FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the packaging of a product, more specifically to the packaging of a movable barrier operator.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Movable barrier operators have been sold at retail for at least the last 30 years. These operators when packaged are large and heavy. When the customer purchases the operator they usually require assistance to get the product to their vehicle. If the customer does not require assistance it usually is relatively difficult for the customer to carry the product to their vehicle.
Presently a representative package weighs approximately 40 pounds and has a length of approximately 27 inches. Its width and height are approximately 9.5 by 13 inches. To make carrying the package possible, there is usually hand holes cut in the ends of the carton.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One aspect of the invention is to provide an improved packaging system that makes transporting the product from the store to the home more convenient.
In one embodiment of the invention the packaging includes wheels and a handle to facilitate transportation of the product from the store.
In another embodiment the handle is shown to be either a pullout handle or a portion of the packaging that is designed to be a ripped loose, yet still remain attached at some point on the package itself. The wheels are shown placed either at a corner off center or potentially multiple sets attached to the packaging; an alternate to using wheels such as a skid plate is also shown.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a drawing of the current state of the art for packaging of the movable barrier operator.
FIG. 2 is a drawing of one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a close-up view of the packaging shown in FIG. 1 with the axle and wheel components removed.
FIG. 4 is a view of the packaging shown in FIG. 3 with the addition of the axle.
FIG. 5 is a view of the packaging shown in FIG. 4 with the addition of the wheel.
FIG. 6 is a view of the handle for the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a view of the packaging with the handle installed.
FIG. 8 is a view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a view of the packaging shown in FIG. 8 with the axle and wheel removed.
FIG. 10 is a view of another alternate embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a view of yet another alternate embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a view of yet another alternate embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a view of yet another alternate embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A fuller understanding of the invention will be accomplished from the following explanation of a number of potential embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 1 is representative of the present state of packaging for a movable barrier operator. The packaging is contained within a large box with dimensions of approximately 27 inches by 13 inches by 9.5 inches. With everything included in the packaging the unit weights close to 40 pounds. In order to facilitate transportation of the packaged product, hand holes (1) are cut into the packaging to facilitate transportation of the package from the store to the owners vehicle and then from the vehicle to the owners garage for final assembly. This package is fairly large and heavy and makes the carrying of it rather difficult for the customer.
The invention concerns an improvement of the packaging that facilitates moving the product from the store to the customer's garage. FIG. 2 contains a specific embodiment of the present invention. A handle has been added to the package (10) and wheels (12 and 14) to facilitate mobility of the product without having to carry it. In this specific embodiment (see FIG. 3) the package has cutouts (20 and 22) created in order for the axle (24) to be added to the packaging (see FIG. 4). There is an internal structure (21) that is required in order to supports the movable barrier operator during shipment. This internal structure is usually made out of foam or cardboard. The axle can be supported by the overlapping area of the packaging (26) and the internal structure of the support for the movable barrier operator (21) within the package. To this axle wheels are added (12 and 14FIG. 5) which allow the customer to easily roll products from the store to their vehicle. The customer can then tip the package onto its wheels (12 and 14) by pulling on its handle (10) and allow it to roll behind them similar to luggage at an airport.
The handle (10) can also be captivated within the packaging. The handle can be exposed at the top, and exposed within an indentation as shown in FIG. 7 (32) or can be behind a perforated part of the package which can be removed at the store. Once exposed, the handle can be pulled up to allow for easy transportation of a package product. Similar to the axle, the handle can be captivated between the internal structure and the outer packaging. In this way the handle would have the ability to slide between the internal structure and the outer packaging to be drawn out when the product is purchased. The handle shape (See FIG. 6) formed in such a way that would limit the amount of travel when it is slid within the package. The handle can have a bent element (30) that can create a stop internal to the packaging. This bent element can be designed to interfere with the internal structure (36) when a preferred limit of travel has been reached.
In another embodiment the location of the wheels is not within a corner of the packaging. The wheels (40 and 42) have been moved in towards the center of the package (See FIGS. 8 and 9). In order to retain the axle the same technique is used as is shown in FIG. 4. A section of the packaging is removed to allow inserting of the axle (46). The axle is then slid between the inner surface of the packaging and the outer surface of the support structure for the movable barrier operator. The wheels are then applied in the same methodology described above.
Of course any number of wheels can be used in order to facilitate transportation. In other embodiments more than a single set of wheels can be used in order to facilitate transportation. In FIG. 10 four wheels are shown as an embodiment of the packaging. The examples of two and four wheels are shown for ease of explanation; any number of wheels could be used to practice the invention.
In another embodiment the methodology used to create the handle is modified. Instead of using an additional piece of material in a portion of the packaging it is designed so they can be stripped out yet still stay attached to the packaging (60). This portion of the packaging (60) can act as the handle the same as the handle in FIG. 2 (10). This portion of the packaging can also be shaped as a handle to allow for easy gripping by the customer.
FIG. 12 also demonstrates that the handle can be made very long by allowing it to go the full distance of the packaging (70).
Finally instead of wheels a skid area can be created in the packaging to allow easy dragging of the product. This skid area can be an angled portion of the packaging as demonstrated in FIG. 13. The customer can then drag the package product to their vehicle having it slide on the skid area. The skid area (80) can be a portion of the packaging or can have additional material added to reduce the friction involved.
Patent Application
20050279662
