Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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A PACKAGING DEVICE
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.
60/458,001 filed March 27, 2003.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a packaging device. In particular,
the present invention relates to a packaging device for protecting its
contents during
shipping and storage but further is suitable for display for retail purchases,
and more
specifically is adapted for packaging bedding articles, other fabrics, or like
products.
More particularly the present invention relates to a packaging device, which
allows a
customer to access the enclosed article at the retail end without removing the
same from
the packaging device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Conventional packages, such as bedding packages, are typically in the form a
bag, pouch, box, or carton having an opening to allow the manufacture or the
user to
insert or remove the contents. Once the contents of the packages is inserted,
the opening
can be closed, for example, with a closure member, such as a zipper, or in a
more
permanent fashion, for example by heat sealing, so that the articles contained
in the
packages can be protected during transportation and storage. The packages are
normally
maintained in such a closed state at least until they are distributed to the
retail stores and
put on the shelves for sale. The packages, in addition to protecting the
contents, may
display or provide a promotional function for the contents, or both.
Before potential customers purchase packaged articles, the customers typically
will want to open the packages to inspect and feel the enclosed articles. If
the packages
do not provide a resealable opening, the potential customers may break the
packages,
which will prevent the contents from being inserted back into the packaging
for further
protection. Alternatively, if the packages are provided with a resealable
opening which is
usually sufficiently large to allow the entire article to pass therethrough,
the customers
have a tendency to remove at least a portion of the article from the packages
for close
inspection. Often times, customers fail to return the articles to their
initial packaging state
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as designed or intended by the manufacturer. Also, the customers may forget to
close the
fasteners after inspecting the packaged articles.
In such cases, the aesthetic appearance of the packages or the articles can be
significantly undermined, which can in turn adversely affect the sales of the
merchandise.
Moreover, if the packages are left open for a prolonged time, the enclosed
articles can fall
out of the bag, or otherwise be soiled or damaged. Consequently, additional
maintenance
of the merchandise is required. Otherwise, the merchandise must be sold at a
discounted
price because it can no longer provide the purchasers with the quality
intended by the
manufacturer.
The present invention provides a packaging device that overcomes the above
problems. The present invention is capable of affording satisfactory
protection of the
packaged article at the retail end and providing a mechanism that allows the
customer to
access the packaged article without opening the packaging device or shifting
the article
enclosed therein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A packaging device is provided which in one embodiment can comprise a
casing member adapted to form a compartment for containing and surrounding an
article
therein. The casing member can define an opening portion for the article to
pass
therethrough when being inserted into or removed from the compartment and an
access
port in communication with the compartment. The opening portion can be
selectively
closed by a closure member to maintain the article enclosed in the casing
member. In one
embodiment, the access port can be sized to prevent the enclosed article from
being
removed therefrom during normal use.
In a non-trial mode of the packaging device, the access port is closed so that
the article can be completely covered and enclosed in the casing member when
the
closure member closes the opening portion. In a trial mode of the packaging
device, the
access port is opened by the user to reach the article contained in the
compartment.
The casing member surrounding or forming the access port can be made of a
flexible material. Additionally or alternatively, the casing member
surrounding the
access port can be at least partially reinforced. In one embodiment, at least
a portion of
the casing member is made of transparent material.
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An alternative embodiment of the packaging device is provided which can
comprise a casing member adapted to enclose and surround an interior chamber
for
containing at least one article and an access mechanism formed in the casing
member.
The access mechanism can be selectively operable by a user to move between a
first
position which forms an opening communicating with the interior chamber and a
second
position which prevents communication with the interior chamber. Additionally
or
alternately, the access mechanism is sized and configured to allow a user to
access and
feel the at least one article and prevent the user from removing the at least
one article
from the packaging device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The detailed description of the present invention will be better understood in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numbers and
reference characters represent like elements, as follows:
Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of a packaging device formed in accordance
with the present invention;
Fig. 2 shows the front view of the packaging device as shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 shows the front view of an alternative packaging device; and
Fig. 4 shows the sections forming the front wall member of the packaging
device as shown in Fig. 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Exemplary packaging devices are shown throughout the drawings. In the
following description of various embodiments of packaging devices, similar
elements or
components thereof are designated with same reference numbers or reference
characters
and redundant description is omitted. It should be understood that the
exemplary
packaging devices shown in the figures are not to be considered limiting and
various
features from the different embodiments may be considered.
