The present invention relates generally to product packaging that displays the products contained therein, and specifically to product packaging that displays the products contained therein that includes a primary package and a secondary package.
Many products are sold in bulk packaging which contain two or more of the subject products. In many instances, it is desirable to display the subject products in an organized and aesthetically pleasing manner to potential consumers, while the products remain in the bulk packaging. Display of the products themselves at the point of sale has proven to be a significant factor that positively influences consumer reaction to and/or evaluation of a product, thus, ultimately leading to increased sales. However, the aforementioned goal of product display (especially in bulk packaging) has been limited by the desire to maintain packaging costs as low as possible. Moreover, the requirements that bulk packaging also be structurally stable and versatile in display have also presented significant hurdles in the field. It is further desirable, especially in display packaging, that the packaging be capable of both resting on a store shelf and being suspended from a peg (or similar member) that extends outwardly from a vertical support with no or minimal alteration. It is also desirable that the display packaging be easily storable by the end consumer, especially in bulk packaging in which the products may be used over an extended period of time. To this extent, it has been desired to utilize packaging that is sleek, small in size, and easily portable and/or stackable. Finally, all product packaging should have sufficient structural stability so as to prevent damage to the products (and the packaging itself) during shipping and/or handling.
The present invention is directed to a display package that, in one embodiment, comprises a plurality of primary packs that contain one or more products and a sleeve. The primary packs are arranged in a bundle and disposed within the sleeve. Preferably, the display package can be stood upright or hung from a peg or other member extending from a vertical wall.
In certain embodiments, a separator panel may be provided to prevent the primary packs from decoupling from one another and/or sliding out of the sleeve. The separator panel may also add rigidity to the display package. Apertures may be provided in opposing panels of the sleeve for receiving portions of the primary packs of the bundle to further facilitate retention of the bundle within the sleeve.
In one embodiment, the invention can be a display package comprising: a plurality of packs, each pack comprising a front wall, a rear wall, and at least one interior chamber located between the front and rear walls for holding at least one product, the plurality of packs arranged in a bundle; a separator panel having at least one upper aperture and at least one lower aperture positioned between adjacent packs in the bundle, a portion of the front wall of one pack in the bundle protruding through one of the upper or lower apertures in the separator panel and contacting an adjacent pack in the bundle and a portion of the rear wall of the adjacent pack in the bundle protruding through the other one of the upper or lower apertures in the separator panel and contacting the one pack in the bundle; a sleeve comprising a front panel having a front aperture, a rear panel having a rear aperture, and first and second side panels connecting the front and rear panels to form a cavity; and the bundle positioned within the cavity of the sleeve, a portion of the front wall of a front-most pack in the bundle protruding through the front aperture of the front panel of the sleeve and a portion of the rear wall of a rear-most pack in the bundle protruding through the rear aperture of the rear panel of the sleeve.
In another embodiment, the invention can be a display package comprising: a first pack and a second pack, each of the first and second packs comprising a front wall, a rear wall, and at least one interior chamber located between the front and rear walls for holding at least one product; the first and second packs arranged in a bundle so that a protruding portion of the front wall of the second pack contacts the first pack and a protruding portion of the rear wall of the first pack contacts the second pack; a sleeve comprising a front panel having a front aperture, a rear panel having a rear aperture, and first and second side panels connecting the front and rear panels to form a cavity; and the bundle positioned within the cavity of the sleeve, a protruding portion of the front wall of the first pack protruding through the front aperture of the front panel of the sleeve and a protruding portion of the rear wall of the second pack protruding through the rear aperture of the rear panel of the sleeve
In yet another aspect, the invention can be a display package comprising: a plurality of packs, each pack comprising a front wall, a rear wall, and at least one interior chamber located between the front and rear walls for holding at least one product, the plurality of packs arranged in a bundle; a separator panel positioned between adjacent packs in the bundle and having at least one aperture that allows contact between the adjacent packs in the bundle; a tubular sleeve comprising a front panel having a front aperture and a rear panel having a rear aperture; and the bundle positioned within the cavity of the tubular sleeve, a protruding portion of the front wall of a front-most pack in the bundle protruding through the front aperture of the front panel of the tubular sleeve and a protruding portion of the rear wall of a rear-most pack in the bundle protruding through the rear aperture of the rear panel of the sleeve.
In a further aspect, the invention can be a carton blank comprising: a front panel comprising a front aperture; a first side panel and a second side panel appended to opposite sides of the front panel; a rear panel appended to the first side panel opposite the front panel, the rear panel comprising a pull tab and a rear aperture, the pull tab located adjacent a free side edge of the rear panel opposite the first side panel; and a glue flap extending from the second side panel opposite the front panel for coupling to the rear panel at a location adjacent the pull tab.
The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown in the following figures:
The description of illustrative embodiments according to principles of the present invention is intended to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be considered part of the entire written description. In the description of embodiments of the invention disclosed herein, any reference to direction or orientation is merely intended for convenience of description and is not intended in any way to limit the scope of the present invention. Relative terms such as “lower,” “upper,” “horizontal,” “vertical,” “above,” “below,” “up,” “down,” “top” and “bottom” as well as derivatives thereof (e.g., “horizontally,” “downwardly,” “upwardly,” etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawing under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description only and do not require that the apparatus be constructed or operated in a particular orientation unless explicitly indicated as such. Terms such as “attached,” “affixed,” “connected,” “coupled,” “interconnected,” and similar refer to a relationship wherein structures are secured or attached to one another either directly or indirectly through intervening structures, as well as both movable or rigid attachments or relationships, unless expressly described otherwise. Moreover, the features and benefits of the invention are illustrated by reference to the preferred embodiments. Accordingly, the invention expressly should not be limited to such preferred embodiments illustrating some possible non-limiting combination of features that may exist alone or in other combinations of features; the scope of the invention being defined by the claims appended hereto.
Referring first to
The front panel 104 has a top edge 105 and a bottom edge 107 and is substantially rectangular in shape with rounded corners 106. The top edge 105 and the bottom edge 107 of the front panel 104 are substantially parallel to one another and normal to a longitudinal axis A-A of the front panel 104. Of course, the front panel 104 can take on a wide variety of shapes, none of which are considered limiting of the present invention, unless specifically stated as such.
The front panel 104 further includes a front aperture 108 extending through the panel that acts as a display window. The front aperture 108 is defined by a closed-geometry aperture edge 110. In the exemplified embodiment, the aperture edge 110 is contoured such that the aperture edge 110 is shaped to correspond to a perimeter of a portion of one the packs 150, 152 (
The first and second side panels 112, 114 are appended to the front panel 104 along weakened areas/lines 116 on opposing sides of the front panel. The weakened areas/lines 116 allow the first and second side panels 112, 114 to be folded out of plane with respect to the front panel 104. The weakened areas/lines 116 can be formed by any method known in the art, including without limitation perforating, creasing, pressing, thinning, scoring, and/or combinations thereof. It is further preferable that the weakened areas/lines 116 extend substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis A-A of the front panel 104.
The first and second side panels 112 and 114 extend away from the front panel 104 in opposite directions. Each of the first and second side panels 112 and 114 include a top edge 118 and a bottom edge 120. The top edges 118 of the first and second side panels 112, 114 extend away from the front panel 104 at an oblique angle measured with respect to the longitudinal axis A-A of the front panel 104. To the contrary, the bottom edges 120 of the first and second side panels 112, 114 extend away from the front panel 104 at a normal angle measured with respect to a longitudinal axis A-A of the front panel 104. The oblique angles are preferably selected such that the heights H1, H2 of the first and second side panels 112, 114 decrease moving away from the front panel 104. Thought of another way, the oblique angles are preferably selected so that the top and bottom edges 118, 120 of each of the first and second side panels 112, 114 extend from the front panel 104 in a converging manner.
The rear panel 122 is appended to the first side panel 112 along weakened area/line 124A. The rear panel 122 is appended to a side of the first side panel 112 that is opposite the side of the first side panel 112 to which the front panel 104 is appended. The weakened area/line 124A allows the rear panel 122 to be folded out of plane with respect to the first side panel 112. The weakened area/line 124A can be formed by any method known in the art, including without limitation perforating, creasing, pressing, thinning, scoring, and/or combinations thereof. It is further preferable that the weakened area/line 124A extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis A-A of the front panel 104.
The rear panel 122 comprises a top edge 127, a bottom edge 129, and a free side edge 220. The rear panel 122 is substantially rectangular in shape with rounded corners 125 delimiting the bottom edge 129. Of course, the rear panel 122 can take on a wide variety of shapes, none of which are considered limiting of the present invention, unless specifically stated as such. Both the top and bottom edges 127, 129 of the rear panel 122 extend substantially normal to the longitudinal axis A-A of the front panel 104. Furthermore, it is preferred that the bottom edge 129 of the rear panel 122 and the bottom edge 107 of the front panel 104 are substantially coplanar with one another (even when assembled into the sleeve 102). As discussed in greater detail below, the coplanar nature of the bottom edge 129 of the rear panel 122 and the bottom edge 107 of the front panel 104 provides the display package 1000 with the ability to stand upright when positioned on a horizontal surface.
The rear panel 122 further comprises a pull tab 126 located adjacent to the free side edge 220. In the exemplified embodiment, the pull tab 126 extends/protrudes from the top edge 127 and forms an extension of the free side edge 220. The pull tab 126 enables a user to grasp the rear panel 122 with their finger to open the display package 1000 (described in more detail below). Of course, the pull tab 126 may be located at different positions on the rear panel 122. For example, the pull tab 126 may extend from the free side edge 220 or may extend from the rear major surface of the rear panel 122.
At least one rear aperture, and preferably a plurality of rear apertures 128A, 128B, are formed in the rear panel 122. In the exemplified embodiment, the rear panel 122 comprises first and second rear apertures 128A, 128B. Each of the rear apertures 128A, 128B are separately defined by a closed-geometry rear aperture edge 228A, 228B. The rear apertures 128A, 128B are provided in the rear panel 122 so that a protruding portion of a rear-most pack 152 extends through each of the rear apertures 128A, 128B (discussed in greater detail below). The rear apertures 128A, 128B are preferably aligned with one another and located proximate the bottom edge 129 of the rear panel 122. In the exemplified embodiment, the rear apertures 128A, 128B are elliptical in shape but can take on a wide variety of shapes. Moreover, the rear panel 122 may include more or less than two rear apertures 128A, 128B as desired, and can be positioned in alternate locations on the rear panel 122.
The carton blank 100 further comprises a glue flap 130 that is appended to the second side panel 114 along the weakened area/line 124B. The glue flap 130 is appended to a side of the second side panel 114 that is opposite the side of the second side panel 114 to which the front panel 104 is appended. The weakened area/line 124B allows the glue flap 130 to be folded out of plane with respect to the second side panel 112. When the carton blank 100 is assembled into the sleeve 102, the glue flap 130 and the rear panel 122 extend substantially parallel to one another and the glue flap 130 is coupled to an inner surface of the rear panel 122 adjacent the free side edge 220 and the pull tab 126. The weakened area/line 124B can be formed by any method known in the art, including without limitation perforating, creasing, pressing, thinning, scoring, and/or combinations thereof. It is further preferable that the weakened area/line 124B extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis A-A of the front panel 104.
The glue flap 130 includes an adhesive 132 applied thereto that couples the glue flap 130 to an inner surface of the rear panel 122. The glue flap 130 further comprises a notch 133 formed therein. When the carton blank 100 is assembled into the sleeve 102, the notch 133 overlies at least one of the rear apertures 128A, 128B so that the structure of the glue flap 130 does not obstruct the rear apertures 128A, 128B.
Referring now to
When the sleeve 102 is assembled as described above, the glue flap 130 is coupled to the rear panel 122 adjacent the free side edge 220 of the rear panel and adjacent to the pull tab 126. By nature of the relative positioning discussed above, a user could pull on the pull tab 126 to decouple the rear panel 122 from the glue panel 130 without compromising the overall integrity of the sleeve 102.
The sleeve 102 is a generally tubular structure that forms a cavity 250 for receiving the bundle 167 of packs 150, 152 (discussed below). The cavity 250 is formed about a central axis X-X. The sleeve 102 circumferentially surrounds the central axis X-X and has an open top end 170 and an open bottom end 172, each of which forms an axial passageway into the cavity 250. While the sleeve 102 is exemplified as having a substantially rectangular transverse cross-sectional profile, the sleeve 102 could be designed to have a wide variety of transverse cross-sectional profiles, including without limitation elliptical, polygonal, combinations thereof, or irregular shaped. In an embodiment where an elliptical transverse cross-sectional profile is used, the front panel, the rear panel and the first and second side panels would simply be portions of the elliptical wall. Moreover, while the sleeve 102 comprises both an open top end 170 and an open bottom end 172, in alternative embodiments, one or both of the top and bottom ends 170, 172 may be closed.
As can be seen, the front aperture 108 of the front panel 104 forms a transverse passageway into the cavity 250. Similarly, each of the rear apertures 128A, 128B of the rear panel 122 form a transverse passageway into the cavity 250.
Referring now to
The separator panel 140 includes a top edge 143, a bottom edge 145, a first side edge 147 and a second side edge 148, which collectively form a perimetric edge of the separator panel 140. First and second upper apertures 144A, 144B are formed into the separator panel 140 proximate the top edge 143 of the separator panel 140. Similarly, first and second lower apertures 142A, 142B are formed into the separator panel 140 proximate the bottom edge 1435 of the separator panel 140. As discussed in detail below, the first and second upper apertures 144A, 144B and the first and second lower apertures 142A, 142B form passageways through the separator panel 140 to provide access ways through which the packs 150, 152 can contact one another when the bundle 167 is formed. Of course, more or less apertures can be provided in the separator panel 140 as desired. For example in certain embodiments, a single aperture may be provided. Moreover, the location of the aperture(s) in the separator panel 140 may also be varied as desired.
The first and second upper apertures 144A, 144B are aligned with one another relative to the top edge 143 while the first and second lower apertures 142A, 142B are aligned with one another relative to the bottom edge 145. The center of the upper apertures 144A, 144B are positioned a distance d1 from the top edge 143. Similarly, the center of the lower apertures 142A, 142B are also positioned a distance d1 from the bottom edge 145. The centers of both the first upper aperture 144A and the first lower aperture 142A are positioned a distance d2 from the second side edge 148. Similarly, the centers of both the second upper aperture 144B and the second lower aperture 142B are positioned a distance d2 from the first side edge 147. In one embodiment, d1 may be a range of 10 millimeters (mm) to 14 mm and d2 may be a range of 15 mm to 20 mm. In another embodiment, d1 may be about 12.25 mm and d2 may be about 17.25 mm.
The centers of the first and second upper apertures 144A, 144B are spaced a distance d3 from one another. Similarly, the centers of the first and second lower apertures 142A, 142B are spaced a distance d3 from one another. In one embodiment, d3 may be a range of 16 mm to 24 mm. In another embodiment, d3 may be about 20 mm. Moreover, the separator panel 140 may have a length of d4 and a width of d5. In one embodiment, d4 may be a range of 80 mm to 120 mm and d5 may be a range of 45 mm to 65 mm. In another embodiment, d4 may be about 108 mm and d5 may be about 54.5 mm. Further, each of the upper and lower apertures 142A-B, 144A-B may have a diameter of d6. In one embodiment, d6 may be a range of 7 mm to 13 mm. In another embodiment, d6 may be about 10 mm. It should be known to a person having ordinary skill in the art that the size and number of the apertures can be varied as needed.
In the exemplary embodiment, the upper and lower apertures 144A-B, 142A-B are substantially elliptical. However, in alternative embodiments, the upper and lower apertures 144A-B, 142A-B may have any shape. Further, the separator panel 140 includes a plurality of corners 147 that are substantially rounded. In an alternative embodiment, the corners 147 may be any shape such as, but not limited to, square-shaped.
Referring now to
Referring now to
The front wall 153 and the rear wall 154 of each of the packs 150, 152 are contoured, thereby forming the interior chambers 151 therein (best shown in
The interaction between two adjacent packs in the bundle 167 will now be discussed in relation to the first pack 150, the second pack 152, and the separator panel 140. When positioned in the bundle 167, the upper protruding portions 163 of the rear wall 154 of the first pack 150 extend through the upper apertures 144A, 144B of the separator panel 140 and contact the front wall 153 of the second pack 152, and more specifically, contact the upper protruding portions 161 of the front wall 153 of the second pack 152. Concurrently, the lower protruding portions 160 of the front wall 153 of the second pack 152 extend through the lower apertures 142A, 142B of the separator panel 140 and contact the rear wall 154 of the first pack 150, and more specifically, contact the lower protruding portions 162 of the rear wall 154 of the first pack 150. The lower protruding portions 162 of the rear wall 154 of the first pack 150 are too large to fit through the lower apertures 142A, 142B of the separator panel 140. Similarly, the upper protruding portions 161 of the front wall 153 of the second pack 152 are too large to fit through the upper apertures 144A, 144B of the separator panel 140.
The upper protruding portions 163 of the rear wall 154 of the first pack 150 and the upper protruding portions 161 of the front wall 153 of the second pack 152 contact each other so as to form a first planar contact interface 190. Similarly, the lower protruding portions 160 of the front wall 153 of the second pack 152 contact the lower protruding portions 162 of the rear wall 154 of the first pack 150 so as to form a second planar contact interface 191. The first and second contact interfaces 190, 191 are arranged at an oblique angle relative to the central axis X-X (when the display package is fully assembled). Furthermore, when arranged in the bundle 167 as described above, the separator panel 140 is also oriented at an oblique angle relative to the central axis X-X (when the display package is fully assembled). In fact, the first and second contact interfaces 190, 191 are also oriented at an oblique angle relative to the separator panel 140.
The separator panel 140 facilitates stabilization of the package bundle 167 both internally and with respect to the sleeve 102 when the display package 1000 is assembled. Specifically, in the exemplary embodiment, the separator panel 140 assists with preventing the sleeve 102 from collapsing. Moreover, the separator panel 140 also prevents the first pack 150 from shifting relative to the second pack 152, thereby preventing the packs 150, 152 from becoming misaligned. As a result, the separator panel 140 prevents the first and second packs 150, 152 from inadvertently falling out of the sleeve 102. The separator panel 140 enables the sleeve 102 to have the open top end 170 and the open bottom end 172, which further reduces the amount of material used in manufacturing. Further, the inclusion of the separator panel 140 in the bundle 167 further prevents theft of a single pack by making it substantially more difficult to remove a single pack from the sleeve 102.
Referring to
Referring now to
In the exemplified embodiment, because only two packs 150, 152 are used, the first pack 150 is considered a front-most pack of the bundle 167 and the second pack 152 is considered a rear-most pack of the bundle 167. Of course, when more than two packs are included in the bundle 167, middle packs will exist. Nonetheless, for purposes of describing the display package 1000 below, the first pack 150 will be referred to as the front-most pack while the second pack 152 will be referred to as the rear-most pack.
When the display package 1000 is fully assembled (as illustrated), the lower protruding sections 162 of the rear wall 154 of the rear-most pack 150 of the bundle 167 will extend through the rear apertures 128A, 128B in the rear panel 122 of the sleeve 102. Simultaneously, a protruding portion 195 of the front wall 153 of the front-most pack 150 of the bundle 167 will extend through the front aperture 108 in the front panel 104. In the exemplified embodiment, the protruding portion 195 consists of that portion of the front wall 153 of the front-most pack 150 that forms two of the interior chambers 151 in which a toothbrush 400 is fully disposed in each. Thus, the entireties of the two toothbrushes 400 are displayed via the front aperture 108. Preferably, the entirety of at least one product contained within the display package 1000 is displayed via the front aperture 108.
The protruding portion 195 includes the upper protruding portions 161 of the front wall 153 of the front-most pack 150, the lower protruding portions 160 of the front wall 153 of the front-most pack 150, and the intermediate protruding portions 180 of the front wall 153 of the front-most pack 150 (which contain the handle portion of the toothbrushes 400). Of course, the protruding portion 195 may include less than the aforementioned portions of the front wall 153 of the front-most pack 150, or may be formed by other portions of the front wall 153 of the front-most pack 150 entirely.
As best shown in
While a number of embodiments of the current invention have been described and illustrated in detail, various alternatives and modifications will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. As various changes could be made in the above methods, compositions and structures without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in this application, including all mechanisms and/or modes of interaction described above, shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not limiting in any way the scope of the appended claims.
The present patent application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/886,095, filed Sep. 20, 2010, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/243,981, filed Sep. 18, 2009, the entireties of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
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Entry |
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International Search Report and Written Opinion in International Application No. PCT/US10/049491 mailed Jul. 1, 2011. |
Partial International Search Report for corresponding International Application No. PCT/US2010/049491 dated Nov. 29, 2010. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20120325703 A1 | Dec 2012 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
61243981 | Sep 2009 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 12886095 | Sep 2010 | US |
Child | 13602594 | US |