U.S. patent application number 11/044495 was filed with the patent office on 2005-12-29 for integral toy vehicle display case and product package.
Invention is credited to Augborne, Troy.
Application Number | 20050287903 11/044495 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35506522 |
Filed Date | 2005-12-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050287903 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Augborne, Troy |
December 29, 2005 |
Integral toy vehicle display case and product package
Abstract
A package for a collectible toy vehicle utilizes a generally
planar backing preferably formed of a paperboard or particle board
material together with a five-sided clear plastic blister. The
blister defines an interior cavity within which a toy vehicle
display case is received. The toy vehicle display case is also
preferably formed of a clear plastic material and includes a
support base within the display case upon which the toy vehicle
rests. The entire display case and enclosed toy vehicle base and
toy vehicle is received within the blister of the package. A rear
flap formed to be foldable between a closed and an open position
provides closure of the rear portion of the package blister. The
user is able to open the rear flap, remove the display case
together with its supported toy vehicle base and toy vehicle and
thereafter utilize the display case in placing the collectible toy
vehicle on display.
Inventors: |
Augborne, Troy; (Whittier,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROY A. EKSTRAND
Mattel INC.
333 Continental Blvd.
El Segundo
CA
90245
US
|
Family ID: |
35506522 |
Appl. No.: |
11/044495 |
Filed: |
January 27, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60539400 |
Jan 27, 2004 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
446/75 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2575/367 20130101;
B65D 75/366 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
446/075 |
International
Class: |
A63H 033/04 |
Claims
That which is claimed is:
1. A toy vehicle display case and toy vehicle package comprising: a
generally planar backing defining an aperture and a closure flap
foldable between a closed position covering said aperture and an
open position exposing it; a transparent blister supported by said
backing having an open rear portion generally corresponding to said
aperture; a display case having an outer shell sized to be passed
through said aperture and be received within said blister; a
display platform supported within said display case having an upper
surface for receiving a toy vehicle; and closure means for
releasably securing said closure flap in said closed position to
captivate said display case and its display platform therein, said
flap being constructed to be opened allowing said display case and
display platform to be removed from said blister to display a toy
vehicle on said platform.
2. The toy vehicle display case and toy vehicle package set forth
in claim 1 wherein said blister and said display case are both
generally rectangular.
3. The toy vehicle set forth in claim 1 wherein said blister is
formed of transparent plastic.
4. The toy vehicle set forth in claim 2 wherein said platform is
formed of an opaque material.
5. The toy vehicle set forth in claim 4 wherein said closure means
includes a lock tab formed on said flap and a cooperating slot
formed on said backing.
6. The toy vehicle set forth in claim 5 wherein said aperture
defines an upper edge and wherein said flap is hinged along said
edge.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority of Provisional Application
60/539,400 entitled INTEGRAL TOY VEHICLE DISPLAY CASE AND PRODUCT
PACKAGE filed Jan. 27, 2004 on behalf of the applicant of the
present invention
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates generally to toy vehicle packages and
particularly to packages which also function as display cases for
the toy vehicle product therein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Toy vehicles have enjoyed substantial and long-term
popularity in the toy arts. Not surprisingly, practitioners have
provided a virtually endless variety of toy vehicles for consumers.
One of the more popular types of toy vehicles is generally
describable as "collectibles". Collectible toy vehicles vary in
size, shape and function but most often comprise relatively small
scale models of toy vehicles. One of the more popular scale sizes
is {fraction (1/64)} scale. These toy vehicles are frequently
collected and often maintained in elaborate display cases and the
like.
[0004] In a related practice, practitioners in the toy arts often
endeavor to maximally attract consumers to their toy products by
using highly colorful and attractive product packages which
simultaneously present the toy vehicle to the user in an
advantageous manner. One of the most commercially successful toy
vehicle product package types is generally referred to as a
"blister package". Such packages derive their name from the clear
plastic enclosures or blisters which are supported upon a generally
planar backing. Frequently the backing unit is made of a
particleboard or paperboard and bares one or more highly attractive
images. Most blister packages for toy vehicles are generally
rectangular prisms having an open rear facet. Thus, they typically
include front, side and top and bottom surfaces within which the
toy vehicle is supported while the rear surface of the blister is
missing and the blister is secured to the backing. Thus, a portion
of the package backing provides the rear surface of the toy vehicle
enclosure. Additionally, the backing typically includes a center
slot which facilitates hanging the package upon a post-like hanger
within the retail display facility.