Fig. 1 shows an exemplary packaging device 1. The packaging device 1 can
comprise a bag 10 formed by a casing member 20, which will be described in
detail
below. While the packaging device 1 is described as comprising a bag 10, it
should be
understood that it can alternatively be referred to as a pouch, box, carton,
or by similar
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terms. The bag 10 can comprise an opening portion 30, which is adapted to
allow one or
more articles 2 to be placed therein or removed therefrom, as will be
described in detail
below. The bag 10 can have various shapes and sizes depending on the nature,
volume,
quantity, and the like of the packaged article 2.
For example, the bag 10 can be formed in various shapes to accommodate and
contain the packaged article 2 therein. In one embodiment, the bag or pouch 10
can have
a general three-dimensional shape. In an exemplary embodiment, such as shown
in Fig.
l, the bag 10 can have a three-dimensional rectangular shape having front and
rear walls
12 and 14 and four side walls 16. Such a rectangular bag 10 can be used for
various
articles 2, which has or can be manipulated into a generally rectangular
shape, such as
bedding products, various fabrics, or the like products. In another exemplary
embodiment, a rectangular shaped bag 10 can have the dimensions of about 12
inch x 15
inch x 2 inch. Additionally or alternatively, the shape of the bag 10 can also
be designed
to provide an aesthetic quality to appeal to the purchasers. For example, the
bag 10 can
have a cylindrical shape with circular ends.
In another embodiment, the bag or pouch 10 can have a contoured shape, such
as similar to that of the packaged article 2. For example, when the packaged
article 2 is a
doll or animal toy figure, the bag 10 can be shaped accordingly to fit the
shape of the toy
figure. It will be appreciated that other shapes of the bag 10 are also within
the scope of
the invention.
The bag 10 or casing member 20 can be formed in various manners. In one
embodiment, the bag 10 can be formed with a front wall member 12 and a rear or
back
wall member 14 with one or more side walls 16 located between the front and
rear walls
12 and 14. The front, rear, and side walls 12, 14, and 16 can define a
compartment or
interior chamber 22 therein for receiving the article 2. In one exemplary
embodiment, the
front, rear, and side walls 12, 14, and 16 can be separately formed and joined
together
forming one or more joining edges 18, such as for example by heat sealing,
heat welding,
bonding, gluing, or other well know joining processes. In an exemplary
embodiment, one
or more of the edges 18 between the adjoining walls can be reinforced, for
example to
provide additional strength to the packaging device 1. In another exemplary
embodiment,
one or more side walls 16 can be integrally formed with each other, and
alternatively or
additionally with the front and rear walls 12 and 14. Optionally, the
integrally formed
walls can be subject to creasing or folding processes. In one exemplary
embodiment, one
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or more pieces or sections of material, such as A, B, and C as shown in Fig.
4, can be
provided to form any one of the front, rear, and side walls 12, 14, and 16. It
will be
appreciated that other embodiments of forming the bag 10 are also within the
scope of the
invention.
The casing member 20 can be adapted to form a compartment or a cavity 22
for containing a packaging article 2 therein. The casing member 20 can be
formed of
various materials as appropriate for packaging the article 2. For example, at
least a
portion of the casing member 20 can be made of transparent material so that at
least a
portion of the enclosed article 2 can be viewed without opening the bag 10. In
an
exemplary embodiment, the casing member 20 can be at least partially, or
entirely, made
of a flexible material. In another exemplary embodiment, the casing member 20
can
comprise combinations of relatively stiff and more flexible materials. In a
further
exemplary embodiment, the casing member 20 can be at least partially, or
entirely, made
of a deformable material. It will be appreciated that other materials capable
of forming
the casing member 20 are also within the scope of the invention.
