Unitary package containing souvenir postcard and matching utilitarian item

A package is disclosed containing a picture postcard and a utilitarian item, both the postcard and the telephone card bearing the same illustration. The package is of transparent plastic for simultaneous viewing of both the postcard and the utilitarian item. The postcard can be removed and mailed the same as any souvenir card and the utilitarian item can be separately employed and/or displayed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to packaging for consumer products. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Postal cards which bear a scene or the like on one side and a place for a 
message and an address to which the card can be sent are well known. In 
recent years, prepaid telephone cards have become quite popular. These 
phone cards are usually sold separately in retail stores. These cards can 
be used in certain public telephones to make prepaid long distance calls. 
Such stores also carry postcards bearing images associated with the 
geographical location in which such postcards are sold. 
Since there is much competition for the sale of phone cards, there is a 
need to make phone cards more saleable to the buying public. There is 
quite a bit of competition for display space in retail stores where such 
cards are sold. Also, such prepaid phone cards are usually an impulse buy 
item and displayed in stores near the checkout counters. There is a need 
for catching the attention of a shopper so that the shopper will buy such 
prepaid phone cards. 
A need exists for a package containing both a souvenir postcard and a 
matching prepaid telephone card. 
A need also exists for a package which is transparent with both the 
postcard and the prepaid telephone card visible to the public when such 
package is displayed in a store or the like. 
There is also a need for a package which allows the public to collect such 
postcards, mail them or keep them, and use the telephone card to place 
long distance calls, then save such phone cards as a collectible souvenir. 
There is also a need for a package that contains other items besides a 
prepaid telephone card that also bears the same indicia as the postcard. 
SUMMARY OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a 
package having first and second compartments. A removable picture postcard 
is disposed within the first compartment, and at least one removable 
utilitarian item other than a postal card is disposed within the second 
compartment. Both the postcard and the utilitarian item bear similar 
indicia, such as a pictorial presentation. The package preferably is of 
transparent plastic for simultaneous viewing of both the postcard and the 
utilitarian item. The postcard can be removed and mailed the same as any 
souvenir card and the utilitarian item can be placed in a wallet or purse, 
worn, or otherwise displayed or stored, and when the item is a prepaid 
telephone card, can be saved after use as a collectible. The postcard thus 
can be either mailed to another or saved as a souvenir. 
In a preferred embodiment, two or more utilitarian items can be disposed in 
the second compartment. 
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is 
provided a package having a first compartment and a plurality of second 
compartments. A removable postal card is disposed within the first 
compartment and has indicia on at least one side thereof. A plurality of 
removable utilitarian items are respectively disposed within one of the 
plurality of second compartments. At least one of the utilitarian items 
has indicia on at least one side thereof. 
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become 
apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed 
description. It is to be understood, however, that the detailed 
description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments 
of the present invention, are given by way of illustration and not 
limitation. Many changes and modifications within the scope of the present 
invention may be made without departing from the spirit thereof, and the 
invention includes all such modifications.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the 
drawings. 
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawing, a single package 10 is shown having 
a postal card 11 and a utilitarian item, here a prepaid telephone card 12, 
disposed therein. Any suitable package can be used. However, both postal 
card 11 and telephone card 12 are preferably visible so that the package 
presents an enticing appearance to the potential buyer. Thus, as seen in 
FIG. 2, package 10 may be comprised of a pair of panels 13, 14 hinged at 
integral hinge 15 having inner peripheral ridges 16 on one panel, such as 
panel 13, and inner peripheral grooves 17 on the other panel, such as 
panel 14, adapted to mate and interlock to close package 10. The panels 
13, 14 can be quickly and easily separated by peeling them apart along 
edges 18, 19, respectively, (see also FIG. 1) as is well known in the art. 
Thus, package 10 may be made of a transparent plastic material, preferably 
heat sealed about the edges for security and easily peeled apart to 
provide access to postal card 11 and phone card 12. Thus, as seen in FIGS. 
1 and 2, postal card 1 1 fits into a first compartment defined by the 
inner area of panel 13 bordered by ridge 16. Any suitable dimensions may 
be used but preferably postal card 11 is 4" by 6" as are conventional 
souvenir picture postcards. 
Card 12 is smaller so that it can be carried in one's wallet or a purse or 
the like and is generally about 3 3/8" by 2 1/8". Card 12 is retained in a 
second compartment, for example rectangular compartment 25 (FIG. 2) 
stamped or otherwise formed in panel 14 (extending outwardly away from 
panel 13). 
As seen in FIG. 3, card 11 has indicia 21 thereon which may be a scene or 
image having geographical or historical significance for the area in which 
package 10 are to be sold. Thus, for example, card 11 in FIG. 3 has a 
simulated stylized sun and the letters U.S.A. Card 11 may have indicia on 
the back thereof for writing a message, addressing the card to an 
addressee, etc. 
Card 12, FIG. 1, has indicia 22 in the form of a scene preferably similar 
to that appearing on card 11, e.g., the sun and U.S.A. However, the words 
"Prepaid Phone Card" preferably appear on card 12. Other indicia, such as 
the company issuing the phone card, the price of the card, etc., may 
additionally appear on the card. Telephone instructions may appear on the 
back of the card. The actual location of any indicia, on the front or 
back, of either cards 11, 12 is arbitrary; however, the scenes displayed 
on both cards, such as the sun and U.S.A., are the same. The colors used 
may be those normally associated with the scene depicted, e.g., orange for 
the sun, etc. 
The indicia may be any scenic depiction, such as a photograph, artwork, 
painting, etc. 
Obviously, package 10 is directed to the tourist industry who will see such 
packages in stores or the like located at tourist spots throughout the 
world. The buyer will see a scene having some significance to the area, 
buy the package, mail or save the postcard, then pocket the phone card to 
make long distance calls. After the calls are made, the user can save the 
phone card as another souvenir or collectible. The phone cards may of 
course be of any suitable duration, good for both domestic and 
international calls, priced accordingly. The postcard is used separately 
as a souvenir. 
If desired, multiple postal cards can be disposed within the inventive 
package. For example, two postal cards can be disposed back to back within 
the first compartment. 
As shown in FIGS. 4, and 6-10, in place of, or in addition to, prepaid 
telephone cards, the present invention can also include other utilitarian 
items. Such items include, without limitation, keychains, magnets, in 
particular flexible magnets such as refrigerator magnets, articles of 
clothing 34 such as scarves or headbands, articles of jewelry 35 such as 
lapel buttons, writing instruments 36 such as pens or markers, cigarette 
lighters 37 glasses 38 such as shot glasses, and the like. FIG. 4 
illustrates an alternative package of the invention which includes a 
keychain 32 as the utilitarian item. 
Multiple utilitarian items can also be included in a package according to 
the invention. Thus, two or more items can be included in the same 
compartment. In an alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 5, a postal card 
is disposed in a first compartment, while a keychain 32 and a refrigerator 
magnet 33 are disposed in respective second compartments. In another 
alternative embodiment, a first utilitarian item can be disposed within 
the first compartment and secured to the compartment or to the postal 
card, while one or more additional utilitarian items can be disposed 
within a second compartment or compartments. 
When multiple second compartments are employed, they can be formed on the 
same side of the package or on opposite sides of the package. 
Although a particular embodiment of the invention is disclosed, variations 
thereof may occur to an artisan and the scope of the invention is only 
limited by the scope of the appended claims.