Abstract:
A packaging device preferably including a clam shell, wherein the clam shell is adapted to encase just a wheel of a wheeled toy.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     This invention is related to packaging for wheeled devices and methods of using the same. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Wheeled devices, such as skateboards, are normally packaged in boxes or some other bulky structures, such as cardboard boxes. Because of the protruding wheels on such devices, such boxes tend to be very large and tend to take up a large amount of space from the moment they are packaged and placed in inventory to the moment they are placed in retail stores. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention may be more readily understood by referring to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a skateboard having a clam shell packaging device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the clam shell packaging device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a traditional pegboard point of sale display with a number of skateboards each hanging from it via the clam shell packaging device of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a traditional pegboard point of sale display with a number of skateboards each hanging from it via the two clam shell packaging devices of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     SUMMARY OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a clam shell packaging device. The clam shell packaging device comprises a clam shell, wherein the clam shell is adapted to at least partially encase a single wheel of a device with wheels. The device with wheels may be a skateboard. The clam shell packaging device may include a toy having wheels wherein the wheels of the toy are encased by the clam shell. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a point of sale display. The point of sale display includes a pegboard; at least one peg extending from the pegboard; and a device having at least one wheel, wherein the wheel is at least partially encased by a clam shell having a tab extending therefrom. Preferably, the tab has an opening the peg passes through the opening. The device may have two wheels, wherein each of the wheels is encased with a clam shell. The device may be a skateboard, wherein the skateboard is hung on the point of sale display, and the skateboard is positioned generally horizontally. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for displaying devices with wheels at a point of sale. The method includes providing a traditional pegboard point of sale display; providing a clam shell packaging device having a tab with an opening therein; at least partially encasing at least one wheel of the device with the clam shell packaging device; and hanging at least two of the devices on the point of sale display. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of reducing space taken up by inventory. The method includes providing a clam shell packaging device comprising a clam shell. The clam shell is adapted to at least partially encase a single wheel of a device with wheels. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device with wheels and a wheel holding device combination. The combination includes a device having at least two wheels and means for supporting each of the at least two wheels such that the device with wheels can hang stably from a pegboard. The means for supporting includes an opening through which a peg on the pegboard may pass. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , the present invention is directed to a clam shell type packing device that encloses at least a portion of at least one of the wheels of a wheeled device, such as a skateboard, and methods of using the same. 
     It will be appreciated that terms such as “front,” “back,” “top,” “bottom,” “left,” “right,” “above,” and “side” used herein are merely for ease of description and refer to the orientation of the components as shown in the figures. It should be understood that any orientation of the components described herein is within the scope of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , the present invention is generally directed to a clam shell structure  10 . As used herein, “clam shell structure” may be referred to as “clam shell packaging device” and/or “packaging device” and/or “clam shell.” Preferably, the clam shell packaging device  10  encases wheel  18  of the wheeled toy  20  snugly, such that when the clam shell packaging device  10  is hanging the wheeled toy  20  on a pegboard  22 , the pegboard  22  is able to support the weight of the wheeled toy  20 . As used herein, “wheeled toy” may refer to “a device with wheels,” “device” and/or any wheeled device with at least one wheel and is not limited to a “toy.” 
     In a preferred embodiment, and as best seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the clam shell packaging device  10  preferably includes tab  12  having opening  14  allowing it to hang via a nail or pegboard peg. In other embodiments, the clam shell packaging device  10  may include more than one tab and/or more than one opening, as long as the wheeled device is stably supported by the pegboard when hung on display. 
     In a preferred embodiment, and referring to  FIG. 1 , the wheeled toy  20  is a skateboard  40 . In other embodiments, the wheeled toy  20  may be any other wheeled device as long as it has at least one wheel. 
     In a preferred embodiment, and referring to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , two clam shell packaging devices  10  encase two wheels  18  and  18   a  (or, alternatively, encase wheels  18   c  and  18   b ) of the wheeled toy  20 . Alternatively, a single clam shell packaging device may encase two wheels. In other embodiments, two side wheels  18  and  18   c  (or, alternatively, wheels  18   a  and  18   b ), may be encased by a single clam shell packaging device, or by two claim shell packaging devices. In yet other embodiments, only a single clam shell device encases a single wheel on the wheeled toy. 
