U.S. patent application number 11/494641 was filed with the patent office on 2007-03-15 for clamshell package with spinner insert.
This patent application is currently assigned to AVC CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Moshe Begim.
Application Number | 20070056872 11/494641 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37853969 |
Filed Date | 2007-03-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070056872 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Begim; Moshe |
March 15, 2007 |
Clamshell package with spinner insert
Abstract
A clamshell package for display and sale of an article at retail
contains two principal parts, namely first and second package
members. The second package member, called a spinner, defines a
cavity for enclosing the article and the first package member
supports the second package member in a passage through the front
and rear faces of the first package member for manually motivated
rotational movement of the second package member relative to the
first package member. Axles, integrally formed in the second
package member, extend outwardly from opposite sides of that member
and mount to journal bearings integrally formed in the first
package member.
Inventors: |
Begim; Moshe; (Calabasas,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
RONALD M. GOLDMAN;ROTH & GOLDMAN
SUITE 500
21535 HAWTHORNE BLVD.
TORRANCE
CA
90503
US
|
Assignee: |
AVC CORPORATION
|
Family ID: |
37853969 |
Appl. No.: |
11/494641 |
Filed: |
July 26, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60716419 |
Sep 12, 2005 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
206/461 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 73/0057
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/461 |
International
Class: |
B65D 73/00 20060101
B65D073/00 |
Claims
1. A package for an article, comprising: a first package member and
a second package member; said second package member defining a
cavity for housing said article; and said first package member for
supporting said second package member for manually motivated
rotational movement relative to said first package member.
2. The package for an article as defined in claim 1, wherein said
second package member includes at least one wall comprising a
transparent material, said wall defining a window into the interior
of said cavity for viewing said article.
3. The package for an article as defined in claim 1, wherein said
first package member and said second package member comprise
thermoformed plastic sheet material.
4. The package for an article as defined in claim 1, wherein said
second package member comprises a main portion defining said cavity
and first and second axles extending radially outwardly in opposite
directions from said main portion along a common axis, each of said
axles including a cylindrical axial axle stop, said cylindrical
axial axle stop being of greater diameter than the diameter of said
axles, whereby pressing a finger on said main body portion at a
location thereon off said common axis rotates said second package
member a predetermined amount about said common axis.
5. The package for an article as defined in claim 1, wherein said
second package member comprises a main portion defining said cavity
and first and second axles extending radially outwardly in opposite
directions from said main portion along a common axis, each of said
axles including a cylindrical axial axle stop, said cylindrical
axial axle stop being of greater diameter than the diameter of said
axles, whereby pressing a finger on said main body portion at a
location thereon off said common axis rotates said second package
member a predetermined amount about said common axis wherein said
article may be viewed from a different angle.
6. The package for an article as defined in claim 4, wherein said
first package member includes a passage through the front and rear
sides defining an open window; a pair of journal bearings and a
pair of axial axle stop housings, one of said journal bearings and
an associated one of said axial axle stop housings being located
along said common axis on one side of said open window and the
other one of said journal bearings and an associated other one of
said axial axle stop housings being located along said common axis
on a diametrically opposite side of said open window, said journal
bearings and axial axle stop housing portions being in alignment;
and said axial axle stop housings permitting rotation of said axial
axle stop, but preventing withdrawal of said axial axle stop from
said axial axle stop housing by pulling on an axle; and said main
portion of said second package member comprising a size to fit
within said open window and said axles and axial axle stops being
supported in respective journal bearings and axial axle stop
housings of said first package member for rotational movement about
said common axis.
7. The package for an article as defined in claim 6, wherein said
first package member and said second package member comprise
thermoformed plastic sheet material.
8. The package for an article as defined in claim 7, wherein said
second package member includes at least one wall of transparent
material defining a window into the interior thereof to view said
article.
9. A packaged product, comprising: a first package member of
shallow depth and of a predetermined length and width defining a
first predetermined area, said first package member having front
and back sides, and including a passage from said front and back
sides through said first predetermined area; a second package
member supported by said first package member in said passage for
rotation relative to said first package member; and said second
package member including: a sealed compartment housing a product
wherein said second package member may be manually rotated to a
variety of different angular positions relative to said first
package member.
10. The packaged product as defined in claim 9, wherein said second
package member includes at least one wall of transparent plastic
material to permit said product to be viewed from the exterior of
said first and second package members, wherein said second package
member may be manually rotated to a variety of different angular
positions relative to said first package member to permit said
product to be viewed from a variety of angles.
11. The packaged product as defined in claim 9, wherein said second
package member further includes: a pair of circular shafts, said
circular shafts being respectively located in axial alignment on
diametrically opposite sides of said sealed compartment and
integrally formed therewith, each said shaft including a
cylindrical surface of a first diameter, defining a journal, and a
cylindrical end portion of a second diameter, larger than said
first diameter, defining an axial stop.
12. The packaged product as defined in claim 11, wherein said first
package member further comprises: a first axial stop housing and a
first journal bearing, said first journal bearing located in
alignment with and adjacent to said first axial stop housing for
receiving and supporting one of said shafts for rotation, said
first axial stop housing being spaced more distant from said
passage than said first journal bearing; and a second axial stop
housing, and a second journal bearing, said second journal bearing
located in alignment with and adjacent to said second axial stop
housing for receiving and supporting the other one of said shafts
for rotation, said axial stop housing being spaced more distant
from said passage than said second journal bearing; said first and
second axial stop housings and journal bearings being in axial
alignment and being located on diametrically opposite sides of said
passage.
13. The packaged product as defined in claim 12, wherein said axial
stop of one of said circular shafts of said second package member
is captured in said first axial stop housing and said one of said
circular shafts is supported for rotation in said first journal
bearing; said axial stop of a second one of said circular shafts is
captured in said second axial stop housing and said second one of
said circular shafts is supported for rotation in said second
journal bearing; and said first and second journal bearings being
large enough in diameter to receive a respective circular shaft,
but too small in diameter to receive an axial stop, whereby a
circular shaft of said second package member cannot be withdrawn
from the associated axle stop housing of said first package member
by pulling on said second package member and wherein said second
package member cannot be separated from said first package
member.
14. The packaged product as defined in claim 13, wherein said axial
stop housings comprise a cylinder of a first diameter and said
journal bearings comprise a cylinder of a second diameter, said
second diameter being smaller than said first diameter, to define a
washer-shaped wall between an axial stop housing and an associated
journal bearing; said washer-shaped wall between said axial stop
housing portion and said journal bearing portion preventing axial
movement of an axial stop into said journal bearing by pulling
directly or indirectly in an axial direction on said cylindrical
shaft to prevent separation of said second package member and the
product sealed therewithin from said first package member and
inhibit pilferage of said product.
15. The packaged product as defined in claim 14, wherein said first
package member and said second package member comprise a
thermoformed plastic material
16. The packaged product as defined in claim 14, wherein said
passage comprises a circular passage; and wherein said second
package member comprises a circular geometry that fits within said
circular passage, said second package member including axially
outwardly extending first and second axles that extend beyond the
sides of said circular passage; and wherein said first package
member includes a pair of journal bearings that respectively
support said first and second axles for rotation and a pair of axle
end housings that capture ends of said axles and prevent any
pulling on said second package member from removing said respective
axles to prevent pilfering of said product.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This non-provisional application for patent is related to an
earlier-filed provisional application for patent by the inventor,
Ser. No. 60/716,419, filed Sep. 12, 2005, entitled Clamshell
Package with Spinner Insert, the entire content of which is
incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. Applicant claims
the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 120 based on the foregoing provisional
application.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to packages for consumer product of
the type that is sold through retail stores, and, more
particularly, to a clamshell type package for small size high value
product, such as digital media, that permits a prospective
purchaser to view the product through a transparent package wall
without requiring the package to be opened, and provides security
against product pilferage.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Today, small size high value articles, such as digital
media, like add-on memory chips, are commodities that are sold
through electronics departments of retail department stores and at
discount warehouse superstores. Typically, the memory chips (sic
memory cards that contain memory chips) are displayed to store
customers in a plastic clamshell type package that either hangs
from a rack or sets on a shelf. Other small size products, such as
inexpensive jewelry, MP3 players, small digital cameras and other
small electronic devices, if not already treated as a commodity,
will soon be, and those products may then also be retailed in a
clam shell package.
[0004] The clamshell package is constructed of a tough stiff
transparent plastic material. Typically, the package incorporates
information on the product packaged within and/or printed
advertising. As an advantage, the clamshell package permits the
customer to visually inspect the product through transparent walls
or windows that, for one, ensures the customer that the product is
indeed inside the package. However, for reasons of product
security, the toughness of the package material prevents the
customer from opening the package with the customer's bare hands,
particularly inside the store.
[0005] That security is an important reason the plastic clamshell
package remains popular with retailers. A shoplifter cannot easily
pilfer the product. The shoplifter cannot open the package in the
store, unobserved, and remove the product. That security feature
effectively saves the store a great deal of money. For that reason
any new package design for those products must also take security
into account and, ideally, achieve at least the same degree of
security against pilferage that is obtained with the plain old
clamshell package. Accordingly, an object of the present invention
is to provide a display package that is interesting and attractive
and prevents product pilferage.
[0006] Practically all manufacturers of rack-mounted products at
present use the same clamshell package design for their respective
products. One package is very much like another and the package
offers no contribution to product distinction. That "me-too"
approach, although functional, may lead a potential customer into
thinking, as example, that a memory chip from one manufacturer is
the same as one from another competitive manufacturer, whether or
not true in fact. If there is any difference in quality or
functionality those differences may become lost in the monotony of
the existing product packaging.
[0007] As an advantage, the present invention allows a manufacturer
to enhance the distinctiveness of the manufacturer's product by
making the package for that product attractive, novel and unique.
Accordingly, another object of the invention is to provide a new
package for rack mounted product that is visibly novel and unique
in design. A still further object of the invention is to provide a
new package for rack mounted product that is visibly novel, unique
in design and incorporates security against product pilferage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The foregoing objects are accomplished by a clamshell type
package that contains one package portion that is supported by and
mounted for rotation relative to a second package portion. In other
words a spinner portion, particularly a transparent spinner that
houses the product that is being offered for sale. The spinner may
be manually rotated by one's finger relative to the remaining
portion of the package to permit viewing the product from different
angles. In that way the package is interactive with the user.
Enclosed in the spinner, the product may be spun around and be seen
from all sides.
[0009] In a more detailed sense the invention comprises a packaged
product that is formed of a first package member of shallow depth
that has front and back sides that extend over a predetermined area
and a passage extends through the front and back sides of that
package member. A second package member includes a sealed
compartment that houses a product. The second package member is
supported by the first package member in the passage for manually
motivated rotational movement.
[0010] As an additional feature, at least one wall of the second
package member is of a transparent plastic material to permit said
product to be viewed from the exterior of said package members. By
pressing the second package member at an off-axis position the
second package member rotates in position. That produces a dynamic
effect that's new to the purchasing public, offering something new
and interesting to some. Functionally, the change of angular
position allows the product enclosed in the package member to be
viewed from a different angle or side.
[0011] In accordance with a more specific aspect of the invention
the second package member contains a pair of axles that extend
axially from opposite ends of the second package member into
respective journal bearings formed in the first package member to
support the second package member for rotation. By pressing the
second package member with a finger at a location off the axis of
the axles, the second package member rotates in position, allowing
the person to view the packaged product inside from another
angle.
[0012] As an additional feature the axles include a cylindrical
hub, an axle axial stop member, such as a relatively large diameter
cylinder, or disk, as variously termed, greater in diameter than
the axle, that blocks or stops withdrawal of the axles from the
journal bearings in the first package member, and, hence, prevents
detachment of the second package member from the first. Thus even
though the package is fabricated of a plastic material that
exhibits some flexure when manually stressed, instead of a material
and shape that is quite rigid and inflexible, the second package
member cannot easily be gripped and torn off the first package
member due to the blocking action of the axial stops on the shaft
and sufficient tensile strength of the plastic material, even
though the package members and axles may flex under the stress.
