Abstract:
A container having a spinning wheel for selective display of visually observable information associated with the container, the wheel being mounted within a pocket employing a hub derived from the wheel and fixedly secured within the pocket. A method is disclosed.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application is a non-provisional application claiming priority on U.S. Provisional Application No: 60/477,212 filed on Jun. 9, 2003, entitled Interactive Container with Flap Panel and Spinning Wheel, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
         [0002]    Not Applicable  
         FIELD OF INVENTION  
         [0003]    The present invention relates to containers for consumer goods. It is particularly related to containers formed from a paperboard or paperboard laminate which are useful for retail packaging of CDs, DVDs, cassettes, books, etc. More particularly, the invention relates to packaging for consumer goods wherein the packaging includes graphics and/or words which are changeable by the consumer without opening the container.  
         BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
         [0004]    Packaging for consumer goods which includes graphics and/or words which are changeable selectively by the consumer without opening the container are known in the art, generally. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,053,319 discloses a container for pencils, pens or the like wherein the packaging includes front and back panels which overlie one another and define a thin pocket therebetween. A window is defined in the front panel of the packaging and a wheel displaying graphics and/or words, is rotatably mounted within the pocket. A portion of the wheel is available externally of the pocket to be engaged by a consumer and rotated to display the graphics and/or words printed on that face of the wheel which faces the window. An eyelet is employed to rotatably mount the wheel. This, and similar known rotatably wheel devices incorporated into packaging for consumer goods require some form of a mechanical hub about which the wheel rotates. Eyelets and the like are not readily incorporated into such packaging, hence undesirably add to the cost of the manufacture of the packaging. Further, eyelets have a tendency to become dislodged from the their initial anchoring to the packaging material, which in many instances is thin and of a relatively inexpensive material having little inherent strength for retaining the eyelet.  
           [0005]    Moreover, the known prior art packaging which includes a spinning wheel incorporate the wheel directly into the container itself, thereby limiting the degree of exposure of the printed graphics and/or words on the wheel through an opening in a panel of the container. This limitation of the spinning wheel type consumer packaging has been addressed in other prior art which employs sliding panels mounted within pouches defined between overlying panels of the packaging. The pouches may be integrally formed with the container itself or appended as an integral part of the package itself. These prior devices suffer several disadvantages, including the difficulty of mounting the sliding panel such that a portion thereof is presented to the consumer for grasping to move the panel past a window defined in a covering panel of the container, the need for near full extraction of the panel from its pouch to display the information printed on the panel at the window, the difficulty of precluding the panel from being completely withdrawn from its pouch and potentially damaged or lost as consumers examine the goods before purchase, and the inability to retain the sliding panel within its pouch as the packaged is handled during storage, transport of other handling of the package between the manufacturer and the ultimate consumer of the goods.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a container for consumer goods in particular, which includes a spinning wheel having visibly observable information, such as graphics and/or words, printed on at least one of its opposite flat faces. Preferably, the outer circumference of the wheel is provided with notches and a portion of the notched outer circumference of the wheel projects through an opening of its enclosure for ready access for selective rotation of the wheel.  
           [0007]    In one aspect of the present invention, the wheel is rotatably mounted between opposing panels to define a flat planar appendage to a container. This appendage is anchored along one of its side edges to a side edge or other location on the container thereby permitting the appendage to be freely swung away from the package itself to be accessed by a potential consumer of the goods which are disposed within the container itself. As desired, the appendage may be allowed to swing freely relative the container or it may be releasably bonded to the container in a manner which is readily released by a consumer to more freely access the wheel and/or opposite sides of the appendage for selectively displaying the graphics and/or words on the wheel via a window defined in at least one of the opposing panels between which the wheel is rotatably captured. As desired, graphics and/or words may be provided on both of the opposite flat faces of the wheel and registering windows provided in both of the opposing panels between which the wheel is captured.  
           [0008]    In a further aspect of the present invention, the spinning wheel includes a central hub defined by a disc which has been die cut through the thickness of the wheel. This die cut completely severs a disc from the center of the wheel except for at least one nick which is only of sufficient strength as to retain the disc within the cut out for mechanical assembly of the wheel into the flap panel. This nick is readily severed by rotation of the wheel following its full assembly into the flap panel. The assembly of the wheel within the flap panel includes gluing the opposite flat faces of the disc to respective ones of the front and rear panel members, thereby anchoring the disc, which remains disposed within the central cutout of the wheel, between the front and rear panel members. Thereupon, the disc functions as a hub about which the wheel rotates.  
           [0009]    Still further, in one embodiment of the present invention, contoured supplementary glue flaps are provided in at least partial encirclement of the wheel internally between the opposing panels to enhance the retention of the wheel in position to ensure proper initial and continued registration of the wheel, hence the graphics and/or words on the wheel, with the viewing window in at least one of the front or rear panels. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of one embodiment of a container having a spinning wheel in accordance with various aspects of the present invention;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a representation of one embodiment of a partially assembled flap panel embodying various features of the present invention.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is a laid out view of a blank useful for the formation of a container having a flap panel as depicted in FIGS.  1  and including a plan view of a spinning wheel for incorporation into the container so formed;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a flap panel and taken generally along the line  4 - 4  of FIG. 2;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5A is a plan view of a spinning wheel useful in the present invention;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5B is an enlarged plan view of a disc hub useful for rotational mounting of the spinning wheel depicted in FIG. 5A; and  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 5C is a side elevational view of the disc hub depicted in FIG. 5B. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION  
       [0017]    In the embodiment of the present invention depicted in the accompanying Figures, there is provided a container  10 , which in the depicted embodiment comprises a rectangular box  12  comprising four side panels  14 ,  16 ,  18 , and  20  and first and second end closures  22 ,  24 . One  18  of the four side panels defines a front surface  26  of the box and a further one  14  of the side panels defines a rear surface  28  of the box. These front and rear panels are interconnected by first and second splines  30 ,  32  defined by the side panels  16  and  20 . Each end closure, closure  22  for example, in the depicted embodiment comprises a first panel  34  affixed to the top end  36  of one of the side panels (e.g., the front panel  14 ) and a second panel  38  integrally formed with the distal side edge  40  of the first panel  34 , thereby defining a lid for closing the top end of the box. The second end closure  24  is substantially identical to the first end closure and is integrally formed with the bottom edge  42  of the front panel, for example, to define a closure for the bottom end of the box.  
         [0018]    A flap panel  44  is affixed to the box, preferably being integrally formed with the box. This flap panel  44  includes front and rear panel members  46  and  48 , respectively, which are joined to one another along a fold line  50  and adapted to be folded into overlying relationship (FIGS. 1, 2 and  4 ) and defining a form of pocket  52  (See FIG. 4) therebetween for the receipt therein of a spinning wheel  54  in the pocket. In the depicted embodiment, the front panel member is provided with at least one cutout  56  or window through the thickness thereof. As desired, the rear panel member  48  also may be provided with one or more cutouts or windows  58 , as desired.  
         [0019]    Within the pocket  52  defined between the front and rear panel members of the flap panel, there is received a planar spinning wheel  54  having visually observable information, such as indicia, graphics and/or words, on one or both of the first  56  and second  58  opposite flat faces of the wheel. The wheel is interposed into the pocket and mounted for rotation of the wheel upon a disc-shaped hub  62  which extends between the front and rear panel members and has its opposite flat faces  64  and  66  anchored to respective ones of the front and rear panel members. In a preferred embodiment, the hub  62  of the spinning wheel is defined by a disc  70  which has been die cut through the thickness of the central portion of the wheel (FIGS. 4, 5A and  5 C. This die cut completely severs a disc  70  from the center  72  of the wheel, except for at least one nick  68  which is only of sufficient strength as to retain the disc within the cutout opening  72  in the center of the wheel during mechanical assembly of the wheel and its disc-shaped hub into the pocket defined between the front and rear panel members of the flap panel. This nick is readily severed by rotation of the wheel following its full assembly into the flap panel, thereby freeing the wheel for rotation about the hub.  
         [0020]    The assembly of the wheel within the flap panel includes gluing the opposite flat faces  64  and  66  of the disc hub to respective ones of the front and rear panel members, thereby anchoring the disc hub, which remains disposed within the central cutout  72  of the wheel, between the front and rear panel members. Thereupon, the disc functions as a hub  62  about which the wheel rotates.  
