Patent Publication Number: US-2004050727-A1

Title: Foldable element for hanging display of a garment

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] The present invention relates to a foldable display element for merchandise such as a garment or the like. More particularly, the present invention relates to a foldable display element for hanging display of a garment that provides for multidirectional display of product indicia.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] In the retail industry, it is common for certain forms of merchandise, such as garments and the like, to be presented for sale to consumers in a hanging display. In such a display, the garment is typically received by a support member, such as a hanger, having a hook that engages a display rod for support of the garment.  
       [0003] It is known to provide a display assembly for hanging display of a garment in which a foldable display element receives the hook of the support member for the garment and is supported by the hanger along with the garment. Such foldable elements, typically made of a paperboard material, may provide for protection of the garment and may also provide convenient surfaces for presentation of various indicia relating to the garment. Typical indicia relating to a displayed garment may include product identifying information such as branding information or photographic or other likeness of a person wearing the garment associated with the display assembly. The indicia may also include other product related information such as garment sizing information, UPC coding, information regarding product care, consumer warning information, etc.  
       [0004] Known foldable display elements include a main fold line that divides the display element into a front panel and a rear panel. The display elements include an opening that is located at, or near, the fold line for receipt of the hanger hook. The front panel of the display element typically bears indicia that identifies and distinguishes the associated garment such as branding information and photographic likeness of the garment, for example. The rear panel most commonly is reserved for general information regarding the product such as sizing information or care or warning information, for example. The display element therefore is designed to forwardly present the product identifying and distinguishing indicia to a consumer with respect to the display assembly. Such a construction may be sufficient in those situations where a consumer may readily gain access to the front of the displayed garments, by sliding the hook of the display assembly with respect to the display rod for example.  
       [0005] However, requirements for high volume sales have lead to increasingly crowded display conditions in many retail settings. The resulting close side-by-side positioning of displayed garments results in concealment of the front and back panels of the display element, and the product identifying and distinguishing indicia presented thereon, from consumers. Such concealment defeats the intent of the indicia for rapid identification of the displayed article. This is particularly detrimental where the manufacturer may have spend significant amounts of money in developing a trademark or a distinctive display that would serve to readily distinguish the garment if it was not concealed from view. In such a setting, a consumer would either have to forcibly separate adjacent ones of the displayed garments or physically remove the garment from the display rack in order to gain access to the indicia presented by the display assembly.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006] According to one aspect, the invention provides a foldable display element for hanging display of a garment that provides for multi-directional display of product indicia. The foldable display element includes a main body having opposite sides and opposite ends. The main body includes an opening for receiving a hanger and fold lines extending from opposite sides of the opening to the sides of the main body to divide the main body into first and second panels. The foldable display element further includes a side panel connected to one of the sides of the main panel and extending laterally with respect to the main body. The side panel includes a pair of relatively closely spaced fold lines extending between the opposite sides of the side panel to divide the side panel into first and second sub-panels located on opposite sides of a narrow intermediate panel. The fold lines of the side panel provide for a folded condition in which the second sub-panel overlies at least a portion of the first sub-panel.  
       [0007] According to another aspect, the invention provides an assembly for hanging display of a garment. The assembly includes a hanger and a folded display element including a body portion having an opening in which the hanger is received for support of the display element. The body portion includes fold lines extending from opposite sides of the opening to divide the body portion into front and rear panels. A lateral display portion of the folded display element extends from one side of the body portion and has a pair of closely spaced fold lines extending between opposite sides thereof. The fold lines form an extension panel connected to the body portion, an intermediate panel located between the fold lines and a return panel defining a terminal end of the lateral display portion. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0008]FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a foldable display element according to the present invention;  
     [0009]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the display element of FIG. 1 shown in a folded condition; and  
     [0010]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a foldable display element according to the present invention shown receiving the hook of a hanger for display of a Halloween costume. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0011] Referring to the drawings where like numerals refer to like elements, there is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 a foldable display element or blank  10  according to the present invention. The foldable display element or blank  10  has a front surface  11  and an opposite rear surface  13  and is preferably made from paperboard or cardboard.  
     [0012] The display element  10  includes a main body  12  having opposite sides  14  and  16  and opposite ends  15  and  17 . The display element  10  further includes a side panel  18  having opposite sides  20 ,  22 . The side panel  18  extends laterally from side  16  of the main body  12 . The extension of side panel  18  from side  16  of main body  12  provides for lateral display of product indicia from main body  12  when the blank  10  is folded and received by a supported garment as will be described in greater detail.  
