Model vehicle and trading card packaging system

A packaging system for a model vehicle and a trading card. The model vehicle and trading card bear matching serial numbers. Another preferred embodiment includes a display stand for the model vehicle beating a matching serial number.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates generally to a packaging system for a model 
vehicle. More particularly, the present invention relates to a packaging 
system including a model vehicle bearing a serial number and a trading 
card bearing a matching serial number. 
Historically, collectible items have been displayed individually in closely 
supervised areas of retail stores. As floor space and display area costs 
have increased significantly, manufacturers have strived to design 
improved packaging systems which securely retain the products in compact 
and attractive display configurations. Manufacturers have found multiple 
piece products particularly difficult to securely and attractively 
package. Additionally, collectible items such as model vehicles often have 
preferred display orientations which futher complicate packaging 
requirements. 
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved packaging 
system for model vehicles. 
It is a other object of the invention to provide an improved packaging 
system for securely and attractively packaging a model vehicle and a 
trading card bearing matching serial numbers. 
It is another object of the invention to provide a novel packaging system 
for a model vehicle, a display stand and a trading card having matching 
serial numbers. 
It is yet another object of the invention to provide a novel packaging 
system that securely packages a model vehicle, a display stand and a 
trading card having matching serial numbers in preferred display 
orientations. 
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be 
apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments, 
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings described below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring to the Figures and more particularly to FIG. 1, a packaging 
system 10 constructed in accordance with the invention preferably includes 
a substantially rigid paper board sheet 12 of the type known in the art as 
a blister card. A slot 14 is provided in the sheet 12 near the top thereof 
to enable the sheet 12 to be hung on a conventional hook or the like. 
Suitable advertising and descriptive information can be printed on the 
face of the sheet as illustrated in FIG. 1. 
In accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention, a trading 
card 16 is incorporated into the sheet 12 as a unitary part thereof. A 
line 17 surrounding the trading card 16 is printed on the sheet 12 to 
facilitate removal of the trading card 16 from the sheet 12 by means of a 
scissors or the like. Alternatively, the trading card 16 can comprise a 
separate card which is held in place by a display stand 20 as described 
below. Although not fully shown in the Figures, information can be 
conventionally printed on both the front and rear sides of the trading 
card 16. 
A space 11 is preferably left blank on the front side of the trading card 
16 so that a serial number 13 can be located therein. The serial number 13 
can be printed on the trading card 16 or coupled thereto in a variety of 
conventional ways. Preferably, the serial number 13 is printed upon 
adhesive labels 21 comprising gold foil. For ease of production, three 
labels 21 bearing matching serial numbers 13 can be printed at the same 
time. The labels 21 and the printing thereon can be similarly sized, but 
have different sizes in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the 
invention. The serial numbers 13 can be located in a variety of locations 
including those described herein. 
The serial numbers 13 are preferably selected from a sequence of numbers 
and relate to one particular type of vehicle. For example, a sequence of 
serial numbers are produced for sale along with a certain number of model 
vehicles 22 which are copies of a famous race car driven by a well-known 
driver. The trading card 16 bears the serial number and includes 
information relating to the race car and the driver. The range of numbers 
and the corresponding production of the model vehicles 22, trading cards 
16 and display stands 20 are preferably limited to provide a more valuable 
collector's edition product. 
A preformed transparent plastic structure 18 is affixed to the sheet 12 
below the trading card 16. The plastic structure 18 encloses the display 
stand 20 on which the model vehicle 22 is mounted. The plastic structure 
18 can have substantially parallel top and bottom walls and substantially 
parallel side walls as shown in FIG. 1. Alternatively, the plastic 
structure 18 can be shaped to substantially conform to the shapes of the 
model vehicle 22 and the display stand 20. While a miniature race car 25 
is shown for illustrative purposes, it will be apparent to one of ordinary 
skill in the art that the model vehicle 22 can comprise a variety of 
vehicles. 
The model vehicle 22 includes a chassis portion 19 at the bottom of the 
model vehicle 22 as illustrated in FIG. 5. The chassis portion 19 includes 
a flat portion 23 to which one of said labels 21 is preferably coupled. 
As shown in FIG. 4, the display stand 20 includes a planar rear wall 24 
which abuts the front face of the sheet 12 in the package 10 shown in FIG. 
1. The plastic structure 18 includes a planar front wall 26 which abuts 
the front edge 28 of the display stand 20 when the rear flange 30 is 
positioned against the front face of the sheet 12 as shown in FIG. 1. In 
this manner, the display stand 20 is maintained in a fixed position with 
the package 10. 
The display stand 20 includes a base section 30 having a platform surface 
31 on the top. In another preferred embodiment, an upwardly extending 
cylindrical lug 32 extends from the top of the platform surface 31. The 
model vehicle 22 is disposed on the display stand 20 with the wheels 34 of 
the model vehicle 22 resting on the platform surface 31. The lug 32 
extends upwardly into a shallow cylindrical recess 36 provided in the 
bottom of the model vehicle 22. The recess 36 is complementary to the lug 
32 to prevent relative horizontal movement between the model vehicle 22 
and the display stand 20. While the model vehicle 22 and the display stand 
20 are in the package 10, the top wall 38 of the plastic structure 18 
engages the top of the model vehicle 22 and the bottom wall 39 engages the 
bottom of the display stand 20 to prevent relative vertical movement 
between the model vehicle 22 and the platform 31. 
The display stand 20 has a rearwardly canted front wall 40 which can carry 
a sign or the like 41 identifying the model vehicle 22. The display stand 
20 further preferably includes a label portion 43 for a label 21 bearing 
the serial number 13. Extending upwardly from the platform surface 31 at 
the rear thereof are a pair of planar integral tabs 42 and 44 having rear 
surfaces which are coplanar with the rear wall of the platform 31. An 
upwardly extending planar member 46 extends upwardly from the surface 31 a 
short distance forwardly of the tabs 42 and 44 to define a pair of aligned 
slots 48 and 50 for receiving the bottom portion of the trading card 16 as 
shown in FIG. 2. The slots 48 and 50 each have a width when the tabs 42 
and 44 are in the unstressed state which is slightly less than the 
thickness of the trading card 16. Therefore, when the trading card 16 is 
pushed down into the slots 48 and 50, the tabs 42 and 44 firmly grip the 
trading card 16 to hold it in place on the display stand 30. 
Accordingly, the present invention provides a secure and attractive 
packaging system 10 for displaying model vehicles and related accessories. 
In the most preferred embodiments of the invention, the packaging system 
10 enables the model vehicles and accessories to be packaged in preferred 
display orientations for optimal visual impact. 
Certain materials and material properties have been described for 
illustrative purposes. It will be apparent that such descriptions are not 
intended to be exhaustive or limiting. For example, the sheet 12 can 
comprise a wide range of materials suitable for accepting conventional 
printing. As a further example, the display stand 20 can comprise any 
durable material, although preferably metal or plastic are used. 
Accordingly, while preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown 
and described, it will be clear to those skilled in the art that various 
changes and modifications can be made without departing from the invention 
in its broader aspects as set forth in the provided claims.