PRESENTATION ARRANGEMENT WITH A PACKAGING FOR PRESENTING AT LEAST ONE PADLOCK

Description

FIELD

The invention relates to a presentation arrangement with a packaging for presenting at least one padlock having a lock body and a U-bolt which can be selectively locked to the lock body or can be at least partially released from the lock body.

BACKGROUND

Padlocks with U-bolts (also known as shackles or U-shaped shackles), which are often also referred to as U-bolt padlocks, may generally be used for a wide range of applications and accordingly may be designed in a variety of ways. For example, padlocks may differ in their dimension, length or thickness of the bolt and/or in the type of locking mechanism, wherein padlocks operated by an associated key or padlocks with a combination locking mechanism may be provided in order to selectively lock the U-bolt inserted into the lock body to the lock body or to release it from the lock body. In addition, depending on the desired application, U-bolts of different lengths and/or thicknesses may be preferred or required and the visual design of padlocks may also vary, for example with regard to the color or shape of the lock body and/or the U-bolt.

Presentation arrangements with packaging for the presentation of padlocks may in particular be provided to present such padlocks to potential buyers, for which purpose such presentation arrangements may be set up and/or hung up on a sales rack, for example. In particular, several presentation arrangements with different padlocks may be placed together in order to present and offer a selection of different padlocks.

With such a presentation of different padlocks, for a potential customer to be able to choose a suitable padlock for a particular application it is usually desirable to be able to view from the outside the respective padlock presented, for example to be able to immediately determine a type of lock, a size of the padlock and/or the U-bolt or a color design of the padlock and thus be able to select a desired padlock. At the same time, padlocks in conventional packaging must be packed in closed packages in order to hold the padlocks securely in the packaging and be able to prevent them from coming loose from the packaging.

Due to these requirements, the choice of materials for the production of packaging for such presentation arrangements is undesirably limited, as transparent materials must be resorted to due to the requirement for a visible presentation of the padlock while at the same time being contained in a closed packaging. For this reason, transparent plastic packaging, for example blister packaging, is usually used for the presentation of padlocks, whereas more sustainable materials cannot be used adequately. In addition, the production of such packaging is undesirably complex and also the handling of such packaging, especially blister packaging, can be uncomfortable for a customer when removing the padlock.

SUMMARY

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a presentation arrangement with a packaging for presenting at least one padlock which may be configured and handled in a simpler manner and which also enables the use of sustainable materials in the manufacture.

This object is achieved by a presentation arrangement having the features of the present disclosure.

The packaging of the presentation arrangement disclosed herein comprises a base section extending in a packaging plane and a holder for the padlock that rises from the packaging plane, wherein the holder comprises at least one holder opening through which the U-bolt of the padlock can be passed through to mount the padlock to the packaging.

The configuration of the packaging of the presentation arrangement having such a holder makes it possible to mount the padlock to the packaging in a simple manner by passing the U-bolt through the at least one holder opening and then mounting it to the lock body and/or locking it in the lock body. In this respect, the U-bolt, which in any case belongs to the padlock, may therefore be used directly to mount the padlock to the packaging and prevent the padlock from coming loose from the packaging.

Due to this type of padlock mounting, it is therefore not necessary to arrange the padlock in a closed container that completely surrounds the padlock so as to prevent the padlock from coming loose from or out of the packaging. Rather, the padlock mounted to the holder of the packaging may be freely accessible from the outside and visibly held on the holder so that the padlock may be directly inspected and, for example, the feel or haptic of the padlock may also be examined. In addition, due to this arrangement of the padlock at the outside of the packaging which enables direct inspection of the padlock, it is not necessary to form the packaging or the holder out of transparent materials, since the padlock, apart from a part of the U-bolt passing through the at least one holder opening, may be inspected directly from the outside. Therefore, the packaging and the holder may be made out of basically any material, so that in particular, sustainable and/or easy-to-process materials may be considered for the manufacture of the packaging, for example cardboard, carton and/or paper. It is also possible, for example, to consider manufacturing the packaging from recycled plastic.

In addition, the configuration of the packaging may also simplify the handling for the customer, the U-bolt, for example, may be released from the lock body after unlocking (at least partially) and may be taken out of the at least one holder opening, in order to release the padlock from the packaging whilst no time-consuming opening of a blister package is required.

If the packaging is made out of cardboard, carton and/or paper, alternatively, the holder may be cut or torn open to release the U-bolt, if necessary. Even if such cutting or tearing-for when the packaging is made out of the aforementioned materials-may be carried out more easily than with conventional blister packaging, in particular, the packaging may nevertheless have sufficient strength, so that tearing open the packaging requires in particular a recognizable effort and a certain amount of time and therefore may prevent any attempts to steal padlocks from the packaging.

The base section may generally be configured flat and/or planar, for example, in order to provide a packaging with a flat rear side and on the front side thereof the holder is arranged and the padlock may be presented. By the holder rising from such a flat base section extending in the plane of the packaging, the padlock may moreover be mounted to the packaging at a distance from the base section to provide, for example, a sufficient free space for arranging the lock body without having to displace the base section.

For example, the padlock can be mounted to the holder in such a way that a bolt plane, in which the U-bolt extends when the padlock is mounted to the packaging, extends substantially parallel (i.e. apart from any tolerances) to the packaging plane. However, in general, it is also possible for the bolt plane to be oriented obliquely and/or perpendicular to the packaging plane when the padlock is mounted to the packaging. In addition, in some embodiments, the padlock mounted to the packaging may be rotatable about the bolt guided through the holder opening or fixed relative to the packaging plane.

