Abstract:
Disclosed is an advertising package that consists of two trays that are hingedly attached along a longitudinal and transverse axis. One tray includes two compartments formed from substantially rectangular shapes to allow inclusion of items that are not distinctive in shape such as a coin, key or the like. The compartments are depressions which eliminates the need for upstanding side walls and the need for a circumscribing channel or coupling passageways. Printed material can be placed on the entirety of the first tray which provides a background to the compartments and allows viewing through the package sidewalls. The package is constructed and arranged to be sent as non-machinable flat through the United States Postal Service (USPS).

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
     In accordance with 37 C.F.R. 1.76, a claim of priority is included in an Application Data Sheet filed concurrently herewith. Accordingly, the present invention claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/976,218, entitled “ADVERTISING PACKAGE”, filed Apr. 7, 2014. The contents of which the above referenced application is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the field of advertising and, in particular, to an advertising package employing interlocking trays constructed and arranged to be shipped as a non-machinable flat package through the United States Postal Service (USPS). 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Advertising packages are known in the art. Such packages can be of a size and shape that can be sent through the U.S. mail or through couriers having certain size requirements for cost effective shipping. Further, such packages may be transparent making the packaging adaptable to various types of advertising without opening. Such packages may house materials that can be sent through the mail allowing an advertiser to display a commercial message in a structure that will draw attention to the advertiser. Such packages may include gift cards, vehicle keys and the like articles used for advertisement and promotional purposes. 
     For instance U.S. Pat. No. 7,556,152 discloses a tray intended for the packaging of at least one article. The tray includes two parts connected together by an articulation zone enabling the tray parts to pivot relative to each other about an axis. A first tray part forms at least one open compartment. One of the two parts includes at least two fastening means capable of engaging with two counterpart fastening means formed on the other of the two parts so as to hold both parts in a first position in which the compartment formed by the first part delimits together with the second part a closed recess capable of receiving an article. One of the two parts is also provided with at least two indentations configured to receive, in a second position of the two parts, the fastening means of a second identical tray positioned against the first. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 8,584,841 discloses a container having a first and second portion hingedly mounted together. The first portion defines an internal cavity for enclosing individual objects of interest. The container is defined by three individual compartments. The first compartment is rectangular shaped and has a longitudinal axis which is substantially coaxially oriented relative to the longitudinal axis of the first portion, the second compartment is shaped like a mechanical key for operating an automobile and which further has a longitudinal axis which is substantially parallel to the transverse axis of the first portion, and the third compartment is rectangular shaped and further has a longitudinal axis which is substantially parallel to the transverse axis of the first portion. Each of the compartments are defined by a separate, substantially continuous, and uninterrupted sidewall. While the second compartment is shaped like a mechanical key for operating an automobile; a piece of printed advertising having opposite printed sides is positioned entirely within the first compartment and a facsimile of a credit, debit or gift card is solely positioned within the third compartment. The piece of printed advertising, mechanical key and the facsimile of a credit, debit or gift card do not come into contact with each other when received within the respective first, second and third compartments. The first and second portions when releasably coupled together have a resulting thickness dimension of less than 0.25 inches, a length dimension of less than 8.65 inches, and a width dimension of less than 4.5 inches, and wherein the resulting container formed from the first and second portions can be accepted and processed by automated letter-sized mail handling equipment, and delivered to a consumer by the United States Postal Service (USPS). 
     An objective of the invention is proposed packaging which does not present the drawbacks of the prior art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Disclosed is an advertising package that consists of two trays that are hingedly attached along a longitudinal and transverse axis for ease of access opening and closing. One tray includes two compartments formed from substantially rectangular shapes to allow inclusion of items that are not distinctive in shape such as a coin, key or the like. The compartments do not interlock but rather employ an advertising material to help maintain items placed into the compartment in position. The compartments are depressions which eliminate the need for upstanding side walls and the need for a circumscribing channel or coupling passageways. The instant invention allows printed material to be placed on the entirety of the first tray which provides a background to the compartments and allows viewing through the package sidewalls. The invention does not require posts and has a thickness of about 0.30 inches which is constructed and arranged to be sent as non-machinable flat through the United States Postal Service (USPS). 
     An objective of the invention is to provide a more open and simple design than what is known in the industry. 
     Still another objective of the invention is to provide an open design that has consolidated the look by removing existing superfluous compartments making the advertising easier to read. 
