Hangers, package assemblies and methods of readying packages for display

Abstract

A hanger may include a body for supporting a package from a rod. A support portion may extend from the body and may define a gap to receive the rod. The body may define a slot for receiving the tab and may include a first major face that fully encloses the slot. The body may also include a living hinge defining a fold axis. The living hinge may extend across the first major face on opposite sides of the slot and extend inline with the slot. In some examples, the support portion defines a J-hook. In some examples, the hanger is incorporated into a package assembly including a package configured to house a product and including a tab, wherein the tab extends through the slot to support the package from the rod with the hanger.

1 . A hanger for hanging a package having a tab from a rod, comprising:
 a body for supporting the package, the body defining a slot extending through the body for receiving the tab and including:
 a major face that fully encloses the slot, and 
 a living hinge defining a fold axis for folding the body, the living hinge extending across the major face on opposite sides of the slot and extending inline with the slot; and 
   a support portion extending from the body and defining a gap configured to receive the rod.   
   
   
       2 . The hanger of  claim 1 , wherein the support portion defines a J-hook. 
   
   
       3 . The hanger of  claim 1 , wherein the support portion includes a planar member that defines the gap. 
   
   
       4 . The hanger of  claim 1 , wherein the living hinge defines a channel extending along the major face of the body. 
   
   
       5 . The hanger of  claim 1 , wherein the body extends a first distance between the support portion and the slot and extends a second distance beyond the slot opposite from the support portion, the second distance being at least four times the length of the first distance. 
   
   
       6 . The hanger of  claim 1 , wherein the living hinge is configured to allow the body to fold between a hanging position in which there is no fold and a stowed position in which there is a fold of approximately 90 degrees about the fold axis. 
   
   
       7 . The hanger of  claim 1  wherein a major dimension of the body and a major dimension of the slot extend in substantially the same direction. 
   
   
       8 . A product display assembly for displaying a product comprising:
 a package defining a cavity for housing the product and an opening providing access to the cavity, the package including:
 a lid that is disposed adjacent to the opening and that pivots between an open position where the opening is accessible and a closed position where the opening is inaccessible, the lid defining a lid slot; and 
 a tab extending from a side of the package adjacent to the opening, the tab being configured to extend through the lid slot when the lid is in the closed position to selectively secure the lid in the closed position; and 
   a hanger configured to suspend the package from a rod and including:
 a body that defines a hanger slot configured to selectively receive the tab to secure the package to the hanger for supporting the package from the rod, and 
 a support portion extending from the body and defining a gap configured to receive the rod. 
   
   
   
       9 . The product display assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the support portion defines a J-hook. 
   
   
       10 . The product display assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the support portion includes a planar member and the gap is defined by the planar member. 
   
   
       11 . The product display assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the body of the hanger includes a living hinge defining a fold axis for folding the body. 
   
   
       12 . The product display assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the living hinge extends across the body inline with the hanger slot. 
   
   
       13 . The product display assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the living hinge defines a channel extending along a major face of the body. 
   
   
       14 . The product display assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the tab includes a shoulder portion that is positioned proximate the hanger slot when the tab is inserted through the hanger slot, the shoulder portion having a maximum dimension and the hanger slot having a hanger slot length that is less than the maximum dimension of the shoulder portion of the tab to restrict the tab from passing through the hanger slot by translation alone. 
   
   
       15 . A method of readying a package for display on a rod with a hanger, the package including a tab and a lid that pivots between an open position and a closed position, the lid including a lid slot configured to receive the tab when the lid is in the closed position to selectively secure the lid in the closed position, the hanger including a body and a support portion, the body defining a body slot and including a living hinge defining a fold axis for folding the body, the support portion extending from the body and including a gap configured to receive the rod from which to hang the package, the method comprising the steps of:
 inserting the tab of the package into the hanger slot to link the hanger and the package together;   pivoting the lid into the closed position;   inserting the tab into the lid slot to secure the lid in the closed position; and   folding the body of the hanger along the fold axis to lie flush with the lid for shipping.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the fold line is inline with the hanger slot and folding the hanger to lie flush with the lid for shipping includes folding the hanger about the hanger slot. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the tab includes a shoulder portion that is positioned proximate the hanger slot when the tab is inserted through the hanger slot;   a maximum dimension of the hanger slot is less than the maximum dimension of the shoulder portion to inhibit removal of the tab from the hanger slot by translation; and   inserting the tab into the hanger slot includes rotating the tab as the tab is moved through the hanger slot to fit the tab through the hanger slot.