Patent Publication Number: US-8978941-B2

Title: Retail display strap for attaching and displaying two articles of clothing

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 61/301,672, filed Feb. 5, 2010, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to retail displays and in particular, the present invention relates to a retail display that is used to attach and display together two complementary articles of clothing. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Retailers are discovering that combinations of articles of clothing packaged together better meet the needs of a certain class of shoppers. When displaying and selling complementary articles of clothing, retailers assist their clients with a fashion choice that can be time consuming. Furthermore, when suitably coordinated, a combination of complementary articles of clothing can make a more attractive display item for sale than if displayed individually. 
     For example, besides a shirt and tie combination, complementary articles of clothing can include a tie and hanky or pocketsquare; a tie and jewelry accessories, such as cufflinks, etc. 
     It would therefore be desirable to provide a display article that assists the retailer in the display of two complementary articles of clothing and permits a single purchase at the retail site and likewise prevents a consumer from freely separating articles of clothing meant to be combined. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with one embodiment, a display strap for displaying a first article of clothing (e.g., a tie) with a second article of clothing (e.g., a hanky, etc.) includes an elongated strap body having a first end and an opposing second end along with a top edge and an opposing bottom edge. The body has a plurality of score lines to permit the elongated body to be folded and the first end be drawn toward the second end. The body further has a locking slit formed therein proximate the first end and a locking tab formed at the second end for reception within the locking slit to form a continuous, folded strap body that captures the first and second articles of clothing for holding thereof at a first location. The display strap has a flag portion that extends upwardly from the top edge of the body and includes an opening formed therein for receiving a fastener that couples the first and second articles of clothing together at a second location that is spaced from the first location. 
     These and other aspects, features and advantages shall be apparent from the accompanying Drawings and description of certain embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a Retail Display Strap according to one embodiment showing the strap in an unfolded position; 
         FIG. 2  is a left side elevation view thereof; 
         FIG. 3  is a right side elevation view thereof; 
         FIG. 4  is a front elevation thereof; 
         FIG. 5  is a rear elevation view thereof; 
         FIG. 6  is a top plan view thereof; 
         FIG. 7  is a bottom plan view thereof; and 
         FIG. 8  is a rear elevation view of the Retail Display Strap of  FIG. 1  in an assembled, folded position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
       FIGS. 1-8  show a retail display strap  100  in accordance with one embodiment. The strap  100  is formed of a body  110  that has a first end  112  and an opposing second end  114  along with a top edge  116  and a bottom edge  118 . Both the top and bottom edges  116 ,  118  are substantially planar, parallel edges with the exception of portions of these edges that terminate at the second end  114 . More specifically, the strap  100  has a reduced width (the distance between the top and bottom edges  116 ,  118 ) at the second end  114  due to the top edge  116  and the bottom edge  118  each having an inwardly beveled edge portion  120 ,  122 , respectively. The reduced width of the display  100  can be thought of as defining an end tab  130  or the like. The end tab  130  includes the second end  114  and is defined by the reduced width body. Within the end tab  130 , the top and bottom edges  116 ,  118  are planar, parallel edges so that the end tab  130  has a uniform width. 
     The display  100  also includes a locking slit  200  that is formed in the body proximate the second end  114 . The slit  200  is closer to the first end  112  than the inwardly beveled edge portions  120 ,  122  and thus, the slit  200  is not located within the reduced width portion but rather is located in the wider portion of the display  100 . The slit  200  runs substantially transversely across the display  100  between the top and bottom edges  116 ,  118 . In other words, the slit  200  runs substantially perpendicular to the top and bottom edges  116 ,  118 . The ends of the slit  200  can include angled slit sections  210  to allow the slit  200  to be more easily opened (e.g., by lifting the slit  200  relative to the surrounding portions of the display). 
     At the first end  112 , the display  100  includes a locking tab  140 . The locking tab  140  extends outwardly and includes an arcuate outer edge  142  that defines the first end  112 . The arcuate outer edge  142  is joined to the body of the display  100  by a pair of inwardly beveled, cut edges  144  that intersect an end wall  113  of the body  110  (the end wall  113  is perpendicular to the top and bottom edges  116 ,  118 ). The outer edge  142  assumes a convex shape and the presence of the cut edges  144  permit the locking tab  140  to be bent or folded or otherwise manipulated. 
     It will be appreciated that the body  110  has a surface area  112  that is available for placement of indicia, such as a product name or logo, corporate name or logo, a design or any other content that is to be delivered to a prospective consumer. 
     As discussed in more detail below, the body  110  represents a first means for securely coupling two articles of clothing together and more particularly, the locking tab  140  and the locking slit  200  represent the first coupling means. In  FIG. 8 , the body  110  is shown coupling a first article of clothing  300  to a second article of clothing  400 . For example, the first article of clothing  300  is a tie and the second article of clothing  400  is a hanky; however, other articles can be used with the display  100 , such as a pocket square, a paper (cardboard) display including accessories, such as jewelry. 
     In accordance with the present invention, the display strap  100  includes a top tab or flag portion  500  that extends upwardly from the top edge  116  of the main body  110 . As discussed in more detail below, the flag portion  500  serves as a second coupling means for securely attaching the first and second articles of clothing  300 ,  400 . In particular, the flag portion  500  is intended to overlie portions of the first and second articles of clothing  300 ,  400  that themselves overlie one another. 
     The flag portion  500  is preferably integrally formed (e.g., be formed as the same part) as the body portion  110 . The flag portion includes a first side edge  502  and an opposing second side edge  504  both of which are perpendicular to the top edge  116 . A bottom corner  503  of the first side edge  502  is curved and is located beyond the end wall  113  of the body  110 . 
     The flag portion  500  includes an opening  510  formed therein for receiving a fastener  600  for attaching the first and second articles of clothing  300 ,  400  to one another. For example, the fastener  600  can be a plastic barb  600 . It will be appreciated and more apparent from the below discussion that the combination of the first coupling means and the second coupling means permits the two articles of clothing  300 ,  400  to be properly positioned relative to one another and securely attached in the desired relative position. The flag portion  500  also provides a surface on which additional indicia can be displayed. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the flag portion  500  has a generally rectangular shape; however, the flag portion  500  is not limited to this shape and can assume and number of other types of shapes, including but not limited to circular, square, triangle, oval, etc. 
     The manner of applying the display  100  to the first and second articles of clothing  300 ,  400  is now described. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the first article of clothing  300  is a tie and the second article of clothing  400  is a hanky. The tie  300  is once folded along a fold line  310  such that the two pointed ends of the tie  300  are proximate one another. The hanky  400  is likewise folded along a plurality of fold lines so that it assumes a rectangular folded structure. 
     To couple the tie  300  to the hanky  400 , the folded tie  300  is positioned so that a folded portion  320  of the tie  300  extends above a top edge  410  of the folded hanky  400 . More specifically, the fold line  310  is located above the top edge  410  of the folded hanky  400 . The folded tie  300  extends lengthwise along the folded hanky  400  with the loose ends of the tie  300  being located well below a bottom edge  420  of the folded hanky  400 . 
     In order to assist in the folding of the display  100 , the body  110  can include two pairs of score lines  700 ,  800  that permit the folding of the display  100 . The first pair  700  is closely spaced relative to one another and is located closer to the first end  112 , while the second pair  800  are closed spaced relative to one another and are located closer to the second end  114 . The body  110  is first laid underneath the folded hanky  400  (along the front surface thereof where the tie  300  is not present) and is then folded about the two pairs of the score lines  700 ,  800  such that first and second ends  112 ,  114  are brought to one another. The locking tab  140  is then inserted into the locking slit  200 . 
     The end wall  113  of the body  110  lies outside the slit  200  and abut thus limits and properly positions the locking tab  140  within the locking slit  200 . When the two opposing ends of the body  110  are fastened to one another, the bottom corner  503  of the first side edge  502  lies at or above the top edge of the body  110 . 
     When the body  110  assumes the folded, locked position, the flag portion  500  lies centrally over the folded tie  300  and hanky  400  to allow the plastic barb  600  to be inserted through both the folded tie  300  and the hanky  400  to effectively couple the two items together at a second location that is proximate the first coupling location where the folded, locked body  110  serves to couple the two items together. 
     When the items  300 ,  400  are arranged relative to one another, the flag portion  500  will lie on the rear or backside of the overlying, folded items outside of the view of the consumer. 
     Optionally, to additionally secure the folded body  110  together, an adhesive member, such as a sticker, can be used along the interface between the slit  200  and the portion of the body  110  received therein. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , it will be appreciated that the folded portion  320  of the folded tie  300  that extends above the top edge  410  of the folded hanky  400  provides a structure to allow the coupled the attached tie  300  and hanky  400  to be hung and displayed by use of a hanger  800  that includes a hook member  810  and at least one finger  820 . To hang the tie/hanky combination, the finger  820  is received within the folded portion  320 , thereby allowing the top edge of the hanky  400  to lie below the hanger  800  and to allow the combined tie/hanky combination to be prominently displayed. 
     The present invention thus provides a means for securely locating and holding two articles of clothing relative to one another to permit a proper, pleasing display of these items, while also preventing a consumer from easily separating the items. The consumer can thus purchase the combined articles. 
     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 by the recitations in the claims appended hereto and equivalents thereof.