Patent Publication Number: US-2011073500-A1

Title: Container Comprising a Disposable Cleaning Implement And a Method of Promoting the Sale of a Disposable Cleaning Implement

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE(S) TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 11/450,315, filed Jun. 10, 2006, which itself is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 11/141,099 filed May 31, 2005, the contents of these patent applications are hereby incorporated by reference into the present application. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to cleaning devices, and specifically to packaging for a disposable cleaning implement that is capable of picking up and retaining particulate debris located on a fabric surface and a method of promoting the sale thereof. More specifically, a preferred embodiment of the present invention relates to packaging for one or two cleaning implements with an opening enabling consumers to touch and/or manipulate components of the cleaning implements, instructions for using the same, along with various marketing and performance claims. 
     It is common practice in the industry to provide merchandise for sale in boxes, containers and the like made from varying materials. One type of such packaging material is chipboard which is easily formed into a rugged package with a rectangular or square-shaped cross section. The typical chipboard package container provides no visual or physical access to the contents therein. Typically, the package may contain a graphic image of the product along with product usage information and promotional material. 
     However, sealed packaging creates a barrier and separates a potential purchaser from the product. This may be acceptable for established products where the features and functionality of the cleaning implement is readily apparent. However, where features or the functionality of the product are not readily evident by merely looking at the packaging, it can be difficult to market that cleaning product to the consumer. This is particularly true when a new or unique cleaning product is brought to the market. Accordingly, some manufacturers have attempted to provide means in the packaging to operate or at least view features of their products that are best understood when in operation. 
     One example of this approach is the use of cellophane “windows” such that a consumer is able to see features of the packaged product. However, merely viewing a product through a cellophane window gives only a limited visual indication of the design and not the functionality of a particular product. Other packaging, such as is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,059,471 for a flexible toothbrush package, permits a consumer to both see and manipulate the product contained therein. Still other packaging includes CD-ROMs, DVDs and the like in an attempt to market and educate a consumer about a cleaning product. However, this approach does not help market a product at the point of sale, it only helps educate a consumer once the item has been purchased. 
     Therefore, the present invention was developed as a way to provide both visual and physical access to a cleaning item such as a fabric sweeper, while still in the packaging container in an effort to market the product and educate the consumer at the same time. 
     SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, a disposable cleaning implement comprising a clear housing and a cleaning surface is provided. The housing comprises a handle and a cavity defined by the housing comprises a receptacle for particulate debris. The cleaning surface comprises preferably two unidirectional fabric-covered rollers connected to the housing. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, a container comprising at least one disposable cleaning implement is provided. The container comprises a box of thin-walled plastic, cardboard, pressboard or chipboard having a top, bottom, front, back and two sides defining a cavity. An opening defined by two intersecting arcuate cuts is formed in the container wherein a portion of the cleaning surface of the cleaning implement is presented to consumers to be touched and manipulated while the cleaning implement is in the container. In another embodiment, the container houses two cleaning implements such that the cleaning implements are arranged in an opposing manner such that a non-cleaning surface of one cleaning implement and the cleaning surface of the other cleaning implement are presented to consumers. 
     The container may further include instructions for using the disposable cleaning implement. This may include the steps of: a) sliding the cleaning implement side-to-side; and b) disposing the cleaning implement when the implement appears to be either full or to no longer pick up debris. The instructions may be described with text or depicted visually with graphics. 
     The container may further include marketing claims regarding the cleaning implement. This may include a statement that the cleaning implement lifts and traps pet hair, lint, dust and allergens, from upholstered furniture. The container may further comprise graphics or text indicating that a roller cleaning surface is lightly colored for showing debris retained by the cleaning surface. The cleaning implement may also have a printed pattern, graphic, logo, branding information, or similar information formed on the cleaning implement. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of promoting the sale of a disposable cleaning implement such as a fabric sweeper includes the steps of: a) displaying a chipboard container with a opening formed therein with two cleaning implements; and b) arranging a non-cleaning surface of the first cleaning implement and a cleaning surface of the second cleaning implement so that both are simultaneously presented to a consumer. Instructions for use and marketing claims such as described above may also be included as part of the method. 
