Patent Abstract:
The present invention is a package for retaining both a primary item and one or more ancillary items to be utilized with the primary item therein. The package includes an inner container disposed within an outer container that has first and second compartments therein within which the primary item and ancillary items can be positioned. Positioning both the primary item and ancillary items in a single inner container within the package maintains the items together while of the package is being opened, to prevent the misplacement of the ancillary items. Additionally, the primary and ancillary items are positioned on the inner container in a manner which allows for easy viewing both each item on the inner container through one or more transparent portions of the outer container, inner container and ancillary item container.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to packages, and more specifically to a package including a compartment for holding a number of ancillary items therein that are to be utilized with the primary item disposed within the package. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Packages for various items come in numerous shapes and configurations in order to adequately hold the different items therein. These packages most often generally conform to the particular shape of the item held therein in order to minimize the amount of material required to form the package. However, with regard to certain items that can be held in packages of this type, the utilization of these primary items requires additional components or ancillary items to be inserted within or otherwise engaged with the primary items for proper operation of the primary item. 
         [0003]    In these situations, oftentimes a manufacturer of the primary item will develop packaging for the primary item that enables ancillary items required for proper operation of the primary item to be included within the packaging. Most often, the packaging will include one enclosure for the primary item and a separate enclosure for the ancillary items in order to clearly illustrate to a consumer that both the primary item and the ancillary item or items are present within the package. 
         [0004]    Additionally, other packaging designs have been developed for holding both primary items and ancillary items therein that include an entirely separate package to hold the ancillary items therein. The separate ancillary item package is simply placed against or attached to the exterior of the package for the primary item, such as by being adhered to the exterior of the primary item package by an adhesive, or by a shrink wrap disposed about both the primary item package and the ancillary items package, for example. 
         [0005]    However, in constructing packages in this manner, a significant additional amount of packaging material is required to form the additional or separate package within which the ancillary items are to be disposed. Further, if the primary item and the ancillary items are held in separate packages or enclosures within the packaging, when the packaging is initially opened, the compartments or separate packages for the primary and ancillary items can easily become disassociated from one another, resulting in the ancillary items being misplaced and unable for proper use in conjunction with the primary item. 
         [0006]    As a result, it is desirable to develop a packaging for holding a primary item and ancillary items to be utilized with the primary item therein in a manner which does not require significant additional amounts of packaging material. Further, the packaging should be capable of holding and retaining the primary item and the ancillary items reduce the chances that they will become disassociated from one another both prior to and after the initial removal of the items from the packaging. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    According to one aspect of the present invention, a package is provided for containing a primary item and one or more ancillary items therein in which the package includes an inner container designed to hold both the primary item and the ancillary items therein that is contained within an outer container. The outer container forms an enclosure around the inner container holding the primary item and the ancillary items, and can be secured in a closed position in any suitable manner to prevent access to the inner package and the items. The inner container is removably positioned within the outer container in a manner that allows the inner container, including the primary item and the ancillary items, to be easily withdrawn from the outer container. The inner container further includes a first compartment designed to hold the primary item therein, and a second compartment adapted to receive the ancillary items therein. In this construction for the inner container, when the outer container is opened and the inner container is removed therefrom, both the primary item and the ancillary items are maintained in an associated relationship with one another within the inner container. In addition, the ability to hold both the primary item and the ancillary items within the inner container enable the inner container to be utilized as the primary packaging vehicle during assembly of the items into the overall packaging. This eliminates the need for any supplemental or temporary packaging structure other than the inner container to hold the primary item and ancillary items or package during the assembly of the packaging. 
         [0008]    According to another aspect of the present invention, the ancillary items are positioned within a separate ancillary item container that is received within the second compartment of the inner container. In this construction, the ancillary item container enables one or more ancillary items to be held therein, but also enables the ancillary item container to be engaged in the desired manner within the inner container along with the primary item. 
         [0009]    According to still another aspect of the present invention, one or more of the outer container, inner container, and ancillary item container, or any portion of one or more of these containers, can be formed of a generally transparent material in order to provide a consumer with a relatively unobstructed view of both the primary item and the ancillary items held within the package. The transparency of the containers also enables a consumer to view the primary and ancillary items held within the containers in an upright position, to properly inspect the items through the various containers, such as for damage to the items or to determine the proper orientation for the items. 
         [0010]    Numerous additional aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be made apparent from the following detailed description taken together with the drawing figures. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The drawing figures illustrate the best mode currently contemplated of practicing the present invention. 
