Abstract:
A packaging device includes a pair of major side panels joined at one end, with opposite ends of the side panels diverging away from one another forming a storage container. A base interconnects the diverging ends of the side panels. The side panels include openings that conform to the shape of a product placed therein. A plurality of retention means are provided to frictionally engage the product. The storage container includes a pair of side panel flaps which enable access to the storage container to insert or remove objects placed therein.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to a packaging device and method for packaging products and more particularly, to a packaging device and method especially adapted to receive products wherein the device utilizes minimum material, yet adequately secures the product within the package, and also provides a storage container integral with the packaging to store product accessories. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    There are many considerations for designing packages that hold various types of products. In addition to the purely functional purpose of holding a particular product for display, the packaging must also be appealing to the consumer, and the packaging preferably highlights features of the product that might be attractive to a consumer. Conventional product boxes and similar packaging have been available for many years. Typically, such product packages include labeling and other indicia placed on the container to identify the product housed therein. 
         [0003]    Although boxes may be a simple and effective means for packaging products, using separate boxes for individual products presents considerable material costs, as well as other packaging concerns such as the bulk size of multiple products that may need to be shipped to consumer locations. 
         [0004]    In addition to reducing the cost of materials in packaging, it is often desirable to have products packaged in a manner that allows the product to be inspected by a consumer prior to purchase. Products that are packaged with hard plastic or plastic shrink wrap material may allow a consumer to view the product; however, the consumer is unable to actually touch the product because of the encapsulation provided by the plastic material. 
         [0005]    With many products, various accessories to include separable components or parts are preferably sold with the product, and some means must be provided for separating the accessories from the product so that the consumer, when opening the packaging, specifically observes the contents of the accessories enclosed. It is known to provide accessories and components of a product in separate plastic containers or dividers in the event cardboard packaging is used. However, the same disadvantages exist with respect to the packaging of accessories in that it may be difficult or impossible for a consumer to fully inspect the product accessories prior to the purchase since the accessories may be hidden from view or encapsulated in a plastic material. Of course, it is desirable to prevent accessories from becoming separated from the product; however, there is still a need for product packaging that allows the consumer to have a greater amount of interaction with the product and accessories prior to purchase. 
         [0006]    In summation, it would be advantageous to increase purchasers&#39; interaction while also providing a minimum amount of packaging material, thereby reducing overall product costs and providing a more environmentally friendly solution for packaging the product. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    In accordance with the present invention, a packaging device and method of packaging are provided. The packaging device is characterized by a folded piece of material that houses a product, and a retention means is used to hold the product within the confines of the packaging device. Additionally, an integral storage container is provided in the folded piece of material to hold product accessories or separable components of the product. As disclosed in the preferred embodiment, the packaging device may be constructed of a single piece of material that is folded and cut into a desired shape, and when assembled, secures the product therein, as well as any product accessories to accompany the product. 
         [0008]    When assembled, the packaging device includes a pair of side panels joined at respective ends, and a base portion which interconnects the opposite ends of the side panels. The base portion also comprises the integral storage container which allows storage of product accessories. The side panels include product openings that are configured to receive the shape of the particular product to be packaged. The retention means extend from these product openings to adequately secure the product. The integral container is formed by a combination of folds and tabs or flanges which create an open space defining the integral container. The retention means may include one or more retention tabs as well as one or more retention extensions that are also formed from the respective side panels in order to hold the product. 
         [0009]    Also disclosed herein is a method of packaging a device and securing a product therein. The method includes the steps of providing a piece of material, or a blank, folding the material into a desired shape, securing ends of the material to form an assembled packaging device, inserting a product in gaps between the packaging device, and activating the retention means to retain the product within the packing device. The method also includes steps of forming the integral container, and loading product supplements therein. 
         [0010]    In addition to providing an aesthetic presentation of the packaged product, the packaging device has a number of utilitarian advantages. First, a minimum amount of material is used to package the product. The product is not completely encapsulated within a package, such as a box, or shrink wrap packaging; therefore, there is savings in packaging materials. Second, the consumer is able to fully view the package product by rotating the product on its longitudinal axis or otherwise rotate the particular shaped product mounted therein. Additionally, the consumer may physically touch a large portion of the product, thereby allowing the consumer to fully inspect the product prior to purchase. The product may also be displayed in different manners, such as by hanging, or the product may be displayed by simply placing the product on a flat surface since the lower surface of the container is also flat. The integral storage container allows the accessories to be sold with the product, and the accessories are adequately secured in the container, but also may be inspected by the consumer. Alternatively, a sealed integral container can be provided, and a window or viewing port may be incorporated on the integral storage container, thereby preventing the consumer from removing the accessories, but still allowing the consumer to adequately inspect the accessories. 
