GB2183384A - Packaging and display - Google Patents

Abstract

A display device for a torch 13 with an enlarged head comprises a display panel 1 which can be suspended by means of a slot 3, a hinged loop 6 at the lower edge of the panel, which in use extends obliquely and fits round the underside of the torch head, and a hinged tab 8 on the lower edge of the panel inside the loop, which is pivoted forwards so as to seat on the torch lens 33 and against the inside of the lens rim 16. By these means the torch is reliably held suspended, but can be handled by a prospective purchaser and can be easily removed from the device and replaced in it. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Packaging and display This invention relates to display packaging for articles. The invention is particularly but not exlusively applicable to the packaging of torches, flashlights and the like for point of sale display.

In the sale of a torch, and many other items, the appearance and feel ofthe article are importantfactors in the customer's decision to buy. It is therefore quite important that point of sale display and packaging should allow the customerto see and if possible handle the article. From this point of view, conventional packaging in boxes is extremely incon venientand there is a marked trend towards forms of packaging which do not enclose the articles, and in particular, packaging by means of cards or open packs designed to be hung from display stand pegs.

According to one aspect ofthe present invention, a display and packaging device comprises a generally flat body portion, capable of being suspended, a generally semi- circular dependent loop pivotable on the body portion about an axis arranged to be horizontal when the body portion is suspended, for em bracing a portion ofthe circumference of an article to be packaged and displayed, and a flap or tab above the loop, also pivotable on the body portion about a horizontal axis, for seating against an upper region ofthe article,wherebythe loop andtabtogetherholdthe article for display in a manner allowing easy removal and replacement ofthe article.

In a preferred embodimentthe flap ortab has an opposite direction of pivoting from the loop.

It will normally be necessary that the article have a lateral configuration or abutment adapted for seat ing on the loop, and an upper configuration orabut mentfor seating against the edge ofthe tab. In the case of a torch orthe like, the upper abutment is con veniently a rim or bezel around the lens ofthetorch, the lower abutment can be a shoulder, groove or rib on the side of the torch, orthe underside of an enlarged head portion ofthetorch.

The invention further resides in a display and packaging device, for a torch having a body with a lateral abutment adjacent a lens end of the torch, a recessed lens in the said end, and a rim for the lens, which device comprises: a generally flat body portion adapted to be suspended; a dependent loop ofsubstantially half-circle extent, having its ends attached to the body portion with the body portion extending above the loop thereby defining a window between the loop and the body portion, the loop having a torch-holding position in which it extends obliquely to one side ofthe vertical when the body portion is suspended,the loopwhen in the said position being arranged to engage laterallyand underthe said abutment of a torch inserted in the window with its lens uppermost, whereby the torch is suspended in the loop; and a tab attached to the body portion within the upper region ofthe window and having a torch retaining position in which it extends to the other side of the vertical when the body portion is suspended, in which position it is arranged to seat over the lens and against the inner side ofthe rim of torch suspended in the loop,forretainingthetorch.

The invention further provides a display and packaging device for an article having a body, a projection extending from an edge of the body, and an abutment provided on a face ofthe body, which device comprises: a generally flat body portion adapted to be suspended, at least one dependent limb spaced laterally from the plane of the body portion, and means defining a slot parallel to the body portion on the same side thereof as and above the limb or limbs; the arrangement being such thatthe article can be seated against the limb(s) and a lower edge of the body portion adjacent the limb(s) with its said projection extending upwards in the slot, the limb(s) having a suspension projection arranged to engage the said abutment of the article for suspending the article.

The packaging and display device is preferably an integral body of moulded plastics material, in part icular injection moulded polypropylene or polyethylene.

The body portion of the device may be used for advertising and display material, comprising for example text and/or pictures.

The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa front elevation of a first packaging device embodying the invention, for a hand torch.

Figure 2 is a side view of the same device.

Figure 3 is a vertical section through the same device.

Figure 4is a vertical section showing a hand torch fitted into the device of Figures 1 to 3.

Figure 5is a front view of the device and hand torch.

Figures6and 7 are front and section views of a device embodying the invention for packaging a flat pocket torch.

Figures 8to 11 are respectively front, top and side views and a vertical section, of a further packaging deviceforpackaging aflattorch.

The packaging device illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 has a generally rectangular panel 1 with a raised rim 2,and a suspension slot3 nearoneedge,forhaving the packaging on a peg of a display stand orthe like.

The panel 1 constitutes or carries a label forthe pro- duct, on one or both sides.

From the lower edge of the panel, legs 4,5 project downwards, belowthe hanging slot 3. Each leg is attached to a respective end of a loop 6 through a hinge 7 of which the axis is horizontal when the device is hung from the slot 3. The hinges 7 have collinear axes, parallel to the plane ofthe panel 1,so as to be horizontal when the panel is suspended at slot 3.

On the lower edge of the panel, between the legs4, 5, a tab 8 is hinged to the panel by a hinge 9 parallel to the hinges 7. The tab 8 is L-shaped in side view.

The hinges 9 are connected between the lower edge ofthe panel 1, and one arm 10 ofthe L. The otherarm 11 ofthetab 8 has a part-circular profile. In the rest position illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, the arm 11 stands clear of the panel 1, on the projecting end of the arm 10. The hinges 7 are so designed that the loop 6 can pivottowards that side of the panel on which the arm 11 lies in its rest position, but not in the opposite direction.

The illustrated display device can be manufactured of any convenient material, for example card, but is preferably made of injection-moulded polypropylene, polyethylene or other plastics material.

The use of reground polypropylene is particularly preferred as this material has excellent properties and very low cost. The panel or label area is preferably in a glossy state. Other surfaces of the device may be rendered mattfor example by spark erosion, howeverany desired form of finish can of course be used.

The illustrated device is designed to suspend and display a hand torch 13 shown in outline in Figure 4.

The torch has a generally cylindrical body 14with an enlarged head 15 which in the illustrated embodiment is asymmetrical relative to the body 14. The head 15 has a rim or bezel 16 surrounding a recessed lens 33. Between the body 14 and head 15 is an eccentric tapered transition region 16 forming an ob liqueshoulder,e.g as shown in U, K. Design No.

1025931.

The shapes and dimensions ofthe legs 4, 5, the loop 6, and the tab 8 match the shape and dimension ofthe torch. Specifically, the internal profile ofthe loop 6 matches the external profile of the tapered intermediate region 16 ofthetorch, in an oblique plane illustrated by the position of the loop 6 in Figure4.

For additional security, this internal profile prefer ably extends through somewhat more than 180", e.g.

1900, as can be seen in Figure 1. The inner edges of the legs 4,5 correspond to the longitudinal profile of the torch head 15 and may have oblique portions 17 to fit partly underthe transition region 16.

The torch can therefore be fitted into the window formed between the legs 4, 5, the loop, and the panel, with its head resting over the loop 6 in the pivoted position shown in Figure4, andthetorch and display device can then be hung from the slot 3.

To hold the torch securely in position, the tab 8 is pivoted from the rest position shown in Figure 3, clockwise to the position shown in Figure 4, in which the underside ofthe arm 11 rests against the lens of thetorch, and the part-circular rim ofthe arm 11 rests againsttheinnersurfaceofthetorch rim 16,withthe resilience of the hinge 9 pressing the arm 11 against the torch lens. I n th is condition, the torch cannot easilyfall out of the display device, but it can be re moved relatively easily by a prospective purchaser for inspection and handling.

The hinges 7,9 are live hinges, that isto say they are inherently resilient so as to return the loop 6 and tab8tothe positions shown in Figure 3. In the case of a moulded plastics display device, these hinges are formed by regions in which the plastics material is of reduced thickness.

For inserting the torch in the device, the torch body 14 is passed between the legs 4, 5 and through the loop 6 with the device in the condition shown in Figure 3, until the intermediate transition region 16 is seated in the loop 6, then the torch is turned anti clockwise (as seen in Figures 3 and 4), pivoting the loop 6 anticlockwise and pushing the tab 8 clockwise until the tab clicks into place inside the torch rim, in the position shown in Figure 4.

Itwill beseenthatthecross-sectionoftheloop6 has an internal profile matching the junction between the torch body 14andtransition region 16. The loop 6, legs 4,5, and tab arm 11 all fit closely against the torch in the position shown in Figure 4, so that the torch is reliably held in place against accidental dislodgement.

The described display device can be manufactured cheaply and simply, holdsthetorch reliably and safely, is easy to fit to the torch, and al lows a customer easily to inspect the torch and if desired, to remove it for handling. The device can also be used as a convenient way of storing the torch, for example hanging bytheslot3from a nail orhook.

In an alternative embodiment, the hinge 9 ofthe tab 8 is interrupted in its middle region and the arm 10 of the L-section tab is attached to the resulting pair ofhingesatan intermediate position along the arm, so that the arm 10 projects from the plane ofthe panel 1 in the rest position. A suitable cut-out is provided in the lower edge of the panel to accommodate the projecting partofthetab arm 10 when the tab is pivoted on the hinges. The projecting arm 10 can be used as a lever or handle to release the retaining arm 11 fromthetorch lens.

Figures 6 and 7 illustrate a generally similar display device designed to accommodate a flat pocket torch 30, for example a torch as shown in U. K. Registered Design No.1025932.

Thistorch has a flat body 31 with semi-circular edges, and aflared head 32 incorporating a recessed oval lens surrounded by an oval rim. The general configuration ofthe device resembles that of Figures 1 to 4, however the internal profiles ofthe legs 4,5 and the loop 6 are shaped to match the external configuration oftheflattened torch body and its flare head, and the retaining arm 11 ofthe tab 8 is short and has a straight edge, matching the straight longer edges ofthe oval rim ofthe torch lens. The use ofthe device is substantially identical to that described in relation to Figures 1 to 4.

