Patent Publication Number: US-2005133398-A1

Title: Plastic package

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/532,214, entitled “PLASTIC PACKAGE” filed Dec. 23, 2003, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
      The present invention is directed to plastic packaging and more particularly, to A-frame plastic packaging for shipping and display of retail articles.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Plastic packages for shipping and display of retail items, especially small or thin items, typically are designed to be displayed on a peg or in a rack, presenting the consumer with a full view of the package and preferably at least some of some of the contents. However, such packages do not provide a means for unsupported upright display. That is, such packages can not be stood on their end without toppling or, if they do not topple, they are so unbalanced that the slightest touch or vibration will topple the package.  
      Accordingly, there is need for a plastic package that permits the stable upright, unsupported display of the package.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      A package that permits the stable upright, unsupported display of the package, and preferably its contents, is disclosed including a front panel and a rear panel. Preferably, the front and rear panels are connected by a hinge, for example by a living hinge, however, the front and rear panels may be unconnected. In operation, the front and rear panels may be separated to expose an interior volume defined by such panels. The interior volume may be sized and shaped to receive any of a number of types of products, such as a pet door. The package is well-suited to contain dimensionally thin articles.  
      The panels include generally A-frame elements that provide both structural support and aesthetically pleasing characteristics.  
      When in the closed configuration, the package may be placed on a substantially horizontal surface and remain in the upright position. This is achieved by way of peripheral flanges that extend about the peripheral edge of each of the front panel and the rear panel. The peripheral flanges provide engagement edges that stabilize the package on a horizontal surface.  
      In an alternative embodiment, the size of the peripheral flanges may be altered, such as shortened, such that a bottom portion of the package rests substantially on (or substantially close to) a horizontal surface to provide further support when the contents of the package are heavy. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      For the purposes of discussion, there are forms shown in the drawing for the purposes of discussion, it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a package in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a front view of the package of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is a rear view of the package of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 4  illustrates a right elevational view of the package of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 5  illustrates a left elevational view of the package of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 6  illustrates a top view of the package of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 7  illustrates a bottom view of the package of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view illustrating how a retail article may be disposed within the package of  FIG. 1  in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention; and  
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a package in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      In the following description, for purposes of explanation, specific numbers, materials and configurations are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. It will be apparent, however, to one having ordinary skill in the art, that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known features may be omitted or simplified so as not to obscure the present invention. Furthermore, reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a package  100  in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention. The package  100  includes a front panel  102  and a rear panel  104 . In one embodiment, the front and rear panels  102 ,  104  are hinged by way of a living hinge  106 . In another embodiment the panels  102  and  104  are not connected. It will be apparent to those having skill in the art that in some applications it may be required or advantageous to provide a package according to the present invention having separate panels. Now referring to  FIG. 8 , in operation, the front and rear panels  102 ,  104  are separable to expose an interior volume  108  defined by panels  102  and  104 . The interior volume  108  may be sized and shaped to receive any of a number of products. In a preferred embodiment, package  100  is sized and shaped to receive a pet door  110 .  
      Now referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , it can be seen that the panels  102 ,  104  include generally A-frame elements that provide both structural support and aesthetically pleasing characteristics.  
      As best seen in  FIGS. 2, 3  and  8 , the front panel  102  and the rear panel  104  include fastening means for permitting the respective panels to “snap” together and remain in a closed configuration to retain the contents of the package  100  for retail sales. In the embodiment illustrated, the fastening means includes an elongated ridge  124  extending away from a surface of the rear panel  104  and along a peripheral edge thereof. The fastening means also includes a channel  122  within the front panel  102  that correspondingly extends along a peripheral region of the front panel  102  such that it may receive the ridge  124  of the rear panel  104  when the front panel  102  and the rear panel  104  come together. The fastening means may also include one or more additional projections  126  and receptacles  128  disposed on opposite portions of the front and rear panels  102 ,  104 . Other fastening means such as but not limited to sonic, heat or electronic welding, adhesives and the like may be employed alone or in addition to the fastening means disclosed herein, it being recognized by those having skill in the art that some applications of the present invention may require a more secure closure.  
      Now referring to  FIGS. 1, 4  and  5 , when in the closed configuration the package  100  may be placed on a substantially horizontal surface and remain in the upright position (as shown). This is achieved by way of peripheral flanges  112 ,  114 , that extend about the peripheral edge of the front panel  102  and the rear panel  104 , respectively. The peripheral flanges  112 ,  114  provide engagement edges that stabilize the package  100  on a horizontal surface.  
      Now referring to  FIG. 9 , in an alternative embodiment, the size of the peripheral flanges  112 A,  114 A may be altered, such as shortened, such that a bottom portion  116  of the package  100 A rests substantially on or substantially close to a horizontal surface to provide further support when the contents of the package  100 A are heavy. Turning again to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the bottom portion  116  of the package  100  is elevated away from the horizontal surface and does not provide any substantial support to the package  100  when resting on the peripheral flanges  112 ,  114 . In contrast, the peripheral edges  112 A,  114 A illustrated in  FIG. 9  permit the bottom portion  116  of the package  100 A to rest on the horizontal surface to provide support when needed.  
      The package  100  also preferably includes an aperture  130  that is sized and located such that the package  100  may be hung on a display.  
       FIG. 6  illustrates a top view of package  100 , whereby the hinge  106  may be seen as extending from left to right sides of the package  100 .  FIG. 7  illustrates a bottom view of the package  100 , whereby the bottom portion  116  may readily be seen as the front panel  102  and the rear panel  104  are in the closed configuration.  
      The package  100  is preferably formed from a substantially clear moldable polymer, although translucent and/or opaque polymers may also be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.  
      Although the invention herein has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principals and applications of the present invention. It is therefore to be understood that numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.