Patent Publication Number: US-2001000397-A1

Title: Compact disk packaging with window

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)  
     1. This continuation application claims priority of application Ser. No. 09/144,201; filed Sep. 1, 1998.  
    
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       2. The present invention relates to a packaging system for a compact disk.  
       3. Compact disks are a popular medium for selling software. One drawback of compact disks is that compact disks are easily damaged and must be sold in a protective package. There have been numerous types of packages and containers which have been developed to protect compact disks.  
       4. The Youngs patents (U.S. Pat. No. 4,850,731) discloses a flexible sleeve which protects a compact disk from scratches and dust. The sleeve is made of a polyester material which is softer than cotton or paper and prevents the optical side of the compact disk from being scratched. The sleeve protects the compact disk while taking up relatively little space.  
       5. The Hansen patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,713,462) discloses a compact disk packaging system including a box with a window and an insert for packaging multiple compact disks. The insert provides a system for packaging multiple compact disks and securing the compact disks within a tent-like structure. The compact disks are viewable through the window within the box when the insert containing the compact disks is placed within the box.  
       6. The Fitzsimmons et al. patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,515,967) discloses a storage packet made of a plastic which contains a compact disk and a 3½inch diskette. The container for the compact disk and 3½cassette contains a frame and a window. The compact disk is viewable through the window when the container is closed and fastened.  
       7. The Beighle patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,694,743) discloses a method for storing a compact disk in a sleeve. The sleeve containing the compact disk is fastened within the inside cover of a book. The book containing the compact disk is used to market the product.  
       8. The Bond et al. patent (U.S. Pat. No. Des. 362,149) discloses a compact disk packaging system wherein the system includes a box and an insert. Within the box are two windows from which rows of compact disks can be viewed. The compact disks are placed within an insert designed to secure rows of compact disks which prevent the compact disks from being damaged.  
       9. The Swan patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,690,220) discloses a holder or packaging arrangement to store compact disks. The holder disclosed in the Swan patent is made of a transparent, non-woven material from which the compact disk can be seen. The holder is designed to be fastened to a hard cover of a book or binder which will protect the disk from being bent.  
       10. The Herr et al. patent (U.S. Pat. No. 4,899,875) discloses a compact disk packaging system comprising an insertable drawer which is slidably contained within an outer housing. The outer housing contains a window such that the compact disk is viewable through the outer housing.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       11. The present invention includes a package for a compact disk that has a box and an insert which fits within the box. The box includes a window which cooperates with first indicia within the box, the first indicia being set back from the window of the box to create a three-dimensional image in the consumer&#39;s eye. Preferably, the window also has second indicia that cooperate with the first indicia to create the three-dimensional image  
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     12.FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a packaging system for a compact disk containing a box with a window from which a three-dimensional image is viewed.  
     13.FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the present invention.  
     14.FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along line  3 - 3  in FIG. 1.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     15. Packaging of computer programs is critical to the commercial success of a product. A packaging system of the present invention is generally illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The packaging system  10  includes a box  12  and an insert  24 , both preferably made of cardboard or paperboard.  
     16. The box  12  includes a front panel  14 . The front panel  14  includes an opening  16  which is covered with a transparent, optically clear, or translucent sheet  18  of polymeric material to form a window  19 . Preferably, panel indicia  17  such as a title or name of the product within the packaging system  10  are positioned on the front panel  14 . Window indicia  20  are preferably disposed on the transparent, optically clear, or translucent sheet  18 . Interior indicia  22  are setback from the window  19  to provide a three-dimensional effect, as best illustrated in FIG. 1. Additionally, the interior indicia  22  are set back from the window indicia  20  and a single viewable three-dimensional image is provided through cooperation between the indicia  20  and  22 . Although a specific graphical view is depicted in the Figures (a hunting sight as the window indicia  20  and a deer as the interior indicia  22 ) the indicia may take many forms and can be a combination of images, pictorial representations, lettering, graphical views and any other form that may be useful in promoting the software on the compact disk. By three-dimensional is meant giving the illusion of depth to the viewer.  
     17. The box  12  further includes a back panel  26 , left and right side panels  28  and  30  which connect the back panel  26  with the front panel  14 . The box  12  further includes top tab member  32  which extends respectively from left and right side panels  28  and  30  and extends over opening  34  when the box  12  is closed. A tuck flap  36  attached to the top tab member  32  secures the top tab member in a closed position when covering the opening  34 . The top tab member  32  overlies left and right dust flaps  38  and  40  when in the closed position. A bottom end  42  (not shown) of the box  12  includes a closure construction similar to the top tab member  32 , tuck flap  36  and left and right dust flaps  38  and  40 .  
     18. As best illustrated in FIG. 2, the insert  24  has a dual purpose. The insert  24  includes the interior indicia  22  disposed thereon, and is used to retain a compact disk  44  and accompanying documentation  46  in a captive manner.  
     19. The insert  24  includes a forward multi-panel structure  48  and a rearward multi-panel structure  50  connected to each other by a side insert panel  52 . The forward and rearward structures  48  and  50  are permitted to move with respect to each other as indicated by arrows  53  along creases  54  and  56  which run the length of the side panel  52  adjacent to the front structures  48  and  50 , respectively. Preferably, the entire construction of the insert  24  is made from a single sheet of hardboard or cardboard that is folded along a plurality of crease lines to form the structure described herein.  
     20. The rearward structure  50  includes front rearward structure panel  58  and back rearward structure panel  60  joined by side rearward structure panel  62 . A side spacer panel  64  is positioned opposite from side panel  62  and provides structural integrity and cooperates with panel  62  to space the panels  58  and  60  from each other.  
     21. Similarly, the forward structure  48  includes a front forward structure panel  66  and a back forward structure panel  68  joined by a side forward structure panel  70 . The front forward structure panel  66  also includes an opening  72  defined by four framing flaps  74  that extend toward the back forward structure panel  68 . Each of the framing flaps  74  includes a tab member  76  that extends through a slot  78  disposed in the back forward structure panel  68 . The framing flaps  74  are held in a framing position surrounding the indicia  22  through engagement of the slots  78  by the tab members  76 .  
     22. Preferably, the indicia  22  are directly imprinted on the back forward panel  68 . However, the indicia  22  may be disposed on a separate sheet that is adhesively secured to the back forward panel  68 . The framing flaps  74  also serve to space the front forward panel member  66  from the rear forward panel member  68  in cooperation with the side panel  70  and to provide structural integrity to the structure  48 .  
     23. The front rearward panel  58  includes four slots  80  that are aligned with slots  78  in the forward back panel  68 , as best illustrated in FIG. 3. The tab members  76  are sufficient in length to extend through slots  78  and into the slots  80  and define an area between the structures  48  and  50  in which the compact disk  44  and accompanying documentation  46  are retained in a captive position between the four tab members  76  when the insert  24  is disposed within the box  12 . It will be appreciated that the dimensions of the insert  24  are such that the insert  24  engages interior surfaces of the box  12  in a snug fit and that the compact disk and documentation are held in a flat and secure manner between the structures  48  and  50  in the area defined by the tab members  76 .  
     24. Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.