U.S. patent application number 09/922458 was filed with the patent office on 2001-12-27 for product ensemble display and carrying package.
Invention is credited to Anderson, Derrick L., Bisbal, Maribel, Landers, Timothy J., Simon, Harvey J., Smith, Tracy A..
Application Number | 20010054569 09/922458 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 24136125 |
Filed Date | 2001-12-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010054569 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bisbal, Maribel ; et
al. |
December 27, 2001 |
Product ensemble display and carrying package
Abstract
A display and carrying package is provided which is particularly
adapted for displaying and carrying a bedding ensemble, but which
could be used for displaying and carrying any ensemble of products
of different sizes. The package is in the form of a closed flexible
bag, preferably box-shaped, having generally flat transparent front
and rear walls and, preferably, having non-transparent side and top
walls connected thereto. The bag preferably includes a zipper for
closing and opening the bag to provide access to the interior of
the bag. The ensemble of products of different sizes is positioned
inside the bag with the large ensemble product in juxtaposition to
the transparent front bag wall for viewing therethrough and the
other smaller ensemble products are positioned inside the bag,
preferably in pockets attached to the inside of the rear wall, in
juxtaposition to the rear transparent wall and in side-by-side
position for being viewed from the outside through the transparent
rear wall.
Inventors: |
Bisbal, Maribel; (Huntington
Beach, CA) ; Anderson, Derrick L.; (Sterling Heights,
MI) ; Simon, Harvey J.; (Charlotte, NC) ;
Smith, Tracy A.; (Fort Mill, SC) ; Landers, Timothy
J.; (Fort Mill, SC) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ALSTON & BIRD LLP
BANK OF AMERICA PLAZA
101 SOUTH TRYON STREET, SUITE 4000
CHARLOTTE
NC
28280-4000
US
|
Family ID: |
24136125 |
Appl. No.: |
09/922458 |
Filed: |
August 3, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
09922458 |
Aug 3, 2001 |
|
|
|
09535868 |
Mar 27, 2000 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/756 ;
206/769; 206/770; 206/771 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 33/02 20130101;
A45C 3/00 20130101; B65D 85/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/756 ;
206/769; 206/770; 206/771 |
International
Class: |
B65D 005/50; B65D
025/54 |
Claims
That which is claimed:
1. A bedding ensemble display and carrying package characterized by
providing views from outside the package of each bedding article
within the package and comprising: a closed flexible box-shaped bag
having transparent front and rear walls and non-transparent side
and top walls connected together and including a zipper connecting
said top wall to at least some of said side walls and said rear
wall for providing access to an interior of said bag, said bag
further including pockets positioned inside of said rear bag wall
in side-by-side relationship and a transparent pocket positioned on
an outside surface of one of said non-transparent side walls for
receiving and displaying a flyer relating to the contents of said
package; and a bedding ensemble including a folded bed cover of a
folded size generally corresponding to the size of said front
transparent bag wall and being positioned inside said bag in
juxtaposition to said front bag wall for viewing through said
transparent front bag wall, and other folded bedding articles
including sheets and pillow covers and being of folded sizes
smaller than said rear transparent bag wall and being positioned
inside said pockets on the inside of said transparent rear bag wall
for viewing thereof through said transparent rear bag wall.
2. A bedding ensemble display and carrying package, as set forth in
claim 1, in which said front and rear walls are constructed of
transparent plastic material and said side and top walls are
constructed of non-transparent textile cloth material.
3. A bedding ensemble display and carrying package, as set forth in
claim 1, in which said transparent front wall and said transparent
rear wall over each of said pockets include frosted
semi-transparent strips containing desired printing thereon and
providing a background for rendering said printing easily readable
on said transparent front and rear walls while allowing views of
said bedding ensemble therethrough.
4. A bedding ensemble display and carrying package, as set forth in
claim 3, in which said package further includes reinforcing means
for at least some of said walls of said bag for aiding in
maintaining said box shape of said bag to assist in any desired
stacking of said packages.
5. A display and carrying package for an ensemble of products of
different sizes and characterized by providing views from outside
the package of each product within said package; said package
comprising: a closed flexible box-shaped bag having transparent
front and rear walls and non-transparent side and top walls
connected together; means for closing and opening said bag to
provide access to an interior of said bag; and pockets on said rear
transparent bag wall in side-by-side relationship; whereby, a large
ensemble product may be positioned inside said bag in juxtaposition
to said transparent front bag wall for viewing through said
transparent front bag wall, other smaller ensemble products may be
positioned in said pockets on the inside of said transparent rear
bag wall for viewing thereof through said transparent rear bag
wall, and said non-transparent side and top walls provide a shield
to the viewing of the sides of the ensemble products.
6. A display and carrying package, as set forth in claim 5, in
which said transparent front wall and said transparent rear wall
over each of said pockets include frosted semi-transparent strips
containing desired printing thereon and providing a background for
rendering said printing easily readable on said transparent front
and rear walls while allowing views therethrough of products
positioned inside said bag.
7. A display and carrying package, as set forth in claim 5, in
which said front and rear walls are constructed of transparent
plastic material and said side and top walls are constructed of
non-transparent textile cloth material.
8. A display and carrying package, as set forth in claim 5, in
which said means for closing and opening said bag comprises a
zipper connecting said top wall to some of said side walls and said
rear wall.
9. A display and carrying package, as set forth in claim 5, in
which one of said non-transparent side walls includes a transparent
pocket for receiving and displaying a flyer relating to the
ensemble of products to be packaged in said bag.
10. A display and carrying package, as set forth in claim 5, in
which said bag includes a handle attached thereto for carrying said
package.
11. A display and carrying package, as set forth in claim 5, in
which said package further includes reinforcing means for at least
some of said walls of said bag for aiding in maintaining said box
shape of said bag to assist in any desired stacking of said
packages.
12. A display and carrying package, as set forth in claim 11, in
which said reinforcing means comprises stiff panels positioned
against at least some of said walls of said bag.
13. A display and carrying package, as set forth in claim 11, in
which said reinforcing means comprises rod framing positioned
inside said bag.
14. A display and carrying package for an ensemble of products of
different sizes and characterized by providing views from outside
the package of each product within said package; said package
comprising: a closed flexible box-shaped bag having transparent
plastic front and rear walls and non-transparent textile cloth side
and top walls connected together; a zipper connecting said top wall
to some of said side walls and said rear wall for closing and
opening said bag to provide access to an interior of said bag;
pockets positioned inside of said rear transparent plastic bag wall
in side-by-side relationship; a transparent plastic pocket
positioned on one of said non-transparent textile cloth side walls
for receiving and displaying a flyer relating to the ensemble of
products packaged in said bag; a handle attached to said bag for
carrying said package; whereby, a large ensemble product may be
positioned inside said bag in juxtaposition to said transparent
plastic front bag wall for viewing through said transparent plastic
front bag wall, other smaller ensemble products may be positioned
in said pockets on the inside of said transparent plastic rear bag
wall for viewing thereof through said transparent plastic rear bag
wall, and said non-transparent textile cloth side and top walls
provide a shield to the viewing of the sides of the ensemble
products.
15. A display and carrying package, as set forth in claim 14, in
which said transparent plastic front wall and said transparent
plastic rear wall over each of said pockets include frosted
semi-transparent strips containing desired printing thereon and
providing a background for rendering said printing easily readable
on said transparent plastic front and rear walls while allowing
views of the products positioned within said bag.
16. A display and carrying package, as set forth in claim 14, in
which said package further includes reinforcing means for at least
some of said walls of said bag for aiding in maintaining said box
shape of said bag to assist in any desired stacking of said
packages.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser.
No. 09/535,868, filed Mar. 27, 2000, which is hereby incorporated
herein in its entirety by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to a display and carrying package for
an ensemble of products of different sizes and particularly for an
ensemble of bedding articles, which is characterized by providing
views from the outside of the package for each product or bedding
article within the package.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Heretofore, ensembles of various products of different sizes
have been packaged in a variety of different ways for displaying
the ensemble and for carrying the ensemble away from a retail store
or the like after purchase thereof.
[0004] In the bedding field, a highly successful commercial display
and carrying package for a bedding ensemble has been marketed under
the trademark BED-IN-A-BAG.RTM.. This BED-IN-A-BAG.RTM. package for
a bedding ensemble is in the form of a clear plastic bag having
front and rear walls and a zipper at the top thereof for closing
and opening the bag to provide access to the interior of the bag.
The bedding ensemble packaged within this bag typically includes a
folded bed cover of a folded size generally corresponding to the
size of the front and rear bag walls, and other folded bedding
articles, such as sheets and pillow covers, which are of smaller
folded sizes and which were positioned inside the folded bed cover.
The folded bed cover with the smaller folded bedding articles
positioned inside or between the folds are placed inside the bag so
that the folded bed cover can be viewed from the outside of the bag
through the transparent front and rear walls of the bag. The
smaller folded bedding articles positioned within the folded bed
cover can not be viewed from the outside of the bag. A flyer
typically is inserted inside the bag between the folded bed cover
and one of the transparent front or rear bag walls to be viewed
through the transparent wall. This flyer often illustrates the
various bedding articles in the ensemble and provides other
information and advertisement to the potential purchaser.
[0005] Although this BED-IN-A-BAG.RTM. bedding ensemble display and
carrying package has enjoyed commercial success, it does provide
certain problems and lacks certain features, which have now been
found desirable in such a package. For example, it does not provide
views from the outside of all of the folded articles in the bedding
ensemble. Moreover, it fails to provide a sturdy, box-shaped
package which can be stacked, if desired, without use of racks. It
also does not provide a package, which shields from view the
undesirable folded edges or ends of the bedding ensemble articles.
Lastly, it does not provide a high-end package which is pleasing to
the purchaser.
OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is the object of this invention to overcome the above
problems and shortcomings in previous display and carrying packages
for an ensemble of products of different sizes, particularly a
bedding ensemble, and to provide a display and carrying package
which is characterized by providing views from the outside of each
product of the ensemble contained within the package and to provide
other desired features.
[0007] By this invention, it has been found that the above object
may be accomplished by providing a display and carrying package,
particularly adapted for displaying and carrying a bedding ensemble
but which could be used for displaying and carrying any ensemble of
products of different sizes. The package is in the form of a closed
flexible bag (preferably box-shaped) having generally flat
transparent front and rear walls (and preferably having at least
partially non-transparent side and top walls connected thereto).
The bag includes means (preferably in the form of a zipper
connecting the top wall to some of the side, front and rear walls)
for closing and opening the bag to provide access to the interior
of the bag. An ensemble of products of different sizes (preferably
a bedding ensemble including a folded bed cover and other folded
bedding articles of smaller folded sizes) is positioned inside the
bag with the large ensemble product in juxtaposition to the
transparent front bag wall for viewing therethrough and the other
smaller ensemble products are positioned inside the bag in
juxtaposition to the rear transparent bag wall and in side-by-side
position for being viewed from the outside through the transparent
rear bag wall. Preferably, the bag includes pockets positioned on
the transparent rear bag wall (preferably on the inside) in the
side-by-side relationship for receiving and holding the smaller
ensemble products in the desired positions for viewing through the
transparent rear bag wall.
[0008] Preferably, the transparent front wall and the transparent
rear wall over each of the smaller ensemble products include
frosted semi-transparent strips containing desired printing thereon
and providing a background for rendering the printing easily
readable on the transparent front and rear walls while allowing
views of the ensemble products therethrough. Preferably, the front
and rear walls of the bag are constructed of transparent plastic
material and the side and top walls are constructed of
non-transparent textile cloth material. It is also a preferred
feature of this invention that one of the nontransparent sidewalls
includes a transparent pocket (preferably positioned on an outside
surface thereof) for receiving and displaying a flyer relating to
the specific product ensemble packaged within the bag. It is also
preferred to provide a handle (preferably attached to the top wall
of the bag) for carrying of the package.
[0009] The package may also include in one of its preferred forms
reinforcement means for at least some of the walls of the bag for
aiding in maintaining the preferred box shape of the bag to assist
in any desired stacking of the packages.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] While some of the objects and advantages of this invention
have been set forth above, other objects and advantages will be
clear from the detailed description of the preferred embodiment of
this invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, in which:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating particularly the
front wall, one sidewall and the top wall of the preferred
embodiment of a display and carrying package having a bedding
ensemble positioned therein;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a perspective view, like FIG. 1, illustrating the
rear wall, the other sidewall and the top wall of the display and
carrying package of FIG. 1 having a bedding ensemble therein;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a view of one of the sidewalls of the display and
carrying package of FIG. 1, taken generally along the line 3-3 of
FIG. 2, and illustrating a transparent pocket on this package
sidewall and a flyer in exploded position for being positioned
within the transparent pocket;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a sectional view, taken generally along the line
4-4 of FIG. 2, and illustrating the side views of the folded
articles of the bedding ensemble positioned within the package and
which are preferably shielded by the non-transparent sidewall;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a perspective view with the top wall opened up and
illustrating reinforcing means, in exploded positions, for at least
some of the bag walls in the form of stiff panels which may be
positioned against some of the bag wall positions;
[0016] FIG. 6 is a view of an alternative form of reinforcing means
in the form of rod framing which can be positioned on the inside of
the package; and
[0017] FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating how three of the
packages may be stacked to display different sides and ends of the
package from one side thereof for providing perspective purchasers
with different views of the package and the product ensemble
contained therein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
[0018] Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated therein
a preferred embodiment of a display and carrying package, generally
indicated at 10, for an ensemble of products of different sizes,
generally indicated at 20. The preferred embodiment of package 10
in accordance with this invention is specifically designed for
displaying and carrying a bedding ensemble 20; however, it is to be
understood that many of the novel aspects of the package 10
illustrated and described in this preferred embodiment are suitable
for use with ensembles of other products of different sizes and the
invention is not intended to be limited other than as set forth in
the claims following this detailed description of the preferred
embodiment.
[0019] The package 10 is in the form of a closed flexible bag 11
having generally flat transparent front and rear walls 12 and 13.
In the preferred form, the bag 11 is box-shaped and includes at
least partially non-transparent sidewalls 14, 15 and a
non-transparent top wall 16 and a bottom wall 17 of any desired
construction. The bag 11 further includes means 19 for closing and
opening the bag to provide access to the interior of the bag. This
means 19 is preferably in the form of a zipper connecting the top
wall 16 to some of the sidewalls 14, 15 and the front and rear
walls 12, 13. As shown in the drawings, this zipper 19 connects the
top wall 16 to the sidewalls 14, 15 and the rear wall 13 of the bag
11 and is secured by stitching, binding or the like to the front
wall 12. All of the walls 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 may be suitably
secured together by stitching, binding or the like.
[0020] The bedding ensemble 20 positioned inside the bag 11
preferably includes a folded bed cover 21 of a folded size
generally corresponding to the size of the front bag wall 12 and
being positioned inside the bag 11 in juxtaposition to the front
bag wall 12 for viewing through the transparent front bag wall 12
(as shown in FIG. 1). The bedding ensemble 20 also includes other
smaller folded bedding articles 22, which may include sheets,
pillow covers, bed skirts, etc., and which are positioned inside
the bag 11 in juxtaposition to the rear bag wall 13 and in
side-by-side positions relative to each other for viewing through
the transparent rear bag wall 13 (as shown in FIG. 2). Preferably,
the bag 11 includes pockets 18 (see FIG. 4) positioned on the
transparent rear bag wall 13 in side-by-side relationship for
receiving and holding the other folded bedding articles 22 in the
desired positions for viewing through the transparent rear bag wall
13 (as shown in FIG. 2). These pockets 18 are preferably positioned
on the inside of the transparent rear bag wall 13 and are open at
the top of the pockets 18 (as shown in FIG. 4) for insertion of the
other folded bedding articles 22. However, the pockets could be
positioned on the outside of the rear bag wall or the pockets 18
could be accessible from the outside of the rear bag wall 13 by
openings through the bag wall 13.
[0021] The transparent front and rear walls 12, 13 of the bag 11
may be constructed of transparent plastic material and the side and
top walls 14, 15, 16 may be constructed of non-transparent textile
cloth material, such as canvas or the like. Although these are the
preferred materials, any transparent and non-transparent materials
may be used for these bag walls. When the bedding ensemble 20
including the bedding articles 21, 22 are positioned as described
above in the bag 11, the non-transparent side and top walls 14, 15,
16 provide a shield to the viewing of the folded sides of the
folded bedding articles 21, 22 (which are shown in FIG. 4).
Normally, it is not desirable to see these folded side edges, but
rather to see only the faces of the bedding articles (as shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2) through the transparent front and rear walls 12, 13
of the bag 11. The pockets 18 may be of less height than the
transparent rear wall 13 in at least one position thereof so that
the bedding article 21, as well as the other bedding articles 22
may all be viewed through the transparent rear bag wall 13 (as
shown in FIG. 2).
[0022] For identifying the contents of the ensemble 20 within the
bag 11 of the package 10, frosted semi-transparent strips 25
containing desired printing thereon are suitably positioned on the
transparent front wall 12 and the transparent rear wall 13 of the
bag 11 to provide a background for rendering the printing easily
readable on the transparent front and rear walls 12, 13 while
allowing viewing of the bedding ensemble 20 therethrough. As shown
in the drawings, the frosted semi-transparent strip 25 on the
transparent front wall 12 is in the form of a vertical strip
positioned centrally of the wall 12 and containing desired printing
to identify the manufacturer, etc. of the package. As may be seen
in FIG. 1, the printing on this frosted semi-transparent strip 25
may be clearly seen while the design (clouds) on the bedding
ensemble article 21 is visible therethrough. On the transparent
rear wall 13 of the bag 11, the semi-transparent frosted strips 25
are positioned over each of the smaller folded bedding articles
(which may have the same or different designs than the article 21)
and include identifying printing to indicate to the user what is
displayed in the package and which may be seen through the
transparent rear wall 13. These frosted semi-transparent strips 25
may be formed in any suitable manner on the clear transparent walls
12, 13 and the technologies for forming such frosted
semi-transparent strips are well known to those with skill in the
art and need not be further described herein.
[0023] In accordance with a preferred form of package 10 in
accordance with this invention, one of the non-transparent
sidewalls 14 includes a transparent pocket 26 positioned on the
wall 14 (preferably on an outside surface thereof) for receiving
and displaying a flyer 27 which may further identify all of the
contents of the ensemble 20 within the bag 11 of the package 10.
This flyer, of course, may change when the ensemble 20 within the
bag 11 of the package 10 changes. The transparent pocket 26 may be
formed of any suitable transparent material, such as the
transparent plastic used to form the front and rear walls 12, 13 of
the bag 11. The transparent pocket 26 may also be formed on the
inside of one of the side walls 14 in which case the lower portion
of the side wall 14 would be constructed of transparent material
and access to the pocket could be either from the top of the pocket
or through the wall 14, as desired.
[0024] It is also preferred to provide a handle 28 secured to the
top wall 16 of the bag 11 for carrying the package 10. The handle
28 may alternatively be secured to one of the side walls 14 in the
event that it is determined that the weight of the ensemble puts
undue stress on the zipper 19 which is preferably used as the
opening means for the bag 10.
[0025] Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, the package 10 may further
include reinforcing means for at least some of the walls 12, 13,
14, 15, 16, 17 of the bag 11 for aiding in maintaining the box
shape of the bag 11 to assist in any desired stacking of the
packages 10. As shown in FIG. 5, this reinforcing means may be in
the form of stiff panels 30 which may be formed of foamed plastic
or any suitable material, and which are adapted to be positioned
against the sidewall 14, 15. The reinforcing means may also be in
the form of a steel rod framing 31 which is generally of a box
shape and which is designed to be positioned inside the bag 11 to
maintain the box shape of the bag 11.
[0026] The product ensemble display and carrying package 10 of this
invention may be stacked, without the use of a display counter or
rack, as shown in FIG. 7 in such a manner that different front,
rear and sidewalls 12, 13, 14, 15 may be displayed on the front of
the stack so as to provide a view through the transparent front and
rear walls 12, 13 of all of the articles in the ensemble 20
contained within the package 10 and to provide a view of the
printing or flyer 27 contained on the sidewalls 14, 15. The
reinforcing means 30 or 31 could be utilized to assist in
maintaining the box-shape of the package 10 for such stacking;
although, the box-shaped packages can be stacked without such
reinforcing means 30, 31.
[0027] Thus, it may be seen, that the invention has provided an
improved display and carrying package 10 which may carry an
ensemble 20 of any desired product of different sizes, but which is
particularly adapted for display and carrying of a bedding ensemble
20 and which is characterized by providing views from the outside
of each bedding article 21, 22 within the package 10 and which
provides an attractive upscale package 10 which preferably shields
from view undesirable folded side edges of the articles 21, 22 of
the ensemble 20 and which provides an attractive box-shaped package
10 which can be used repeatedly by a purchaser and which can be
stacked for display or storage.
[0028] The invention has been described above in considerable
detail with respect to its preferred embodiment. However,
variations and modifications can be made within the spirit and
scope of the invention as described in the foregoing specification
and as described in the following claims.
* * * * *