Patent Publication Number: US-2006011794-A1

Title: Display hanger

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      This invention pertains generally to displays and more particular to display hangers that can be supported on a shelf and from which a merchandising display can be hung.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      To promote the sale of smaller-sized merchandise, retailers will often display the merchandise in a highly visible and alluring manner. For example, the merchandise may be suspended in a hanging manner from a shelf or other surface proximate to a checkout counter or other prominent location. Examples of merchandise that is commonly displayed in this manner include lip balm and medicine packets. The merchandise may be releasably attached to a plastic merchandising strip that is connected to and suspended from a display hanger. The display hanger in turn engages the shelf or other surface. To facilitate the engagement between the display hanger and the shelf, the shelf may be perforated with a plurality of holes that can receive support structures projecting from the flat portion of the display hanger. Often, the display hanger is designed so that a portion will lay substantially flat along the shelf and another portion, to which the merchandising strip can be connected, will project in a cantilevered manner beyond a front edge of the shelf. An exemplary design of such a display hanger is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,346,166, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. The present invention relates to improvements over that design.  
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The invention provides a display hanger from which merchandising strips displaying merchandise can be suspended. The display hanger is adapted to engage with and project from a perforated shelf. A typical perforated shelf for use with the display hanger includes a horizontal planar surface through which a plurality of holes are disposed and a front edge that extends at an inclined angle from the horizontal planar surface. The plurality of holes can be arranged in multiple rows aligned parallel to and spaced apart from the front edge. The portion of the horizontal planar surface between the front edge and the nearest row of holes is typically solid.  
      The display hanger includes an elongated support arm that extends between front and rear ends. Joined to and extending from the rear end are at least one and preferably two insertion prongs. Extending downward from the elongated arm is at least one and preferably two locating prongs. The locating prongs are spaced forward from the rear end and the insertion prongs a first predetermined distance. Located a second predetermined distance forward from the locating prongs are at least one and preferably two elongated, downward extending, wings. The wings each include a rearward edge oriented towards the rear end of the elongated arm. In particular, the rearward edges extend from the elongated arm along a forward-inclined angle.  
      When the display hanger is correctly engaged to the display shelf, the locating prongs are received in the first row of holes nearest to the front edge of the display shelf and the insertion prongs are received in a second or subsequent row of holes. When the display hanger is so engaged, the wings will be aligned generally perpendicularly to the front edge with the rearward edges opposing the front edge. Because of their inclined angle, the rearward edges can extend generally parallel to the angled front edge. This minimizes the portion of the elongated arm extending beyond the display shelf which is unsupported by the wings against cantilevered bending. The unsupported portion of the elongated arm is further minimized by likewise minimizing the second predetermined distance between the locating prongs and the wings. Additionally, the locating prongs are arranged to only be received in a first row of holes, thereby helping to ensure that the display hanger is correctly engaged to the display shelf.  
      An advantage of the invention is that it provides a display hanger in which the danger of cantilevered bending is minimized. Another advantage is that the display hanger includes locating prongs that help insure the display hanger correctly engages the display shelf. These and other advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description and the accompanying figures. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of the specification illustrate several aspects of the present invention, and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:  
       FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a display hanger designed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention engaging a display shelf and from which is suspended a merchandising display strip.  
       FIG. 2  is a top perspective view of the display hanger of  FIG. 1  disengaged from the display shelf.  
       FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of the display hanger illustrating the forward inclined angle of the rearward edges of the wings.  
       FIG. 4  is a top perspective view of the display hanger in the process of being engaged to the display shelf, with insertion prongs being inserted into holes.  
       FIG. 5  is a side elevational view of the display hanger engaged to the display shelf illustrating the offset between the front edge and the rearward edges of the wings.  
       FIG. 6  is a top perspective view of a push pin being inserted to lock together the display hanger and the display shelf.  
      While the invention will be described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, there is no intent to limit it to those embodiments. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers refer to like elements, there is illustrated in  FIG. 1 a  display hanger  100  engaging a display shelf  102  that can be located at a retail establishment. The display shelf  102  includes a generally horizontal plane  110  that defines a top surface  112  and a bottom surface  114 . Disposed between the top and bottom surfaces  112 ,  114  are a plurality of holes  116  that are arranged in multiple rows, including at least a first row  118  and a second row  120 . The display shelf  102  also includes a front edge  122  that extends downward at a given angle with respect to the horizontal plane  110 . The first and second rows  118 ,  120  are spaced apart from the front edge  122  by a solid portion  126  of the horizontal surface  110  in which no holes are formed. It should be appreciated that references to terms of direction, such as “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “down” and the like are merely for purposes of orientation and are not intended as a limitation on the scope of the invention. The display shelf can be made from any suitable material such as, for example, stamped and formed sheet metal.  
      Also illustrated in  FIG. 1  is an example of a merchandising strip  130  which is suspended from the display hanger  100  (typically two such strips are hung on the hanger  100 , one on each wing). The exemplary merchandising strip  130  is an elongated structure that can be made from plastic and includes a suspension hole  132  formed at its upper end for connecting the merchandising strip  130  to the display hanger  100 . To releasably hold merchandise, the merchandising strip  130  also includes a plurality of retainers in the form of clamping devices  134  that extend along its vertical length. So that the merchandise appears to be suspended in a highly visible manner, the display hanger  100  functions to spatially offset the merchandising strip  130  from the display shelf  102 .  
