Foldable element for hanging display of a garment

Abstract

A foldable display element for hanging display of a garment provides for multidirectional display of product indicia. The foldable display element includes a main body having opposite sides and opposite ends and an opening for receiving the hook of a hanger. The main body further includes fold lines extending from opposite sides of the opening to divide the main body into first and second panels. The foldable blank further includes a side panel connected to one of the sides of the main panel and extending laterally with respect to the main body. The side panel has opposite sides and includes a pair of closely spaced fold lines dividing the side panel into first and second sub-panels separated by a narrow intermediate panel.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A foldable display element that provides for hanging display of merchandise comprising: 
 a main body having opposite sides and opposite ends, the main body including an opening adapted for receipt of a hanger, the main body further including a fold line on each of opposite sides of the opening that extends from the opening to one of the sides of the main body such that the fold lines and the opening divide the main body into first and second panels; and    a side panel connected to one of the sides of the main body and extending laterally with respect to the main body, the side panel having opposite sides and including a pair of fold lines that extend between the opposite sides of the side panel,    the fold lines of the side panel being intermediately located with respect to the side panel and relatively closely spaced such that the fold lines divide the side panel into first and second sub-panels on opposite sides of the fold lines and a narrow intermediate panel between the fold lines, the fold lines providing for a folded condition in which the second sub-panel overlies at least a portion of the first sub-panel to provide for multidirectional display of product indicia.    
     
     
         2 . The foldable display element according to  claim 1 , wherein the fold lines of the main body are located closer to one of the ends of the main body than to the other of the ends of the main body such that one of the panels of the main body is larger than the other one of the panels, the first panel being the larger one of the panels.  
     
     
         3 . The foldable display element according to  claim 1 , wherein the opening comprises an elongated slot that extends laterally with respect to the main body between the fold lines of the main body.  
     
     
         4 . The foldable display element according to  claim 3 , wherein the slot is aligned with the fold lines of the main body such that each fold line substantially divides an end of the slot, the slot forming a notch when the main body is folded along the fold lines.  
     
     
         5 . The foldable display element according to  claim 1 , wherein a distance between the pair of fold lines of the side panel and an intersection between the first sub-panel and the main body is less than a distance between the pair of fold lines and a terminal end of the second sub-panel such that the second sub-panel has a width that is greater than that of the first sub-panel, an end portion of the second sub-panel overlying a portion of the main body when the display element is folded.  
     
     
         6 . The foldable display element according to  claim 1 , wherein the side panel is connected to the first panel of the main body, one of the sides of the side panel joining the first panel adjacent one of the fold lines.  
     
     
         7 . The foldable display element according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the sub-panels includes a projection that extends from a first one of the sides of the side panel.  
     
     
         8 . The foldable display element according to  claim 7 , wherein each of the projections has an end that is located adjacent one of the fold lines of the side panel such that at least a portion of the projection of the second sub-panel will overly at least a portion of the projection of the first sub-panel when the display element is folded.  
     
     
         9 . The foldable display element according to  claim 1  wherein the foldable display element includes a front surface and an opposite rear surface and wherein the front surface of at least the first panel of the main body bears indicia, the front surfaces of the first and second sub-panels and intermediate panel of the side panel also bearing indicia to provide for a multi-directional display of indicia when the display element is folded.  
     
     
         10 . The foldable display element according to  claim 9 , wherein the indicia on the first panel of the main body comprises a likeness of merchandise to be displayed and wherein the indicia on the sub-panels and intermediate panel of the side panel comprise likenesses of the merchandise that are substantially similar in appearance to the likeness on the main body but reduced in size.  
     
     
         11 . The foldable display element according to  claim 1 , wherein the display element is made from a paperboard material.  
     
     
         12 . The foldable display element according to  claim 1 , wherein the fold lines of the main body and the fold lines of the side panel comprise crease lines.  
     
     
         13 . A foldable blank for forming a display element for hanging display of a garment comprising: 
 a body portion having opposite sides and opposite ends, the body portion including an opening for receiving a hanger, the body portion further including a fold line on each of opposite sides of the opening that extends from the opening to one of the sides of the body portion such that the fold lines and the opening divide the body portion into a front panel and a rear panel; and    a lateral display portion extending from one of the sides of the body portion, the lateral display portion having opposite sides and including a pair of fold lines that extend between the opposite sides of the lateral display portion,    the fold lines of the lateral display portion being intermediately located with respect to the lateral display portion and relatively closely spaced such that the fold lines divide the lateral display portion into a relatively narrow intermediate panel between the fold lines, an extension panel that is located adjacent to the main body with respect to the fold lines and a return panel that is located remote from the main body with respect to the fold lines when the blank is in an unfolded condition.    
     
     
         14 . The foldable display blank according to  claim 13 , wherein the lateral display portion is connected to the front panel of the body portion and wherein one of the sides of the lateral display portion joins the front panel adjacent to one of the fold lines.  
     
     
         15 . The foldable display blank according to  claim 13 , wherein the foldable blank includes a front surface and an opposite rear surface and wherein the front surface of at least the front panel of the body portion bears indicia, the front surfaces of the extension, return and intermediate panels of the lateral display portion also bearing indicia to provide for a multi-directional display of the indicia when the display element is folded.  
     
     
         16 . The foldable display blank according to  claim 13 , wherein a distance between the pair of fold lines of the lateral display portion and an intersection of the extension panel of the lateral display portion with the body portion is less than a distance between the fold lines of the lateral display portion and a terminal end of the return panel of the lateral display portion such that a portion of the return panel will overly a portion of the body portion when the blank is folded.  
     
     
         17 . An assembly for hanging display of a garment comprising: 
 a hanger having a hook for engaging a display rod, the hanger further having a pair of support arms extending in opposite directions from a base of the hook for supporting a garment; and    a folded display element including a body portion having an opening in which the hook of the hanger is received for support of the display element, the body portion having fold lines on opposite sides of the opening that extend between the opening and opposite sides of the body portion that divide the body portion into front and rear panels,    the folded display further including a lateral display portion extending from one of the sides of the body portion and having a pair of closely spaced fold lines that extend between opposite sides of the lateral display portion,    the lateral display portion including an intermediate panel that is located between the fold lines, the lateral display portion further including an extension panel having a first end connected to the body portion and an opposite second end located at one of the fold lines, the lateral display portion further including a return panel having a first end located at the other of the fold lines and an opposite second end defining a terminal end for the lateral display portion.    
     
     
         18 . The assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein the opening is an elongated slot that extends laterally with respect to the body portion between the fold lines of the body portion, the slot adapted to provide for contact between the support arms of the hanger and opposite ends of the slot.  
     
     
         19 . The display assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein a distance between first and second ends of the return panel of the lateral display portion is greater than a distance between the first and second ends of the extension panel of the lateral display portion such that a terminal end portion of the return panel overlies a portion of the body portion.  
     
     
         20 . The display assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein the foldable display element comprises a front surface and an opposite rear surface and wherein the front surface of the at least the front panel of the body portion bears a likeness of the garment being displayed, the front surfaces of each of the extension, return and intermediate panels of the lateral display portion also bearing likenesses of the garment being displayed, the likenesses on the lateral display portion being substantially similar in appearance to the likeness on the body portion except reduced in size.