Special receptacle or package – For a tool
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-30
2001-03-20
Fidei, David T. (Department: 3728)
Special receptacle or package
For a tool
C206S464000, C053S410000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06202842
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to cards for displaying items for sale, and more particularly to a combined display card and flashlight.
The common practice for displaying small and lightweight retail items, such as handheld flashlights, is to package the items in a blister pack and place them on shelves or hang them in various displays. Blister packs generally comprise two pieces of clear plastic that are attached to each other thereby defining a cavity retaining the item to be displayed. Small items packaged in such a manner are less prone to shoplifting as a result of the physical size of the blister pack. The blister pack also isolates the product from the purchaser, preventing inadvertent damage that can result from repeated handling prior to sale. Such damage may not be readily visible to the purchaser, such as leaving a disposable electrical product turned on, thereby draining the batteries and rendering the product useless. The blister pack also permits irregularly shaped products to be displayed in an orderly fashion, such as by including an aperture at the top of the blister package and hanging the individual product packages from hooks and the like in the store.
While the blister pack has significant advantages as discussed above, it also possesses some inherent disadvantages. To decrease the probability of shoplifting small and relatively expensive items, such as cameras, electronic components, or the like, the blister pack must be relatively large in comparison. Consequently, the cost of fabricating and assembling the blister pack can become quite expensive and add significant cost to the product. While the blister pack prevents direct handling of the product to minimize pre-sale damage, the isolation of the product inside the blister pack also prevents tactile feedback to a potential user that can only be obtained by directly handling the product. Such tactile feedback, wherein a prospective user or customer can tactilely experience unique features of the product, can also enhance sales of the item as compared to the same product displayed in a blister pack.
Thus, there is a need, heretofore unfulfilled, for a relatively inexpensive display card for disposable electronic products, that securely holds the product and functions to prevent power switches from remaining in the on position to maintain as much electrical power as is possible.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One aspect of the present invention is a display card retaining a flashlight thereon. The flashlight has a body comprising two body halves. Each body half defines a portion of an interior cavity, and the halves are matingly abutted one to the other. The mated halves further define a slot therein. The display card comprises a semi-rigid card defining a cutout therein. The card receives at least a portion of the flashlight in the cutout, and a tab extends into the cutout and is received the slot. The tab further extends into the interior cavity of the flashlight in a manner that suspendingly retains the flashlight for display.
Another aspect of the invention is a display card retaining a flashlight thereon wherein the flashlight has a body comprising two body halves. The flashlight includes a switch mounted on the body and translates between an off position and an on position. Each body half defines a portion of an interior cavity and matingly abut one to the other. The mated halves further define at least two slots therein. A first of the slots is proximate to the switch, wherein the display card comprises a semi-rigid card defining a cutout therein, and receives at least a portion of the flashlight in the cutout. At least two tabs extend into the cutout, wherein each of the tabs are received in a different one of said slots, said tabs further extending into the interior cavity of the flashlight in a manner to suspendingly retain the flashlight for display.
Yet another aspect of the current invention is a method of mounting a display card to a flashlight for display. The method comprises the steps of providing a partially disassembled flashlight wherein at least a body of the flashlight is separated into two halves, each body half defining at least a portion of each of a plurality of slots. A card is provided that defines a cutout. The cutout is formed to receive at least a portion of the flashlight body. A plurality of tabs extend from the card into the cutout and are positioned to correspond to the slots in the flashlight body. The card is placed on one of the body halves. The tabs are aligned with the partially defined slots, and the second of the body halves is mated to the first, thereby trapping the card tabs within the flashlight body.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3519128 (1970-07-01), Swanberg
patent: 3756387 (1973-09-01), Chaney
patent: 3945494 (1976-03-01), Weber et al.
patent: 4101042 (1978-07-01), Strong et al.
patent: 4354598 (1982-10-01), Schillinger
patent: 4375850 (1983-03-01), Smyth et al.
patent: 4456124 (1984-06-01), Kay et al.
patent: 4549654 (1985-10-01), Tiesman
patent: 4848541 (1989-07-01), Paliotta et al.
patent: 4899882 (1990-02-01), Benner
patent: 5392919 (1995-02-01), Passamoni
patent: 5509532 (1996-04-01), Brody
patent: 5649621 (1997-07-01), Brody
patent: 5672238 (1997-09-01), Samuelson
patent: 5813532 (1998-09-01), Kheradpir et al.
Furth David A.
Pirro Jeffrey P.
Eveready Battery Company Inc.
Fidei David T.
Welsh Robert W.
LandOfFree
Product packaging and method of packing a product does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Product packaging and method of packing a product, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Product packaging and method of packing a product will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2472630