US2915174A - Package for hosiery and other articles - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 1, 1959 A. B. BARNHART PACKAGE FOR HOSIERY AND OTHER ARTICLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 15, 1958 INVENTOR. ADAM BAKER BARNHAR'L 8 ATTORNEY 1959 A. B. BARNHART PACKAGE FOR HOSIERY AND OTHER ARTICLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 15, 1958 25 :l .lrallllfllltr nlilfl llin l III/flirt!!! INVENTOR. ADAM' BAKER BARNHART lag-x1111 United States Patent PACKAGE FOR HOSIERY AND OTHER ARTICLES Adam Baker Barnhart, New York, N.Y., assignor to Metric Hosiery Co., Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Application August 15, 1958, Serial No. 755,202

2 Claims. (Cl. 206-7) This invention relates generally to packaging devices,

and more particularly has reference to means for packaging ladies hose, mens and childrens socks,.etc.

It .is important that articles of the type described be packaged as attractively'as possible, while awaiting sale,

since an attractive package serves to focus a customers attention on the product, and may produce an impulse to make a purchase when such purchase might in actuality not have been contemplated at all.

7 One important object of the present invention, in view 'of the above, is to provide a package for hosiery and like articles that will be attractive, and that will be especially designed for display in the establishment selling the hosiery.

Another object is to provide an attractive package that will be nevertheless designed to prevent crushing of the same, by reason of a particular manner of bending or curving of selected portions of the package relative to adjacent, cooperating portions.

* Another object is to incorporate end pockets of elliptical shape in the package, which will be crushprovide means on which a portion of the packaged article may engage to further aid in holding said portion in proper position.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of v the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, *and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth. In the accompanying drawings forming a material part bf this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a hosiery packaging device according to the present invention, a pair of hose being shown properly supported therein, the device being removed from a container in which it would ordinarily be sold.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view substantially on line 22 of Fig. 1, the hosiery being removed, a container in which the device would ordinarily be merchandised being shown in dotted lines.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view through the lower portion of the packaging device, substantially on line 33 of Fig. 2. I f Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view through the upper portion of. the device, substantially on line 44 of Fig; 2. i Fig. 5 is'a transverse sectional view through the device, substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan view of the blank used in forming the device.

Fig. 7 is a view like Fig. 1 showing a modified form, a pair of childrens socks being shown in dotted lines in properly supported position within the device.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view on line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view on line 9-9 of Fig. 7.

Referring to the drawings in detail, in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1-6, the packaging device has been generally designated 10. The packaging device is in the form of a single piece of cardboard or similar inexpensive, foldable, stiff material. The packaging device would be folded to the position shown in Fig. 1, and in these circumstances, the device includes a flat,

stiff, rectangular backing panel'12 which is transversely curved as will be clearly seen from any of Figs. 35.

The panel 12 at its opposite ends is integral with confronting, transversely extending retaining lips, which are adapted to engage the opposite ends of a folded pair of hose. The device would be used for holding ladies hosiery, mens socks, childrens socks, etc.

Furthermore, the hose H can be folded in any manner desired, it being mainly important that the hose be kept in the desired, flattened condition, safe against damage, by reason of the hose being disposed in overlying relation to the stiff back panel 12, said hose being held in place by the confronting lips. v

' The back panel 12, as will be noted from Fig. 6, terminates at its upper end at a fold line 14. This extends transversely of the device the full distancebetween the opposite, parallel, straight longitudinal edges 15 of the blank of fibrous material from which the device is formed. A second fold line 16 also extends transversely of the blank fully from one to the other side edge 15. disposed in close proximity to the fold line 14.

The fold lines extend into full convergence at their corresponding, opposite extremities 18. Fold line 14 is continuously, gently curved, in one direction. Fold line 16 is correspondingly but oppositely curved. Therefore, the ends of the fold lines extend into convergence, with the fold lines being disposed their greatest distance apart medially between the opposite side edges 15, said distance being progressively reduced in a direction from the midwidth point of the blank to the opposite side edges thereof.

Between the fold line 16 and the adjacent end edge of the blank, there is a transverse lip 211. The lip 20 may have an ornamentally shaped outer edge, as for example, a scalloped edge 22. Said ornamentation of the edge may vary according to the desires of the particular manufacturen' In fact, the edge need not necessarily be ornamentally formed.

Further, when the device is in use, the front surface of the device would be preferably imprinted or otherwise ornamented to increase the attractiveness of the package and as shown in Fig. 1, advertising material, including the trademark and the other information as to the size, color, etc., can be placed on the lip as shown at 23.

The fold lines 14, 16, as will be seen from Fig. 6, de fine between them a narrow, long, elliptical end wall 24 when the'blank is folded to the shape shown in Fig. I. Said end wall provides an abutment at one endof the hosiery H, to hold the hosiery against slippage longitudinally of the device. The opposite curvature of the panel 12 and lip 20, resulting from folding of the blank along the oppositely bowed lines 14, 16, not only serves to increase the stiffness of the back panel .12 and of the lip 20, but also serves to form a pocket for the hosiery. In other words, a pocket is defined between the lip This is I 20 and the back panel by reason of the oppositely curved fold lines. Said pocket is progressively reduced in width in a direction from the midwidth area to the opposite side edges, so that any tendency of the hosiery to slip laterally in one or the other direction is stopped before the hosiery can move fully to the adjacent side edge. The hosiery, in other words, wedges in the pposite sides of the pocket where the pocket tapers sharply as the fold lines converge.

It is desired that a suspending tongue or tab be formed upon the blank at the upper end thereof. By reason of said tongue, the entire package can be hung from a nail or, similar fastening element, upon a wall, or upon an advertising or merchandising display panel. To this end, .there is provided a tab 28 of rectangular formation, defined by a .slit 26 of U-shape. The opposite ends of the U-shaped slit terminate at the fold line 14. In tab 28, there .is a perforation 30 to receive a supporting nailor equialent device not shown.

The tab is foldable along a line 32 which is the intermediate portion of the fold line 14. When the blank is folded as in Fig. l, the tab is folded upwardly, and may project upwardly through a cellophane bag B (Fig. 2) in which the packaging device is placed together with the hosiery H.

The bag B can be formed of a suitable plastic material, such as polyethylene, and if desired, the bag can be semipermanent, that is, it could have a zipper type closure or the like, so as to be capable of being retained by the ultimate purchaser with a view to maintaining a container in which the hosiery can be kept or packedfor travel, etc.

Oflcourse, while the device is. awaiting sale, the tab 28 would project upwardly out of the bag, but the bag would be tightly sealed thereabout to prevent the admission of dirt or other foreign material.

Referring again to Fig. 6; adjacent the lower edge '33 of the blank there are oppositely bowed folded lines '34, 36 similar to the lines 14, 16. These extend into convergence at their opposite ends as shown at 38, 40, at the intersection of the fold lines with the side edges 15. When the blank is folded at its lower end, there is thus produced a lower end abutment 42 of narrowly elliptical shape, defining a stop for the hosiery at the lower end of the device. A lip 44 is also produced by folding the blank, in confronting relation to the lip 20. Lip 44 could be imprinted with suitable advertising legends, size information, etc. There is thusprovided a lower pocket 45 for the hose, cooperating with the upper pocket, which has been designated at'47 in Fig. 4.

Both pockets serve to prevent lateral slippage of the hose, and retain the folded pair of hose properly in the package, in a centered, attractive position.

Reference should now be had to Figs. 7-9, which show a slight modification of the device. The device in this form is generally designated 10 It is formed from a blank, the outer configuration of which is the same as that shown in Fig. 6. There is therefore a rectangular back panel 12 which would be transversely curved when the blank is folded. There are also upper and lower, transverse retaining lips 20, 44 A tab 28 is also provided, and in these respects, the form of the invention shown in Figs. 7-9 is completely identical to the first form.

This form may be used to particular advantage in holdinga pair of childrens socks S having the folded cuff C. In this form of the invention, the cuff may quite possibly extend upwardly into the upper pocket. The lower ends of the socks, that is, the toeportionsthereof, would extend into the lower pocket which haszbeen generally designated 45 m Fig. 7.

This form of the invention includes additional tab means for locking the lips against the backpaneladjacent the opposite side edges 15 of the back panel. There isthus no possibility of the pockets opening at their opposite sides. This provides even more insurance against lateral slippage of the socks or hosiery.

The means employed for closing and locking the upper pocket at the opposite sides thereof further serves to engage in the cuff C to hold the sock in proper position upon the back panel. In this connection, there are provided elongated, straight slits 50 adjacent the opposite side-edges 15 Said slits define the outer edges of looking tabs 48 having their lengths extended parallel to said side edges 15*. The distal ends of the locking tabs 43 project through small transverse locking slits 52 formed in the lip 20*.

The inner side edges 53 of the elongated locking tabs extend to the top edge of a centrally disposed, cuffengaging, wide ear or tab 46. This is disposed midway between the locking tabs 48. Tab 46 is formed with angular recesses 47 at its opposite sides, to facilitate proper engagement of the cuff.

Tab 46 and tabs 48 are an integral piece of material, struck directly out of the material of the back panel 12 as clearly seen in Fig. 8. Thus, when the blank is folded, the locking tabs can be extended through the slits 52 and the tab 46 can be pressed forwardly out of the material of the backing panel. The socks may be slipped into the upper pocket and engaged over the tab 46.

There are lower locking tabs, also. Slits 54 are formed in the lip 44, receiving the free ends of lower locking tabs 56 which serve to lock the lower pocket 45 at its opposite sides.

In both forms of the invention, there is the common characteristic wherein the device can be readily folded from a single piece of material. As distinguished from previous packaging devices of a generally similar nature, the device is transversely curved. This increases the stiffness of the material, so that there is no tendency of the same to flex, or at least said tendency is considerably reduced. The arrangement, in fact, may permit a thinner type of fibrous stock to be employed, without sacrificing stiffness. This would represent a considerable saving in merchandising and manufacturing costs.

Further, the device has pockets which taper toward their opposite sides, to cause the socks or hosiery towedge in the pockets, and thus be held against lateral slippage. Still further, an attractive packaging means is provided, having ample room for advertising material and other essential information. Yet, the device can be readily suspended from an adjacent support, can be completely or almost completely enclosed in a plastic bag, and can be packaged in a substantially completely flattened condition with other, similar packages.

In the second form of the invention, further, there is means for supportably engaging under the cufi? of a pair of socks, said means at the same time serving to lock the upper pocket at its opposite sides against accidental opening. The lower pocket is similarly locked by means struck directly out of the back panel.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made, within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patcut is:

1. A hosiery package comprising a rectangular-shaped panel arcuate in cross section, said panel terminating at both ends in walls elliptical in plan, each end wall terminating in inwardly extending lips depending from the outer peripheries of the end walls, said lips and panel defining end pockets with tapering sides for preventing shifting of articles contained in the pockets, said lips having slits adjacent the sides thereof, and elongated tabs'out struck from the panel and interlocked with the edgesof said slits for preventing shifting of an article supported in the pockets.

2. A hosiery package comprising a rectangular-shaped panel arcuate in cross section, said panel terminating at both ends in walls elliptical in plan, each end wall terrni- 'nating in inwardly extending lips depending from the outer peripheries of the end walls, said lips and panel de fining end pockets with tapering sides for preventing shifting of articles contained in the pockets, said lips having slits adjacent the sides thereof, and elongated tabs out struck from the panel and interlocked with the edges of said slits for preventing shifting of an article supported in the pockets, and a perforated supporting tab outstruck from the material of the panel and projecting outwardly of one end thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,940,078 Cooper Dec. 19, 1933 1,957,248 Crawford May 1, 1934 1,959,665 Gallinger May 22, 1934 1,974,038 Baxter Sept. 18, 1934 2,804,258 Petter Aug. 27, 1957 2,833,399 Hartman May 6, 1958

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