Foldable Merchandise Hanger for Compact Shipping and Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
The size and weight of picture frames and similar products, along with protruding hangers, complicate packaging, shipping, and retail display, increasing costs and making efficient display challenging.
Innovation Solution
A retail display assembly with a hanger that transitions between unfolded and folded positions, allowing the extension member to be maintained within the product's footprint for shipping and protrude for hanging, using an elongated plate, hinge, and extension member for secure attachment and aesthetically pleasing display.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the hanger protrudes from the product to facilitate hanging, then the hanging function is improved, but the product dimensions increase making packaging and shipping difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The hanger is designed with a movable extension member that can transition between extended and retracted positions relative to the product footprint. When extended, it provides adequate protrusion for hanging; when retracted, it minimizes the overall dimensions for compact packaging and shipping.
Solution Approach 2:
The hanger is divided into separate functional components: a base plate attached to the product, a hinge mechanism, and an extension member. This segmentation allows the extension member to be independently positioned - protruding when needed for hanging, and folded back to maintain compact product dimensions during shipping.
2Volume of moving object
If the hanger is folded to maintain compact dimensions, then packaging efficiency is improved, but the hanging capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The hanger is provided in a pre-assembled state with the extension member in the retracted position during shipping. Before retail display, the extension member is unfolded to the extended position, preparing the product for hanging without requiring complex assembly operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge mechanism enables dynamic transformation of the hanger between folded and unfolded states. This dynamic capability allows the same hanger structure to serve dual purposes: maintaining compact dimensions during transport and providing adequate hanging protrusion during display and sale.
3Ease of operation
If the hanger protrudes from the product, then hanging is facilitated, but packaging and shipping costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The extension member's ability to dynamically change position allows the product to be shipped in a compact configuration, minimizing packaging material requirements. The same hanger then extends at the point of sale to facilitate hanging, eliminating the need for excessive packaging to accommodate the protruding hanger during transport.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the hanger is made rigid to ensure stable hanging, then hanging stability is improved, but the ability to fold for compact storage is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The hanger is segmented into a rigid base plate and a flexible extension member connected by a hinge. The base plate remains rigid to ensure stable attachment to the product, while the extension member can flex and fold. This segmentation allows the system to achieve both hanging stability and foldability without requiring overly complex mechanisms.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables compact shipping and efficient retail display without increasing product dimensions, reducing packaging and shipping costs while maintaining a neat and visually appealing presentation.
Implementation Method 1
The hinge extends from the first elongated edge of the elongated plate. The extension member extends from the hinge in an opposite direction as the elongated plate
Data Source
AI summary
A retail assembly includes a product assembly for retail sale and a hanger. The product assembly defines rear surface and a footprint. The hanger includes an elongated plate, a hinge, and an extension member. The elongated plate defines a first elongated edge and a front surface coupled to the rear surface of the product assembly. The hinge extends from the first elongated edge. The extension member extends from the hinge in an opposite direction as the elongated plate and defines a support surface for interacting with a retail display. The hanger rotates about the hinge between an unfolded position and a folded position. When the hanger is in one of the folded position and the unfolded position, the extension member is maintained within the footprint of the product assembly. When the hanger is in the other position, the extension member extends outside the footprint of the product assembly.