Abstract:
A combination cosmetic purse and display package whereby an article to be displayed for purchase may be hung on a conventional point-of-purchase display rod and then that portion of the overall package provided for such purpose removed such that the remaining purse portion of the overall package may be used in a conventional manner such as a purse or carrier for cosmetics and personal items and wherein the travel of a slide closure is limited by a fused area of cooperating side panels which form the opening for the package.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     Many cosmetic and beauty care items are sold in packages mounted from point-of-purchase display racks in which a forwardly projecting hook receives a plurality of such packages mounted thereon via an opening through a portion of the package itself. Generally, these packages take the form of a cardboard backing imprinted with advertising indicia or descriptive contents over which a clear bubble pack is formed displaying the contents therein. Once purchased, the packaging is torn away and discarded and the contents, e.g., cosmetics or personal care accessories, placed in the purchaser&#39;s purse or cosmetic case constructed especially for such purpose. Such items include lipsticks, makeup, nail care files and the like.  
         [0002]     Obviously, other articles are sold in this manner and the present invention relates to a device in which not only the aforementioned cosmetics and personal care items can be sold and displayed but for practical purposes almost any type of article. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to cosmetic and personal care items and the term “cosmetic case” in its broadest sense refers to a case or holding package that can be used for any relevant article or articles.  
         [0003]     The cosmetic cases referred to in the present invention normally take the form of a cloth, plastic or leather-like container of a longitudinal overall shape and having an interior compartment or compartments primarily formed by sewing, sealing or otherwise attaching opposed side panels at their top edges and one side edge in a sealing relationship so that articles may be placed and held conveniently within the pouch-type interior provided by such configuration. Preferably, one of the longitudinal sides provides for an opening and which opening may be normally resealed by any convenient mechanism such as a slide fastener, zipper, snaps or springs. Normally the cosmetic case or purse is opaque, that is, not translucent or transparent, such that the case must be opened to view the contents in the interior pouch. On the other hand, the above referred to point-of-purchase and display packages are generally provided with a transparent or translucent front package face so that the contents therein can be easily viewed. Other than the aforementioned fact regarding visibility and that the packages are provided with a top opening through which they may be suspended from the forwardly projecting hook, the display packages may take almost any size, shape or configuration and are generally discarded after the contents thereof have been purchased and removed for use.  
         [0004]     It would be immeasurably convenient, however, if an aesthetically acceptable point-of-purchase display package could be additionally used as a cosmetic case or purse which could accommodate not only the item or items purchased by the consumer but other convenient items as well that may be purchased at a later time or prior thereto. Accordingly, the primary object of the present invention is to provide a point-of-display sales package, which additionally serves as a cosmetic case or purse.  
         [0005]     These and other objects of the present invention are accomplished by the provision of a generally elongated sales display package having opposed generally flexible side panels positioned in face-to-face relationship to each other and including sealed top and side edges to form a interior space between the panels accessible by an opening provided by an unsealed side edge preferably along one of the longitudinal edges thereof. It should be pointed out that normal configuration of such a combination cosmetic purse and display package would be rectangular having opposed upper and lower edges connected by a side edge wherein the opposite side edge has a pair of side panel edges serving to form the opening into the pouch or interior portion of the purse. In addition thereto, one of the upper edges is provided with an extension through which an opening to receive the display hook is formed. Such extension is formed in such a manner that it may be easily removed from the upper edge of the combined purse and display package such that the final configuration would not indicate the original previous use as a display package when utilized as a purse after the purchase of such item.  
