Special receptacle or package – For apparel – Single self-supporting folded blank forms container
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-21
2001-05-29
Fidei, David T. (Department: 3728)
Special receptacle or package
For apparel
Single self-supporting folded blank forms container
C206S297000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06237762
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is a garment package and more particularly a garment package for housing and protecting a folded garment having foldable front flaps and a depending and protective top.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Packaging for folded and displayed garments, such as socks and other hosiery products, normally consist of an insert or an inner support means of some description and a band holding the folded garment against the support means so that the fabric of the garment can be seen and touched by the shopper. Since it is an encouragement to the shopper to feel the fabric of the garment, often the garment is removed from the band and support member and thereafter unfolded for a more complete study. In the majority of cases, the shopper is not inclined to take the time and effort to refold carefully the garment and reposition it on the support member and within the band. Thus, the band, support member and garment are usually casually laid back on the display likely in an unhung and rather unattractive condition making it very unlikely to be viewed by subsequent shoppers. Frequent maintenance of such displays is therefore required in order to replace the unwrapped garment with a new package or at least refold and reposition the garment on the supporting member and within the band.
Other prior art devices involve the use of more than one surrounding band in an effort to secure the garment more rigidly to the support member and resist removal of the garment from the member by the shopper. In that style package, one band encircles the two folded leg members of the garment and the second band then encompasses the entire garment when a fold is made over the first band with a section of the folded leg. This package is somewhat more effective in resisting removal of the package from the backing; however, it is still exposed and has a tendency to collect dust and other debris that might be in close proximity to the display. While it does require some effort to remove the garment for additional inspection from the two bands and backing member, this activity frequently takes place with the same result as previously described. The package and garment must be replaced, or at the least, the garment must be refolded and repositioned into the existing package if both articles are undamaged.
There is no relatively inexpensive and cooperatively designed package that will secure the garment within the package surrounding, protect the garment from dust and other debris to which it may be exposed, and minimize the maintenance required in refurbishing and repackaging folded displayed products such as socks and hosiery. Since these requirements are critical to the successful and ongoing display of products of this nature, it is to these desirable features that the present invention is directed.
OBJECTIVES AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a package for a folded garment that has all of the advantages of prior art packages and more, and none of the disadvantages.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a package of the type described which will protect the folded and displayed article from dust or debris and from otherwise being spoiled by the touch of a prospective customer.
Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a package of the type described that will resist to a great degree the removal of the garment from the structure of the package for a more intimate examination by the prospective customer.
Still another objective of the present invention is to provide a package of the type described which will permit the garment to be hung on a display or otherwise attractively presented.
Yet still another objective of the present invention is to provide a packaged garment that will resist tampering and garment removal and thereby minimize maintenance time and replacement costs associated with conventional packaging of this nature.
The package of the present invention includes a back, first and second foldable front flaps each having first and second foldable sections. Each foldable section of each foldable flap forms a partial side for the package protecting the housed garment along these sides from touch or removal. A top has a first portion proximate the back and a second portion having a garment covering area and a depending tab positionable between the folded garment and the closed first and second foldable flaps to shield the garment from dust and debris and resist removal of the garment from the package.
Thus, there has been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, obviously, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. In this respect, the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details and construction and to the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in several ways.
It is also to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting in any respect. Those skilled in the art will appreciate the concept upon which this disclosure is based and that it may readily be utilized as a basis for designing other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the invention. It is also to be understood that the abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by its claims, nor to limit its scope in any way.
This summary and these objectives of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages, and the specific objects obtained by its use, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 421568 (2000-03-01), Ferguson et al.
patent: 3794793 (1974-02-01), Rius
patent: 4014436 (1977-03-01), Tunis
patent: 4190151 (1980-02-01), Russell
patent: 4257522 (1981-03-01), Thorneburg
patent: 5469959 (1995-11-01), Gummer
Fidei David T.
Kilpatrick & Stockton LLP
Lackey Charles Y.
Sara Lee Corporation
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