     [0013] The main body  12  includes an elongated slot  24  having opposite ends  26 ,  28 . The slot  24  extends laterally across a middle portion of the main body  12  such that the slot  24  is located in a substantially central position between sides  14  and  16  of the main body  12 . The main body  12  also includes fold lines  30 ,  32 , most preferably crease lines, that extend between the sides  14 ,  16 , respectively, of the main body  12  and the ends  26 ,  28 , respectively of the slot  24 . The fold lines  30 ,  32  and the slot  24  divide the main body  12  into first and second panels  34 ,  36 , respectively. The fold lines  30 ,  32  and slot  34  are positioned between the ends  15 ,  17  such that they are closer to end  15  than to end  17  such that the first panel  34  has a height that is greater than that of the second panel  36 . As shown in FIG. 2, the folding of the main body  12  along the fold lines  30 ,  32  positions the second panel  36  behind the first panel  34  such that the relatively smaller second panel  36  overlies a portion of the first panel  34 . The fold lines  30 ,  32  are aligned with slot  24  such that the fold lines  30 ,  32  contact the ends  26 ,  28  of the slot  24  substantially centrally thereof thereby dividing the slot into halves when the main body is folded along the fold lines  30 ,  32  (FIG. 2).  
     [0014] The side panel  18  is connected to the first panel  34  of main body  12  such that side  22  of the side panel  18  joins side  16  of the main body  12  adjacent fold line  32 . The side panel  18  will therefore extend from an uppermost portion of the main body  12  when the main body  12  is folded along fold lines  30 ,  32  (FIG. 2). The side panel  18  includes a pair of closely spaced fold lines  38 , most preferably crease lines, that are located intermediately with respect to the side panel  18  and extend across the side panel  18  between sides  20 ,  22  of the side panel. The fold lines  38  divide the side panel  18  into first and second sub-panels  40 ,  42 , respectively, located on opposite sides of the fold lines  38  and a relatively narrow intermediate panel  44  located between the fold lines  38 . The first sub-panel  40  of the unfolded display element  10  of FIG. 1 is adjacent to the main body  12  with respect to the fold lines  38  and the second sub-panel is remote to the main body  12 . As will be described in greater detail, when the display element  10  is folded, the first sub-panel  40  will extend from the main body  12  while the second sub-panel  42  will be returned toward the main body  12 .  
     [0015] The sub-panels  40 ,  42  include curved extensions  46 ,  48 , respectively, that project from side  22  of the side panel  18 . The extensions  46 ,  48  have ends located at the fold lines  38  such that the extension  48  of sub-panel  42  will overly the extension  46  of sub-panel  40  when the side panel  18  is folded along fold lines  38  as shown in FIG. 2. The extensions  46 ,  48  are substantially equal in size. The fold lines  38  are closer to the intersection between sub-panel  40  and the first panel  36  of main body  12  than to an end  50  of sub-panel  42 . As a result, sub-panel  42  has a width that is greater than that of sub-panel  40  and extends beyond an end of extension  48  to define an end portion  51  of sub-panel  42  at a terminal end of side panel  18 .  
     [0016] Referring to FIG. 2, the display element  10  is shown in a folded condition. As described previously, main panel  12  is folded along fold lines  30 ,  32  such that the second panel  36  overlies a portion of the first panel  34  behind the first panel  34  in the view of FIG. 2. In the folded condition, the first panel  34  forms a front panel for the display element  10  and the second panel  36  forms a rear panel. The folding of the main panel  12  along fold lines  30 ,  32  positions the slot  24  in an upper location with respect to the main body  12 . The above-described positioning of the fold lines  30 ,  32  to divide the opposite ends  26 ,  28  of slot  24  into halves causes the slot  24  to form a shallow notch when the main body  12  is folded along fold lines  30 ,  32 .  
     [0017] The laterally extending side panel  18  is folded to cause return of sub-panel  42  such that sub-panel  42  substantially overlies sub-panel  40  but is separated from sub-panel  40 , at least at one side of the sub-panels, by the intermediate panel  44 . This returned configuration of the side panel  18  provides for presentation of the front surface  11  of the display element  10  from three principal directions. Specifically, with respect to FIG. 2, sub-panel  40  forms a first face the front surface  11  of side panel  18  is displayed substantially forwardly (sub-panel  40 ), rearwardly (sub-panel  42 ) and sidewardly (intermediate panel  44 ). Such multi-directional display of surface  11  is particularly beneficial for hanging display of a garment, such as a Halloween costume, in crowded conditions as will be described in greater detail.  
     [0018] The curved extensions  46  and  48  project from the side panels  40 ,  42 , respectively, such that the extensions  46 ,  48  form uppermost portions of the display element  10 . The position of end portion  50  of sub-panel  42  at the terminal end of side panel  18  positions the end portion  50  in an overlying relationship to the rear panel  36  of main body  12 . This overlying position of end portion  50  provides for securement of the sub-panel  42  to the main body  12 , if desired, by stapling for example.  
     [0019] Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown an assembly  52  that provides for hanging display of a Halloween costume  54  from a display rod  56 . The assembly  52  includes a folded display element  58  that is identical to the folded display element  10  of FIG. 2 with the exception that the main body  12  and side panel  18  of display element  58  bear printed indicia relating to the supported and displayed costume  54 . The hook  62  of a hanger  60  is received by slot  24  of the display element  58  such that the hook  62  extends from the display element  58  to engage display rod  56  for support of the hanger  60 . The hanger  60  includes support arms  64  that extend laterally from a base portion of the hook  62  and prevent passage of the hanger  60  through the slot  24  thereby providing support for the display element  58 . In the well-known manner, the laterally extending arms  64  also provide support for the Halloween costume  54 .  
     [0020] The relatively large size of the front panel  34  of the main body  12  provides a suitable location for the presentation of product indicia which may include a photographic or artwork likeness  66  of the costume to identify the displayed costume  54  and distinguish it from other costumes. The relatively smaller size of the rear panel  36  (not shown) provides a suitable location for printed indicia such as costume size information, warning information, UPC coding, etc.  
     [0021] As shown in FIG. 3, the multi-directional presentation that is provided by the returning side panel  18  is ideally suited for presenting printed indicia relating to the supported costume  54 . The sub-panels  40 ,  42  and intermediate panel  44  of the side panel  18  bear smaller versions  68 ,  70 , respectively, of the photographic or artwork likeness  66  from the first panel  34  of main body  12 . Similar to likeness  66 , the smaller versions  68 ,  70  identify the costume  54  being supported by the hanger  60 . As described above, the returned side panel  18  provides for multi-directional presentation of the artwork versions  68 ,  70 . The artwork versions  68  are presented substantially forwardly and rearwardly on sub-panels  40 ,  42 , respectively, in the perspective view of FIG. 3, and version 70 is presented substantially sidewardly. Such multi-directional presentation of indicia such as artwork versions  68 ,  70  by the folded side panel  18  serves to distinguish the displayed costume  54  even when the costume is supported in crowded display conditions.  
     [0022] Although the present invention has been shown in FIG. 3 as providing support for Halloween costume  54 , the invention is not so limited. The present invention has application for hanging display of garments and other merchandise that may be supported by a hanger for receipt by the hook portion of the hanger by slot  24 .  
     [0023] The side panel  18  of the foldable display element need not be integrally formed with the main body  12  from a single section of a foldable material. In a variant of the invention, the side panel could be formed initially as a separate element for subsequent attachment to the first panel  34  of the main body  12 . An adhesive placed on one of the surfaces of the side panel on a leading end portion thereof would provide a suitable method of attaching the side panel. The leading end portion of side panel would be positioned to overly the front surface  11  of the first panel adjacent side  16  for contact between the adhesive and the main body  12 . Similarly, an adhesive could be placed on the opposite terminal end portion of the side panel for securing that end of the side panel to the rear surface  13  of front panel  34 . It is also conceivable that the terminal end portion of second sub-panel the side panel could be secured, by gluing for example, to the leading end portion prior to attachment of the leading end portion to the main body  12 .  
     [0024] As an alternative to gluing the terminal end portion of the side panel, or stapling as discussed above, the terminal end portion could include projecting tabs engaging corresponding slots in the main body  12  or in another part of the packaging associated with the folded display element  58 . It is also conceivable that slots be included adjacent the leading end of the side panel for engagement by tabs located at the opposite terminal end. A folded and secured side panel could then be attached to the main body  12 , by an adhesive for example.