     In a preferred embodiment, and as best seen in  FIG. 2 , the clam shell packaging device  10  includes two pieces, referred to herein as first piece  10   a  and second piece  10   b . In other embodiments, the clam shell packaging device may be one piece, such as a bi-fold clam shell, or may be three pieces, such as a tri-fold clam shell. 
     In a preferred embodiment, and referring to  FIG. 2 , the first piece  10   a  and the second piece  10   b  may be connected together in a snap lock fashion. As such, the second piece  10   b  preferably includes four projections (referred to herein singly and collectively as “24”) for connecting with the first piece  10   a . The first piece  10   a  preferably includes four depressions (referred to herein singly and collectively as “26”) for receiving the projections  24 . The first piece  10   a  is connected with the second piece  10   b  when the projections  24  are inserted into the depressions  26  in a snap lock fashion. In other embodiments, the first piece  10   a  and the second piece  10   b  may be connected/attached in any other manner such as fasteners, stapling, sealing, glue, Velcro, or the like. 
     In a preferred embodiment, and referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the first piece  10   a  includes tab  12 , and pocket  28  for at least partially encasing wheel  18 . In a preferred embodiment, the second piece  10   b  includes a pocket  30  for at least partially encasing wheel  18 . In addition, the second piece  10   b  preferably includes an opening  32  for receiving truck  34  of a skateboard  40 . In other embodiments, the first piece  10   a  may not include pocket  28  or the second piece  10   b  may not include pocket  30 . For example, the wheel  28  could be nearly or completely encased by pocket  30  without need for pocket  28 . In addition, opening  32  may receive any other device (other than the truck of a skateboard) that supports one or more wheels of the wheeled toy. 
     In a preferred embodiment, when the first piece  10   a  is attached to the second piece  10   b , the clam shell packaging device  10  completely or nearly completely and snugly encases wheel  18 , and the opening  32  at least partially and snugly encases truck  34  of skateboard  40 . In other embodiments, the clam shell packaging device may not completely or nearly completely encase wheel. For example, the clam shell packaging device  10  may at least partially encase wheel  18 . 
     In a preferred embodiment, and as seen in  FIGS. 1-4 , the opening  14  is designed for a pegboard peg  16  or other similar device such as a nail to pass through the opening  14  such that the wheeled toy  20  may be hung on a traditional pegboard point of display  22 . When hung, the weight of the wheeled toy is preferably supported by the pegboard. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the clam shell packaging device  10  is comprised of polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride (“PVC”) and/or polyethylene terephthalate (“PET”). Preferably, the clam shell packaging device  10  is clear. In other embodiments, the clam shell packaging device may be made of any other material or combinations thereof, and/or may not be clear. Preferably, the clam shell packaging device  10  is comprised of a material that allows it to support the wheeled device is hung on display. 
     In a preferred embodiment, use of the clam shell packaging device of the present invention reduces the amount of space needed for storing/displaying the wheeled toys. Preferably, use of the clam shell packaging as opposed to traditional cardboard packaging reduces the storage/display space needed by at least about 25%, more preferably by at least about 30%, and most preferably by at least about 50%, In a highly preferred embodiment, the storage/display space needed is reduced by at least 56%. Accordingly, the distributor/retailer, for example, has more space available to sell other products and thereby potentially make more profits. 
     Alternatives to the clam shell structure include other structures or devices which are able to support a skateboard by at least one wheel while the skateboard is hanging from a pegboard. Thus any means for supporting a skateboard by at least one wheel and preferably two wheels such that the skateboard can be stably hung from a pegboard and such that the means for supporting includes an opening through which a peg on a pegboard may pass, are within the scope of the present invention. Such structures include in addition to the clam shell structures, hooks which have two ends, one of which supports a wheel and the other of which has an opening through which the peg can extend; and a hanger or other clip-like structure that can clip onto a wheel and which includes a tab or other such structure with an opening through which a peg can extend. 
     While certain embodiments of the invention have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel methods and elements described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the methods and systems described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions.