GB2467749A - Strip merchandiser with slits defining hemispherical tab and inverted U-shaped tab - Google Patents

Abstract

A vertical product hanging strip 1 is formed from recyclable organic materials, such as stiff cardboard, and comprises hemispherical tabs 2 and inverted U-shaped tabs 5 which are formed by creating regularly spaced, centrally oriented slits 3,4 in the card. In use, the tabs 2,5 are flexed about lines of weakness to detain product packages 6. The hanging strip will be printable in order to maximise its effectiveness in terms of display of the product. The upper edge 12 of the strip may be reinforced and provided with a hole 13 or adhesive strip allowing it to be secured to a shelf. The header may be perforated and shaped to conform to a specific shelf edge.

Description

HANGING STRIP FOR RETAIL DISPLAY OF MERCHANDISE

This invention relates to a hanging strip formed of organic, non-plastic materials for the display of packeted merchandise in a retail establishment.

Background to the invention. The increasing pressure on shelf space has driven the need for novel methods of displaying merchandise without increasing the shelf space required. Various methods of hanging pre-packed goods from hooks attached to shelves have been patented and used. The favoured method for small packets is a plastic strip provided with perforations defining tabs which act as hooks when pressed outwardly from the said strip and inserted through a hole or slot in the topmost margin of the packet. Said strip may be attached to the shelf unit in a variety of ways such as utilising adhesives, hooks which conform to the shelf edge and tabs formed from the material to clip into the shelf edge price display area.

However, said strips are made of plastic and create waste that is not recyclable using current methods. They also do not permit printing to feature branding and consumer messages to be viewed as the packets containing the product are removed.

Searches have revealed prior art relating to such hanging strips. EP1948402 RICHTMAN and ROWELL provides a fixture for facilitating the loading of product onto a clip strip, the clip strip having at least one perforation therein such that the perforation defines at least one hanging tab, thus defining a machine for loading product onto such a strip. EP1615531 FULLER discloses a merchandising strip for displaying a plurality of discrete packages, comprising: an elongated, narrow width strip of plastic having a longitudinal axis; and a plurality of adhesive elements laminated to said strip of plastic. US 2004262250 KOSIR reveals a merchandising strip comprising a planar body with an aperture having a finger for supporting an associated package and a tab for mounting the merchandising strip to a support member, the tab including a strap with a head shaped to be received through an aperture, thus defining a hanging loop. CA 2418685 BLUMREICH provides an elongated strip for shipping and displaying a plurality of packages comprising a plurality of horizontal fold lines and a hanging assembly comprising an upwardly directed cut providing a retaining tab and a downwardly retaining tab, the downwardly directed cut being aligned directly below and separated a distance from the upwardly directed cut. US5284259 CONWAY, KUMP and SCHOTT reveals a double-sided hanging strip enabling more products to be displayed, although restricted in size due to the lateral display thus enabled. WO 2004014197 SPEED and SIMPSON reveals a stepped arrangement for display of products in sleeves formed by the folding of the strip of material while WO 2004010829 SPEED and SIMPSON discloses a strip merchandiser for use with an automated loading mechanism having a plurality of longitudinally spaced product mounting hooks capable of being raised and lowered as the strip passes through the mechanism and a header portion that cannot readily pass through the mechanism. US 6966446 WISE discloses a strip merchandiser for displaying merchandise from the front end of a retail store shelf. The strip folds centrally in a longitudinal sense and contains a plurality of article retaining areas each having a cut-out section which forms an upwardly extending product hanging hook. This is the only patent to claim cardboard as the material from which it is formed.

According to the present invention there is provided a means of vertical hanging display to be formed from recyclable organic materials such as cardboard and card thus avoiding the waste associated with plastic materials that current technology cannot identify and recycle. A plurality of upwardly and downwardly co-operating tabs are formed on a strip of stiff card by creating regularly spaced, centrally oriented shapes slit from the sheet of material, the co-operating tabs detaining the product package. The proposed hanging strip will be printable in order to maximise its effectiveness in terms of display of the product. Hanging means are provided to co-operate with specific shelf requirements.

It is well known that packaged products will feature a hanging slot or hole towards its upper edge, the standard for which is the "Euroslot". The invention is intended to accept such products and the design of the mechanism to detain the product is defined by the need to provide adequate strength when using inherently weaker organic materials. In a typical embodiment the hanging strip will be 60mm. in width and at least 450mm. in length with a plurality of centrally oriented perforations or slits defining a hemisphere terminated at its ends by horizontal lateral perforations or slits at the outer ends of which are provided upwardly vertical perforations or slits, said perforations or slits co-operating to form an upward hemispherical tab and a downward U-shaped tab in order to detain the product packet when its hanging slot is inserted therebetween. The hemispherical tab will typically be of radius 12.5mm.

in order to conform to the existing standard although other sizes are not herein excluded. The horizontal slits extending from the ends of the hemisphere are typically 7.5mm. in extent while the vertical slits extending upwards from the outer ends thereof are typically 25mm. in extent. When loading the product onto the hanging strip, the strip will be bent in such a way that the upward and downward tabs open to admit the upper edge of the packet which will be detained when the strip is straightened again, the hole or slot provided being detained between the co-operating tabs. In order to facilitate insertion and removal of the product packet creases or partial perforations may be optionally provided: from the upper ends of the vertical slits to the lateral edges of the hanging strip; between the upper ends of said vertical slits; between the outer ends of the hemispherical tab; from the outer ends of the horizontal slits to the edge of the hanging strip; horizontally across the whole width of the hanging strip at the midpoint between adjacent hemispherical tabs. The hemispherical tabs may be extended downwardly by the formation of arcuate slits extending vertically for approximately 5mm. in order to more easily accommodate the product. Optionally the hemispherical tabs may be extended downwardly by the formation of vertical slits likewise extending for approximately * 5mm. in order to accommodate the product, in either case a crease or perforation being optionally provided between the extremities thereof.

The vertical perforations or slits defining the downward tab may be formed as straight Jines or may be curved inwardly at their upper ends thus creating a greater margin between the upper end of said slit and the edge of the hanging strip and therefore a greater weight bearing capability to the hanging strip. A variety of known hanging means may be employed to attach the hanging strip to the shelf but it is proposed that the upper edge of the hanging strip will be folded downwardly at least once in order to strengthen the fixture. A hole will typically be formed centrally on the reinforced tab thus formed. Alternatively the header may be shaped and perforated to conform to specific shelf edge display holders. The several options hereinbefore mentioned will be employed as dictated by the nature of the material of the hanging strip and the nature of the product displayed. The material of the hanging strip may be card of thickness approximately 200 grammes per square metre upwards, double or treble wall corrugated cardboard or other suitable material. In certain cases it may be preferable to substitute the hemispherical tab with a similarly sized straight-edged form resembling a parallelogram, having two inwardly leaning vertical slits and a horizontal upper edge.

In the following drawings it is not intended to exclude features from another Figure from each specific embodiment but rather to provide a basis for their combination in specific applications.

While the invention has been disclosed in its preferred form, it is to be understood that the specific embodiment thereof, as described and illustrated herein, is not to be considered in a limited sense, as there may be other forms or modifications of the invention which should also be construed to come within the scope of the appended claims.

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows the essential features of the invention and displays a variety of configurations that may be optimal for a specific material and product.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows the hanging strip I featuring a hemispherical tab 2 connected by horizontal lateral perforations or slits 3 to vertical perforations or slits 4 to form a downward U-shaped tab 5 to accommodate the product packet 6 (shown in dotted line) by accepting the hole or slot 7 formed therein. Zones of weakness created by partial perforations or creases 8 are provided between the upper ends of the vertical slits 4 (crease 14), outwardly from the outer ends of the horizontal slits 3 (crease 15), to the edge of the hanging strip from the upper ends of the vertical slits 4 (crease 16), across the whole width of the hanging strip I (crease 17), outwardly from the lower ends of vertical slits 9 or 11 (crease 18) and between the ends of the hemispherical slit (crease 19). Slits 9 are indicated extending downwardly from the hemispherical tab 2, between whose extremities may be formed a crease or perforation 10. Optional inwardly curved vertical slits 11 are shown, as is the reinforced tab 12 formed at the upper edge of the hanging strip I in which is formed a hole 13 designed to accept a simple hook for attachment to a shelf unit although other means of attachment may be utilised.