     Another objective of the invention is to provide an advertising piece that can be placed along the entire length of the design allowing for greater exposure. 
     Still another objective of the invention is to provide an advertising piece that eliminates the use of shaped compartments that limit the use of the advertisement. 
     Still another objective of the invention is to provide an advertising piece that places the card compartment in the horizontal position, allowing easier more natural viewing for the end client. 
     Yet still another objective of the invention is to provide an advertising piece that opens in a typical book fashion allowing for an easier opening experience. 
     Other objectives and further advantages and benefits associated with this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the description, examples and claims which follow. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the package in a closed position; 
         FIG. 2  is an end view of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the package in an open position; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view thereof; 
         FIG. 5  is a top view thereof; 
         FIG. 6  is an end view thereof; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the package in an open position; 
         FIG. 8  is a top view of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is an end view of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a side view of the alternate embodiment in a closed position; 
         FIG. 11  is a top view of a third embodiment of the package in an open position; and 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of  FIG. 11 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-6  in general, set forth is a first embodiment of an advertising package or tray  10  formed from a first part  12  and a second part  14 . The first part  12  has an outer surface  16  bounded by a first end wall  18 , a second end wall  20 , a first side wall  22  and an opposing side wall  24 . The first part  12  is secured to the second part  14  wherein side walls  16 ,  18 ,  22  and  24  intermesh with the second part  14 ; having corresponding end walls  26  and  28 , and corresponding side walls  30  and  32 . In a first embodiment, end walls  18 ,  26  form a transverse living hinge. As further shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , the second part  14  has an inner surface  34  which forms a substantially rectangular shape with a longitudinal length formed by side walls  30  and  32  and a width formed by end walls  26  and  28 . 
     The overall length along the side walls of the first part and the second part, equal 17.14 inches combined, wherein each end width of the first part equaling the second part, of about 4.25 inches. The thickness of the first and second part  12  and  14 , illustrated in  FIG. 2 , is approximately 0.30 inches. It should be noted that a thickness greater than 0.25 inches will ensure the package will be accepted by the United States Postal Service (USPS) as a non-machinable flat item qualifying for Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM), which is the least expensive way to ship such products. 
     The tray can be formed by molding a thermoplastic material from a single piece, for example, by thermoforming or thin-wall injection molding. The tray is, for example, made of a thermoplastic material chosen among the polyvinyl chlorides. Thermoforming includes polyvinyl chlorides, polypropylenes, polyethylenes, polystyrenes, or a combination thereof. 
     The first part  12  has an inner surface  40 , which is raised from side walls  22  and  24  and end walls  20  and  18 , forming a substantially flat inner surface  40 , with a first compartment  42  formed as a depression from the inner surface  40 , defining a length by side wall  44  and  48  and end walls  50  and  52 . It is noted that end walls  50  and  52  may be slightly curved, but overall, the size of the first compartment is substantially rectangular. The second compartment  60  includes a first end wall  62  and second end wall  64  with opposing side walls  66  and  68 , forming a substantially rectangular depression. The first and second compartments  42  and  60  are available for insertion of articles of display for use in advertising. Unique to this invention is the ability to place a thin form of advertisement, such as a paper sheet, placed on the inner surface  40 , overlying the first compartment  42  and second compartment  60 . The second tray  14  can be folded over the first tray  12  when the inner surface  34  entraps the paper advertisement placed along inner surface  40  and overlying items of display placed in the first compartment  42  and the second compartment  60 . The side walls  30  and  32  of the second tray  14  frictionally engage the side walls  22  and  24  of the first tray  12 , to secure the items of display placed on surface  40 , within first compartment  42  and second compartment  60 , in a secured position. Similarly, end walls  26  and  28  engage side walls  18  and  20  of the first part so as to further capture the materials in between. This frictional engagement between the first tray sidewalls  18 ,  20 ,  22 ,  24  and the second tray sidewalls  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32  provides a two-part means for securing the first tray to the second tray where the first part is the first tray sidewalls and the second part is the second tray sidewalls. A living hinge  70  is formed between the first tray  12  and the second tray  14 , which allows the trays to be opened along the width portion of the trays for ease of accessing the advertisement and items placed within the first compartment  42  and second compartment  60 . A flange  72  is formed around the first part  12 . Similarly, a flange  74  is formed around the second part  14 . The flange  72  allows ease of access of separating the first tray from the second tray, typically by pulling along an edge tab  76 . The flange further eliminates a sharp edge along the side wall and creates a positive seal. 
     When an advertisement and articles of advertisement are placed within the trays, the materials may be opened in a typical book-like fashion, allowing more intuitive opening of the package, versus known packaging. In addition, this presents the advertising material in a horizontal position, again in the shape of a booklet format for making the advertising easier to read. The shapes of the compartments have a rectangular form which is similar to the overall shape of the trays, but are reduced in size so as to provide two distinct compartments. While the exact same compartment size could be made, it is determined that the second compartment  60  is best sized for gift cards, credit cards, and the like, whereas the first compartment  42  is sized for other materials allowing ease of separation during assembly, as well as shipping. The compartments do not interlock, and materials placed within the compartments are secured by the use of the advertisement which encompasses the inner surface  40  and the first and second compartments  42  and  60 . In addition, a protruding lug or tab  80  is formed in the second tray  14  that can be used to help stabilize items that are placed within the first compartment  42 . The protruding lug or tab  80  causes a slight indentation of the advertisement, which allows smaller items to be placed within the first compartment. 
     A preferred embodiment of the present invention is set out in  FIGS. 7-10 . The preferred embodiment of the advertising package or tray  110  is formed from a first part  112  and a second part  114 . The first part  112  has an inner surface  140  bounded by a first end wall depression  118 , a second end wall depression  120 , a first side wall depression  122  and a second side wall depression  124 . The first part  112  is secured to the second part  114  wherein the perimeter wall depressions  116 ,  118 ,  122  and  124  intermesh with the second part  114 ; having corresponding end walls  126  and  28 , and corresponding side walls  130  and  132 , each which has a thickness corresponding to the perimeter depressions of the first part  112 . In the preferred embodiment, the flange at end walls  122 ,  130  forms a longitudinal living hinge  170 . 
     As further shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the second part  114  has an inner surface  134  which forms a substantially rectangular shape with a longitudinal length formed by side walls  130  and  132  and a width formed by end walls  126  and  128 . 
     The overall length along the side walls of each of the first part and the second part, equal 8.75 inches, and the combined width of the first part and second part equal 9.5 inches. The thickness of the first and second part  112  and  114 , illustrated in  FIG. 10 , is approximately 0.30 inches. It should be noted that a thickness greater than 0.25 inches is necessary to ensure the package will be accepted by the United States Postal Service (USPS) as a non-machinable flat item qualifying for Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM), which is the least expensive way to ship such products. 
     The tray  110  can be formed by molding a thermoplastic material from a single piece, for example, by thermoforming or thin-wall injection molding. The tray  110  is, for example, made of a thermoplastic material chosen among the polyvinyl chlorides. Thermoforming includes polyvinyl chlorides, polypropylenes, polyethylenes, polystyrenes, or a combination thereof. 
     The first part  112  has an inner surface  140 , which is raised from side walls  122  and  124  and end walls  120  and  118 , forming a substantially flat inner surface  140 , with a first compartment  142  formed as a depression from the inner surface  140 , defining a length by side wall  144  and  148  and end walls  150  and  152 . It is noted that end walls  150  and  152  may be slightly curved, but overall, the size of the first compartment is substantially rectangular. The second compartment  160  includes a first end wall  162  and second end wall  164  with opposing side walls  166  and  168 , forming a substantially rectangular depression. The first and second compartments  142  and  160  are available for insertion of articles of display for use in advertising. Unique to this invention is the ability to place a thin form of advertisement, such as a paper sheet, placed on the inner surface  140 , overlying the first compartment  142  and second compartment  160 . The second tray  114  can be folded over the first tray  112  when the inner surface  134  entraps the paper advertisement placed along inner surface  140  and overlying items of display placed in the first compartment  142  and the second compartment  160 . The side walls  130  and  132  of the second tray  114  frictionally engage the side walls depressions  122  and  124  of the first tray  112 , to secure the items of display placed on surface  140 , within first compartment  142  and second compartment  160 , in a secured position. Similarly, end walls  126  and  128  engage side walls depressions  118  and  120  of the first part  112  so as to further capture the materials in between. This frictional engagement between the first tray sidewall depressions  118 ,  120 ,  122 ,  124  and the second tray sidewalls  126 ,  128 ,  130 ,  132  provides a two-part means for securing the first tray to the second tray where the first part is the first tray sidewall depressions and the second part is the second tray sidewalls. A living hinge  170  is formed between the first part  112  and the second part  114 , which allows the tray  110  to be opened along the length portion of the tray  110  for ease of accessing the advertisement and items placed within the first compartment  142  and second compartment  160 . A flange  172  is formed around the first part  112 . Similarly, a flange  174  is formed around the second part  114 . The flange  172  allows ease of access of separating the first part from the second part. The flange further eliminates a sharp edge along the side wall and creates a positive seal. 
     When an advertisement and articles of advertisement are placed within the trays, the materials may be opened in a typical book-like fashion, allowing more intuitive opening of the package, versus known packaging. In addition, this presents the advertising material in a horizontal position, again in the shape of a booklet format for making the advertising easier to read. The shapes of the compartments have a rectangular form which is similar to the overall shape of the trays, but are reduced in size so as to provide two distinct compartments. While the exact same compartment size could be made, it is determined that the second compartment  160  is best sized for gift cards, credit cards, and the like, whereas the first compartment  142  is sized for other materials allowing ease of separation during assembly, as well as shipping. The compartments do not interlock, and materials placed within the compartments are secured by the use of the advertisement which encompasses the inner surface  140  and the first and second compartments  142  and  160 . In addition, protruding lugs or tabs  180 ,  182  are formed in the second tray  114  that can be used to help stabilize items that are placed within the first and second compartments  142 ,  160 . The protruding lugs or tabs  180 ,  182  cause a slight indentation of the advertisement, which allows smaller items to be placed within the first compartment. 
     Highlighted in the detailed views of  FIG. 7 , the preferred embodiment of the advertising tray  110  contains air channels  156  between the first compartment  142  and the second compartment  160 . Additionally, on side wall  132  on the second part  114  there are air channels  176  on the three inner faces of side wall  132 . When closing the tray  110  by intermeshing the first part perimeter depression with the second part sidewalls, these air channels  156 ,  176  allow air to move from the first compartment  142  to the second compartment  160  and exit from the inside of the closed tray  110  to create a tighter seal without excess air trapped within tray  110 . This allows the tray to tightly intermesh throughout the entire area of the first and second parts  112 ,  114  without a bubbling, or bowing, effect caused by trapped air in the middle. 
     A final embodiment is disclosed in  FIGS. 11-12 . This embodiment incorporates the structure of the preferred embodiment, but with the living hinge  250  on transverse edge of the tray  190  as opposed to the longitudinal edge of the preferred embodiment of  FIGS. 7-10 . 
     Looking to  FIGS. 11-12 , disclosed is an advertising package or tray  190 , formed from a first part  192  and a second part  194 . The first part  192  has an inner surface  220  bounded by a first end wall depression  198 , a second end wall depression  200 , a first side wall depression  202  and a second side wall depression  204 . The first part  192  is secured to the second part  194  by a living hinge  250 , wherein the perimeter wall depressions  198 ,  200 ,  202  and  204  intermesh with the second part  114 ; having respectively corresponding end walls  208  and  206 , and respectively corresponding side walls  212  and  210 , each of which has a thickness corresponding to the perimeter depressions of the first part  112 . In this embodiment, the flange  252 ,  254  at end walls  198 ,  208  forms the transverse living hinge  250 . 
     As further shown in  FIGS. 11-12 , the second part  194  has an inner surface  214  which forms a substantially rectangular shape with a longitudinal length formed by side walls  210  and  212  and a width formed by end walls  206  and  208 . 
     The overall length along the side walls of each of the first part and the second part, equal 8.75 inches, and the combined width of the first part and second part equal 9.5 inches. The thickness of the first and second part  192  and  194 , is approximately 0.30 inches. It should be noted that a thickness greater than 0.25 inches is necessary to ensure the package will be accepted by the United States Postal Service (USPS) as a non-machinable flat item qualifying for Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM), which is the least expensive way to ship such products. 
     The tray  190  can be formed by molding a thermoplastic material from a single piece, for example, by thermoforming or thin-wall injection molding. The tray  190  is, for example, made of a thermoplastic material chosen among the polyvinyl chlorides. Thermoforming includes polyvinyl chlorides, polypropylenes, polyethylenes, polystyrenes, or a combination thereof. 
