Product display hanger and process

Abstract

A clear/printed hang tag, a hanging system for suspending a package of products from a single wire hanger and/or a double wire hanger, automatic labeling of product packaging on a billboard, and the process for making hang tags. The hang tag has an opening for receiving a single or a double wire hanger cut near the top of a billboard region containing printed matter. The hang tag is made from a continuous web of polyester film with a process including, printing graphics on the back side of the upper portion using reverse image flexographic printing, coating the printed image with a UV cured, opaque ink coating, a lower portion of the front side with a clear, pressure sensitive adhesive, combining and adhering the continuous web of polyester film to a release liner, die cutting the hang tag shape and the hanger opening, stripping the waste material from the liner, and rewinding the combined hang tags and liner on a reel for shipment to a customer. The package consists of at least two bundled products forming a compact package, wrapped and sealed in a clear, oriented polypropelene shrink wrap film, and the adhering region is pressed against the topmost product and adhered thereto by the adhesive.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A hanging system for suspending a package of products from a single wire hanger and/or a double wire hanger and for automatic labeling of product packaging, said hanging system consisting of  comprising: 
       a hang tag formed of recyclable,  transparent, sheet resin,  material and having a front side and a back side, an upper portion and a lower portion,  
       a hanging region and a billboard region on said upper portion of said hang tag, said hanging region having one opening in the form of a squat, isosceles triangle for engaging a single or a double hanger  wire hanger,  
       a back side of said upper portion having said billboard region having an image containing graphics or advertising material printed on said upper portion of said back side, and covered with an ultraviolet cured,  opaque ink coating for protecting said graphics or advertising material, and,  
       an adhering region on said lower portion of the front side, said adhering region having a 0.75 Mil  coating of a clear, hot melt,  pressure sensitive adhesive.  
     
     
       2. The hanging system of  claim 1  wherein said hang tag is formed from a 7 mil transparent, polyester film, face stock, said graphics or advertising material consists of  comprises a reverse image, water soluble ink, and said face stock is combined with a release liner for shipping and automated application on packages. 
     
     
       3. A hanging system of  claim 1  wherein the package consists of  comprises a package of two products wrapped together as a bundle in a clear, oriented polypropylene shrink wrap film, and said adhering region is pressed against the topmost product and adhered thereto by said adhesive, 
       thereby forming a recyclable, packaging and advertising medium.  
     
     
       4. A hanging system in combination with a package of products suspended from a single wire hanger and/or a double wire hanger and for automatic labeling of product packaging, said hanging system consisting of  comprising: 
       a hang tag formed of a recyclable,  transparent, 7 Mil polyester  film and having a front side and a back side, an upper portion and a lower portion,  
       a hanging region and a billboard region on said upper portion of said hang tag, said hanging region having one opening in the form of a squat, isosceles triangle for engaging a single or a double hanger  wire hanger,  
       a back side of said upper portion having said billboard region having an image containing graphics or advertising material printed on said upper portion of said back and covered with an ultraviolet cured  opaque ink coating for protecting said graphics or advertising,  
       an adhering region on said lower portion of the front side, said adhering region having a 0.75 mil  coating of a clear, hot melt,  pressure sensitive adhesive,  
       a sealed package of at least two products wrapped together, end to end, as a bundle, in a transparent, oriented polypropelene  shrink wrap film, and  
       said adhering region being pressed against one end of one product  of the products and adhered by said adhesive,  
       thereby forming a hanging, packaging and advertising medium.  
     
     
       5. The hanging system of  claim 4  wherein said polyester film consists of  comprises a clear sheet resin face stock material 3½″ to 4″ wide and 4″ to 4½″ high, and said billboard is printed using reverse image flexographic printing, and water soluble inks. 
     
     
       6. A hanging system to suspend a packaged product from a wire hanger and for automatic labeling of the packaged product, the hanging system comprising: 
       
         a hang tab formed from a transparent resin material having a front side and a back side and an upper portion and a lower portion,  
       
       
         an adhering region located on the front side of the lower portion of the hang tab,  
       
         a pressure - sensitive adhesive applied to the adhering region for adhering the packaged product to the hang tab,    
       
         a hanging region located on the upper portion of the hang tab having an opening formed through the front and back sides of the hang tab for engaging the wire hanger, and  
       
         a billboard region also located on the upper portion of the hang tab having  ( a )  an image containing graphics or advertising material that is printed on the back side of the upper portion of the hang tab and that is visible through the front side of the hang tab and  ( b )  an opaque background coating covering and protecting the graphics or advertising material on the back side of the hang tab.