[0005] In most instances, the consumer purchases the package having
the toy vehicle therein and simply tears the backing as needed to
separate the blister therefrom and removes the toy vehicle for use.
Frequently collectors utilize elaborate display cases to house the
toy vehicle for display. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,905,828
issued to Dods sets forth a PACKAGE FOR TRADING CARD AND MODELED
VEHICLE in which a vehicle package includes a generally planar
backing having a colorful decorative set of images thereon. The
lower front portion of the backing supports a five-sided
rectangular blister which is secured to the front surface of the
backing material by an adhesive attachment. The underlying portion
of the backing material upon which the blister is secured formed
the sixth side of the blister enclosure. Within the enclosure, a
platform is supported upon which a toy vehicle is further
supported. An aperture is formed in the upper center of the backing
to facilitate hanging the package in a conventional point of
purchase display.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,896,991 issued to Hippely et al. sets forth
a BLISTER CARD PACKAGE FOR HOLDING AND DISPLAYING SMALL ITEMS
having a generally planar backing defining a front surface upon
which a generally planar support surface is secured. The support
surface extends forwardly from the front surface from the backing
material and includes a plurality of upwardly extending attachment
tabs thereon. A cover plate defining a set of apertures through
which the tabs extend is received upon and supported by the support
portion. A toy vehicle and other small articles such as a toy
figure are secured to the upwardly extending tabs. Finally, a
five-sided blister package element is secured to the front surface
of the backing by the adhesive attachment and encloses the support
shelf and the small articles and toy vehicle secured thereon.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 4,185,739 issued to Wilford sets forth
RETENTION OF ARTICLES ON A SHEET for assembly of an article such as
a toy vehicle. The toy vehicle is retained on a sheet in which the
article is located on one side of the sheet and is held by a
retainer which includes a body portion on the opposite side of the
sheet. Projections extend from the body portion and engage in
recesses formed in the toy vehicle.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 4,595,097 issued to Herstein sets forth a TOY
PACKAGING which provides a secure open front display of a packaged
vehicle. The package is constructed of a carton-forming sheet
material having top, bottom and side walls and a rear wall defining
a toy vehicle receiving enclosure. The enclosure has an open front
through which the toy vehicle is insertable and displayed. The
bottom wall is provided with a bottom flap configured to be folded
inwardly to define an enclosure floor. The flap further includes a
vehicle engaging configuration.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,411,138 issued to Klawiter sets forth a
PACKAGING FOR A TOY wherein the package includes a body having a
bottom wall defining a slot. The packaging includes bottom, top,
front and side walls defining a box sided to receive the toy and a
key. The bottom surface of the box has an opening aligned with the
toys slot such that a key may be passed through the bottom box
opening into the toy body slot.
[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 5,919,074 issued to Honda sets forth a DOLL
DISPLAY PACKAGE FACILITATING DOLL ACTION DEMONSTRATION in which a
toy figure having an animation mechanism therein is received within
a toy package constructed to cover substantially the lower portions
of the figure. The package includes a vertical back having a
further attachment for the neck portion of the figure. The figure
sits upon a pivotable spring board and is secured thereto at the
figures feet. The spring board is pivotable between a raised and
lowered position to allow the figure to move up and down within the
package.
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 4,583,641 issued to Gelzer sets forth an
ARTICLE PACKAGING SYSTEM having a primary package which includes an
elongated strip form carrier tape and bonding tape that are
releasably secured together at longitudinally spaced points to
package articles between the tape at points intermediate the
intersection of the two tapes.
[0012] In a somewhat related art, a large number of fasteners and
attachment mechanisms are utilized in packaging and other similar
environments. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,566,430 issued to Cheng;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,676,370 issued to Rudick; U.S. Pat. No. 4,448,563
issued to Zankl; U.S. Pat. No. 4,392,279 issued to Schwager; U.S.
Pat. No. 4,293,984 issued to Kaufman, Jr.; U.S. Pat. No. 373,860
issued to Steffey; U.S. Pat. No. 1,615,698 issued to Hartzell; U.S.
Pat. No. 1,857,530 issued to Dandridge et al.; U.S. Pat. No.
2,355,196 issued to Zahodiakin and U.S. Pat. No. 3,025,093 issued
to Millman.
[0013] In a further related art which provides in pertinent part
fasteners which are used to secure closure of items such as
handbags and the like, U.S. Pat. No. 1,931,707 issued to Quigan and
Des.295,919 issued to Makio provide further examples of closure
devices.
[0014] While the foregoing described prior art devices have to some
extent improved the art and have in some instances enjoyed
commercial success, there remains nonetheless a continuing need in
the art for ever more improved, interesting and effective packaging
structures for toy articles such as toy vehicles and the like.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0015] Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention
to provide an improved toy vehicle package. It is a more particular
object of the present invention to provide an improved toy vehicle
package which serves additionally as a vehicle display case.
[0016] The present invention provides a package for a collectible
toy vehicle which utilizes a generally planar backing preferably
formed of a paperboard or particle board material together with a
five-sided clear plastic blister. The blister defines an interior
cavity within which a toy vehicle display case is received. The toy
vehicle display case is also preferably formed of a clear plastic
material and includes a support base within the display case upon
which the toy vehicle rests. The entire display case and enclosed
toy vehicle base and toy vehicle is received within the blister of
the package. A rear flap formed to be foldable between a closed and
an open position provides closure of the rear portion of the
package blister. The user is able to open the rear flap, remove the
display case together with its supported toy vehicle base and toy
vehicle and thereafter utilize the display case in placing the
collectible toy vehicle on display.
[0017] Thus, in accordance with the present invention, there is
provided
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] The features of the present invention, which are believed to
be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims.
The invention, together with further objects and advantages
thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following
description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in
the several figures of which like reference numerals identify like
elements and in which:
[0019] FIG. 1 sets forth a front perspective view of a toy vehicle
within a toy vehicle package constructed in accordance with the
present invention;
[0020] FIG. 2 sets forth a side perspective view of the present
invention toy vehicle package having a toy vehicle supported
herein;
[0021] FIG. 3 sets forth a rear view of the present invention toy
vehicle package having a toy vehicle supported herein with the
package in its closed configuration;
[0022] FIG. 4 sets forth a rear view of the present invention toy
vehicle package having a toy vehicle within its display case
supported therein and having the package in its open configuration;
and
[0023] FIG. 5 sets forth a rear perspective view of the present
invention toy vehicle display case and its toy vehicle package
having the display case removed from the package.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0024] By way of overview, the present invention integral toy
vehicle display case and product package includes a colorful planar
backing which supports a clear plastic blister. Within the blister,
a toy vehicle display case is received and supported. The toy
vehicle display case also formed of a clear plastic material
supports a toy vehicle base and a toy vehicle. The rear portion of
the backing includes a flap hingedly secured to the backing
material and covering the rear opening of the blister. The toy
vehicle and its supporting toy vehicle base within the display case
is removable from the blister package as a single unit.
[0025] More specifically, and with simultaneous reference to FIGS.
1 and 2, the present invention integral toy vehicle display case
and product package generally referenced by numeral 10 includes a
generally planar backing 11. Backing 11 is preferably fabricated of
a paperboard or particleboard material or the like and defines a
hanging slot 12 on the upper edge thereof. Backing 11 further
defines a front face 13 upon which a colorful image is supported.
Front face 13 further defines a generally rectangular aperture 14
upon which a clear plastic generally rectangular blister 15 is
secured by conventional adhesive or the like. Within blister 15, a
toy vehicle display case 20 is supported. Display case 20 includes
a toy vehicle base upon which a typical toy vehicle 21 is
supported. In the closed configuration shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,
package 10 supporting display case 20 and toy vehicle 21 together
with toy vehicle base 22, forms a single integral product package
which may be conveniently stored upon the hanging displays often
utilized in retail stores.
[0026] FIG. 3 sets forth a rear view of package 10 in the closed
position. Package 10 includes a generally planar backing 11 having
a hanging slot 12 on the upper edge thereof. Package 10 further
includes a clear plastic blister 15 within which a toy vehicle
display case 20 having a toy vehicle base 22 and toy vehicle 21
supported therein is received and stored. Package 10 further
includes a package flap 30 secured to backing 11 by a hinge 31 and
seperateable from backing 11 by a pair of tear seams 32 and 33.
Flap 30 further defines an aperture 34 which is covered by a clear
plastic window 35. Blister 15 defines a slot 37 along the lower
edge thereof while flap 30 defines a lock tab 36. Tab 36 and slot
37 cooperate to provide closure of flap 30 upon backing 11.
[0027] In the closed configuration shown in FIG. 3, tear seams 32
and 33 have not yet been separated and accordingly package flap 30
is maintained as part of rear face 18 of backing 11. Additionally,
lock tab 36 is received within slot 37.
[0028] FIG. 4 sets forth a rear view of package 10 shown in the
open configuration. Package 10 includes a generally planar backing
11 having a hanging slot 12 on the upper edge thereof. Package 10
further includes a clear plastic blister 15 within which a toy
vehicle display case 20 having a toy vehicle base 22 and toy
vehicle 21 supported therein is received and stored. Package 10
further includes a package flap 30 secured to backing 11 by a hinge
31 and seperateable from backing 11 by a pair of tear seams 32 and
33. Flap 30 further defines an aperture 34 which is covered by a
clear plastic window 35. Blister 15 defines a slot 37 along the
lower edge thereof while flap 30 defines a lock tab 36. Tab 36 and
slot 37 cooperate to provide closure of flap 30 upon backing
11.
[0029] In the open configuration shown in FIG. 4, tear seams 32 and
33 have been separated allowing flap 30 to be pivoted upwardly
about hinge 31. This release of tab 30 necessitates removing lock
tab 36 from slot 37. Once flap 30 has been opened to the position
shown in FIG. 4, the combination of display case 20, toy vehicle
base 22 and toy vehicle 21 is restrained solely by a flexible lip
23 extending along the lower edge of blister 15. Display case 20
together with toy vehicle 21 and toy vehicle base 22 is removed
from blister interior 16 by simply flexing lip 23 downwardly and
outwardly and withdrawing display case 20. Once display case 20 has
been removed, it may be separately displayed apart from the
remainder of package 10 as shown in FIG. 5.
[0030] FIG. 5 sets forth a rear perspective view of package 10
having display case 20 supporting toy vehicle 21 upon toy vehicle
base 22 entirely separated and removed from the remainder of
package 10. As described above, package 10 includes a planar
backing 11 defining a hanging slot 12 and a rear face 18. As is
also described above, package 10 includes a clear plastic blister
15 defining a blister interior 16 having a flexible lip 23 and slot
37 formed therein. A pair of tear seams 32 and 33 shown separated
in FIG. 5 release a flap 30 hingedly supported upon backing 11 by a
hinge 31. Flap 30 defines an aperture 34 having a clear plastic
window 35 formed therein. Flap 30 further includes a lock tab 36
which cooperates with slot 37 to reclose flap 30 should the user
desire to return display case 20 to the interior of blister 15.
[0031] What has been shown is an integral toy vehicle display case
and product package which maintains a secure retail package for
supporting a removable display case within which a toy vehicle may
be housed and displayed. The display case may be returned to the
package and the package reclosed should the need arise. 23
[0032] While particular embodiments of the invention have been
shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art
that changes and modifications may be made without departing from
the invention in its broader aspects. Therefore, the aim in the
appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as
fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *