore, some means of attaching hang tags are inadequate, since they are attached by only a single attaching device which can easily become unattached or damaged. Also such single attachment method tags generally are small in size and cannot present much information to the potential consumer. 
         [0008]    What is needed is a display hang tag that is more versatile and which enables more information to be displayed in a given area. What is also needed is a multi-point attachment method having greater surface area that is of economical construction. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The invention is directed to a product hang tag, sell tag or sleeve, and more specifically to multi-point attaching hang tag with multi-page or multi-leave features and a method of making such a hang tag. 
         [0010]    The multi-point attaching hang-tag according to the present invention is configured to wrap partially around an article of sale, for example in one particular embodiment, a binder. The hand-tag according to the present invention presents to the potential consumer a large face sheet for displaying features of the product, with smaller perpendicular surface portions that may also be used for display of product information and also serve as anchor points for a plurality of attaching devices for attaching the hang-tag to the article of sale. 
         [0011]    The hang tag according to the present invention may also have one or more overlay sheets that are attached to the hang tag face by an articulating spine. The spine of the multi-page overlay sheet is attached to a large face sheet which is configured to be attached to a binder or other product. 
         [0012]    At least one surface of the face includes indicia relating to the product to which the multi-point attaching hang tag is attached, and may further include additional indicia relating to the product on the front and back of the articulating overlay sheet. 
         [0013]    The invention is further directed to a method of manufacturing such a multi point attaching hang tag. The method includes forming two generally rectangular elongate gaps or interruptions in the sheet, defining a spine separating a pair of pages. Forming carried out in this method step leaves at least one bridge of sheet material connecting each page at least to the spine, if not one another. Forming preferably is performed by punching or stamping the sheet such as using a die, a press, a laser cutter, a fluid injection cutter, or another suitable cutting arrangement. 
         [0014]    In a preferred method, the formed overlay sheets are laminated on both sides covering substantially the entire surface area of both sides of each page and the spine. Laminate material thus extends on both sides across the gap providing a region of less thickness and stiffness that defines a page hinge there along. Such a construction produces a durable, aesthetically attractive and yet economical hang tag multi-page overlay sheet. 
         [0015]    Objects, features and advantages of the invention include a laminated multi point attaching product hang tag which may be equipped with a multi-page overlay sheet having a hinge that is mountable to a backing sheet of the hang tag that provides additional surface area for product description and a hang tag arrangement that is of economical construction, that is robust, that is reliable, that is long-lasting, that is more durable, that is of simple construction, and which is economical to apply and otherwise use. 
         [0016]    Therefore, the present invention includes a product display tag comprising a front surface and perpendicular side edges configured for attachment to a commercial product wherein said front surface is attached to said perpendicular side edges and a plurality of attachment sites for attaching said display tag to said product along said perpendicular side edges. 
         [0017]    Various other features and advantages of the present invention will also be made apparent from the following detailed description and the drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the Multi-Point Attaching Product Hang Tag according to the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the Multi-Point Attaching Product Hang Tag according to the present invention attached to a binder. 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the Multi-Point Attaching Product Hang Tag according to the present invention attached to a binder. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0021]      FIG. 1  illustrates a preferred embodiment of a product display multi point attaching hang tag  20  of the invention attached to a binder  22 . Multi point attaching hang tag  20  is attached to binder  22  using plastic attachment tabs  24  inserted through the exterior of binder  22  and secured to the hang tag  20 , such as is in a manner known in the art. It is understood that hang tag  20  could be attached to wide variety of products other than the illustrated binder  22  and the use of the inventive hang tag  20  with such other products is included in the scope of the present invention. As will become apparent from the description that follows, the particular features of the display multi point attaching hang tag  20  are particularly conducive for commercial display use with, for example, book-like products incorporating a spine interposed between a front and back cover and an opening therebetween. 
         [0022]    Binder  22  is of a conventional type known in the art and is depicted in  FIG. 1  in a closed position. Binder  22  includes a front cover  26 , back cover  28  and a binder spine  30 . If desired, the binder  22  can be equipped with a side wall  32  that extends partially circumferentially around the binder  22 , such as from the spine  30  within the space defined between the front cover  26  and back cover  28 . Front cover  26  and back cover  28  preferably are hingedly connected to spine  30 . If desired, the binder  22  can be of spineless construction. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , front cover  26  and back cover  28  are substantially aligned or overlap when binder  22  is closed. 
         [0023]    Binder side wall  32  is generally comprised of an upper half  34  connected to the front cover  26  and lower half  36  connected to the back cover  28  of binder  22 . Releasably connecting the halves  34 ,  36  of the side wall  32  is a zipper  38 . Zipper  38  can be used to secure binder halves  34 ,  36  together thereby securing and keeping the contents housed within binder  22  together. 
         [0024]    As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , the multi-point attaching hang tag according to the present invention has a front surface  25  which covers a portion of front cover  26  and is attached to the binder  22  by way of attachment tabs  24  which are secured to side wall  36  through perpendicular side edges  27  of multi point attaching hang tag  20 . It should be pointed out that the attachment point for tabs  24  through the perpendicular side edge and perpendicular side edges  27  is on the top or front portion of side wall  36 . In other words, not extending across zipper  38 . In this way binder  22  can be opened while the multi point attaching hang tag is secured to the binder unlike a sleeve type display tag. In this way the multi point attaching hang tag according to the present invention is securely fastened, presents a large surface area to the potential purchaser and allows for the product to be manipulated by the potential purchaser. 
