Display package

A display package comprised of a display container section and a hinged cover attached together by a retaining member on the cover and a mating recess in the display container section in which the retaining member is secured. The recess is provided with strategically located overlapping edges and protuberances or undercuts to grip the cover retaining member.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The invention relates to two piece packages in which the cover is distinct 
from the container. More particularly, the invention relates to display 
packages of two piece construction wherein the container mounts the 
article for display and the cover, in the upright position, provides a 
surface for advertising or similar copy. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Boxes comprised of a container section and a separate cover section has 
been known for many years. Similarly, display packages have been popular 
for displaying various articles such as cameras, binoculars, cosmetics and 
many other items which are marketably enhanced by attractive display. 
Typically, the prior efforts at two-piece packages having a cover 
releasibly attached to the box are characterized by tabs on the cover 
member which attach to slots cut into the body of the container section. 
Another early design is the box cover with a depending attachment member 
that fits tightly against the back wall of the container and essentially 
forms a force fit to retain the cover. Illustrative of the prior art 
two-piece containers are Weiss (U.S. Pat. No. 1,058,929), Schoettle (U.S. 
Pat. No. 2,003,224) and Warren (U.S. Pat. No. 1,192,359). 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of the present invention to provide a display package 
separately formed of a display container and a cover. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a display 
container of plastic having an appropriately formed recess to accept a 
retaining member hingedly mounted to the separate cover. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a container 
comprised of a display section and a cover section which cover section in 
the open position is maintained in a stable perpendicular position and 
which provides a surface for advertising or similar copy. 
It is still another object of the invention to provide a package which in 
the closed mode safely stores the article contained therein and in the 
open mode forms an attractive display mount. 
The display package of the present invention is comprised of a flocked 
plastic container member having cavities formed therein which cavities are 
in the contour of the article which the package is adapted to display. The 
container member also has formed therein, in the back surface, a recess 
extending essentially the length of the container which recess is provided 
with overlapping edges on each end and undercuts intermediately disposed 
along the upper edge. A centrally disposed tab extending upwardly from the 
bottom of the recess is also contemplated. 
The cover which, in the preferred form is cardboard, is provided with a 
retaining member hingedly attached to the cover. The retaining member is 
essentially the size of the recess in the container member and is provided 
with a slot through which the tab extending from the bottom of the recess 
can fit. A small finite hinge member between the retaining member and the 
cover edge affords free movement of the cover from the fully closed 
position to an orientation essentially perpendicular to the box when in 
the open position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
The display package 2 of the present invention is provided to display any 
of a variety of articles such as cameras, binoculars, cosmetics, medical 
or electronic equipment, etc. The display package 2 is adapted to 
attractively display the article accommodated by the package and at the 
same time provide a cover which in the open position has the additional 
feature or function of a display surface for advertising or similar copy. 
The display package 2 of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in 
the closed mode is comprised essentially of a container member 4 and a 
cover 6. 
The container member 4 of the display package 2 is molded to afford contour 
fitting cavities 8 for the article which is being displayed. As 
illustrated in FIG. 3, essentially four cavities 8 have been formed in the 
particular display container member 4. Of course, more than or less than 
four cavities 8 can be formed in the container member 4 depending on the 
article being displayed. The container member 4 can be made of many 
different materials. However, vacuum formable plastics such as high impact 
styrene, polyvinyl chloride and acetates are particularly suitable 
materials for the container member 4. In the preferred form the display 
container member is formed of flocked plastic. 
The display container member 4 is also provided with a recess 10 extending 
along essentially the entire length of the rear of the container member 4, 
as best seen in FIGS. 2, 4 and 7. The recess 10 is provided with 
overlapping edge members 14 and 16 at either end and depressions 18 and 20 
immediately below each of the edge members 14 and 16. Protuberances or 
undercuts 22 and 24 are strategically located along the upper edge of the 
recess 10. A tab 26 is also provided to extend upwardly from the bottom of 
the recess 10 at an intermediate position. 
The cover 6 of the present invention is sized to cover the entire display 
container member 4 and is provided with a retaining member 28, best seen 
in FIGS. 3, 7 and 12. The retaining member 28 is essentially the length of 
the recess 10 and is configured to conform to the contour of the recess 
10. The retaining member 28 is provided with edges 30 and 32 which are 
formed on a bias. The edges 30 and 32 thus form an incline which 
facilitates insertion behind the overlapping edge members 14 and 16 in the 
rear of the display container member 4. A centrally disposed opening 34 is 
also provided to cooperate with the tab 26 extending upwardly from the 
bottom of the recess 10, as seen in FIG. 11. A hinge 36 is provided 
between the retaining member 28 and the back edge 38 of the cover 6. The 
hinge 36 extends essentially the length of the retaining member 28. As 
seen in FIGS. 10 and 11, a score line 40 is formed between the hinge 36 
and the retaining member 28 and a second score line 42 is formed between 
the hinge 36 and the back edge 38 of the cover 6. In practice, it has been 
found that a cover of cardboard material such as rigid boxboard or folding 
boxboard is particularly suitable for use as the material for the cover 6. 
A flap 44 which fits within the area of the cover 6 is provided for 
advertising or similar copy. The flap 44 is secured at one edge to the 
cover 6 along the top inside edge 48 of the cover as seen in FIG. 6, and 
can pivot outwardly or nest within the contour of the cover 6. 
Assembly of the display package 2 occurs by inserting the inclined edges 30 
and 32 of the retaining member 28 into the recess 10 with the inclined 
edges 30 and 32 under the overlapping edge members 14 and 16 respectively. 
The depressions 18 and 20 in the recess provide an area into which the 
inclined edges 30 and 32 can be accommodated by virtue of the force 
imposed by the location of the overlapping edge members 14 and 16 as 
illustrated in FIG. 9. The protuberances or undercuts 22 and 24 formed 
along the upper edge of the recess 10 bear against the edge 46 of the 
retaining member and provide further surface to maintain the retaining 
member 28 in the recess 10. The opening 34 fits over the tab 26 extending 
upwardly from the bottom of the recess 10 to complete the force bearing 
members on the retaining member 28. 
As best seen in FIG. 5, the display package 2 can be opened with the 
container member 4 displaying the package contents and with the flap 44 in 
the cover 6 providing a surface for advertising or similar copy.