U.S. patent application number 11/648167 was filed with the patent office on 2008-07-03 for packaging with increased viewing area.
This patent application is currently assigned to Blackstone International LTD.. Invention is credited to Sasha I. Barausky, Peter D. Cozzolino.
Application Number | 20080156856 11/648167 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39582444 |
Filed Date | 2008-07-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080156856 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Barausky; Sasha I. ; et
al. |
July 3, 2008 |
Packaging with increased viewing area
Abstract
Packaging made of a suitable see-through material is configured
and arranged as a sealed enclosure with an interior cavity for
holding a desired article for display through a viewing window. A
flap body is made of a see-through flexible, somewhat resilient
material and overlies at least a portion of the surface of the
enclosure obscuring the portion in an unlifted state. The flap body
bends or flips-up about a flexible hinge such that in a lifted
state the inwardly facing surface of the flap body is available for
viewing along with the obscured surface portion of the enclosure.
Cardstock or other suitable sheet material upon which indicia may
be printed or applied to both sides is carried in a pocket formed
in the flap body such that in the unlifted position the indicia is
viewable through the flap body outwardly facing surface and in the
lifted position the indicia on the opposite side of the cardstock
is viewable through the inwardly facing surface of the flap body
along with the indicia on the obscured portion of the enclosure
surface.
Inventors: |
Barausky; Sasha I.;
(Baltimore, MD) ; Cozzolino; Peter D.; (Baltimore,
MD) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WARE FRESSOLA VAN DER SLUYS & ADOLPHSON, LLP
BRADFORD GREEN, BUILDING 5, 755 MAIN STREET, P O BOX 224
MONROE
CT
06468
US
|
Assignee: |
Blackstone International
LTD.
|
Family ID: |
39582444 |
Appl. No.: |
11/648167 |
Filed: |
December 28, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
229/87.06 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 75/54 20130101;
B65D 75/56 20130101; B65D 75/522 20130101; B65D 75/322
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
229/87.06 |
International
Class: |
B65D 65/18 20060101
B65D065/18 |
Claims
1. Packaging, comprising: an enclosure of a see-through material
configured and arranged with an interior cavity for holding a
desired article and a viewing window for displaying the article,
and a flap body having an outwardly facing surface and an
oppositely disposed inwardly facing surface and configured with a
secured end region and oppositely located unsecured end region
overlying at least a portion of a surface of said enclosure and
arranged to lie against said at least a portion of said surface in
an unlifted state such that said at least a portion of said surface
is obscured and the outwardly facing surface of said flap body is
viewable and to bend about a flexible hinge formed and defined at
its secured end region in a lifted state such that said at least a
portion of said surface is revealed and the inwardly facing surface
of said flap body is viewable.
2. The packaging as defined in claim 1 further comprising a first
cardstock insert carried on the interior of said enclosure and
viewable through said enclosure apart from a portion of said
cardstock insert in alignment with said flap body in its unlifted
state.
3. The packaging as defined in claim 2 further comprising said flap
body further configured and arranged with a pocket for receiving
and carrying a second insert a first side of which is viewable
through said flap body outwardly facing surface in said flap
unlifted state and a second side which is viewable through said
flap inwardly facing surface in said flap lifted state.
4. Method, comprising: increasing the information carrying area on
an article holding and displaying package by providing a flap body
on a portion of a major surface of the package responsive to a
manual operation of lifting forces at an unsecured end region for
flipping-up the flap body at its unsecured region and bending the
flap body about a flexible hinge defined at an opposite secured end
to expose the inwardly facing wall surface of the flap body and
reveal a portion of the packaging obscured by the flap body in its
unlifted state such that indicia information carried on the
inwardly facing wall surface of the flap body and indicia
information in the portion of the packaging obscured by the flap
body is available for viewing.
5. The method as defined in claim 4 further comprising configuring
and arranging the article holding and displaying package with a
see-through material forming an enclosed interior cavity for
carrying a desired article for viewing from the outside of the
package.
6. The method as defined in claim 5 further comprising locating a
cardstock insert carrying information on the interior of the
package for viewing from the outside of the package apart from the
portion obscured by the flap body.
7. The method as define din claim 6 further comprising configuring
the flap body as a pocket for holding a cardstock insert carrying
first information for viewing through the outwardly facing wall
surface of the flap body in its unlifted state and for carrying
second information for viewing through the inwardly facing wall
surface of the flap body in its lifted state and for viewing the
information in the obscured portion of the packaging revealed in
the flap body lifted state.
8. Packaging for an electronic device, comprising: a first
pre-shaped cover part; a second pre-shaped cover part; said first
and second pre-shaped cover parts being configured and shaped for
engagement with one another and forming an enclosed inner cavity
there-between and arranged for carrying a desired article; a flap
body arranged in overlapping alignment with at least a portion of
an outward facing major surface of one of said first and second
pre-shaped cover parts and bendable about a flexible hinge between
a closed position such that a first major surface of said flap body
is outwardly facing and visible and said at least a portion of said
outwardly facing major surface of said one of first and second
pre-shaped cover parts is covered by said flap body and not
visible, and in the flipped-up open position such that a second
major surface oppositely disposed from said major surface of said
flap body is positioned in an outwardly facing direction and
visible, and said at least a portion of said outwardly facing major
surface of said one of first and second pre-shaped is exposed and
visible.
9. The packaging as defined in claim 8 further comprising said flap
body being suitably configured with a pocket for receiving and
holding a cardstock insert.
10. The packaging as defined in claim 9 further comprising said
flap body being constructed of a flexible transparent material such
that a first major surface of said cardstock insert is visible
through said first major surface of said flap in said closed
position and a second major surface of said of card insert is
visible through said second major surface of said flap body in said
flipped-up open position.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to packaging and
deals more particularly with an article holding and displaying
package. More specifically, the invention provides for an increased
viewing area for indicia and the like without increasing the size
of the package.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] It is desirable to package an article, such as for example,
a portable electronic device, a battery charger, an electrical
connecting cord for data transmission, a music player, and other
electronic devices and accessories well known and readily
recognizable by the consuming public. It is further desirable to
package such an article for sale display or storage in such a way
that the article can be seen without opening the package.
Typically, an information sheet or pamphlet explaining the
operation of the article, such as an electronic device or accessory
and/or application and compatibilities of the article is contained
on an information sheet generally folded and included within the
package. If the information relevant to the purchaser's intended
use of the device is not printed or viewable on the exterior of the
package, the purchaser must open the package to access such
information and in many instances it is only then that the
purchaser learns that the device or accessory is not suitable or
compatible with the intended application or use. Consequently, the
purchaser is left to either attempt to return the device or
accessory to the seller in exchange for another device or accessory
or to purchase another device or accessory to accommodate the
intended function. The initial purchase of the unsuitable
electronic device could have in a majority of instances been
avoided if the information on the information sheet concealed
inside the package was available for viewing at the time of
purchase. Although some packaging provides for viewing of some
information related to the article, for example on cardstock which
may be viewable through transparent packaging, the amount of
information presentable is in many cases limited to avoid
increasing the size of the package particularly for smaller or
miniature products and devices and thus the consumer is left to
rely only upon the available limited information to make the
purchasing decision.
[0003] It would be desirable therefore to provide a way for
increasing the information presentation viewing area on a package
without increasing the size of the package.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] In accordance with a broad aspect of the invention,
packaging made of a suitable see-through material is configured and
arranged as a sealed enclosure with an interior cavity for holding
a desired article for display through a viewing window. A cardstock
or other suitable indicia carrying sheet material is arranged
within the enclosure and viewable through the enclosure. A flap
body has an outwardly facing surface and an inwardly facing surface
and overlies at least a portion of the surface of the enclosure and
in an unlifted state obscures a portion of the surface. The flap
body is arranged to bend or flip-up about a flexible hinge formed
at one end region of the flap body secured or otherwise attached to
the enclosure such that in a lifted state the inwardly facing
surface of the flap body is available for viewing along with the
obscured surface portion of the enclosure. The flap body is made of
a see-through flexible, somewhat resilient material. The flap body
is formed with a pocket to receive cardstock or other suitable
sheet material. Indicia may be printed or applied to both sides of
the cardstock such that in the unlifted position the indicia is
viewable through the flap body outwardly facing surface and in the
lifted position the indicia on the opposite side of the cardstock
is viewable through the inwardly facing surface of the flap body
along with the indicia on the obscured portion of the enclosure
surface. Thus the area for viewing indicia that is provided by the
outwardly facing and inwardly facing surfaces of the flap body
increases the viewing area of the package without increasing the
size of the package.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0005] Additional features and advantages of the present invention
will become readily apparent from the following written description
and the drawings wherein:
[0006] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an example of an
article packaging embodying the present invention.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the article packaging of FIG. 1
showing the flap body partially flipped-up revealing the inwardly
facing wall surface of the flap body and indicia carried on the
cardstock within the flap body and other indicia carried on the
cardstock within the packaging enclosure.
[0008] FIG. 3 is a schematic cross sectional view of the article
packaging of FIG. 1 showing the flap body in a flipped up lifted
position.
[0009] FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the flap body in an
unlifted closed position nested in the recess in the enclosure
surface.
WRITTEN DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0010] Turning now to the drawings and considering the invention in
further detail, packaging embodying the present invention is
illustrated therein and generally designated 10. Although the
present invention may be embodied in any suitable type packaging,
for purposes of example, the packaging 10 shown in the drawings
includes a front cover portion 12 and a rear cover portion 14
having a desired shape and configuration in accordance with the
artistic and functional aspects of the packaging. In typical
construction, the front cover portion 12 has a peripheral marginal
edge region 16 shaped and configured for receiving the rear cover
portion marginal edge region 18 so that the respective peripheral
inner facing marginal regions are heat sealed, heat staked or
otherwise bonded to one another to provide a sealed enclosure for
holding the article in a secure, anti-theft manner as well known
and understood by those skilled in the art. The front cover portion
12 and rear cover portion 14 are made of a suitable see-through
material, such as plastic. The front cover portion 12 and rear
cover portion 14 are configured and arranged to provide and define
an interior cavity generally designated 20 for holding a desired
article, for example, a data cord 22 which is not part of the
invention but is however shown for purposes of illustration and
explanation of the present invention. The front cover portion 12 is
configured with a viewing window generally designated 24 for
viewing the article 22 held and displayed in the interior cavity
20. The front cover portion 12 and the rear cover portion 14 may be
formed and configured to a desired shape by any number of methods
including thermal forming, molding, extruding or in other ways
known in those skilled in the art.
[0011] Prior to heat staking or otherwise bonding the front cover
portion 12 to the rear cover portion 14, cardstock or other
suitable sheet material generally sized and shaped to a desired
configuration and generally designated 26 is inserted so that any
indicia, graphics or other such text 28 printed or otherwise
applied to the surface of the insert cardstock is viewable through
the wall surface of the front cover portion 12. Likewise, a
suitable insert cardstock generally designated 30 having a desired
shape conforming to the rear cover portion 14 is inserted such that
indicia, text or graphics generally designated 32 is viewable
through the wall surface of the rear cover portion 14 and includes
an area generally designated 34 which area 34 lies substantially
under the flap body 36 in its unlifted position as explained in
further detail below.
[0012] In one example of the invention, the flap body 36 is made of
a suitable see-through material such as a clear plastic, somewhat
resilient material. The flap body 36 includes an unsecured free end
region 38 and an oppositely disposed secured end region 40 attached
or otherwise connected to the rear wall surface 42 of the rear
cover portion 14 to form and define a flexible hinge generally
designated 44. The flap body 36 is foldable about the flexible
hinge axis 46 as the flap body 36 is moved from its unlifted
position as shown in FIG. 4 to its lifted position as shown in FIG.
3. The flap body 36 includes a lifting tab 48 that is used to
facilitate the lifting of the flap body 36. The lifting tab 48 is
also used in the unlifted or closed position as a "snap" tab for
retaining the flap body 36 against the rear cover portion.
[0013] The flap body 36 is configured and arranged such that a
pocket is formed between the outwardly facing and inwardly facing
wall surfaces to receive a cardstock insert generally designated
50. Indicia, graphics or other text generally designated 52 may be
applied on one surface 54 of the cardstock 50 and other indicia,
text or graphics 56 may be applied to an oppositely disposed
surface 58 of the cardstock 50. The indicia 52 printed or applied
on the surface 54 is viewable through the inner facing wall surface
60 of the flap body 36. The indicia 56 printed or applied on the
surface 58 is viewable through the outer facing wall surface 62 of
the flap body 36. It can be seen that an additional viewing area
for indicia, text or graphics that may convey information
concerning the article in the package is provided by means of the
flap body 36. The indicia 52 carried on the surface 54 of the flap
cardstock insert 50 and the indicia 56 carried on the surface 58 of
the cardstock insert 50 is viewable in addition to the normally
available rear insert area 34 lying under the flap body 36.
[0014] The rear cover portion 14 is further configured and arranged
with a surface recess 64 in the rear cover portion surface 42 to
accommodate and nest the flap body 36 such that the outer facing
wall surface 62 of the flap body 36 and the rear cover portion
surface 42 lie substantially in the same plane when the flap body
36 is in its unlifted position as shown in FIG. 4.
[0015] The rear cover portion 14 of the packaging 10 also includes
standoff feet 66, 66 located in the lower portion region 68 of the
packaging 10 and a hanging slot 70 located at an upper portion
region 72 of the packaging 10 to facilitate hanging of the
packaging on display hooks and to accommodate stacking.
[0016] It will be recognized that the packaging embodying the
present invention may be of any geometric configuration other than
that illustrated above for purposes of illustration and that
multiple color and material combinations may be used to provide or
convey the desired visible image for a given product or sales
promotion. Likewise, the inner and outer covers, flap body, and
cardstock inserts may be made of any suitable material to carry out
the invention. Accordingly, the packaging embodying the present
invention has been presented by way of illustration rather than
limitation and includes all embodiments whether the features are
taken singularly or in combination as contemplate in accordance
with the invention and are considered to be within the
specification.
* * * * *