         [0025]    Furthermore, it should be noted that front surface  25  provides a large surface area for the display of information and features related to the product. As can be seen, one of the benefits of the attachment method and configuration of the multi point attaching hang tag according to the present invention is that the front surface  25  display is readily viewable by the user because of the secure attachment to the binder  22 . In this way the product information and features are more readily shown to the potential customer. 
         [0026]    Referring additionally to  FIGS. 2-3 , the hang tag  20  preferably includes at least a front surface  25  and overlay sheets  29  and  39  mounted to the front surface  25 . Front surface  25  preferably is a generally rectangular unitary member having perpendicular side edges  27 . With specific reference to  FIG. 3 , the overlay sheets  29  and  39  are of generally the same size and shape as front surface  25  and pivots at a hinge  35 . Overlay sheets  29  and  39  may also have an outwardly projecting tab  31 , such as depicted in  FIG. 3 , which can be conveniently grasped by a prospective purchaser to manipulate the overlay sheets  29  and  39  from an closed to an open position and thereby easily view the front and back of the sheet. It should be noted that while two overlay sheets are depicted, any number of overlay sheets are possible. Additional overlay sheets may be incorporated to the multi-point attaching hang tag according to the present invention. 
         [0027]    The hang tag  20  is formed of a sheet of material that preferably is of fibrous construction. Suitable backing sheet material includes card stock, thick paper stock, lightweight cardboard, another fibrous-based stock or sheet material, or the like that is formable by cutting, preferably die-cutting, laser cutting, or the like. The overlay sheet  29  preferably is of like construction and composition. 
         [0028]    In one preferred embodiment, the sheet material has a thickness of at least 0.5 millimeter and typically has a thickness of between 0.5 millimeter and 2 millimeters. Referring once again to  FIG. 1 , the sheet material has at least one indicia carrying surface on which indicia is disposed thereon, such as, by printing or the like. Such indicia can take the form of advertising, logos, trademarks, graphics, instructions, feature listings, description text, etc. 
         [0029]    In the preferred embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the front surface  25  of the multi point attaching hang tag and the front surface of overlay sheet  29  and  39  and back surfaces  33  and  37  of the overlay sheet may contain indicia relating to the binder  20 . Preferably, the front surface  25  of the multi point attaching hang tag and the front  29  and  39  and back  33  and  37  of the overlay sheets contain indicia relating to the product thereby maximizing the quantity of information conveyable using a minimum of hang tag surface area. 
         [0030]    To increase durability and help preserve indicia, each sheet front and back surfaces in the preferred embodiment depicted in  FIGS. 1-3  are preferably laminated with at least one layer of laminate material. Laminate material can be applied in a conventional manner, such as by bonding, using an adhesive, employing heat, or in another manner. Where indicia are applied, it preferably is done before any forming, e.g., cutting, and laminating is performed. 
         [0031]    Although backing sheet multi point attaching hang tag front surface  25  is illustrated in the preferred embodiment as a generally rectangular member, it is understood that front surface  25  could be cut in any variety of shapes, depending on the desired application and associated product. In the illustrated embodiment, front surface  25  is cut in a manner so as to cover a portion of the binder  20  top cover  26 , while still allowing internal access to the binder. 
         [0032]    The overlay sheet  29  is mounted to the front multi point attaching hang tag  20  by an articulating hinge  35 . With reference to  FIG. 3 , this construction enables either front surface  29  and  39  of the overlay sheet or back surface  33  and  37  to be turned by pivoting the page along its corresponding hinge region and as a result, a prospective purchaser can view indicia on either side of either page. 
         [0033]    The hang tag  20  and overlay sheet  29  are all preferably cut from a single fibrous sheet, preferably paper card stock or the like. It is should be understood that the hang tag  20  and overlay sheet  29  pages may be cut in a wide variety of shapes and configurations depending on the particular application and all such modifications are contemplated as being within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0034]    Graphics or indicia (not shown) are preferably printed on both the front side and backside of the hang tag  20  and overlay sheets  29  and  39 . Preferably the hang tag  20  and overlay sheet  29  are laminated following an initial cutting stage as will be discussed in greater detail below. 
         [0035]    The laminate provides a suitable coating for paper stock while allowing the hang tag  20  and overlay sheets  29  and  39  to be repeatedly flipped back and forth without cracking or tearing. Such laminate material can be, for example, composed of plastic, e.g., polyethylene, polypropylene, vinyl, etc., another type of polymeric material, a synthetic material of wholly different origin or another material suitable for laminate use. 
         [0036]    It is also to be understood that, although the foregoing description and drawings describe and illustrate in detail one or more preferred embodiments of the present invention, to those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates, the present disclosure will suggest many modifications and constructions, as well as widely differing embodiments and applications without thereby departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
         [0037]    Various alternatives are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter regarded as the invention.