Abstract:
An interactive packaging system is disclosed which is particularly suited for a door handleset and provides a potential purchaser with direct visual and tactile access to the product without the need of opening the packaging. Additionally, the packaging system includes a base which provides an increased footprint to stably support the packaging system in an upright position.

Description:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to packaging for a door handleset and more specifically to an interactive packaging system which affords a potential purchaser both visual and tactile access to the handleset contained therein. 
     There are many considerations that must be taken into account when developing packaging for products for retail sale. Such factors include the need to attract the potential buyer&#39;s attention, the ability for the store owner to be able to conveniently display the product, and the need to contain and protect the product to name but a few. In addition to these considerations, it is very desirable to design packaging which will enable the potential purchaser to handle and operate the product contained therein to obtain both tactile and visual “feel” for the product. Such packaging, commonly referred to as interactive packaging, is also desirable because it affords a closer examination of the product prior to purchase without the need for the potential consumer to vandalize the product in an effort to conduct his examination. 
     The present invention provides a unique and highly effective solution to the above-noted and often conflicting objectives by providing a packaging system which maximizes purchaser interaction with a handleset by readily permitting operation of the components thereof while also securely protecting and supporting the product therein so as to avoid potential damage during transporting of same. Further, the packaging system provides an adequate base structure to allow the product to be displayed in an upright manner. The packaging system is further adapted to minimize the space requirement such that quantities may be easily packed in large containers for shipping without concern for damage to or loss of included parts or accessories. 
     Additional advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent description and appended claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the packaging system in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the packaging system of FIG. 1; and 
     FIG. 3 is a detailed side view of the packaging system of FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the figures, there is shown a packaging system  10  in accordance with the present invention. Packaging system  10  is specifically designed for use in connection with a handleset assembly for a door and affords a potential purchaser thereof both visual and tactile contact. The lever of the handleset may be grasped and rotated, the deadbolt turnpiece may also be operated without the need to open or remove any portion of the product itself. Packaging system  10  includes back  12 , tray  14 , display cards  16  and cover  18 . As presently preferred, back  12  and cover  18  are formed of a transparent thermal plastic. Tray  14  is also formed of a thermal plastic, but need not have a transparent quality. Display cards  16  are formed of a single sheet of suitable paperboard material. The components of packaging system  10  are assembled in a manner such that the door hardware is supported within tray  14  and encased within back  12  and cover  18  with portions of the handleset extending through the cover to provide the interactive feature. 
     Back  12  includes base portion  20  interconnected thereto by way of living hinge  22 . As such, base  20  and living hinge  22  are formed as an integral part of back  12 . Base  20  is positionable from a generally coplanar position with respect to back  12  as shown in FIG. 2 to a generally perpendicular position with respect to back  12  as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. In this manner, base  20  provides a suitable base or footprint for adequately supporting packaging system  10  in an upright position. This is particularly advantageous given the substantial weight of the components contained within the packaging and the relatively high center of gravity with respect to base  20 . 
     With specific reference to FIG. 2, back  12  has a substantially planar back panel  24  with bead  26  extending inwardly therefrom to provide a locating feature for the remaining components of packaging system  10 . Bead  26  extends around the periphery of back panel  24  to form a closed rectangular configuration. Flange  28  extends outboard of bead  26  and provides surface area for securing back  12  to cover  18 . Back  12  further includes locating features  30  formed in back panel  24  adjacent bead  26 . 
     As previously mentioned, base  20  is coupled to back panel  24  at living hinge  22 . Base  20  has a supporting surface  32  formed thereon which includes footrest  34 , clasp mechanism  36  and display panel  38 . As best seen in FIG. 3, footrest  34  extends downwardly from support surface  32  and terminates at sole  40  which is generally planar with outer perimeter  32  of base  20 . Display panel  38  provides a generally flat surface for locating various information concerning the products contained within packaging system  10 . For example, display panel  38  may be embossed with various indicia of the source of the product or alternately may be provided with advertising copy regarding same. 
     Tray  14  locates and secures the various components of the handleset H within packaging system  10  and is adequately sized to present these components in a way that simulates an installed condition. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 1, handleset H is positioned in a generally vertical location with the lever L 1  situated below the turnpiece T. Deadbolt assembly D is located adjacent to handleset H. A second lever L 2  is located in a side pocket such that it is viewable from the side of packaging system  10 . While the preferred embodiment illustrates a separate back and tray, one skilled in the art will recognize that these two components could be combined into a single integral back/tray. 
     With reference again to FIG. 2, tray  14  is generally rectangularly shaped having a top panel  44  and side walls  46  extending downwardly therefrom. Various pockets  48 ,  50 ,  52  are formed in top panel  44  and side wall  46  to locate the components of the handleset. For example, pocket  48  is adapted to receive handleset H. Additional reliefs  54 ,  56 ,  58  are formed in pocket  48  to provide sufficient clearance for the locking mechanisms which extend rearwardly from the base plate for handleset H. Locating features  60 ,  62  may also be formed in pocket  48  for appropriately positioning handleset H therein. Tabs  64 ,  66  extend from the side wall of pocket  48  and provide means for releasably securing the handieset H therein. Pocket  50  is similar to pocket  48  and may be adapted to include various reliefs, locating features and tabs as heretofore described. Pocket  52  represents a relief formed in side wall  46  which is sized and configured to locate an additional components of handleset H such as lever L 2 . 
     Cover  18  has a generally rectangular shape which is complementary with and fits over tray  16 . Cover  18  has a top panel  68  and side walls  70  extending downwardly therefrom. Side walls  70  terminate at flange  72  which provides a surface for interconnecting back  12  with cover  18 . Top panel  68  has various cut-outs or openings  74 ,  76  formed therein which permit the components of handleset H to extend through cover  18  and be accessible for operation by a prospective purchaser. In a preferred embodiment, cut-out  74  has a generally bell-shaped configuration, and cut-out  76  has a tear drop or egg-shaped configuration. It has been found that these configurations facilitate assembly of packaging system  10  by providing adequate clearance for inserting turnpiece T and lever L 1  through cut-outs  74 ,  76 , respectively. Cover  18  further has window  78  which extends outwardly from top panel  68  for enclosing a component such as deadbolt D within packaging system  10 . As illustrated in FIG. 2, window  78  has a generally frusto-conical configuration. However, one skilled in the art will readily recognize that cover  18  may be provided with windows having other configurations depending upon the specific component encased therein. Bead  80  is formed along a lower edge of cover  18  and cooperates with clasp mechanism  36  formed on back  12  as hereinafter described. 
     Packaging system  10  may include various display cards  16  including rear display card  82  and front display card  84 . Rear display card  82  is a generally flat member which is interdisposed between back panel  24  and tray  14 . Rear display card  82  provides a dual function of concealing the bottom portion of tray  14  while providing a surface area upon which various copy can be included concerning the product contained within packaging system  10 . Front display card  84  is configured in a manner to overlay tray  14  to cover up various portions of top panel  44  and side walls  46  while at the same time allowing portions of handleset H to appear therethrough. In this regard, cut-outs  86 ,  88  are formed in top panel  90 , and cut-out  92  is formed in side wall  92 . As with rear display card  82 , front display card  84  further provides substantial surface area upon which various graphics and copy may be placed concerning the components contained within packaging system  10 . 
     With particular reference to FIG. 3, packaging system  10  further includes a clasp mechanism  36  which allows base  20  to be releasably secured in a position which is generally perpendicular to back panel  24 . Base  20  has a vertical wall portion  96  which extends generally parallel to top panel  68  of cover  18  when base  20  is in the perpendicular or use position. Relief  98  is formed in vertical wall  96  and is adapted to engage bead  80  such that base  20  is releasably secured in the use position. 
     With reference now to the drawings, a general description of the assembly of packaging system  10  will be provided. Initially, tray  14  is loaded with the various components to be included within packaging system  10 . Display card  84  is positioned over tray  14  and cover  18  is positioned over display card  84  and tray  14  such that the desired components of handleset H extend through cut-outs  74 ,  76 . Next, display card  82  is loaded into back  12 . At this point tray  14  and cover  18  are positioned onto back  12  such that side walls  46  of tray  14  are interdisposed between side walls  70  of cover  18  and bead  26  of back  12 . Flange  28  of back  12  and flange  72  of cover  18  are secured together utilizing a suitable binding method such as adhesive or thermal binding. 
     Base  20  remains substantially coplanar with back panel  24  in an extended position. At this point, base  20  may now be rotated upwardly about living hinge  22  such that vertical wall  96  is positioned adjacent to top panel  68 . Bead  80  engages vertical wall  96  and passes into relief  98  such that base  20  is releasably secured in the perpendicular position. Clasp mechanism  36  is such that base  20  may be repeatedly positioned between the extended position illustrated in FIG.  2  and the perpendicular position illustrated in FIG.  3 . 
     The present invention has been described with particular reference to a preferred embodiment in which packaging system  10  is adapted for a door handleset having a lever and a turnpiece extending through apertures providing an interactive feature. However, one skilled in the art will readily recognize that the packaging system of the present invention may be further modified or adapted for packaging various other door hardware components such as door knobs, door slides and deadbolts by way of example. Furthermore, while the preferred embodiment includes a back having a back panel and base portion interconnected by a living hinge, one skilled in the art will readily recognize that the living hinge, while preferred, is not an essential feature to the present invention and that other means for interconnecting these components such as adhesive or tape are equally applicable in this application. 
     While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiments of the invention as disclosed are well calculated to provide the advantages and features above-stated, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and changes without departing from the proper scope of fair meaning of the subjoined claims.