Low waste packaging

Abstract

Low waste packaging for use with a consumer product includes a planar tag element of a generally rectangular configuration having front and back planar surfaces upon which advertising indicia may be printed and a cut-out into which a portion of the consumer product is received. The packaging includes first and second semi-annular ring portions that may be assembled around the consumer product when received within the cut-out and affixed to each other through the planar tag element. The method for packaging a consumer product includes receiving the consumer product within a cutout formed in a lower portion of a planar tag element; and assembling two halves of a retaining member about an upper shank of the consumer product so that annular portions of the retaining members contact the consumer product and laterally extensive tags of the retaining members sandwich the tag therebetween.

1 . A method for packaging a consumer product, the method comprising:
 receiving the consumer product within a cutout formed in a lower portion of a planar tag element; and   assembling a retaining member about an upper shank of the consumer product to thereby couple the retaining member to the planar tag.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further including the step of passing the retaining member through apertures formed through the planar tag element on either side of the cutout adjacent a bottom edge of the planar tag element and passing the retaining member around the consumer product to thereby retain the product within the cutout. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further including the step of engaging a downwardly-directed tab formed on an upper section of the cutout between annular walls of the consumer product to thereby hold an upper portion of the consumer product in place within the cutout. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the retaining member includes two halves, the step of assembling the retaining member about the consumer product including assembling the two halves of the retaining member about the upper shank of the consumer product so that annular portions of the retaining members contact the consumer product and laterally extensive flanges of the retaining members sandwich the tag therebetween. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further including the step of coupling the laterally extensive flanges of the retaining member together using a post that passes through co-axial holes formed through the planar tag and at least one of the two halves of the retaining member. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further including retaining a depression within an upper surface of the consumer product with a complementary tab formed in the cut-out. 
     
     
         7 . Low waste packaging for use with a consumer product, comprising:
 a planar tag element having front and back planar surfaces upon which advertising indicia may be printed, a body of the planar tag element being bounded by top, bottom and side edges;   a shaped cut-out defined through the bottom edge and extending into the body of the planar tag element so that side portions of the planar tag element remain, said side portions defined between the side edges and cut-out and said shaped cut-out being configured to receive and retain an upper portion of a consumer product;   apertures formed through the planar tag element on either side of the cut-out adjacent the bottom edge of the tag element; and   a retaining member passing through the apertures and configured to pass around the consumer product and retain the product within the cut-out.   
     
     
         8 . The packaging of  claim 7 , further including a hanging structure located on an upper portion of the planar tag element. 
     
     
         9 . The packaging of  claim 8 , wherein the hanging structure is an aperture formed through the planar tag element and from which the packaging can be hung. 
     
     
         10 . The packaging of  claim 7 , wherein the cut-out includes a downwardly-directed tab formed on an upper section of the cut-out, the tab being configured to be received between annular walls of a product having a substantially similar inner diameter to thereby hold an upper portion of the consumer product in place within the cut-out.