FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates generally to an article display assembly and pertains more
particularly to an assembly of a wallet with a hanger wherein the wallet may be inspected
without need for removal from the hanger.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] By way of introduction to the subject invention, reference is made to commonly-assigned
Patent No. 5,429,284. This patent discloses a garment hanger comprised of a one-piece
body having a hook portion for the receipt of a display rod, a central portion depending
from the hook portion and having first and second openings therein, and a lower portion
defining a fold line segment depending from the central portion with a third opening
disposed in the fold line segment and a flap segment depending from the fold line
segment. The central portion and the flap segment define coactive structure for retaining
the flap segment against the central portion on folding of the flap segment about
the fold line segment. The coactive structure is preferably comprised of first and
second projections on the flap segment adjacent respective lateral margins thereof
and first and second latching openings in the central portion adjacent respective
lateral margins thereof.
[0003] In use of the hanger, with the flap segment unfolded, a garment, such as a tie, is
looped through the first and second openings and then passed through the third opening.
The flap is now folded against the garment and latched to the central portion.
[0004] By way of further introduction to the subject invention, reference is made to commonly-assigned
U. S. Patent No. 5,501,378, which discloses a garment hanger comprised of a one-piece
body having a hook portion for the receipt of a display rod, a central portion depending
from the hook portion, the body defining in the central portion an opening therethrough
and a garment support member disposed in the opening and movable relative to the body
and a lower portion defining a fold line segment depending from the central portion
and a flap segment depending from the fold line segment, the central portion, the
fold line segment and the flap segment jointly defining a slot in the body which opens
into a margin of the body.
[0005] The central portion and the flap segment define coactive means for retaining the
flap segment against the central portion on folding of the flap segment about the
fold line segment.
[0006] The fold line segment is disposed contiguously with an interior end of the slot and
provides cantilever support for the flap segment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention has as its primary object the provision of an assembly of an
article such as a wallet with a hanger wherein the wallet may be inspected without
need for removal from the hanger.
[0008] In attaining this and other objects, the invention provides, in combination, a hanger
comprised of a one-piece body having a hook portion for the receipt of a display rod,
a central portion depending from the hook portion, the body defining in the central
portion a transverse opening therethrough fully bounded by the central portion, a
fold line portion depending from the central portion and a flap segment contiguous
with the fold line portion and secured to the central portion, and an article having
a first part disposed in the transverse opening and at least second and third parts
extending outwardly of the one-piece body, a portion of the article second part being
disposed between the central portion and the flap segment, the article third part
being disposed fully outwardly of the hanger.
[0009] Another object of the present invention is the provision of an assembly of an article
with a hanger, wherein the article may be inspected without need for removal from
the hanger, and packaging for the article jointly hung therewith.
[0010] In attaining such object, the invention provides, in the foregoing combination a
package for the article, the package having a passage therethrough and the flap segment
being resident in the package passage, whereby the package is hung by the flap segment.
[0011] More particularly in attaining such object, the invention provides, in combination,
a hanger comprised of a one-piece body having a hook portion for the receipt of a
display rod, a central portion depending from the hook portion, the body defining
in the central portion a transverse opening therethrough fully bounded by the central
portion, a fold line portion depending from the central portion and a flap segment
contiguous with the fold line portion and secured to the central portion, an article
having a first part disposed in the transverse opening and at leapt second and third
parts extending outwardly of the one-piece body, a portion of the article second part
being disposed between the central portion and the flap segment, the article third
part being disposed fully outwardly of the hanger and a package for the article hangingly
supported by the flap segment.
[0012] The foregoing and other objects and features of the invention will be further evident
from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof and from
the drawings in which like components are identified by like reference numerals throughout.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] Fig. 1 is a rear elevational view of a hanger in accordance with the invention prior
to its assembly with a wallet to be hung for display.
[0014] Fig. 2 is a right side elevational view of the Fig. 1 hanger.
[0015] Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view of the hanger of Figs. 1 and 2 assembled with a
wallet.
[0016] Fig. 4 is front elevational view of a package adapted for containment of the wallet
of Fig. 3 and for hanging therewith by the hanger of Figs. 1-3.
[0017] Fig. 5 is a right side elevational view of the Fig. 4 package.
[0018] Fig. 6 is a rear elevational view of the hanger of Figs. 1 and 2 assembled with both
the wallet of Fig. 3 and the package of Figs. 4 and 5.
[0019] Fig. 7 is a right side elevational view of the Fig. 6 assembly.
[0020] Fig. 8 is a rear elevational view of a further hanger in accordance with the invention
prior to its assembly with a wallet to be hung for display and a package therefor.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0021] Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, hanger 10 in accordance with the invention is comprised
of a one-piece body having a hook portion 12 with a channel 12a for the receipt of
a display rod and with a logo display area 12b, a central portion 14 depending from
the hook portion, a fold portion 16 depending from the central portion and a flap
segment 18 depending from fold portion 16 and cantilever-supported thereby. Fold portion
16 is constituted by thinning out the one-piece body to have a lesser thickness than
the thickness of central portion 14 and flap segment 18, as is shown in Fig. 2.
[0022] The body defines in central portion 14 a transverse opening 20 therethrough, fully
bounded by central portion 14. Central portion 14, fold line portion 16 and flap segment
18 collectively define slot 22 in the body which opens into a margin of the body.
[0023] Central portion 14 and flap segment 18 define coactive means for securing the flap
segment against the central portion. The coactive means is preferably comprised of
first and second projections 26 and 28 on flap segment 18 adjacent respective lateral
margins thereof and first and second latching openings 30 and 32 in the central portion
adjacent respective lateral margins thereof.
