FIXTURE FOR AFFIXING PRODUCT TO A CLIP STRIP

TECHNICAL FIELD The invention relates generally to point-of-purchase displays employing clip strips.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a fixture for rapidly loading product onto a clip strip.

BACKGROUND A clip strip is a point-of-purchase hanger strip for holding and displaying a plurality of like articles. The articles are typically alike and held or secured by packaging having a hang or back card. The clip strips are typically conveniently formed from polymeric material and are typically provided with tabs suitable for supporting packaged articles. The packaged articles are typically pre-hung on these strips prior to shipment to a retailer.

The process of attaching the articles to the clip strip typically involves interleaving the tabs on the clip strip with a pre-punched hole on the article. Traditionally, product is manually loaded onto the strip one at a time, a rather slow and costly process.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure improves on the use of clip strips by providing a method and apparatus to allow for multiple perforations to be opened at the same time while also providing support for each of the product packages until the clip strip is loaded with the desired number of products. One aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a fixture for facilitating the loading of product onto a clip strip, the clip strip being of the sort having at least one perforation therein such that the perforation defines at least two opposed tabs. A type of clip strip which is particularly suited to be used with present invention has multiple perforations that are each generally "W" shaped so as to define three separable tabs, with the center tab adapted to serve as a hook for hanging the product, and the outer tabs adapted to serve as retaining tabs for retaining the product on the hook, until manually disengaged by the consumer at the point-of-purchase.

In some exemplary embodiments, the fixture includes a frame having a support surface for supporting the clip strip during the mounting of the product. The fixture can also include one or more probes mounted on the frame, each probe being adapted to engage and separate the tabs when in contact with the tabs. There can also be a mechanism for moving the probe into engagement with the clip strip when the mechanism is actuated.

In an exemplary embodiment, it is convenient to build a fixture according to the present disclosure so that the clip strip is held stationary relative to the frame and the probes are moved relative to the frame by the mechanism. However, it is also contemplated that the probes can be fixed and the clip strip is moved relative to the frame instead. In some exemplary embodiments, the fixture has a number of extendable probes, and the mechanism extends or retracts all of the probes when actuated, such that each probe engages and separates the tabs defined by one of the perforations on a clip strip that has several of them. In another exemplary embodiment, each probe present has a product support feature adapted to temporarily support the product during the time while the probe is engaging the tabs. An exemplary embodiment of such a feature is a slot in the probe, oriented crosswise to the long axis of the clip strip. This type of feature is particularly suited to product that has a hang card, such as is often seen on, e.g., adhesive tape dispensers. In such exemplary embodiments, it is convenient to orient the slot at an acute angle relative to the direction of the extension imparted to the probe by the mechanism. In an exemplary embodiment, the disclosure is directed to a method for loading product onto a clip strip, comprising: providing a clip strip having at least one perforation therein such that the perforation defines at least two opposed tabs; providing a the fixture comprising: a support surface for supporting the clip strip, at least one probe adapted to engage and separate the tabs when extended through the perforation, wherein the probe has a feature adapted to temporarily engage the product, and a mechanism for moving the probe into contact with the clip strip;

placing the clip strip on the support surface and using the mechanism to move the probe and separate the tabs; positioning the product on the probe so as to engage the feature; using the mechanism to move the clip strip away from the probe, leaving the product releasably affixed to the clip strip by the interaction of the tabs.

In parallel with the discussion above, in many convenient embodiments the clip strip has a plurality of perforations defining at least two opposed tabs, such that the distance between perforations along the length of the clip strip is a predetermined length. Under these circumstances, the fixture conveniently has an extendable probe for each of the perforations, and the mechanism extends and retracts all the extendable probes at once so that each extendable probe engages and separates the tabs defined by one of the perforations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the several figures of the attached drawing, like parts bear like reference numerals.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a portion of an exemplary clip strip for use in connection with the fixture according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a fixture supporting the clip strip of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a detailed side view illustrating the deflection of the tabs on the clip strip when engaged by the extendable probes of the fixture of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a second detailed side view emphasizing how product having a hang card is temporarily supported within the extendable probes while the clip strip is being loaded;

FIG. 5 is a third detailed side view emphasizing how the hook has captured the product illustrated in FIG. 4 and the retaining tabs after the extendable probes have been retracted

FIG. 5a is a view of a portion of view in FIG. 5; and FIG. 6 is a section view of FIG. 2 taken along line 3-3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As was discussed above, the process of attaching products onto a clip strip is undesirably slow, and the packaging art would be advanced if a way to more swiftly load clip strips could be discovered.

Generally, the present disclosure is direct to an apparatus and methods for loading clip strips. Typically, each clip strip includes a plurality of holding portions. Each holding portion is adapted to hold a product.

The apparatus includes a clip strip holder, and an engaging member that opens the holding portions of the clip strip. The clip strip holder and engaging portion can be cooperatively coupled on a mounting frame.

