Hanging device

Abstract

A hanging device ( 20 ) for suspending a banner ( 22 ) or other signage item from elevated anchors. The hanging device ( 20 ) includes a strip ( 40 ) made from a suitably strong by relatively thin gauge material (e.g., a multi-axial polyethylene or a polyester film) and a non-foam pressure sensitive adhesive ( 42 ) applied to the inner surface of the strip's outer tab portions ( 44, 46 ). The strip ( 40 ) can have an asymmetrical shape, can have a shortened neck portion ( 48 ) and/or the tab portions ( 44, 46 ) can each be in the shape of rectangle with a cut-off corner in the shape of a triangle. A plurality of the hanging devices ( 20 ) can be provided on a sheet of release liner ( 52 ) and each hanging device ( 20 ) can be peeled therefrom in one step.

1 . A hanging device for folded attachment to an item to be suspended or tied down, said device comprising a strip and an adhesive; 
 the strip comprising two outer tab portions and a neck portion therebetween;    the adhesive being located on an inner surface of the tab portions so that the strip can be folded at the neck portion and the tab portions applied to opposite sides of the item; and    wherein the strip is made from a polymer and has thickness between 3 mil and about 20 mil.    
     
     
         2 . A hanging device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the polymer is a polyolefin.  
     
     
         3 . A hanging device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the polymer is a high density polyethylene film.  
     
     
         4 . A hanging device as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the thickness of the strip is between about 3 mil and about 12 mil.  
     
     
         5 . A hanging device as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the adhesive is a non-foam adhesive.  
     
     
         6 . A hanging device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the polymer is a polyester.  
     
     
         7 . A hanging device as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the polyester is poly(ethylene terephthalate glycol).  
     
     
         8 . A hanging device as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the strip has a thickness between about 10 mil and about 20 mil.  
     
     
         9 . A hanging device as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the adhesive is non-foam adhesive.  
     
     
         10 . A hanging device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the strip is between about 3 mil to about 15 mil.  
     
     
         11 . A hanging device as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the thickness of the adhesive is between about 3 mil and 6 mil.  
     
     
         12 . A hanging device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the neck portion has an inner surface extending between the inner surfaces of the tab portions and wherein the inner surface of the neck portion is free from adhesive.  
     
     
         13 . A hanging device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein a length of the neck portion is less than 40% of the length of the strip.  
     
     
         14 . A hanging device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the tab portions are substantially symmetrical relative to a widthwise centerline of the neck portion whereby the tab portions have the same length dimensions and have the same width dimensions and wherein the strip is asymmetrical relative to a longitudinal dimension.  
     
     
         15 . A hanging device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the tab portions are each in the shape of a rectangle with a cut-off corner.  
     
     
         16 . A hanging device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the tab portions has adhesive located on an outer surface.  
     
     
         17  In combination, the hanging device set forth in  claim 1  and a release liner releasably secured to the adhesive.  
     
     
         18 . In combination, a release liner and a plurality of the hanging devices set forth in  claim 1  releasably secured to the release liner in such a manner that a hanging device can be peeled from the release liner in one step.  
     
     
         19  The combination set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the tab portions each comprise an opening and wherein the release liner has openings aligned with the openings in the tab portions.  
     
     
         20 . A method of making a plurality of hanging devices as set forth in  claim 1 , said method comprising the steps of: 
 aligning strip material and release liner material having a pattern of adhesive thereon; and    die cutting the strip material to form the hanging devices.    
     
     
         21 . A method of securing an item comprising the steps of attaching a hanging device as set forth in  claim 1  to the item and attaching the hanging device to an anchor.  
     
     
         22 . A method as set forth in  claim 21 , wherein the anchor is elevated whereby the item is suspended from the anchor.  
     
     
         23 . A method as set forth in  claim 21 , wherein the anchor is non-elevated relative to the item whereby the item is tied down by the anchor.  
     
     
         24 . A method of hanging or tying down an item comprising the steps of securing a hanging device as set forth in  claim 15  to the item and attaching the hanging device to a supporting surface with the adhesive on the outer surface of the tab portion.  
     
     
         25 . In combination, a signage item and a plurality of the hanging devices as set forth in  claim 1  attached thereto.  
     
     
         26 . A hanging device for folded attachment to an item, said device comprising a strip and a pressure sensitive adhesive; 
 the strip comprising two outer tab portions and a neck portion therebetween;    the pressure sensitive adhesive is located on an inner surface of the tab portions so that the strip can be folded at the neck portion and the tab portions applied to opposite sides of the item; and    wherein the adhesive is a non-foam adhesive.    
     
     
         27 . A hanging device for folded attachment to an item, said device comprising a strip and a pressure sensitive adhesive; 
 the strip comprising two outer tab portions and a neck portion therebetween;    the pressure sensitive adhesive is located on an inner surface of the tab portions so that the strip can be folded at the neck portion and the tab portions applied to opposite sides of the item; and    wherein the strip is asymmetrical relative to a longitudinal dimension.    
     
     
         28 . A hanging device for folded attachment to an item, said device comprising a strip and a pressure sensitive adhesive; 
 the strip comprising two outer tab portions and a neck portion therebetween;    the pressure sensitive adhesive is located on an inner surface of the tab portions so that the strip can be folded at the neck portion and the tab portions applied to opposite sides of the item;    wherein the neck portion has a longitudinal center line that is transversely offset from a longitudinal center line of a widest part of the tab portions and wherein the tab portions are each in the shape of a rectangle with a cut-off corner in the shape of triangle.    
     
     
         29 . A hanging device for folded attachment to an item, said device comprising a strip and a pressure sensitive adhesive; 
 the strip comprising two outer tab portions and a neck portion therebetween;    the pressure sensitive adhesive is located on an inner surface of the tab portions so that the strip can be folded at the neck portion and the tab portions applied to opposite sides of the item;    wherein at least one of the tab portions has adhesive located on an outer surface.