Abstract:
A package for the product where the package includes a sizing cavity where an article, upon which the product is to be applied, is to be insertable within a sizing cavity to determine that the particular product in that package is to be the correct size for that particular article. A method of packaging a product which comprises forming a housing within which the product is located and forming at least one sizing cavity within the housing of a specific size and shape which is to connect with a canister upon which the product is to be located. A method of merchandising a product comprising the steps of placing the product in a housing and forming in the housing at least one sizing cavity of a specific size and shape, attempting to place a canister separate from the housing within the sizing cavity, and if it fits there within, the product will be the correct size of product to be used with the canister.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    This invention relates to packages which are used for merchandising of products and more particularly to a package which has a function of being able to determine what size product fits with what size article on which the product is to be employed.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    In order to display and merchandise product, it has been common in the past to use a type of package known as a “blister pack”. A blister pack comprises a pair of thin, sheet material, transparent members that are to be matingly connected together with the product that is to be merchandised being captured therebetween. In many instances, there are different sizes of products with each size of product to connect with a separate article and this separate article must be of a particular size for each size of product. Consumers, when purchasing of the product, need to discover which particular product fits with their particular article. The common way to ascertain the correct fit is that on the package itself there is imprinted what size or sizes of articles which the product is to be used with. However, it is common for a consumer to purchase the incorrect product for his or her specific size article. It is therefore common that the blister pack is torn open whereupon the consumer then finds the product, when removed from the package, does not fit his or her article to which it is to be connected. The result is that the consumer places it back within the package, takes it back to the store and obtains a new, hopefully correctly sized, product for his or her article.  
           [0005]    The problem with this scenario is that once the package has been ripped open, it is difficult to sell to a new consumer. The result is the product has to be repackaged. The torn open package is returned to the manufacturer who repackages a product and sends such back to the retail outlet that is merchandising the product. It is common that there is a charge involved in this repackaging which usually amounts to twenty-five percent of the retail cost of the product. The net result is that the profit on that particular product is probably lost by the retail outlet.  
           [0006]    There is a need to design a product package where there are several different sizes of products each to be usable in conjunction with a particularly sized article where the package itself can be utilized to determine the size of the article to which the product is to be used.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    A primary objective of the present invention is to construct a product package to include an article sizing cavity where the article can be physically located in conjunction with the cavity, and if the article fits within the cavity, then the particular product in that package will be the correct size for that particular article.  
           [0008]    A first basic embodiment of the present invention comprises a package that is constructed of a housing having a product receiving chamber. A product is to be located within the product receiving chamber. The housing has at least one sizing cavity of a specific size and shape. An article is to be attempted by the consumer to mate with the sizing cavity, and if the article fits within the sizing cavity, the product will be the correct size for the article.  
           [0009]    A further embodiment of the present invention is where the first basic embodiment is modified by the product having a curved configuration.  
           [0010]    A further embodiment of the present invention is where the curved configuration of product has a plurality of products each of which have a different curvature.  
           [0011]    A further embodiment of the present invention is where the first basic embodiment has a housing which is at least partially transparent in order to visually observe the product contained therein.  
           [0012]    A further embodiment of the present invention is where the first basic embodiment is modified by the sizing cavity being smoothly arcuate.  
           [0013]    A further embodiment of the present invention is where the smoothly arcuate sizing cavity is of a cylindrical configuration.  
           [0014]    A further embodiment of the present invention is where the housing of the package has actually a pair of sizing cavities each of which is of a different size.  
           [0015]    A further embodiment of the present invention is where the cylindrical sizing cavity comprises a hole.  
           [0016]    A further embodiment of the present invention is where the hole sizing cavity has a center axis which is transverse to the longitudinal center axis of the package.  
           [0017]    A further embodiment of the present invention is where the hole sizing cavity has a center axis which coincides with the longitudinal center axis of the package.  
           [0018]    A second basic embodiment of a package for a product is where the product is to be used on the exterior surface of a cylindrically shaped canister. The package comprises a housing composed of an outer member and an inner member with the product to be captured between the outer member and the inner member. The housing has a partly circular first sizing cavity of a first specific diameter. The canister is to be placed within the first sizing cavity, and if the cylindrical shape of the cavity fits within the first sizing cavity, the product will be the correct size for the canister.  
           [0019]    A further embodiment of the present invention is where the second basic embodiment is modified by the housing being transparent in order to observe the product retained therein.  
           [0020]    A further embodiment of the present invention is where the second basic embodiment is modified by the housing having a partly circular second sizing cavity of a second specific diameter and the second specific diameter is different in diameter from the first specific diameter.  
           [0021]    A third basic embodiment of the present invention which comprises a method of packaging a product which uses the steps of forming a housing with a product receiving chamber, placing of the product within the product receiving chamber and forming of at least one sizing cavity on the housing of a specific size and shape.  
           [0022]    A further embodiment of the present invention is where the third basic embodiment is modified by the housing having formed thereon two in number of sizing cavities.  
           [0023]    A fourth basic embodiment of the present invention relates to a method of merchandising a product comprising the steps of placing the product in a housing, forming in the housing at least one sizing cavity of a specific size and shape and attempting to place a canister separate from the housing within the cavity to determine whether the particular size of product that is contained within the package will fit the particular canister.  
           [0024]    A further embodiment of the present invention is where the fourth basic embodiment is modified by the forming of the housing of two in number of housing cavities.  
           [0025]    A further embodiment of the present invention is where the fourth basic embodiment is modified by there being packaged a plurality of different size of products with each product having its own package and each product having its own different sized housing. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0026]    For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is to be made to the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the precise arrangement shown in the drawings.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 1 is a frontal isometric view of the first embodiment of package of the present invention;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 2 is a rear isometric view of the first embodiment of package of the present invention;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view through the first embodiment of package of the present invention taken along line  3 - 3  of FIG. 1;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 4 is a front isometric view of the second embodiment of package of the present invention;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 5 is a rear isometric view of the second embodiment of package of the present invention;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view through the second embodiment of package of the present invention taken along line  6 - 6  of FIG. 4;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 7 is a front isometric view of a third embodiment of package of the present invention; and  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 8 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view through the third embodiment of package of the present invention taken along line  8 - 8  of FIG. 7. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0035]    Referring particularly to the drawings, there is shown in FIGS.  1 - 3  the first embodiment  10  of package of this invention. The first embodiment  10  includes a housing  12 . The housing  12  is formed of two separate sheet material members which are mated together. The two members comprise an outer shell member  14  and an inner shell member  16 . The outer shell member  14  and the inner shell member  16  are secured together normally around the peripheral edge of the housing  12 . This sealing can occur by a physical snap lock system or could comprise a welding technique. Typically, the housing  12  will be constructed of plastic. Also, the housing  12  may be constructed of entirely transparent plastic or at least the outer member  14  being transparent in its central area.  
         [0036]    When the outer shell member  14  is secured to the inner shell member  16 , there is formed therebetween a product receiving chamber  18 . Mounted within the chamber  18  is an arcuately shaped product  20 . The product  20  can take any of numerous forms. However, specifically the package of the present invention has been designed for use in conjunction with a magnetic device that is attachable on the exterior surface of an oil filter canister  22 . An example of such a product is disclosed within U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/817,467 entitled, MAGNETIC ASSEMBLY TO BE APPLIED AGAINST AN OIL FILTER, by the present inventor. For a complete description of the product  20 , one is to be referred to the description in the aforementioned patent application. However, it is to be considered to be within the scope of this invention that the concept of the present invention can be utilized in conjunction with products other than the product  20 .  
         [0037]    Above the product receiving chamber  18  there is located a narrow space  24 . A similar narrow space  26  is located below the product receiving chamber  20 . Within the narrow space  24 , there will normally be mounted some type of advertising indicia or information indicia inscribed on a paper insert  28 . A similar paper insert  30  is located within the space  26 . In the specific embodiment shown in FIGS.  1 - 3 , the outer member  14  is entirely transparent so a person can visually observe not only the product  20  but inserts  28  and  30 .  
         [0038]    In observing FIG. 1- 3 , it can be seen that the basic shape of the housing  12  is that of being curved. The upper section with the paper insert  28  is smoothly arcuate forming a part of a cylinder with the outer shell member  14  being concave and the inner shell member  16  being convex. This convex shape of the inner shell member  16  defines a cavity  32  within the upper section. This cavity  32  is designed in conjunction with the particular size of product  20  to be of a certain minimum diameter. For example, let it be assumed that the product  20 , which also has a part cylindrical configuration, is designed to be placed on and be flush against a canister  22  that is three inches in diameter. A typical canister would be an oil filter canister. There are numerous different oil filter canisters  22 . Canisters  22  frequently vary in size. Therefore, a three inch diameter canister  22  may actually only be 2.90 inches or may be 3.10 inches in diameter. The product  20  is designed to be slightly flexible so it will accommodate to any size canister between 2.90 inches and 3.10 inches. The consumer, when buying of the package, and if the consumer wants to make sure that the product  20  that he or she is purchasing will fit the particular oil filter canister that is required for that consumer, the consumer only needs to place in his or her hand the oil filter canister that he or she requires and insert that in a mating insertion within the cavity  32 . In a normal retail outlet, an oil filter canister will be readily available. If the oil filter canister  22  fits within the cavity  32  or is slightly larger than the cavity  32 , than that tells the consumer that the product  20  may be the correct product for the consumer&#39;s usage. However, there is a second cavity  34  located in the area of the paper insert  30 . This second cavity  34  is of a slightly larger diameter, which in this particular application would be 3.10 inches in diameter. The consumer then takes the same canister  22  and matingly inserts that within the cavity  34 . If the canister  22  fits within the cavity  34 , even if it is a loose fit, it will tell the consumer that now the product  20  is capable of being employed for the particular size of canister  22  for which the consumer desires the product  20  to be used.  
         [0039]    If the canister  22  is larger than the cavity  34 , then that tells the consumer that the particular product  20  is not the correct size and a different model of product  20  needs to be employed, that of a slightly larger diameter. If the canister  22  assumes a loose fit within the cavity  32 , then that tells the consumer that a different model of product  20  is needed, one that is formed of a slightly smaller diameter.  
         [0040]    It is also considered to be within the scope of this invention that the inner surface of the product receiving chamber  18  could be formed into a cavity  36 . This cavity  36  could be designed to be of the precise size that is required for the product  20 , such as for example 3.00 inches. The cavities  32  and  34  could be designed instead to represent different models of the product  20  with cavity  32  to represent the size of a smaller model and cavity  34  to represent the size of a larger model. Therefore, if the consumer finds that the particular canister  22  fits or closely fits to the cavity  36 , then that is the size of the product  20  that is needed for the particular consumer&#39;s installation. However, if the canister  22  fits within the cavity  32  or is smaller than cavity  32 , then that tells the consumer a different model is required of the product  20 , one that has a slightly smaller diameter, such as about 2.80 inches in diameter. However, if the canister  22  fits within the cavity  34  or is larger than cavity  34 , then that tells the consumer that a slightly larger diameter model of product  20  is required, such as 3.20 inches in diameter.  
         [0041]    Referring particularly to FIGS.  4 - 6  of the drawings, there is shown the second embodiment  38  of package of this invention. The second embodiment  38  is formed in basically the same manner of a housing  40  which is formed of an outer shell member  42  and an inner shell member  44 . The product  20  is still mounted within a product receiving chamber  46  which is mounted between the members  42  and  44 . Instead of having arcuate cavities  32  and  34 , there are formed enclosing cavities  48  and  50 . Cavity  48  has a longitudinal center axis  52  and cavity  50  has a longitudinal center axis  54 . The axes  52  and  54  are located parallel to each other. The second embodiment  38  has a longitudinal center axis  56 . It is to be noted that the axes  52  and  54  are located perpendicular to the longitudinal center axis  56 .  
         [0042]    The consumer, when desiring to purchase of the product and wants to discover if the product  20  will fit a particular canister  22 , the consumer only needs to take the canister  22  and attempt to insert such within each of the cavities  48  and  50 . If the canister  22  will fit within the cavity  28  or is slightly larger than cavity  28 , then that indicates to the consumer that the product  20  may be the desirable product size. The consumer then attempts to insert the canister  22  within the cavity  50 , and if the canister  22  fits within the cavity  50  or is slightly smaller, the consumer knows that the product  20  is the correct size for the particular size of canister that is the required oil filter size for the consumer&#39;s vehicle for which the product  20  is being purchased. It is to be noted that within the second embodiment  38  that there is no functional purpose for the cavity  58  which is located in the area of the product  20 .  
         [0043]    Referring particularly to FIGS. 7 and 8, there is shown a third embodiment  60  of packaging of this invention. The third embodiment  60  is again formed of a shell type housing  62  which is formed by matingly abutting together an outer shell member  64  with an inner shell member  66 . The shell members  64  and  66  form a product receiving chamber  68  within which is located the product  20 . Located above the chamber  68  is an enclosing cavity  70  and located below the chamber  68  is a hole  72 . The cavity  70  is to be of smaller diameter then cavity  72 . Cavity  70  could be similar in size to cavity  48  with cavity  72  being similar in size to cavity  50 . The same canister sizing relationship which has been previously described in relation to the second embodiment  38  is to be used with the canister attempting to be inserted in the cavities  70  and  72 . It is to be noted that within the third embodiment  60 , the longitudinal center axis of the cavities  70  and  72  coincide with the longitudinal center axis  74  of the third embodiment  60 .  
         [0044]    From a manufacturing cost point-of view, the second embodiment  38  and the third embodiment  60  will inherently be more expensive to manufacture than the first embodiment  10 . It is for this reason that probably the first embodiment  10  will be the selected embodiment of usage.  
         [0045]    Each of the embodiments  10 ,  38  and  60  can have mounted thereon a hanging tab  76 . The function of the hanging tab  76  is to permit hanging of the package onto a shelf rod, which is not shown. The shelf rod is to be locatable within the hole  78  formed within the hanging tab  76 . However, it is to be within the scope of this invention because of the basic shape of each of the embodiments  10 ,  38  and  60  that these embodiments can merely be set on a shelf instead of actually the package being hung by the hanging tab  76 .  
         [0046]    The third embodiment  60  may also include paper inserts  28  and  30 . The second embodiment  38  will not accommodate the rectangularly shaped inserts  28  and  30 . However, the second embodiment  38  may include disc-shaped paper inserts  80  and  82 .