Patent Publication Number: US-6986424-B1

Title: Package/container for batteries

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This is a continuation-in-part of my prior application Ser. No. 10/981,648, filed Nov. 5, 2004. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to packaging. More specifically, the invention relates to packaging for sale, display and storage of small household items such as batteries. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Batteries have, for many years, been sold in packaging conventionally known as “blister packs”. These packs include a clear plastic covering over the batteries, which allow the batteries to be seen by the potential customer. Often, batteries are sold in large quantities within the same blister pack. While this packaging is quite helpful in promoting the batteries before sale, it is not entirely useful once the consumer gets the batteries home. 
   With conventional blister packs, the consumer often would open the blister pack to use one or two batteries, then would leave the remaining unused batteries lying loose in the “junk drawer”. Improvements in the blister packs have allowed the consumer to access only the number of batteries needed, then store the remaining unused batteries in the blister pack until needed. However, these packs are still being left in the “junk drawer” or otherwise packed away until a later need. 
   Most devices that use batteries are not generally used or stored in the same location the batteries are stored in. There is therefore a need for battery packaging that retains the before-sale advantages of conventional blister packs, while allowing the batteries to be stored in a protective pack that can be kept in an easily accessible location near where the consumer would typically need the batteries. There is also a need for packaging that allows the consumer access to the individual batteries while the package is stored in such a location. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The storage and display package for batteries is a blister pack that can be removably secured in a vertical position on cabinet doors, sheds and RV walls. The package allows the user to access individual batteries from the front or top of the package, while the package is secured in such locations. The package may have a perforated, removable top section or a re-closeable flap on the front of the package. The package may alternatively include a clip that may be removed from the package and secured in the stated locations with the batteries held in the clip. 
   Using a blister pack design, the package includes a display card that may have indicia printed on it. The display card may include a hole to allow the package to be hung from a hook or peg while on display before sale. A thermoplastic or other clear protective container is secured to the display card. In the case of a thermoplastic container, a heat seal is used around the edges of the container to affix the container to the display card. The container may take any shape that may reasonably hold the product contained within it, but recent conventional blister packs are generally rectangular in shape with indents formed in the thermoplastic to conform the container to the shape of the batteries and better hold the batteries in place. 
   The package has at least one adhesive strip affixed to the back of the display card. The shape and size of the adhesive strip may vary, so long as the strip can support a full battery pack when secured to a vertical surface. 
   In the first described embodiment of the packaging, the display card and thermoplastic container have perforations running across the package. These perforations allow the package to be torn open in such a manner as to create an open topped container. The adhesive strip is affixed to the back of the display card below the perforations, so that when the packaging is opened, the open package may still be secured to the cabinet door, shed wall, RV walls or any other vertical surfaces near where batteries may be needed. The individual batteries may be removed from the open package as needed, leaving the unused batteries in an organized, easily accessible location. 
   In an alternative embodiment, the perforations may only run down from the top edge of the container to a pre-formed crease that runs across the front of the container. A small tab is formed in the display card by a series of perforations. The tab is secured to the top edge of the container using a heat seal. The remainder of the top edge of the container is not sealed to the display card. The tab may be torn from the display card, and the top section of the thermoplastic container may then be pulled forward, folding over the pre-formed crease. This allows the batteries to be removed from the package while retaining the integrity of the remainder of the container so that it may still be used to store batteries. The individual batteries may be removed from the open package as needed, leaving the unused batteries in an organized, easily accessible location. 
   In a third embodiment of the packaging, a clip with a base and a number of gripping arms holds each of the individual batteries and is held within the thermoplastic container. The clip has a small ledge on the bottom of its base that helps to support the batteries as they are held between the gripping arms. The clip also has an adhesive strip affixed to the back of the base. When the packaging is opened and the clip is removed, the clip may be secured to a vertical surface, with the unused batteries still held within the gripping arms of the clip. Other small household items, such as pill bottles and other toiletries, may also be held in the clip. Again, the individual batteries may be removed from the clip as needed, leaving the unused batteries in an organized, easily accessible location. 
   In a fourth embodiment, the blister packaging may be extended at the lower end to allow a reservoir to be formed into the thermoplastic container. The reservoir is defined by a recess formed in the top surface of the battery-accommodating portion. The reservoir is adapted to receive the base end of at least one electric toothbrush, in order to store the toothbrush near the batteries. Any water and toothpaste residue that may slide off of the toothbrush will be collected in the reservoir. 
   In a fifth embodiment, the battery packaging may use a standard clam shell design with a reservoir formed in the battery accommodating portion of the clam shell packaging. The clam shell packaging includes at least one battery-accommodating portion and an opening in the battery-accommodating portion for allowing the user to access the batteries. A sealing edge surrounds the opening on the battery-accommodating portion, the sealing edge having a top end, a bottom end, and two sides. A lid is pivotally connected to the top end of the sealing edge. The lid may mateably engage the sealing edge to close the opening in the battery-accommodating portion of the packaging. The lid may also be pivoted open to allow the user to access the batteries through the opening. 
   The reservoir in the clamshell packaging is defined by a recess formed in the top surface of the battery accommodating portion. The reservoir is adapted to receive the base end of at least one electric toothbrush, in order to store the toothbrush near the batteries. Any water and toothpaste residue that may slide off of the toothbrush will be collected in the reservoir. 
   These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a battery package with perforations as shown and described in present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an opened battery package as shown and described in present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a top view of an opened battery package for four batteries as shown and described in present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a top view of an opened battery package for more than four batteries as shown and described in present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a top view of an opened battery package for rectangular batteries as shown and described in present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a battery package with a front opening flap as shown and described in present invention. 
       FIG. 7  is a top view of a battery package with a front opening flap as shown and described in present invention. 
       FIG. 8  is a top view of an opened battery package with a front opening flap as shown and described in present invention. 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a battery package with a clip as shown and described in present invention. 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a battery and a clip as shown and described in present invention. 
       FIG. 11  is a top view of batteries and a clip as shown and described in present invention. 
       FIG. 12  is an environmental, perspective view of a battery package with a front opening flap and a reservoir as shown and described in present invention. 
       FIG. 13  is a top view of a battery package with a front opening flap and a reservoir as shown and described in present invention. 
       FIG. 14  is an environmental, perspective view of a battery package with a clam shell design and a reservoir as shown and described in present invention. 
       FIG. 15  is a top, perspective view of a battery package with a clam shell design and a reservoir as shown and described in present invention. 
   

   Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The present invention is a storage and display package for batteries, designated generally in the drawings as  20 . The package  20  can be removably secured in a vertical position on cabinet doors, sheds and RV walls. The package  20  allows the user to access individual batteries D from the front or top of the package  20 , while the package  20  is secured in such locations. 
   Using a conventional blister pack design, the package  20  includes a display card  30  that may have indicia printed on it. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the display card  30  may include a hole  32  to allow the package  20  to be hung from a hook or peg while on display before sale. A thermoplastic or other clear protective container  40  is secured to the display card  30 . In the case of a thermoplastic container, a heat seal  42  is used around the edges of the container  40  to affix the container  40  to the display card  30 . The container  40  may take any shape that may reasonably hold the product contained within it, as shown in  FIGS. 3–5 , but recent conventional blister packs are generally rectangular in shape with indents formed in the thermoplastic to conform the container to the shape of the batteries and better hold the batteries in place. 
   The package  20  has at least one adhesive strip  50  affixed to the back of the display card  30 . The shape and size of the adhesive strip  50  may vary, so long as the strip  50  can support a full battery pack  20  when secured to a vertical surface. 
