This invention relates to the field of packaging, and more particularly, to a thermoformed package designed for use with any variety of goods, but especially for footwear.
Thermoformed containers are used ubiquitously as packaging for innumerable objects. Generally speaking, containers formed by thermoforming processes offer economical packaging options for a variety of consumer goods, and at many different distribution levels. For example, thermoformed containers may be used as competitive replacements for paperboard and cardboard-based packages for many items. The following description of the packaging industry as it relates to footwear is just one example of the demands for packaging.
The market for consumer footwear is notoriously competitive and there are numerous footwear manufacturers competing for a share of that market. The intense level of competition in the footwear industry is found in nearly every market sector, and regardless of the particular type of shoe. However, the competition is perhaps most keenly focused in the market sector pertaining to active shoes and athletic shoes. In this market sector as well as others, competitors are constantly searching for ways to increase sales and market shares. Some of the most successful, and thus commonly used marketing techniques, are very familiar to most consumers. Examples include rapid introduction of new styles, product endorsements by famous athletes, intense brand name marketing and promotion, and advertising directed to specific consumer groups such as consumers falling into specific targeted demographic groups. These techniques along with other marketing activities help give footwear manufacturers a competitive edge in a highly competitive market.
Traditional shoeboxes are sometimes utilized for marketing purposes in addition to their more traditional function. Shoes of all types are usually packaged in traditional rectangular shoeboxes manufactured from some kind of paperboard, often cardboard. However, while such boxes serve an accepted functional role of storing and protecting the shoes, they do little to promote the product itself, other than minimal promotional information printed on the boxes.
While there are many different styles of shoeboxes, nearly all of them are variations on a standard theme: a rectangular box that is usually made of cardboard. Such boxes are useful for many reasons. From a purely functional point of view, rectangular shoeboxes provide a reasonably secure internal compartment for storing the shoes after manufacturing, and all the way from the factory to the consumer sales outlet. And traditional boxes are easily stacked, whether for shipping in containers from an offshore manufacturing location to a warehouse, for storage in a warehouse or a retail outlet, or for storing product for consumer inspection at warehouse-type retail outlets. While the internal compartment of a rectangular box is not custom designed to hold a pair of shoes, most shoes are held reasonably well in a standard box when the shoes are nested in the traditional opposed orientation, and generally with a paper sleeve inserted between the shoes to prevent them from rubbing together and scuffing.
But in addition to their functional benefits, traditional rectangular shoeboxes serve another purpose, and that is as a part of the marketing plan. Nearly all shoe manufacturers try to use their product packaging as part of their overall marketing programs designed to sell the product. Thus, many shoe manufacturers print graphics and other promotional information on their boxes. Even though this marketing information may be visible only on the sides of the boxes since boxes are usually stacked, the space can be used as advertising space. Moreover, the box may be printed with information about the shoes—sizes and the like.
However, there are several problems evident in traditional shoeboxes. First, the standard rectangular box design necessarily takes up more space than is needed to contain the shoes. Even when nested in an opposed orientation, a pair of shoes defines a shape that is seldom a regular rectangle, and as a result, most standard shoeboxes have excess materials and take up more space than is necessary. These factors increase costs of the product. For example, minimizing the amount of raw material used to make the box could reduce material costs tied up in the packaging. Likewise, eliminating excess packaging material that takes up added space can reduce shipping and storage costs.
Second, most shoeboxes are made of some form of paper—usually cardboard or a heavy paperboard. While such materials tend to make a relatively strong container, the can be crushed and are subject to moisture absorption and damage. Moisture damage to cardboard can be a significant problem. And even broken-down cardboard boxes designed for shoes tend to take up a significant amount of space. Further, the boxes must be manufactured in one location as blanks, shipped to another location where they are set up as boxes. Finally, raw material costs for cardboard are increasing at a steady rate, making the economics of using cardboard less and less favorable.
But perhaps the greatest shortcoming of traditional, rectangular shoeboxes is their limited ability to enhance product sales. As noted above, most shoe manufacturers print promotional information of one kind or another on their shoeboxes, including trademarks, logos and the like. This is valuable to a degree in selling the product. But cardboard is inherently opaque, and as such, a consumer must open the box to look at the shoes contained inside. Shoe manufacturers want their consumers to look at their shoes—the appearance of the shoe is an important factor in the consumer's decision on what to buy. It can be difficult to pull a box out of a stack of boxes, open it to look at the shoe, and then replace the shoe in the box in even a relatively neat fashion. Stated in another way, a large part of the consumer's buying decision is based upon the appearance of the shoe. As a result, shoe manufacturers spend a great deal of time and money in making their shoes look attractive to consumers—the manufacturers want consumers to see the product. But for all of this, shoes are almost always hidden in a shoebox.
As noted, the foregoing is but one example of some shortcomings of traditional, paper-based packaging. There is a real need for improved packaging containers.
The present invention provides a see-through display container that overcomes the problems in the prior art, and at the same time provides substantial marketing and product promotion advantages for whatever product might be held in the container. To name a few examples of the advantages that the inventive package provides, the container actually helps promote the product held within the container and increase sales by presenting the product in a container that the consumer can see through. The product includes an integral handle so that the container itself functions as a carrying case for the enclosed product. This allows retailers to stop putting traditional boxes in bags, which of course are an unnecessary and thus wasteful expense. In addition, since the container is see-through, other consumers will be able to see what the purchaser has purchased. This is a further promotional tool.
The invention illustrated and described herein is a container that may be used as a package for many different objects. The structural features of the invention and the manner in which the inventive package is formed make the container useful in numerous industries for innumerable goods. Nonetheless, the package of the present invention is described below with particular reference to its use as a container for footwear. While the description of the invention sometimes focuses on a footwear container, it is to be understood that the principles of the invention apply to the container used for other purposes, and that the invention is not limited to use as a footwear container, but is instead limited only by the appended claims.
In a preferred embodiment the present invention comprises a shoe container formed of a clear or translucent plastic that is formed such that a pair of shoes fits precisely into the interior of the container and is visible through the container. The container may be formed in any size to accommodate any sized shoe. The container of the present invention may be formed to define an interior space that conforms to the size and dimensions of a particular style of shoe, or other items. Thus, little space is wasted on both the interior and exterior and manufacturing, shipping and storage costs are minimized.
The containers are preferably thermoformed in a one-piece clamshell configuration that includes an integral hinge and carrying handle. The package is formed in a manner that results in a strong container that protects items contained therein. Moreover, the package embodies structural features that provide unique storage and stacking capabilities.
In one embodiment the containers are manufactured from transparent polymeric materials that resist cracking and breaking, and which withstand impact. The containers may be nested so that storage space is minimized. When the containers are packaged with shoes, the halves of the clamshell package are closed over the shoes and are securely latched or interconnected to provide a secure package. With particular reference to footwear, the shoes may be oriented within the container in such a manner to ideally display the shoes to consumers. In a preferred embodiment, the shoes are oriented in the traditional toe-to-heel orientation.
The outer dimensions of the containers are configured to optionally include stack stabilization features so that multiple containers may be stacked in stable layers. In one preferred embodiment, the containers include outwardly facing protrusions or rails that nest into a complimentary and cooperative structure in the next adjacent container when stacked. This allows a single container to be easily removed from a large stack of containers.
The container may be formed of many different types of plastics, including plastics containing significant levels of recycled materials. Many kinds of plastics used to make the inventive container may be recycled after use. The plastic may be colored to match the color scheme that the manufacturer has selected for the shoe, and the color of the container may thus be combined into a marketing plan. Written indicia such as brand names and logos may be printed on or formed in the container.
The invention will be better understood and its numerous objects and advantages will be apparent by reference to the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the following drawings.
Preferred embodiments of the container of the present invention are shown in the
With reference to
As shown particularly well in
The diagonal joint 107 does not obstruct any of the four main panels of container 100, thereby providing for an unobstructed view of items such as shoes held in the container through the four largest sides of the container. Thus, the top panel 116 and front panel 114 of body half 102, and the bottom panel 118 and rear panel 110 of body half 104 are unobstructed by a hinge or joint of any kind. Only the lateral side panels 120 and 122, respectively, are bisected by the joint 107.
The two-body halves 102 and 104 respectively define a base unit and a lid that covers the base unit and which closes the halves together. In the embodiments illustrated in the figures, the base (e.g. body half 104) and the lid (e.g. body half 102) are divided diagonally at joint 107, so that each of the base and the lid contribute approximately the same amount of interior space.
The body halves 102 and 104 include cooperatively formed peripheral edges that assist in locating the body halves with respect to one another when closed together, and to retain the halves in the closed position. Thus, a flange 117 extends around the periphery of body half 102 and defines a recessed flange that cooperatively mates with a flange 115 that extends around the periphery of body half 104. The two flanges 117 and 115 are cooperatively formed so that a friction-fit is defined between the two body halves when they are closed together, as shown in
Cooperatively formed tabs and tab-receiving recesses may be formed along the mating edges of flanges 117 and 115 to assist in maintaining the two body halves in the closed position shown in
A carrying handle 126 is integrally formed in one of the lateral side panels, and in the illustration the handle 126 is formed in side panel 120.
With reference now to
Container 100 also includes optional stack stabilization structures that allow numerous containers to be stacked atop one another in a stable stack, yet so that a selected container may easily be pulled out of the stack without unstacking or upsetting the stability of the remaining containers in the stack. An outwardly projecting “foot” in body half 102 is configured to mate with a cooperatively formed “recess” in the body half 104 of the next adjacent container 100 when more than one containers 100 are stacked. The “foot” formed in body half 102 is a rail 128 that in a side view of the container (e.g.
Moreover, the position of rail 128 and recess 130 relative to top panel 116 and bottom panel 118 may be varied. For example, in
Those of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that there are numerous alternative and equivalent structures that may be utilized to facilitate stable stacking of multiple containers, yet allowing easy removal of any particular container from the stack. For example, the system of a rail 128 extending across one panel and a cooperatively formed recess in a facing panel in an adjacent container could be replace with other equivalent structures, such as a system of posts and receptacles for the posts.
Moreover, as noted, the stack stabilization features defined by rail 128 and recess 130 are optional features, and a container according to the present invention may be manufactured without the rail and recesses. With reference to
Likewise, flanges 117 and 115 are formed so that the joint 107 defined when the body halves are closed does not interrupt or extend into the planes defined by the bottom panel 118 or the front panel 114 (dashed lines P). Again, this allows the container 180 to be stacked stably on either front panel 114 or bottom panel 118.
It will be appreciated that the hinge and flange configuration just described allows container 180 to be stacked in any orientation and on any of the four main body panels relative to adjacent containers. With respect to a container 100 that includes a stack stabilization feature (e.g. rail 128 and recess 130), the container may be stacked on any of the three main panels 110, 118 or 114.
Container 100 further includes corner stabilization features that are designed to add dimensional stability to the corners and minimize damage to the containers that may arise from crushing. Specifically, a corner stabilizer 132 is formed into each of the four corners of container 100 that are not bisected by joint 107. The corner stabilizer 132 defines a strength-inducing radius, which is produced by an indentation 134 defined when the container is fabricated. The indentation provides structural rigidity and is formed when the container is thermoformed from a blank. The flanges 117 and 115 impart additional structural rigidity, both when the container is open and closed.
With specific reference now to
Container 100 is preferably fabricated from a clear material so that goods held within the container are plainly visible through the container panels. As used herein, the word “clear” refers to any transparent or translucent material used to fabricate the container and through which the interior of the container may be seen. Many materials may be used to fabricate the container. These include numerous grades of PET (polyethylene terephthalate), high density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), and vinyls such as various grades of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Those or ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the material selected will depend upon the structural and cosmetic requirements of the particular package. The polymers used to manufacture container 100 may include modifier compounds such as softeners, impact modifiers and the like, depending upon the application. In a preferred embodiment the material selected for manufacturing the container will include a high percentage of recycled material.
The material used to form container 100 may be clear, colored, or and any combination of coloring may be used. Moreover, portions of the container may be opaque so long as at least some of the container is clear to display the contents.
The container of the present invention is preferably formed using a thermoforming processes whereby a blank of material is pulled into a tool or mold, for instance with a vacuum, to form the container. With reference to
With specific reference to
It will further be noted that the tool 152 is formed such that there are no “reverse drafts” or “negative drafts” in the container 100. For example, and with reference to the cross sectional configuration of rail 128 and recess 130, the rail is generally cylindrical in shape, but as best seen in
Again with reference to use of container 100 as a container for shoes, preferably the package is sized such that one container will fit several different sizes of shoes. Thus, as one example, a blank container 100 may be designed to hold a specific style of shoes (such as athletic shoes) in the size range of men's sizes 7 to 9 (in the traditional U.S. sizing system), and also women's athletic shoes in sizes 9 to 11. And while the container of the present invention may often be smaller than traditional rectangular shoeboxes designed for the same sizes of shoes, it is close enough in size so that it may be used without modification to the existing shoe distribution, warehousing and sale infrastructure.
The blank or empty containers 100 are designed so that they may be nested with other blanks. The container 100 illustrated in
Those of skill in the art will further recognize the many different shapes that can be used to define a container equivalent to the container described herein. Thus, to name but a few examples, the container could be formed with more than one handle, the article-receiving space inside of the container may be designed to conform more uniquely to a specific article, and as noted previously, there are numerous methods of facilitating stacking in stable stacks. Moreover, while numerous different shapes are envisioned for both the interior space of the container and the overall container shape, in the preferred embodiment the container is roughly equivalent in size and shape to a standard shoebox for holding a pair of shoes of similar size. In this way the container of the present invention is accommodated easily into existing footwear manufacturing, distribution and sales infrastructure.
With reference now to the container 100 illustrated in
The insert 200 may be fabricated from a like material, but may be colored and may have various information printed on it, such as brand names, company names, logos, sizes, etc. For example, insert 200 may be textured, printed, embossed, debossed or a combination of any of these, so that a standard clear container 100 may be “customized” to contain any brand, size, etc. of shoe (depending upon what is printed on the insert). In addition, the insert 200 may be fabricated from paperboard and other similar materials that are moldable into a desired shape.
Moreover, as detailed below, when insert 200 is in place nested in body half 104, a space is defined between the insert and the body half, and information such as the types just mentioned may be printed on paper, film, etc and inserted into the space. This allows a manufacturer to use one container for several different items.
Member 201 is essentially identical in shape to body half 104 so that the member nests completely within body half 104 as indicated in
Insert 200 and the corresponding body half 104 include cooperative structures designed to hold the insert snuggly in place relative to the body half. Specifically, tabs 161 formed at the four corners of the body half 104 are sized to engage cooperatively positioned and shaped tabs 263 on member 201. When member 201 is pushed into body half 104, the tabs 161 connect to the tabs 263 to retain the insert in place in the body half. The tabs 161 may be of similar construction to tabs 160 described above, or may be modified in order to provide more secure engagement with the tabs 263.
Insert 200 is shown in place within body half 104 in
It will be appreciated that there are numerous structures that are equivalent to the tabs 161, 263 described above that facilitate attachment of insert 200 into body half 104. For example, a friction fit between the insert 200 and body half 104 will suffice. Moreover, it will be apparent that the function of insert 200 may be accomplished with an insert that nests within body half 104 but which is smaller in size so that the insert does not cover the majority of the interior surface of the body half, as shown in the embodiment illustrated. Also, insert 200 and container 100 may just as well be constructed so that the insert mates with the first body half 102 rather than the second body half 104 as shown.
As described above, the insert 200 may be manufactured from colored materials and/or may be preprinted etc. with a variety of indicia. Accordingly, the insert defines a manner of using a single container 100 to contain a variety of different goods, where a different insert 200 is used with each different good. Even where the insert is manufactured so that it is opaque in order to display written indicia, the goods held in container 100 may be viewed and inspected by consumers through the remaining portions of the container, which as described above are clear. Further, the consumer may removed the insert 200, leaving a completely clear container for home storage of any shoes, etc.
While the present invention has been described in terms of a preferred embodiment, it will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill that the spirit and scope of the invention is not limited to those embodiments, but extend to the various modifications and equivalents as defined in the appended claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/US02/30075 | Sep 2002 | WO | international |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 10368043 | Feb 2003 | US |
Child | 10994661 | Nov 2004 | US |