The design of a padlock is fundamentally known to the skilled person so that it is not necessary to go into this in detail. In particular, the lock body of a padlock may however have two introduction channels for the insertion of and/or the receiving of respective legs of the U-bolt and a locking mechanism with at least one latch may be provided in order to selectively lock the U-bolt in the lock body or to release it from the lock body. The U-bolt may, for example, be configured with a long leg and a short leg, wherein the short leg can be selectively released from the lock body, while the long leg always remains in the lock body. When the short leg is released, the short leg may be pivotable around the long leg, for example. Alternatively, a U-bolt may also be configured with legs of equal length, wherein such a U-bolt in particular may be selectively completely released from the lock body of the padlock. Generally, a U-bolt with legs of different lengths may also be completely released from the lock body in some padlocks.

Further embodiments are explained throughout the disclosure, the description, and with reference to the drawings.

Generally, for some embodiments, the presentation arrangement may be configured as the packaging described herein. In other embodiments, however, the presentation arrangement may comprise at least one padlock mounted to the packaging and/or a plurality of padlocks mounted to the packaging.

In some embodiments, the packaging may be formed from a flat material, in particular cardboard, paper and/or carton. Furthermore, for example, recycled and/or recyclable plastics may also be considered for manufacturing the packaging. As already explained, the packaging of the presentation arrangement disclosed herein may therefore be made in particular from sustainable and/or recycled materials that are easy to process and manufacture. Furthermore, such packaging may, for example, be coated at least in sections in order to stabilize the packaging and/or improve the feel of the packaging.

In some embodiments, the packaging therefore may be made in particular out of cardboard, paper, carton and/or recycled plastic.

In some embodiments, the holder may comprise at least two holder openings arranged offset to one another, through which the U-bolt of the padlock can be passed through for mounting the padlock to the packaging. In particular, in such embodiments, it may be provided for, that the legs of the U-bolt can be passed through a respective one of the holder openings, so that the padlock may be held stable in the holder and/or may be fixed in a predetermined orientation relative to the packaging plane.

In particular, a U-bolt plane, in which the U-bolt of the padlock mounted to the holder extends, may thus be oriented parallel to the base section of the packaging when the U-bolt is passed through the two holder openings of the holder and the padlock is mounted to the packaging. Alternatively to such an orientation of the U-bolt, in some embodiments an orientation of said U-bolt plane obliquely to and/or perpendicular to the plane of the packaging may also be provided.

In addition, the configuration of the holder with two holder openings for mounting the U-bolt may provide a further improved theft protection, in that in the course of an attempted theft the U-bolt would have to be taken out of the two holder openings in order to avoid having to remove the entire packaging which is large in comparison to the padlock. Therefore, the effort required to remove the padlock and the time required for a theft attempt is increased which would counter such theft attempts.

In some embodiments, the holder may extend along a width direction of the packaging, wherein the holder openings may be offset from one another along the width direction. Further, in some embodiments, the two holder openings may in particular only be arranged offset from one another along the width direction, but not perpendicular to the width direction.

In the context of the present disclosure, the width direction may in particular extend parallel to the packaging plane and/or be oriented perpendicular to an insertion direction along which the U-bolt can be passed through the holder openings.

Further, an insertion direction of the U-bolt - along which the U-Bolt may be passed through the at least one holder opening, in particular two holder openings, and/or along which respective legs of the U-bolt mounted to the packaging are oriented - may be parallel to the packaging plane and/or perpendicular to an insertion plane, wherein the insertion plane is oriented perpendicular to the packaging plane and parallel to the width direction.

Such an orientation of the holder openings may, in particular, make it possible to mount the U-bolt and thus the padlock to the holder in such a way that the padlock in question, and in particular the above-mentioned U-bolt plane, may be mounted to the packaging (substantially) parallel to the base section of the packaging and thus oriented with the packaging plane.

In some embodiments, the lock body may have a thickness perpendicular to the packaging plane (with the padlock mounted to the packaging), wherein the lock body thickness may correspond to a maximum extent of the lock body perpendicular to the packaging plane. In addition, a distance between a center point of the at least one holder opening and the base section may correspond to half the lock body thickness or be greater than half the lock body thickness. This may enable the padlock to be mounted to the packaging with the lock body adjacent to the base section or spaced apart from the base section and oriented at least substantially parallel to the base section.

Furthermore, in some embodiments, it may be provided that the holder openings are arranged offset from one another perpendicular to the packaging plane. For example, this may make it possible to mount the padlock and, in particular, the aforementioned bolt plane to the packaging oriented substantially perpendicular to the packaging plane.

In addition, it is generally also possible for the holder openings to be offset from one another perpendicular to the packaging plane and along the width direction (parallel to the packaging plane), in order to achieve an oblique orientation of the padlock mounted to the packaging relative to the packaging plane.

Furthermore, in some embodiments, it may be provided that the holder comprises at least two pairs of holder openings offset perpendicular to the packaging plane, wherein the holder openings of a respective pair of holder openings may be offset from one another along the width direction. For example, this may make it possible to mount at least two padlocks one behind the other to the packaging and perpendicular to the packaging plane, by passing the U-bolts of the padlocks through a respective pair of holder openings and in this way the padlocks are mounted to the holder. In particular, in such embodiments, the padlocks arranged one behind the other can be mounted to the packaging oriented substantially parallel to the packaging plane.

In some embodiments, a lateral holder opening of the at least two holder openings may be laterally open and have an insertion slot for lateral insertion of the U-bolt.

In such embodiments, it is in particular provided for, to insert the U-bolt laterally into the insertion slot of the lateral holder opening and then to pass it through an inner-lying holder opening of the at least two holder openings, in particular parallel to the plane of the packaging, in order to thereby mount the padlock to the packaging.

For example, a U-bolt with a long leg permanently held in the lock body and a short leg that can be selectively released from the lock body, may be mounted to the packaging by first inserting the long leg laterally through the insertion slot into the lateral holder opening with the short leg being released, and then passing the short leg through the inner-lying holder opening to insert it into the lock body and hence the padlock is mounted to the packaging. In particular, such a laterally open lateral holder opening may thus provide a simple way of mounting or removing padlocks with U-bolts having different leg lengths to or from the packaging.

