Special receptacle or package – For a tool – Brush
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-28
2001-11-06
Bui, Luan K. (Department: 3728)
Special receptacle or package
For a tool
Brush
C206S471000, C206S459500, C206S806000, C015S028000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06311837
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to the product packaging art, and more particularly, to a recess arrangement for a blister pack that allows a switch or button to be placed into a first position, and prevents the switch or button from being placed into a second position.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Blister packs or cards, and variants thereof such as skin packs or packages, contour packs or packages, and bubble packs or packages, are ubiquitous in the retail merchandising industry. Blister packaging generally refers to a method of packaging articles in transparent, thermoformed “blisters” or pouches that range from precisely matching to generally matching or otherwise corresponding to the contours of the article to be packaged. The preformed (e.g. vacuum formed) blisters are made of thermoplastics such as vinyls (e.g. polyvinyl chloride (PVC)), polystyrene, or cellulosic plastics. They are typically placed inverted in fixtures, loaded with the articles, then cards coated with an adhesive are applied and sealed to the flanges of the blisters by means of heat and pressure.
The retail merchandising industry has recently embraced the so-called “try me” marketing strategy whereby potential purchasers are invited to try out or otherwise test a product prior to making a purchase. In the case of electronically operated products, manufacturers must install batteries into the product if potential purchasers are to activate or energize the product.
For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 4,925,025, issued to Anten, discloses a point-of-purchase display that permits a potential purchaser to temporarily energize a toy packaged within a blister-type packaging arrangement. The toy includes activation buttons which are accessible through an opening in the bottom of the package. The opening may be covered by a reinforced plastic membrane. Likewise, U.S. Pat. No. 5,188,222, issued to Pierce discloses a blister-type display package arrangement with recesses that permit a potential purchaser to squeeze an animated timepiece and thereby actuate a switch that causes the animated timepiece to actuate.
Further, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,129,516; 4,702,374; and 5,718,335; issued to Theros, Kelner, and Boudreaux, respectively, generally disclose blister-type packaging arrangements that have apertures to permit access to a product so that a potential purchaser can directly manipulate the product in some manner. For instance, the Theros patent discloses a blister package for a tape measure including an opening for accessing and withdrawing the measuring tape from the tape measure housing. Lastly, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,919,074; 5,289,916; and 5,411,138, issued to Honda, Mickelberg, and Klawiter, respectively, generally disclose packaging arrangements that permit access to a switch for activating battery-operated products such as toys, dolls, etc.
Some articles or products incorporate a two-feature activation or on/off switch or button. A “press and hold” feature of the switch permits the product to be energized and de-energized by simply depressing and releasing the on/off switch (e.g. a temporarily-on feature). A “press and slide” feature of the switch permits the product to remain energized when the on/off switch is slid in a first direction and then released (e.g. a continuously-on feature). The product is deactivated by sliding the on/off switch in an opposing direction.
In the case of try-me packaging for an article having a two-feature on/off switch, it is contemplated that a potential purchaser could inadvertently or maliciously slide the on/off switch into the continuously on position, thereby continuously energizing the article and expending or otherwise draining the batteries. Further, it is possible that the switch could slide into the continuously on position during shipment of the product from the manufacturer, thus draining the batteries prior to arriving at the retailer. Clearly, it is less desirable to purchase a product with spent or discharged batteries, than a product with substantially fully charged batteries.
Further, known “try me” blister pack-type packaging arrangements are not suitable for use with articles or products that should remain in a sanitary state. That is, providing a hole or aperture through a blister in order to directly access a button or switch of the article, also serves to permit contaminates (pathological, biological, or otherwise) to reach the article.
Accordingly, it is considered desirable to provide a new and improved blister pack that is enclosed to maintain the sanitary condition of article while at the same time permitting a two-feature switch/button to be placed in a first position while preventing the switch/button from being placed in a second position.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The principal object of the present invention is to provide a blister-type packaging arrangement that is sealed to maintain the sanitary condition of article while at the same time permitting a switch/button to be placed in a first position while preventing the switch/button from being placed in a second position.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a package for an article incorporating a switch having a momentary-on position and a continuously-on position is disclosed. The package includes a cover at least partially enclosing the article, and a recess arrangement formed in the cover proximate the switch. The recess arrangement prevents the switch from being urged into the continuously-on position.
In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, a packaging arrangement for an article incorporating a two-position switch is disclosed. The packaging arrangement includes a cover at least partially enclosing the article, and a recess arrangement associated with the cover, the recess arrangement permitting the switch to be placed into a first position and preventing the switch from being placed into a second position.
One advantage of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved packaging arrangement that prevents an on/off switch associated with a packaged article from being slid into a continuously-on position while permitting the switch to be depressed into a momentary-on position.
Another advantage of the present invention is the provision of a try-me packaging arrangement that maintains a sanitary state of the packaged article.
Still another advantage of the present invention is the provision of a packaging arrangement that incorporates a rib for preventing a recess from collapsing from repeated use.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is the provision of a packaging arrangement that provides a recess for preventing a switch from being slid into a continuously-on position.
A further advantage of the present invention is the provision of a packaging arrangement that permits a potential purchaser to test or otherwise try-out a product at the point-of-purchase.
Yet a further advantage of the present invention is the provision of a try-me packaging arrangement that prevents batteries associated with the packaged product from being drained or discharged.
A still further advantage of the present invention is the provision of a packaging arrangement that prevents an on/off switch associated with a product from being moved into a continuously-on position during transit or shipment to a retailer.
Still further advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading and understanding the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3533503 (1970-10-01), Wood et al.
patent: 4702374 (1987-10-01), Kelner
patent: 4925025 (1990-05-01), Anten et al.
patent: 5129516 (1992-07-01), Theros
patent: 5188222 (1993-02-01), Pierce
patent: 5289916 (1994-03-01), Mickelberg
patent: 5411138 (1995-05-01), Klawiter
patent: 5613609 (1997-03-01), Hamilton et al.
patent: 5718335 (1998-02-01), Boudreaux
patent: 5890593 (1999-04-01), Humphrey
patent: 5896991 (1999-04-01), Hippely et al.
patent: 5919074 (1999-07-01), Honda
patent: 5954204 (1999-09-01), Grabowski
pa
Blaustein Lawrence A.
Nottingham John R.
Osher John
Spirk John W.
Bui Luan K.
Fay Sharpe Fagan Minnich & McKee LLP
The Procter & Gamble & Company
LandOfFree
Packaging arrangement having recesses for preventing a... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Packaging arrangement having recesses for preventing a..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Packaging arrangement having recesses for preventing a... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2613032