Special receptacle or package – Convertible to or from display configuration – Having content positioning means
Reexamination Certificate
1997-05-14
2001-05-29
Luong, Shian (Department: 3728)
Special receptacle or package
Convertible to or from display configuration
Having content positioning means
C206S763000, C206S764000, C206S769000, C206S232000, C229S162700
Reexamination Certificate
active
06237777
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates generally to a carton for holding one or more articles; and more specifically, to a display carton for holding glassware, compact disc cases and the like providing a full, simulated inspection of the article, including a substantial portion of the article itself through a cutout opening.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Generally, display cartons for holding glassware and other articles are well known in the prior art. Most of these standard cartons are formed by making a series of folds to a paperboard blank to form a hollow interior and fixed, internal supporting retainers for holding the articles. Although the outer surfaces of these cartons often have pictures, such as photographs of the articles, along with the printed advertising material relating to the articles, the prospective purchaser has no way of direct inspection of the actual articles without opening the carton.
In some instances, a transparent sheet is used to cover an opening on one side of the carton, in which case the articles can be partially seen, but not touched. Retailers usually prohibit a potential customer from opening these cartons, since part of the closure flaps will be mutilated, thus leaving the impression for the next customer that tampering with the contents has occurred.
To attempt to overcome this shortcoming, some carton designers propose cutout openings that allow the articles to be both partially viewed and touched inside of the carton. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,579,990 to Durand, cutout openings located at opposing corners of the glassware carton allow for the partial visual and tactile inspection of some of the glasses. In addition to providing a partial view of the article, the borders surrounding the cutout opening generally function as retaining walls for assisting in securing the article in the carton. However, these retaining walls also prevent a prospective purchaser from obtaining a good view of the complete article without removing it from the carton.
In addition to the retaining wall surrounding the cutout opening, the inside of the display carton has the usual fixed retainer to further assist in holding the article in the carton. Although these retainers advantageously prevent the articles from shifting during transportation, as well as during stocking and display on the retailer's shelves, the retainer has the undesirable limitation of preventing easy access for full visual/tactile inspection of the article. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,156,276 to Lebowitz, a fixed retainer extends over the top of the article, and thus greatly obstructs a useful inspection of the article in the carton. This retainer is clearly designed to also prevent the article from being easily removed, fully inspected, and returned to the carton.
Some leading inventors in the field of glassware cartons have gone so far as to try to solve the problem by designing simply a glassware carrier, which design leaves more than half of the glasses fully exposed; see for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,736,846 to Durand. As is obvious, this design is even more problematical since the glassware is very susceptible to being easily broken during handling of the carrier.
Therefore, a need is identified for an improved display carton having a cutout opening for viewing and touching an article contained within a carton, and at the same time providing full protection during handling. The carton should provide for a simulated appearance of the article that includes at least a substantial portion of the article itself being available for visual and tactile inspection. The prospective purchaser should have the impression that a full view of an article contained within the carton is provided. Furthermore, the carton needs to be adapted to allow the purchaser to easily remove the article from the carton, fully inspect the article while protecting the article, and then easily return the article to the carton. In addition, this access and inspection must be able to be accomplished without damaging the carton.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a new and improved display carton allowing for full, simulated inspection, including a cutout opening for actual visual and tactile inspection of a substantial portion of the article, thereby providing a satisfying visualization of an article contained within the carton.
It is another object of the present invention to provide such a display carton having a cutout opening for actual visual/tactile inspection of the article, and including a printed silhouette extending around the border of the opening to provide the simulated appearance.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a display carton that has a slide-out tray for securing an article inside of the carton, whereby the slide-out tray may be easily removed from the carton, the article inspected, and then easily returned to the carton.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a slide-out tray for securing an article inside of a display carton that is easily erected from a paperboard blank.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a display carton for full, simulated inspection of an article and for a related article.
Additional objects, advantages and other novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description that follows and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned with the practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
To achieve the foregoing and other objects, and in accordance with the purposes of the present invention as described herein, an improved display carton provides for a full, simulated inspection of the article or articles in the carton, including a substantial portion of the article itself through a cutout opening. In the preferred embodiment of the carton, the cutout opening is surrounded by a printed silhouette to simulate the outer periphery of the article. Thus, the article(s), which may be glassware, CD cases, or the like, advantageously can be directly viewed and touched, but at the same time, a satisfying, full visual inspection can be made up close, or from a distance.
The display carton is ideally formed from a foldable paperboard blank that is erected into a rectangular box having a hollow interior. The front panel of the carton contains one or more cutout openings. Advantageously, these cutout openings allow for the visual and tactile inspection of a substantial portion of the article while it remains secure inside of the carton. Additionally, the borders of the front panel surrounding the cutout opening act to retain the article inside the carton, thus protecting the article from damage and pilfering.
Advantageously, because the printed silhouette provides the prospective purchaser with a full, simulated view of the article, the purchase can be made with full satisfaction without necessitating the opening of the carton or the removal of the article from the carton. Ideally, the printed silhouette covers the full periphery of the article, that is an image of the top, bottom, and sides of the article, although less than the full periphery is contemplated within the broadest aspects of the invention.
According to another important feature of the invention, a slide-out tray for holding an article or articles inside of the carton is provided. Preferably, this slide-out tray is formed from a paperboard blank having a series of fold lines. To secure the articles within the carton, the slide-out tray is provided with a fold over cover having a series of folded, pop-in dividers for retaining the upper portion of the article. Additionally, the slide-out tray has a base with a series of recesses for retaining the lower portion of the article.
It will now be realized that in addition to securing the articles in
Hunter Manufacturing Group, Inc.
King and Schickli PLLC
Luong Shian
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