U.S. patent application number 10/201162 was filed with the patent office on 2003-01-30 for display packaging technique.
Invention is credited to Sarasjoki, Lea.
Application Number | 20030019785 10/201162 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 23188531 |
Filed Date | 2003-01-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030019785 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sarasjoki, Lea |
January 30, 2003 |
Display packaging technique
Abstract
A display package and display packaging technique implemented by
forming a shadow box in which an item to be displayed and items to
be hidden that are associated with the item to be displayed are
packaged. The shadow box is formed having four side portions and a
bottom portion. A flap integral with a portion of the shadow box is
disposed between the four side portions to form a hidden
compartment between the flap and the bottom portion within which
the associated items are hidden and a display compartment above the
flap within which the item to be displayed is displayed by
disposing the item on the flap. The shadow box and flap are formed
of a single piece of sheet material. A transparent protective
material wrap is provided to cover the shadow box entirely when
assembled so as to provide protection and enclose the display
compartment.
Inventors: |
Sarasjoki, Lea; (Fiskars,
FI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ANTONELLI TERRY STOUT AND KRAUS
SUITE 1800
1300 NORTH SEVENTEENTH STREET
ARLINGTON
VA
22209
|
Family ID: |
23188531 |
Appl. No.: |
10/201162 |
Filed: |
July 24, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60307165 |
Jul 24, 2001 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
206/765 ;
206/756; 206/769 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 5/52 20130101; B65D
5/2004 20130101; B65D 5/48018 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/765 ;
206/769; 206/756 |
International
Class: |
B65D 005/50 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A display package comprising: a shadow box having four side
portions and a bottom portion; a flap disposed between the four
side portions to form a hidden portion between the flap and the
bottom portion; and a transparent protective material wrap disposed
so as to cover the shadow box entirely; wherein an item to be
displayed is disposed on top of the flap and associated items which
are to be hidden from view are disposed in the hidden portion
formed by the flap and bottom portion.
2. A display package according to claim 1, wherein said shadow box
is formed by a single piece of sheet material comprising: a bottom
portion having a rectangular shape; four side portions each being
integral with a different side of said bottom portion; two first
end portions each being integral with an end of one of a first pair
of side portions of said four side portions, said first pair of
side portions being on opposite sides of said bottom portion; two
second end portions each being integral with an end of one of a
second pair of side portions of said four side portions, said
second pair of side portions being on opposite sides of said bottom
portion; four locking portions, wherein a first pair of locking
portions of said four locking portions being integral with opposite
sides of one of said second pair of side portions and a second pair
of locking portions of said four locking portions being integral
with opposite sides of the other of said second pair of side
portions, and wherein said flap is integral with an end of one of
said second end portions.
3. A display package according to claim 2, wherein each of said
four locking portions includes a slit which mates with the slit of
a corresponding locking portion when the shadow box is
assembled.
4. A display package according to claim 2, wherein each of said
second end portions have slots disposed therein, wherein said flap
includes tabs, and wherein each of said slots of said second end
portions mates with a corresponding tab of said flap when said
shadow box is assembled.
5. A display package according to claim 2, wherein each of the
corners of each of said first end portions is provided with a tab
which aids in forming continuous sides of said shadow box when
assembled.
6. A display package according to claim 2, wherein said flap
comprises: four side portions each being integral with a different
side of said flap, wherein one of said side portions of said flap
is integral with a side of said flap and one of said second end
portions, wherein said side portions of said flap are folded in a
downward direction when said display package is assembled to aid in
forming a stable platform on which the item to be displayed
sits.
7. A display package according to claim 2, wherein said flap
includes cutouts which allow for portions of the associated items
to pass through said flap.
8. A display package according to claim 2, wherein at least one of
said second end portions includes a marking tab portion which
remains in a vertical position when the display package is
assembled.
10. A display package according to claim 8, wherein said marking
tab portion includes information concerning the item and the
associated item.
11. A method of displaying an item to be displayed while hiding
associated items from view, the method comprising: providing a
shadow box having four side portions and a bottom portion;
providing a flap disposed between the four side portions to form a
hidden portion between the flap and the bottom portion; providing a
transparent protective material wrap disposed so as to cover the
shadow box entirely; disposing the item to be displayed on top of
the flap; and disposing the associated items to be hidden in the
hidden portion formed by the flap and bottom portion so as to be
hidden from view.
12. A method according to claim 11, wherein said shadow box is
formed by a single piece of sheet material comprising: a bottom
portion having a rectangular shape; four side portions each being
integral with a different side of said bottom portion; two first
end portions each being integral with an end of one of a first pair
of side portions of said four side portions, said first pair of
side portions being on opposite sides of said bottom portion; two
second end portions each being integral with an end of one of a
second pair of side portions of said four side portions, said
second pair of side portions being on opposite sides of said bottom
portion; four locking portions, wherein a first pair of locking
portions of said four locking portions being integral with opposite
sides of one of said second pair of side portions and a second pair
of locking portions of said four locking portions being integral
with opposite sides of the other of said second pair of side
portions, and wherein said flap is integral with an end of one of
said second end portions.
13. A method according to claim 12, wherein each of said four
locking portions includes a slit which mates with the slit of a
corresponding locking portion when the shadow box is assembled.
14. A method according to claim 12, wherein each of said second end
portions have slots disposed therein, wherein said flap includes
tabs, and wherein each of said slots of said second end portions
mates with a corresponding tab of said flap when said shadow box is
assembled.
15. A method according to claim 12, wherein each of the corners of
each of said first end portions is provided with a tab which aids
in forming continuous sides of said shadow box when assembled.
16. A method according to claim 12, wherein said flap comprises:
four side portions each being integral with a different side of
said flap, wherein one of said side portions of said flap is
integral with a side of said flap and one of said second end
portions, wherein said side portions of said flap when folded in a
downward direction when said display package is assembled aid in
forming a stable platform on which the item to be displayed
sits.
17. A method according to claim 12, wherein said flap includes
cutouts which allow for portions of the associated items to pass
through said flap.
18. A method according to claim 12, wherein at least one of said
second end portions includes a marking tab portion which remains in
a vertical position when the display package is assembled.
19. A method according to claim 18, wherein said marking tab
portion includes information concerning the item and the associated
item.
20. A single piece of sheet material which can be folded into a
shadow box for displaying an item and hiding items associated with
said item, said single sheet of material comprising: a bottom
portion having a rectangular shape; four side portions each being
integral with a different side of said bottom portion; two first
end portions each being integral with an end of one of a first pair
of side portions of said four side portions, said first pair of
side portions being on opposite sides of said bottom portion; two
second end portions each being integral with an end of one of a
second pair of side portions of said four side portions, said
second pair of side portions being on opposite sides of said bottom
portion; four locking portions, wherein a first pair of locking
portions of said four locking portions being integral with opposite
sides of one of said second pair of side portions and a second pair
of locking portions of said four locking portions being integral
with opposite sides of the other of said second pair of side
portions, and wherein said bottom portion, four side portions, two
first end portions, two second end portions and four locking
portions when assembled form a shadow box; and a flap being
integral with an end of one of said second end portions, wherein
said shadow box and said flap when assembled forms a part of a
display package such that said items to be displayed are displayed
in a display portion and said associated items to be hidden are
hidden in a hidden portion separated from said display portion by
said flap.
21. A single piece of sheet material according to claim 20, wherein
each of said four locking portions includes a slit which mates with
the slit of a corresponding locking portion when the shadow box is
assembled.
22. A single piece of sheet material according to claim 20, wherein
each of said second end portions have slots disposed therein,
wherein said flap includes tabs, and wherein each of said slots of
said second end portions mates with a corresponding tab of said
flap when said shadow box is assembled.
23. A single piece of sheet material according to claim 20, wherein
each of the corners of each of said first end portions is provided
with a tab which aids in forming continuous sides of said shadow
box when assembled.
24. A single piece of sheet material according to claim 20, wherein
said flap comprises: four side portions each being integral with a
different side of said flap, wherein one of said side portions of
said flap is integral with a side of said flap and one of said
second end portions, wherein said side portions of said flap are
folded in a downward direction when said shadow box is assembled to
aid in forming a stable platform on which the item to be displayed
sits.
25. A single piece of sheet material according to claim 20, wherein
said flap includes cutouts which allow for portions of the
associated items to pass through said flap.
26. A single piece of sheet material according to claim 20, wherein
at least one of said second end portions includes a marking tab
portion which remains in a vertical position when the shadow box is
assembled.
27. A single piece of sheet material according to claim 26, wherein
said marking tab portion includes information concerning the item
and the associated item.
Description
[0001] The present application claims the benefit of priority of
provisional application Serial No. 60/307,165, filed Jul. 24, 2001,
the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to display packaging
techniques and more particularly, the present invention relates to
a display package and display packaging technique in which an item
to be displayed is packaged in a shadow box and flap arrangement
with an item to be displayed disposed in a display compartment and
items associated with the item to be displayed disposed in a hidden
compartment separated from the display compartment by the flap, the
shadow box and flap being formed of a single piece of sheet
material and being protected by a transparent material which covers
the entire shadow box.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Earlier disadvantageous display packaging techniques
normally displayed an item to be displayed contained within a
package as well as displaying associated items. Oftentimes, it was
desirable to not display the associated items within the package.
For example, if a CD player or headset was to be displayed in a
package, the associated items, such as cables, batteries, carrying
case, need not be displayed and in fact should probably not be
displayed since it draws attention away from the CD player or
headset.
[0006] Blister packs are sometimes used as a display package to
display an item. However, the associated items invariably are also
displayed even though the packager may wish not to display the
associated items. Furthermore, blister packs do not protect the
item are items contained therein from being damaged to the same
extent as a rigid box.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention provides a display package and display
packaging technique implemented by forming a shadow box in which
items to be displayed are disposed within a display compartment
while items associated with the items to be displayed that are not
to be displayed are disposed in a hidden compartment beneath the
items to be displayed. The display compartment is separated from
the hidden compartment by the flap integral with the shadow box.
The shadow box and flap are formed of a single piece of sheet
material. The shadow box can be protected by a transparent
protective material wrap, which covers the entire shadow box and
encloses the display compartment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The foregoing and a better understanding of the present
invention will become apparent from the following detailed
description of example embodiments and the claims when read in
connection with the accompanying drawings, all forming a part of
the disclosure of this invention. While the foregoing and following
written and illustrated disclosure focuses on disclosing example
embodiments of the invention, it should be understood that the same
is by way of illustration and example only and that the invention
is not limited thereto. The scope of the present invention are
limited only by the terms of the appended claims.
[0009] The following represents brief descriptions of the drawings,
wherein:
[0010] FIG. 1A is a top view illustrating an example of a shadow
box and flap in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention, a portion of the shadow box being partially open to show
the associated items which are not to be displayed being disposed
in a hidden compartment;
[0011] FIG. 1B is a top view illustrating the example of FIG. 1A
with the shadow box being closed by the flap to show the item to be
displayed being visible while the associated items are hidden from
view;
[0012] FIG. 1C is a perspective view of the shadow box of FIG.
1B;
[0013] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a single piece of sheet
material used to form the shadow box and flap in accordance with a
first embodiment of the present invention; and
[0014] FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a transparent protective
material wrap which may be used to cover the shadow box of FIG. 1C,
the transparent protective material wrap being completely
unfolded.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0015] FIGS. 1A-1C illustrate an example of a display package in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0016] As shown in FIG. 1A, the display package is formed by a
shadow box 100 which is partially open so as to show the associated
items 110 which are not to be displayed being disposed in a hidden
compartment 115 and a flap 120. As shown in FIGS. 1B-1C, when the
hidden compartment 115 of the shadow box 100 is closed, the flap
120 is folded down and the associated items 110 are hidden from
view by the flap 120 in the hidden compartment 115. The item to be
displayed 130 is then disposed on top of the flap 120 in a display
compartment 135 so as to be easily seen by a buyer. A transparent
protective material wrap, not shown in FIGS. 1A-1C, is then used to
cover the entire shadow box 100, thereby protecting both the shadow
box 100 and its contents 110 and 130, while allowing a buyer to see
the item to be displayed 130 in the display compartment 135.
[0017] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a shadow box 100 and flap
120 in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention,
the shadow box 100 and flap 12O being completely unfolded. While
the shadow box 100 and flap 120 as illustrated in FIG. 2 has been
illustrated as being formed of a single piece of sheet material,
such as cardboard or corrugated paper, it is of course understood
that the present invention is not limited thereto.
[0018] The single piece of sheet material forming the shadow box
100 and flap portion 120 as illustrated in FIG. 2 includes a bottom
portion 230 having a rectangular shape, four side portions 240-1
through 240-4 each being integral with a different side of the
bottom portion 230, two first end portions 260-1 and 260-2 each
being integral with an end of one of a first pair of side portions
240-2 and 240-4, the first pair of side portions 240-2 and 240-4
being on opposite sides of the bottom portion 230, two second end
portions 210 and 220 each being integral with an end of one of a
second pair of side portions 240-1 and 240-3, the second pair of
side portions 240-1 and 240-3 being on opposite sides of the bottom
portion 230, four locking portions 250-1 through 250-4, a first
pair of locking portions 250-1 and 250-2 being integral with
opposite sides of one of the second pair of side portions 240-1, a
second pair of locking portions 250-3 and 250-4 being integral with
opposite sides of the other of the second pair of side portions
240-3, and the flap portion 120 being integral with an end of one
of the second end portions 220.
[0019] Note that the second end portions 210 and 220 each have
slots 270 disposed therein so as to mate with corresponding tabs
280 of the flap portion 120 when the shadow box 100 is assembled.
It is of course understood that the present invention is not
limited to this tab/slot arrangement. Similarly, each locking
portion 250-1, 250-2, 250-3 and 250-4 has a slit 290 which mates
with the slit 290 of a corresponding locking portion when the
shadow box 100 is assembled. It should be noted that the slits 290
of corresponding locking portions are oriented in opposing
directions to permit them to mate with one another. It is
understood that the present invention is not limited to this
fastening arrangement.
[0020] Each of the corners of the two first end portions 260-1 and
260-2 are each provided with a tab portion 2602-1, 2602-2, 2602-3
and 2602-4. The tab portions 2602-1 through 2602-4 when folded aid
in forming continuous sides of the display compartment 135. Each of
the tab portions 2602-1 through 2602-4 as illustrated in FIG. 2
generally has a triangular shape.
[0021] The flap portion 120 has four side portions 2802-1 through
2802-4 each being integral with a different side of the flap
portion 120. One of the side portions 2802-1 is integral with one
of the sides of the flap portion 120 and one of the second end
portions 220, thereby connecting the flap portion 120 to the rest
of the single piece of material used to form the shadow box
arrangement. The four side portions 2802-1 through 2802-4 of the
flap portion 120 when folded in a downward direction aid in forming
a stable platform upon which the item to be displayed sits and aid
in enclosing and separating the hidden compartment 115 from the
display compartment 135.
[0022] The flap portion 120 also includes cutouts 2804 which allow
for portions of the associated items 110 to pass through and be
connected to the item to be displayed 130. The cutouts 2804 can
also serve as a attaching points to which the item to be displayed
130 is attached using a fastener to prevent undesired movement
thereof.
[0023] One or both of the second end portions 210 and 220 includes
a marking tab portion 2402, which can remain in a vertical position
when the second end portion 210, 220 is folded over. The marking
tab portion 2402 could for example include product marking
information or a trademark associated with the item to be displayed
130 in the display compartment 135.
[0024] To assemble the shadow box 100 and flap portion 120 as
illustrated in FIG. 2 in accordance with the display packaging
technique of the present invention the following procedure is
conducted. First, each of the first pair of locking portions 250-1
and 250-2 and the second pair of locking portions 250-3 and 250-4
is folded over so that their slits 290 interlock. Second, each of
the side portions 240-1 through 240-4 is folded over. Third, each
of the first end portions 260-1 and 260-2 is folded over and each
of the tab portions 2602-1 through 2602-4 of each first end portion
260-1, 260-2 is folded to approximately a 90 degree angle. Fourth,
each of the second end portions 210 and 220 is folded over. When at
least one of the second end portions 210 and 220 is folded over the
marking tab portion 2402 is allowed to remain in vertical state to
permit its viewing in the display compartment 135. Upon performing
the above-described first through fourth steps a shadow box
arrangement is formed with the bottom portion 230 being exposed,
thereby forming the hidden compartment 115.
[0025] The procedure continues as follows. Fifth, the associated
items 110 are then placed in the hidden compartment 115. Sixth, the
flap portion 120 is folded over so that its tabs 280 mate with the
corresponding slots 270 of each of the second end portions 210 and
220, thereby providing support to the flap portion 120 and hiding
the associated items 110 from view. Thus, the hidden compartment
115 is enclosed and separated from the display compartment 135.
Seventh, the item to be displayed 130 is then placed on top of the
flap 120. Eighth, the assembled shadow box 100 is covered by a
transparent protective material wrap 300 such as that shown in FIG.
3. The transparent protective material wrap 300 encloses the
display compartment 135 and serves as protection for the shadow box
100.
[0026] As shown in FIG. 3, the transparent protective material wrap
300 includes four side portions 310 which are folded over from a
bottom portion 320. The resultant assembly is then placed over the
shadow box 100 and then the two end portions 330 are folded over so
that they are on the bottom of the shadow box 100 and then the two
end portions 340 folded over so that a tab 350 mate with a slot 360
fastening the two end portions 340 together. It is of course
understood that the present invention is not limited to this
particular transparent protective material wrap arrangement. Other
arrangements, such as shrink-wrapped transparent protective
materials may also be used.
[0027] This concludes the description of the example embodiments.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to
an illustrative embodiment thereof, it should be understood that
numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by
those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope
of the principles of this invention. More particularly, reasonable
variations and modifications are possible in the component parts
and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within
the scope of the foregoing disclosure, drawings, and the appended
claims without departing from the spirit of the invention. In
addition to variations and modifications in the component parts
and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to
those skilled in the art.
* * * * *