[0013] The foregoing and additional objects and advantages of the
invention, together with the structure characteristic thereof,
which were only briefly summarized in the foregoing passages, will
become more apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the
detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention,
which follows in this specification, taken together with the
illustrations thereof presented in the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] In the drawings:
[0015] FIG. 1 presents an embodiment of the spinner package
invention in a front view;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a section of the embodiment of FIG. 1 taken along
the lines 2-2 in FIG. 1;
[0017] FIG. 3 is a partially exploded view of the embodiment of
FIG. 1, drawn to a larger scale;
[0018] FIG. 4 is a partially exploded view of a second embodiment
of the spinner package invention; and
[0019] FIG. 5 is a partially exploded view of a third embodiment of
the spinner package invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0020] Reference is made to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, which
respectively illustrate in front, section and exploded views a
clamshell type case 1 that is of a generally rectangular shape and
is manufactured or formed of a stiff plastic material. The
foregoing three figures may be considered concurrently, but the
exploded view of FIG. 3 may best assist one to more quickly
understand the structure of the embodiment. The clamshell includes
a front case member 2, shown to the left in FIG. 3, and a rear case
member 4, on the right. The rear case member fits within and joins
to the front case member, essentially matingly engaging the latter
member. Ultimately, the case members are radio-frequency energy
("RF") sealed along a flange 8 in the rear case member. The two
case members define one part of a two-part package.
[0021] Front case member 2 includes a recessed planar surface 3A
that is surrounded by a peripheral frame or wall 5 that extends
almost entirely about surface 3A, except for a short peripheral
region at the top end that's occupied by a window 6 that allows
access to a hang-hold 7 in rear case member 4. Wall 5 serves to
stiffen the planar members and acts as a protective ridge. Rear
case member 4 contains a planar surface 3B, surrounded by the
peripherally extending flange 8 that is slightly below the planar
surface in vertical level. A circular opening or passage 11 is
located in the central region of planar surface 3A of the front
case member and a like circular passage 13 is located in planar
surface 3B of the rear case member 4. Both passages 11 and 13 are
in coaxial alignment when the two case members, 2 and 4, are
assembled together as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0022] A generally circular peripheral wall 15A bordering circular
opening 11 protrudes from the face of front case member 2. A
one-half cylindrical side of two cylindrical axial stop cavity or
housing portions 17A and 19A and cylindrical journal bearing
portions 17A' and 19A', are formed in wall 15A and protrude from
that thin plastic wall. By generally circular, it is intended to
mean that the major portion of the periphery of wall 15A is
essentially circular with the exception of the two small
rectangular portions on diametrically opposite sides in which
respective ones of the axial axle stops 16 and 18, later discussed,
are captured. Being formed in a mold from thin plastic sheet, on
the reverse side of case member 2, the side that faces case member
4 in the figure, respective axial stop housing portions or axial
axle stop housing portions, as variously termed, 17A and 19A and
the corresponding cylindrical journal bearing portions naturally
appear as being recessed into the face of the rear case member (as
do axle stop housing portions 17B and 19B in case member 4),
defining the half-cylindrical structures that mate with the
corresponding structures in case member 4 to form complete
cylindrical cavities.
[0023] The term "axial axle stop" (or "axial stop") as used herein
is a coined word that refers to the cylindrical members, such as
the large diameter cylindrical members 16 and 18 in FIG. 3, located
at the distal end of the axles 12 and 14 and formed integral
therewith that are larger in size or diameter than the axle shaft
(or journal). Initially in my provisional application Ser. No.
60/716,419 it was thought to refer to cylindrical disk-like members
that are attached to the axles of the second package member, such
as members 16 and 18, as a "hub," a word that applicant coined.
