Combined retail package and carrying case

A retail display formed of a display card and a transparent carrying case and having peripheral indentations along opposing ends of the case, the peripheral indentations having locking edges facing their respective ends of the case, the display card including a pair of sleeves, the periphery of the sleeves conforming in size and shape to the periphery of the carrying case, at least one locking member in each sleeve with the locking members being positioned to oppose their respective locking edges, and the interengagement of the locking edges and the locking members securing the carrying case within the sleeves.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
My invention relates to the field of packaging products for retail display 
and sale. In particular, it relates to a pilferproof display card which 
holds a carrying case for a product, such as a personal care appliance, 
and displays the product. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
When packaging products for retail display, it is desirable to have a 
display window in the package to show the product, or to form a blister 
over the product so that it can be seen, but not readily stolen. This 
packaging is wasteful in that it is promptly thrown away by the purchaser. 
My package uses a permanent, transparent carrying case to hold and display 
the product and yet is formed into an attractive retail display which 
holds the carrying case. 
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
A transparent blow-molded case carries the product being displayed, which 
product could be, for example, a curling iron. The case, which has a 
slidingly removable top, is carried at its two ends by sleeves forming 
part of a display card. The outer ends of the sleeves have been folded 
inwardly to form locking flanges which press against an indented area at 
each end of the carrying case. The flanges in the left sleeve prevent 
moving the case to the left; and the flanges in the right sleeve prevent 
moving the case to the right. This makes it almost impossible to remove 
the case from the card without destroying the card.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
A perspective view of my combined retail package and carrying case 1 is 
shown in FIG. 1. The combination is made up a cardboard retail display 
card 3 and a transparent permanent carrying case 5 showing the product, 
such as a curling iron. 
The carrying case 5 is formed of clear plastic, blow molded, and includes a 
base portion 9 and a top portion 11 with a handle 12 that slidingly fits 
over the top section of the base portion. For reasons to be described 
below, the base portion has a peripheral indentation 9, with inner edge 
10, adjacent the bottom of the case, and the top portion has a peripheral 
indentation 13, with inner edge 14, adjacent the upper edge of the top. 
When the case is closed, the distance between the two indentations 9 and 
13 is the distance "D", shown in FIG. 2. 
The card 3 is formed of a folded and sealed piece of cardboard. It is 
formed such that it has a front sheet 17 (which can carry advertising 
copy) adhered to a rear sheet 19 with two case-engaging sleeves 21 and 22, 
one of which is at each side of the formed card. Sleeves 21 and 22 are 
shaped and dimensioned so as to fit about and hold case 5. Each of the 
sleeves have a rear portion 23, a bottom portion 27, a front portion 31, 
and a top portion 35. 
The sleeves have opposing locking flanges inside their outer ends. Thus, 
sleeve 21 has internal flanges or collars 25A, 29A, 33A, and 37A at its 
outer end ; and sleeve 22 has internal flanges or collars 25B, 29B, 33B, 
and 37B at its outer end. These flanges extend inwardly a distance such 
that the distance between their internal edges is the same distance "D", 
or slightly less, as the distance "D" between the two indentations 9 and 
13. 
Now, as can be seen, the internal flanges engage with the edges of the 
peripheral indentations of the case, and lock it in place. FIG. 4 shows 
the interlocking of locking flange 37B with the edge 10 of the peripheral 
indentation 9 on base portion 7. The other internal flanges 25B, 29B, and 
33B interlock similarly with edge 10. The top 11 is locked in position in 
the same fashion; internal flanges 25A, 29A, 33A, and 39A interlock with 
edge 14 of peripheral indentation 13. The drawings show four locking 
flanges in each sleeve; but, if desired, fewer could be used. 
It should be noted that the locking flanges in the sleeve at one end face 
the locking flanges in the sleeve at the other end, and the edges 10 and 
14 face away from each other. Thus, the flanges and the edges oppose each 
other and interengage. The distance between the opposed locking flanges is 
greater than the distance between the sleeves. 
FIG. 5 shows the card from which the retail package card is formed. The 
card is cut so as to form the inward flanges, 25A and B, 29A and B, 33A 
and B, and 37A and B, associated with sleeve portions 23, 27, 31, and 35, 
respectively. The flanges are folded inwardly on the dotted lines between 
them and the sleeve portions. The card is cut on lines 41 so that areas 45 
and 46 can be reverse folded inwardly. 
The card is then folded on the dotted lines so that the sleeve portions 
project outwardly, forming sleeves 21 and 22, and areas 45 and 46 are 
folded inwardly (FIG. 6) as front sheet 17 is folded up against rear sheet 
19 and adhered to it by adhesive in areas 47. This, then, results in the 
retail package card as shown in FIG. 1. 
The dimensions of the carrying case 5 relative to the sleeves 21 and 22 are 
such that the case can be slid into the sleeves 21 and 22 from one end, 
but will be locked in place by the flanges. Assuming the case is slid 
through sleeve 21 first and then sleeve 22, it can be seen that, as the 
case reaches the far end of the far sleeve 22, the flanges 25B, 29B, 33B, 
and 37B will abut against edge 10 of periphery 9 of base portion 7, 
preventing further movement in that direction. At the same time, flanges 
25A, 29A, 33A, and 37A will snap into periphery 13 of top 11 and abut 
against edge 14. This is due to the spacing "D" between the flanges in the 
sleeves and between the edges 10 and 14 of the carrying case. 
As a result, the respective sets of flanges and abutting edges will prevent 
movement of the case 5 in either direction. The case has been locked into 
the two sleeves and so is held integrally with the card 3; and one must 
almost destroy the sleeves in order to remove the case. This makes the 
combined package pilferproof; yet, at the same time, the package is 
durable and allows the product to be viewed.