In one embodiment, such as shown in Fig. 1, the opening portion 30 in the
casing member 20 can allow the entire article 2 to pass therethrough when
being inserted
into or removed from the bag 10. The opening portion 30 can be formed in
various
conventional manners. In one embodiment where the bag 10 has a three-
dimensional
shape, the opening portion 30 can be formed on at least one of the side walls
16, such as
along a major dimension thereof. Preferably, the opening portion 30 extends
along
approximately 50% of the side walls 16, such as shown in Fig. 1. In an
exemplary
embodiment, the opening portion 30 can extend along adjacent side walls 16,
such as
shown in Fig. 1. In another exemplary embodiment, the opening portion 30 can
be
formed along at least one edge 18 of the side walls 16. In an exemplary
embodiment, the
opening portion 30 can be formed in three side walls 16, preferably adjacent
to or at the
edges 18 of the side walls 16 where they meet with the front or rear walls 12,
14, so that
the entire front andlor rear wall member 12, 14 can flip open to provide
access to the
article 2 contained in the bag 10. It will be appreciated that other
embodiments of the
opening portion 30 are also within the scope of the invention.
In another embodiment, such as shown in Fig. 1, a closure member 40,
preferably a resealable closure member, can be provided to selectively open
and/or close
the opening portion 30 to maintain the article 2 enclosed in the casing member
20.
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Various conventional fasteners can be used to serve such a purpose. In an
exemplary
embodiment, such as shown in Fig. 1, a zipper element 42 can be fixed to the
casing
member 20 along the portion defining the opening portion 30 to thereby
selectively open
and/or close the opening portion 30. In another exemplary embodiment, a VELCRO
fastener element 42 can extend along at least one edge 18 formed by a side
wall member
16 and the adjoining front walls) 12 or rear walls) 14 of the packaging device
1. When
the closure member 40 is open, the enclosed article 2 can be removed from the
packaging
device 1. Preferably, the closure member 40 extends along at least
approximately 50% of
the side walls 16, such as shown in Fig. 1, or more preferably approximately
75-85% of
the side walls 16. In an exemplary embodiment, the closure member 40 can
extend along
three side walls 16 of a rectangular shaped packaging device 1. It will be
appreciated that
other embodiments of the closure member 40 are also within the scope of the
invention.
The packaging device 1 can comprise an access port 50, such as shown in
Figs. 1 to 3. Preferably, the access port SO can be configured to allow a user
to reach into
1 S the compartment 22 and access and feel the article 2 contained therein,
even when the
opening portion 30 is sealed, for example by the closure member 40. In other
words, the
access port SO can provide the customer with independent access to the
enclosed article 2
separately from that provided by the opening portion 30. Additionally or
alternatively,
the access port 50 can be configured to prevent the enclosed article 2 from
being removed
therefrom during normal use.
In one embodiment, the access port 50 is capable of moving between a trial
mode and a non-trial or rest mode. For example, in a trial mode, the access
port SO can be
opened by a potential purchaser to reach into the compartment 22 and access
and feel the
article 2 contained therein. In an exemplary embodiment, the access port SO
will remain
open without further effort on the account of the potential purchaser, so that
the article 2
contained in the compartment 22 can be accessed and felt by the potential
purchasers. In
another exemplary embodiment, the access port 50 can be formed so that, in a
non-trial or
rest mode, it remains closed. The access port 50 can further be formed so that
optionally
it will self close unless a potential purchaser forces the access port 50 to
open.
Preferably, the article 2 can be completely covered by the casing member 20
not
withstanding the existence of the access port 50 unless the closure member 40
is opened
by a user.
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The access port 50 can be formed in various manners. In one embodiment, the
access port SO can be formed by partially overlapping a plurality of wall
sections, such as
sections A, B, and C, of the casing member 20. In an exemplary embodiment,
such as
shown in Figs. l and 2, the front wall member 12 can comprise two sections A
and B. A
portion of the two sections A and B can freely overlap with each other. When
the
packaging device 1 is filled with the article 2, the overlapping portions can
be biased
against each other to thus close the access port 50 and cover the enclosed
article 2. When
a user wants to access to the enclosed article 2, the user can easily apply a
gentle force
separating the two overlapped portions and reach into the compartment 22. The
two wall
sections A and B when separated to open the access port 50 can form a sleeve
like
opening that communicates within the compartment or interior chamber 22.
Preferably
wall sections A and B are formed of a flexible material, preferably a material
that allows
the two overlapping sections to be easily separated.