           [0012]    In the drawings: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a package of the present invention including a primary item therein; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the package of  FIG. 1  with the primary item removed; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is an exploded, isomeric view of the package and primary item of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is an exploded, isometric view of an inner container and ancillary item container of the package of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a top pan view of a blank used to form the inner container of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is an isometric view of the inner container of the package of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a front plan view of the inner container of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  is a left plan view of the inner container of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  is a right side plan view of the inner container of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 11  is a rear plan view of the inner container of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 12  is a top plan view of the inner container of  FIG. 7 ; and 
           [0025]      FIG. 13  is a bottom plan view of the inner container of  FIG. 7 . 
       
    
    
       [0026]    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. For example, the word connected, attached, or terms similar thereto are often used. They are not limited to direct connection but include connection through other elements where such connection is recognized as being equivalent by those skilled in the art. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0027]    With reference now to the drawing figures in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the disclosure, a package constructed according to the present invention is indicated generally at  100  in  FIG. 1 . The package  100  includes an inner container  102  positioned within an outer container  104 . 
         [0028]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1-3  and  5 , the outer container  104  is formed to be generally rectangular in cross-section, including a front wall  106 , a rear wall  108 , a pair of sidewalls  110  and  112 , a bottom wall  114  and a top wall  116 . In a preferred embodiment, each of the respective walls  106 - 116  forming the outer container  104  are integrally formed with one another preferably from a unitary blank of a material suitable for forming an outer enclosed packaging container. In addition, the top and bottom walls  114  and  116  are formed of a number of panels  118  each integrally formed with, and foldable with respect to the front wall  106 , the rear wall  108  or one of the sidewalls  110  and  112 . 
         [0029]    As best shown in  FIG. 3 , the bottom wall  114  is most preferably formed by a pair of inter-engaging members  120  and  122 , each integrally formed with and foldable with respect to either the front wall  106  and the rear wall  108 , and to the sidewalls  110  and  112 . The members  120 - 122  can be folded into engagement with one another to form a generally continuous bottom wall  114  for the outer container  104 . 
         [0030]    Opposite the bottom wall  114 , the top wall  116  is formed with a pair of retaining flaps  124  that are integrally formed with and foldable with respect to the opposed sidewalls  110  and  112 , as well as a cover flap  126  integrally formed with and foldable with respect to either the front wall  106  or the rear wall  108 . Opposite to the foldable connection with either the front wall  106  or rear wall  108 , the cover flap  126  includes an engagement tab  128  that extends perpendicularly to the cover flap  126 . The tab  128  can be engaged between the wall of the outer container  104  opposite the cover flap  126  and the retaining flaps  124  to hold the cover flap  126  in a closed position over the interior  130  of the outer container  104 . 
         [0031]    In addition to the above described preferred embodiment, the various walls  106 - 116 , as well as the panels  118  can be initially formed as separate members that are subsequently secured to one another in any suitable manner to form the desired configuration for the outer container  104 . Further, the particular configuration and/or shape of the various walls  106 - 116  and panels  118  can be varied as necessary to be other than rectangular, and the number of sidewalls  110  and  112  and panels  118  can be varied as necessary to form an outer container  104  having the desired shape or cross-section, which can be other than rectangular or square, e.g., polygonal or circular. 
         [0032]    Also, while it is contemplated that any suitable material can be utilized to form the blank from which the outer container  104  is constructed, such as a conventional paperboard or cardboard material, in a particularly preferred embodiment, the material utilized for the outer container  104  is a transparent material, such as a clear acetate. The use of a transparent material to form the outer container  104  enables the consumer to clearly view the primary item or product  500  that is disposed within the inner container  102  held within the outer container  104 . However, it is also contemplated that the material forming the outer container  104  can be formed from a combination of different materials, such as a conventional paperboard material and the transparent material. For example, the outer container  104  can be formed of paperboard that includes openings in its construction over which are applied portions formed of the transparent material in order to form windows through the outer container  104  for viewing of the product located inside the outer container  104  within the inner container  102 . Alternatively, the outer container can include a lower portion formed of one type of material, and an upper portion secured to the lower portion and formed of a different material. 