Alternatively, however, for the presentation of padlocks with U-bolts with legs of different lengths it may in general also be provided for that both of the at least two holder openings are closed and/or completely bound, wherein the U-bolt in such embodiments can be threaded through the holder openings, for example starting with one end of the short leg released from the lock body.

A U-bolt with legs of the same length (or a leg that can be completely released from the lock body with legs of different or equal lengths) may also be released from the lock body in general and independent of the design of the two holder openings, and be inserted through the two holder openings and back into the lock body, in order to mount the padlock in question to the packaging.

In some embodiments, the holder may have a plurality of pairs of holder openings, wherein at each of the pairs of holder openings a respective padlock can be mounted by passing the respective U-bolt therethrough.

In particular, the pairs may be offset from one another perpendicular to the packaging plane and/or parallel to the packaging plane, in particular along the aforementioned width direction, in order to be able to arrange padlocks one behind the other perpendicular to the packaging plane and/or next to one another parallel to the packaging plane.

Generally, however, in some embodiments it may also be provided that the holder comprises a plurality of (in particular directly) adjacent holder openings in the width direction, wherein a respective U-bolt of a padlock may be passed through each of the adjacent holder openings in order to be able to mount a plurality of padlocks to the packaging in this way.

In this respect, the presentation arrangement may be provided in general for presenting one or more padlocks.

In some embodiments, the holder may rise with a triangular shape from the packaging plane. In particular, the holder may therefore be configured triangular in a cross-section perpendicular to the base section. As will be explained in more detail below, such a holder may be formed particularly in an easy manner by folding the respective holder surfaces. However, as an alternative to a triangular design of the holder, it is for example also possible for the holder to have a rectangular or curved cross-section rising from the base section.

In some embodiments, the at least one holder opening may be oriented obliquely to the packaging plane. On the other hand, the U-bolt can be passed through the holder opening in particular parallel to the packaging plane, so that the at least one holder opening may also be oriented obliquely to the U-bolt which has passed through it. In particular, this can enable the U-bolt to be stabilized in the holder against any tilting moments, in that the U-bolt may be supported at the boundaries of the holder opening that are offset from one another, parallel to the packaging plane and along an insertion direction of the U-bolt into the holder opening.

In some embodiments, the at least one holder opening may be configured circular in shape. In particular, in some embodiments, also the U-bolt of the padlock to be inserted into the holder may be configured circular in cross-section.

In general, in some embodiments, a shape of the holder opening may therefore correspond to a cross-sectional shape of the U-bolt of the padlock being inserted or to be inserted.

In some embodiments, in a cross-section in a viewing plane oriented perpendicular to the packaging plane, the at least one holder opening may have a reduced cross-sectional extent compared to a diameter of the circular shape in at least one direction of extension extending along the viewing plane.

In particular, such a reduced cross-sectional extent compared to a diameter of the circular shape may result from an oblique or inclined arrangement of the holder opening relative to the packaging plane, for example in that mutually opposite boundaries of an inclined holder opening perpendicular to the packaging plane may lie closer together in a cross-section in the viewing plane than in an extension plane oriented parallel to the holder opening. Also, this may make it possible, in particular, to mount a U-bolt, guided through the at least one holder opening parallel to the packaging plane, to the packaging in a stable manner and in particular secured against tilting moments, wherein the diameter of the circular shape may correspond approximately to a cross-sectional diameter of the U-bolt, so that the holder opening may unfold a certain clamping effect on the inserted U-bolt due to the reduced cross-sectional extent.

The direction of extension, in which the holder opening may have a reduced cross-sectional extent, may in particular be oriented perpendicular to the packaging plane.

In some embodiments, the holder may have at least one key holder opening into which a key shank (at least) of a key associated with the padlock can be inserted. The key holder opening may be configured to hold the key inserted into the key holder opening in the holder.

In particular, a holder configured in this way may thus enable both the padlock and the associated key to be mounted to the packaging in such a way that the padlock and the key are visible from the outside. A potential customer may therefore immediately determine from the outside how the padlock is to be operated and that a key is required for this. In addition, the dimensions of the padlock may also be recognized immediately, so that a potential customer may be provided with relevant information for a purchase that is directly visible.

In some embodiments, it may also be provided for, that a plurality of keys are associated with the padlock, wherein all of the plurality of keys may be insertable into the key holder opening and therefore can be mounted in the packaging. For example, it may be provided to offer a padlock with a plurality of keys that are identically configured and thus may enable the padlock to be operated. Therefore, a potential customer may also immediately determine how many associated keys are provided for the padlock. In particular, the keys may be arranged one behind the other in the key holder opening, perpendicular to the packaging plane.

In some embodiments, the key holder opening may be arranged laterally at the outside or between two pairs of holder openings on the holder. Alternatively or additionally, it may also be provided that a first of at least two holder openings is arranged between a second of at least two holder openings and the key holder opening.

For example, it may be provided that the key holder opening is provided laterally at the outside of the holder, so that the key or keys associated with the padlock may be arranged laterally at the outside of the holder and may be inserted into the key holder opening. Alternatively, for example, it may also be provided that the holder comprises two pairs of holder openings in order, for example, to be able to mount two padlocks by passing the respective U-bolt through a respective pair of holder openings, wherein the key holder opening may be arranged between the two pairs of holder openings and/or centered at the packaging. In embodiments in which a first of at least two holder openings is arranged between a second of at least two holder openings of the holder and the key holder opening, the key holder opening may in particular be arranged next to such a pair of holder openings in order to be arranged and presented next to a padlock, for example, where the padlock is mounted to the packaging by passing the U-bolt through the two holder openings.

In some embodiments, the key inserted into the key holder opening may be connected via a key-ring to the U-bolt that has been passed through the at least one holder opening.

