Abstract:
A display package for presenting saw blades includes a first blister portion having a first extension portion. A second blister portion is coupled to the first blister portion and defines an inner space therebetween. The second blister portion includes a second extension portion. A first disk shaped article is disposed in the first extension portion. A second disk shaped article is disposed in the second extension portion. A separator is disposed in the inner space between the first and second articles.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to packaging for displaying articles and more particularly to displaying saw blades in an offset relationship.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Circular saw blades are typically offered for sale in protective packaging. Typically, the saw blades are presented in the protective packaging hanging on a display rack or standing upright on a shelf. The saw blades may be individually packaged or packaged as a multi-pack.  
         [0003]     Often a customer is interested in purchasing more than one blade at a time. For instance, a given project may require the use of a fast cutting blade and a finishing blade for example. Sometimes, it is convenient to compare the tooth pattern or other features between such blades. If the blades are packaged singularly, a customer is required to retrieve each desired package for comparison. When blades are offered as part of a multi-pack, the blades are typically stacked, and as a result, it is often difficult to view the features of each blade.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     A display package includes a first blister portion having a first extension portion. A second blister portion is coupled to the first blister portion and defines an inner space therebetween. The second blister portion includes a second extension portion. A first disk shaped article is disposed in the first extension portion. A second disk shaped article is disposed in the second extension portion. A separator is disposed in the inner space between the first and second articles.  
         [0005]     According to other features, the separator includes a first hub arranged thereon extending into the first extension portion and cooperatively engaged with the first blister portion. The separator includes a second hub accepter arranged thereon extending into the second extension portion and cooperatively engaged with a second hub disposed on the second blister portion. The first and second extension portion are laterally offset relative to one another to enable simultaneous viewing of the first and second disk shaped article through the first blister portion. The first extension portion includes a stopper extending into the inner space for engaging the first disk shaped article and precluding the first disk shaped article from rotating. Similarly, the second extension portion includes a stopper extending into the inner space for engaging the second disk shaped article and precluding the second disk shaped article from rotating.  
         [0006]     According to other features, an insert card is disposed in the inner space. The insert card includes a first portion positioned at least partially on a first side of the first disk shaped article. A second portion is positioned at least partially on a first side of the first disk shaped article. A connecting portion extends between the first and second portion at a periphery of the first disk shaped article.  
         [0007]     Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the saw blade packaging according to the principles of the present invention;  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the saw blade packaging shown in an assembled position;  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the saw blade packaging;  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is an exploded sectional view of the saw blade packaging taken vertically along the front and rear hubs;  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the insert card of the saw blade packaging shown in the unfolded position as a solid line and in the folded position as a phantom line; and  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  is a front view of a separator plate of the saw blade packaging.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0015]     The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.  
         [0016]     With initial reference to  FIGS. 1-3  a display package for presenting saw blades according to the present invention-is shown and generally identified by reference numeral  10 . The display package  10  generally includes a front blister portion  12  and a rear blister portion  14 . The front blister portion  12  includes a front extension portion  22  and an adjacent front recess portion  24 . The rear blister portion  14  includes a rear extension portion  26  and a rear recess portion  28 . The front blister portion  12  and the rear blister portion  14  are coupled together at a common edge  30  that operates as a living hinge for rotating the front blister portion  12  relative to the rear blister portion  14 . The front and rear blister portion  12  and  14  are preferably comprised of transparent plastic.  
         [0017]     A front hub connector  32  centrally extends from the front recess portion  22 . A rear hub  34  centrally extends from the rear extension portion  26 . As will be described herein, the front hub connector  32  and the rear hub  34  define laterally offset mounting axes for receiving a respective front and rear saw blade  36  and  38 . A plurality of male pegs  40  extend from the front blister portion  12  and are received by complementary female slots  42  arranged along the rear blister portion  14  in an assembled position ( FIG. 2 ). Hanging apertures  44  are arranged at the top of the front and rear blister portions  12  and  14 . A stopper  46  is arranged around the perimeter of the front extension portion  22  for cooperating with the front blade  36  to prevent rotation within the package  10 . Similarly, a stopper  48  is incorporated on the rear extension portion  26  for precluding rotation of the rear blade  38  while in the rear extension portion  26 . A cavity  49  is incorporated on the rear blister portion  14  and includes an anti-theft device  50  disposed therein.  
         [0018]     With specific reference now to  FIG. 3 , the display package  10  further comprises a separator  52  disposed between the front blade  36  and the rear blade  38 . A front hub  54  cooperatively engages the front hub connector  32  of the front blister portion  12 . More specifically, the front hub connector  32  is received by and maintains a clearance fit with a relief  58  ( FIG. 6 ) formed on the front hub  54 . The front hub  54  extends through a mounting hole  60  in the front saw blade  36 .  
         [0019]     A rear hub acceptor  64  extending rearwardly from the separator  50 , cooperatively engages the rear hub  34  of the rear blister portion  14 . More specifically, the rear hub  34  is received by the rear hub acceptor  64 . A series of concave portions  66  ( FIG. 6 ) cooperatively interfit within a complementary series of convex portions  67  ( FIG. 3 ) on the rear hub  34  to further secure the separator  52  to the rear blister portion  14  and to preclude rotation of the separator  52  about the rear hub  34 . The rear hub  34  extends through a mounting hole  68  in the rear saw blade  38 .  
