WO2013103641A1

WO2013103641A1 - Display card with locking attachment strap

Info

Publication number: WO2013103641A1
Application number: PCT/US2013/020024
Authority: WO
Inventors: Melissa ESTACIO; Charlotte Hanks
Original assignee: Meadwestvaco Corporation
Priority date: 2012-01-06
Filing date: 2013-01-03
Publication date: 2013-07-11

Abstract

A display card is disclosed which comprises an attachment strap to hold a product item by means of a lock attachment of the strap into the card.

Description

DISPLAY CARD WITH LOCKING ATTACHMENT STRAP

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of United States provisional application serial number 61/583,759 filed on January 6, 2012 which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

[0002] The present application is directed to a paperboard display card with an attachment strap for holding an item. The attachment strap may be formed in a loop with its proximal end extending from the display card and its distal end secured into an aperture in the display card by means of a locking engagement such as an arrow-shaped tab.

[0003] Manufacturers and retailers of consumer goods, hardware, tools, and other product items typically may package such products on so-called display cards which allow the product item to be easily hung on a display hook or stood on a shelf, but leaving the product item readily visible and accessible for handling (e.g. to judge merchandise quality). To attach the product items to the card, various methods may be used, such as wire-ties or openings in the card to receive parts of the product item. Such packaging may therefore require extra materials (e.g. the wire ties) or time-consuming labor (e.g. fitting a product into openings on a display card. It would be advantageous therefore to have a display card to which a product item could be easily and securely attached without need for extra materials and with minimal time spent in attaching the product to the card.

SUMMARY

[0004] In one aspect a display card is disclosed which comprises an attachment strap formed in the card, and an aperture formed in the card, so that the attachment strap can be wrapped around a product item, and the distal end of the strap then secured to the aperture by means of a lock engagement such as an arrow-shaped tab or "dagger lock."

[0005] Other aspects of the disclosed packaging structures will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

[0006] Forming the display card from a tear resistant paperboard such as MeadWestvaco NATRALOCK® may provide added strength to the attachment strap and display card.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] FIGs. 1 A and IB are plan views of a prior art package, seen from the front and back;

[0008] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of package of Fig. 1; [0009] FIG. 3 is a side view of the package of Fig. 1 ;

[0010] FIG. 4 is a plan view of a blank for forming a paperboard package with an attachment strap.

[0011] FIGs. 5A and 5B are plan views of a package made from the blank of FIG.4, seen from front and back;

[0012] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of package of Fig. 5; and [0013] FIG. 7 is a side view of the package of Fig. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] As various embodiments of the security package are described, reference will be made to Figures 1-7. Certain parts of the packages are denoted by reference numerals. Where there is more than one of the same feature, sometimes only one will be denoted by a reference numeral. If different packages have a common feature, it may only be described one time. Typically in these Figures, solid lines show edges, while dashed lines show fold lines, or hidden or partially obscured features.

[0015] Where assembly steps are described, these steps are exemplary and are not to be limiting as to the sequence of operations used to arrive at the final package. Also, directions such as up, down, top, bottom, front, back, etc. are used for convenience in describing the package and are not meant to be limiting. The packages described here are described as made from one blank of one panel (that is, one sheet of material that results in a one-ply display card). However, it should be understood that more than one blank could be used, and the display card could be designed to have more than one ply of material.

[0016] The display card may be made of a sheet material such as paperboard, or of a tear- resistant paperboard such as MeadWestvaco NATRALOCK®. The card may be of any desired size and shape, for example a rectangle as shown in the accompanying Figures.

[0017] FIGs. 1A and IB show front and back plan view of an existing display card 100 for holding a product item 50. In this example the product item is a flexible tie device similar in some aspects to a large 'twist-tie.' Other product items could also be held on the display card 100. Formed into the display card 100, for example by die cutting or other process, are one or more tabs 120 that may each have one or more holes through which the product item 50 may be inserted. The tabs 120 may be folded up (or down) out of the plane of card 100 so that the product item 50 may be inserted. The display card may also include a hang hole 1 10 for hanging on a hook. In order to load or insert a product item 50 such as the tie device shown onto display card 100, the person or machine loading the item would need to insert one end of the tie through first and second holes in first and second tabs 120, and then insert the other end of the tie through third and fourth holes in first and second tabs 120. This involves several steps and may be time consuming. If a slit is made from the hole to the periphery of their respective tabs, then the product item might be loaded more rapidly, but the attachment might be weakened.

[0018] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the display card 100 loaded with two product items 50. FIG. 3 shows a side view of the same display card and product items.

[0019] FIG. 4 shows a front plan view of a blank 201 for forming a display card 200. Formed into the blank 201, for example by die cutting or other process, may be one or more attachment devices 220 aligned lengthwise with respect to the blank 201, for providing a "dagger lock" or "arrow tab" attachment. A strap 224 may be formed by die-cut line 222. The strap 224 may have a proximal end and a distal end. The strap 224 at its proximal end may be hingedly attached to the card by fold line 221. The strap at its distal end may have an arrow lock 226 somewhat wider than the strap 224. The arrow lock may be shaped for example like an arrow or mushroom, with one or two protrusions or wings 228 extending sideways. Also formed by die cutting or other process is a receptor slot 230 for receiving and holding arrow lock 226. The receptor slot 230 may have a central, approximately linear portion equal or greater in width than the width of strap 224. The receptor slot 230 may extend further on one or both ends for example as slot extensions 232 which may be linear or non-linear in shape.

[0020] Also, or alternately, formed into the blank 201, for example by die cutting or other process, may be one or more attachment devices 240 aligned crosswise with respect to the blank 201, for providing a "dagger lock" or "arrow tab" attachment. A strap 244 may be formed by die-cut line 242. The strap 244 may be hingedly attached to the card by fold line 241. The strap may have an arrow lock 246 somewhat wider than the strap 244. The arrow lock may be shaped for example like an arrow or mushroom, with one or two wings 248 extending sideways. Also formed by die cutting or other process is a receptor slot 250 for receiving and holding arrow lock 246. The receptor slot 250 may have a central, approximately linear portion equal or greater in width than the width of strap 244. The receptor slot 250 may extend further on one or both ends for example as slot extensions 252. However, the central part of receptor slot 250 need not necessarily be linear. The end or ends of slot 250 may be sized and shaped according to manufacturing preference. For example the end or ends of slot 250 may be curved or curled in a size and shape calculated or chosen based on factors that may include the thickness (caliper) of the substrate sheet, the length of slot 250, and the minimum length required for accepting arrow lock 246.

[0021] Any number of attachment devices 220, 240 may be provided, which may be oriented lengthwise, crosswise, or at another angle relative to the blank 201.

[0022] FIGs. 5A and 5B show front and back plan views of display card 200 made from the blank 201, for holding a product item 50. Cross-hatch shading is used in these two Figures to show the background (e.g. behind the cards) and to help show the open areas in the cards. The display card may include a hang hole 210 for hanging on a hook. In this example the product item is again a flexible tie device similar in some aspects to a large 'twist-tie.' Other product items could also be held on the display card 200. The attachment devices may be located as needed to attach to particular points along the product item 50. For example, attachment strap 224 (which is oriented lengthwise relative to display card 200) may be lifted out of the plane of display card 200, folded or bent along fold line 221, wrapped around the looped upper end of product item 50, and the arrow lock 226 inserted through receptor slot 230. This leaves an open area 225 in the card. The arrow lock 226 is then retained since the wings 228 are wide enough so as to be held in slot 230. It will be noted that the product item 50 does not have to be threaded through any holes, which may make it easier for hand or machine loading of the items 50 onto display card 200.

[0023] Attachment strap 244 (which is oriented crosswise with respect to display card 200) may be lifted out of the plane of display card 200, folded or bent along fold line 241, wrapped around the looped straight lower ends of product item 50, and arrow lock 246 inserted through receptor slot 250. This leaves behind an open area 245 in the card. The arrow lock 246 is then retained since the wings 248 are wide enough so as to be held in slot 250.

[0024] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the display card 200 loaded with two product items 50. FIG. 7 shows a side view of the same display card and product items.

[0025] To remove the product item 50 from display card 200, arrow lock 226, 246 of each attachment device may be carefully manipulated from the back of the display card so that it can be pulled back through receptor slot 230, 250. This allows the attachment device to be reused, that is, the display card 200 can be repeatedly used as a storage card for product item 50.

[0026] Display card 200 may be made in any suitable shape and may be made of one or more plies of material.

[0027] The display card 200 may be formed of a sheet material such as paperboard, which may be made of or coated with materials to increase its strength. An example of such a sheet material is NATRALOCK® paperboard made by MeadWestvaco Corporation. If multiple plies of material are used, the sheet material may have a heat sealable coating, for example to allow a heat seal to be created between the plies. Alternately, other forms of adhesive may be used to seal the plies cards together. It should be noted that the use of tear resistant materials, and/or in more than one layer, help to improve the tamper- and theft- resistance of the package.

[0028] The adjoining surfaces multi-ply display cards may be adhered together by heat sealing, RF sealing, ultrasonic sealing, gluing, or other adhesive. One or both plies may comprise hang hole 210, or it may be reinforced with one or more additional layers.

[0029] If multiple plies are used, heat sealing if used may be accomplished by use of both heat and pressure. Heat sealing may be used just around the perimeter of the display card, and/or just adjacent one or more of the attachment devices.

[0030] The features described in this application may be used alone or in combination with other described standing features or security features. It is to be understood that a variety of materials may be used to form these packages. However, for sustainability purposes, a paperboard based material may be used and for improved theft deterrence a tear resistant paperboard may be used. Package materials may include tear-proof materials such as DURAFOLD® paperboard, tear-resistant materials such as NATRALOCK® paperboard, as well as other types of paperboard or plastic materials. The packages may be made of one or more layers of material, including but not limited to one, two, three or more layers of material. Different parts of the packages may comprise different materials and/or different numbers of layers. [0031] The packages disclosed herein may be comprised mostly of paperboard, for example as described in International Application PCT/US08/051245. The paperboard used in such packages may be tear-resistant as described in commonly assigned US Patent No. 7, 144,635.

[0032] The packages disclosed herein may be made from one or several blanks (that is, the cut sheet parts from which the package components are made by cutting and/or folding and other steps). However, it should be understood that certain unitary blanks may be provided instead as more than one part, and certain blanks may be combined into single blanks, while still arriving at the same finished package.

[0033] Where more than one blank is used, the blanks may be assembled in various stages, including assembling a unitary blank into a package, assembling separate blanks and then joining them to form a package, and joining two or more blanks together, for example by heat sealing, gluing, mechanical fastening, or otherwise and then forming the combined blanks into the package.

[0034] It is to be understood that certain display cards may be one piece of material, and other display cards may comprise two or more pieces of material.

[0035] The display cards described herein may be loaded with product items at various locations, for example partially constructing the display card, moving or shipping it to one or more other locations, and completing the attachment of a product items using the attachment strap or straps. For example, the cards may be formed as a blank with the straps die cut or otherwise formed, with the blank then moved or shipped to another location for final loading with the product.

[0036] Portions of the display card may be made of one, two, or more layers of material. It is to be understood that additional layers of material may be used based on manufacturing preferences. Portions of certain the card may be folded over or around other portions of the card, creating multiple layers of material.

[0037] It is to be understood that a variety of standing features or a variety of hanging features may be used with the display card as determined by manufacturing preferences. [0038] Although various aspects of the disclosed display card have been shown and described, modifications may occur to those skilled in the art upon reading the specification.

Claims

A package for holding an item, the package comprising : a panel of sheet material; a strap formed in the panel, the strap having a proximal end and a distal end; wherein the distal end is attached to the panel and the proximal end is interlocked into the panel.

The package of claim 1, wherein the distal end comprises a shaped end which is interlocked into a slit in the panel.

The package of claim 2, wherein the shaped end comprises at least one sideways protrusion extending from the distal end.

The package of claim 2, wherein the slit comprises a linear portion and at least one non-linear terminal portion.

The package of claim 3, wherein the shaped end comprises an arrow or mushroom shape.

The package of claim 1, wherein the sheet material is a tear resistant material A method of packaging an item, the method comprising : providing a panel of sheet material; forming a strap in the panel, the strap having a proximal end and a distal end; placing an item in proximity with the panel; wrapping the strap at least partly around the item; and attaching the distal end is to the panel by an interlocking attachment..

The method of claim 7, wherein the distal end comprises a shaped end which is interlocked into a slit in the panel.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the shaped end comprises at least one sideways protrusion extending from the distal end.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the slit comprises a linear portion and at least one non-linear terminal portion.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the shaped end comprises an arrow or mushroom shape.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the sheet material is a tear resistant material