      To simultaneously support and spatially offset the merchandising strip from the display shelf, referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a preferred embodiment of the display hanger  100  includes an elongated arm  140  that extends between a front end  142  and a rear end  144 . The elongated arm  140  is shaped as a generally rectangular plate defined by the opposing front and rear ends  142 ,  144  and by parallel, elongated first and second side edges  146 ,  148  that extend between the front and rear ends. The elongated arm  140  is further divided into a forward portion  150  that is proximate to the front end  142  and a rear portion  152  proximate to the rear end  144 . Disposed into the respective front and rear portions  150 ,  152  are a front aperture  156  and a rear aperture  158 . The front and rear apertures  156 ,  158  are located approximately along a center line  154  of the elongated arm  140  that is defined midway between the first and second side edges  146 ,  148 . In the illustrated embodiment, both the front and rear apertures  156 ,  158  are circular and are spaced from the respective front and rear ends  142 ,  144 .  
      Formed into the rear portion  144  and extending downward from the elongated arm are a first locating prong  160  and a second locating prong  162 . The first and second locating prongs  160 ,  162  may be located on either side of the center line  154  and are spaced-apart from the rear end  144  a first predetermined distance that is designated by reference number  166 . In the present embodiment, wherein the elongated arm  140  is formed as a rectangular plate, the first and second locating prongs  160 ,  162  can be produced by cutting and forming downward portions of the plate.  
      Also included in the illustrated embodiment of the elongated arm  140  is a raised embossment  168  which is centrally located and has a circular shape. The raise embossment  168  provides a means for strengthening the product arm and preventing bending of the display hanger. Such strengthening and bending prevention is provided by formation of the generally flat sheet metal material from which a preferred embodiment is formed such that the strengthen means comprises projecting structure such as the embossment shown, but may also take other shapes to include formed ribs, undulations, and other formed structures. For example, ribs could extend either partially or entirely down the top of the hanger (and would thereby still extend between the support means and the mounting means). The embossment  168  or other such strengthening means is provided between the support hooks  189  or support holes  181  (either or both of which provide support means) and the mounting means which comprises one or more mounting prongs  170 ,  172 .  
      Extending from the rear end  144  in the rearward direction are a first insertion prong  170  and a second insertion prong  172 . The first and second insertion prongs  170 ,  172  are symmetrically offset on opposite sides of the center line  154  and are generally aligned with the respective first and second locating prongs  160 ,  162 . Moreover, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the first and second insertion prongs  170 ,  172  are offset below but are generally parallel to the elongated arm  140 . To achieve this effect, the insertion prongs  170 ,  172  each have a transition segment  174 ,  175  and a free end  176 ,  177 . The transition segments  174 ,  175  are integrally joined to and extend vertically downward from the rear end  144 . The free ends  176 ,  177  are joined to the transition segments  174 ,  175  and extend in a plane generally parallel to the elongated arm  140 .  
      As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , beginning a second predetermined distance  184  forward of the locating prongs  160 ,  162  and extending downward from the elongated arm  140  are a first wing  180  and parallel second wing  182 . The first and second wings  180 ,  182  extend from and are common to the respective first and second side edges  146 ,  148  of the elongated arm  140  and include respective first and second lower edges  186 ,  187 . In the illustrated embodiment, the first and second lower edges  186 ,  187  are generally parallel to the elongated arm  140  and the respective first and second side edges  146 ,  148 . The wings  180 ,  182  extend from the second predetermined distance  184  and extend to the front end  142 . For connecting with the merchandising strip  130 , each wing includes a support hook  188 ,  189  struck inwardly from the respective wing and projecting towards the elongated arm  140 . Additionally, or alternatively, each wing  180 ,  182  includes a hold which can receive the hook of a merchandise strip with a hook/hanger including metal merchandising strips (not shown) which similarly include retainers for holding merchandise.  
      The first and second wings  180 ,  182  each include a respective first and second rearward edge  190 ,  192  that extends between the particular side edges  146 ,  148  and lower edges  186 ,  187 . Referring to  FIG. 3 , the first and second rearward edges  190 ,  192  join and extend from the elongated arm  140  at the second predetermined distance  184  from the locating prongs. The rearward edges  190 ,  192  extend toward the lower edges  186 ,  187  along a forward-inclined angle. In a preferred embodiment, the forward-inclined angle is approximately 60° with respect to the elongated arm  140 , though, in other embodiments, the angle of incline may differ. Preferably the angle is matched closely to the angle of the front edge  122  of the shelf.  
      Where the first and second wings  180 ,  182  coterminate with the front end  142 , there is formed first and second forward edges  194 ,  195  that extend between the elongated arm and the lower edges  186 ,  187 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the forward edges  194 ,  195  extend perpendicularly from the elongated arm  140 .  
      The display hanger  100  can be formed from any suitable material. Preferably, the display hanger is stamped formed from an integral blank of sheet metal. As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art, the prongs, wings, and hooks can be formed by any of various known stamping and strike forming operations. In an alternative embodiment, the display hanger might be formed from injection molded plastic.  
      Referring to  FIG. 4 , to engage the display hanger  100  with the display shelf  102 , the display hanger is first directed at an angle toward the horizontal plane  112  such that the first and second insertion prongs  170 ,  172  are inserted into two adjacent holes  116  in the second row  120 . The display hanger  100  is next pivoted with respect to the display shelf  102  so that the first and second locating prongs  160 ,  162  are received in two adjacent holes in the first row  118 . To facilitate inserting the locating prongs  160 ,  162  into the holes when the display hanger  100  is pivoted, the first predetermined distance  166  between the rear end  144  and the locating prongs is gauged to accommodate the distance between the first and second rows  118 ,  120 .  
      As will be appreciated from  FIG. 5 , after the display hanger has been pivoted, the rear portion  152  of the elongated arm  140  lies substantially flat against the top surface of the horizontal plane  110  of the display shelf  102  with the front portion  150  extending beyond the front edge  122  for suspending the merchandising strip. To constrain the display hanger  100  from tilting over about the front edge  122 , the free ends  176 ,  177  of the insertion prongs  170 ,  172  extend adjacently along the bottom surface  114  of the horizontal panel  110 . This is facilitated by the downward depending transition sections  174 ,  175  that join the offset free ends  176 ,  177  to the elongated arm  140 .  
      The potential that the display hanger  100  will experience cantilevered bending is reduced because of the rearward edges  190 ,  192  of the wings  180 ,  182 . Specifically, because of their angled slant, the rearward edges  190 ,  192  are able to extend parallel to the angled front edge  122  of the display shelf  102 . As will be appreciated from  FIG. 5 , this minimizes the portion of the elongated arm  140  that is unsupported by the first and second wings  180 ,  182 . Accordingly, the portion of the elongated arm  140  that is subject to bending deformation is minimized. The danger of cantilevered bending is further reduced by ensuring that the offset between the front edge  122  of the display shelf  102  and the rearward edges  190 ,  192  is minimized. It will be appreciated that this degree of offset is a function of the second predetermined distance  184  between the locating prongs  160 ,  162  and the rearward edges  190 ,  192 . Accordingly, selecting an appropriate valve for the second predetermined distance  184  will further minimize the unsupported portion of the elongated arm  140 .  
      For ensuring that the display hanger  100  correctly engages the display shelf  102  so as to protect against cantilevered bending, and to additionally prevent the display hanger from excessively extending beyond the front edge  122 , the locating prongs  160 ,  162  are included. Specifically, referring to  FIG. 4 , when the display hanger  100  is correctly engaged to the display shelf  102 , the insertion prongs  170 ,  172  are received in the holes in the second row  120  and the locating prongs  160 ,  162  are received in the holes in the first row  118 . Accordingly, when the display hanger  100  is pivoted to the position illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the elongated arm  140  is substantially flat against the horizontal plane  110 . Referring back to  FIG. 4  however, if the insertion prongs  160 ,  162  are incorrectly inserted into the holes of the first row  180 , it will be appreciated that when the display hanger  100  is pivoted with respect to the display shelf  102 , the locating prongs will strike the solid portion  126  of the horizontal plane  110 . Accordingly, the elongated arm  140  will not lie flat against the horizontal plane  110  and thereby provides a visual indication that the display hanger  100  is incorrectly engaged to the display shelf  102 . Likewise, if the insertion prongs  160 ,  162  are incorrectly inserted into a third or fourth row of holes, then when the display hanger  100  is pivoted downwards the rear edges  190 ,  192  of the wings will strike against the solid portion  126 . Referring to  FIG. 5 , it will be appreciated that striking the rear edges  190 / 192  against the display shelf  102  during incorrect engagement is also a function of selecting an appropriate value for the second predetermined distance  184 .  
      To keep the display hanger  100  and the display shelf  102  engaged, in an embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 6 , a securing pin  200  can be used to secure the two together. The securing pin  200  includes a rounded, circular head  202  from the center of which extends a shank  204 . The shank  204  is made of multiple, resilient fingers  206  that flex outwardly from the shank. To secure the securing pin  200  to the display hanger  100  and display shelf  102  after the two are engaged, the shank  204  is inserted into the rear aperture  158  that is disposed through the rear portion  152  of the display hanger and received in a hole  116  disposed through the display shelf. As the shank  204  is inserted, the resilient fingers  206  will create an interference fit with the rear aperture  158  and the hole  116  thereby preventing the securing pin  200  from being removed. Additionally, the head  202  is positioned so as to clamp the display hanger  100  and display shelf  102  together. As will be appreciated, to accommodate the securing pin  200  in the present embodiment, the locating prongs  160 ,  162  and insertion prongs  170 ,  172  can be arranged to ensure that the rear aperture  158  aligns with a hole  116  in the display shelf  102 .  
      All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.  
      The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.  
      Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.