Figures 8 to 11 illustrateafurtherinventivesus- pension display device for a flat torch, such as the torch illustrated in U.K. Registered Design No.

1025930.

Thistorch 26 has aflatgenerallycuboidal body27 with rounded edges, of uniform cross section throughout its length. The lens 28 is in one ofthe major faces ofthe body at one end, and a retractablecarry- ing loop 29 atthatend ofthe body, when pulled or pivoted out, extends generally in the plane ofthe torch body.

The display device in this case comprises a panel 1, for example of injection moulded polypropylene, with a hangingslot3, belowwhichafixed loop20 projects downwards, in a plane offsetfrom the plane of the panel 1.The limbs 21 ofthe loop are attached to the rear surface of the panel, by brackets 22, projecting inwards from which are lugs 23 set backfrom the surface of the panel to form a slot between them and the panel.

To attach the torch to the display device, the carry ing looporhandle 29Ofthetorch is pulled out,and pushed into the slot defined between the lugs 23 and the rear surface of the panel 1, insertion being limited by a stop rib 24 on the rear surface ofthe panel.

Ribs 25 on the legs 21 hold the torch in position for example by engaging shoulders, corrugations or dimples on thetorch body. The legs 21 are resilient, holding the ribs 25 pressed againstthe torch body so thatthetorch is held in place by friction and/or positively. In a preferred arrangement, the carrying loop of the torch is hinged and when retracted, lies in a recess ofthe torch body so as to be flush with the rear surface of the torch body. When pivoted to its open position, the handle reveals the recess and this recess contains a step orshoulder34 (normallyvisible when the carrying loop is retracted), which seats on the ribs 25to hold the torch in position.

Claims (10)

1. A display and packaging device comprising a generallyflat body portion, capable of being suspended, a generally semi-circular dependent loop pivotable on the body portion aboutan axis arranged to be horizontal when the body portion is suspended, forembracing a portion ofthecircumferenceofan article to be packaged and displayed, and a flap or tab above the loop, also pivotable on the body portion about a horizontal axis, for seating against an upper region ofthe article, whereby the loop and tab together hold the article for display in a mannerallo- wing easy removal and replacementofthearticle.

2. A display and packaging device as claimed in claim 1 in which the flap ortab, and the loop, are arranged to pivot in opposite directions.

3. A display and packaging device as claimed in claim 1 or2 in which the loop is hinged by its ends on lower ends of respective dependent limbs of the body portion and the flap ortab is hinged to the body portion between the said limbs.

4. A display and packaging device,foratorch having a body with a lateral abutmentadjacenta lens end of the torch, a recessed lens in the said end, and a rim forthe lens, which device comprises: a generallyflat body portion adapted to be suspended; a dependent loop of substantially half-circle extent, having its ends attached to the body portion with the body portion extending above the loop thereby defining a window between the loop and the body portion, the loop having a torch-holding position in which itextendsobliquelytoonesideofthevertical when the body portion is suspended, the loop when in the said position being arranged to engage laterally and under the said abutment of a torch inserted in the window with its lens uppermost, whereby the torch is suspended in the loop; and a tab attached to the body portion within the upper region ofthe window and having atorch-retaining position in which it extends to the other side of the vertical when the body portion is suspended, in which position it is arranged to seat overthe lens and against the inner side ofthe rim of a torch suspended in the loop, for retaining the torch.

5. Adisplayand packaging device as claimed in claim 4 in which the loop, and/orthe tab, has a rest position substantially coplanarwith the body portion.

6. A display and packaging device as claimed in claim 4 or 5 in which the loop and/ortab is hinged to the body portion about a hinge axis arranged to be horizontal when the body portion is suspended.

7. A display and packaging device as claimed in claim 4,5 or 6 in which the loop is hinged by its ends on lower ends of respective dependent limbs of the body portion and the flap ortab is hinged to the body portion between the said limbs.

8. A display and packaging device as claimed in any preceding claim in which the inner surface ofthe loop extends through more than 180 .

9. Adisplayand packaging deviceforan article having a body, a projection extending from an edge ofthe body, and an abutment provided on a face of the body, which device comprises: a generally flat body portion adapted to be suspended, at least one dependent limb spaced laterally from the plane of the body portion, and means defining a slot parallel to the body portion on the same side thereof as and above the limb or limbs; the arrangement being such that the article can be seated against the limb(s) and a loweredgeofthe body portion adjacentthelimb(s) with its said projection extending upwards in the slot, the limb(s) having a suspension projection arranged to engage the said abutment of the article for suspending the article.

10. A display and packaging device, substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 5.