GB2188613A - Suspension display packaging - Google Patents

Abstract

A suspendable display package comprises a pack and a suspension hanger, the pack including a planar suspension portion (1) formed with an aperture (3) to engage a first part of a suspension hanger to support the weight of the pack, and with a cutout portion (4) in the edge adapted to engage the first part of the suspension hanger (2) to prevent relative rotation between the pack and the suspension hanger. A second part (10) of the suspension hanger is cooperable with a rail or the like to suspend the package therefrom. The first and second parts of the suspension hanger (2) may be hinged together, and may also include means to retain the second part of the hanger in its retracted position. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improved suspension display packaging The present invention relates to display hangers, and particularly concerns an assembly facilitating the hanging of carded or boxed articles on a rail for sales display.

Many articles are supplied individually boxed or packed on cards in transparent "blisters" which allow inspection priorto sale.

Such packages usually include a slot adapted to engage a rail to suspend the package for display.

These slots have several disadvantages in that an open-ended slot is necessary to allow an article in the centre of a hanging row to be removed without disturbing the remainder of the display. However, this type of slot relies heavily on the strength ofthe card material, and frequently fails when repeatedly removed and replaced on the rail.

Aclosed-ended slot or simple aperture is more durable in use, but has the disadvantage of necessitating removal of more than one article if access to articles in the centre of the display is required.

To overcome the problem oftheseconstructions, it has been suggested to mount a plastics hanging hook on the card, thus simplifying access and providing a durable package.

However, the increase in overall size represented by the hook significantly increases the volume of bulk packages, thus adding to transport costs.

It has been suggested to mountthe plastics hook pivotally on the card, to provide a retracted transport position and an extended display position, but this arrangement is unsatisfactory in that any sideways force on the hook by the prospective purchaser can causethehookto pivotandeffectivelypreventre- moval of the article from the display rail without considerable dexterity.

The present invention has as its objective the provision of a combination of a display hanger and a carded package, wherein a first part of the hanger is securely held to the package and a second part comprising a hanging portion or hook is movable between retracted and extended positionsfortransportation and display respectively.

The expression "carded package" should be construed to include any package provided with an area of substantially planar packaging material projecting therefrom by which the package may be suspended.

According to the present invention, a suspendabie display package includes a substantially planarsuspension portion having a free edge, the suspension portion being formed with an aperture to engage a first part of a suspension hangerto supportthe weight of the package, and a peripheral cutout further to engage the first part of the suspension hangerto prevent relative rotation between the package and the suspension hanger, a second part of the suspension hanger being cooperable with a rail orthe like to suspend the package therefrom.

Advantageouslythefirst and second parts of the suspension hanger arse hinged to allowthesecond part to be moved between retracted and extended positions and more preferably means are provided to selectively retain the second part in its retracted position.

Most preferably the suspension hanger is integrally moulded from resilient plastics and the second part thereof is resiliently retained in its extended or retracted position by an over-centre toggle device.

The package ofthe present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a suspension hanger positioned for application to a package.

Figures 2a and 2b showthe suspension hanger seen in Figure 1 in side view in its extended and retracted positions respectively.

Figure 3shows a perspective view of a second suspension hanger, and Figures4a and 4b show side views of the hanger of Figure 3 in its extended and retracted positions respectively.

Referring nowto Figure 1,there is shown a suspension portion 1 of a package and a suspension hanger 2. twill be understood that the suspension portion may be a planar projecting portion extending from a box orthe like, or may be a peripheral portion of a card surrounding a transparent "blister" type package. The suspension portion 1 is formed with a circular aperture 3 and a peripheral cutout 4.

The suspension hanger 2 shown in Figures 1 and 2 has a first part 2a including an open rectangular frameformedfrom side members 5 andtop and bottom members 6 and 7 respectively. Extending forwardly and downwardly from the centre of top member6 is a resilient arm 8 on the rearsurface of which is formed a tooth 9.

The side members 5 are provided with raised areas 5a ontheirfrontfaces.

The rear edge of the top member 6 of theframe is joined to a hook-shaped second part 10 of the sus- pension hanger by means of an integral hinge 11.