         [0033]    Looking now at  FIGS. 1-4  and  6 - 13 , the inner container  102  is illustrated as including a lower tray member  132  and a supporting structure  134  extending upwardly from a rear portion of the tray member  132 . The tray member  132  is formed with a pair of sidewalls  136  and  138  disposed on opposite sides of a front wall  140 . The sidewalls  136  and  138  are connected opposite the front wall  140  to the supporting structure  134  which forms a rear wall  142  for the tray member  132 . The front wall  140  and rear wall  142  each include a retaining flap  144  foldably connected thereto that are folded inwardly towards one another when the inner container  102  is assembled. The retaining flaps  144  are held in this position by the connection of a pair of interengaging members  146  and  148  foldably connected to the sidewalls  136  and  138  and engaged with one another to form a bottom wall  150  for the tray member  132 . In this configuration, the tray member  132  provides support for the primary item  500  positioned within the interior  152  of the tray member  132 . However, the tray member  132  also defines an open upper end  154  that allows the primary item  500  to be easily inserted into and withdrawn from the tray member  132  and also enables the primary item  500  to be readily viewed when located within the tray member  132 . 
         [0034]    In  FIGS. 6-13 , the front wall  140  as an overall height much less than the height of the rear wall  142  to define the open upper end  154  for the tray member  132 , while each of the sidewalls  136  and  138  include upper edges  156  that define a height for a front portion of the sidewalls  136  and  138  is generally similar to the height for the front wall  140 . However, each of the upper edges  156  extends upwardly along each side wall  136  and  138  towards the rear wall  142 , such that the edges  156  define a height for the sidewalls  136  and  138  approximately equal to that of the rear wall  142  at a rear portion of the sidewalls  136  and  138 . The particular shape of the upper edges  156  of each side wall  136  and  138  is selected only to provide the front wall  140  and side walls  136  and  138  with heights appropriate for an individual to adequately view the primary item  500  disposed within the tray member  132 , and can be configured to provide the desired aesthetic appearance. In addition, the shape of each of the edges  156  can be different from one another, if desired. Further, the upper end of the front wall  140  can also have a desired aesthetic design, if desired. 
         [0035]    As best shown in  FIG. 6 , in the preferred embodiment for the tray member  132 , the rear wall  142  is integrally and foldably connected to one of the sidewalls  136  or  138  opposite the front wall  140 . A cover flap  158  integrally and foldably connected to the rear wall  142  opposite the retaining flap  144 . The cover flap  158  can be pivoted with regard to the remainder of the rear wall  142  to overlap and engage a pair of securing flaps  160  disposed on each side wall  136  and  138  opposite the interengaging members  146  and  148 . Further, opposite the rear wall  142 , the cover flap  158  includes a number of foldable sections  162  that can be folded independently of one another. These sections  162  are utilized to secure the cover flap  158  to the securing flaps  160  and to the rear wall  142 , in a manner to be described. In addition, the length of the cover flap  158  is preferably slightly longer than the length of each securing flap  160  to provide an engagement point for an individual to grasp the inner container  102  for removal from the outer container  104 . 
         [0036]    Below the cover flap  158 , the rear wall  142  includes a number of support flaps  164  formed within the rear wall  142  around an opening  166 . Each of the support flaps  164  are preferably generally trapezoidal in shape such that, when the flaps  164  are folded in the same direction with regard to the rear wall  142 , the flaps  164  define a generally square aperture  168  within the rear wall  142 , as best shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0037]    Extending from one side of the rear wall  142  opposite the side wall  136  or  138  to which the rear wall  142  is attached, is a support panel  170 . The panel  170  is spaced from the rear wall  142  by a spacing panel  172  that enables the support panel  170  to be positioned directly behind the support flaps  164  on the rear panel  142  a distance defined by the width of the spacing panel  172 . Opposite the spacing panel  172 , the support panel  170  also includes a securing flap  176  that can be affixed to the side wall  136  or  138  to which the rear wall  142  is attached in order to hold the support panel  170  in the proper position directly behind the support flaps  164 . 
         [0038]    The width of the spacing panel  172  effectively positions the support panel  170  behind the rear panel  142  a distance slightly less than the width of the lowermost support flap  164 . This support flap  164  includes a projection  174  that has a locking tab  177  disposed thereon. When the support panel  170  is properly located behind the rear wall  142 , the pivoting of the lowermost flap  164  including the projection  174  enables the locking tab  177  to be positioned in and engaged with an aperture  178  located in the support panel  170 . The engagement of the tab  177  within the aperture  178  holds the lowermost flap  164  in a generally horizontal position such that the flap  164  can support an item positioned thereon. In addition, because the support panel  170  and spacing panel  172  are spaced on the rear wall  142  above the bottom wall  150 , when the support panel  170  is properly positioned and engaged with the locking tab  177 , a recess  180  is formed within the supporting structure  134  below the support panel  170 . The recess  180  can accommodate additional volume of the primary item  500  that is positioned within the tray member  132  in order to adequately engage and hold the primary item  500  within the tray member  132 . Also, the engagement of the securing flap  176  with the rear wall  142 , such as by an adhesive or other suitable means, provides an attachment point for the foldable sections  162  on the cover flap  158  to secure the cover flap  158  to the rear wall  142 . 
