GB2319462A - A suspension device for packaging - Google Patents

Abstract

A suspension device 1 for packaging, the suspension device 1 comprising a post 7 for passing through an aperture (13,Fig.3) adjacent an edge (17,Fig.3) of the packaging, a display area (5,Fig.1) attached to a first end of the post for overlying a front surface of the packaging, a ledge 9 extending from the display area for abutting the edge of the packaging, in use, to prevent the suspension device from rotating about the axis of the post relative to the packaging, and a clasp (11,Fig.1) for mating with the second end of the post to lock the suspension device on the packaging.

Description

A SUSPENSION DEVICE This invention relates to suspension devices, and in particular to a device for supporting a carton or other form of packaging from a rail or the like.

It is becoming commonplace in shops to display underwear in cartons or boxes which are suspended from a rail or the like. Such cartons tend to include a box in which the product is contained and an integral cardboard flap to which a suspension device is attached to enable the carton to hang from the rail. One form of known suspension device includes a hook for engaging a rail, a post extending perpendicularly from the base of the hook for passing through an aperture in a flap of a carton and a clasp attached to the hook for passing over an edge of the flap to engage the free end of the post to lock the hook on the flap. Such a suspension device has been used for many years and has been very successful.

Although the known prior art suspension device has proved successful, it has one significant drawback. In use, the hook can rotate about the axis of the post relative to the carton. This is because the clasp cannot be manufactured sufficiently accurately to result in a tight fit between the clasp and the edge of the cardboard flap, since if the clasp is designed to be of a length which results in a tight fit, it can prove extremely difficult to engage the clasp with the free end of the post during assembly. Furthermore, as a result of the suspension device being able to rotate relative to the carton, the known prior art suspension devices have often not included a label/display area, even though this is generally a requirement of department stores to enable them to utilise their "house style" (wherein a label area is positioned directly below a suspension hook). As a result of this lack of a display area on the suspension device, it has in the past been necessary to apply labels directly to the carton being suspended.

With the foregoing in mind, the present invention results in an improved suspension device which overcomes the problems highlighted above.

According to the present invention, there is provided a suspension device for packaging, the suspension device comprising a post for passing through an aperture adjacent an edge of the packaging, a display area attached to a first end of the post for overlying a front surface of the packaging, a ledge extending from the display area for abutting the edge of the packaging, in use, to prevent the suspension device from rotating about the axis of the post relative to the packaging, and a clasp for mating with the second end of the post to lock the suspension device on the packaging.

Preferably the clasp is attached to the ledge and, during assembly, mates with the second end of the post to lock the suspension device on a carton or the like.

Alternatively, the clasp may be attached to some other part of the suspension device, as appropriate.

The ledge preferably extends the full width of the display area. However, it is only really essential for the ledge to engage a sufficient length of the edge of the packaging to prevent the suspension device from being able to rotate relative to the packaging.

In use, the ledge preferably extends from the upper edge of the display area. It may be, however, that the display area will be designed to extend above the ledge, in which case the ledge will extend from some other part of the rear of the display area.

Preferably the second end of the post includes an enlarged region which retains the clasp on the post after locking of the suspension device.

The clasp may include an aperture through which the second end of the post passes during locking of the suspension device. Alternatively, the clasp may include a recess into which the second end of the post enters to lock the suspension device.

If the clasp includes a recess, the recess is preferably formed in a dome of the clasp. As a result, assembly of the suspension device with a carton can be achieved more comfortably, because the post does not engage a thumb of the person doing the assembly as the suspension device is locked.

Preferably the suspension devices includes a hook which enables the suspension device to hang from a rail or the like. Other means for suspending the device, in use, can of course be envisaged by those skilled in the relevant art.

Preferably the suspension device is formed from plastics material. More preferably, the suspension device is moulded in one piece, possibly by injecting moulding.

Although the dimensions of the suspension device will depend on a particular application, in one embodiment the post preferably has a diameter of about 4mm and a length of about 5mm. Further, in such an embodiment, the ledge preferably extends between about lmm and about 3mm to the rear of the display area.

A specific embodiment of the present invention is now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a suspension device according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a rear view of the suspension device of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a side view of the suspension device locked to a flap of a carton.

With reference to the drawings, a suspension device 1 according to the present invention comprises a hook 3, a display area 5, a post 7, a ledge 9 and a clasp 11. These components are all formed integrally in a single plastics moulding operation.

The post 7 extends rearwardly from the display area 5 and passes through an aperture 13 in a cardboard flap 15 of a carton (not shown), during use. The ledge 9 is spaced from the post 7 by a distance which equates to the length of cardboard flap 15 extending above the post 7. As a result, the ledge 9 abuts against the edge 17 of the cardboard flap 15 to prevent the suspension device 1 from rotating about the axis of the post 7 relative to the cardboard flap 15.

The clasp 11, which preferably extends from the ledge 9 via a hinge portion 20, includes a web 19 which carries a dome 21. The dome 21 includes a recess 23 into which the free end of the post 7 engages with a snap-fit. Once locked, the suspension device 1 remains attached to the cardboard flap 15 such that the carton (not shown) can be suspended from a rail or the like in a shop or department store.

Although the dimensions of the suspension device 1 will depend on the particular application, in one embodiment the diameter of the post 7 is approximately 4mm and the length of the post is preferably about 5mm. Further, the ledge normally has a width of between 1-3mm and a length which extends preferably the full width of the display surface 5.

Either prior to mounting of the suspension device 1 on a cardboard flap 15 of a carton or subsequent to mounting, adhesive display labels can be applied to the display area 5. These labels can include size or cost information, for example, or any other appropriate information.

As will be appreciated, once the suspension device 1 has been locked on a cardboard flap 15, for example, relative rotation of the hook 3 about the axis of the post 7 is prevented due to the ledge 9 abutting the edge 17 of the cardboard flap 15. As a result, information displayed on the display area 5 will always be oriented correctly for viewing by a customer. Furthermore, by virtue of the suspension device 1 being held in position relative to the cardboard flap 15, the carton supported by the suspension device 1 can be more easily mounted on, and removed from, a display rail.

It will of course be understood that the present invention has been described above purely by way of example, and that modifications of detail can be made within the scope of the invention.

Claims (14)

1. A suspension device for packaging, the suspension device comprising: a post for passing through an aperture adjacent an edge of the packaging, a display area attached to a first end of the post for overlying a front surface of the packaging, a ledge extending from the display area for abutting the edge of the packaging, in use, to prevent the suspension device from rotating about the axis of the post relative to the packaging, and a clasp for mating with the second end of the post to lock the suspension device on the packaging.

2. A suspension device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the clasp extends from the ledge for engaging the post to lock the suspension device.

3. A suspension device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the ledge extends the full width of the display area.

4. A suspension device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein during use the ledge extends from the upper edge of the display area.

5. A suspension device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the second end of the post includes an enlarged region which retains the clasp on the post after locking of the suspension device.

6. A suspension device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the clasp includes an aperture through which the second end of the post passes during locking of the suspension device.

7. A suspension device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the clasp includes a recess into which the second end of the post enters to lock the suspension device.

8. A suspension device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the recess is formed in a dome of the clasp.

9. A suspension device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a hook enables the suspension device to hang from a rail or the like.

10. A suspension device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the device is formed from plastics material.

11. A suspension device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the device is moulded in one piece.

12. A suspension device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the post has a diameter of about 4mm.

13. A suspension device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the ledge extends about lmm to the rear of the display area.

14. A suspension device for packaging, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.