         [0006]     Other objects, features and advantages of the invention shall become apparent as the description thereof proceeds when considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]     In the drawings which illustrate the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention:  
         [0008]      FIG. 1  shows the combined package and purse of the present invention displayed from a hook in turn mounted to a pegboard assembly;  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing the manner in which the body extension may be removed;  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  is a front elevational view showing the combined package of  FIG. 2  with the body extension removed;  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  is a top sectional view along the line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged partial sectional view of  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing how the purse assembly or container may be closed by operation of a slide fastener to sealingly engage the two opposed edges thereof;  
         [0015]      FIG. 8  is a front sectional view of a portion of the closed cosmetic purse;  
         [0016]      FIG. 9  is a top view taken along the line  9 - 9  or  FIG. 8 ;  
         [0017]      FIG. 10  is an enlarged view of a portion of  FIG. 9  showing the internal or secondary seal that may be provided for the purse in a closed position;  
         [0018]      FIG. 11  is a view similar to  FIG. 10  but showing the secondary seal in an open position;  
         [0019]      FIG. 12  is a front perspective view similar to  FIG. 1  but showing a modified form of the invention wherein the body extension is removably detachable from the main portion of the purse via a sealed panel that is removed by cutting as illustrated in  FIG. 13 ;  
         [0020]      FIG. 13  is a view similar to  FIG. 12  showing the removal process thereof;  
         [0021]      FIG. 14  is a front elevational view of another embodiment of the invention in which a lock is provided such that the openable side edge cannot be easily tampered with prior to purchase of the package;  
         [0022]      FIG. 15  is a sectional view along the line  15 - 15  of  FIG. 14 ;  
         [0023]      FIG. 16  is a partial elevational view viewed from line  16 - 16  of  FIG. 14 ;  
         [0024]      FIG. 17   a  is a view similar to  FIG. 16  but showing an initial step in inserting the locking member in place;  
         [0025]      FIG. 17   b  is a view similar to  FIG. 16  but showing an intermediate step in the insertion of the locking member;  
         [0026]      FIG. 17   c  is a view similar to  FIG. 16  but showing the locking member fully positioned;  
         [0027]      FIG. 18  is a partial top view of the openable side edge in an open position and being closed by a slide member;  
         [0028]      FIG. 19  is a view similar to  FIG. 18  but showing the openable side edge closed with the slide member positioned adjacent to the combination tactile lock position sensor and stop;  
         [0029]      FIG. 20  is a front elevational view that illustrates still another embodiment of the invention;  
         [0030]      FIG. 21  is an enlarged partial view of  FIG. 20 ; and  
         [0031]      FIG. 22  is a side view of  FIG. 21 .  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0032]     Turning now to the drawings and particularly  FIGS. 1 and 7  thereof, the combination cosmetic purse and display package  10  is depicted. Such includes a purse portion  12  from which an extension panel  14  extends that in turn is provided with an opening  16  particularly adapted to receive the forwardly extending rod  18  of a display rod system  20 . The purse or cosmetic case portion  12  includes front and rear sidewalls or panels  22  and  24  respectively which are disposed in superposed position with respect to each other and connected generally by heat fusion to each other at their peripheral top and bottom edges  26  and  28  and one side edge  30 —the right such side edge  30  being depicted in  FIG. 1  of the drawings.  
         [0033]     The panels  22 ,  24  are preferably composed of flat sheets of a plastic resin such as polyvinyl chloride that is somewhat soft and pliable yet imparts transparent characteristics such that the contents therein may be easily viewed when desired. The opposite longitudinal side edge  32  (the left side edge in  FIG. 1 ) forms an opening  34  through which the contents of the articles both displayed and later carried for use in the interior pocket  25  of the package may be retrieved. Such opening  34  is, in effect, formed by the terminal portions  36  and  38  of the top and bottom sidewalls or panels  22 ,  24  respectively. Such terminal portions or edges  36 ,  38  may additionally be provided with a closure assembly  40  in essence formed by opposed longitudinally extending shaped beads  42  and  44  respectively running the length of the left hand side edge of the panels as viewed in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0034]     As best shown in  FIG. 6 , the running bead  42  on the top panel or sidewall  22  is provided with a pair of downwardly extending fingers  46  that are adapted to extend into the pockets  48  of a similarly shaped pair of fingers  50  formed on bead  44  but extending upwardly rather than downwardly as the case with the fingers  46 . When these beads  42 ,  44  are pressed together, they interconnect thus forming the primary closure assembly  40 . A slide fastener  52  is provided to incorporate convenience and form a positive mechanism by which the beads may be pushed together into a closed position or separated to form an open position. Obviously, other mechanisms may be provided to form the primary closure assembly  40  such as cooperating snaps longitudinally spaced along the side edges  36 ,  38  or even a conventional zipper system or cooperating Velcro hook and loop strips. The overall concept of a combination cosmetic purse and display package  10 , however, is to present a generally low cost yet visually acceptable and operable product, and the sliding bead mechanisms  42 ,  44  meet such criteria. Also when cooperating beads are utilized to form the closure assembly, they may take other configurations than those described above.  
