Patent Publication Number: US-6216866-B1

Title: Display package for electronic devices with displays

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention generally relates to clam-shell or blister packaging (generally referred to as “packaging”) for holding and displaying electronic devices with displays. More particularly, this invention relates to packaging for holding and displaying calculators or similar devices with movable displays or features and which allows prospective purchasers to move said display without removing the calculator from said packaging. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Clam-shell packaging is customarily used to mount small items of hardware or other products by utilizing two mating surfaces or shells that are shaped in the form of the product which is to be held. It is generally known in the art to hold these two moveable surfaces or shells together by mechanical or adhesive means. Additionally, the two shells may be manufactured for engagement using a variety of methods such as integral snap-over edges, snap-together elements or by using a clasp means. 
     Blister packaging can also be used to package and display small items of hardware or other products. Blister packaging functions by mounting the product on a display card. The product and the display card are then encapsulated by transparent, semi-flexible material such as polyvinyl chloride (“PVC”) and the transparent, semi-flexible material is attached to the display card by heat and pressure-adhesive techniques. Blister packages which allow users to access moving parts have been described in several patents, such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,179,029 entitled “Blister Packages for Scissors, Pliers and Other Hand Tools,” issued to Fethke et al. on Aug. 28, 1979, U.S. Pat. No. 4,165,805 entitled “Functional Blister Package for Snipper-Type Scissors,” issued to Fethke et al. on Dec. 18, 1979, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,279,417 entitled “Package for Hand Tools,” issued to Seaton on Jan. 18, 1994. 
     The &#39;029 patent, the &#39;805 patent and the &#39;417 patent each show packaging which mounts and displays hand tools with two handles. Further, the packages are designed to allow the customer to operate the tool to some extent while it remains in the package. Although these patents disclose using blister packaging to mount products which have movable parts in a manner which allows the customer to operate the movable aspect of the product, none of these patents discloses a configuration capable of mounting and displaying an electronic device with a movable display where the display can be moved for viewing as if in use. Rather, each of the above patents include limitations for securing products having two pivotally connected arms, such as, scissors. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a package which overcomes the problems associated with the prior art as applied to the display of small electronic devices. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, a package for holding and displaying an electronic device having a base and a display member pivotally connected to said base, is described. The package includes a first panel overlying the working surface of the electronic device which encases at least a portion of the base of the electronic device, and an opposed second panel underlying the working surface of said electronic device which also encases at least a portion of the base of the electronic device. Moreover, a first aperture is formed or cut on the first panel near the display and dimensioned to allow the display member to pivot without contacting the first panel or the second panel. A second aperture is also formed or cut on the first panel near the on and off buttons and dimensioned to allow the electronic device to be turned on an off without opening the package. The display may be manipulated without opening the package and while the electronic device remains secured within the packaging. Therefore, this invention eliminates the need for sellers of electronic devices with pivotal displays to provide unpackaged electronic devices as floor samples while still allowing prospective customers to manipulate and test the pivotal display of the electronic device within the package. 
     The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following more detailed description of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a packaging encasing a calculator with a movable display where the display is in a closed position; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a packaging encasing a calculator with a movable display in an open position; 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a packaging encasing a calculator with a movable display; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the present invention where the packaging is in a closed position and where the display is in a open position; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the present invention where the packaging is in an open position and where the display is in an open position; and 
     FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the second embodiment of the present invention encasing a calculator with a movable display where the display is in an open position. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is herein described in detail, a preferred embodiment of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspects of the invention to the embodiments illustrated herein. 
     In the preferred embodiment and as exemplified in FIG. 1, there is disclosed a package  10 , capable of displaying an electronic device  12 , consisting of a base  14  and a movable display member  16 , in a manner which allows prospective customers to move the display member  16  without removing the electronic device  12  from the package. The package  10  is comprised of a first panel  18  which is sized to overlay the working surface  13  of the electronic device  12  while also encasing a portion of the base  14  of the electronic device  12 . The package  10  also includes a second panel  22  which is sized to underlay the base  14  of electronic device  12 . As is known in the art, the first panel  18  and the second panel  22  form an integral package by joining edges of the first panel  18  and second panel  22 . These panels  18 ,  22  can be connected by mechanical or adhesive means, such as, heat sealing or high frequency sealing, snap-over edges, clasp means, adhesives or taping. In addition, as exemplified in FIG. 2, the first panel  18  also includes a first aperture  20  proximate the location of the display member  16  and dimensioned to allow said display  16  to pivot without contacting the first panel  18  or the second panel  22 . A second aperture  21  is also formed or cut on the first panel  18  near the on  17   a  and off  17   b  buttons and dimensioned to allow the electronic device  12  to be turned on without opening the package  10 . Moreover, a third panel  24  may be placed between the first panel  18  and the second panel  22  to prevent said electronic device from moving relative to such panels. As shown in FIG. 3, the third panel  24  is smaller than the base of electronic device  12  and is beveled on one side. The base  14  also includes a beveled portion which interacts with the beveled portion of the third panel  24  to secure the electronic device  12  within the packaging  10 . The third panel  24  can be made of cardboard, plastic or other material, and can be opaque or transparent. A fourth or mounting panel  28  may also be placed between the first panel  18  and second panel  22 , and the electronic device  12  may be mounted on the fourth panel  26 . The fourth panel  26  may be constructed of cardboard or plastic, and may be opaque or transparent. Text can be included on the fourth panel  26  in the form of advertisements or product descriptions. 
     FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the present invention which includes a package  100 , capable of displaying an electronic device  102 , consisting of a base  104  and a moveable display member  106 , in a manner which allows prospective customers to move the display member  106  without removing the electronic device  102  from the package  100 . The package  100  is comprised of a panel  108  with a first side  110  and a second side  114  where the first side  110  is integrally connected to the second side  114  by a fold  109  and where the first side  110  overlies a working surface  103  of the electronic device  102  and encases at least a portion of the base  104  of the electronic device  102 . In addition, the package  100  can be folded to a closed position in a manner which allows the first side  110  to oppose the second side  114  and where the second side  114  underlies the working surface  103  of the electronic device  102  and encases at least a portion of the base  104  of the electronic device  102 . The first panel  110  also includes a first aperture  112  which is disposed proximate to the location of the display member  106 . The first aperture  112  is dimensioned to allow the display member  106  to pivot without contacting the first side  110  or the second side  114 . A second aperture  113  is also formed or cut on the first panel  110  near the on  107   a  and off  107   b  buttons and dimensioned to allow the electronic device  102  to be turned on without opening the package  100 . When the package  100  is in a closed position, the display member  106  may be manipulated without opening the package  100  and while the electronic device  102  is still secured within the package  100 . As shown in FIG. 6, a spacer  116  may be placed between the first side  110  and the second side  114 , so that with the package in a closed position, the combination of the spacer  116 , the first side  110  and the second side  114  prevent the electronic device  102  from moving. The spacer  116  is smaller than the base of electronic device  102  and is beveled on one side. The base  104  also includes a beveled portion which interacts with the beveled portion of the spacer  116  to secure the electronic device  102  within the packaging  100 . The spacer  116  may be opaque or transparent. The package  100  may also include an insert  118  placed between the first side  110  and the second side  114 , when the package is in a closed position, and where the electronic device  102  can be mounted on the insert  118 . The insert  118  may be made of cardboard or plastic, and may be opaque or transparent. Text can be included on the insert  118  in the form of advertisements or product descriptions. As shown in FIG. 6, the package  100  can also exist in an open position. 
     While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a particular embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The present example and embodiment, therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein.