Patent Publication Number: US-7588144-B2

Title: Display unit adapted to secure cuff links

Description:
This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 120 from application Ser. No. 11/216,268 filed Aug. 30, 2005, entitled “Tie &amp; Handkerchief Retail Display Unit,” which is hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in its entirety herein. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to packaging, and more particularly to retail display units for clothing and clothing accessories. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   It is generally desirable in the sale of fashion items and accessories to present the merchandise in a manner that permits potential customers to have a good look at the products. It is also important for retailers to be able to maintain the orderly condition of their wares so that their displays remain attractive to passersby. Packaging is conventionally selected to address these needs; however, special considerations come into play when selling multiple products together, such as when selling a necktie and handkerchief in combination, or when selling fabric fashion accessories such as neckties and handkerchiefs with cuff links or other jewelry. For example, it is desirable to permit them to be priced and sold as a unit and to prevent separation of one from the other. There is a need in the art for improved display units adapted to the sale of such combinations. The present invention satisfies these and other needs. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a display unit for a tie and handkerchief is provided which comprises a substrate having at least first and second panels that are arranged adjacent one another along an axis. A first pair of flaps is attached to the first panel on opposing sides of the axis and are connected for pivotal movement in a first direction that is generally parallel to the axis. A second pair of flaps are attached to the second panel, on opposing sides of the axis, and are also pivotal in the first direction. A fold is defined at the union of the at least first and second panels, and a hole is disposed proximate to or at the fold. A securement holds the at least first and second panels in a closed configuration with the tie and handkerchief disposed in the display unit. A hanger is seated in the hole and includes a hook for mounting the display unit to a display, a neck depending downwardly from the hook, and an engagement surface which seats the hanger within the substrate. 
   In accordance with a more particular aspect of the embodiment of the invention, the engagement surface of the hanger includes opposing shoulders, each of which has a slot that extends toward one another. In this aspect, top and bottom portions of the shoulders receive a portion of the substrate within the respective slots to thereby engage the hanger to the substrate. 
   In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, a method for combining a necktie and handkerchief into a display unit is provided. The method comprises the steps of disposing the handkerchief and the tie on a substrate of the display unit. The substrate has a first and second panel, such as described above. A first pair of flaps extending from a panel are secured to one another over the combined tie and handkerchief. The first panel is folded so as to overlie the second panel with the handkerchief and tie disposed therebetween. The first and second panel are secured to one another to complete the combination. In a preferred method, a hanger is coupled to the substrate. 
   In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a display unit for securing jewelry together with a fabric fashion accessory is provided which comprises a substrate having at least first and second panels that are arranged adjacent one another along an axis. A first pair of flaps is attached on opposing sides of the axis and are connected for pivotal movement in a first direction that is generally parallel to the axis. A fold is defined at the union of the first and second panels, and a first hole is disposed proximate to or at the fold. A securement holds the at least first and second panels in a closed configuration with the fabric fashion accessory(ies) and any jewelry disposed in and projecting from the display unit. A hanger is seated in the first hole and has a hook for mounding the display unit to a display, and a neck depending downwardly from the hook and extending through the first hole. A pair of second holes extend through only one of the at least first and second panels and is sized to receive a stem of a piece of jewelry. In accordance with a more particular aspect, the display unit can but need not include a reinforcement which has a pair of third holes disposed in register with the pair of second holes and sized so as to receive the stem of the jewelry. 
   In accordance with still another aspect of the invention, a method for combining jewelry and a fabric fashion accessory into a display unit is provided which comprising the steps of disposing the fabric fashion accessory on a substrate of the display unit. The substrate has a first panel and a second panel, such as described above. A pair of flaps extend from the second panel of the substrate and are secured to one another over the fabric fashion accessory to complete the display unit. A stem of the jewelry is inserted through a respective hole in one of the first and second panels while in an unengaged position, and the stem is then moved to the engaged position. The second panel is folded so as to overlie the first panel with the fabric fashion accessory disposed therebetween prior to securing the first panel to the second panel. In a preferred method, a hanger is coupled to the substrate. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an inside top plan view of the display unit in accordance with a preferred embodiment. 
       FIG. 2  is a side plan view of the hanger in accordance with the preferred embodiment. 
       FIG. 3  is a side plan view of a first variation of the hanger of  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 4  is a side plan view of a second variation of the hanger of  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the display unit with flaps in the first position. 
       FIG. 6  is a rear perspective view of the display unit with flaps folded into the second position. 