         [0011]    Various other advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art by review of the following drawings, taking in conjunction with the detailed description. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of a first embodiment illustrating the packaging device prior to being assembled; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing the packaging device as it is being assembled; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the packaging device in a nearly fully assembled configuration, and includes a partial cut-away portion to illustrate an interior section of the packaging device; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating a second embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating yet another embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 5  illustrating a product retained by the packaging device along with product accessories housed within the integral storage container. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    A first preferred embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 1-3 .  FIG. 1  is a plan view illustrating the packaging  10  device prior to assembly. The packaging device  10  includes a pair of symmetrical side panels  12  that extend away from a base  14 . Each of the side panels  12  includes at least one retention tab, and as shown, a pair of retention tabs  32 . The side panels  12  further include respective retention extensions  34  that are formed by openings cut in the side panels. Each opening generally defines the product shape, and the retention tabs  32  and retention extensions  34  can be provided in various combinations to frictionally engage the product to be held therein. Thus, while the preferred embodiment illustrates a particular arrangement with respect to the retention tabs and extensions, these can be provided in various other shapes and combinations in order to secure the particular shaped product. The portions of the side panels extending longitudinally outward away from the opening formed in the side panels  12  are defined as closure flaps  16 . As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the closure flaps  16  are folded toward one another and secured to one another. 
         [0019]    A number of fold lines are provided in order to place the packaging device  10  in its assembled configuration. As shown with respect to the base  14 , three fold lines are provided, namely, a centerfold line  18 , and a pair of corner fold lines  20 . The center fold line  18  is simply provided to allow the packaging device to be folded in half during storage. When it is desired to assemble the packaging device, it is folded along corner fold lines  20 , and the closure flaps  16  are drawn toward one another and secured. The base  14  further includes a pair of opposing base flaps  22  which extend laterally away from the longitudinal axis A-A. A cut or notch is formed in the base flaps  22 , thereby defining respective base protrusions  28 . The base flaps  22  are folded toward one another along adjacent fold lines  21 , and overlap the base  14 . One of the side panels  12  further includes a pair of opposing side panel flaps  24 , these panel flaps also extending transversely away from the longitudinal axis A-A. Each of these side panel flaps  24  include an ear  26  and a folded edge  30 . 
         [0020]    As noted above, respective product openings are formed in each side panel  12  to match the shape of the product to be packaged. For the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , retention extensions  34  are illustrated as arcuate-shaped elements spanning between the lateral sides of the side panels  12 . 
         [0021]    Referring specifically to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , assembly of the packaging device  10  is shown. The integral container created when the packaging device is assembled is delimited by the base  14 , the pair of side panel flaps  24 , and the lower portions  13  of the side panels  12 . As specifically shown in  FIG. 3 , the base flaps  22  are folded back against the base  14 , thereby exposing a base slot adjacent the base protrusion  28 , and then the ear  26  is inserted in the base slot. The folded edges  30  are folded at approximately 90° with respect to the side panel flaps  24  so that they reside within the open space defined by the integral container.  FIG. 3  illustrates the packaging device being nearly fully assembled. The closure flaps  16  may be secured to one another as by an appropriate adhesive or connector, such as one or more staples. Additionally, an adhesive may be applied to the facing surfaces of the lower most retention tabs  32 , thereby providing additional support to maintain the container in its closed shape. As also shown, an opening  38  may be formed in the respective closure flaps  16  which allow the packaging device to be displayed on a hanger. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , a second embodiment of the present invention is shown wherein the side panels  40  of the packaging device  10  are of a different shape, and includes a different arrangement of protrusions/retention means  42 . This particular arrangement of the retention means and the opening defined in the side panels  40  can obviously be used to hold or retain a different shaped and sized product. Like reference numbers used in this embodiment correspond to the same structural features illustrated with respect to the first embodiment. 
         [0023]      FIG. 5  illustrates yet another embodiment similar to the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-3 , with the exception that the lower portions  13  of the side panels  12  include an observation window or observation port  44  made of a clear, plastic material. This embodiment of packaging device  10  may be coupled with sealing of the side panel flaps  24  to the base  14  and to the lower portion  13  of the side panels  12  so that the consumer cannot access the accessories stored within the integral storage container, but yet may still view the accessories through the window  44 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 6  shows the embodiment of  FIG. 5  with a product  50  mounted therein. Additionally, the integral storage container includes a plurality of accessories  52  that accompany the product  50 . The particular product illustrated in this figure is a pet toy sold and manufactured by the assignee of the present invention, the product being commercially known as the KONG® Pet Toy. The accessories  52  for this product could include various pet treats. 
         [0025]    Those skilled in the art can envision any number of different types of products that can be used with the packaging device of the present invention, to include various accessories that are normally sold with the particular product. 
         [0026]    By the foregoing, a simple, but effective packaging device is provided. The packaging device incorporates a minimum amount of material, yet may secure various shaped products therein. Incorporation of the retention means allows the packaging device to secure many different shaped products, yet does not substantially add complexity or additional required packaging material. The integral storage container allows accessories to be packaged directly with the product, and allows a user to have a desired amount of interaction with the accessories depending on how the storage container is sealed. 
         [0027]    This invention has been described with respect to various embodiments; however, it shall be understood that various other modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the claims appended hereto.