Patent Application
20050194281
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to packaging and more particularly, it relates to packaging for retail product display.
2. Description of Related Art
Purchasers of various consumer goods often would like to sample and/or otherwise “try out” the goods in a meaningful way prior to purchasing. For example, a purchaser of a game controller for a video gaming system often would like to hold the game controller to ensure that the ergonomics of the game controller are suitable for that given purchaser. However, consumer goods such as game controllers are often packaged so that the entire item is encapsulated in packaging so as to mask and/or otherwise alter the actual size and shape of the item as well as prevent a potential purchaser from directly accessing and contacting the item. While some packaging exists that allows a potential purchaser to actually touch an item that is packaged for sale, such packaging typically provides little or no protection to other parts of the item that are not desired to be accessed prior to sale such as delicate parts and/or parts that may be unlawfully detached and removed prior to sale so as to render the item damaged and/or incomplete.
Accordingly, it would be desirable and highly advantageous to have packaging for product display that overcomes the above-identified problems of the prior art.
The problems stated above, as well as other related problems of the prior art, are solved by the present invention, which is directed to packaging for product display.
According to one aspect of the invention, the packaging for product display includes a first portion for completely encapsulating a product to be packaged, and a second portion for partially encapsulating wither a product to be packaged. The first and second portions are joined together by a transition area. The transition area may allow for part of the product in the second partially enclosed portion to pass into the first completely enclosed portion.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the packaging is adapted for a game controller such that the second portion partially encapsulates the game controller to secure the same within the package. The game controller protrudes from the partial encapsulation to enable a consumer to touch and test the ergonomics of the game controller.
According to another aspect of the invention, the game controller includes a plurality of controls and the second portion of the packaging partially encapsulates at least a portion of said controls. In another embodiment, the second portion of the packaging completely encapsulates (encloses) the plurality of controls yet allows the game controller handles to remain accessible by a potential consumer.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the packaging for product display, includes a first portion preventing access a product to be packaged, and a second portion providing limited consumer access to portions of a product. The limited access enabling consumer evaluation of the product via direct touch contact. The second portion is adapted to partially encapsulate and retain a game controller in place and enable a consumer to directly handle and test the ergonomics of the game controller as it would be held and used during actual game play.
According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the method for forming packaging for retail product display includes the steps of: forming a first packaging half and a second packaging half, each package half being formed to include corresponding partial cavities; and, combining the first packaging half and the second packaging half to form a product packaging having a first packaging portion and a second packaging portion. The first packaging portion and the second packaging portion result from a combination of the corresponding partial cavities of the first packaging half and the second packaging half. The first packaging portion completely encapsulates a product to be packaged and the second packaging portion partially encapsulates a product.
The step of forming forms at least one of the first packaging half and the second packaging half with a hanger portion adapted to form a hanger for hanging the product packaging on a display when the first packaging portion and the second packaging portion are combined in the combining step.
These and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings.
In the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to similar elements throughout the views:
Referring generally to the
Unlike other “touch and feel” product displays, the lower portion 104 of the present package contains a game controller 150 that is for use with a gaming system. In view of the various different gaming systems available (e.g., PlayStation®, GameCube™, X-Box®) and the wider array of available game controller styles for each system, the ergonomics of a game controller are an important consideration for a consumer in the purchasing of the same. By allowing the handle portions 152 and 154 of the game controller to not be contained by the packaging, the consumer may grip and hold the game controller in a manner that allows them to feel the “action” of this particular game controller in their hands and make a purchasing decision based on the same. The “action” as used herein is the interaction between the user's hands and the buttons, joysticks and other controls on the game controller itself. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the “action” of a controller in a user's hands is related to the ergonomics of the controller and the size of the user's hands. Thus, the ability to allow a consumer (user) to test this “action” before purchasing is desirable.
As shown in
The upper portion 102 includes a compartment that can be used to safely and securely contain various related parts, batteries, instructions, power cords, data cords, adapters, etc. for the game controller that is being retained in the lower portion 104. Thus, the theft of batteries and other removable items may be prevented.
As noted above, the upper portion 102 and lower portion 104 are connected by a transition area 106. The transition area 106 can of any suitable shape and form to provide the support for the game controller product contained in lower portion 104, while maintaining the integrity of the package as a whole. The transition area 106 may be formed so as to maintain the upper portion 102 and the lower portion 104 in a pre-defined orientation.
According to one aspect of the invention, the transition area allows for the passing through of product from the lower portion 102 to the upper portion 102. For example, a connection wire 200 or the like can extend from the game controller 150, partially contained in the lower portion 104, into the completely enclosed upper portion 102 via the transition area 106 (See
As shown in
In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the bottom part 120 and upper part 122 include partial cavities (identified as part of 102 and 104) on the respective bottom and upper parts. These partial cavities together form the entire portions 102 and 104 in accordance with an aspect of the invention. Those of ordinary skill will recognize that the size and shape of the partial cavities defining the portions 102 and 104 can be varies without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
According to another aspect of the invention, the package 100 also includes a hanger 110 integrally formed into at least one of the upper and lower parts 122 and 120, respectively, either during the die cut manufacturing process, or prior to the same. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the hanger 110 is molded into the lower part 120. The hanger 110 allows the entire package to be hung on a display, yet still provides the user with the ability to test the feel and action of the controller without necessarily requiring the removal from the hanging display.
The first packaging half (122) and the second packaging half (120) are combined to form a product packaging having a first packaging portion (102) and a second packaging portion (104) (step 820). The first packaging portion (102) and the second packaging portion (104) result from a combination of the corresponding partial cavities of the first packaging half and the second packaging half. The first packaging portion (102) completely encapsulates a portion of a product to be packaged and the second packaging portion (104) partially encapsulates the product to allow for hands on testing by potential consumers.
While there has been shown, described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form and details of the methods described and devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in any other disclosed, described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.
This application is related to U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/543,302, entitled “Packaging for Product Display”, filed on Feb. 10, 2004, which is commonly assigned, and the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60543302 | Feb 2004 | US |
