1. Field of the Invention
One aspect of the present invention relates to a case for consumer products which has the dual functions of enclosing a product and displaying the same.
2. Background Art
Cases for enclosing products for shipping to a retailer are commonplace. Common configurations include a rectangular box with a removable or hinged lid. After these cases are shipped to a retail store, the product may be removed entirely from, the case to be displayed and the case discarded. Alternatively, the lid may be removed from the case and discarded before the product is displayed. Moreover, a box with a hinged lid may be opened and placed on a shelf for display.
Purposes of a display case include not only housing a consumer product, but also attracting consumers to purchase the product. When rectangular boxes with removable or hinged lids are placed on a store shelf, it may be difficult for a consumer to view the product. This is especially true if the consumer is quickly passing through the aisle where the product is located, or if the product is located on a high shelf or at the back of a shelf. Furthermore, if the price tag or other product information is placed on the underside of the display cases, this information will not serve to attract the attention of consumers. Similarly, placing a separate sign containing product information next to the display cases is ineffective because the sign may be destroyed, lost, or moved to an unfavorable location. A separate sign also increases the cost of the display.
In light of the foregoing, what is needed is a case for consumer products which has the dual functions of enclosing a product and displaying the same in an attractive manner.
Therefore, one aspect of the present invention provides a case that effectively performs the dual functions of shipping consumer products and prominently displaying consumer products to attract the attention of consumers. Another aspect of the invention provides cases that can be packaged and shipped together in large crates. It is a further aspect of the invention to provide cases which can be easily opened and displayed once they arrive at a retail store. Moreover, another aspect of the invention provides a case comprising a lid which slides and rotates around the body but is not removable from the body and therefore will not be separated from the body of the case at the retail store. Yet another aspect of the invention provides a case that is attractive to consumers when on display at the retail store by means of a variable angle of display, a tab with a face suitable for receiving a sticker imprinted with product information, a cushioning material to receive the product, and an attachment to hold the product securely in place. A further aspect of the invention provides a case that the consumer can easily close to transport the product upon purchase, keep the product undamaged, and possibly use the case as a storage device for the product.
Accordingly, a dual function case is provided. The case has a body and a lid. The body has a bottom wall, a circumferential body wall attached to the bottom wall, and a body cavity defined by the bottom wall and circumferential wall. The lid has a top wall, a circumferential lid wall attached to the top wall, and a lid cavity defined by the top wall and circumferential wall. Hinge portions are formed in the left and right sides of the circumferential lid or body wall. Each lid hinge portion has a projection for pivotal and slidable movement. Mating portions are formed in the left and right sides of the circumferential lid or body wall not containing the hinge portions. Each mating portion has a track for receiving the projection and allowing the projection to move pivotally and slidably. Furthermore, the case has a closed position for enclosing a product and an open position for displaying the product. The hinge and the mating portions cooperate to provide pivotal and slidable movement of the body relative to the lid to move between the closed and open positions.
In accordance with other embodiments of the present invention, the circumferential wall includes a front wall, a back wall, and two side walls. The front and back walls have a rectangular shape, and the left and right side walls are at least partially tapered. The track on each body mating portion is recessed from the side wall of the body and bounded on its sides by walls formed into the side wall of the body and a raised protrusion. Furthermore, at least one slat is formed into each track.
In further accordance with other embodiments, the open position for displaying a product is an inclined display position. The open position may also be where the bottom wall of the body and top wall of the lid are substantially perpendicular. The open position may also be where the bottom wall of the body and top wall of the lid are substantially parallel.
In further accordance with other embodiments, the case may be made from a plastic material. The body cavity and the lid cavity may be hollow. A cushioning material may be affixed to the interior of the bottom wall of the body by means of a fastener. Furthermore, a tab may be located within the body cavity, and the face of the tab may receives a sticker imprinted with product information. Material suitable for printing of product information may be affixed to the interior side of the top wall of the lid. An attachment capable of receiving products may be situated substantially within the body cavity and affixed to the body by means of a fastener. The attachment may secure one or more writing instruments or other objects placed in the body. Product information may be etched on the attachment and on the exterior side of the top wall of the lid.
In further accordance with other embodiments, a method is provided for forming a dual function case. The method includes a step of forming a body with a bottom wall and a circumferential body wall and a body cavity defined by the bottom wall and the circumferential body wall. The method includes a step of forming a lid with a top wall and a circumferential lid wall and a lid cavity defined by the top wall and the circumferential lid wall. The method includes a step of forming hinge portions in the left and right sides of the circumferential lid or body wall, where each portion has a projection for pivotal and slidable movement. The method includes a step of forming mating portions in the left and right sides of the circumferential lid or body wall not containing the hinge portions, where each mating portion has a track for receiving the projection and allowing the projection to move pivotally and slidably. In accordance with this method, the case has a closed position for enclosing a product and an open position for displaying the product, and the hinge and mating portions cooperate to provide pivotal and slidable movement of the body relative to the lid to move between the closed and open positions.
In a further embodiment, a dual function case is provided. The case includes a body with a bottom wall and a circumferential body wall and a body cavity defined by the bottom wall and the circumferential body wall. The case also includes a lid with a top wall and a circumferential lid wall and a lid cavity defined by the top wall and the circumferential lid wall. Hinge means for pivotal and slidable movement are formed in the left and right sides of the circumferential lid wall. Mating means for receiving the hinge means and allowing the hinge means to move pivotally and slidably are formed in the left and right sides of the circumferential body wall. In accordance with this embodiment, the case has a closed position for enclosing a product and an open position for displaying the product, and the hinge and mating means cooperate to provide pivotal and slidable movement of the body relative to the lid to move between the closed and open positions.
These and other aspects of the present invention will be better understood in view of the attached drawings and following detailed description of the invention.
Referring to
Referring to
With reference to
In general,
Lid 14 can slide and/or rotate around body 12 to convert case 10 from the carrying case position of
To convert case 10 from one position to another as shown in
In one embodiment, cavity 25 defined by bottom wall 16 and circumferential wall of body 12 and cavity 27 defined by the top wall 26 and circumferential wall of lid 14 are hollow. As shown in
In one embodiment, material suitable for the printing of product information is affixed to the interior side of top wall 26 of lid 14. Product information can also be etched on the exterior side of top wall 26 of lid 14 and on the top of attachment 64. Attachment 64 may be made from a plastic material with foam on the interior side touching the products to secure the products and prevent the products from being damaged. Cushioning material 50 may be made of cardboard wrapped in nylon, polyester, velvet, foam, or any other type of suitable material. Cushioning material may also be molded to receive the exact shape of the product.
In other embodiments, projection 36, slats 44 and 47, and protrusion 46 may be made out of metal. Face 56 of tab 54 may take many forms, including, but not limited to, circle, star, diamond-shaped, octagonal, or triangle. Tab 54 may extend over one end of cavity 25 of body 12, as shown in
In other embodiments, lid 14 and body 12 may take a square shape. Case 10 may also receive products other than cylindrical objects, such as watches and jewelry of various kinds or any other type of consumer product which can be displayed in a case.
While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.