Special receptacle or package – For a household appliance
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-17
2001-04-17
Gehman, Bryon P. (Department: 3728)
Special receptacle or package
For a household appliance
C206S305000, C206S461000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06216866
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to clam-shell or blister packaging (generally referred to as “packaging”) for holding and displaying electronic devices with displays. More particularly, this invention relates to packaging for holding and displaying calculators or similar devices with movable displays or features and which allows prospective purchasers to move said display without removing the calculator from said packaging.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Clam-shell packaging is customarily used to mount small items of hardware or other products by utilizing two mating surfaces or shells that are shaped in the form of the product which is to be held. It is generally known in the art to hold these two moveable surfaces or shells together by mechanical or adhesive means. Additionally, the two shells may be manufactured for engagement using a variety of methods such as integral snap-over edges, snap-together elements or by using a clasp means.
Blister packaging can also be used to package and display small items of hardware or other products. Blister packaging functions by mounting the product on a display card. The product and the display card are then encapsulated by transparent, semi-flexible material such as polyvinyl chloride (“PVC”) and the transparent, semi-flexible material is attached to the display card by heat and pressure-adhesive techniques. Blister packages which allow users to access moving parts have been described in several patents, such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,179,029 entitled “Blister Packages for Scissors, Pliers and Other Hand Tools,” issued to Fethke et al. on Aug. 28, 1979, U.S. Pat. No. 4,165,805 entitled “Functional Blister Package for Snipper-Type Scissors,” issued to Fethke et al. on Dec. 18, 1979, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,279,417 entitled “Package for Hand Tools,” issued to Seaton on Jan. 18, 1994.
The '029 patent, the '805 patent and the '417 patent each show packaging which mounts and displays hand tools with two handles. Further, the packages are designed to allow the customer to operate the tool to some extent while it remains in the package. Although these patents disclose using blister packaging to mount products which have movable parts in a manner which allows the customer to operate the movable aspect of the product, none of these patents discloses a configuration capable of mounting and displaying an electronic device with a movable display where the display can be moved for viewing as if in use. Rather, each of the above patents include limitations for securing products having two pivotally connected arms, such as, scissors.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a package which overcomes the problems associated with the prior art as applied to the display of small electronic devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, a package for holding and displaying an electronic device having a base and a display member pivotally connected to said base, is described. The package includes a first panel overlying the working surface of the electronic device which encases at least a portion of the base of the electronic device, and an opposed second panel underlying the working surface of said electronic device which also encases at least a portion of the base of the electronic device. Moreover, a first aperture is formed or cut on the first panel near the display and dimensioned to allow the display member to pivot without contacting the first panel or the second panel. A second aperture is also formed or cut on the first panel near the on and off buttons and dimensioned to allow the electronic device to be turned on an off without opening the package. The display may be manipulated without opening the package and while the electronic device remains secured within the packaging. Therefore, this invention eliminates the need for sellers of electronic devices with pivotal displays to provide unpackaged electronic devices as floor samples while still allowing prospective customers to manipulate and test the pivotal display of the electronic device within the package.
The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following more detailed description of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2492262 (1949-12-01), Boyden et al.
patent: 4075702 (1978-02-01), Davies
patent: 4165805 (1979-08-01), Fethke
patent: 4837590 (1989-06-01), Spraque
patent: 5092459 (1992-03-01), Uljanic et al.
patent: 5242056 (1993-09-01), Zia et al.
patent: 5279417 (1994-01-01), Scaton
patent: 5325970 (1994-07-01), Dillon et al.
patent: 5392920 (1995-02-01), Prete et al.
patent: 5435447 (1995-07-01), Weatherford
patent: 5499713 (1996-03-01), Huffer
patent: 5678695 (1997-10-01), Ridgeway
patent: 5682993 (1997-11-01), Song
patent: 5775516 (1998-07-01), McCumber
patent: 5812188 (1998-09-01), Adair
patent: 5931297 (1999-08-01), Weill et al.
Declaration of Michael A. Carrillo, attached hereto.
Browne Robert E.
Carrillo Michael A.
Gehman Bryon P.
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