However, according to the English dictionary, a hub is defined as
the center portion of a wheel, propeller or fan, which was not
consistent in meaning with my coined word. Applicant belatedly
recognized that some readers who were previously familiar with the
dictionary meaning could become confused until the new definition
was understood. To avoid that applicant coined an alternative (and
more functional) term for those disk-like members, namely "axial
axle stop" (and "axial stop"), which is understood to be synonymous
in meaning with my prior use of the term "hub."
[0024] In this invention, the principal function of the axial axle
stop is as a brake, barrier or stop to the axial movement of the
axle to prevent the axle from being withdrawn from the journal in
the first package member, supporting the axle, hence, the term
axial axle stop. The cavities that are formed 17A & 17B and 19A
& 19B, earlier described, when joined in face-to-face position,
produce housings to receive and capture the respective axial axle
stop and must be large enough of a cavity to permit the respective
axle stop to rotate and be circular in shape. The circular shape
follows the shape of the particular axial axle stop employed in the
embodiments of FIGS. 1-3, a cylindrical shape.
[0025] As used herein, the term journal represents that portion of
a cylindrical shaft that is seated for rotation on a journal
bearing. And a journal bearing is the surface or bearing that
supports the axle or shaft, as variously termed, for rotational
movement. The terms journal and journal bearing are dictionary
terms and applicant's definition is consistent therewith. The
component parts of a package are not so easily defined particularly
when the package is of a new design. So the term spinner as
described herein to denote a component that can be moved in
rotational position should be regarded as synonymous with the term
second package member, a synonym for the component. The stationary
part of the package in which the spinner is supported is referred
to herein sometimes as the first package member. In turn each of
the two parts of the first package member that come together in
mating engagement to grip and hold the spinner for rotation may be
referred to as the first and second case members of the first
package member.
[0026] In rear case member 4, a generally circular wall 15B
protrudes from face 3B and surrounds circular opening 13. That wall
is complementary to wall 15A in case member 2, essentially the same
diameter and position to define a circular passage through the
first package section when the case members are placed in mating
engagement. Axial axle stop housing cavities 17B and 19B and
cylindrical journal bearings 17B' and 19B' in case member 4 are
recessed into wall 15B and those elements are identical in size,
geometry and position to the corresponding axial axle stop housing
cavities and cylindrical journal bearings in case member 2. The
axial axle stop housing portions 17B and 19B are positioned the
same distance from the center of circular passage 13, equal to the
distances that the complementary axial axle stop housing portions
in the first case member are spaced from the center of circular
passage 11.
[0027] The latter axial axle stop housing cavity portions
complement the housing cavity portions 17A and 19A in the first
case member 2. When the two case members are joined together the
recessed half-cylindrical portions of the axial axle stop housing
cavities (and the half-cylindrical portions of the journal bearings
in the two members) are aligned and placed in confronting
relationship to form complete hollow cylindrical cavities, one
larger in diameter than the other, to respectively serve as journal
bearings for a shaft and as a housing that captures and holds a
cylindrical member attached to the shaft, referred to as a axial
axle stop, that prevents withdrawal of the shaft in an axial
direction, but allows rotational movement.
[0028] The two outermost cavities 17A and 19A are to receive and
hold the axial axle stops 16 and 18 of a spinner 9, more
specifically discussed hereafter. The smaller diameter (and more
lengthy) cylindrical cavities that extend and open into the central
passage 11 receive the shafts 12 and 14 of that spinner, more fully
described in the succeeding paragraphs.
[0029] The two case members (and spinner) are fabricated from a
flat sheet (or sheets) of the thermoplastic material in a
vacuforming process, a known process in the plastic packaging
industry. In that process a protrusion that is formed on the
topside of a sheet of plastic by using a mold on the bottom of the
plastic sheet. Concurrently, in vacuforming the mold also produces
a corresponding indentation of the mold on the bottom side of the
plastic sheet.
[0030] As shown in FIG. 1 to which reference is again made, a
circular shaped member, referred to herein as a spinner 9, the
second part of the two-part package, includes a small sealed
rectangular compartment 10. The spinner is also fabricated by
molding a sheet of stiff transparent plastic material like that
used for the case members 2 and 4. The spinner is of a size that
fits within circular opening 11 (and 13) in the case members and is
rotatably mounted to those members.
[0031] Spinner 9 is formed by vacuforming a flat sheet of plastic
in a mold that defines and produces two complementary pieces. When
placed together facing one another in mating engagement the two
pieces, among other things, define a compartment 10. Handled as a
separate piece part, the article to be packaged for retail display
and sale, such as a memory chip that is to be stored in the formed
compartment, is placed in one of the two pieces of the spinner, and
the second piece of the spinner is placed over the first piece to
temporarily close the compartment. The entire assembly is then
placed in an RF heating apparatus to permanently seal the two
pieces together. In a sense, the spinner is seen to be a miniature
size clamshell package relative to the clamshell structure formed
with the two case members.
[0032] The compartment 10 of the spinner thusly holds the retail
article that's to be displayed, protected and sold. The article is
sealed inside that compartment. In this embodiment the spinner
compartment is large enough to hold a small article, suitably, a
memory chip or jewelry, not illustrated. In large size embodiments
the spinner compartment can be large enough to hold a digital
camera, MP3 player or any relatively small electronic device.
[0033] Returning to FIG. 3, the spinner includes axles or, as
variously termed, cylindrical shafts 12 and 14 extending out the
right and left hand sides of the spinner that are coaxially
aligned. Each of those shafts is in this embodiment terminated by a
larger-size cylindrical disk or axial axle stop 16 and 18. Those
stops are greater in diameter than the diameter of the associated
shafts.
[0034] In assembling the package, the product-loaded spinner 9 is
placed in window 13 in case member 4 with axle stops 16 and 18
seated in the half of axial axle stop housing cavity portions 17B
and 19B and the axles 12 and 14 in the respective journal bearings
17B' and 19B' to form an initial subassembly. Case member 2 is then
overlaid on the foregoing subassembly and pressed into mating
engagement so that flange 8 of case member 4 abuts the back rim of
the front case member 2. In so doing the axle stops 16 and 18 also
fit within and are enclosed by the complementary half of the axle
stop cases 17A and 19A in the rear surface of case member 2. The
assembly is then subjected to RF heating along the flange to fuse
the flange against the underside rim of the front case member,
completing the package.
[0035] Panel surfaces 3A and 3B may be formed of either clear or
opaque colored plastic material and/or may be embellished with
printed graphic and/or text. In a specific embodiment, the
vacu-formed single-piece bodies are vacu-formed of the plastic
material polyvinylchloride ("PVC") and, preferably is of a
thickness of 0.025 through 0.030 inches. Other less preferred
plastic materials may be substituted, such as polyethylene
terephthalate ("PET"), polystyrene and any other equivalent
material that gives the container sections a slightly stiff, yet
flexible, form and is used for packaging, whether currently
existing or which may be developed hereafter. Even polypropylene
("PP") may be applied in this application. And efforts are being
made to employ injection molding of the package components instead
of the vacuforming described herein, particularly if it becomes
more advantageous to use PP as the material. Advertising and/or
instructional material may be imprinted onto the plastic material,
if desired, and on one or both sides, or the construction may be
modified to permit addition of printed paperboard material using
the techniques presented in my U.S. Pat. No. 6,959,809, granted
Nov. 1, 2005, entitled Reusable Environmentally Friendly Package
and Storage Album or my copending application for U.S. patent of
the same title, Ser. No. 11/181,624 filed Jul. 13, 2005. One of
those techniques is to have the information applied to a paperboard
material that is bonded to the plastic material. The second is to
confine the printed paperboard material between layers of the
plastic material.
[0036] Reference is again made to FIG. 1. Removing the package from
a hanger, a retail customer is able to view the digital media
confined in compartment 10 of spinner 9 through the transparent
window of the compartment without opening the package (as well as
to read any advertising material, warranty material, and
instructions imprinted on the case members that the manufacturer
intended to permit the customer to view without having to open the
package). The customer can then push an edge of the compartment or
push elsewhere on spinner 9 that is off-the-axis of the formed
cylindrical axis of shafts 12 and 14, and rotate the spinner
accordingly. Playing with that feature can be entertaining for some
customers.
[0037] Those who might try to pilfer the contents of compartment 10
however are expected to instead find frustration. Because the
spinner 9 in many instances is of small size since the spinner
compartment 10 holds a product of small size, a pilferer might try
to pull the spinner out of the package and deposit the member in a
pocket without being noticed. When the spinner is rotated
perpendicular to the plane of window 8 in the first package portion
some of the open area of the window is exposed which allows some
fingers of one's hand to slip through the open areas and along both
sides of the spinner and that offers the best leverage for gripping
the spinner so that the spinner can be more effectively pulled.
[0038] Pulling on the spinner places stress on the axles 12 and 14
and the first package portion, which are of plastic material. With
the typical plastic material used to mold clamshell packaging, the
structure is able to thereby flex somewhat when stressed in that
way. But one finds that one cannot readily tear the tough plastic
material; the tensile strength of the material is great enough to
prevent tearing under the amount of pulling force reasonably
anticipated, so the axles should not crack. Pulling also places an
axial force on the sides of the axle stops 16 and 18. However the
side of those axle stops abut the washer-shaped side of the
associated axle stop housings defining the axle stop cavities.
[0039] The axle stop cannot be pulled by the axles through the
smaller diameter passage of the spinner shafts in attempting to
axially withdraw the stops from the first package portion. The best
that one can hope for is to use enough force to separate or tear
the stops from the shaft. That requires an enormous force, which
most pilferers are disinclined to use because of the likelihood
they will be observed by security personnel and security video
cameras in the store. Were the plastic materials used to construct
the package more rigid and stiff than conventional used for
clamshell packaging so that the journal or axle and/or package
portion does not flex and bend when stressed by a potential
pilferer, then it would not be necessary to include the axle stop
portions. In that instance, the journal bearing alone and the lack
of space within which to withdraw the axles would prevent the axles
from being withdrawn and detaching the one package part from the
other.
[0040] As one appreciates the foregoing package invention can take
many different forms, shapes and sizes. A second embodiment of the
invention is presented in the exploded view of FIG. 4 to which
reference is made. It is believed that the exploded view is
sufficient to define the additional embodiment of the package
invention. For convenience where an element of the embodiment is
the same as a corresponding element earlier described in connection
with the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, the same identification number is
used but is primed. Since the elements have been described earlier,
it is not necessary to repeat the description.
[0041] Two principal differences between this embodiment and that
of FIGS. 1-3 is that the spinner axis as defined by the axles is
mounted vertical and the spinner can be manually rotated about the
vertical axis, whereas in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, the spinner
axis is horizontal and rotation is about a horizontal axis.
Secondly, spinner 9' in this embodiment is of a larger diameter and
occupies a greater proportion of the available surface area of the
case members than the preceding embodiment. In other respects the
functions performed are the same as before. As better illustrated
in this figure, the spinner is formed of two clamshell halves that
are basically molded into an identical in shape that are RF welded
together after the product is inserted into a compartment second in
one half. Each half contains one-half of a rectangular compartment
10 that is positioned in the center of a circular shaped member
that is bordered by a circular rim. As those skilled in the art
appreciate, the spinner is not limited to being mounted with the
axis horizontal or vertical as in the two preceding embodiments,
but, in alternative embodiments, the axis of the spinner may be
mounted at any angle desired.
[0042] Although not illustrated for clarity of the package
structure, the contents of the compartment 10 should be visible
through the transparent material. The planar regions 3A' and 3B' in
the case members of the first package member should likely include
text and graphic material, and one outer surface would be
appropriate for attachment of an anti-theft security tag that
activates an alarm should someone attempt to take the package from
the retail store without having paid the purchase price. The
foregoing structure is essentially true of the embodiment of FIGS.
1-3 and of the next embodiment as well.
[0043] A third embodiment of the invention is also presented in an
exploded view in FIG. 5 to which reference is made. It is believed
that the exploded view is sufficient to define the additional
embodiment of the package invention. For convenience where an
element of the embodiment is the same as a corresponding element
earlier described in connection with the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3,
the same identification number is used and is double-primed. Since
the elements have been described earlier, it is not necessary to
repeat the description. This embodiment is shorter and wider than
the corresponding dimensions of the spinner package of FIG. 1, and
the size of the spinner 9'' is proportionately larger than the
corresponding spinner of FIG. 1. In other respects the functions
performed are the same as before.
[0044] As one appreciates all of the packages, that is, packaged
product in the preceding figures may be hung by the hang hold 7 on
a metal rod of a store display rack. Because of the shallow
rectangular shape of the embodiments, that is the package depth
being substantially smaller than either the length or width of the
package, a large number of the packages may be hung side-by-side
taking up minimal space and permitting a high packing factor in the
display rack.
[0045] The foregoing embodiments are of a rectangular shape in both
the overall package and in the shape of the compartment in the
spinner. As those skilled in the art realize from an understanding
of the foregoing description, the invention is not so limited. In
other embodiments polygon shapes may be substituted for the
rectangular shape used in the foregoing embodiments for the case
member, the spinner and/or for the spinner compartment. As example
a hexagon, a heptagon or the like, any of which contains straight
sides may be used. The case members may be of a hexagon shape,
while the spinner (and the window in the case members) remains of a
circular shape and the spinner compartment remains rectangular.
Alternatively, even the window in the case members, the spinner and
even the spinner compartment may also be of a hexagon shape. Many
shapes and combinations are possible. Although applicant has not as
yet developed such alternatives, those skilled in the art may
follow the teachings of this application and through trial and
error produce useful alternatives.
[0046] In the foregoing embodiments, the axle stop was positioned
at the end of the axle where the element appeared as a large disk
or cap, as example, axle stops 16 and 18 in FIGS. 3 and 16'' and
18'' in FIG. 5. As one appreciates, the location is not critical,
and the axle stop may be designed to be positioned elsewhere, as
example, at a location spaced closer to the edge of the main
passage through the first package portion, leaving the axle to
extend slightly beyond the outside face of the axle stop. In that
case the position of the axle cavity and the axle stop cavity in
the first package portion would be changed accordingly.
[0047] Further, in the foregoing embodiments, the axle stop is
cylindrical in shape as a practical convenience. As those skilled
in the art appreciate the axle stop may be of any other shape so
long as the shape is large enough so that the stop cannot be pulled
through the smaller diameter axle cavity, as an example elliptical
or a regular polygonal, and the housing for the stop is large
enough in size to permit that shape of stop to rotate with the
shaft. It is also possible to use a cylindrical axle stop as a
journal for the axle if desired, as an alternative to the journal
described or in addition thereto.
[0048] Moreover, in the foregoing embodiments the axle was
integrally formed in the spinner of the second package portion
while the axle stop cavity and axle cavity were formed in the first
package portion. As those skilled in the art appreciate from an
understanding of the present application, the invention is not
limited thereto. Although less practical, it is possible to instead
form the cavities in the spinner portion and form the axles in the
first package portion, assuming the spinner is large enough in size
and enough space remains for the compartment 10 in the spinner to
receive the article to be sold. While the foregoing alternatives
all come within the scope of the invention, the embodiments
illustrated in the drawings remain the preferred embodiments.
[0049] It is believed that the foregoing description of the
preferred embodiments of the invention is sufficient in detail to
enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention without
undue experimentation. However, it is expressly understood that the
detail of the elements comprising the embodiment presented for the
foregoing purpose is not intended to limit the scope of the
invention in any way, in as much as equivalents to those elements
and other modifications thereof, all of which come within the scope
of the invention, will become apparent to those skilled in the art
upon reading this specification. Thus, the invention is to be
broadly construed within the full scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *