Abstract:
A dual-use product package includes a non-food product, a non-rigid base defining a cavity holding the non-food product, a cover configured to close the cavity, and a closure member fastening the cover to the base. The base is adapted to contain food products once the non-food product is removed from the cavity. Methods of reusing the dual use container include packing a non-food item in the cavity, presenting the dual-use container in combination with the non-food item packed therein at a point of purchase, and configuring the dual use container to be reusable such that a purchaser of the dual use container in combination with the non-food item is able to remove the non-food item without damaging or destroying the dual-use container and repack the dual-use container with a food item. The method may be tailored to appeal to a wide variety of customers and to promote a wide variety of goods and services.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLCATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/535,728 filed Jan. 9, 2004, the complete subject matter of which is which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates generally to product packaging, and, more particularly, to product packaging having independent use apart from packaging the product.  
         [0003]     Often, product packaging serves little purpose to a consumer after the product is removed from the packaging. Product packaging, therefore, is ordinarily discarded by consumers. Accordingly, a great deal of waste is attributable to product packaging. Some product packaging, such as, for example, shoe boxes, may be used for other purposes after footwear has been removed from the boxes, although at least a significant portion of shoe boxes are immediately discarded by consumers.  
         [0004]     Conventionally, footwear has been packaged in cardboard shoe boxes, and the shoe boxes include a rectangular base for holding footwear and a removable lid having downwardly depending sides which are received over the side walls of the base. The cardboard is relatively rigid, which allows multiple boxes to be stacked upon one another in a store or retail outlet display shelf or storage area. The lid is not fastened to the base but simply rests upon it so that the footwear may be readily accessed for inspection or a trial fit with a prospective purchaser.  
         [0005]     Because of their sturdy construction, shoe boxes have sometimes been used as stackable storage boxes and organizers for papers and a host of other items by children and adults. Cardboard shoe boxes, however, were not designed for this type of use, and if they are handled regularly, they easily wear out. Also, because the lid of a shoe box is not fastened or otherwise secured to the base, contents in the box may be inadvertently exposed or spilled from the box as it is handled. While the lid may be taped to the sides of the base to avoid this problem, applying tape to the lid can be inconvenient, and removal of the tape tends to tear the sides of the base and/or the lid, thereby accelerating its demise. Furthermore, conventional shoe boxes typically lack a carrying handle and are therefore inconvenient to transport from place to place.  
         [0006]     On another note, innovative product packaging often positively affects the desirability of a product to consumers. Footwear, for example, has been sold in cardboard boxes for such a long time that it is believed that the public has grown weary of them. For footwear manufacturers, conventional shoe packaging in cardboard boxes presents little opportunity to distinguish their products from other manufacturers.  
         [0007]     It would be desirable to provide alternative product packaging which avoids these and other disadvantages for products such as footwear.  
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     According to an exemplary embodiment, a dual-use product package is provided. The package comprises a non-food product, a non-rigid base defining a cavity holding the non-food product, the non-rigid base being adapted to contain food products once the non-food product is removed from the cavity, a cover configured to close the cavity; and a closure member fastening the cover to the base.  
         [0009]     Optionally, the base is soft-sided, and the closure member comprises a zipper mechanism located at or near a top edge of the base. The cover may be integrally formed with the base, and the cover may be folded over the base in a closed position. The cavity is adapted for use as a lunchbox after the product is unpacked, and the package may include an expandable section configured to hold another non-food product different from the non-food product in the cavity. The package may be convertible into a duffel bag.  
         [0010]     According to another exemplary embodiment, a footwear package comprises a support surface and a plurality of soft side walls extending from the support surface and defining a cavity for holding footwear above the support surface. At least one of the side walls comprises a flap folded over the remaining side walls to define a cover over the cavity, and a zipper is provided for selectively coupling and uncoupling the flap and the remaining side walls.  
         [0011]     According to another aspect of the invention, a method of reusing a footwear package having a base defining a cavity, footwear in the cavity, a cover enclosing the footwear in the cavity, and a zipper engaging the base to the cover is provided. The method comprises unpacking the footwear from the package, and packing at least one lunch item in the package.  
         [0012]     In another aspect of the invention, a method of reusing a footwear package is provided. The method comprises packaging footwear in a lunchbox.  
         [0013]     In still another aspect of the invention, a method for selling a non-food item in combination with a dual-use container, is provided. The method comprises providing a dual-use container having a storage cavity configured to hold one of a predetermined non-food item and a food item, packing a non-food item in the cavity; and presenting the dual-use container with the non-food item packed therein at a point of purchase, wherein a purchaser of the dual use container with the non-food item is able to remove the non-food item and repack the dual use container with a food item.  
         [0014]     In yet another exemplary embodiment, a method for selling a non-food item in combination with a dual-use container is provided. The method comprises providing a dual-use container having a storage cavity configured to hold separately a non-food item and a food item one at a time, packing a non-food item in the cavity, presenting the dual-use container in combination with the non-food item packed therein at a point of purchase, and configuring the dual use container to be reusable such that a purchaser of the dual use container in combination with the non-food item is able to remove the non-food item without damaging or destroying the dual-use container and repack the dual-use container with a food item. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a footwear package according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the footwear package shown in  FIG. 1  opened and ready for use.  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the package shown in  FIG. 2  packed with footwear.  
         [0018]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the package shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  packed with lunch items.  
         [0019]      FIG. 5  is a side view of another embodiment of a footwear package in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0020]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a dual-use product package  10  according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention which may be used to package a non-food product and a food product for transportation and storage therein. As used herein, the terms “food product” or “food item” refer not only to edible food and beverage items, but also complementary items commonly used in conjunction therewith when eating such food and beverage items, including but not limited to beverage holders (e.g., a thermos container, glass, cup or can) and eating utensils, plates and flatware, napkins, salt and pepper shakers, condiments, food warmers, cooling blocks or ice-packs, etc used to prepare, preserve, and aid in the consumption and presentation of edible foods. The food products also include prepackaged food such as LUNCHABLES® packaged meal combinations of Kraft Foods Holdings, Inc., prepackaged juice products, sippy cups, baby bottles and the like.  
         [0021]     The terms “non-food product” or “food item” as used herein includes any and all items which are not food products or food items, including but not limited to footwear, books, magazines and periodicals, clothing related items (e.g., shirts, gloves, socks, hats and stocking caps), toy related items (e.g., toys, dolls, cars, action figures, crayons and coloring books), game-related items (e.g., cards, board games, video games, and game accessories), sports-related items (e.g., balls, gloves, caps, posters and trading cards), entertainment-related items (e.g., music, compact discs, cassettes, dvd&#39;s, movies, and multimedia products), and infant care-related items (e.g., diapers, formulas, lotion and the like).  
         [0022]     As will be explained below, the package  10 , in addition to capably packaging non-food products for point of purchase displays and sale, the package  10  is designed for other purposes than non-food product storage or transportation. As such, the package  10  is believed to be desirable to consumers apart from the associated product and presents distinctive packaging options that may present a welcome change to weary consumers in product areas typically presented for sale in traditional paper or cardboard packaging.  
         [0023]     While in one embodiment, the package  10  is well suited for packaging of a non-food product, as described below, the description hereinbelow is set forth as only one example of potential product packaging which may benefit from the inventive concepts described below. The description herein is therefore set forth for illustrative purposes only, and the invention is not intended to be restricted to any particular type of non-food product, such as footwear products.  
         [0024]     In an exemplary embodiment, the package  10  includes a base  12  and a cover  14  secured to the base. The base  12  includes a bottom support surface  16  and four side walls  18  which collectively define a cavity (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) in which a non-food product (e.g., footwear) may be contained at, for example, a point of purchase display. The cover  14  is secured to the base  12  with a known closure member, such as a zipper mechanism  20 , which extends along upper edges of three of the side walls  18  and corresponding side edges  22  of the cover  14 . A carrying handle  24  is affixed to one of the base side walls  18  for convenient transport of the package  10 .  
         [0025]     In an exemplary embodiment, the base  12  and the cover  14  are fabricated from nylon, canvas, cloth, or other suitable material to form a non-rigid or soft sided, yet structurally sufficient package relative to comparatively rigid cardboard and paper materials conventionally used in non-food product packaging, and especially in comparison to known plastic and metallic materials conventionally used in hard-shell case construction. By employing nylon, canvas, cloth, or another non-rigid material to fabricate a soft shell package  10 , a lightweight yet very durable package may be provided in a comparatively low cost construction. Additionally, a user friendly zipper mechanism  20  is well suited for a soft sided construction of the package  10 . Bulky and difficult to use mechanical closure elements to securely close the cover  14  may therefore be avoided. Alternatively, other known closure members may be employed, including but not limited to Velcro fasteners, snaps, drawstrings, and other closure systems appreciated by those in the art. The package  10  may be liquid impermeable in one embodiment, and the cover  14  may be joined to the base  12  in a liquid impermeable manner to form a seal therebetween.  
         [0026]     Stiffening elements (not shown), such as wire frame elements and the like, may be provided to maintain a desired shape of the cover  14 , the base support surface  16 , and/or the side walls  18  as desired or as necessary for added strength and rigidity of the package  10 . Graphics and multiple colors may be employed on any of the outer surfaces of the package  10 , and the shape of the package  10  may be varied to create distinctly different visual appearances of the package  10 .  
         [0027]     In an exemplary embodiment, the carrying handle  24  is fabricated from a nylon, canvas or other pliable material and is stitched to one of the side walls  24  of the base  12 . Metallic fastening elements, such as screws, are therefore avoided along with their associated expense and assembly challenges. Like the rest of the package, the handle  24  may include stiffening frame elements to ensure a particular shape of the handle  24 , graphics and colors may be employed in the handle  24 , and the handle may be fabricated into a variety of shapes in various embodiments to change the visual appearance of the package  10 . While the illustrated embodiment of the package  10  includes one handle  24 , more than one handle  24  be could provided for transport in more than one orientation when gripped by a user. Alternatively, the handle  24  may be moved to another location on the package  10  for another mode of transport when gripped by a user.  
         [0028]     In an exemplary embodiment, the package includes indicia  26  which in various embodiments may be indicia identifying a source of a non-food item, which may be the same as the non-food item sold in the package  10 . Alternatively, the indicia  26  could indicate the source of a food item which may be stored or transported in the package  10  at a later time. The indicia  26  may include brand names, business names, trademarks, logos or other indicia to promote particular products or services. Additionally, the indicia  26  may be unrelated to either the non-food item sold in the package  10  or food-items which may be used therewith, but the indicia may identify, for example, a sports team, a cartoon character, an entertainment event, an entertainment figure or a movie. Thus, package themes and promotion of related and unrelated items and services may be graphically promoted on one or more of the outer surfaces of the package  10 , including the top and bottom surfaces, and the side surfaces which connect the top and the bottom. Graphics and indicia may be transferred printed, or otherwise applied to the package in a known manner.  
         [0029]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the package  10  with the zipper mechanism  20  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) actuated to uncouple the cover  14  from three side walls  18  of the base  12 . The cover  14  is hingedly attached to the remaining side wall (i.e., the fourth side wall  18  of the base  12 ) along a top edge  32  thereof. The cover  14  is rotated about an axis  30  coincident with the top edge  32  in a direction of arrow A to an opened position wherein the cavity  34  of the base  12  is exposed for packaging of a product (not shown in  FIG. 2 ) above the bottom support surface  36  of the base  12 .  
         [0030]     In an exemplary embodiment, the cover  14  is integrally formed with the rear side wall  18  along the top edge  32 , and the cover  14  is folded over the top edge  32  to the closed position shown in  FIG. 1 . The integral folding construction of the cover  14  with one of the side walls  18  is a further benefit of the soft shell or soft sided construction of the package  10 . Mechanical fasteners, hinge elements and/or or pivotal mounts are avoided, together with their associated cost, while nonetheless reliably securing the cover  14  to the base  12  and while achieving a hinge action of the cover  14  relative to the base  10 . Additionally, as the cover  14  is permanently attached to the base  12  in this construction, the cover  14  may not be inadvertently separated from the base  12 , or possibly even lost, when the package  10  is in use.  
         [0031]     The cover  14  is therefore fixedly attached to the base  12  along the top edge  32 , while the remaining side walls may be secured to the cover  14  with the zipper mechanism  20  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) when the cover  14  is rotated about the axis  30  in the direction of arrow B back to the closed position shown in  FIG. 1 . The cover  14  may therefore be effectively secured to the base  12  along each of the side walls of the base  12  to securely enclose the cavity  34  when a non-food product, such as footwear, is placed therein. Inadvertent exposure or spillage of the product from the base  12  is therefore avoided.  
         [0032]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the package  10  packed with a non-food product such as footwear  40 . In an exemplary embodiment, the footwear  40  is a pair of tennis shoes, although it is appreciated that any type of shoe or footwear for children or adults, or also a non-footwear product, could be employed in another embodiment of the invention. Packing material  42 , such as known packing paper  42 , is provided around the footwear  40  to protect the footwear  40  and prevent movement of the footwear  40  relative to the base  12  when the package  10  is closed as shown in  FIG. 1  and carried with the carrying handle  24 . Additionally, the packing material  42  facilitates stacking of multiple packages  10  upon one another in for example, a point of purchase display. Other types of packing material familiar to those in the art may be used in lieu of paper packing material in alternative embodiments of the invention.  
         [0033]     It is contemplated that the package  10  could be sold in combination with other items. For example, a toy-related item (e.g., an action figure or doll) could be sold with the toy outside the package  10 , while other toy-related items (e.g., action figure or doll accessories) may be packed in the package  10 . Thus, the action figure could be prominently featured in a point of purchase display in a separate container which includes the package  10 . In such an embodiment, when not in use with the toy-related items, the package  10  could be used as a lunchbox. As another example, the package  10  could be packed with a non-food item (e.g., footwear) and sold with an unrelated item (e.g., a toy) wherein the toy is a prominent feature of the point of purchase presentation and the package  10  is a secondary or ancillary feature of the packaged combination.  
         [0034]     For the reasons described above, the package  10  therefore provides a distinctive appearance and a convenient carrying case for a non-food product such as the footwear  40  in a lightweight, durable, and secure construction. An added benefit of this lightweight, durable and secure construction, however, is that the package  10  may capably serve for stowing or transporting other items, such as food products once the product (e.g. footwear)  40  is unpacked from the package  10 .  
         [0035]     By way of example,  FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the package  10  loaded with food product, and more specifically lunch items. In an illustrative embodiment, and as shown in  FIG. 4 , the lunch items includes as a thermos  50 , a wrapped sandwich, a pack of crackers  54 , a pack of cookies  56 , a banana  58  and an apple  60 . It is understood that the lunch items could alternatively include a variety of edible food products, beverage and snack items customary to dietary and eating habits of a particular consumer, as well as condiments, napkins, utensils etc. which ordinarily accompany a prepared lunch meal or snack. The lunch items may be secured in the package  10  with little risk of exposure or spillage of the lunch items from the package, and the zipper mechanism  20  provides easy access to the cavity  34  for packing and unpacking of lunch items.  
         [0036]     The base  12  and the cover  14 , in one embodiment, are fabricated from known insulative materials, or other wise include insulative padding or features, which permit the base  12  and cover  14  to function as a cooler when loaded with food or beverage items. Thus, a meal or snack may be maintained in a hot or cold condition for some period of time for convenience by the user.  
         [0037]     Thus, in the foregoing exemplary embodiment, the package  10  may capably serve as a lunchbox for convenient use of footwear purchasers after the footwear is removed therefrom. The zipper mechanism  20  and the soft sided construction of the package  10  make a user friendly package  10  for food products forming school lunches, work lunches, picnics, etc. and when appropriate colors and graphics are included on the package  10 , the package  10  may serve as a distinctive and attractive lunchbox for children and adults alike.  
         [0038]     Appropriate modifications, such as dividers, tie down straps, etc, may be provided in the cavity  34  of the lunchbox  10  to make the package  10  more amenable for use as a lunchbox. Additionally, identification tags and other accessories may be provided in further and/or alternative embodiments of the invention, and such modifications and accessories may be sold at the point of purchase of the non-food product (e.g., footwear), either separately or together with the footwear package  10 .  
         [0039]      FIG. 5  is a side view of another embodiment of a product package  100  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention. Similar to the package  10  (shown in  FIGS. 1-4 ), the package  100  includes a base  12  having a bottom support surface  16  and side walls  18  which define a cavity (not shown in  FIG. 5 ) in which a non-food product, including but not limited to footwear, may be accommodated.  
         [0040]     An expandable section  102  is integrated into the bottom support surface  16  of the base  12  and includes side walls  104  which are secured to the bottom surface  16  at one end thereof and a bottom wall  106  connecting the side walls  104 . The expandable section  102  may be fabricated from nylon, canvas, cloth, or other suitable material familiar to those in the art. A handle element  106  (shown in phantom in  FIG. 5 ) may be provided on the expandable section  106  to provide a carrying position when the expandable section  102  is expanded from the bottom wall. When not in use, the expandable section may be folded, arranged, or otherwise tucked into the bottom supporting surface  16  of the base  12  in a known manner. When not expanded, the expandable section  102  is substantially transparent, or not visible, to the casual observer and the package  100  looks substantially similar to the package  10  as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 .  
         [0041]     Access to the expandable section may be provided through the bottom support surface  16  of the base, the side walls  104  or the bottom wall  106  in a known manner such as, for example, with a zipper mechanism, Velcro straps and the like as those in the art may appreciate. The expandable section  102  defines an enlarged cavity between the side walls  104  and the bottom wall  106  for stowage and transport of additional items. For example, in one contemplated embodiment, the expandable section  102  is extendible from the base  12  to convert the base  12  into a duffel bag.  
         [0042]     In a duffel bag configuration, the expandable section  102  may accommodate a work-out suit, a towel and small toiletries to be stowed and transported by a user, in addition to a food-product or a non-food product as explained above As such, aside from product packaging, the package  100  may be used as a lunchbox on certain days and as a workout bag on other days, or a combination lunchbox/duffel bag. For example, footwear originally contained in the package  100 , and/or other non-food items may be packed into the expandable section  102  and food-items packed in the base  12  of the package  100  as described above. As another example, the expandable section  102  may include a swimsuit, a towel, suntan lotion, etc., and the base  12  may be used as a lunchbox for a pleasurable afternoon excursion to the beach or to the pool.  
         [0043]     In a further embodiment, the expandable section  102  may be fabricated from an insulative material or materials and serve as an expanded capacity cooler for hiking, camping, boating, or other outdoor activities.  
         [0044]     In still other embodiments, the expandable section  102  may be configured as a shopping bag which may include other purchase items in a retail environment. Thus, for example, if a consumer wishes to purchase a pair of shoes and a shirt, the shirt could be placed in the expandable section  102  during checkout and the consumer could exit the store with the package  100  including both the shoes and the shirt. Graphics may be printed or otherwise placed on the packaging with names, logos, trademarks or other indicia of interest for either the product purchased or the retailer from whom it was purchased.  
         [0045]     While several example configurations have been discussed for the expandable section  102 , it is noted that these are intended only as examples. Other configurations are possible which are encompassed by the scope and spirit of the present invention.  
         [0046]     Distinctive dual-use product packages  10  and  100  are therefore provided in a lightweight, totable form. After the non-food product (e.g., footwear) is unpacked, the durable package  10  or  100  is suitable for everyday use, such as a lunchbox for storing and transporting food products, a duffel bag for carrying other items in addition to food products, or other purposes which complement the non-food product sold in the package. For example, golf shoes could be sold in the package  100  wherein the expandable section is configured to hold golf balls, tees, scorecards, etc. Hiking boots could be sold in a package with an expandable section configured to hold hiking gear. Baseball cleats could be sold in such packages with the expandable section configured to hold a baseball glove, a batting glove and a baseball. Such complementary products could be sold together with the applicable footwear product, or purchased separately by consumers as desired. Countless other products may be sold in such packages  10  or  100  with a variety of products, included but not limited to footwear products.  
         [0047]     Waste is therefore avoided with innovative product packaging which may be desirably used for other purposes use once the product is unpacked, such as in the lunchbox example. The foregoing product packages may further complement the use and enjoyability of the product by stowing and toting the product along with other complementary items needed for an activity which entails use of the product, such as the foregoing footwear examples.  
         [0048]     Optionally, the base  12  and/or cover  14  may be constructed of a rigid material (e.g., metal or plastic) and the cover  14  may be entirely removable from the base  12 . Moreover, the cover  14  may be secured to the base  12  by a fastener other than a zipper, including but not limited to Velcro fasteners, snap-on sealed interfaces, snaps, and the like. The cover  14  may be attached to the base  12  at one point via, for example, a nylon or plastic strap, or a mechanical hinge, such as a metal hinge element.  
         [0049]     The packages  10  and  100  lend themselves to innovative branding, selling and promotion for wide variety of products and services for mass appeal to different groups of consumers. Am exemplary method for selling a non-food item in combination with a dual-use container includes providing a dual-use container (e.g., the containers  10  or  100  described above) having a storage cavity configured to hold separately a non-food item and a food item one at a time. A non-food item (e.g., clothing, footwear, a toy-related item, a sports-related item, a book, a magazine, a game-related item, an entertainment-related item, or an infant care-related item) is packed in the cavity, for example, by closing the aforementioned zipper connecting the cover and a base of the dual-use container, and the dual-use container is presented in combination with the non-food item packed therein at a point of purchase. For the reasons explained above, the dual-use container is configured to be reusable such that a purchaser of the dual use container in combination with the non-food item is able to remove the non-food item without damaging or destroying the dual-use container and repack the dual-use container with a food item. The food-item may constitute an edible food item, a beverage, a beverage holder, utensils, plates, flatware, napkins, condiments, a food warmer, a cooling block, etc.  
         [0050]     By providing indicia on the dual use container, commercial sources of a non-food item and/or a food item may be indicated. Additionally, indicia provided on the dual use container may identify, for example a sports team, a cartoon character, entertainment event, entertainment figure or a movie, wherein said branding indicia is not indicative of a source of the non-food item.  
         [0051]     While the invention has been described in terms of various specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the claims.