     These and other aspects, objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood and appreciated from a review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and appended claims, and by reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following description, while indicating preferred embodiments of the present invention, is given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof, and the invention includes all such modifications. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A clear conception of the advantages and features constituting the present invention, and of the construction and operation of typical mechanisms provided with the present invention, will become more readily apparent by referring to the exemplary, and therefore non-limiting, embodiments illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification, wherein like reference numerals designate the same elements in the several views. 
       In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a cleaning implement package with an elongate opening and two cleaning implements according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention, viewed from in front of, above, and the right side of the package; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the package of  FIG. 1 , viewed from in front of, above, and the left side of the package; 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the package of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a rear view of the package of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of one side of the package of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the other side of the package of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of the package of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a bottom view of the package of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an alternative cleaning implement package with an elongate opening according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     In describing the preferred embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, it is not intended that the invention be limited to the specific terms so selected and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. 
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments described in detail in the following description. With reference now to  FIGS. 1-8  in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the disclosure, a packaging container  10  constructed according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in connection with two cleaning implements  12 . 
     The preferred disposable cleaning implement, i.e., fabric sweeper  12 , is partially shown in  FIGS. 1-3 ,  5 ,  7  and  9  and described in greater detail in co-pending U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2006/0265824, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. The fabric sweeper  12  comprises a pair of fabric covered rollers  14  such that when the sweeper  12  is positioned on a fabric surface and moved in a direction generally perpendicularly to the long axis of the sweeper  12 , debris is retained on the fabric surface and transported to a collection chamber defined by a housing  17 . A cleaning surface  15  of the fabric sweeper  12  can be generally defined as the fabric covered rollers  14  while a non-cleaning surface  16  is generally defined as the housing  17 , or handle. 
     In one preferred embodiment, the container  10  is a packaging box comprised of a top section, or panel,  18 , a bottom section  20 , front section  22 , back section  24 , first side section  26  and second side section  28  defining a cavity  29 . An elongate opening  30  is formed in the container  10 . The opening  30  is defined by two generally arcuate edges, lines or cuts  32 ,  34  beginning at a first point  36  in the top section  18 , extending through the front “facing” section  22  and ending at a second point  38  in the second side section  28 . Alternatively, the opening extends through and terminates in the first side section  26 . Moreover, the opening  30  could be formed in any way such that the salient features of the fabric sweeper  12  are both visually and physically presented to consumers. The cuts  32 ,  34  are made to maximize presentation of the fabric sweepers  12  while minimizing the cost of the packaging  10 . 
     Although not limited to these shapes, a portion  39  of the opening  30  in the top section  18  is formed by arcuate cuts into a “shark fin” shape. A portion  40  of the opening  30  extends across the front section  22  with opening-defining edges  32 ,  34  generally equidistant apart. An extension  42  extends into the opening  30  for the placement of a logo or other graphics. A portion  44  of the opening  30  in the second side section  28  converges to and terminates at the aforementioned second point  38 . 
     The container  10  is preferably formed from a thin-walled material such as plastic, cardboard, pressboard, chipboard or a combination thereof. The container  10  is designed to be displayed on a retail shelf with at least the front section  22  readily visible to a potential purchaser. As shown in  FIGS. 1-3  and  7 , in a preferred embodiment, the container  10  contains two cleaning implements, i.e., fabric sweepers  12 , arranged in an opposing manner. A first fabric sweeper  12  is arranged such that the non-cleaning surface  16  faces towards the front section  22  and opening  30  while the cleaning surface  15  faces the back section  24 . A second fabric sweeper  12  is arranged in an opposing manner such that the non-cleaning surface  16  faces the back section  24  while the cleaning surface  15  faces the front section  22  and opening  30 . One preferred container  10  for two fabric sweepers  12  has approximate dimensions of 7 3/32″ wide by 8 7/16″ tall by 3″ deep. 
     In this opposing arrangement, a consumer may easily see, touch, feel and/or manipulate several features of the fabric sweeper  12  including the fabric covered rollers  14  and clear housing  17 . For example, the “shark fin” shaped opening portion  39  in the top section  18  gives a clear view of the housing  17  including a icon showing directions of use and the debris collection chamber if the housing  17  is formed of clear plastic. The opening portion  40  in the front section  22  provides visual and physical access to the rollers  14 . A consumer can therefore touch or manipulate the rollers  14  and feel the fabric covering the rollers to appreciate how the fabric sweeper works. The opening portion  44  on the second side  28  provides further access to the non-cleaning surface  16  and in particular the grip portion of the handle  17 . 
     In another preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 9 , a container  110  contains one fabric sweeper  12 , arranged such that cleaning surface  15  faces towards the front section  122  and opening  130  while the non-cleaning surface  116  faces away from the front section  122 . In this arrangement, a consumer may still see, feel and manipulate the rollers  114  through the opening  130  and see the housing  117  through the “shark fin” portion  139  of the opening  130 . One preferred container  110  for a single fabric sweeper  12  has approximate dimensions of 4¼″ wide by 8 7/16″ tall by 3″ deep. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , the container  10  preferably comprises instructions  47  of use for a potentially purchasing consumer. Instructions for using the fabric sweepers  12  may be communicated to a consumer via consumer-friendly text  48 , photographs, graphical depictions  49 , and the like. By consumer-friendly language, it is meant that consumers would be instructed how to preferably use the product to achieve best results, e.g., “slide the fabric sweeper [ 12 ] side-to-side” and “dispose of the sweeper [ 12 ] when the sweeper [ 12 ] appears full or is no longer picking up debris.” Pictures can be used, either with, or without, words to help make the instructions consumer-friendly such as the preferred “side-to-side” usage. Special packaging design can also be advantageously used to convey instructions in a consumer-friendly fashion. Ergonomic appeal can also make product use more intuitive, either with or without words and pictures. Text  48  on the container  10  may also encourage the consumer to touch and feel the cleaning product  12  inside. 
     The container  10  preferably also comprises marketing or performance statements e.g., performance claims, etc., intended to pique the interest of a potentially purchasing consumer. For example, the marketing claims may include statements such as “lifts and traps pet hair, lint, dust and allergens from your upholstered furniture” while the performance claims may include that “one unit [ 12 ] picks up as much pet hair as [an equivalent number] of lint roller sheets.” 
     A method for promoting the sale of the fabric sweeper  12  may incorporate the sweeper  12  itself, the arrangement of one or two sweepers  12  in a packaging container  10  having an opening  30  formed therein, the instructions of use and the marketing/performance claims. The method consists of the steps of displaying the fabric sweepers  12  in an alternating manner in a container  10  having an opening  30  formed therein. Alternatively, a transparent window can be used instead of an opening to display the fabric sweepers  12 . Instructions and marketing/performance claims similar to those stated above may be present on the packaging container to educate consumers. 
     All the disclosed embodiments are useful in conjunction with consumer goods packaging such as are used for the purpose of packaging cleaning implements, or the like. There are virtually innumerable uses for the present invention, all of which need not be detailed here. All the disclosed embodiments can be practiced without undue experimentation. 
     Although the best mode contemplated by the inventors of carrying out the present invention is disclosed above, practice of the present invention is not limited thereto. It will be manifest that various additions, modifications and rearrangements of the features of the present invention may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept. For example, the package  10  could be enhanced by providing a hologram or LCD screen showing proper usage. Alternatively, the package  10  could have a swatch of fabric material, e.g., velour, affixed to the package for consumers to feel. 
     In addition, the individual components need not be fabricated from the disclosed materials, but could be fabricated from virtually any suitable materials. Moreover, the individual components need not be formed in the disclosed shapes, or assembled in the disclosed configuration, but could be provided in virtually any shape, and assembled in virtually any configuration. It is intended that the appended claims cover all such additions, modifications and rearrangements. Expedient embodiments of the present invention are differentiated by the appended claims. Various other features, embodiments and advantages of the present invention are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter regarded as the invention.