In such embodiments, it may thus be provided that the key (or keys) associated with the padlock and inserted into the key holder opening is secured by the key-ring to the U-bolt of the padlock. Therefore, by mounting the padlock to the holder by passing the U-bolt through the at least one holder opening and securing it to the lock body, the key may be mounted or secured to the packaging against unintentional detachment from the packaging. The configuration of the holder with a key holder opening may therefore enable an orderly presentation of the key or keys after insertion into the key holder opening, whereby any loss of the key or keys may be prevented by being connected to the U-bolt.

In some embodiments, the key holder opening may be formed rectangular. In particular, the key holder opening may be modeled on a cross-sectional shape of a key shank of a key to be inserted, whereby the key shank may, for example, be configured elongated, possibly tapering and, in particular, rectangular in cross-section.

In general, however, key shanks with a round or curved cross-section may also be provided, wherein a shape of the key holder opening for presenting such keys may also be configured to correspond to such a cross-section.

In some embodiments, the holder opening and the key holder opening may be offset from each other perpendicular to the packaging plane. In particular, the key holder opening may be formed directly adjacent the base section, whereas the holder opening may be arranged at a distance from the base section.

Alternatively or additionally, it may also be provided in particular that the base section bounds the key holder opening on one side. In particular, this may make it possible to support a flatly formed key inserted into the key holder opening, flat against the base section and thereby secured against tilting.

In some embodiments, a width of the packaging in the packaging plane (and along the aforementioned width direction) may correspond to a packaging width and the holder may extend along the entire packaging width. In particular, the holder may thus be formed over the entire packaging width in order to also use the entire packaging width for arranging one or more padlocks.

In some embodiments, the packaging may be provided in a flat initial state and/or as a flat material, wherein the holder can be transferred to have an orientation rising from the packaging plane by folding the packaging.

Providing the packaging in such a flat initial state and/or as a flat material may in particular enable compact storage or transportation of the packaging, wherein the holder can thus be formed in an easy manner by folding starting from the flat initial state of the packaging and/or from the flat material, in order to be able to mount at least one padlock to the packaging. In particular, the packaging may therefore be provided as a simple stamped-part, for example, and can be prepared for the presentation of a padlock by simple folding.

In some embodiments, the holder may have a first holder surface rising from the packaging plane and a second holder surface rising from the packaging plane, which meet together at a holder ridge spaced from the packaging plane. Furthermore, at least one holder opening may be formed at each of the holder surfaces, wherein the U-bolt of the padlock can be passed through both the holder opening of the first holder surface and the holder opening of the second holder surface for mounting the padlock.

In particular, the holder openings of the two holder surfaces may be offset and/or in alignment with one another in an insertion direction along which the U-bolt is passed through the holder openings, in order to be able to grip and support the U-bolt at points on the holder that are offset from one another.

In addition, in some embodiments, at least two respective holder openings may be configured at each of the holder surfaces, wherein the U-bolt of the padlock can be passed through both the two holder openings of the first holder surface as well as through the two holder openings of the second holder surface for mounting the padlock. In this respect, in such embodiments, the U-bolt can be passed through four holder openings in order to enable a reliable mounting of the padlock to the packaging. The holder openings of a respective holder surface may, for example, be offset from one another in a width direction of the packaging, parallel to the packaging plane and/or transverse, in particular perpendicular, to the packaging plane.

In some embodiments, the holder surfaces may be oriented inclined to one another and the holder ridge may be formed by a connecting line at which the mutually inclined holder surfaces meet. In particular, such a configuration may be provided in the case of a holder rising with a triangular shape from the base section, wherein the holder, as is explained in further detail below, may also be formed in such embodiments in particular by folding along the connecting line.

Alternatively, however, it may also be provided, for example, that the holder rises from the base section in a cross section that is rectangular, trapezoidal or curved, wherein the holder ridge in such embodiments may be formed in particular by a connecting section between the two holder surfaces and/or a section of the holder furthest away from the base section.

In some embodiments, the holder surfaces may be formed flat. In other embodiments, however, a curved configuration of the holder surfaces may also be provided.

In addition, in some embodiments, the holder surfaces may be formed rectangular.

In some embodiments, a respective key holder opening may be formed at each of the holder surfaces, wherein a key shank of a key associated with the padlock can be passed through the key holder openings of the two holder surfaces for mounting the key to the holder. In particular, a key associated with the padlock may also be passed through two key holder openings offset to one another and/or arranged in alignment with one another in particular along an insertion direction of the key, and thus be held stably at the holder and/or the packaging.

In some embodiments, the first holder surface may be connected to a hanger section of the packaging by a first folding-line and to the second holder surface by a second folding-line, wherein the holder can be transferred from a flat initial state to an orientation rising from the packaging plane by folding the packaging along the first folding-line and along the second folding-line.

In other words, in some embodiments, the first holder surface may be connected by a first folding-line to a hanger section of the packaging and by a second folding-line to the second holder surface, wherein starting from a flat initial state, by folding the packaging along or at the first folding-line and along or at the second folding-line, the holder can be transferred to have an orientation that rises from the packaging plane.

In particular, the folding-lines may be formed as folds in order to enable a clear predetermined folding of the holder into the orientation rising from the base section or the packaging plane. The second folding-line may also correspond to the connecting line already mentioned above, which may form the holder ridge between the two holder surfaces.

In some embodiments, the second holder surface may be connected to a fixing section and the packaging may comprise a receiver for the fixing section and into which the fixing section is inserted. Furthermore, the fixing section inserted into the receiver may stabilize the holder in an orientation rising from the packaging plane.

As already mentioned, it may be provided in particular, that the holder is transferable into an orientation that rises from the base section by folding the packaging, wherein the holder can be stabilized in particular against an unintentional folding back into a flat initial state by inserting the fixing section into the receiver. For example, a holder that rises in a triangular shape from the base section of the packaging may experience a force that pushes the holder surfaces away from each other after the two holder surfaces have been folded to form the triangular shape, whereby, however, such a force may be compensated for by the fixing section when it is inserted into the receiver. In addition, the fixing section and the receiver may also stabilize the holder against any tensile forces oriented perpendicular to the base section, for example, in that the receiver covers the fixing section and therefore secures it against such tensile forces.