         [0039]    Additionally, when the package  100  is initially being assembled, the inner container  102  can be positioned on a conveyor belt (not shown) to function as the primary assembly structure for the package  100 . In other words, once constructed or erected, the inner container  102  can be placed on the conveyor belt and both the primary item  500 , and the ancillary container  182  with the ancillary items  510  and  520  therein can be inserted into the inner container  102  as it moves along the belt between stations where multiple primary items  500  and ancillary containers  182  are located. Thus, the inner container  102  can additionally function as an intermediate package during assembly of the overall package  100 , eliminating the need for other suitable intermediate packaging or item holding structures. Further, in determining if the various items have been properly positioned within the inner container  102 , a simple vision system (not shown) can be utilized. 
         [0040]    Looking now at  FIGS. 3-5 , an ancillary item container  182  is illustrated which is dimensioned to fit within the aperture  168  defined in the rear wall  142  by the support flaps  164  such that the ancillary item container  182  is positioned flush with the exterior surface of the rear wall  142 . The ancillary item container  182  is formed similarly to the outer container  104  including a front wall  184 , a rear wall  186 , a pair of sidewalls  188  and  190 , as well as a bottom wall  192  and a top wall  194 . One or both of the top wall  194  or bottom wall  192  includes a locking tab  196  or other suitable engaging structure to enable the top wall  194  and/or bottom wall  192  to be releasably held in a closed position over the interior  198  of the ancillary item container  182 . The ancillary item container  182  has an interior  198  defined to adequately secure and retain a number of ancillary items  510  and  520  therein that are to be utilized with the primary item  500  held within the tray member  132 . One or more ancillary items  510  and  520  can be held within the ancillary item container  182 . The interior  198  of the ancillary item container  182  optionally includes a separating member  200  that separates the interior  198  of the container  182  into sections  202  and  204  adapted to receive and retain ancillary items  510  and  520  of varying sizes therein. Additionally, the ancillary item container  182 , by virtue of it being disposed in an easily viewable position within the supporting structure  134  of the inner container  104 , is preferably formed at least partially of a transparent material. This allows the ancillary items  510  and  520  held within the container  182  to be easily viewed by a consumer through both of the outer container  104  and the ancillary item container  182 . This enables a consumer to determine if the ancillary items  510  and  520  held within the ancillary container  182  are damaged in any manner, as well as to view the ancillary items  510  and  520  in their proper orientation for use with the primary item  500 . 
         [0041]    Further, because the ancillary item container  182  is held within the inner container  102  along with the primary item  500 , when the package  100  is opened to remove the inner container  102  from the outer container  104 , both the primary item  500  and the ancillary items  510  and  520  are retained on the inner container  102  such that the primary item  500  and ancillary items  510  and  520  do not become displaced from one another. 
         [0042]    In the above description, each part of the inner container  102 , outer container  104  or ancillary container  182  that is described as being integrally and foldably attached to another component can be connected to the other component by a fold line as is known in the art, or by a perforation line, or in any other suitable manner, in order to enable the various components to remain attached to one another, even when folded from a generally flat configuration into the various container constructions  102 ,  104  and  182  described above. The various components for the containers  102 ,  104  and  182  can also be separately formed from one another and secured to each other in a foldable manner, such as by utilizing an adhesive or other suitable securing means. 
         [0043]    Alternatively to the previously described embodiments for the package  100 , it is also contemplated that the outer container  104  can be formed to enclose only the primary item  500 . In this embodiment, the outer container  104  enclosing the primary item  500  would be inserted and retained within the tray member  132  of the inner container  102  using any suitable means, such as an adhesive or a mechanical fastener, such that the inner container  102  and the exposed portion of the outer container  104  would each form a part of the outer portion of the package  100 . 
         [0044]    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. 
         [0045]    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. Further, although various parts described herein are physically separate modules, it will be manifest that they may be integrated into the apparatus with which they are associated. Furthermore, all the disclosed features of each disclosed embodiment can be combined with, or substituted for, the disclosed features of every other disclosed embodiment except where such features are mutually exclusive. 
         [0046]    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.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1