The method generally includes temporarily securing the clip strip in the holder, opening holding portions with the engaging member, placing product in the holding portions, and disengaging the engaging member, leaving the product removably affixed to the clip strip. The clip strip, now loaded with product, can be packaged and transported to retail locations. Also, this reloading of clip strips at retail locations can be conveniently done using the same apparatus and methods.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a plan view of a portion of an exemplary clip strip 10 for use in connection with exemplary embodiments of the present invention is illustrated. The clip strip 10 may optionally include an enlarged upper portion 12 for the display of advertising information concerning the product to be attached to the clip strip 10. A mounting hole 14 is often conveniently provided.

An example embodiment of a holding portion or perforation 16, having generally a "W" shape, is illustrated. Three different tabs 18a, 18b, and 18c are defined by perforation 16; and for the clarity of the explanation below it is convenient to think of a tab 18c that extends towards upper portion 12 as a hooking portion, and tabs 18b 18c that extends away from upper portion 12 as a retaining tab 22 and 24. It is conventional for clip strips 10 to be fabricated from thin sheets of polymeric material, e.g., polypropylene or the like; but they can be made from any material suitable for the conditions of use, and the material selection is within the exercise of ordinary skill in the art. Additionally, the type of holding portion may vary, as the needs of the clip strip dictate, and the selection of a particular holding portion is likewise within the exercise of ordinary skill in the art.

Referring now to FIG. 2 and FIG. 6, perspective and section views of a fixture 30 according to the present disclosure are illustrated. The fixture 30 is illustrated supporting clip strip 10 on a supporting surface 32 on one side of the frame 34. The clip strip 10 is constrained from slipping laterally by retaining rails 36 and 38. Naturally, many other mechanical expedients, such as extending dowel pins, can serve to retain the clip strip 10. The probes 40 are illustrated in an engaged state, engaging and deflecting to hook 20 and retaining tabs 22 and 24. At the distal end 43 of extendable probe 40, slot 42 is oriented transverse to the long axis of the clip strip 10. As will be discussed with more particularity below, slot 42 serves as a feature for supporting product temporarily during the loading of the clip strip.

• A portion of the mechanism 50 for extending and retracting probes 40 is also illustrated. Many different mechanical arrangements for this mechanism will suggest themselves to the ordinary artisan. For example, levered or geared arrangements, cams, pneumatic actuators, hydraulic cylinders, solenoids and linear motion actuators are among the many expedients that could comprise mechanism 50 to move the probes into and out of engagement with the holding portion.

When the probes 40 are extended by mechanism 50, elastic forces in the clip strip 10 will naturally resist the bending of the tabs 18a, 18b, 18c. In embodiments of the fixture 30, a means for securing the clip strip 10 to the supporting surface 32 while the probes 40 are being extended may be provided. Among the many suitable expedients for accomplishing this, it is particularly convenient to provide a cover 52 that is pivotally mounted on the frame 34. The cover 52 may conveniently include presser rails 54 and 56. Holes or openings 58 in the cover 52 allow the probes 40 to extend through the cover 52. Once the probes 40 have penetrated the tabs 18, friction between the tabs 18 and the probes 40 take over to retain the clip strip 10, and the cover 52 is pivoted out of the way before product is loaded onto the clip strip 10, as described more completely below.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a side view highlighting the deflection of the tabs on the clip strip when engaged by the probes 40 of the fixture of FIG. 2 is illustrated. Three extendable probes 40 have been extended in direction "Dl" by mechanism 50 (not shown). The probes 40 are shown contacting hook 20 and retaining tabs 22, and deflecting them upwards from their position. (Retaining tab 24 has also been deflected, but is hidden in

this view behind retaining tab 22.) Slot 42 can be seen; and in this preferred embodiment, it can be observed that the slot is tilted and acutely angled with respect to direction "Dl ." This arrangement has the clips readied for loading with product.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a second detailed side view emphasizing how product 60 having a hang card 62 is temporarily supported within the probes 40 while the clip strip 10 is being loaded by the fixture's operator or by an automatic loading mechanism. The hang cards 62 have holes or openings 64 into which hook 20 will penetrate during the retraction of the extendable probes 40, as will be illustrated below in connection with FIG. 5. One of skill in the art will appreciate this better how the tilt of slot 42 exploits gravity forces to help product 60 stay in place while the operator loads product in all of the probes.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a third detailed side view emphasizing how the product, illustrated in FIG. 4, has been captured by the hook 20 and the retaining tab 22 after the probes 40 have been retracted by the mechanism 50, moving the probes 40 in direction "D2." During the retraction, a beveled or curved back surface 70 of probe 40 has guided 20 into hole 64, and a beveled or curved forward surface 72 has guided the retaining tabs 22 to overlay and pin hang card 62 against clip strip 10. This pinning action is sufficient to prevent product 60 from detaching from clip strip 10 during normal shipping and handling, but the ultimate consumer can readily detach the product.

Patents, patent applications, and publications disclosed herein are hereby incorporated by reference (in their entirety) as if individually incorporated. It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Various modifications and alterations of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description without departing from the scope of this invention, and it should be understood that this invention is not to be unduly limited to the illustrative embodiments set forth herein.