In some embodiments, the second holder surface may be connected to the fixing section by a further folding-line and the holder can be stabilized in the orientation rising from the packaging plane by folding along the further folding-line and inserting the fixing section into the receiver.

In this respect, the holder can be transferred to have an orientation rising from the packaging plane in particular by simply folding along three folding-lines and can be stabilized therein by inserting the fixing section into the receiver, whereupon the padlock may be mounted to the packaging by simply passing the U-bolt through the at least one holder opening.

In some embodiments, the fixing section may be oriented parallel to the base section and the packaging plane when the holder is oriented in the arrangement where it rises from the packaging plane and/or the fixing section is arranged in the receiver. In this respect, the fixing section may also be understood to a certain extent as a base for the raised holder.

In some embodiments, the fixing section may be configured with a smaller width than the second holder surface. In particular, the fixing section may also be configured centered at the second holder surface.

For example, a holder that rises in a triangular shape or, in general, a holder that is transferable into an orientation that rises from the base section by folding, may be subjected to a force that counteracts this folding, which may act at least partially parallel to the base section and thus push the holder surfaces to some extent apart. However, since the fixing section is only formed centrally and with a smaller width at the second holder surface, the fixing section may, for example, be inserted into the aforementioned receiver, whereby sections of the second holder surface extending beyond the fixing section may abut against lateral boundaries of the receiver in order to compensate for such a force counteracting the folding and thereby stabilize the holder in the orientation rising from the base section.

In some embodiments, the packaging may comprise a receiving section formed from two layers of packaging material which may form the receiver. In such embodiments, the fixing section may be insertable between the two layers of packaging material and/or the fixing section inserted into the receiver may be positioned between the two layers of packaging material.

In particular, the fixing section may be inserted into the receiver when the packaging is fully formed and the holder rises from the base section, in order to thereby stabilize the holder in the orientation rising from the base section. Such a receiver may therefore also be understood as a pocket into which the fixing section can be inserted.

In some embodiments, the holder may rise from the packaging plane at a front side of the packaging, wherein the receiving section may comprise an insertion recess at the front side at an entrance of the receiver, in which a front layer of the two layers of the receiving section is recessed. In particular, the insertion recess may be formed curved.

Such an insertion recess may in particular facilitate the insertion of the fixing section into the receiver, in that for example, the fixing section is at first pushed back behind the receiver section against an insertion direction for inserting the fixing section into the receiver, whereby a finger may intervene in the insertion recess. Subsequently, the fixing section may be arranged below the front layer of the receiving section so that it may then be inserted under the front layer and into the receiver of the receiving section. A curved design of the insertion recess may, in particular, allow adaption to a finger of a person inserting the fixing section into the receiver.

In some embodiments, the fixing section may also be glued in the receiver. This may provide additional stabilization.

In some embodiments, the packaging may comprise a rear panel section to which a receiving section front-layer may be connected by a receiving section folding-line, wherein the rear panel section and the receiving section front-layer may form the two layers of the receiving section.

In particular, the receiving section may also be formed by folding the receiving section front-layer relative to the rear panel section, whereby the rear panel section and the receiving section front-layer may come into contact with one another by this folding, in order to form the two-layer receiving section with the receiver for the fixing section.

In some embodiments, the receiving section front-layer and the rear panel section may be at least partially glued to one another. However, such an adhesion may be interrupted particularly in an region of the receiver, in order to allow the fixing section to be inserted.

In some embodiments, a hanger section, opposite the receiving section front-layer, may be connected to the rear panel section by a hanger section folding-line.

In addition, in some embodiments, the aforementioned first holder surface may be connected to the hanger section by the likewise aforementioned first folding-line.

In particular, in the course of manufacturing the packaging, the hanger section may also be foldable relative to the rear panel section, wherein the hanger section may in turn extend parallel to the rear panel section after folding. In addition, the receiving section may be formed by folding the receiving section front-layer relative to the rear panel section, and the base section of the packaging may be formed in two layers at the front side by the receiving section front-layer and the hanger section and thus is overall (possibly apart from a section in which the holder rises) stable.

In some embodiments, the receiving section front-layer and/or the hanger section may be at least partially bonded, in particular glued, to the rear panel section.

In particular, the hanger section may be completely glued to the rear panel section, whereas the receiving section front-layer may not be glued, at least in sections, to the rear panel section in order to enable insertion of the fixing section. However, the receiving section front-layer may be glued in particular to the rear panel section that surrounds the receiver for the fixing section in order to confine the receiver, in particular laterally (in relation to the aforementioned width direction of the packaging), and therefore be able to arrange the fixing section enclosed in the receiver.

In some embodiments, the packaging may comprise at least one hanger opening for hanging the packaging. In particular, the hanger opening may pass through the aforementioned rear panel section and the aforementioned hanger section. For example, such a hanger opening may enable the packaging to be hung from a sales shelf for presenting the at least one padlock. However, for example, two or more hanger openings offset from one another in the width direction of the packaging may also be provided in order to prevent the hung packaging from tilting.

In some embodiments, the presentation arrangement may further comprise the at least one padlock mounted to the holder. In addition, in some embodiments, the presentation arrangement may comprise a plurality of padlocks mounted to the holder.

In some embodiments, the padlock (mounted to the holder) may comprise a key for operating the padlock, wherein the key may be held in the holder. In particular, as mentioned, the key may be inserted into a key holder opening of the holder for this purpose.

Moreover, in some embodiments, the padlock may comprise a plurality of associated keys held in the holder.

Alternatively (or additionally), in some embodiments, the padlock may be configured with a combination locking mechanism.