       FIG. 7  is an inside top plan view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  illustrating a tie and a handkerchief when disposed thereupon. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS 
   By way of overview and introduction, a present invention provides a display unit  10  for securing a tie and handkerchief together for presentation to potential customers. The display unit  10  secures the tie and handkerchief so as to permit them to be priced and sold as a unit, and so as to prevent separation of one from the other. More generally, the present invention provides a display suitable for securing various fabric fashion accessories to articles of jewelry for presentation to potential customers. Thus, a display unit in accordance with the invention can secure, by way of example, a necktie and a pair of cufflinks together, a necktie and handkerchief combination together with a pair of cufflinks, or a handkerchief or scarf together with a pin or broach. For ease of discussion, a display unit principally adapted to secure a necktie and handkerchief is described. However, it is to be understood that one or more features can be omitted or combined with other features in order to implement a display unit suitable for securing together particular fabric fashion accessories and/or jewelry. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 1 , the display unit  10  that comprises a substrate  90  having a first panel  100  and a second panel  300  arranged along an axis A upon which the tie and handkerchief (not shown) are to be disposed. The entire display unit  10  can be composed of cardboard or any other material that can flex about a fold  202 . In the illustrated embodiment, flaps  320 ,  360  extend from the second panel  300  on one side of the axis A and flaps  340 ,  380  extend from the opposite side of the axis A. Flaps  320 ,  360  can instead comprise a single flap, and flaps  340 ,  380  can also comprise a single flap. A single flap is particularly suitable when the only fabric fashion accessory being secured within the display unit  10  is a necktie or a handkerchief; however, a single flap can be used to secure both a necktie or a handkerchief, if desired. 
   Preferably, the flaps have notches  303 ,  305 ,  307 ,  309 , as illustrated, which affix opposing flaps  320 ,  340  and  369 ,  380  together. Instead of notches, the flaps can be affixed with other securements such as a crimp, glue, tape, or other arrangements of fingers and slots than as illustrated. 
   Each of these flaps  320 ,  340 ,  360 ,  380  preferably can fold or pivot generally parallel to the axis A at  302 ,  304 ,  306 ,  308 . Such movement of the panels better accommodates the thickness of the fabric fashion accessory (e.g., the tie and/or handkerchief). 
   The display unit  10  also comprises a hole  200  in the union of the first and second panels to be used by the hanger  400 , described below. Preferably, the hole  200  is aligned with the fold  202  so that the hanger  400  projects directly from a top margin of the display unit  10 , when folded at  202  (see  FIG. 5 ). 
   Referring again to  FIG. 1  the first panel  100  includes first flaps  120 ,  140  extending from opposing sides of the first panel  100  on either side of the axis A. Preferably, each flap  120 ,  140  is pivotal about folds  102 ,  104  in a direction generally parallel to the axis A so as to move from a first position disposed away from the axis A (as shown in  FIG. 5 ) to a second position that abuts or overlies the first panel (as shown in  FIG. 6 ). As illustrated (in  FIG. 5 ), flap  120  has a securement  122  usable to secure the first and second panels in the folded position shown in  FIG. 6 . 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the hanger  400  comprises a hook  401  and a neck  430  extending downwardly toward an engagement surface which can be larger than the hole  200  in at least one dimension in order to secure the hanger to the substrate  90 . The neck  430  extends the hook  401  above the fold line  202  to facilitate hanging the display unit  10 . In an alternative arrangement, the engagement surface comprises a separate component which can be mounted to the neck after having disposed the neck through the hole  200 , as described below. 
   As shown in  FIG. 2 , the engagement surface can comprise first and second shoulders  402 ,  404 . The shoulders each have top and bottom surfaces with a slot  410 ,  420  therebetween. The slot extends toward each other to a depth, leaving a base  442  that connects the shoulder portions to the neck  430 . An internal cavity  412  is in communication with and is sized to permit engagement of the hook in the hole so that the top and bottom portions can be seated on opposing sides of the substrate  90 . 
   A variation of the engagement surface  440  is shown in  FIG. 3  and has a hook  501  and a bulbous end  502  at the bottom of the hanger  500  sized to be urged through the hole  200  in the display unit  10  in at least one dimension and stay seated therein while overcoming the weight of the tie, handkerchief and display unit  10 . In other words, the hole  200  is somewhat smaller than the center of the bulbous end  502  in at least one dimension. 
   Another variation of the engagement surface  440  is shown in  FIG. 4  and has a hook  601  and a pointed end  602  at the bottom of the hanger  600  sized to be urged through the hole  200  in the display unit  10  in at least one dimension and stay seated therein while overcoming the weight of the tie, handkerchief and display unit  10 . In other words, the hole  200  is somewhat smaller than a portion of the pointed end  602  in at least one dimension. 
