Reinforcement of Hang Tags

• US 20120280103A1
• Filed: 05/06/2011
• Published: 11/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avery Dennison Retail Information Services LLC (Avery Dennison Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
• Inventors: FORSTER, Ian J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,967,574 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/342
• CPC Class Codes: B31D 1/024 to labels or tags composed of two layers, the wire or thread being embedded between them
• CPC Class Codes: B31D 1/025 Applying patches, washers or reinforcements
• CPC Class Codes: B31D 1/026 Cutting or perforating B31D1/022 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/903 Support reinforcement
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45262 Pin, post and receiver
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49947 by applying separate fastener

Abstract

Hang tags are provided for mounting on merchandise in a retail setting. The hang tags include a card with a plurality of edges, with a region of reinforcing material located at or adjacent to the top edge of the card, surrounding an aperture through which a fastener is received. The region defines the shape of a pair of intersecting elongated shapes such as ovals or ellipses, thereby positioning the reinforcing material in the locations where it is most needed to prevent theft-based removal of the tag from the merchandise, while omitting reinforcing material from the locations where it is not needed. Also provided is an attachment device, such as an applicator gun, for substantially simultaneously applying the reinforcing material to the tag and fastening the tag to a piece of merchandise.

Claims

1. A merchandise hang tag comprising:

A card having a plurality of edges, including a top edge; and

A region of reinforcing material located at or adjacent to the top edge, wherein the region defines the shape of a pair of intersecting elongated openings,

wherein the region of reinforcing material contains a RFID-reactive strip.

2. The merchandise hang tag of claim 1, wherein the region defines the shape of a pair of substantially identical, intersecting elongated shapes as ovals.

3. The merchandise hang tag of claim 1, wherein each of said elongated shapes has a major axis and the respective major axes of the elongated shapes are substantially perpendicular to each other.

4. The merchandise hang tag of claim 3, wherein the major axis of one of the elongated shapes is substantially perpendicular to the top edge, and the major axis of the other elongated shapes is substantially parallel to the top edge.

5. The merchandise hang tag of claim 1, further comprising a fastener-receiving aperture positioned within the area where the elongated shapes intersect.

6. The merchandise hang tag of claim 1, wherein the region defines the shape of a first elongated shape member overlying a second elongated shape member to provide a multi-layered region.

7. The merchandise hang tag of claim 1, wherein the region defines the shape of a pair of intersecting ellipses.

8. The merchandise hang tag of claim 1, wherein the region defines the shape of a pair of substantially identical, intersecting ellipses.

9. The merchandise hang tag of claim 1, wherein each of said ellipses has a major axis, being the longest diameter of the ellipse, and the respective major axes of the ellipses are substantially perpendicular to each other.

10. The merchandise hang tag of claim 9, wherein each of said ellipses has a minor axis, being the shortest diameter of the ellipse, and the minor axis of one of the ellipses is aligned with the major axis of the other ellipse.

11. The merchandise hang tag of claim 9, wherein the major axis of one of the ellipses is substantially perpendicular to the top edge, and the major axis of the other ellipse is substantially parallel to the top edge.

12. The merchandise hang tag of claim 1, wherein the reinforcing material has RFID properties that serves to track the merchandise and protect from theft.

22. The hang tag of claim 1 wherein the force required to rip through the reinforcing material is significantly more than 40 Newtons.

13. A merchandise hang tag comprising:

a card having a plurality of edges, including a top edge;

a region of reinforcing material located at or adjacent to the top edge, wherein

the region defines the shape of a pair of substantially identical elongated shapes which intersect at an area,

each of said elongated shapes has a major axis, with the respective major axes of the elongated shapes being substantially perpendicular to each other, and

one major axis is generally vertically oriented with respect to the top edge of the card; and

a fastener-receiving aperture positioned within the area where the elongated shapes intersect, the aperture being positioned at a location spaced away from the top edge by a distance greater than midway along the major axis that is generally vertically oriented.

14. The merchandise hang tag of claim 13, wherein the aperture is positioned farther from the top edge of the card than the intersection of the respective major axes is positioned from the top edge of the card.

15. The merchandise hang tag of claim 13, wherein the area in which the elongated shapes intersect comprises a multi-layered area.

16. The merchandise hang tag of claim 13, wherein the reinforcing material has RFID properties.

17. An attachment device for attaching a hang tag to a piece of merchandise, comprising:

a housing having a handle configured to be gripped by a hand;

a pin extending from the housing;

a supply of fasteners associated with the pin;

a supply of reinforcing material associated with the pin;

an actuator configured to be operated to substantially simultaneously deploy a fastener and a portion of the reinforcing material to a hang tag; and

wherein the supply of reinforcing material is a plurality of individual decals or stickers positioned on a roll of low-adhesion release paper.

18. The attachment device of claim 17, wherein the reinforcing material has RFID properties.

19. A method of attaching a hang tag to a piece of merchandise using an attachment device having a pin and an actuator, comprising:

positioning a hang tag adjacent to a piece of merchandise;

pressing the pin of the attachment device through the hang tag and/or the piece of merchandise; and

operating the actuator of the attachment device, thereby substantially simultaneously deploying a fastener and a reinforcing material to the hang tag.

20. An attachment device for attaching a hang tag to a piece of merchandise, comprising:

a card having a plurality of edges, including a top edge;

a region of reinforcing material located at or adjacent to the top edge, wherein

the region defines the shape of a pair of substantially identical elongated shapes which intersect at an area;

each of the elongated shapes when measured from a center point of a hole within each of the elongated shapes, provides a length of reinforcing material that in a direction of pull is at least twice that of the length of the reinforcing material in a direction transverse to the direction of pull,

an edge of the elongated shape does not extend to the edge of the card; and

wherein the top edge of the ticket is 0 degrees, the length in a direction center to 0 degrees is >

2×

a length in the direction to 180 degrees, and that a length in direction to center 90 degrees and 270 degrees is >

1.5×

a length in direction 180 degrees.

21. The attachment device for attaching a hang tag to a piece of merchandise of claim 20, wherein the region of reinforcing material defines the shape of a first elongated shape member overlying a second elongated shape member to provide a multi-layered region.