Patent Publication Number: US-2023159247-A1

Title: Packaging protection arrangement and support element therefor

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This patent application claims the priority benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/282,261 filed on Nov. 23, 2021, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to protective enclosures. More specifically, the present invention relates to protective enclosures used to prevent collectable objects and the packaging thereof from being damaged. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The value of a collectable object is often related to the age and overall condition of the object. To that end, great pains are taken to preserve collectables. Without proper protection, it is extremely difficult to retain the condition and resulting value of an antique or collectable object. Any post hoc operations are largely unable to recapture the full value of collectable merchandise, such as an action figure or figurine, if the original packaging of said figure is damaged. There is therefore a need for a protective enclosure to encase the packaging and thereby preserve the value of the figure. 
     Frequently, collectable merchandise such as figures are sold in packaging that comprises a card portion and a bubble portion glued thereto, an example of such merchandise  10  is shown in  FIG.  1   . In such an arrangement, the card portion  12  is generally a paper stock panel with graphics and information printed thereon. The bubble portion  14  is generally a transparent thin plastic partial enclosure that, when glued to the card portion  12 , defines a sealed enclosure  16  in which the collectable  FIG.  18    is housed for display. The bubble portion  14  is used to protect and display the  FIG.  18   , but the bubble portion  14  itself remains uncovered. Therefore, the bubble portion  14  may be damaged by collisions with external objects, or the bubble portion  14  may become brittle with age. Because the two packaging components (i.e., card portion  12  and bubble portion  14 ) are constructed from different types of materials of varying rigidity/strength/etc., motion between the two components may cause the bubble portion  14  to become partially or completely detached from the card portion  12  over time, thus resulting in a breach and/or complete breakdown of the sealed enclosure  16 . Further, the lack of protection for the bubble portion  14  leaves the bubble portion  14  susceptible to becoming damaged or dislodged by the  FIG.  18    if the  FIG.  18    is able to move relative to the two packaging components. Accordingly, as shown in  FIG.  14   , the  FIG.  18    may eventually break free of the sealed original plastic bubble enclosure  16  and reduce the overall value of the collectable object. 
     Attempts have been made to address these issues using box-like transparent enclosures to encapsulate the merchandise  10 .  FIG.  2    shows an example of such an arrangement in which the merchandise  10  is contained within such a transparent protective enclosure  20 . While such arrangements do provide a certain level of protection to the components (i.e., card portion  12 , bubble portion  14 , and  FIG.  18   ) of the merchandise  10 , such arrangements commonly leave the components of the merchandise  10  free to move relative to each other. Further, these attempts do not provide support to the bubble portion  14 , and thus leave the bubble portion  14  susceptible to forces acting thereon such as from gravity and/or to jostling of, or impacts to, the protective enclosure  20  in which the merchandise  10  is encased. Similarly, these protective enclosures  20  are not designed to brace the bubble portion  14  against collisions with the  FIG.  18   . Such hazards can cause the bubble portion  14  to become disfigured or to separate from the card portion  12 , or the  FIG.  18    to breach the bubble portion  14 , in each case thus causing the  FIG.  18    and/or merchandise  10  to irreparably lose value. Accordingly, a need exists for improved arrangements for displaying and protecting collectible merchandise. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     These needs, and others, are met by embodiments of the present invention which include a support panel for use in protecting a piece or pieces of merchandise (e.g., without limitation, action figures, toys of different sizes and shapes, etc.) packaged within a bubble portion adhered to a card portion. The support panel comprises a support enclosure defining a receptacle that is structured to house the bubble portion therein and to generally conform to a number of corresponding exterior surfaces of the bubble portion. The support panel also comprises a planar portion that extends outward from a periphery of the receptacle and is structured to be disposed against the card portion when the bubble portion is housed within the support enclosure. 
     The support enclosure may be mounted adjacent to the planar portion. The receptacle may extend through a second face of the support panel into the support enclosure. The support enclosure may comprise a plurality of lateral support panels and at least one central support panel. Each of the plurality of lateral support panels may be angularly offset from the planar portion. The plurality of lateral support panels may be perimetrically connected around the central support panel. The central support panel may be positioned offset from the planar portion, across the plurality of lateral support panels. Each of the plurality of lateral support panels may be angularly offset from the planar portion by an obtuse angle. 
     The support panel may further comprise a filtering material that may be superimposed onto the planar portion and the support enclosure. The support panel may further comprise a quantity of desiccant material that may be integrated into the support panel. The at least one support enclosure may be a plurality of support enclosures. The plurality of support enclosures may be distributed across the support panel. The support panel may further comprise a back panel and a tamper-evident seal that may be perimetrically connected in between the support panel and the back panel. 
     As another aspect of the present invention a system employing a protective enclosure and support panel for use in protecting a piece of merchandise packaged within a bubble portion adhered to a card portion is provided. The system comprises a support enclosure defining a receptacle that is structured to house the bubble portion therein and to generally conform to a number of corresponding exterior surfaces of the bubble portion and a planar portion that extends outward from a periphery of the receptacle and is structured to be disposed against the card portion when the bubble portion is housed within the support enclosure. The system further comprises a transparent protective enclosure that is structured to be disposed against the card portion when the bubble portion is housed within the support enclosure and is structured to prevent displacement of the merchandise relative to the planar portion and the bubble portion. 
     The support enclosure may be mounted adjacent to the planar portion. The receptacle may extend through a second face of the support panel into the support enclosure. The support enclosure may comprise a plurality of lateral support panels and at least one central support panel. Each of the plurality of lateral support panels may be angularly offset from the planar portion. The plurality of lateral support panels may be perimetrically connected around the central support panel. The central support panel may be positioned offset from the planar portion, across the plurality of lateral support panels. Further, each of the plurality of lateral support panels is angularly offset from the planar portion by an obtuse angle. 
     The support panel may further comprise a filtering material that may be superimposed onto the planar portion and the support enclosure. The support panel may further comprise a quantity of desiccant material that may be integrated into the support panel. The at least one support enclosure may be a plurality of support enclosures. The plurality of support enclosures may be distributed across the support panel. 
     As yet a further aspect of the present invention, a method for protecting merchandise packaged within a bubble portion adhered to a card portion of a packaging arrangement is provided. The method comprises providing a support panel having: a support enclosure defining a receptacle that is structured to house the bubble portion of the packaging arrangement therein and to generally conform to a number of corresponding exterior surfaces of the bubble portion; and a planar portion that extends outward from a periphery of the receptacle and is structured to be disposed against the card portion of the packaging arrangement when the bubble portion of the packaging arrangement is housed within the support enclosure. The method further comprises: inserting the bubble portion of the packaging arrangement into the support enclosure of the support panel; and pressing the planar portion of the support panel against the card portion of the packaging arrangement. 
     The method may further comprise: providing a transparent protective enclosure that is structured to be disposed against the card portion when the bubble portion is housed within the support enclosure, and wherein the protective enclosure is structured to prevent displacement of the merchandise relative to the planar portion and the bubble portion; and mounting the packaging arrangement and the support panel within the protective enclosure. 
     The method may further comprise sealing the protective enclosure. 
     These and other objects, features, and characteristics of the present invention, as well as the methods of operation and functions of the related elements of structure and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in the various figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A full understanding of the invention can be gained from the following description of the preferred embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG.  1    is a front view of an example of a piece of collectible merchandise as commonly known in the art; 
         FIG.  2    is a perspective view of an example of a piece of collectible merchandise disposed within a protective case as known in the art; 
         FIG.  3    is a front perspective view of a support panel in accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG.  4    is a rear perspective view of the support panel of  FIG.  3   ; 
         FIG.  5    is a sectional view of a portion of a support panel and a support enclosure thereof in accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS.  6  and  7    are perspective views showing a support panel, such as shown in  FIGS.  3  and  4   , being positioned on a piece of collectable merchandise, such as shown in  FIGS.  1  and  2   , in accordance with one example embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG.  8    is an exploded view of a piece of collectible merchandise such as shown in  FIG.  1    along with an example protection arrangement in accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention including a support panel such as shown in  FIGS.  3 - 7   ; 
         FIG.  9    is a schematic side sectional view in accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention where multiple support enclosures are distributed across a support panel such as shown in  FIGS.  3 - 7   ; 
         FIG.  10    is a schematic side sectional view in accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention where a tamper-evident seal is connected in between a support panel, such as shown in  FIGS.  3 - 7   , and a back panel; 
         FIG.  11    is a front assembly view of the protection arrangement of the exploded view of  FIG.  8    shown housing the piece of collectible merchandise; 
         FIG.  12    is a side view of the protection arrangement and piece of collectible merchandise housed therein of  FIG.  11   ; 
         FIG.  13    is a side view of the protection arrangement and piece of collectible merchandise housed therein of  FIGS.  11  and  12   ; 
         FIG.  14    is a perspective view of an example of a piece of collectible merchandise wherein the merchandise (e.g., a figure) has breached the sealed enclosure via a hole therein such as known in the art. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the present invention provide partial and full enclosure arrangements for use in preserving/protecting the physical state of a collectible item or items as well as the packaging in which the item(s) is(are) originally packaged. Preferably, although not necessarily, such arrangements are formed from a transparent material. Such arrangements include support elements and packaging protection arrangements using such support elements. Such arrangements are intended to preserve/protect, while also providing for the display of, collectible merchandise such as action figures and other items having a packaging arrangement including at least one bubble portion  14  adhered to a card portion  12 , such as (for example, without limitation) the collectible merchandise  10  previously described in conjunction with  FIGS.  1  and  2   . The arrangements are constructed so as to provide support to the bubble portion  14  of the merchandise  10  in a manner that shields the bubble portion  14  from damage caused by exposure to external hazards. Further, the present invention may be structured to provide a brace that prevents the bubble portion  14  from becoming dislodged or deformed by movement of the  FIG.  18    relative to the bubble portion  14  or the card portion  12 . The present invention may inhibit potential movement of the bubble portion  14  with respect to the card portion  12  while generally maintaining complete visibility of the merchandise  10  so as to generally not interfere with the display thereof. 
     As used herein, “structured to [verb]” means that the identified element or assembly has a structure that is shaped, sized, disposed, coupled and/or configured to perform the identified verb. For example, a member that is “structured to move” is movably coupled to another element and includes elements that cause the member to move or the member is otherwise configured to move in response to other elements or assemblies. As such, as used herein, “structured to [verb]” recites structure and not function. Further, as used herein, “structured to [verb]” means that the identified element or assembly is intended to, and is designed to, perform the identified verb. Thus, an element that is merely capable of performing the identified verb but which is not intended to, and is not designed to, perform the identified verb is not “structured to [verb].” 
     To achieve the aforementioned functionality, the present invention provides a support panel  30 , an example of which in accordance with one example embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIGS.  3  and  4   . Referring to  FIGS.  3  and  4   , as well as  FIGS.  5 - 7   , support panel  30  is formed from a clear material (e.g., without limitation, plastic, acrylic, or a composite) so as to generally not obscure the merchandise  10 . Support panel  30  includes a support enclosure  32  having a number of inner surfaces defining a receptacle  34  that is contoured so as to generally conform to a number of corresponding exterior surfaces of the bubble portion  14  of merchandise  10 . As used herein, “number” shall mean one or an integer greater than one (i.e., a plurality). As used herein, the phrase “generally conform” shall mean that the support enclosure  32  lies coextensive with the bubble portion  14  with substantially no gap between the support enclosure  32  and the bubble portion  14  when the bubble portion  14  is inserted into the receptacle  34  of the support enclosure  32 . Support panel  30  further includes a planar portion  36  that extends outward from the periphery of receptacle  34 . 
     In an example embodiment of the support panel  30  such as shown in the sectional view of  FIG.  5   , the support enclosure  32  comprises a plurality of lateral support panels  38  and at least one central support panel  40 . The plurality of lateral support panels  38  forms a lateral sidewall of the support enclosure  32 . Additionally, the central support panel  40  forms a base of the support enclosure  32 . In some embodiments, the support enclosure  32  is a frustum-shaped device that tapers to conform to the exterior surface of the bubble portion. To facilitate this, each of the plurality of lateral support panels  38  is angularly offset from the planar portion  36  of support panel  30 . Additionally, the plurality of lateral support panels  38  is perimetrically connected around the planar central support panel  40 . Further, the central support panel  40  is positioned offset from the planar portion  36 , across the plurality of lateral support panels  38 . Thus positioned, the plurality of lateral support panels  38  forms a protective support structure that is pressed against the lateral sidewalls of the bubble portion  14  of the merchandise  10 . Similarly, the central support panel  40  forms a protective structure that is pressed against the front face of the bubble portion  14 . In some embodiments, each of the plurality of lateral support panels  38  is angularly offset from the planar portion  36  by an obtuse angle  0 . Accordingly, the support enclosure  32  forms a protruding structure that tapers away from the planar portion  36 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  6 ,  7    and the upper portion of  8 , when support panel  30  is positioned on merchandise  10  with the bubble portion  14  nested within receptacle  34  of support enclosure  32 , the planar portion  36  of support panel  30  is disposed against the card portion  12  of merchandise  10 . In some example embodiments of the present invention, enclosure  32  and planar portion  36  are formed as portions of a single integral piece of material. Depending on the particular application, planar portion  36  may be sized such that an outer perimeter  42  thereof coincides with an outer perimeter  44  of card portion  12  of merchandise  10 . In such application, support panel  30  thus functions generally as a supportive shield protecting the entire front of the merchandise  10  and supporting bubble portion  14  with respect to card portion  12  while not appreciably obstructing an observer&#39;s view of merchandise  10 . In some embodiments of the present invention, support panel  30  is constructed as a multilayered transparent structure that is designed to not only protect the merchandise  10  from physical forces but also to protect the merchandise  10  from sunlight and/or other forms of radiation. To facilitate this, support panel  30  may further comprise a filtering material  46  ( FIG.  5   ) provided as one or more of a coating or a membrane of material provided on a side of panel  30 , and/or as all, or a portion of the material from which support panel  30  is formed. The filtering material  46  prevents harmful radiation, such as ultraviolet light, from damaging the packaging and the object contained therein. 
     In some embodiments of the present invention, a quantity of desiccant material  50  is integrated into the support panel  30  so that the present invention is able to remove unwanted moisture and prevent water damage to the merchandise  10  ( FIGS.  5  and  10   ). Additionally, the quantity of desiccant material  50  may be impregnated into the support panel  30  such that the support panel  30  is constructed from a desiccant material. Alternatively, discrete quantities of desiccant material  50  may be distributed across the support panel  30 . A transparent support lattice may be integrated into the support panel  30  and the support enclosure  32 . Accordingly, the transparent support lattice provides a supplemental structure to further protect the bubble portion  14  of the merchandise  10  from being disfigured. A friction reducing liner may be superimposed onto the second face  52  so that the card portion  12  of the merchandise  10  is further protected from being marred. 
     In supplemental embodiments, the at least one support enclosure  32  is a plurality of support enclosures  29  that is distributed across the planar portion  36 . In these embodiments, the present invention is used to protect merchandise  10  that has a plurality of bubble portions  14  distributed across the card portion  12 . Specifically, each of the plurality of bubble portions  14  is housed within a corresponding support enclosure  29  from the plurality of support enclosures  29 . In further embodiments, the plurality of support enclosures  29  is used to protect a plurality of merchandise  10  in a display. In supplemental embodiments, the support enclosure  32  is constructed as a multi-tiered or multifaceted structure, as shown in  FIG.  9   . In these embodiments, each tier or facet is formed by a plurality of lateral support panels  28  being connected in between a corresponding upper planar support panel  47  and a corresponding lower planar support panel  48 . Further, the receptacle  3  extends into the support enclosure  32  from the second face  52  of the support panel  30  to the upper planar support panel  47  delineating a highest tier of the multi-tiered support enclosure  32  structure. 
     Referring to  FIG.  10   , the present invention is designed to preserve the condition and value of collectible objects. To facilitate this, the present invention may further comprise a back panel  4  and a tamper-evident seal  5 . The tamper-evident seal  5  is perimetrically connected in between the support panel  30  and the back panel  4 . As a result, the back panel  4  and the tamper-evident seal  5  prevent the merchandise  10  from being modified by unauthorized individuals. 
       FIGS.  8  and  11 - 13    show the support panel  30  and the support enclosure  32  mounted onto the merchandise  10  and enclosed in the protective enclosure  20 . A method for mounting the merchandise  10  within the protective enclosure  20  begins by inserting the bubble portion  14  into the receptacle  34 . The method continues by pressing the planar portion  36  against the card portion  12 . The method continues by mounting the merchandise  10  and the support panel  30  within the protective enclosure  20 . The method concludes by sealing the protective enclosure  20 . 
     Although the invention has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration based on what is currently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover modifications and equivalent arrangements that are within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, it is to be understood that the present invention contemplates that, to the extent possible, one or more features of any embodiment can be combined with one or more features of any other embodiment. 
     In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. The word “comprising” or “including” does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those listed in a claim. In a device claim enumerating several means, several of these means may be embodied by one and the same item of hardware. The word “a” or “an” preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. In any device claim enumerating several means, several of these means may be embodied by one and the same item of hardware. The mere fact that certain elements are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that these elements cannot be used in combination.