Special receptacle or package – Structural features for vertical stacking – i.e. – similar... – Having vertical projecting element or recess for interlock
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-31
2001-11-27
Fidei, David T. (Department: 3727)
Special receptacle or package
Structural features for vertical stacking, i.e., similar...
Having vertical projecting element or recess for interlock
C206S503000, C206S521000, C220S004230
Reexamination Certificate
active
06321911
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to packages and more particularly to a fragility package for containing fragile articles.
The term “fragility package” refers to packages specially designed to protect fragile articles, such as electronic components (e.g. stereos, video cassette recorders, digital video disc players, computer printers, etc.). Fragility packaging is commercially available in a wide variety of configurations. One of the more conventional configurations includes expanded foam supports that support the article within a cardboard shell. Typically, the package will include eight supports, one supporting each corner of the article. Alternatively, the package may include two support halves, each defining a void corresponding to the shape of the article. The support halves generally enclose the entire article. With either configuration, the packaging company is required to order, stock and maintain an inventory of multiple parts, including cardboard boxes and the corresponding number of supports. Although the cardboard boxes can typically be collapsed to conserve space in inventory, the supports are typically not collapsible, and therefore require a significant amount of warehouse space. Further, packaging articles using these conventional package configurations requires separate manipulation and assembly of the box and supports. Another known problem with conventional fragility packages is that beads from the expanded foam supports have a tendency to break off and get caught in the packaged article, potentially causing damage to the article. Also, dust from the cardboard box can contaminate the article as well.
Additionally, conventional fragility packaging does not permit the packaged article to be viewed by a customer. Accordingly, in order to perform a visual inspection, a customer is required to open the package and remove the article. This creates a variety of problems, including the possibility that the article will be damaged by the customer, that accessories contained within the package will be misplaced or stolen, or that subsequent potential customers will be hesitant to purchase an article in an open package.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The aforementioned problems are overcome by the present invention which provides a clam shell fragility package. The clam shell package includes an envelope that supports the article toward the center of the package as well as fragility supports that extend from the envelope to protect the article from damage in the event of an impact. The fragility supports are preferably located in the corners of the package.
In a preferred embodiment, the package is manufactured from a transparent polymeric material with a conventional impact modifying additive. This material resists cracking or breaking under impact and permits the article, along with any accessories, to be visually inspected without opening the package.
In a more preferred embodiment, the fragility package is configured to permit multiple packages to nest together when stacked one upon the other. Preferably, the package includes a protrusion and an oppositely positioned, corresponding void. When stacked, the protrusion of one package is interfitted with the void in the adjacent package. The protrusion and void are preferably configured so that the packages can be reversed with respect to one another when stacked.
The present invention provides a clam shell fragility package that permits the packaged article to be visually inspected without opening. The envelope closely follows the contour of the article in various locations to provide excellent product viewing. The fragility supports provide improved protection for the article by absorbing impacts from various directions. Because of these characteristics, the package can be used during shipping and during display at the point of sale. The nesting configuration permits packaged articles to be stably stacked one atop another without the need for conventional dunnage or other materials for intersecuring the packages. Further, because the packages can be reversed when stacked, articles without centered weight distribution can be more stably stacked. Also, when stacked, the fragility supports bear the majority of the weight of any above packages and pass the weight directly to the floor or to any below packages. Accordingly, the article is not required to bear most of the weight of any above stacked packages. Even further, because of its clam shell construction, the package also improves inventory efficiency by eliminating the need to order, stock and maintain multiple packaging components. Additionally, open packages are easily nested within each other to dramatically reduce the space required to store the packages. Also, the package decreases labor cost of packaging articles by reducing the number of steps involved in packaging an article. In addition, the transparent package permits the customer to view the accessories packaged with the article. Further, stacked packages nest within each other. As a result, the overall height of stacked packages is reduced by the amount of nesting between the packages. This can yield significant savings in vertical space required to store and display packaged articles.
These and other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will be readily understood and appreciated by reference to the detailed description of the preferred embodiment and the drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3407961 (1968-10-01), Box
patent: 4735310 (1988-04-01), Lemery et al.
patent: 5127526 (1992-07-01), Vigue
patent: 5775508 (1998-07-01), Bongard et al.
patent: 5871097 (1999-02-01), Shida et al.
patent: 1640039 (1991-04-01), None
Malone Nicholas J.
Raimer George Edwin
Display Pack, Inc.
Fidei David T.
Warner & Norcross & Judd LLP
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