   In the first described embodiment of the packaging  20   a , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the display card  30  and thermoplastic container  40  have perforations  34   a  running across the package  20   a . These perforations  34   a  allow the package  20   a  to be torn open in such a manner as to create an open topped container. The adhesive strip  50  is affixed to the back of the display card  30  below the perforations  34   a , so that when the packaging  20   a  is opened, the open package  20   a  may still be secured to the cabinet door, shed wall, RV wall or any other vertical surface near where batteries may be needed. The individual batteries D may be removed from the open package  20   a  as needed, leaving the unused batteries D in an organized, easily accessible location. 
   In an alternative embodiment of the packaging  20   b , as shown in  FIGS. 6–8 , the perforations  34   b  may only run down from the top edge  44  of the container  40  to a pre-formed crease  46  that runs across the front of the container  40 . A small tab  36  is formed in the display card  30  by a series of perforations  38 . The tab  36  is secured to the top edge  44  of the container  40  using a heat seal  48 . The remainder of the top edge  44  of the container  40  is not sealed to the display card  30 . The tab  36  may be torn from the display card  30 , and the top section  60  of the thermoplastic container  40  may then be pulled forward, folding over the pre-formed crease  46 . This allows the batteries D to be removed from the package  20   b  while retaining the integrity of the remainder of the container  40  so that the container  40  may still be used to store batteries D. The individual batteries D may be removed from the open package  20   b  as needed, leaving the unused batteries D in an organized, easily accessible location. 
   In a third embodiment of the packaging  20   c , as shown in  FIGS. 9–11 , a clip  70  with a base  72  and a number of gripping arms  74  holds each of the individual batteries D and is held within the thermoplastic container  40 . The clip  70  has a small ledge  76  on the bottom of its base  72  that helps to support the batteries D as they are held between the gripping arms  74 . The clip  70  also has an adhesive strip  78  affixed to the back of the base  72 . When the packaging  20   c  is opened and the clip  70  is removed, the clip  70  may be secured to a vertical surface, with the unused batteries D still held within the gripping arms  74  of the clip  70 . Again, the individual batteries D may be removed from the clip  70  as needed, leaving the unused batteries D in an organized, easily accessible location. 
   In a fourth embodiment of the packaging  20   e , as shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , the packaging  20   e  may be extended at the lower end  80  to allow a reservoir  90   e  to be formed into the thermoplastic container  40 . The reservoir  90   e  is defined by a recess  92   e  formed in the top surface  94  of the battery-accommodating portion of the thermoplastic container  40 . The reservoir  90   e  is adapted to receive the base end T of at least one electric toothbrush, in order to store the toothbrush near the batteries D. Any water and toothpaste residue that may slide off of the toothbrush T will be collected in the reservoir  90   e.    
   In a fifth embodiment of the packaging  20   f , as shown in  FIG. 14 , the battery packaging  20   f  may use a standard clam shell design with a reservoir  90   f  formed in the battery accommodating portion  82  of the clam shell packaging  20   f . The clam shell packaging  20   f  includes at least one battery-accommodating portion  82  and an opening  84  in the battery-accommodating portion  82  for allowing the user to access the batteries D. As shown in  FIG. 15 , a sealing edge  86  surrounds the opening  84  on the battery-accommodating portion  82 , the sealing edge  86  having a top end  102 , a bottom end  104 , and two sides  106 . A lid  100  is pivotally connected to the top end  102  of the sealing edge  86 . The lid  100  may mateably engage the sealing edge  86  to close the opening  84  in the battery-accommodating portion  82  of the packaging  20   f . The lid  100  may also be pivoted open to allow the user to access the batteries D through the opening  84 . 
   The reservoir  90   f  in the clam shell packaging  20   f  is defined by a recess  92   f  formed in the top surface  88  of the battery accommodating portion  82 . The reservoir  90   f  is adapted to receive the base end T of at least one electric toothbrush, in order to store the toothbrush near the batteries D. Any water and toothpaste residue that may slide off of the toothbrush T will be collected in the reservoir  90   f.    
   It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.