Patent Application
20140116912
The present invention is generally directed to packaging for retail goods, and in particular to packaging for goods displayed at retail outlets. While the present invention will be described with respect to its application for packaging car seat covers, it is to be appreciated that the invention is not restricted to this application and that other applications are also envisaged.
Car seat covers are typically sold in Australia in flat packs where the car seat cover is folded into a flat configuration and inserted into a generally clear plastic sleeve. A cardboard insert may also be included within the sleeve printed with details of the car seat cover. The sleeve may also include a hanging or other hanging means to allow the flat pack to be hung up for display in the shop. In the United States, it is more common for car seat covers to be sold while packaged within a free standing cardboard carton.
A problem associated with existing packs, regardless of whether it is a flat pack or carton, is that it is difficult or not possible to touch the fabric of the car seat cover. This can lead to customers opening the pack while in the shop to gain a better view and feel of the car seat cover. This is undesirable because the car seat cover needs to be refolded and placed back into the opened pack by the retailer if the customer decides not to purchase the product. The resultant repackaged pack will most likely show signs of having previously been opened, and would therefore be less desirable for another customer to purchase.
Other more general problems associated with flat packaging is that it is more difficult to display such products within the shop environment. Also, it is relatively easy to shop lift a flat packaged product as it can be easily secreted within a person's bag or under their clothing.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome one or more of the problems associated with such known packaging.
With this in mind, the present invention provides a container for packaging a folded fabric product comprising:
The end cap may preferably be formed as a unitary moulded shell, and may preferably be made from a plastic material. It is also envisaged that alternative materials such as moulded paper pulp be used.
The central support may be formed from a folded length of planar material, the fold lines defining the two support panels, a lower joining panel for joining a lower end of the support panels, and an upper engagement means respectively located at the opposing upper free ends of the two support panels. The engagement arrangement may for example be in the form of an interlocking tab and slot arrangement respectively provided at the free ends of the support panels. The engagement arrangement, when connected, hold the two panels together to retain the one or more folded fabric products contained within the container. A tamperproof means may be used to prevent release of the engagement arrangement until after the product is purchased. This tamperproof means may be in the form of an adhesive label applied over the interlocking tab and slot arrangement.
The central support may be made from cardboard. It is however also envisaged that the material such as plastic sheeting be used for the central support.
The central support may be secured to the base wall by locking means. Accordingly to one peripheral arrangement, the locking means may include at least one aperture provided through the joining panel and through the base wall, with a fastening means being inserted through the apertures to secure the central support to the base wall. The fastening means may be in the form of a ‘Christmas Tree’ male chip having a base, an engagement member extending from the base and opposing side arms extending laterally from the engagement member, with cooperating apertures being provided through the joining panel and base wall to allow access to the engagement member of the Christmas Tree clip at a predetermined rotation of the clip. It is also envisaged that the central support be secured to the base wall using an adhesive.
Preferably two folded fabric products may be packaged within the container with each product being wrapped around or otherwise secured by a fabric tie or clip or by other means to at least one of the panels of the central support.
The folded fabric products may for example be folded car seat covers. An accommodating space may be provided between the two panels of the central support to allow accommodation of a further product, for example, a steering wheel cover.
The peripheral walls of the end cap may be used to support labels for the packaged product. It is also envisaged that other products may be secured to the end cap by means of a plastic shell secured to the peripheral wall of the end cap. Such an arrangement may for example be used to support a container of car perfume on the container.
The container according to the present invention allows for a portion of the packaged product to be exposed so that customers can touch the fabric of the product without having to open the container. The product is also supported in a highly visible manner within the container which can be self standing. The container can also be used to package other fabric products such as bed linen, table cloths and so on.
It will be convenient to further describe the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Other embodiments are envisaged, and consequently, the particularity of the accompanying drawings is not to be understood as superseding the generality of the preceding description of the invention.
In the drawings:
Referring initially to
The central support 9 is secured to the base wall 5 of the end cap 3 by means of Christmas Tree clips 12 as best shown in
The folded fabric product 8 may be in the form of a pair of seat covers. These seat covers may be folded around or otherwise clipped to the support panels 11A, 11B to retain them in position within the container. It is then not possible to remove the seat covers 8 until after the engagement arrangement 15A, 15B is released to allow the seat covers 8 to be removed.
The peripheral walls 7 of the end cap 5 may provide an area to which can be applied labels 11 supporting product details and other information. It is also possible to secure other products to the peripheral wall 7, for example, by means of an acetate blister pack adhered to the peripheral wall 7. Products that can be supported within the blister pack may for example include an air freshener. There may also be sufficient space between the support panels 11A, 11B of the central support 9 to allow the accommodation of another product, for example a steering wheel cover.
Modifications and variations as would be deemed obvious to the person skilled in the art are included within the ambit of the present invention as claimed in the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012904694 | Oct 2012 | AU | national |
