Abstract:
An apparatus and process for simultaneously securing a plurality of display articles onto a hangable merchandiser are disclosed. The apparatus includes a strip shaped hangar and a detachable handle secured to the strip. The handle is used to secure the display articles to the strip and then the handle is detached from the strip. The process reduces the cost of securing display articles to the strip.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention generally relates to point of purchase display systems that are suitable for use in retail environments. The present invention also relates to processes for assembling the display systems with the articles to be displayed. 
   Merchandising systems are used in retail stores to display items for sale in an attractive, easy to access and space efficient manner. To be commercially viable, the merchandising systems must meet a number of requirements. Some of the more important requirements are that the merchandisers be inexpensive to manufacture, utilize a minimum amount of labor to load the items onto the merchandiser and occupy little volume during shipment and/or use in the store. Ideally, the merchandiser is fully loaded at the factory with the articles to be sold and then, with little additional effort on the part of the store employee, the loaded merchandiser can be setup in the store. 
   A variety of merchandising systems that address the above described issues are known. One such system uses hangable strips to display the articles to be sold. However, each strip incurs labor costs associated with securing the articles to the strip. In one example, the strip is a metal rod with clips secured thereto and distributed along the length of the rod. Each package to be sold must be manually secured to a clip. This action requires individual handling of each package thus adding to the final cost of the product. 
   As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,195,877, a machine can be used to secure the items to be sold to the hang strip. The machine provides a supply of hang strip material and an item attachment station that enables the items to be individually connected to the strip. While the described apparatus is faster than loading the strips by hand, an operator must individually handle each item to be loaded on the strip. Furthermore, the design, construction and maintenance of the machine add to the final cost of loading the product onto the strip. 
   Another example of a strip merchandiser is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,145,675. This strip merchandiser utilizes a tongue and at least one shoulder that protrudes from the surface of the strip to secure the packages to the strip. Unfortunately, the design of the merchandiser requires that the packages be individually loaded on the strip. Thus the cost of loading the strip remains high. 
   Disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,103,970 is a collapsible display system. The system described therein includes a flexible, fan foldable strip that can be loaded with items to be sold and then collapsed into a compact stack for shipping. As with the other merchandising systems described above, this system requires that each item secured to the strip be individually handled. Thus, the cost of loading the strip must be incurred and passed along to the consumer. 
   Accordingly, there is a need for a merchandising system that will substantially reduce the cost of loading items to be sold onto a hangable strip by enabling an individual to simultaneously load more than one item at a time onto the strip. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In one embodiment, the present invention is an apparatus that enables the simultaneous loading of a plurality of display articles onto a hangable strip shaped merchandiser. The apparatus includes a strip shaped element and a detachable handle in contact with the strip. The strip has an undulating cross sectional configuration having a series of folds. The strip includes intermediate segments that are located between sequential folds in the strip shaped element. The intermediate segments include connection means located thereon. The detachable handle contacts the series of folds at one or more points of contact. 
   In another embodiment, the present invention is a process. One step of the process includes providing an apparatus having a handle and an undulating strip member secured to one another. The strip includes a plurality of releasable connection means located along the length of the strip. Another step includes providing a plurality of display articles that each have at least one releasable engagement means. Another step includes contacting the apparatus&#39; strip to the plurality of display articles so that the strip&#39;s connection means engage the display articles&#39; engagement means thereby releasably securing the display articles to the strip. In another step, the handle is separated from the strip to which the display articles are secured. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a side view of an apparatus of this invention; 
       FIG. 2A  shows the top view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 2B  shows the bottom view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 2C  shows one end of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 2D  shows another end of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is an enlarged side view of a portion of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged side view of an alternate embodiment of an apparatus of this invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a side view of an apparatus of this invention positioned above a plurality of articles to be secured to the strip; 
       FIG. 6  is a side view of an apparatus of this invention immediately prior to the display articles engaging the strip; 
       FIG. 7  is a side view of an apparatus of this invention engaging the articles to be displayed; 
       FIG. 8  is an isometric view of the apparatus of this invention with display articles secured to the apparatus; 
       FIG. 9  is a side view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 7  after the handle has been separated from the strip; 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a fully loaded apparatus of this invention as the strip is pulled from its container; and 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a display article that could be secured to the strip. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring now to the drawings, which are intended to illustrate the preferred embodiments of the invention,  FIG. 1  shows an apparatus  10  that includes an undulating strip shaped element  12  and a handle  14 . Strip element  12  includes a first series of folds  16  that are substantially aligned with one another thereby forming a first edge  18  (see  FIG. 3 ) which is an imaginary line that passes along the outer surfaces of the first series of folds  16 . Strip element  12  also includes a second series of folds  20  that are substantially aligned with one another thereby forming a second edge  22  (see  FIG. 3 ) which is an imaginary line that passes along the outer surfaces of the second series of folds  20 . The folds function as hinges that allow the strip to straighten as will be explained later. Between sequential folds are intermediate segments  30 . Some of the intermediate segments, such as the segment between folds  24  and  28 , include a connection means  32  and are referred to herein as connection segments  33 . Other intermediate segments, such as the segment between folds  24  and  26 , do not include a connection means and are referred to as guiding segments  35 . The guiding segments are used to force the display article toward the opposing connection segment so that the display article&#39;s engagement means can easily and reliably engage the strip&#39;s connection means. Guiding segments  35  include a curved portion  37  that forces the display card toward connection means  32 . Curved portion  37  is located proximate the fold that connects the guiding segment to its abutting connection segment. A reinforcing rib  39  stiffens the curved portion  37  so that it will not yield during the attachment process. Rib  39  also contacts an end of protrusion  60  thereby insuring that folds  60  are properly spaced along the length of handle  14 . Strip shaped element  12  has two ends. The leading end  54  of strip  12  may include a flat rectangular section  58  onto which information pertaining to the product may be printed. In addition, leading end  54  includes a hook which functions as a means for securing a strip loaded with display articles to a support structure such as a shelf in a store. 
   Attached to strip  12  is handle  14 . The strip and handle are secured to one another at a plurality of points of contact  42 . Handle  14  includes an elongated portion  44  that traverses virtually the entire length of first edge  18 . In this embodiment, elongated portion  44  has a first end  46  and a second end  48  (see  FIG. 4 ). To facilitate practical handling of apparatus  10 , strip  12  should be connected to handle  14  at two or more points of contact. One point of contact should be near the first end  46  of handle  44  and another point of contact should be near the second end  48  of handle portion  44 . Additional points of contact may be needed near the middle of handle portion  44  to prevent sagging of the undulated strip when the apparatus is held by an operator as shown in  FIG. 5 . A terminal section  50  abuts first end  46  to form a T-shaped handle. Another component of handle  14  is midsection  52  which is secured to the side of the handle opposite the points of contact  42 . Midsection  52  is preferably shaped to facilitate manual grasping of the apparatus as shown by the phantom hand shown in  FIG. 4 . Several protrusions  60  extend from elongated portion  44  toward strip  12 . The protrusions are located between consecutive folds in the first series of folds. The protrusions serve as spacers between the folds. 
     FIGS. 2A ,  2 B,  2 C and  2 D show the top, bottom, left side and right side views, respectively, of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 . 
   The preferred embodiment of connection means  32  is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . However, the connection means could take a variety of shapes provided the connection means releasably secures the display articles to strip  12 . The connection means may be formed as an integral part of the strip shaped element or the connection means may be formed separately and then secured to the strip by the use of an adhesive or mechanical attachment. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a first embodiment of connection means  32  are formed on the surfaces of connection segments  33 . In this embodiment, the connection means includes a tab  34  that has a proximate end  36 , contacting connection segment  33 , and a distal end  38 . Cavity  40 , which is the space between tab  34  and connection segment  33 , provides a releasable connection that is used to engage the engagement means on the display articles as will be explained below. In the preferred embodiment, only one connection means is formed on every other intermediate segment. However, if desired, more than one connection means could be secured to a single connection segment. Furthermore, connection means could be secured to every intermediate segment rather than every other segment. 
   A second embodiment of the connection means is shown in  FIG. 4 . In this embodiment, a flexible projection  70  extends from connection segment  33  to form a barb or finger  72  that can be used to trap a portion of the display article&#39;s planar component  102  between connection segment  33  and projection  70 . To function properly, the distance between the free end of finger  72  and connection segment  33 , designated distance “C” in  FIG. 4 , must be less than the thickness of planar component  102  which is designated as distance D in  FIG. 4 . Because friction is used to secure the display article to the strip, the planar component does not need an opening  104  defined therein as shown in  FIG. 11 . To remove the display article shown in  FIG. 4  from a fully extended strip as generally shown in  FIG. 10 , the consumer would pull on the display article with sufficient force to overcome the friction between the planar component and the flexible projection. 
   An apparatus of this invention may be manufactured using an injection molding process that forms the apparatus as a unitary component. The apparatus can be injection molded from materials such as polypropylene, styrene, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) and polyethylene. The material used will influence the design parameters of the apparatus, especially the thickness of the points of contact and folds. Critical aspects of an injection molded apparatus are the points of contact that secure the strip to the handle and the folds that define the first and second edges of the strip. The points of contact must be frangible so that the handle can be easily separated from the strip by twisting the handle about the elongated section&#39;s longitudinal axis until the points of contact are broken thereby releasing the handle from the strip. The points of contact must be able to keep the handle and strip secured to one another during normal handling of the apparatus prior to contacting the connection means to the display articles as will be explained below. At the same time, the points of contact must be frangible so that the handle can be easily separated from the strip by twisting the handle with one hand. Preferably, the strength of the points of contact will allow the handle to be separated from the strip by turning the handle&#39;s terminal section  50  one quarter of a turn either clockwise or counterclockwise. If needed, the handle may be turned two or more times to insure complete separation of the handle from the strip. 
   The folds,  16  and  20 , that define the first and second edges of strip  12  are critical parts because the folds must act as durable hinges. The folds must be sufficiently flexible to allow the collapsed strip to be straightened after the strip has been loaded with display items and then hung from a support structure. If the folds are too stiff, the loaded strip will not be able to elongate and function in a satisfactory manner. If the folds are too thin, the strip could tear at the folds thus destroying the integrity of the strip. 
   An alternative to making the apparatus as a unitary component is to make strip  12  and handle  14  as separate components and then secure them to one another. The apparatus could be designed so that the handle is secured to the folded strip by an interference fit. The apparatus could also be assembled by gluing the handle to the folded strip provided the glued connections can be easily broken by twisting the handle as described above. In another embodiment, the strip could be formed from individually molded connection segments and guiding segments which are joined to one another to form a flexible strip which is then attached to a handle. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 5 ,  6 ,  7  and  8 , the preferred process for securing display articles to a folded strip merchandiser will now be described. Beginning with  FIG. 5 , apparatus  10  is provided. The apparatus includes handle  14  and undulating strip shaped element  12  that are secured to one another. Strip  12  has a plurality of releasable connection means  32  located along the length of the strip. Apparatus  10  is positioned over a plurality of display articles  100 . The articles are arranged in an open ended container  101 . As shown in  FIG. 11 , each display article has a planar component  102 , such as a rectangularly shaped piece of paperboard, that defines an opening  104  therethrough and a shallow cup shaped tray typically formed of a transparent thermoformable material secured to the planar component. An edge  106  defines the perimeter of the planar component. Preferably, opening  104  is located proximate edge  106 . Referring again to  FIG. 5 , the display articles are aligned and separated within the container to correspond to the distance between the strip&#39;s connection means. Each article has at least one releasable engagement means incorporated into the article. In this embodiment, the engagement means is the opening  104  in planar component  102 . As shown by the phantom hand in  FIG. 5 , the apparatus can be easily controlled with one hand. 
     FIG. 6  discloses a container  101  holding a plurality of display articles  100  and an apparatus  10  that has been partially inserted over the display articles. In this view, an edge  106  of each display article&#39;s planar component  102  is contacting the convex surface of curved portion  37  which forms a part of guiding segment  35 . As the apparatus is forced toward the display articles, the planar component is laterally displaced toward tab  34  which is designed to extend through opening  104  in component  102 . Reliable insertion of the tab into the opening is assured by the relative positioning of the curved portion of guiding segment  35  and the distal end of tab  34 . Specifically, the curved portion of the guiding segment must extend laterally toward and beyond the distal end  38  of tab  34 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the preferred arrangement of tab  34  and curved portion  37  is achieved when the shortest distance between the distal end  38  of tab  34  and the connection segment from which tab  34  extends, shown as distance A in  FIG. 3 , is equal to or greater than the shortest distance, represented by distance B in  FIG. 3 , between the curved portion  37  of guiding segment  35  and the connection segment from which tab  34  extends. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the motion of inserting apparatus  10  onto the plurality of display articles forces edge  106  of planar component  102  toward the guiding segment where the edge contacts the convex surface of curved portion  37  of guiding segment  35  thereby forcing the planar component in the opposite direction and against the tab. Due to the contact between the tab and planar component, the tab immediately extends through opening  104  as soon as opening  104  passes the distal end  38  of tab  34 . 
     FIG. 7  represents the step of fully contacting the apparatus&#39; strip to the plurality of display articles so that the strip&#39;s releasable connection means completely engage the display articles&#39; releasable engagement means. The apparatus is loaded by grasping apparatus  10  about midsection  52  of handle  14  and forcing the entire apparatus downward onto the plurality of display articles until tabs  34  are able to extend through openings  104  in the display articles&#39; planar component  102 . The apparatus may then be pulled away from the display articles to force the portion of the planar component located between opening  104  and the planar component&#39;s edge  106  to become firmly wedged in cavity  40  thereby suspending the article from the strip member. 
     FIG. 8  shows an isometric view of a loaded apparatus prior to separating handle  14  from strip  12 . A plurality of display articles  100  are releasably secured to strip  12 . Protrusions  60  extend from handle  14  and separate portions of the strip&#39;s intermediate segments from one another. The flat, rectangular section  58  of strip  12  forms a first end. 
     FIG. 9  discloses a cross section of container  101  holding a plurality of display articles  100  after the apparatus&#39; strip has fully engaged the display articles, the handle has been separated from the strip  12  and the leading end&#39;s rectangular section  58  has been folded toward the first edge  18  of undulating strip  12 . Container  101  can be closed by folding over the container&#39;s flaps  103  and sealing the container with glue or tape. The loaded container can then be shipped to a store where a store employee can open the box, grasp the leading end of strip  12  and pull the loaded strip from the box as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
   Shown in  FIG. 10  is a strip as it is pulled from a container after the strip has been loaded with a plurality of display articles as described above. The loaded strip is pulled from the container by grasping the leading end  54  of undulating strip shaped element  12  and pulling the loaded strip from the container. Because each of the display articles has been secured to the strip by engaging each of the display articles with a connection means located on the strip, the display articles are removed from the container as the strip is pulled from the container 
   The above description is considered that of the preferred embodiments only. Modifications of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art and to those who make or use the invention. Therefore, it is understood that the embodiments shown in the drawings and described above are merely for illustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention which is defined by the following claims as interpreted according to the principles of patent law.