In another embodiment, the access port 50 can be formed as a slit portion
defined in one of the front, rear, and side walls 12, 14, and 16 of the
packaging device 1.
In an exemplary embodiment, such as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the slit portion
50 can be
formed by partially overlapping a plurality of wall sections, such as sections
A, B, and C.
The slit portion 50 can be easily separated by the user to thereby access the
enclosed
article 2.
Optionally, at least a portion of the casing member 20 surrounding the access
port is at least partially reinforced. In an exemplary embodiment, a
reinforced portion 24
can be formed by a folded edge 26, such as shown in Fig. 1. In another
exemplary
embodiment, the folded edge 26 can have a length in the range of about 5
inches to about
7 inches, and preferably of about 6 inches.
The dimension of the access port 50 can vary as desired. In one embodiment,
m
the access port 50 can be sized to prevent the enclosed article 2 from being
removed
therefrom during normal use. Depending on the size of the entire packaging
device 1, the
access port 50 can have such a dimension that a user can extend one or more
forgers or
one hand therethrough to access and feel the enclosed article 2. Accordingly,
the
enclosed article 2 can be securely retained in the packaging device 1 and be
protected
from undesired shifting inside or removal from the bag 10. In an exemplary
embodiment,
the access port 50 can be a small portion of the entire packaging device 1.
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The access port 50 can be provided at various locations on the packaging
device 1. For example, the access port SO can be positioned on the front wall
member 12
of the bag 10. Because packages are normally displayed on the shelves with
their front
sides facing toward the customers, such a location can make the packaged
article 2 ready
for inspection without further manipulating the packages. In an exemplary
embodiment,
such as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the access port 50 can be formed at a bottom
corner of the
packaging device 1 and extend diagonally across the front wall member 12. The
edge 26
in Fig. 1 preferably, and in exemplary fashion, about 4 to 8 inches, more
preferably about
to 7 inches and most preferred about 6 inches. In another exemplary
embodiment, the
access port 50 can be positioned in the center portion of the front wall
member 12. In a
further exemplary embodiment, the access port 50 can be so positioned on the
packaging
device 1 to allow a user to access a particular portion of the packaged
article 2. For
example, in a doll packaging, the access port 50 can be placed to allow the
purchaser to
feel the hands of the packaged doll. It will be appreciated that other
embodiments of the
access port 50 are also within the scope of the invention.
A preferred embodiment comprises a resealable opening portion 30 formed in
one or more side walls 16, and preferably including at least 50% of the side
walls 16 of
the rectangular shaped packaging device 1 while an access port 50 is formed in
a different
wall member such as the front wall member 12 and is formed of two overlapping
sections
which form the front wall member 12. More preferably the access port 50 is
formed in a
corner of the front wall member 12 and is sized to allow the typically sized
hand of a
person to be inserted into the access port 50 and into the compartment 22 of
the
packaging device 1. Even more preferred, the access port 50 is located on the
front wall
member 12 and extends diagonally from a first side wall member to a second
side wall,
and further preferably extends from the first side wall member to the second
side wall
member in a location where the opening portion 30 in the side walls) is not
located.
It will be appreciated that the packaging device 1 can be used in connection
with various articles 2. For example, the packaged articles 2 can be any items
that a
purchaser may desire to touch, feel, sample, try, or otherwise inspect without
opening the
packaging. Exemplary articles 2 can include but are not limited to fabric
products, such
as bedding articles, toy products, such as stuffed animals,
It will be appreciated that the various features described herein may be used
singly or in any combination thereof. Therefore, the present invention is not
limited to
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only the embodiments specifically described herein. While the foregoing
description and
drawings represent a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be
understood
that various additions, modifications, and substitutions may be made therein
without
departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the
accompanying claims. In particular, it will be clear to those skilled in the
art that the
present invention may be embodied in other specific forms, structures,
arrangements,
proportions, and with other elements, materials, and components, without
departing from
the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. One skilled in the art will
appreciate that the
invention may be used with many modifications of structure, arrangement,
proportions,
materials, and components and otherwise, used in the practice of the
invention, which are
particularly adapted to specific environments and operative requirements
without
departing from the principles of the present invention. The presently
disclosed
embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and
not restrictive,
the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims, and not
limited to the
foregoing description.
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