   Referring again to  FIGS. 1 and 5 , the first panel  100  has holes  106 ,  108  which are optionally provided in order to seat a pair of cufflinks. As can be appreciated, fewer or additional holes can be provided, as appropriate to seat a particular jewelry item. The holes are in the first panel  100  but not the second panel  300  so that the jewelry can be mounted to the display unit  10  with its clasp or closure mechanism disposed between the first and second panels when the panels are connected to one another. In this way, the jewelry is secured to the display unit so as to impede separation of the jewelry from the display unit. 
     FIG. 1  further illustrates a reinforcement member  150  which can be disposed within the display unit. The reinforcement member  150  includes at least holes  156 ,  158  which are in register with the holes  106 ,  108 . The clasp or stem of the jewelry to be mounted on the display unit  10  (e.g., the stem of a cufflink) is passed through the holes  106 ,  108  of the panel  100  and through the holes  156 ,  158  of the reinforcement member  150  while in an unengaged position and then moved to an engaged position in which the jewelry is secured to the display unit. As shown in  FIG. 5 , a pair of cufflinks, for example, has its adorned surface projecting from the panel  100  and its stem passing through the panel for engagement on the inner surface of the panel shown in  FIG. 1 . The reinforcement member  150 , if provided, makes it more difficult for a person to dislodge the jewelry from the display unit  10 . 
     FIG. 4  illustrates an alternative to the reinforcement member  150  of  FIG. 1 . A reinforcement member  450  has holes  456 ,  458  that are in register with holes  106 ,  108  of the first panel  100 . In addition, the reinforcement member  450  can serve as an engagement surface  460  to engage the substrate  90  when the hanger  600  is inserted into the hole  200 . This is appropriate, for example, when the pointed end  602  at the bottom of the hanger  600  is sized relative to the hole  200  (e.g., smaller than the hole) such that a further component is needed to support the weight of the articles being contained in the display unit  10 . The reinforcement member  450  has a catch  470  which securely receives and retains the pointed end  602  of the hanger  600 . The catch  470  preferably comprises a pair of resilient fingers  472  at least one of which has a chamfered edge  474  that resistively flexes in response to advancement of the wide portion of the pointed end  602  into a cavity  476 , yet resiliently restores to a rest position after a trailing edge  604  of the pointed end  602  has been urged passed the chamfered edges  474  (as shown). In use, the reinforcement member  450  is disposed on the inner surface of the substrate  90  shown in  FIG. 1 , the pointed end  602  (or bulbous end  502  of  FIG. 3 ) is inserted through the hole  200  from the opposite side of the substrate, and the pointed (or bulbous) end is seated within the cavity  476 . 
   A method for combining a necktie and handkerchief into a display unit  10  can comprise the following steps. The handkerchief is first disposed onto the substrate  90  with the panels  320 - 380  in the first position (as shown in  FIG. 1 ). The flaps  360 ,  380  are folded on top of the handkerchief into the second position and secured together (see  FIG. 7 ). Preferably, the top portion of the handkerchief is then folded over the flaps  360 ,  380 . A necktie is then disposed on top of the handkerchief and the flaps  360 ,  380  also onto the substrate  90 . The flaps  320 ,  340  are then folded on top of the necktie into the second position and secured together (as shown in  FIG. 7 ). The second panel  300  is then folded along the fold  202  as to overlie the first panel  100  with the handkerchief and necktie disposed therebetween. The first flaps  120 ,  140  are then folded over the now connected first panel  100  and second panel  300  and secured using the securement  122  (as shown in  FIG. 6 ). 
   At one point in the process, the engagement surface of the hanger  400  is brought into contact with the substrate to complete the display unit. 
   Cufflinks or other jewelry are preferably mounted to the display unit before the panels of the display unit are connected to one another. As noted above, cufflinks or other articles of jewelry can be mounted to the display unit with a variety of fabric fashion accessories, including neckties, handkerchiefs, scarves, and combinations of various fabric fashion accessories. The jewelry is in an “unengaged” position when it is configured to be attached to an article of clothing and is in an “engaged” position when its clasp or stem have been oriented to secure the jewelry to the article of clothing. 
   While the invention has been described in connection with certain embodiments thereof, the invention is capable of being practiced in other forms and using other materials and structures. Accordingly, the invention is defined without limitation by the recitations in the claims appended hereto and equivalents thereof.