         [0035]     In addition, a secondary closure system  60  may be provided, if desired, and such as best shown in  FIG. 6  comprises a generally U-shaped bead  62  formed on bottom sidewall or panel  24  and having spaced fingers  64  adapted to be received within a somewhat similarly shaped bead  66  provided with laterally spaced U-shaped openings  68  formed on upper sidewall  22  and adapted to receive the fingers  64 . By simply pressing these members or secondary beads  66  and  62  together, a secondary albeit less positive sealing effect is brought about between the sidewalls  22  and  24 .  
         [0036]     In order to utilize the device  10  of the present invention in its initial roll as a sales display package, one or both of the panels  22 ,  24  is provided with an upwardly extending extension panel  14  which is connected to the upper edge  26  of the purse by a weakened line  70  which may comprise perforations  72 . Such weakened line  70  should be disposed above the area that effects sealing between the sidewalls or panels  22 ,  24  at the upper edge  26  and should not interfere with such seal when the weakened line is, in effect, removed either by tearing as shown in  FIG. 3  or by scissors as shown in  FIG. 13  when the weakened line, in effect, is a material panel  74 . Within the extension panel  14 , an opening  74  of any desired configuration to accept the mounting hook  18  is provided. It should be pointed out that in some instances, it might be unnecessary or undesirable to remove the extension panel  14  from the purse  12 —such decision being left entirely up to the purchasing consumer.  
         [0037]     The package  10  may be decorated in various fashions as by imprinting either the front or back panels or sidewalls  22 ,  24  or both with a decorative design and in some cases can either be translucent or function as a visual barrier. It is, however, a desirable feature of the present invention that one of the panels or sidewalls  22 ,  24  be at least translucent and possibly transparent such that when that panel is displayed outermost when the package is being utilized as a display package will enable the merchandise contained therein to be easily viewed by the purchasing consumer. Also and as shown by the drawings, e.g.,  FIG. 6 , in some cases it may be desirable to add a foam or other material pad  80  between the panels  22  and  24  by, in effect, either attaching such pad  80  to the inside surface of one of the panels or sandwiching such between the inside surface of one of the panels and a secondary or intermediate panel  82  provided for such purpose. The secondary or intermediate panel as well as the pad  80  may then be captured in place by the mechanism by which the terminal edges  36 ,  38  and  40  are sealed together—one such mechanism being a heat-sealing of the plastic sheets together. The purpose of the pad is to give some bulk and give some added flexibility to the purse mechanism to simulate a normal cloth-type purse of a more expensive nature. The pad  80  may also supply decoration as when the panels or sidewalls  22 ,  24  are transparent.  
         [0038]     Turning now to  FIG. 14 , several additional features of the present combination purse and display package will be evident. Inasmuch as the slide  52  in use is repeatedly moved back and forth along the terminal portions  36 ,  38  of the top and bottom panels to open and close the opening  34  as desired, some care is advisable considering that the materials forming the various package components are generally pliable plastic sheet material such that excess force on the slide  52  or other areas will not over time eventually cause rupture or partial separation of panel portions  22 ,  24  which form the fused edges  26 ,  28  which in turn partly serve to form the interior pocket  25  in which the articles to be transported/displayed are housed. Accordingly, areas of the panel portions  36 ,  38  adjacent the upper fused edge  26  and the lower edge  28  and the opening  40  are, in effect, spot fused together to form upper and lower tear stops  90 ,  92  respectively.  
         [0039]     As with most slides, the slide  52  is directional, that is, the slide opens or separates the edges  36 ,  38  as it moves upwardly (towards the top of the drawing in  FIG. 20 ) and closes, that is, urges, the edges  36 ,  38  together when moved in the opposite direction. In order to prevent the slide from over contacting upper edge  26 , the upper tear stop  90  is located in the path of the slide  52  and such slide preferably contacts tear stop  90  by riding up slightly over the upstanding peripheral ridge  94  thereof. The ridge  94  is formed when the panels  22 ,  24  are fused together at that location by the action of a heated die. Thus when fully opening the package, the user can sense, that is, feel, a frictional resistance to the slide when it contacts the tear stop  90  and utilize that input to forgo further slide movement. Similarly, the lower tear strip is located adjacent the lower edge  38  and the lower portion of the opening  40 .  
         [0040]     It is desirable to keep the package  10  locked while displayed for purchase so that the merchandise housed therein and readily viewable due to the see thru characteristics of the package cannot be easily removed prior to purchase. To accomplish such, a unique locking system  100  has been provided. Such system includes a locking member  102  that prevents the slide from any substantial longitudinal movement and thus prevents the edges  36 ,  38  from being opened. The locking member may comprise an intermediate slender pin-shaped member or shaft  104  having integral T-shaped heads  106 ,  108  at opposite terminal ends thereof.  
         [0041]     The shaft extends through both edges  36 ,  38  at a point adjacent the inner or proximal face  52   a  of the slide and is preferably positioned thereat by a puncturing tool  110  having a hollow tube  112  with a sharpened end  114  in which the locking member is positioned in a flattened disposition. Thereafter, the edges  36 ,  38  are pierced as shown in  FIG. 17   b  and a plunger (not shown) mounted to slide within the tube  112  is utilized to force the upper head  106  beyond the upper extent of the tube end  114  so that the head  106  by reason of elastic memory reassumes a T-shaped orientation with respect to the shaft  104 . Thereafter, the tube  112  is withdrawn, thus capturing and positioning the locking member to the edges  36 ,  38  by means of the holes  116 ,  118  formed therethrough by the puncturing/positioning tool. As the tool moves through the plastic sheets that form edges  36 ,  38 , the tool forms holes  120 ,  122  therethrough and forms an upstanding crater or ridge  124  as the tool passes through edge  36  at the upper or outer surface thereof.  
         [0042]     Similar structures and puncturing tools are utilized to attach buttons to clothing in lieu of sewing. In addition, other tools with a moderately sharpened end could be used to penetrate the panel edges  36 ,  38  and to form the upset material ridge  124  that serves as the secondary or tactile lock.  
         [0043]     This somewhat circular reverse crater thus presents surface portions slightly above the upper surface of edge  36  and forms a secondary or sensory stop over which the slide  52  must pass after the shaft  104  of the locking member is cut by any suitable means such as scissors, nail clipper, etc. and then the locking member fully removed from the edges  36 ,  38 . In other words, by positioning the locking member adjacent the slide when the slide is in the position where the edges  36 ,  38  are closed together prevents the slide from being opened for unauthorized access to the package interior as when on display at the store. Once purchased and the locking member removed, then the slide can freely move to its open position.  
         [0044]     In moving to such open position, the slide does encounter some slight resistance as it contacts the crater  124  which resistance can be felt by the person operating the slide. The crater thus acts as a positioning device or partial stop to keep the slide closed from accidental opening and as a sensing means that provides a tactile feedback to the operator such that she/he recognizes when the stop is being overcome by the slide in the opening procedure. Similarly when the operator is moving the slide to the closed position, the opposite is true, that is, the slide passing over the crater warns the operator that the end of the possible slide travel is approaching and or completed and further closure force is unnecessary.  
         [0045]     While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying this invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.