     The first part  192  has an inner surface  220 , which is raised from side walls  202  and  204  and end walls  198  and  200 , forming a substantially flat inner surface  220 , with a first compartment  222  formed as a depression from the inner surface  220 , defining a length by side wall  224  and  228  and end walls  230  and  232 . It is noted that end walls  230  and  232  may be slightly curved, but overall, the size of the first compartment is substantially rectangular. The second compartment  240  includes a first end wall  242  and second end wall  244  with opposing side walls  246  and  248 , forming a substantially rectangular depression. The first and second compartments  222  and  240  are available for insertion of articles of display for use in advertising. This embodiment also allows for the ability to place a thin form of advertisement, such as a paper sheet, placed on the inner surface  220 , overlying the first compartment  222  and second compartment  240 . The second tray  194  can be folded over the first tray  192  when the inner surface  214  entraps the paper advertisement placed along inner surface  220  and overlying items of display placed in the first compartment  222  and the second compartment  240 . The side walls  210  and  212  of the second tray  194  frictionally engage the side walls depressions  202  and  204  of the first tray  192 , to secure the items of display placed on surface  220 , within first compartment  222  and second compartment  240 , in a secured position. Similarly, end walls  206  and  208  engage side walls depressions  198  and  200  of the first part  192  so as to further capture the materials in between. This frictional engagement between the first tray sidewall depressions  198 ,  200 ,  202 ,  204  and the second tray sidewalls  206 ,  208 ,  210 ,  212  provides a two-part means for securing the first tray to the second tray where the first part is the first tray sidewall and the second part is the second tray sidewalls. A living hinge  250  is formed between the first part  192  and the second part  194 , which allows the tray  190  to be opened along the transverse portion, or width, of the tray  190  for ease of accessing the advertisement and items placed within the compartments. A flange  252  is formed around the first part  192 . Similarly, a flange  254  is formed around the second part  194 . The flanges  252 ,  254  allow ease of access of separating the first part  192  from the second part  194 . The flanges further eliminate a sharp edge along the side wall and creates a positive seal. 
     When an advertisement and articles of advertisement are placed within the tray, the materials may be opened in a typical book-like fashion, allowing more intuitive opening of the package, versus known packaging. In addition, this presents the advertising material in a horizontal position, again in the shape of a booklet format for making the advertising easier to read. The shapes of the compartments have a rectangular form which is similar to the overall shape of the trays, but are reduced in size so as to provide two distinct compartments. While the exact same compartment size could be made, it is determined that the second compartment  240  is best sized for gift cards, credit cards, and the like, whereas the first compartment  222  is sized for other materials allowing ease of separation during assembly, as well as shipping. The compartments do not interlock, and materials placed within the compartments are secured by the use of the advertisement which encompasses the inner surface  220 ,  214  and the first and second compartments  142  and  160 . In addition, protruding lugs or tabs  260 ,  262  are formed in the second tray  194  that can be used to help stabilize items that are placed within the first and second compartments  222 ,  240 . The protruding lugs or tabs  260 ,  262  cause a slight indentation of the advertisement, which allows smaller items to be placed within the first compartment. 
     Advertising tray  190  also contains air channels  236  between the first compartment  222  and the second compartment  240 . Additionally, on the side walls  210 ,  212  of the second part  194  there are air channels  256  on the three inner faces of the side walls  210 ,  212 . When closing the tray  190  by intermeshing the first part perimeter depression with the second part sidewalls, these air channels  236 ,  256  allow air to move from the first compartment  222  to the second compartment  240  and exit from the inside of the closed tray  190  to create a tighter seal between the first and second parts without excess air trapped within the tray  190 . This allows the tray to tightly intermesh throughout the entire area of the first and second parts without a bubbling, or bowing, effect caused by trapped air in the middle. 
     Detailed embodiments of the instant invention are disclosed herein, however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific functional and structural details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representation basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. 
     All patents and publications mentioned in this specification are indicative of the levels of those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. All patents and publications are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. It is to be understood that while a certain form of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and any drawings/figures included herein. 
     One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The embodiments, methods, procedures and techniques described herein are presently representative of the preferred embodiments, are intended to be exemplary and are not intended as limitations on the scope. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and are defined by the scope of the appended claims. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention which are obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be within the scope of the following claims.