[0024] While the hanger may be constituted such that the coactive means is releasable, it
is preferred that the retention not be releasable and that cutting is required to
remove a wallet from the hanger.
[0025] In Fig. 3, hanger 10 is shown in assembly with wallet 34 with the wallet partly broken
away. In reaching the assembly of Fig. 3, wallet part 38 is inserted, free end first,
into opening 20 of hanger 10 until fold part 36 is resident in opening 20. At this
juncture, wallet part 40 is placed in slot 18, the placement being facilitated by
the cantilever-support of flap segment 18 by fold portion 16. Wallet part 38 is disposed
fully exteriorly of hanger 10. Flap segment 18 is now folded about fold portion 16,
i.e., onto wallet part 40, wallet fold part 36 being ensnared between flap segment
18 and hanger central portion 14 upon engagement of projections 26 and 28 and latching
openings 30 and 32.
[0026] As will be appreciated, upon rotation of the Fig. 3 assembly by one-hundred and eighty
degrees, hook portion 12 is insertable onto a display rod from the right hand side
of the rod and wallet part 38 is fully viewable to a shopper and may be lifted for
shopper inspection of the wallet without need for disassembly of the wallet and hanger.
Upon lifting of wallet part 38, wallet part 40 is likewise fully viewable.
[0027] Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, package 42 may be constructed of thin sheet material
and defines an interior compartment configured to contain wallet 34, a closure flap
44 having insert end 46, and a slot 48 for receipt of insert end 46 on folding of
closure flap 44.
[0028] Openings, one being shown at 50 in Fig. 5 (the other not shown), are formed in the
sidewalls of package 42 and extend into the interior compartment, thus defining a
passage extending transversely through the package. Opening 50 (and the opening not
shown) are configured complementally with flap segment 18, whereby the flap segment
may be inserted through opening 50, to exit through the opening not shown, and thus
to be assembled with package 42. Upon such assembly, flap segment is folded onto central
portion 14 (wallet 34 being preassembled with the hanger as above described), and
the assembly of hanger, wallet and wallet package is complete.
[0029] While shown as of rectangular configuration in Fig. 5, opening 50 is desirably of
circular configuration to facilitate rotation of package 42 about flap segment prior
to folding of the flap segment to properly orient package 42 relative to the hung
wallet.
[0030] As will be appreciated, upon rotation of the Fig. 5 assembly by one-hundred and eighty
degrees about a vertical axis, hook portion 12 is insertable onto a display rod from
the right hand side of the rod and wallet part 38 is fully viewable to a shopper and
may be lifted for shopper inspection of the wallet without need for disassembly of
the wallet, package and hanger. Upon lifting of wallet part 38, wallet part 40 is
likewise fully viewable.
[0031] When a purchaser elects to purchase a so displayed wallet, the checkout clerk cuts
the exposed projections 26 and 28 (Fig. 1) freeing flap segment 18 from its securement
with central portion 14, removes the wallet through transverse opening 20, removes
package 42 from flap segment 18 and inserts the wallet into the package, thus providing
the purchaser with a packaged wallet. The exterior of package 42 is desirably provided
with a wrapping paper like design.
[0032] Referring to Fig. 8, hanger 10' is configured in all respects as is hanger 10 with
the exception that central portion 14 has a notch 24 formed therein bounding slot
22 and transversely coextensive with transverse opening 20. Such arrangement accommodates
larger, more bulky wallets than hanger 10.
[0033] Various changes to the particularly disclosed embodiment and practices may evidently
be introduced without departing from the invention. By way of example, the illustrated
latching structure is used for applications in which high security is desired and
may be replaced with other latching structure in other applications. Also, while the
invention has been particularly described in the display and packaging of wallets,
the invention of course lends itself generally to article and package display. Accordingly,
it is to be appreciated that the particularly discussed and depicted preferred embodiment
and practices of the invention are intended in an illustrative and not in a limiting
sense. The true spirit and scope of the invention are set forth in the ensuing claims.
1. In combination, a hanger comprised of a one-piece body having a hook portion for the
receipt of a display rod, a central portion depending from the hook portion, the body
defining in the central portion a transverse opening therethrough fully bounded by
the central portion, a fold line portion depending from the central portion and flap
segment contiguous with the fold line portion and secured to the central portion,
and an article having at least first, second and third parts, characterized in that
said article first part is disposed in the transverse opening and said second and
third parts extend outwardly of the one-piece body, a portion of the article second
part being disposed between the central portion and the flap segment, the article
third part being disposed fully outwardly of the hanger.
2. The invention claimed in claim 1, wherein said central portion and said flap segment
define coactive means for retaining said flap segment against said central portion
on folding of said flap segment about said fold line portion.
3. The invention claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said fold line portion is contiguous
with an interior end of said slot and provides cantilever support for said flap segment.
4. The invention hanger claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 as dependent on claim 2, wherein
said coactive means is comprised of at least one projection on said flap segment and
at least one latching opening in said central portion.
5. The invention claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 or 4 as dependent on claim 2, wherein
said coactive means is comprised of first and second projections on said flap segment
adjacent respective lateral margins thereof and first and second latching openings
in said central portion adjacent respective lateral margins thereof.
6. The invention claimed in any one of the claims 1 to 5, further comprising a package
for said article hangingly supported by said flap segment.
7. The invention claimed in claim 6, wherein said package defines a passage therethrough,
said flap segment being resident in said package passage.
8. The invention claimed in any one of the claims 1 to 7, wherein said article is a wallet.
9. The invention claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein said article is a wallet and wherein
said package is configured for containment of said wallet when said wallet and said
package are removed from said hanger.