U.S. patent application number 11/051121 was filed with the patent office on 2005-09-08 for packaging for product display.
Invention is credited to Richards, Chris, Wong, Allen.
Application Number | 20050194281 11/051121 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34914814 |
Filed Date | 2005-09-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050194281 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Richards, Chris ; et
al. |
September 8, 2005 |
Packaging for product display
Abstract
A product package for retail display includes a first portion
connected to a second portion. The first portion is adapted to
receive, contain and completely enclosed products, which the second
connected portion is adapted to receive, contain and partially
enclose a product for display. By partially enclosing the product,
the consumer can test the ergonomics of the device (e.g., a game
controller) before purchasing the same. The first portion provides
a secure section where accessory items related to the partially
enclosed product may be safely contained and displayed.
Inventors: |
Richards, Chris; (Fountain
Hills, AZ) ; Wong, Allen; (Temple City, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KEUSEY, TUTUNJIAN & BITETTO, P.C.
14 VANDERVENTER AVENUE, SUITE 128
PORT WASHINGTON
NY
11050
US
|
Family ID: |
34914814 |
Appl. No.: |
11/051121 |
Filed: |
February 4, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60543302 |
Feb 11, 2004 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
206/470 ;
206/461; 206/471 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2585/6835 20130101;
B65D 75/322 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/470 ;
206/461; 206/471 |
International
Class: |
B65D 085/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A packaging for product display, comprising: a first portion
completely encapsulating a product to be packaged; and a second
portion partially encapsulating a product to be packaged.
2. The packaging according to claim 1, further comprising a
transition area for coupling together the first portion and the
second portion.
3. The packaging according to claim 2, wherein the transition area
is adapted to maintain the first portion and the second portion in
a pre-defined orientation.
4. The packaging according to claim 1, further comprising a hanger
integrally formed into the first portion for hanging the packaging
on a display.
5. The packaging according to claim 1, wherein the packaging is
adapted for a game controller, said second portion partially
encapsulating said game controller to secure the same within the
package.
6. The packaging according to claim 5, wherein the game controller
protrudes from said partial encapsulation to enable a consumer to
touch and test the ergonomics of the game controller.
7. The packaging according to claim 5, wherein the game controller
further has a plurality of controls, said second portion partially
encapsulating at least a portion of said controls.
8. The packaging according to claim 1, wherein the second portion
is adapted to partially enclose a game controller and enable a
consumer to directly handle and test the game controller as it
would be held and used during actual game play.
9. The packaging according to claim 1, wherein the first portion is
adapted to contain products related to the product in said second
portion.
10. The packaging according to claim 1, wherein said first portion
is adapted to contain portions of the product disposed and retained
in said second portion.
11. A packaging for product display, comprising: a first portion
preventing access a product to be packaged; and a second portion
providing limited consumer access to portions of a product, said
limited access enabling consumer evaluation of the product via
direct touch contact.
12. The packaging according to claim 11, wherein the packaging is
adapted for a game controller having handles, and the second
portion includes openings for allowing the handles of the game
controller to protrude there through.
13. The packaging according to claim 12, wherein the openings allow
a user to directly contact the handles for ergonomic evaluation
thereof.
14. The packaging according to claim 12, wherein the game
controller further has a plurality of controls, said second portion
partially encapsulating at least a portion of said controls.
15. The packaging according to claim 12, wherein the game
controller further comprises a plurality of controls, said second
portion completely encapsulating said plurality of controls.
16. The packaging according to claim 11, wherein the second portion
is adapted to partially encapsulate and retain a game controller
and enable a consumer to directly handle and test the game
controller as it would be held and used during actual game
play.
17. The packaging according to claim 11, wherein the first portion
is adapted to contain products related to the product disposed in
said second portion.
18. The packaging according to claim 11, wherein the first portion
is adapted to contain portions of the product disposed and retained
in said second portion.
19. A method for forming packaging for retail product display,
comprising the steps of: forming a first packaging half and a
second packaging half, each package half being formed to include
corresponding partial cavities; and combining the first packaging
half and the second packaging half to form a product packaging
having a first packaging portion and a second packaging portion,
wherein the first packaging portion and the second packaging
portion result from a combination of the corresponding partial
cavities of the first packaging half and the second packaging half;
wherein the first packaging portion completely encapsulates a
product to be packaged and the second packaging portion partially
encapsulates a product.
20. The method according to claim 18, wherein said forming step
forms at least one of the first packaging half and the second
packaging half with a hanger portion adapted to form a hanger for
hanging the product packaging on a display when the first packaging
portion and the second packaging portion are combined in said
combining step.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is related to U.S. provisional patent
application No. 60/543,302, entitled "Packaging for Product
Display", filed on Feb. 10, 2004, which is commonly assigned, and
the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to packaging and more
particularly, it relates to packaging for retail product
display.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] Purchasers of various consumer goods often would like to
sample and/or otherwise "try out" the goods in a meaningful way
prior to purchasing. For example, a purchaser of a game controller
for a video gaming system often would like to hold the game
controller to ensure that the ergonomics of the game controller are
suitable for that given purchaser. However, consumer goods such as
game controllers are often packaged so that the entire item is
encapsulated in packaging so as to mask and/or otherwise alter the
actual size and shape of the item as well as prevent a potential
purchaser from directly accessing and contacting the item. While
some packaging exists that allows a potential purchaser to actually
touch an item that is packaged for sale, such packaging typically
provides little or no protection to other parts of the item that
are not desired to be accessed prior to sale such as delicate parts
and/or parts that may be unlawfully detached and removed prior to
sale so as to render the item damaged and/or incomplete.
[0006] Accordingly, it would be desirable and highly advantageous
to have packaging for product display that overcomes the
above-identified problems of the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The problems stated above, as well as other related problems
of the prior art, are solved by the present invention, which is
directed to packaging for product display.
[0008] According to one aspect of the invention, the packaging for
product display includes a first portion for completely
encapsulating a product to be packaged, and a second portion for
partially encapsulating wither a product to be packaged. The first
and second portions are joined together by a transition area. The
transition area may allow for part of the product in the second
partially enclosed portion to pass into the first completely
enclosed portion.
[0009] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the
packaging is adapted for a game controller such that the second
portion partially encapsulates the game controller to secure the
same within the package. The game controller protrudes from the
partial encapsulation to enable a consumer to touch and test the
ergonomics of the game controller.
[0010] According to another aspect of the invention, the game
controller includes a plurality of controls and the second portion
of the packaging partially encapsulates at least a portion of said
controls. In another embodiment, the second portion of the
packaging completely encapsulates (encloses) the plurality of
controls yet allows the game controller handles to remain
accessible by a potential consumer.
[0011] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the
packaging for product display, includes a first portion preventing
access a product to be packaged, and a second portion providing
limited consumer access to portions of a product. The limited
access enabling consumer evaluation of the product via direct touch
contact. The second portion is adapted to partially encapsulate and
retain a game controller in place and enable a consumer to directly
handle and test the ergonomics of the game controller as it would
be held and used during actual game play.
[0012] According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the
method for forming packaging for retail product display includes
the steps of: forming a first packaging half and a second packaging
half, each package half being formed to include corresponding
partial cavities; and, combining the first packaging half and the
second packaging half to form a product packaging having a first
packaging portion and a second packaging portion. The first
packaging portion and the second packaging portion result from a
combination of the corresponding partial cavities of the first
packaging half and the second packaging half. The first packaging
portion completely encapsulates a product to be packaged and the
second packaging portion partially encapsulates a product.
[0013] The step of forming forms at least one of the first
packaging half and the second packaging half with a hanger portion
adapted to form a hanger for hanging the product packaging on a
display when the first packaging portion and the second packaging
portion are combined in the combining step.
[0014] These and other aspects, features and advantages of the
present invention will become apparent from the following detailed
description of preferred embodiments, which is to be read in
connection with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] In the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to
similar elements throughout the views:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a front view of a packaging for product display,
according to an illustrative embodiment of the present
invention;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a rear view of a packaging for product display,
according to an illustrative embodiment of the present
invention;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a left side view of a packaging for product
display, according to an illustrative embodiment of the present
invention;
[0019] FIG. 4 is a right side view of a packaging for product
display, according to an illustrative embodiment of the present
invention;
[0020] FIG. 5 is a top view of a packaging for product display,
according to an illustrative embodiment of the present
invention;
[0021] FIG. 6 is a front view of a packaging for product display,
according to another illustrative embodiment of the present
invention;
[0022] FIG. 7 is a plan view showing two halves of a packaging for
product display, according to an illustrative embodiment of the
present invention; and
[0023] FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for forming a
packaging for product display, according to an illustrative
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0024] Referring generally to the FIGS. 1-7, there is shown a
package 100 for product display. The package 100 has an upper
portion 102 and a lower portion 104 which are coupled by a
transition area 106. The upper portion 102 includes a compartment
that is completely enclosed by the lower and upper halves of
package 100, while the lower portion 104 partially encloses the
product so as to allow a consumer to actually touch and feel the
product being offered for sale.
[0025] Unlike other "touch and feel" product displays, the lower
portion 104 of the present package contains a game controller 150
that is for use with a gaming system. In view of the various
different gaming systems available (e.g., PlayStation.RTM.,
GameCube.TM., X-Box.RTM.) and the wider array of available game
controller styles for each system, the ergonomics of a game
controller are an important consideration for a consumer in the
purchasing of the same. By allowing the handle portions 152 and 154
of the game controller to not be contained by the packaging, the
consumer may grip and hold the game controller in a manner that
allows them to feel the "action" of this particular game controller
in their hands and make a purchasing decision based on the same.
The "action" as used herein is the interaction between the user's
hands and the buttons, joysticks and other controls on the game
controller itself. Those of ordinary skill in the art will
recognize that the "action" of a controller in a user's hands is
related to the ergonomics of the controller and the size of the
user's hands. Thus, the ability to allow a consumer (user) to test
this "action" before purchasing is desirable.
[0026] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lower portion 104 selectively
covers the game controls (i.e., buttons 190, 191 and joysticks 195,
196) on the top of the controller in an effort to prevent damage of
the same, yet allows full access to the handles 152, 154 and other
controls (i.e. buttons) 156 and 158 located on the underside of the
controller. Thus, the lower portion 104 completely retains the game
controller 150 in a secure position without preventing or
restricting the consumer from handling the same to test the
ergonomics and "action" of the same. Those of ordinary skill will
recognize that the control layout for each type of game controller
(i.e., the button and joystick/d-pad layout for PlayStation.RTM.,
GameCube.TM., X-Box.RTM., etc.) are different, and thus the form of
lower portion 104 can be changed to accommodate such different
configurations without departing from the spirit of the present
invention.
[0027] The upper portion 102 includes a compartment that can be
used to safely and securely contain various related parts,
batteries, instructions, power cords, data cords, adapters, etc.
for the game controller that is being retained in the lower portion
104. Thus, the theft of batteries and other removable items may be
prevented.
[0028] As noted above, the upper portion 102 and lower portion 104
are connected by a transition area 106. The transition area 106 can
of any suitable shape and form to provide the support for the game
controller product contained in lower portion 104, while
maintaining the integrity of the package as a whole. The transition
area 106 may be formed so as to maintain the upper portion 102 and
the lower portion 104 in a pre-defined orientation.
[0029] According to one aspect of the invention, the transition
area allows for the passing through of product from the lower
portion 102 to the upper portion 102. For example, a connection
wire 200 or the like can extend from the game controller 150,
partially contained in the lower portion 104, into the completely
enclosed upper portion 102 via the transition area 106 (See FIG.
3).
[0030] As shown in FIG. 7, the package 100 is made of two parts 120
and 122, which, during manufacturing, are positioned together and
die cut to create an edge 108. When the two parts 120 and 122 are
joined, the upper (completely enclosed) portion 102 and lower
(partially enclosed) portion 104 are formed. In accordance with one
aspect of the invention, the items to be contained within the
compartment of upper portion 102 are disposed therein prior to the
die cut sealing process, The game controller 150 is generally
positioned in the lower portion 104 of the bottom part 120 before
sealing of the entire package.
[0031] In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the bottom part
120 and upper part 122 include partial cavities (identified as part
of 102 and 104) on the respective bottom and upper parts. These
partial cavities together form the entire portions 102 and 104 in
accordance with an aspect of the invention. Those of ordinary skill
will recognize that the size and shape of the partial cavities
defining the portions 102 and 104 can be varies without departing
from the spirit of the present invention.
[0032] According to another aspect of the invention, the package
100 also includes a hanger 110 integrally formed into at least one
of the upper and lower parts 122 and 120, respectively, either
during the die cut manufacturing process, or prior to the same. In
the exemplary embodiment shown, the hanger 110 is molded into the
lower part 120. The hanger 110 allows the entire package to be hung
on a display, yet still provides the user with the ability to test
the feel and action of the controller without necessarily requiring
the removal from the hanging display.
[0033] FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for forming a
packaging for product display, according to an illustrative
embodiment of the present invention. A first packaging half (122)
and a second packaging half (120) are formed so as to each include
corresponding partial cavities (step 810). It is to be appreciated
that step 810 may optionally be performed so as to form the
packaging halves so as to each include hanger portions. The hanger
portions are adapted to form a hanger for hanging the packaging on
a display, when the packaging halves are combined in step 820
below.
[0034] The first packaging half (122) and the second packaging half
(120) are combined to form a product packaging having a first
packaging portion (102) and a second packaging portion (104) (step
820). The first packaging portion (102) and the second packaging
portion (104) result from a combination of the corresponding
partial cavities of the first packaging half and the second
packaging half. The first packaging portion (102) completely
encapsulates a portion of a product to be packaged and the second
packaging portion (104) partially encapsulates the product to allow
for hands on testing by potential consumers.
[0035] While there has been shown, described and pointed out
fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to preferred
embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various omissions,
substitutions and changes in the form and details of the methods
described and devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be
made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit
of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all
combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform
substantially the same function in substantially the same way to
achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention.
Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements
and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection with any
disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may be incorporated
in any other disclosed, described or suggested form or embodiment
as a general matter of design choice. It is the intention,
therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the
claims appended hereto.
* * * * *