Article display package and blank therefor

This package is particularly adapted for carrying an article to display the latter at the point of sale. The package is formed to stand on a shelf or to hang when the article is being displayed. It is created from a unitary paperboard blank and includes product retaining openings with product encircling edges to retain the product in the openings. The preferred embodiment of the package is adapted for use in carrying flashlights along with batteries carried separately by the package.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention is an improvement over U.S. Pat. No. 4,354,598 and relates 
to a display package for retaining an article so that the article is 
displayed at the point of sale either by standing on a shelf or by hanging 
from a hook. In particular, the preferred embodiment of the package of 
this invention is adapted to hold a flashlight, and, separately, batteries 
for operating the flashlight. 
It is known in the prior art to provide specialized packages for containing 
articles so as to display the articles at the point of purchase. These 
packages are typically cards formed from paperboard which may or may not 
employ blister package components to display the article while retaining 
it in the card. This invention relates to an improved form of such a 
package formed from a folded paperboard blank which includes one or more 
openings for insertion of the packaged articles and includes paperboard 
article encircling opening edges for retaining the articles in the 
openings. In the preferred embodiment disclosed herein, the opening edges 
in the blank are particularly configured to contain a flashlight, and an 
additional opening may be provided to cooperate with a blister package to 
separately secure batteries to the package. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The package of this invention is formed from a paperboard blank having 
front and back major panels foldably connected together with an inner 
bottom flap and an outer integral base to create a reinforced triangular 
stand. Each major panel has formed therein an opening, which openings have 
edges which coincide with each other when the blank is folded to the 
erected condition. The opening edges are configured to the shape of a 
flashlight which is inserted into the openings so as to be held, yet 
displayed, by the opening edges and triangular stand. Auxiliary openings 
may also be provided to cooperate with a blister package to separately 
hold batteries for the flashlight. 
It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a package for 
retaining an article while displaying the latter at the point of purchase 
either by standing the package on a shelf or by hanging on a hook. 
It is a further object of this invention to provide a package of the 
character described which is formed from a folded paperboard blank having 
article receiving openings formed therein having opening edges for 
engaging the articles which are disposed in the article receiving openings 
and a triangular stand. 
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a package of the 
character described which is particularly adapted for retaining 
flashlights.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1, a perspective view 
of a preferred embodiment of the package 10, constructed in accordance 
with the invention, with a flashlight 12, and batteries 14 shown in 
phantom. The package 10 includes both a reinforced triangular stand 16 and 
a hanger opening 18 for hanging the package, thus permitting display by 
means of standing on a shelf or hanging. 
The blank, denoted generally 20 in FIG. 2, includes two major panels, a 
front panel 22 and a back panel 24 which are connected to each other by 
means of a fold line 27. The front and back panels 22 and 24 are each 
provided with first article receiving openings 26, both of which have 
edges which are contoured to encircle the shape of the particular 
flashlight to be held in the package 10. Curved flaps 28 extend down into 
the upper ends of the openings 26 from fold lines 29, the flaps 28 serving 
to engage the lens of the flashlight to urge it downwardly against the 
inside of stand 16. 
The front panel 22 is provided with a second article receiving opening 30 
which has edges which are contoured to retain a blister 32, having flanges 
34, in which batteries 14 are contained and secured. The blister 32 and 
batteries therein is inserted in the opening 30 through openings 26 by 
means of a passageway between front and back panels 22 and 24. The 
passageway provides interior communication between openings 26 and 30 and 
is provided by means of the card flexibility and the absence of a glued 
area between front and back panels 22 and 24 in the area between openings 
26 and 30. The passageway extends the full length of the second opening 
30. The front and back panels are appropriately glued in other areas as 
shown in stippled areas 35. 
The reinforced triangular stand 16 is formed at the lower end of the 
package 10 by means of adjacent integral panel portions on the lower ends 
of front panel 22 and back panel 24. The front panel 22 includes a lower 
angled panel portion 36 hingedly connected by means of fold line 38 to the 
major portion of panel 22. At its lower end, opposite the major portion of 
panel 22, the lower angled panel portion 36 has an outer integral base 
panel 40 hingedly connected thereto by means of a fold line 42. Both first 
opening 26 and second opening 30 in said front panel 22 extend into said 
front lower angled panel portion 36. The back panel 24 includes a lower 
angled panel portion 44 which is slightly smaller than panel portion 36, 
hingedly connected by means of fold line 46 to the major portion of panel 
22. At its lower end, opposite the major portion of panel 24, the lower 
angled panel portion 44 has an inner flap 50 with tabs 52 hingedly 
connected thereto by means of fold line 54. A glued area 55 on panel 
portion 40 lies between a fold line 56 and the end 58 of the panel portion 
40. All of the glue, both areas 35 and area 55 are thus on the inside for 
ease of automatic manufacture. 
To erect and assemble the blank 20 to the bulk shipping flattened form 
shown in FIG. 4 and 4a, the front panel 22 is folded along fold line 27 
into register with the back panel and into contact such that adhesive 
areas 35 hold the panels together. The panel portions in the lower end are 
folded as shown in detail in FIG. 4a with glue area 55, adjacent panel end 
58 in adhesive contact with inner flap 50. Panel portion 40 is hinged for 
folding at 56 but opens and remains flat when inner reinforcement flap 50 
is brought down flat and parallel with it to make the triangular base 16 
as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The weight of the flashlight 12 and the battery 
loaded blister 32 thus hold the stand 16 in triangular shape. 
While the preferred embodiment of the package is particularly adapted for 
holding flashlights, it will be readily appreciated that the principles of 
the invention can be applied equally well to packages adapted to hold 
articles other than flashlights. The package of this invention provides 
for positive retention of relatively bulky articles despite the package 
itself being relatively flat. The package can be made from a unitary blank 
which can be folded and glued to form a flattened form of the package 
which is particularly suited for bulk shipment of the packages from the 
point of manufacture to the point of use. The flattened forms can be 
readily expanded to a form ready for reception of the articles to be 
packaged, the expansion being manually or mechanically performable. When 
filled, the packages may be used as a point of purchase display either by 
standing on a shelf or by hanging from a hook. 
Since many changes and variations of the disclosed embodiment of the 
invention may be made without departing from the inventive concept, it is 
not intended to limit the invention otherwise than as required by the 
appended claims.