Patent Abstract:
A structure configurable for holding and displaying a product (e.g., a game ball or sporting equipment) may include one or more sides having an aperture through which the contained product is visible. One or more sides of the structure may include flaps that are flexible inward toward an interior of the structure. The flaps may include a protrusion configured to contact and hold the product contained in the structure. A first flap may further include slits for receiving portions of a second flap to form a side of the structure. One or more sides of the structure may be void of an aperture to provide a surface on which information about the product may be displayed.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Many athletic activities, particularly team sports, utilize one of a variety of game ball types. For example, the game of soccer utilizes a soccerball, whereas the game of basketball utilizes a basketball. Other types of game balls that are commonly utilized include footballs, volleyballs, baseballs, and softballs, for example. The suitability of a type of game ball for a particular athletic activity depends upon a variety of characteristics, including dimensions, shape, materials, and weight. 
     When purchasing game balls, consumers generally prefer to inspect the game balls, which may include both a visual inspection and a tactile inspection (i.e., through touch) to ensure that the game balls possess the requisite characteristics. Moreover, inspection of the game balls permits the consumers to verify whether the game balls possess a requisite degree of quality, which is dependent upon workmanship and materials. Packaging, such a conventional box, may inhibit consumers&#39; ability to inspect game balls. Accordingly, many manufacturers transport game balls to retail locations without packaging, and the game balls are displayed in bulk at the retail locations in a large bin or basket. 
     One drawback to displaying game balls without packaging is that information regarding the game balls may not be provided to the consumers. For example, when game balls are loosely displayed in a large bin or basket, information on materials used in the game balls, specifications of the game ball, and approval from governing athletic organizations may not be coupled with the game balls for use by the consumers when selecting between models or manufacturers. Another drawback relates to protection of the game balls. That is, damage to the game balls may occur during transport or while on display at the retail location. 
     SUMMARY 
     A container for receiving and displaying a game ball or a variety of other products is disclosed. The container may permit consumers to inspect a game ball by exposing a significant area of the game ball. The container may also provide an area for information on the game ball to be displayed, thereby providing the information to the consumers at a retail location. In addition, the container may impart protection to the game ball during transport and at the retail location. 
     The container may include various flaps with protrusions shaped to have a curvature that is approximately equal to the curvature of the game ball. In addition to supporting the game ball, the protrusions may contact the surface of the game ball along substantially all of the length of the protrusions. This configuration limits the degree to which the game ball rotates or otherwise moves during transport. In addition, the flaps of the container may have other protrusions and slits that mate and interlock to join the flaps together. In this configuration, the flaps may be folded inward to interlock the flaps and complete assembly of the container. Similarly, the flaps may be pressed further inward to disengage the protrusions and slits for purposes of removing the game ball from the container. 
     To gain an improved understanding of the advantages and features of novelty reference may be made to the following descriptive matter and accompanying drawings that describe and illustrate various embodiments and concepts related to the aspects of the invention. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing Summary, as well as the following Detailed Description, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first display container in a closed configuration and in combination with a game ball. 
         FIGS. 2 and 3  are side elevational views of the first display container in the closed configuration and in combination with the game ball. 
         FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the first display container in the closed configuration and in combination with the game ball. 
         FIG. 5  is another perspective view of the first display container in the closed configuration and in combination with the game ball. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the first display container in the closed configuration. 
         FIGS. 7 and 8  are side elevational views of the first display container in the closed configuration. 
         FIG. 9  is a top plan view of the first display container in the closed configuration. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the first display container in an open configuration. 
         FIGS. 11 and 12  are side elevational views of the first display container in the open configuration. 
         FIG. 13  is a plan view of an element that forms the first display container. 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a second display container in a closed configuration. 
         FIG. 15  is a side elevational view of the second display container in the closed configuration. 
         FIG. 16  is a top plan view of the second display container in the closed configuration. 
         FIG. 17  is a perspective view of a second display container in an open configuration. 
         FIGS. 18 and 19  are side elevational views of the second display container in the open configuration. 
         FIG. 20  illustrates a process for assembling the first display container. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following discussion and accompanying figures disclose a container  10  for receiving and displaying a game ball. Although container  10  is depicted in combination with a soccerball  100  in  FIGS. 1-5 , other configurations of container  10  may be utilized to receive and display a variety of other game balls, including a basketball, volleyball, football, baseball, or softball, for example. Container  10  may also be utilized to receive and display a variety of other products, in addition to game balls. Accordingly, container  10  is disclosed in a configuration suitable for receiving and displaying soccerball  100  for purposes of example, and may also be utilized to receive and display a variety of other products. 
     As discussed in the Background section above, packaging for game balls may inhibit the consumers&#39; ability to inspect game balls. Furthermore, loosely displaying game balls without packaging limits the ability of manufacturers to convey information regarding the game balls to the consumers, and loosely displaying game balls may not provide adequate protection to the game balls. Container  10 , however, permits consumers to properly inspect soccerball  100  by exposing a significant area of soccerball  100 . Container  10  also provides an area for information on soccerball  100  to be displayed, thereby providing the information to the consumers. In addition, container  10  imparts protection to soccerball  100  during transport and at a retail location. 