In the embodiment af Figures 1 and 2, cooperating projections 12 and 13 are provided on the first and second parts of the suspension hanger, so that when the hook or second part 10 is pivoted to its retracted position, seen in Figure 2b, the projections 12 and 13 interlockto releasably retain the hook 10 in that position. As an alternative, a projection on one ofthe hanger parts could enteran apertureorrecessinthe other hanger part to retain the parts in the retracted configuration.

In use, the suspension hanger is applied to the package by moving the hanger from the position shown in Figure 1 vertically downwardly, so that the front faces of side members 5 engage the rearface of suspension portion 1, and the resilient arm 8 overlies the suspension portion with tooth 9 projecting through aperture 3. The suspension hanger 1 and suspension portion 1 are so dimensioned that in this position the cutout4 ofthe suspension portion 1 closely surrounds the upper extremity of the resilient arm 8 and together with the engagement of tooth 9 in aperture 3 prevents rotation of the suspension hanger in the plane of suspension portion 1. The raised areas 5a ensure a close engagement between the re si I ient arm 8 and the suspension portion 1.

The hook 10 in its extended position shown in Fig ures 1 and 2a may then engage a rail to suspend the package in a vending display.

To reduce the bulk of the package for transport, the hook 10 is pivoted about hinge 11 to its retracted position, wherein it lies completely below the upper edge of the top member 6 ofthe first part ofthe hanger. The overall height ofthe package, and consequently its stored volume, is thus reduced.

The embodiment shown in Figure 3 is similarto that of Figures 1 and 2 and is applied to the package in the same way.

In this embodiment, however, the hook 20 is resiliently held in its extended or its retracted positions by the resilient members 21 positioned on either side of the hinge 22. The resilient members comprise three plates arranged in a channel formation with theirfree edges hinged to the first and second parts of the suspension hanger in such a way that movement ofthe hook 20 from its extended to its retracted positions, shown in Figures4a and 4b respectively, tends firstly to distort the resilient members and then return them to their unstressed state. A "toggle" or "over-centre" action is thus created urging the hookto assume one or other of its extended or retracted positions. The remainder of the suspension hanger is similar to the previous embodiments, and like reference numerals are used to indicate corresponding parts.

It isto be understood that the embodiments described are merely illustrative and deviations in proportions or configuration are envisaged.

Claims (9)

1. A suspendable display package comprising a pack and a suspension hanger, the pack including a planar suspension portion having an edge, the suspension portion being formed with an aperturetoen- gage a first part of a suspension hanger to support the weightofthe pack, and with a cutout portion in the edge adapted to engage the first part of the suspension hangerto prevent relative rotation between the pack and the suspension hanger, a second part of the suspension hanger being cooperable with a rail orthe liketo suspend the package therefrom.

2. A suspendable display package as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second parts ofthe suspension hanger are hingedly connected so that the second part may move between an extended posi tionwherein it extends awayfrom the suspension portion and a retracted position wherein it overlies the suspension portion.

3. Asuspendable display package according to claim 2, wherein the hinge connection between the first and second parts ofthe suspension hangerextends parallel to the said edge ofthe suspension portion when the suspension hanger is in position on the pack.

4. A suspendable display package according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein retainer means are provided to releasably secure the second part of the suspension hanger in its retracted position.

5. A suspendable display package according to claim 4, wherein the retainer means comprises cooperating latch means and detent means positioned respectively on thefirst and second parts of the suspension hanger.

6. A suspendable display package according to claim 4, wherein the retainer means comprises a re silient toggle member which is substantially unstressed when the second part of the suspension hanger is in its extended and its retracted positions, but is resiliently distorted during movement of the second part between its extended and retracted positions.

7. A suspendable display package according to any preceding claim, wherein the first part of the suspension hanger comprises a planar rectangular frame adapted to engage one face of the suspension portion and a resilient central arm extending from one side of the frame across its central open region and adapted to engagethe otherface of the planar suspension portion, the central arm having a tooth at its free end extending into the central region ofthe frame and the second part of the suspension hanger comprisesa hook portion substantiallycoplanar with the frame and connected to the first part of the suspension hanger viva a hinge.

8. A suspendable display package substantially as herein described, including a suspension hanger substantially as shown in Figures 1 and 2 or Figures3 and 4ofthe accompanying drawings.

9. A suspension hanger substantially as shown inFiguresl and 2, or3and4oftheaccompanying drawings.