One-piece inner package

Details One-piece inner package One-piece inner package

1999-11-17

2001-10-09

Foster, Jim (Department: 3728)

Special receptacle or package

Having positioning means and display opening

Article projects from display opening

C206S277000, C206S485000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06298995

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention generally relates to packaging, more specifically, to a one-piece inner package for preventing a product to be packaged from moving inside an outer package or box.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
For purposes of displaying a product inside a box to potential consumers, a package box may be provided with an opening or window in its front so that the product can be seen through this window. The window is usually covered by a transparent film or plate made of, e.g., a plastic so as to prevent the product from being touched directly by the consumers. Due to the increasing requirements on recycling, the box is usually made of a recyclable material such as recyclable paper and a separate inner package. The inner package is made of a transparent material and usually of a plastic for its low cost. In order to prevent the product inside the box from moving, usually the inside plastic portion comprises two pieces together in a “clamshell” configuration. The clamshell includes a bottom part, sometimes molded as the shape of the product, for containing and supporting the product, and the other is a cover part for preventing the product leaving the bottom.
It is obvious that the cost for manufacturing the inner package will be substantially decreased if it is replaced by a one-piece item.
Prior attempts have focused around making a one piece plastic holder that is molded with an imprint of the item to be held. Thus, if a tube of ointment is to be held, the tube will sit snugly into a plastic imprint of the tube. Problematically, during shipping, the tube may come loose.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, one purpose of the present invention is to provide a one-piece inner package which can prevent the product to be packaged from movement inside an outer box.
The other purpose of the present invention is to provide a one-piece inner package which is easy to manufacture and convenient to use.
These purposes are achieved by the inner package of the present invention which comprises a plate made of transparent material. The plate has a shoulder portion, a middle portion and a base portion, with the shoulder portion and the base portion extend in opposite directions from the middle portion. The shoulder portion has a seat shaped to accommodate and support a first end of the product to be packaged, and when being packaged, the first end abuts a wall of the outer box. The middle portion includes a slope portion having an opening to accept a second end of the product. The base portion also helps to support the second end and prevent its movement. When being used, the second end of the product is inserted through the opening on the slope portion and rests on the base. The movement of the second end is prevented by the inner peripheral of the opening and by the base portion, while the movement of the first end of the product is prevented by the seat portion as well as by the wall of the outer box that it abuts. In this way, the product is kept stationary inside the outer box.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3203542 (1965-08-01), Lightner et al.
patent: 3887067 (1975-06-01), Collura et al.
patent: 3901382 (1975-08-01), Roccaforte
patent: 3934719 (1976-01-01), Roccaforte
patent: 4146128 (1979-03-01), Hogg et al.
patent: 4201294 (1980-05-01), Roccaforte
patent: 4899877 (1990-02-01), Kiernan
patent: 5279417 (1994-01-01), Seaton
patent: 5577606 (1996-11-01), Schwentuchowski et al.
patent: 5890593 (1999-04-01), Humphrey

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