         [0021]    In FIG. 3, there is depicted a blank  74  suitable for use in the formation of a container embodying various aspects of the present invention. The depicted blank includes first and second side panels  14 ,  18  for the formation of a rectangular box  12 , first and second spline panels  30 ,  32  for the box, and first and second end closures  22 ,  24 . A glue panel  76  is provided along the distal side edge  78  of the first side panel  14  and when the blank if folded, this glue panel is bonded to the spline panel  20  to define a collapsible rectangular box as depicted in FIG. 1. Each of the end closures  22 ,  24  in the depicted embodiment includes first and second end panels for example, end panels  34 ,  38  of closure  22 , which are joined along a fold line extending along adjacent side edges of these first and second end panels. The first of the end panels is foldably formed along its side edge  80  to the top end  82  of the first side panel  14 . The second end closure is substantially identical to the first end closure and is foldably attached to the bottom end  84  of the front side panel  14  of the box. Thus, the end closures serve as lids for the top and bottom ends of the box for the entry or removal of contents to or from the box. Dust flaps  84 ,  86 ,  88  and  90  are foldably formed on the top and bottom ends of the splines  16  and  18 , respectively. It is to be recognized that the container of the present invention may assume any of a large variety of geometries, such as rectangular, square, cylindrical, conical, pyramidal, etc.  
         [0022]    As seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and  3 , the container includes a flap panel  44 . The depicted flap panel comprises a front panel member  46  and a rear panel member  48 . In the depicted embodiment, the front and rear panel members are of like size and geometry so that when assembled, these panel members overlie one another. A side edge  92  of the front panel member is integrally formed with the side edge  94  of the second spline panel  20  of the container, thereby rendering the flap panel freely hinged for movement toward and away from the erected box as seen in FIG. 1. A second side edge  94  of the front panel member of the flap panel is integrally formed with an inner side edge of the rear panel member  48  of the flap panel along a fold line  98 . An elongated cutout  100  is interposed along the length of the fold line  98  for purposes of receiving and exposing a portion  102  of the outer circumference  104  of the spinning wheel  54  externally of the flap panel and in position to permit a user to rotate the wheel which is rotatably mounted in the pocket defined between the front and rear panel members of the flap panel. At least the front panel member of the flap panel includes at least one cutout  56  (window) through the thickness of the front panel member at a location consistent with the exposure therethrough of graphics and/or words on the flat face of the spinning wheel disposed in the pocket defined between the front and rear panel members. As desired, multiple cutouts of like or different geometry may be provided for like purposes. Moreover, as desired, the rear panel member of the flap panel also may be provided with one or more cutouts  58  for exposure therethrough of further graphics and/or words on the opposite flat face  66  of the wheel. Such double-sided exposure of the graphics and/or words enhances the ability to provide maximum utilization of the wheel for delivery of information to a user of the container.  
         [0023]    In the depicted embodiment, the distal side edge  106  of the second panel member  48  of the flap panel is provided with first and second supplementary glue flaps  108 ,  110 . Each glue flap is foldable along a respective fold line  112 ,  114  coincident with the distal side edge  106  of the rear panel member  48 , preferably, each glue flap includes glue applied to both of its opposite side surfaces e.g. the front surface  116  and the opposite surface  118  of the glue flap  110  as seen in FIG. 4. Notably, each of these glue flaps includes a contoured portion  120 ,  122  to conform to a portion of the outer circumference of the wheel. Thus, when the glue flaps are folded back against the inner surface  124  of the rear panel member, such glue flaps become fixed in such positions. The definition of the flap panel includes folding of the rear panel member  48  back against the inner surface  124  of the front panel member  46 . When so infolded, the glue flaps, having glue on both their flat surfaces, become disposed between the first and second panel members at locations adjacent the joinder of the flap panel to the container, with their respective contoured portions disposed toward the rotational axis  126  of the wheel. As thus disposed, the glue flaps serve to bond the overlying front and rear panel members to one another, leaving a pocket  52  defined between the front and rear panel members. Further, the contoured portions of the fixed glue panels cooperatively define lateral guides for receiving a portion of the outer circumference of the wheel contiguous to their respective contoured portions. This positioning of the glue flaps enhances the placement of the wheel within the pocket between the front and rear panel members when assembling the flap panel mechanically. Further, in the assembled flap panel, the glue flaps serve as a barrier against lateral displacement of the wheel relative to its rotational axis. This function of the glue flaps is especially of importance in that they are located opposite that portion  102  of the outer circumference  104  of the wheel which is exposed externally of the flap panel and which is the source of forces tending to dislodge the wheel laterally away from its rotational axis during use of the wheel.  
         [0024]    The wheel of the present invention comprises a flat disc  70  having opposite flat faces  64 ,  66  which preferably are suitable for the printing or like marking thereon of indicia, graphics and/or words. The outer circumference  104  of the wheel preferably is provided with curved notches  128  which enhance the ease of rotation of the wheel by a user. Paperboard, a paperboard laminate material, or a generally stiff, printable polymeric material serves suitably in this application.  
         [0025]    It will be recognized by one skilled in the art that the construction of the container to which the present flap panel is attached is of conventional design and structure, and suitably may include various modifications with respect to its size, geometry and the elements comprising the container. The design and construction of the container element of the present invention thus need not be described herein in detail. The container may be formed from a polymeric material, a paperboard, a laminated material, or other commonly used materials for containing consumer products.  
         [0026]    In the depicted embodiment of the present invention, the container is formed from a blank of paperboard which is embossed with appropriate fold lines to permit the shipment of the container in a collapsed state. The construction of the flap panel of the present invention is consistent with this industry practice.  
         [0027]    In the assembly of the depicted embodiment of the present invention, a blank is folded into a container portion whose opposite ends are left open. As depicted, the container includes a flap panel which includes a front panel member and a rear panel member. One side edge of the front panel member is integrally formed with one side edge of the container.  
         [0028]    As described herein, the flap panel further includes a spinning wheel rotatably captured between the front and rear panel members of the flap panel. To this end, and referring particularly to FIGS. 2, 4 and  5 A- 5 C, assembly of the spinning wheel, having its disc hub die-cut from the center of the wheel, but with the disc hub remaining attached in place by means of at least one nick, takes the form of disposing a spot of glue  130  onto the inner surface  124  of the front panel member  46  at the desired location of the rotational axis  126  of the wheel. Thereupon one face of the disc hub while retained in the central opening  72  of the wheel is urged into the glue spot  130  to become adhered to the inner surface of the front panel member. This action further positions the wheel with a portion  102  of its outer circumference  104  projecting through the cutout  100  defined in the fold line between the front and rear panel members.  
         [0029]    Thereupon, a further glue spot  132  is deposited on the inner surface  134  of the rear panel member  48  at a location which ultimately comes into register with the opposite surface  64  of the disc hub and the rear panel member is folded back upon and into overlying relationship to the inner surface  124  of the front panel member. When the rear panel member is so folded back, the further glue spot  132  on its inner surface engages that face  64  of the disc hub opposite the front panel member, thereby effecting bonding of the disc hub non-rotatably between the inner surfaces of the front and rear panel members, and simultaneously effecting an indirect bonding of the front and rear panels in this overlying relationship.  
         [0030]    That portion  102  of the outer circumference of the wheel which projects exteriorly of the distal side edge  136  of the flap panel is thus made available for engaging the circumference of the wheel by a user for rotation of the wheel. Notably such use of the wheel exerts a force directed laterally from the exposed portion of the circumference of the wheel and radially toward the rotational axis  126  of the wheel. Such force normally would be fully absorbed by the hub, hence rendering the hub vulnerable to its dislodgement or destruction as in the prior art hubs. Avoidance of destructive stress or strain upon the hub of the present invention is accomplished by means of one or more supplementary glue flaps  108 ,  110  which are foldably integral with the distal side edge  106  of the rear panel member. As noted herein above, in the depicted embodiment, each glue flap includes an edge portion  120 ,  122  thereof which is contoured to be engaged by the outer circumference  104  of the wheel and to thereby provide lateral (radial) support to the wheel. This function of the glue flap(s), (preferably at least two glue flaps as depicted) enhances the stability of the hub, hence stability of the position of the wheel within the pocket defined between the overlying front and rear panel members of the flap panel, thereby ensuring continuity of registration of the graphics and/or words on the face of the wheel within the viewing window of the front panel. Moreover, the glue on opposite sides of these supplementary flaps(s) provides for additional securement of the front and rear panel members in their desired overlying relationship.  
         [0031]    As thus assembled, the container and the flap panel attached thereto are collapsible into a flat preform for transport to and feeding into a machine which erects the container for the receipt of product therein.  
         [0032]    Whereas the present invention has been described principally in terms of the embodiment depicted in the Figures, it will be recognized by one skilled in the art that the flap panel of the present invention may be attached, either integrally, adhesively, or by other means, to the container. The location of the attachment of the flap panel to the container is a function of the size and/or geometry of the container and/or other factors and is to be selected to most effectively and/or conveniently present the flap panel to the user of the container.  
         [0033]    Further, it will be recognized that indicia, graphics, words or combinations thereof may be applied to one or both of the flat faces of the wheel, and that one or multiple viewing windows may be provided in either or both of the front and rear panel members of the flap panel. The size and shape of the windows may be a function of the information desired to be made visually observable via each such window. Combinations of circular and rectangular windows are depicted in the blank depicted in FIG. 3.