Abstract:
A product package for retail display includes a first portion connected to a second portion. The first portion is adapted to receive, contain and completely enclosed products, which the second connected portion is adapted to receive, contain and partially enclose a product for display. By partially enclosing the product, the consumer can test the ergonomics of the device (e.g., a game controller) before purchasing the same. The first portion provides a secure section where accessory items related to the partially enclosed product may be safely contained and displayed.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is related to U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/543,302, entitled “Packaging for Product Display”, filed on Feb. 10, 2004, which is commonly assigned, and the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to packaging and more particularly, it relates to packaging for retail product display.  
         [0004]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0005]     Purchasers of various consumer goods often would like to sample and/or otherwise “try out” the goods in a meaningful way prior to purchasing. For example, a purchaser of a game controller for a video gaming system often would like to hold the game controller to ensure that the ergonomics of the game controller are suitable for that given purchaser. However, consumer goods such as game controllers are often packaged so that the entire item is encapsulated in packaging so as to mask and/or otherwise alter the actual size and shape of the item as well as prevent a potential purchaser from directly accessing and contacting the item. While some packaging exists that allows a potential purchaser to actually touch an item that is packaged for sale, such packaging typically provides little or no protection to other parts of the item that are not desired to be accessed prior to sale such as delicate parts and/or parts that may be unlawfully detached and removed prior to sale so as to render the item damaged and/or incomplete.  
         [0006]     Accordingly, it would be desirable and highly advantageous to have packaging for product display that overcomes the above-identified problems of the prior art.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The problems stated above, as well as other related problems of the prior art, are solved by the present invention, which is directed to packaging for product display.  
         [0008]     According to one aspect of the invention, the packaging for product display includes a first portion for completely encapsulating a product to be packaged, and a second portion for partially encapsulating wither a product to be packaged. The first and second portions are joined together by a transition area. The transition area may allow for part of the product in the second partially enclosed portion to pass into the first completely enclosed portion.  
         [0009]     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the packaging is adapted for a game controller such that the second portion partially encapsulates the game controller to secure the same within the package. The game controller protrudes from the partial encapsulation to enable a consumer to touch and test the ergonomics of the game controller.  
         [0010]     According to another aspect of the invention, the game controller includes a plurality of controls and the second portion of the packaging partially encapsulates at least a portion of said controls. In another embodiment, the second portion of the packaging completely encapsulates (encloses) the plurality of controls yet allows the game controller handles to remain accessible by a potential consumer.  
         [0011]     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the packaging for product display, includes a first portion preventing access a product to be packaged, and a second portion providing limited consumer access to portions of a product. The limited access enabling consumer evaluation of the product via direct touch contact. The second portion is adapted to partially encapsulate and retain a game controller in place and enable a consumer to directly handle and test the ergonomics of the game controller as it would be held and used during actual game play.  
         [0012]     According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the method for forming packaging for retail product display includes the steps of: forming a first packaging half and a second packaging half, each package half being formed to include corresponding partial cavities; and, combining the first packaging half and the second packaging half to form a product packaging having a first packaging portion and a second packaging portion. The first packaging portion and the second packaging portion result from a combination of the corresponding partial cavities of the first packaging half and the second packaging half. The first packaging portion completely encapsulates a product to be packaged and the second packaging portion partially encapsulates a product.  
         [0013]     The step of forming forms at least one of the first packaging half and the second packaging half with a hanger portion adapted to form a hanger for hanging the product packaging on a display when the first packaging portion and the second packaging portion are combined in the combining step.  
         [0014]     These and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]     In the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to similar elements throughout the views:  
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a packaging for product display, according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is a rear view of a packaging for product display, according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  is a left side view of a packaging for product display, according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 4  is a right side view of a packaging for product display, according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0020]      FIG. 5  is a top view of a packaging for product display, according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0021]      FIG. 6  is a front view of a packaging for product display, according to another illustrative embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0022]      FIG. 7  is a plan view showing two halves of a packaging for product display, according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0023]      FIG. 8  is a flow diagram illustrating a method for forming a packaging for product display, according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0024]     Referring generally to the  FIGS. 1-7 , there is shown a package  100  for product display. The package  100  has an upper portion  102  and a lower portion  104  which are coupled by a transition area  106 . The upper portion  102  includes a compartment that is completely enclosed by the lower and upper halves of package  100 , while the lower portion  104  partially encloses the product so as to allow a consumer to actually touch and feel the product being offered for sale.  
         [0025]     Unlike other “touch and feel” product displays, the lower portion  104  of the present package contains a game controller  150  that is for use with a gaming system. In view of the various different gaming systems available (e.g., PlayStation®, GameCube™, X-Box®) and the wider array of available game controller styles for each system, the ergonomics of a game controller are an important consideration for a consumer in the purchasing of the same. By allowing the handle portions  152  and  154  of the game controller to not be contained by the packaging, the consumer may grip and hold the game controller in a manner that allows them to feel the “action” of this particular game controller in their hands and make a purchasing decision based on the same. The “action” as used herein is the interaction between the user&#39;s hands and the buttons, joysticks and other controls on the game controller itself. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the “action” of a controller in a user&#39;s hands is related to the ergonomics of the controller and the size of the user&#39;s hands. Thus, the ability to allow a consumer (user) to test this “action” before purchasing is desirable.  
         [0026]     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the lower portion  104  selectively covers the game controls (i.e., buttons  190 ,  191  and joysticks  195 ,  196 ) on the top of the controller in an effort to prevent damage of the same, yet allows full access to the handles  152 ,  154  and other controls (i.e. buttons)  156  and  158  located on the underside of the controller. Thus, the lower portion  104  completely retains the game controller  150  in a secure position without preventing or restricting the consumer from handling the same to test the ergonomics and “action” of the same. Those of ordinary skill will recognize that the control layout for each type of game controller (i.e., the button and joystick/d-pad layout for PlayStation®, GameCube™, X-Box®, etc.) are different, and thus the form of lower portion  104  can be changed to accommodate such different configurations without departing from the spirit of the present invention.  
         [0027]     The upper portion  102  includes a compartment that can be used to safely and securely contain various related parts, batteries, instructions, power cords, data cords, adapters, etc. for the game controller that is being retained in the lower portion  104 . Thus, the theft of batteries and other removable items may be prevented.  
         [0028]     As noted above, the upper portion  102  and lower portion  104  are connected by a transition area  106 . The transition area  106  can of any suitable shape and form to provide the support for the game controller product contained in lower portion  104 , while maintaining the integrity of the package as a whole. The transition area  106  may be formed so as to maintain the upper portion  102  and the lower portion  104  in a pre-defined orientation.  
         [0029]     According to one aspect of the invention, the transition area allows for the passing through of product from the lower portion  102  to the upper portion  102 . For example, a connection wire  200  or the like can extend from the game controller  150 , partially contained in the lower portion  104 , into the completely enclosed upper portion  102  via the transition area  106  (See  FIG. 3 ).  
         [0030]     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the package  100  is made of two parts  120  and  122 , which, during manufacturing, are positioned together and die cut to create an edge  108 . When the two parts  120  and  122  are joined, the upper (completely enclosed) portion  102  and lower (partially enclosed) portion  104  are formed. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the items to be contained within the compartment of upper portion  102  are disposed therein prior to the die cut sealing process, The game controller  150  is generally positioned in the lower portion  104  of the bottom part  120  before sealing of the entire package.  
         [0031]     In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the bottom part  120  and upper part  122  include partial cavities (identified as part of  102  and  104 ) on the respective bottom and upper parts. These partial cavities together form the entire portions  102  and  104  in accordance with an aspect of the invention. Those of ordinary skill will recognize that the size and shape of the partial cavities defining the portions  102  and  104  can be varies without departing from the spirit of the present invention.  
         [0032]     According to another aspect of the invention, the package  100  also includes a hanger  110  integrally formed into at least one of the upper and lower parts  122  and  120 , respectively, either during the die cut manufacturing process, or prior to the same. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the hanger  110  is molded into the lower part  120 . The hanger  110  allows the entire package to be hung on a display, yet still provides the user with the ability to test the feel and action of the controller without necessarily requiring the removal from the hanging display.  
         [0033]      FIG. 8  is a flow diagram illustrating a method for forming a packaging for product display, according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. A first packaging half ( 122 ) and a second packaging half ( 120 ) are formed so as to each include corresponding partial cavities (step  810 ). It is to be appreciated that step  810  may optionally be performed so as to form the packaging halves so as to each include hanger portions. The hanger portions are adapted to form a hanger for hanging the packaging on a display, when the packaging halves are combined in step  820  below.  
         [0034]     The first packaging half ( 122 ) and the second packaging half ( 120 ) are combined to form a product packaging having a first packaging portion ( 102 ) and a second packaging portion ( 104 ) (step  820 ). The first packaging portion ( 102 ) and the second packaging portion ( 104 ) result from a combination of the corresponding partial cavities of the first packaging half and the second packaging half. The first packaging portion ( 102 ) completely encapsulates a portion of a product to be packaged and the second packaging portion ( 104 ) partially encapsulates the product to allow for hands on testing by potential consumers.  
         [0035]     While there has been shown, described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form and details of the methods described and devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in any other disclosed, described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.