In some embodiments, the U-bolt may comprise a short leg and a long leg, wherein the short leg may be selectively released from the lock body and the long leg may be permanently held in the lock body. Furthermore, the U-bolt can be threaded through the at least one holder opening when the short leg is released from the lock body. In particular, the U-bolt can be threaded through two spaced-apart holder openings of the holder when the short leg is released from the lock body. In addition, it can also be provided for, that the short leg released from the lock body can be pivoted around the long leg remaining in the lock body.

Furthermore, as already mentioned, in some embodiments it may be provided that the long leg can be inserted in the lateral holder opening through an insertion slot of a laterally open lateral holder opening. In such embodiments, the short leg can then be inserted through an inner-lying inner holder opening and into the lock body.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the U-bolt may be completely releasable from the lock body, wherein the released U-bolt can be inserted through the at least one holder opening, in particular two holder openings offset from one another, and into the lock body. A U-bolt that can be completely released from the lock body may, in particular, be configured with legs of equal length or with a short leg and a long leg.

In particular, it may also be provided that the padlock is mounted to the packaging by locking the U-bolt to the lock body after the U-bolt has been passed through the at least one holder opening. In some embodiments, the U-bolt of the padlock mounted to the packaging may therefore be locked or is lockable to the lock body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is explained in the following purely by way of examples of embodiments with reference to the drawings.

There is shown:

FIG. 1A shows a perspective view of a packaging of a presentation arrangement for presenting at least one and, in this embodiment, exemplary two padlocks;

FIG. 1B shows a plan view of a packaging of the presentation arrangement for presenting at least one and, in this embodiment, exemplary two padlocks;

FIG. 2A shows a front view of the presentation arrangement with padlocks mounted in the packaging;

FIG. 2B shows a perspective view of the presentation arrangement with padlocks mounted in the packaging;

FIG. 2C shows a side view of the presentation arrangement with padlocks mounted in the packaging;

FIG. 3 shows a front view of a further embodiment of the presentation arrangement with a packaging in which a padlock is inserted for the presentation;

FIG. 4 shows a representation of a flat initial state of the packaging, from which the packaging may be transferred into a state of use by folding;

FIG. 5A shows a schematic representation of a padlock that can be mounted to the packaging with a U-bolt having two legs of equal length;

FIG. 5B shows a schematic representation of a padlock that can be mounted to the packaging with a U-bolt having one long leg and one short leg;

FIG. 6A shows a schematic representation of a further embodiment of the presentation arrangement; and

FIG. 6B shows a schematic representation of a further embodiment of the presentation arrangement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1A and 1B show a presentation arrangement 11 comprising a packaging 13 for presenting two padlocks 15 (see also FIGS. 2A to 2C).

The packaging 13 has a base section 19 extending in a packaging plane V and a holder 21 that rises in a triangular shape 31 from the packaging plane V and the base section 19. For this purpose, the holder 21 comprises a first holder surface 45 and a second holder surface 47, which meet at a holder ridge 49 formed by a connecting line 77.

As FIGS. 2A to 2C show, two respective pairs 29 of holder openings 23 are formed at the two holder surfaces 45 and 47, through which the respective legs 18 of a respective U-bolt 17 of the padlocks 15 to be presented may be passed through, in order to mount the padlocks 15 to the packaging 13 and in the holder 21. In addition, the U-bolt 17 passing through the holder openings 23 is also inserted into a respective lock body 16 of the respective padlock 15 and may in particular be locked therein, in order to enable reliable mounting of the padlocks 15 to the holder 21. The holder openings 23 have a circular shape 33, which is adapted in particular to a cross-sectional shape of the U-bolt 17.

In addition, according to the embodiment of FIGS. 1A to 2C, respective key holder openings 35 are formed at the holder surfaces 45 and 47, exemplarily between the two pairs 29 of holder openings 23, into which at least one key 39 with a key shaft 37 associated with the respective padlock 15 can be inserted, so that the key 39 may also be mounted to the packaging 13 and received in the holder 21. As shown in particular by FIGS. 2B and 2C, the embodiment shows an exemplary three keys 39 inserted into the key holder openings 35 one behind the other, perpendicular to the packaging plane V and held therein.

With regard to the presentation of the padlocks 15 on the packaging 13, it is thus provided that the mounting and/or locking of the U-bolt 17 to the lock body 16 is also used to mount the padlocks 15 to the packaging 13 and to the holder 21. For this purpose, the legs 18 of the U-bolt 17 may be passed through the aforementioned pairs 29 of holder openings 23 and locked to the lock body 16, so that the padlock 15 may be held at the holder 21 of the packaging 13 so as to be visible from the outside. This may in particular allow the padlocks 15 on the one hand to be held securely to the packaging 13 and, on the other hand, allow them to be inspected directly from the outside without the padlocks 15 having to be arranged in a transparent and closed container for this purpose. Therefore, the packaging 13 may generally be made out of any material and in particular also out of sustainable materials such as cardboard, carton and/or paper, since the choice of material is no longer restricted by the requirement to present the padlocks 15 in a transparent and closed container. Production from recycled plastic may also be considered, for example.

In addition, in the embodiment shown with reference to FIGS. 1A to 2C, the holder openings 23 of a respective pair 29 of holder openings 23 are offset from one another along a width direction B parallel to the packaging plane V, so that the U-bolts 17 of the inserted padlocks 15 may be arranged in a bolt plane E oriented parallel to the packaging plane V. The holder openings 23 are moreover arranged perpendicular to the packaging plane V and offset from the base section 19, so that there is sufficient space for arranging the lock body 16 of a respective padlock 15 and the lock body 16 may also be oriented substantially parallel to the packaging plane V when the padlock 15 is mounted to the packaging 13 (see in particular FIG. 2C).

Alternatively, however, an arrangement of the holder openings 23 of a respective pair 29 of holder openings 23 which are offset perpendicular to the packaging plane V could also be provided, for example, in order to receive and hold a padlock 15 in the holder 21 perpendicular to the packaging plane V, as is schematically shown in FIG. 6B. Furthermore, a plurality of pairs 29 with respective holder openings 23 offset in the width direction B, could be provided offset to one another perpendicular to the packaging plane V, in order to arrange a plurality of padlocks 15 one behind the other perpendicular to the packaging plane V and oriented parallel to the packaging plane V.

In contrast to the holder openings 23 being spaced from the base section 19, the key holder openings 35 are configured directly adjacent the base section 19 and are bound on one side by the base section 19, so that the inserted keys 39 may be supported at the flat base section 19 against any tilting (see also in particular FIG. 2C). In addition, the key holder openings 35 have a rectangular basic shape, so that the key holder openings 35 are adapted to a cross-sectional shape of the key shank 35 of the keys 39 to be inserted.

Furthermore, the key holder openings 35 are arranged in such a way that the inserted keys 39 may be connected to the U-bolt 17 of one of the padlocks 15 by a key-ring 41, so that the keys 39 are reliably secured in the holder 21 via the key-ring 41 and the U-bolt 17, and against being detached from the holder 21 (see FIGS. 2A and 2B and also FIG. 3).

The aforementioned triangular shape 31 of the holder 21 also allows the holder surfaces 45 and 47 and thus also the holder openings 23 generally configured with a circular shape 33, to be oriented towards the packaging plane V, so that as FIG. 2C shows, a cross-sectional width 75 in a viewing plane of the holder openings 23 oriented perpendicular to the packaging plane V, is smaller than a diameter of the circular shape 33. In particular, the diameter of the circular shape 33 may correspond to a width of the U-bolt 17 of the padlock 15 to be received, so that the U-bolt 17 may in particular be easily clamped in the holder openings 23 and thereby stabilized.

Furthermore, in the embodiment shown with reference to FIGS. 1A to 2C, respective lateral holder openings 25 are formed open at the sides and have an insertion slot 27 for inserting a leg 18 of the U-bolt 17 of the padlock 15 to be mounted.

As shown in FIG. 5B, a padlock 15 may be provided whose U-bolt 17 is configured with a long leg 18′and a short leg 18, for example, whereby only the short leg 18 can be selectively released from the lock body 16, whereas the long leg 18′ remains permanently in the lock body 16. In the open position of the padlock 15 shown in FIG. 5B, the short leg 18 is released from the lock body 16 and can, for example, be pivoted about the long leg 18′. On the other hand, by inserting the short leg 18 into the insertion opening 20 and locking the short leg 18 to the lock body 16, the U-bolt 17 may be secured to the lock body 16 and locked against detachment from the lock body 16.

In particular, the mounting of such padlocks 15 configured with legs 18 and 18′ of different lengths may be simplified by the design of the holder 21 having laterally open holder openings 25. For example, the padlock 15 shown in FIG. 5B may be inserted from the outside into the holder 21 with the short leg 18 being released from the lock body 16, by inserting the long leg 18′ still mounted to the lock body 16 into one of the insertion slots 27. For the orientation of the padlock 15 shown in FIG. 5B, the padlock 15 could thus be inserted in the position shown of the U-bolt 17 into the lateral holder opening 25 or its insertion slot 27 on the right in FIGS. 1A to 2B. After this insertion of the long leg 18′, the short leg 18 may be inserted into the lock body 16 and in doing so be passed through the inner-lying holder opening 23 of the pair 29 of holder openings 23, in order to thereby easily mount the padlock 15 to the packaging 13.

FIG. 5A further shows schematically that the U-bolt 17 of a padlock 15 to be presented may also be configured with legs 18 of the same length, for example, and may be selectively completely released from the lock body 16, whereby the legs 18 may, however, also be inserted into respective insertion openings 20 of the lock body 16 and locked in the lock body 16 by a locking mechanism with a latch, which is not shown, and can be actuated, for example, by way of the keys 39 (see FIG. 5A).

FIG. 5B shows (additional to the design of the U-bolt 17 with legs 18 and 18′ of different lengths) that the padlock 15 to be presented may also have a combination locking mechanism 87 as an alternative (or in addition) to actuation by a key 39, in order to be able to selectively lock the short leg 18 to the lock body 16 or release it for release from the lock body 16. The design of locking mechanisms to be actuated by a key 39 or combination locking mechanisms is fundamentally known to the skilled person, so that it is not necessary to go into this in more detail.

FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of the presentation arrangement 11 and its packaging 13, wherein the packaging 13 according to this embodiment is intended to receive and present only one padlock 15. Also for this packaging 13, a holder 21 raised from a base section 19 and a packaging plane V is provided, whose holder surfaces 45 and 47, however, only provide a respective pair 29 of holder openings 23. In addition, in the embodiment shown with reference to FIG. 3, the holder openings 23, for example, are formed completely closed and in particular circular in shape, so that the U-bolt 17 can be passed through the holder openings 23 parallel to the packaging plane V rather than from the side.

Such embodiments may be provided, in particular, for mounting a padlock 15 according to the type shown with reference to FIG. 5A, in which the U-bolt 17 can be completely released from the lock body 16, so that the released U-bolt 17 may be passed through the holder openings 23 from above for example, and then may be inserted into the lock body 16 in order to mount the padlock 15 to the packaging 13. In general, however, such a packaging 13 may also be used to receive padlocks 15 whose U-bolt 17 according to FIG. 5B has legs 18 and 18′ of different lengths, whereby such a U-bolt 17 may, for example, be threaded through the two holder openings 23. In addition, in the embodiment according to FIG. 3, key holder openings 35 are arranged to the side of the holder 21 and next to the holder openings 23, so that an inner-lying holder opening 23 is arranged between the outer-lying holder opening 23 and the key holder opening 35.

Furthermore, in particular for the presentation of padlocks 15 which are to be operated exclusively by a combination locking mechanism and do not require keys 39, it may be provided for, that the holder 21 of the packaging 13 intended for the presentation does not have a key holder opening 35.

In addition, it is generally provided, both for the embodiment according to FIGS. 1A to 2C and for the embodiment according to FIG. 3, that the holder 21 extends along a width direction B of the packaging 13 over an entire packaging width 43, so that this entire packaging width 43 may be used to form the holder 21. Furthermore, both packagings 13 have a respective hanger opening 73 in order to be able to hang up the packaging 13 with the inserted padlock 15 or padlocks 15 on a sales shelf, for example, and to be able to present the padlocks 15 in this way.

A further embodiment of the presentation arrangement 11 is shown schematically in FIG. 6A, wherein the holder 21 in this embodiment has only one holder opening 23 (or mutually aligned holder openings 23) for one leg 18 of the U-bolt 17 of the presented padlock 15, whereas the other leg 18 of the U-bolt 17 is not guided through a holder opening 23. However, this padlock 15 may also be securely mounted to the holder 21 and presented visibly from the outside, without the padlock 15 having to be accommodated in a closed container. In addition, FIG. 6A shows that the holder 21 may also be configured rectangular in cross-section, whereby in this case the holder ridge 49 may be formed by a section of the holder 21 furthest away from the base section 19.

As already mentioned, the packaging 13 of the presentation arrangement 11 disclosed herein thus enables padlocks 15 to be presented in a simple manner and to be directly visible without the need for closed and transparent containers for the padlocks 15. In addition, the packaging 13 may also be produced in a simple manner in that the packaging 13, for example, may be provided in a flat initial state A and in particular as a punched part and/or as a flat material, so that it may be transferred by folding into a state of use G with the holder 21 rising from the packaging plane V.

FIG. 4 shows the packaging 13 in the flat initial state A. The packaging 13 has a rear panel section 63 to which a hanger section 69 is connected by a hanger section folding-line 71. By folding the hanger section 69 along a folding direction F towards the rear panel section 63, respective hanger openings 73, which are formed on the rear panel section 63 and the hanger section 69, may be brought into superposition with one another and the hanger section 69 may, for example, be glued to the rear panel section 63 in order to form a two-layered layer.

Opposite the hanger section folding-line 71, the rear panel section 63 is connected by a receiving section folding-line 65 to a receiving section front-layer 67 which forms a front layer 51 of a receiving section 85 formed by two layers. By folding the receiving section front-layer 67 counter to the folding direction F and towards the rear panel section 63 and, in particular, by partially gluing the receiving section front-layer 67 to the rear panel section 63, the receiving section 85 may therefore be formed in two layers, whereby a part of the rear panel section 63 forms a rear layer 53 and the folded receiving section front-layer 67 forms a front layer 51 of the receiving section 85. In addition, a receiver 83 for a fixing section 79 is formed at the receiving section front-layer 67, wherein the holder 21 may be secured in the orientation rising from the packaging plane V by inserting the fixing section 79 into the receiver 83, as will be further explained below. In particular, the receiver 83 may be formed by gluing the receiving section front-layer 67 only partially to the rear panel section 63 and not in a section defining the receiver 83.

Opposite the hanger section folding-line 71, the hanger section 69 is connected by a first folding-line 55 to the first holder surface 45, which is connected to the second holder surface 47 by a second folding-line 57. In particular, the second folding-line 57 forms the connecting line 77, which in the state of use G defines the holder ridge 49 of the holder 21. In this respect, in particular after folding the hanger section 69 relative to the rear panel section 63, the holder 21 may be transferred into the triangular shape 31 rising from the packaging plane V, by folding the first holder surface 45 about the first folding-line 55 relative to the hanger section 69 and folding the second holder surface 47 about the second folding-line 57 relative to the first holder surface 45.

In addition, opposite the second folding-line 57, the aforementioned fixing section 79 is connected to the second holder surface 47 via a further folding-line 81. The fixing section 79 does not extend over the entire width of the second holder surface 47, but is only formed at a central section of the second holder surface 47 that corresponds to the receiver 83. After transferring the holder 21 into the triangular shape 31, the fixing section 79 may therefore also be folded about the further folding-line 81 relative to the second holder surface 47 in order to be transferred into an orientation parallel to the receiving section 85 and therefore to the base section 19 and the packaging plane V, and to be able to be pushed into the receiver 83. In order to facilitate this insertion, an insertion recess 61 is formed at the receiving section front-layer 67, so that the fixing section 79 may be pushed back behind the receiving section front-layer 67, for example with a thumb, and then may be inserted into the receiver 83. The receiving section front-layer 67 may thus cover the fixing section 79 after insertion into the receiver 83 and secure it against loosening, whereby sections of the holder surface 47 projecting laterally beyond the fixing section 79 may, in addition, abut against sections of the receiving section front-layer 67 extending laterally beyond the receiver 83 in order to counteract unfolding of the holder 21.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

• • 11 presentation arrangement
  • 13 packaging
  • 15 padlock
  • 16 lock body
  • 17 U-bolt
  • 18 leg
  • 18′ long leg
  • 19 base section
  • 20 insertion opening
  • 21 holder
  • 23 holder opening
  • 25 lateral holder opening
  • 27 insertion slot
  • 29 pair
  • 31 triangular shape
  • 33 circular shape
  • 35 key holder opening
  • 37 key shaft
  • 39 key
  • 41 key-ring
  • 43 packaging width
  • 45 first holder surface
  • 47 second holder surface
  • 49 holder ridge
  • 51 front layer
  • 53 rear layer
  • 55 first folding-line
  • 57 second folding-line
  • 59 entrance
  • 61 insertion recess
  • 63 rear panel section
  • 65 receiving section folding-line
  • 67 receiving section front-layer
  • 69 hanger section
  • 71 hanger section folding-line
  • 73 hanger opening
  • 75 cross-sectional width
  • 77 connecting line
  • 79 fixing section
  • 81 further folding-line
  • 83 receiver
  • 85 receiving section
  • 87 combination locking mechanism
  • A initial state
  • B width direction
  • E bolt plane
  • F folding direction
  • G state of use
  • V packaging plane