     Container  10  is depicted in combination with soccerball  100  in  FIGS. 1-5 .  FIGS. 6-9  correspond with  FIGS. 1-4 , but depict container  10  with soccerball  100  absent. Whereas  FIGS. 1-9  depict container  10  in a closed configuration,  FIGS. 10-12  depict container  10  in an open configuration, which may be utilized to place soccerball  100  within container  10  or remove soccerball  100  from container  10 . In addition,  FIG. 13  depicts container  10  in an unassembled configuration. That is,  FIG. 13  is a plan view of an element that forms container  10 . Although container  10  may be formed from a single element of material, as in  FIG. 13 , some configurations of container  10  may be formed from two or more joined elements. A variety of materials may be utilized for display container  10 , including cardboard, paper, various polymers, or combinations of these materials, for example. Accordingly, the element depicted in  FIG. 13  may be stamped or otherwise formed from a single cardboard element that is then folded and joined. 
     Container  10  has a generally cubic shape that defines six sides  12   a - 12   f  and an interior void bounded by sides  12   a - 12   f  for receiving soccerball  100 . Sides  12   a  and  12   b  respectively define apertures  14   a  and  14   b  through which soccerball  100  is visible. Sides  12   c  and  12   d  are not depicted as having apertures, which provides areas for information regarding soccerball  100  to be printed on the exterior of container  10 . In further configurations of container  10 , either of apertures  14   a  and  14   b  may be absent (i.e., the material of container  10  may extend across the areas of apertures  14   a  and  14   b ) or sides  12   c  and  12   d  may also include apertures. Sides  12   e  and  12   f , which respectively form a top and a bottom of container  10 , also expose areas of soccerball  100 . Accordingly, the configuration of container  10  in  FIGS. 1-5  exposes soccerball  100  through four of the six sides  12   a - 12   f.    
     In addition to exposing portions of soccerball  100 , container  10  provides support to soccerball  100 . The support is provided by various flaps  16   a - 16   d  that extend into the void in container  10  and contact soccerball  100 . For example, one of flaps  16   a  extends from an upper area of side  12   a  and is angled downward to contact soccerball  100 , and another of flaps  16   a  extends from a lower area of side  12   a  and is angled upward to contact soccerball  100 . Similarly, one of flaps  16   b  extends from an upper area of side  12   b  and is angled downward to contact soccerball  100 , and another of flaps  16   b  extends from a lower area of side  12   b  and is angled upward to contact soccerball  100 . As with sides  12   a  and  12   b , each of sides  12   c  and  12   d  respectively have two flaps  16   c  and  16   d  that are angled downward and upward to contact soccerball  100 . 
     Each of flaps  16   a - 16   d  respectively have a protrusion  18   a - 18   d  that is approximately centered relative to sides of flaps  16   a - 16   d  and contacts soccerball  100 . Protrusions  18   a - 18   d  extend outward from ends of flaps  16   a - 16   d  and have a concave configuration that contacts soccerball  100 . That is, protrusions  18   a - 18   d  are shaped to have a curvature that is approximately equal to the curvature of soccerball  100 . Accordingly, protrusions  18   a - 18   d  contact the surface of soccerball  100  along substantially all of the length of protrusions  18   a - 18   d . In some configurations of container  10 , protrusions  18   a - 18   d  may not be shaped to have a curvature that is approximately equal to the curvature of soccerball  100 , or protrusions  18   a - 18   d  may be absent from flaps  16   a - 16   d.    
     End portions of flaps  16   b  and  16   d  also respectively form a pair of other protrusions  20   b  and  20   d . Similarly, end portions of flaps  16   a  and  16   b  respectively form a pair of slits  22   a  and  22   c . When folded inward, protrusions  20   b  and  20   d  extend into and mate with slits  22   a  and  22   c  to interlock flaps  16   a - 16   d  with each other. Referring specifically to  FIG. 10 , one of protrusions  20   b  from flap  16   b  is immediately adjacent one of slits  22   a  from flap  16   a . When flaps  16   a  and  16   b  are folded inward, protrusion  20   b  will extend into slit  22   a  to interlock flaps  16   a  and  16   b . Similar concepts apply at other locations of container  10 . Slits  22   a  and  22   c  may also have the configuration of elongate apertures in some configurations. 
     An element that forms container  10  is depicted in  FIG. 13  and the various sides  12   a - 12   d , apertures  14   a  and  14   b , flaps  16   a - 16   d , protrusions  18   a - 18   d , protrusions  20   b  and  20   d , and slits  22   a  and  22   c  are depicted. Note, however, that the element does not actually include specific portions that form sides  12   e  and  12   f . When (a) the element is folded along various fold lines  24  and (b) a joining flap  26  extending from an edge of side  12   c  is adhered or otherwise joined to side  12   d , sides  12   e  and  12   f  are defined by the upper and lower edges of sides  12   a - 12   d  (i.e., the portions of sides  12   a - 12   d  with flaps  16   a - 16   d ). 
     Based upon the above discussion, container  10  has a configuration suitable for receiving and displaying soccerball  100 . In other configurations, container  10  may also be utilized to receive and display a variety of other types of game balls or other products. Advantages of the configuration of container  10  are that (a) consumers may inspect soccerball  100  through apertures  14   a  and  14   b  and through sides  12   e  and  12   f , (b) sides  12   c  and  12   d  provide an area for information regarding soccerball  100  to be displayed, and (c) soccerball  100  is protected by container  10  during transport and at a retail location. Another advantage of container  10  relates to protrusions  18   a - 18   d . As discussed, protrusions  18   a - 18   d  are shaped to have a curvature that is approximately equal to the curvature of soccerball  100 , and protrusions  18   a - 18   d  contact the surface of soccerball  100  along substantially all of the length of protrusions  18   a - 18   d . This configuration limits the degree to which soccerball  100  rotates or otherwise moves during transport. At the retail location, therefore, logos or other information printed on soccerball  100  may remain visible to the consumer if placed within container  10  such that the logos are visible. An additional advantage of container  10  relates to the interaction between protrusions  20   b  and  20   d  and slits  22   a  and  22   c . When folded inward, protrusions  20   b  and  20   d  extend into and mate with slits  22   a  and  22   c  to interlock flaps  16   a - 16   d  with each other. In this configuration, flaps  16   a - 16   d  may be merely folded inward to interlock flaps  16   a - 16   d  and complete the assembly of container  10 . That is, this configuration provides a relatively easy manner of securing soccerball  100  within container  10 . 
     Another configuration is depicted in  FIGS. 14-19  as container  10 ′. As with container  10 , container  10 ′ is suitable for receiving soccerball  100 , other game balls, or a variety of other products. The primary elements of container  10 ′ are various sides  12   a ′- 12   f ′, a pair of apertures  14   a ′ and  14   b ′, and eight flaps  16   a ′- 16   d ′. Flaps  16   a ′ and  16   c ′ include various slits  22   a ′ and  22   c ′ that extend into various protrusions  20   b ′ and  20   d ′ on flaps  16   b ′ and  16   d ′ to interlock flaps  16   a ′- 16   d ′ with each other. Flaps  16   a ′ and  16   c ′ also include various wings  24   a ′ and  24   c ′ that fold inward to provide additional support for flaps  16   a ′- 16   d ′. In one or more configurations, wings  24   a ′- d ′ may extend longitudinally past the sides of container  10 ′. The longitudinal edges/sides of flaps  16   b ′ and  16   d ′ may further be sloped to facilitate joining with flaps  16   a ′ and  16   c ′. Wings  24   a ′- 24   d ′ may further extend in a lateral direction past a lateral edge of a remainder of flaps  16   a ′ and  16   c ′. Similarly, the longitudinal ends of flaps  16   b ′ and  16   d ′ may also protrude from the remainder of flaps  16   b ′ and  16   d ′ in a lateral direction. Each of wings  24   a ′- 24   d ′ may further include a crease between a portion extending beyond a side of container  10 ′ and the remainder of the wing. Additionally or alternatively, a longitudinal edge of each wing of wings  24   a ′- 24   d ′ may be angled or sloped. 
     With reference to  FIG. 20 , a method of assembling container  10  is depicted. Initially, the element depicted in  FIG. 13  is folded between sides  12   a - 12   d  such that joining flap  26  contacts side  12   d , where joining flap  26  is adhered. Flaps  16   a - 16   d  adjacent side  12   f  are then folded inward so that protrusions  20   b  and  20   d  enter slits  22   a  and  22   c . Soccerball  100  may then be placed within container  10  through side  12   e , and flaps  16   a - 16   d  adjacent side  12   e  are then folded inward so that protrusions  20   b  and  20   d  enter slits  22   a  and  22   c . As an alternative, soccerball  100  may be placed within container  10  through the side  12   e  after flaps  16   a - 16   d  adjacent side  12   e  are folded inward. This procedure secures soccerball  100  within container  10 . 
     In order to remove soccerball  100  from container  10 , two of flaps  16   a - 16   d  may be pressed downward. By pressing two of flaps  16   a - 16   d  further inward, protrusions  20   b  and  20   d  are disengaged from slits  22   a  and  22   c  and each of flaps  16   a - 16   d  respectively extend adjacent to sides  12   a - 12   d , thereby opening side  12   e  sufficiently for removal of soccerball  100 . Accordingly, the relatively easy action of pressing downward on two of flaps  16   a - 16   d  is sufficient to remove soccerball  100  from container  10 . 
     The invention is disclosed above and in the accompanying drawings with reference to a variety of embodiments. The purpose served by the disclosure, however, is to provide an example of the various features and concepts related to aspects of the invention, not to limit the scope of aspects of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that numerous variations and modifications may be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined herein.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1