| Fixture for affixing product to a clip strip -> Monitor Keywords |
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Fixture for affixing product to a clip stripRelated Patent Categories: Supports: Racks, Special Article, Receptacle SupportFixture for affixing product to a clip strip description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070095766, Fixture for affixing product to a clip strip. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] 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 [0002] 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. [0003] 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 [0004] 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. [0005] 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. [0006] 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. [0007] 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. [0008] 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. [0009] In an exemplary embodiment, the disclosure is directed to a method for loading product onto a clip strip, comprising: [0010] providing a clip strip having at least one perforation therein such that the perforation defines at least two opposed tabs; [0011] providing a the fixture comprising: [0012] a support surface for supporting the clip strip, [0013] 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 [0014] a mechanism for moving the probe into contact with the clip strip; [0015] placing the clip strip on the support surface and using the mechanism to move the probe and separate the tabs; [0016] positioning the product on the probe so as to engage the feature; [0017] 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. [0018] 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 [0019] In the several figures of the attached drawing, like parts bear like reference numerals. [0020] 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. [0021] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a fixture supporting the clip strip of FIG. 1; [0022] 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; [0023] 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; Continue reading about Fixture for affixing product to a clip strip... Full patent description for Fixture for affixing product to a clip strip Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Fixture for affixing product to a clip strip patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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