Packaging for retaining and displaying hair bands

Abstract

Packaging for looped articles includes a foldable display element having a first panel adapted for side-by-side retention of the looped articles. The foldable display element further includes second, third and fourth panels and fold lines between the panels to form a box-like structure in which the first panel overlies the second panel and the third and fourth are between the first and second panels opposite each other. A tab panel extending from the first panel is received by a slot in a tab-receiving panel at an opposite end of the display element. The packaging may also include a support ring having a discontinuity extending through its cross section for interlinking receipt of the looped articles. A loop-securing band is received through each of the looped articles and includes opposite ends that are overlapped and secured to each other to define a closed loop interlinked with the articles.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A foldable display element for retaining and displaying a plurality of articles each defining a closed loop, the foldable display element comprising: 
 a first panel having opposite sides and opposite ends, the first panel adapted to receive each of the articles such that the closed loop encircles the first panel, the first panel providing for retention of the articles in a side-by-side arrangement;    a second panel having opposite ends;    a third panel having opposite ends, the third panel located between the first and second panels, the foldable display including a first fold line extending along adjoining ends of the first and third panels and a second fold line extending along adjoining ends of the second and third panels such that the first panel overlies at least a portion of the second panel when the display element is folded;    a fourth panel having opposite ends, the fourth panel located opposite the third panel with respect to the second panel, the foldable display including a third fold line extending along adjoining ends of the second and fourth panels such that the foldable display element forms a box-like structure when folded in which the third and fourth panels are substantially parallel to each other on opposite ends of the first and second panels;    a tab panel extending from an end of the first panel opposite the third panel; and    a tab receiving panel adjacent the fourth panel opposite the second panel such that the tab panel and the tab receiving panels are located on opposite ends of the display element, the tab receiving panel including an elongated slot adapted to receive at least a portion of the tab panel.    
     
     
         2 . A foldable display element according to  claim 1  wherein each of the displayed articles is a hair band.  
     
     
         3 . The foldable display element according to  claim 2 , further comprising a fourth fold line extending along a junction of the first panel and the tab panel and a fifth fold line extending along a junction of the fourth panel and the tab receiving panel.  
     
     
         4 . The foldable display element according to  claim 2 , wherein the elongated slot of the tab receiving panel is located adjacent the junction of the tab receiving panel and the fourth panel.  
     
     
         5 . The foldable display element according to  claim 2 , wherein a distance between the opposite ends of third panel and a distance between the opposite ends of the fourth panel are relatively small with respect to that of the first and second panels such that the box-like structure formed by the foldable display element has a rectangular cross section having relatively long sides and relatively short ends.  
     
     
         6 . The foldable display element according to  claim 2 , further including fifth and sixth fold lines extending across the tab panel to define a middle portion and opposite end portions of the tab panel, and wherein the slot of the tab receiving panel has a length and a width adapted to receive the tab panel when the tab panel is folded along the fifth and sixth fold lines.  
     
     
         7 . Packaging for retaining and displaying a plurality of articles each defining a loop, the packaging comprising: 
 a support member comprising a substantially toroidal ring, the substantially toroidal ring including a discontinuity defining opposite and adjacent ends to facilitate interlinking receipt of the loops by the support member; and    an elongated loop securing member received through each of the loops, the securing member having opposite end portions and opposite surfaces, the opposite end portions of the loop securing member overlapping each other such that the opposite surfaces contact one another to define a closed loop.    
     
     
         8 . The packaging according to  claim 1 , wherein the cross section of the support member is solid.  
     
     
         9 . The packaging according to  claim 1 , wherein the cross section of the support member is circular.  
     
     
         10 . The packaging according to  claim 1 , wherein the opposite ends of the support member defined by the discontinuity are normally offset from each other.  
     
     
         11 . The packaging according to  claim 1 , wherein the loop securing member comprises a band having opposite surfaces and opposite ends and wherein the opposite surfaces contact each other at the opposite ends.  
     
     
         12 . The packaging according to  claim 11 , wherein the opposite ends of the loop securing member are secured to one another by an adhesive located between the opposite surfaces.  
     
     
         13 . The packaging according to  claim 2 , further comprising a mounting member including a substantially planar hair band receiving portion, each of the hair band loops encircling the hair band receiving portion such that the hair band loops are retained by the hair band receiving portion in a side-by-side arrangement.  
     
     
         14 . The packaging according to  claim 13 , wherein the mounting member comprises a foldable sheet including a first panel defining the hair band receiving portion, the first panel having opposite ends, the foldable sheet further comprising second and third panels each having opposite ends, the third panel located between the first and second panels, the foldable sheet including a first fold line extending along adjoining ends of the first and third panels and a second fold line extending along adjoining ends of the second and third panels, the fold lines providing a folded condition for the foldable sheet in which the first panel overlies at least a portion of the second panel.  
     
     
         15 . The packaging according to  claim 14 , wherein the foldable sheet further comprises a fourth panel having opposite ends, the fourth panel located opposite the third panel with respect to the second panel, the foldable sheet including a third fold line extending along adjoining ends of the second and fourth panels such that the foldable sheet forms a box-like structure when folded in which the third and fourth panels are substantially parallel to each other on opposite ends of the first and second panels.  
     
     
         16 . The packaging according to  claim 15  wherein the foldable sheet further comprises a tab panel extending from an end of the first panel opposite the third panel and a tab receiving panel adjacent the fourth panel opposite the second panel such that the tab panel and the tab receiving panels are located on opposite ends of the foldable sheet, the tab receiving panel including an elongated slot adapted to receive at least a portion of the tab panel.  
     
     
         17 . The packaging according to  claim 16  wherein the tab panel of the foldable sheet includes a pair of fold lines extending across the tab panel to define a middle portion and end portions for the tab panel, the end portions extending from opposite ends of the middle portion such that each of the end portions will overly the middle portion when the tab panel is folded along the pair of fold lines, the slot of the tab receiving panel having a width adapted for receipt of the folded tab panel, the slot further having a length adapted such that the end portions of a tab panel received by the slot will inhibit separation of the tab panel from the tab receiving panel when the end portions of the received tab panel are unfolded.  
     
     
         18 . An assembly for supporting and displaying a plurality of looped articles, the assembly comprising: 
 a display box having opposite front and rear panels and opposite side panels located between the front and rear panels, the front panel being removeably secured to one of the side panels, the plurality of looped articles received by the front panel such that each of the looped articles encircles the front panel;    a support ring having a cross section, the support ring including a discontinuity extending through the cross section to define opposite and adjacent ends, the discontinuity of the support ring providing for receipt of the support ring by each of the looped articles in an interlinked manner;    an elongated article securing band having opposite surfaces and opposite end portions, the securing band received through each of the looped articles, the opposite end portions of the article securing band overlapping each other such that the opposite surfaces contact each other to define a closed loop.