         [0020]     An insert card  70  is positioned between the front and the rear blade  36  and  38 . A semi-circular flap  72  is incorporated on a lower portion of the insert card  70 . The semi-circular flap  72  is generally defined by a radial boundary  74  and a linear portion  76 . The insert card  70  includes a central passage  78  to allow viewing of the rear blade  38 . An information card  80  is disposed between the rear blister portion  14  and the rear blade  38  in the rear extension portion  26 .  
         [0021]     As shown most clearly in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the display package presents the front and the rear blade  36  and  38  in an offset relationship to allow each blade  36  and  38  to be simultaneously viewed through the front blister portion  12 . The front hub  54  and the rear hub  34  are laterally offset in the vertical direction. The front recess portion  24  coincides with the overlap presented by the offset hubs  34  and  54 . In this way, a portion of the upper radial surface of the rear blade  38  may be viewed through the front recess portion  24  ( FIG. 2 ).  
         [0022]     Turning now to  FIG. 5 , the insert card  70  will be described in further detail. The insert card  70  is shown in solid line in the unfolded position. A connecting portion  80  extends between a rear portion  82  and a front portion  84 . In the assembled position ( FIG. 2 ), the flap  72  (front portion  84 ) is folded into a generally parallel speed relationship with the rear portion  82 . As a result, the connecting portion  80  occupies a generally perpendicular relationship with the flap  72  and the rear portion  82 . In this way, the connecting portion  80  accommodates the depth  72  sufficient to accommodate the front blade  36  in the assembled position. A notch  88  is provided in the flap  72  for aligning with the stopper  46  incorporated on the front blister portion  12 .  
         [0023]     In the assembled position, the front blade  36  covers at least a section of the rear portion  82  of the insert card  70 . The insert card  70  further includes apertures  90  arranged to coincide with the pegs  40  incorporated on the front blister portion  12 . Mounting passages  92  are provided at the top of the rear portion  82  and coincide with the passages  44  on the front and the rear blister portions  12  and  14 .  
         [0024]     With reference now to  FIG. 6 , the separator  52  will be described in further detail. The separator  52  is generally circular or oval having an outer dimension capable of fitting within the boundary of the front extension portion  22  and the rear extension portion  26 . A plurality of ridges  96  are incorporated along the surface of the separator  52 . The ridges define a depth for offsetting the front blade  36  and the rear blade  38  and further increase structural ridigity of the separator  52 . A relief portion  98  is arranged around the perimeter of the separator  52  for aligning with the stopper  46  of the front blister portion  12 . The separator  52  is preferably comprised of transparent plastic.  
         [0025]     With specific reference again to  FIG. 3 , the information card  80  will be described. The information card  80  is generally circular and incorporates a notch portion  100  for aligning with the stopper  48  incorporated on the rear blister portion  14 . The stopper  48  and the notch portion  100  cooperate to maintain the information card  80  in a desired orientation. The information card  80  may contain product information, instruction or other text.  
         [0026]     With reference now to all the drawings, assembly of the display package will now be described. The front and rear blister portion  12  and  14  are first presented in an opened orientation ( FIG. 1 ). The information card  80  is then placed into the rear extension portion  26  by aligning a central aperture  106  of the information card  80  with the rear hub  34  of the rear blister portion  14 . The notch  100  of the information card  80  is then oriented to receive the stopper  48  of the rear blister portion  14 . The rear blade  38  is then placed within the rear extension portion  26  by aligning the central aperture  68  of the rear blade  38  with the rear hub  34 . The stopper  48  extending from the rear extension portion  26  of the rear blister portion  14  is located between adjacent teeth arranged around the rear blade  38 . If desired, the rear blade  38  can be placed in the rear extension portion  26  with a desired orientation so that a desired text or indicia on the rear blade  38  are visible.  
         [0027]     Next, the separator  50  is placed over the rear blade  38 . As previously described, the rear hub accepter  64  of the separator  52  is disposed around the rear hub  34  in an engaged position. Next, the insert card  70  is placed over the rear blister portion  14  in an unfolded orientation. The front blade  36  is subsequently located onto the front hub  54  of the separator  52 . The flap  72  is then folded to cover a portion of the front blade  36 . The front blister portion  12  is then folded about the common edge  30  so that the slots  42  of the rear blister portion  14  receive the pegs  40  extending from the front blister portion  12 . The stopper  46  extending from the front extension portion  22  of the front blister portion  12  is located between adjacent teeth arranged around the front blade  36 . Complementary outer channels  110  and  112  ( FIG. 1 ) formed around the front blister portion  12  and the rear blister portion  14 , respectively, are press fit together and are then thermoformed or otherwise adhered.  
         [0028]     The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Although the preceding discussion is directed toward a package for displaying saw blades, the same may be used to display other disk shaped articles. Likewise, the display package described may be adapted to contain more than two saw blades by incorporating additional separators and modifying the front and rear blister portions  12  and  14  accordingly to accept additional saw blades. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.