Package with Primary and Ancillary Item Compartments

Abstract

The present invention is a package for retaining both a primary item and one or more ancillary items to be utilized with the primary item therein. The package includes an inner container disposed within an outer container that has first and second compartments therein within which the primary item and ancillary items can be positioned. Positioning both the primary item and ancillary items in a single inner container within the package maintains the items together while of the package is being opened, to prevent the misplacement of the ancillary items. Additionally, the primary and ancillary items are positioned on the inner container in a manner which allows for easy viewing both each item on the inner container through one or more transparent portions of the outer container, inner container and ancillary item container.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to packages, and more specifically to a package including a compartment for holding a number of ancillary items therein that are to be utilized with the primary item disposed within the package.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Packages for various items come in numerous shapes and configurations in order to adequately hold the different items therein. These packages most often generally conform to the particular shape of the item held therein in order to minimize the amount of material required to form the package. However, with regard to certain items that can be held in packages of this type, the utilization of these primary items requires additional components or ancillary items to be inserted within or otherwise engaged with the primary items for proper operation of the primary item.

In these situations, oftentimes a manufacturer of the primary item will develop packaging for the primary item that enables ancillary items required for proper operation of the primary item to be included within the packaging. Most often, the packaging will include one enclosure for the primary item and a separate enclosure for the ancillary items in order to clearly illustrate to a consumer that both the primary item and the ancillary item or items are present within the package.

Additionally, other packaging designs have been developed for holding both primary items and ancillary items therein that include an entirely separate package to hold the ancillary items therein. The separate ancillary item package is simply placed against or attached to the exterior of the package for the primary item, such as by being adhered to the exterior of the primary item package by an adhesive, or by a shrink wrap disposed about both the primary item package and the ancillary items package, for example.

However, in constructing packages in this manner, a significant additional amount of packaging material is required to form the additional or separate package within which the ancillary items are to be disposed. Further, if the primary item and the ancillary items are held in separate packages or enclosures within the packaging, when the packaging is initially opened, the compartments or separate packages for the primary and ancillary items can easily become disassociated from one another, resulting in the ancillary items being misplaced and unable for proper use in conjunction with the primary item.

As a result, it is desirable to develop a packaging for holding a primary item and ancillary items to be utilized with the primary item therein in a manner which does not require significant additional amounts of packaging material. Further, the packaging should be capable of holding and retaining the primary item and the ancillary items reduce the chances that they will become disassociated from one another both prior to and after the initial removal of the items from the packaging.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention, a package is provided for containing a primary item and one or more ancillary items therein in which the package includes an inner container designed to hold both the primary item and the ancillary items therein that is contained within an outer container. The outer container forms an enclosure around the inner container holding the primary item and the ancillary items, and can be secured in a closed position in any suitable manner to prevent access to the inner package and the items. The inner container is removably positioned within the outer container in a manner that allows the inner container, including the primary item and the ancillary items, to be easily withdrawn from the outer container. The inner container further includes a first compartment designed to hold the primary item therein, and a second compartment adapted to receive the ancillary items therein. In this construction for the inner container, when the outer container is opened and the inner container is removed therefrom, both the primary item and the ancillary items are maintained in an associated relationship with one another within the inner container. In addition, the ability to hold both the primary item and the ancillary items within the inner container enable the inner container to be utilized as the primary packaging vehicle during assembly of the items into the overall packaging. This eliminates the need for any supplemental or temporary packaging structure other than the inner container to hold the primary item and ancillary items or package during the assembly of the packaging.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the ancillary items are positioned within a separate ancillary item container that is received within the second compartment of the inner container. In this construction, the ancillary item container enables one or more ancillary items to be held therein, but also enables the ancillary item container to be engaged in the desired manner within the inner container along with the primary item.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, one or more of the outer container, inner container, and ancillary item container, or any portion of one or more of these containers, can be formed of a generally transparent material in order to provide a consumer with a relatively unobstructed view of both the primary item and the ancillary items held within the package. The transparency of the containers also enables a consumer to view the primary and ancillary items held within the containers in an upright position, to properly inspect the items through the various containers, such as for damage to the items or to determine the proper orientation for the items.

Numerous additional aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be made apparent from the following detailed description taken together with the drawing figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawing figures illustrate the best mode currently contemplated of practicing the present invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a package of the present invention including a primary item therein;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the package of FIG. 1 with the primary item removed;

FIG. 3 is an exploded, isomeric view of the package and primary item of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exploded, isometric view of an inner container and ancillary item container of the package of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view along line 5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a top pan view of a blank used to form the inner container of FIG. 6;

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the inner container of the package of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a front plan view of the inner container of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a left plan view of the inner container of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a right side plan view of the inner container of FIG. 7;

FIG. 11 is a rear plan view of the inner container of FIG. 7;

FIG. 12 is a top plan view of the inner container of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 13 is a bottom plan view of the inner container of FIG. 7.

In describing the preferred embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, it is not intended that the invention be limited to the specific terms so selected and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. For example, the word connected, attached, or terms similar thereto are often used. They are not limited to direct connection but include connection through other elements where such connection is recognized as being equivalent by those skilled in the art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawing figures in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the disclosure, a package constructed according to the present invention is indicated generally at 100 in FIG. 1. The package 100 includes an inner container 102 positioned within an outer container 104.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-3 and 5, the outer container 104 is formed to be generally rectangular in cross-section, including a front wall 106, a rear wall 108, a pair of sidewalls 110 and 112, a bottom wall 114 and a top wall 116. In a preferred embodiment, each of the respective walls 106-116 forming the outer container 104 are integrally formed with one another preferably from a unitary blank of a material suitable for forming an outer enclosed packaging container. In addition, the top and bottom walls 114 and 116 are formed of a number of panels 118 each integrally formed with, and foldable with respect to the front wall 106, the rear wall 108 or one of the sidewalls 110 and 112.

As best shown in FIG. 3, the bottom wall 114 is most preferably formed by a pair of inter-engaging members 120 and 122, each integrally formed with and foldable with respect to either the front wall 106 and the rear wall 108, and to the sidewalls 110 and 112. The members 120-122 can be folded into engagement with one another to form a generally continuous bottom wall 114 for the outer container 104.

Opposite the bottom wall 114, the top wall 116 is formed with a pair of retaining flaps 124 that are integrally formed with and foldable with respect to the opposed sidewalls 110 and 112, as well as a cover flap 126 integrally formed with and foldable with respect to either the front wall 106 or the rear wall 108. Opposite to the foldable connection with either the front wall 106 or rear wall 108, the cover flap 126 includes an engagement tab 128 that extends perpendicularly to the cover flap 126. The tab 128 can be engaged between the wall of the outer container 104 opposite the cover flap 126 and the retaining flaps 124 to hold the cover flap 126 in a closed position over the interior 130 of the outer container 104.

In addition to the above described preferred embodiment, the various walls 106-116, as well as the panels 118 can be initially formed as separate members that are subsequently secured to one another in any suitable manner to form the desired configuration for the outer container 104. Further, the particular configuration and/or shape of the various walls 106-116 and panels 118 can be varied as necessary to be other than rectangular, and the number of sidewalls 110 and 112 and panels 118 can be varied as necessary to form an outer container 104 having the desired shape or cross-section, which can be other than rectangular or square, e.g., polygonal or circular.

Also, while it is contemplated that any suitable material can be utilized to form the blank from which the outer container 104 is constructed, such as a conventional paperboard or cardboard material, in a particularly preferred embodiment, the material utilized for the outer container 104 is a transparent material, such as a clear acetate. The use of a transparent material to form the outer container 104 enables the consumer to clearly view the primary item or product 500 that is disposed within the inner container 102 held within the outer container 104. However, it is also contemplated that the material forming the outer container 104 can be formed from a combination of different materials, such as a conventional paperboard material and the transparent material. For example, the outer container 104 can be formed of paperboard that includes openings in its construction over which are applied portions formed of the transparent material in order to form windows through the outer container 104 for viewing of the product located inside the outer container 104 within the inner container 102. Alternatively, the outer container can include a lower portion formed of one type of material, and an upper portion secured to the lower portion and formed of a different material.

Looking now at FIGS. 1-4 and 6-13, the inner container 102 is illustrated as including a lower tray member 132 and a supporting structure 134 extending upwardly from a rear portion of the tray member 132. The tray member 132 is formed with a pair of sidewalls 136 and 138 disposed on opposite sides of a front wall 140. The sidewalls 136 and 138 are connected opposite the front wall 140 to the supporting structure 134 which forms a rear wall 142 for the tray member 132. The front wall 140 and rear wall 142 each include a retaining flap 144 foldably connected thereto that are folded inwardly towards one another when the inner container 102 is assembled. The retaining flaps 144 are held in this position by the connection of a pair of interengaging members 146 and 148 foldably connected to the sidewalls 136 and 138 and engaged with one another to form a bottom wall 150 for the tray member 132. In this configuration, the tray member 132 provides support for the primary item 500 positioned within the interior 152 of the tray member 132. However, the tray member 132 also defines an open upper end 154 that allows the primary item 500 to be easily inserted into and withdrawn from the tray member 132 and also enables the primary item 500 to be readily viewed when located within the tray member 132.

In FIGS. 6-13, the front wall 140 as an overall height much less than the height of the rear wall 142 to define the open upper end 154 for the tray member 132, while each of the sidewalls 136 and 138 include upper edges 156 that define a height for a front portion of the sidewalls 136 and 138 is generally similar to the height for the front wall 140. However, each of the upper edges 156 extends upwardly along each side wall 136 and 138 towards the rear wall 142, such that the edges 156 define a height for the sidewalls 136 and 138 approximately equal to that of the rear wall 142 at a rear portion of the sidewalls 136 and 138. The particular shape of the upper edges 156 of each side wall 136 and 138 is selected only to provide the front wall 140 and side walls 136 and 138 with heights appropriate for an individual to adequately view the primary item 500 disposed within the tray member 132, and can be configured to provide the desired aesthetic appearance. In addition, the shape of each of the edges 156 can be different from one another, if desired. Further, the upper end of the front wall 140 can also have a desired aesthetic design, if desired.

As best shown in FIG. 6, in the preferred embodiment for the tray member 132, the rear wall 142 is integrally and foldably connected to one of the sidewalls 136 or 138 opposite the front wall 140. A cover flap 158 integrally and foldably connected to the rear wall 142 opposite the retaining flap 144. The cover flap 158 can be pivoted with regard to the remainder of the rear wall 142 to overlap and engage a pair of securing flaps 160 disposed on each side wall 136 and 138 opposite the interengaging members 146 and 148. Further, opposite the rear wall 142, the cover flap 158 includes a number of foldable sections 162 that can be folded independently of one another. These sections 162 are utilized to secure the cover flap 158 to the securing flaps 160 and to the rear wall 142, in a manner to be described. In addition, the length of the cover flap 158 is preferably slightly longer than the length of each securing flap 160 to provide an engagement point for an individual to grasp the inner container 102 for removal from the outer container 104.

Below the cover flap 158, the rear wall 142 includes a number of support flaps 164 formed within the rear wall 142 around an opening 166. Each of the support flaps 164 are preferably generally trapezoidal in shape such that, when the flaps 164 are folded in the same direction with regard to the rear wall 142, the flaps 164 define a generally square aperture 168 within the rear wall 142, as best shown in FIG. 4.

Extending from one side of the rear wall 142 opposite the side wall 136 or 138 to which the rear wall 142 is attached, is a support panel 170. The panel 170 is spaced from the rear wall 142 by a spacing panel 172 that enables the support panel 170 to be positioned directly behind the support flaps 164 on the rear panel 142 a distance defined by the width of the spacing panel 172. Opposite the spacing panel 172, the support panel 170 also includes a securing flap 176 that can be affixed to the side wall 136 or 138 to which the rear wall 142 is attached in order to hold the support panel 170 in the proper position directly behind the support flaps 164.

The width of the spacing panel 172 effectively positions the support panel 170 behind the rear panel 142 a distance slightly less than the width of the lowermost support flap 164. This support flap 164 includes a projection 174 that has a locking tab 177 disposed thereon. When the support panel 170 is properly located behind the rear wall 142, the pivoting of the lowermost flap 164 including the projection 174 enables the locking tab 177 to be positioned in and engaged with an aperture 178 located in the support panel 170. The engagement of the tab 177 within the aperture 178 holds the lowermost flap 164 in a generally horizontal position such that the flap 164 can support an item positioned thereon. In addition, because the support panel 170 and spacing panel 172 are spaced on the rear wall 142 above the bottom wall 150, when the support panel 170 is properly positioned and engaged with the locking tab 177, a recess 180 is formed within the supporting structure 134 below the support panel 170. The recess 180 can accommodate additional volume of the primary item 500 that is positioned within the tray member 132 in order to adequately engage and hold the primary item 500 within the tray member 132. Also, the engagement of the securing flap 176 with the rear wall 142, such as by an adhesive or other suitable means, provides an attachment point for the foldable sections 162 on the cover flap 158 to secure the cover flap 158 to the rear wall 142.

Additionally, when the package 100 is initially being assembled, the inner container 102 can be positioned on a conveyor belt (not shown) to function as the primary assembly structure for the package 100. In other words, once constructed or erected, the inner container 102 can be placed on the conveyor belt and both the primary item 500, and the ancillary container 182 with the ancillary items 510 and 520 therein can be inserted into the inner container 102 as it moves along the belt between stations where multiple primary items 500 and ancillary containers 182 are located. Thus, the inner container 102 can additionally function as an intermediate package during assembly of the overall package 100, eliminating the need for other suitable intermediate packaging or item holding structures. Further, in determining if the various items have been properly positioned within the inner container 102, a simple vision system (not shown) can be utilized.

Looking now at FIGS. 3-5, an ancillary item container 182 is illustrated which is dimensioned to fit within the aperture 168 defined in the rear wall 142 by the support flaps 164 such that the ancillary item container 182 is positioned flush with the exterior surface of the rear wall 142. The ancillary item container 182 is formed similarly to the outer container 104 including a front wall 184, a rear wall 186, a pair of sidewalls 188 and 190, as well as a bottom wall 192 and a top wall 194. One or both of the top wall 194 or bottom wall 192 includes a locking tab 196 or other suitable engaging structure to enable the top wall 194 and/or bottom wall 192 to be releasably held in a closed position over the interior 198 of the ancillary item container 182. The ancillary item container 182 has an interior 198 defined to adequately secure and retain a number of ancillary items 510 and 520 therein that are to be utilized with the primary item 500 held within the tray member 132. One or more ancillary items 510 and 520 can be held within the ancillary item container 182. The interior 198 of the ancillary item container 182 optionally includes a separating member 200 that separates the interior 198 of the container 182 into sections 202 and 204 adapted to receive and retain ancillary items 510 and 520 of varying sizes therein. Additionally, the ancillary item container 182, by virtue of it being disposed in an easily viewable position within the supporting structure 134 of the inner container 104, is preferably formed at least partially of a transparent material. This allows the ancillary items 510 and 520 held within the container 182 to be easily viewed by a consumer through both of the outer container 104 and the ancillary item container 182. This enables a consumer to determine if the ancillary items 510 and 520 held within the ancillary container 182 are damaged in any manner, as well as to view the ancillary items 510 and 520 in their proper orientation for use with the primary item 500.

Further, because the ancillary item container 182 is held within the inner container 102 along with the primary item 500, when the package 100 is opened to remove the inner container 102 from the outer container 104, both the primary item 500 and the ancillary items 510 and 520 are retained on the inner container 102 such that the primary item 500 and ancillary items 510 and 520 do not become displaced from one another.

In the above description, each part of the inner container 102, outer container 104 or ancillary container 182 that is described as being integrally and foldably attached to another component can be connected to the other component by a fold line as is known in the art, or by a perforation line, or in any other suitable manner, in order to enable the various components to remain attached to one another, even when folded from a generally flat configuration into the various container constructions 102, 104 and 182 described above. The various components for the containers 102, 104 and 182 can also be separately formed from one another and secured to each other in a foldable manner, such as by utilizing an adhesive or other suitable securing means.

Alternatively to the previously described embodiments for the package 100, it is also contemplated that the outer container 104 can be formed to enclose only the primary item 500. In this embodiment, the outer container 104 enclosing the primary item 500 would be inserted and retained within the tray member 132 of the inner container 102 using any suitable means, such as an adhesive or a mechanical fastener, such that the inner container 102 and the exposed portion of the outer container 104 would each form a part of the outer portion of the package 100.

Although the best mode contemplated by the inventors of carrying out the present invention is disclosed above, practice of the present invention is not limited thereto. It will be manifest that various additions, modifications and rearrangements of the features of the present invention may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept.

Moreover, the individual components need not be formed in the disclosed shapes, or assembled in the disclosed configuration, but could be provided in virtually any shape, and assembled in virtually any configuration. Further, although various parts described herein are physically separate modules, it will be manifest that they may be integrated into the apparatus with which they are associated. Furthermore, all the disclosed features of each disclosed embodiment can be combined with, or substituted for, the disclosed features of every other disclosed embodiment except where such features are mutually exclusive.

It is intended that the appended claims cover all such additions, modifications and rearrangements. Expedient embodiments of the present invention are differentiated by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A package comprising:

a) a first container having a first compartment for retaining a primary item therein and a second compartment spaced from the first compartment; and

b) an ancillary container configured to be positioned within the second compartment.

2. The package of claim 1 wherein the first container includes a tray member that defines the first compartment and a support member disposed at one end of the tray member that defines the second compartment.

3. The package of claim 2 wherein the tray member and the support member are integrally formed.

4. The package of claim 2 wherein the support member includes a rear support wall, a support panel secured to and positioned inwardly from the rear support wall, and at least one support flap extending between the rear support wall and the support panel to define the second compartment between the rear support wall and the support panel.

5. The package of claim 4 wherein the at least one support flap has a length approximately equal to the width of the ancillary container, such that the second compartment has approximately the same depth as the ancillary container.

6. The package of claim 4 wherein the support panel and at least one support flap are positioned on the rear support wall above the tray member and separate the first compartment from the second compartment.

7. The package of claim 4 further comprising at least one locking member on the at least one support flap that is engageable with the support panel.

8. The package of claim 7 wherein the at least one locking member is formed as a tab on the at least one support flap that is engageable within a slot formed in the support panel.

9. The package of claim 4 further comprising a number of support flaps disposed on the rear support wall around a periphery of an aperture in the rear support wall.

10. The package of claim 2 wherein the tray member and the support member are joined to one another by a pair of opposed side walls that slope upwardly from the tray member to the support member.

11. The package of claim 1 further comprising a second container within which the first container and the ancillary container are positioned.

12. The package of claim 11 wherein the second container is formed at least partially of a generally transparent material.

13. The package of claim 1 further comprising a second container disposed within the first compartment of the first container.

14. The package of claim 1 wherein the ancillary container is formed at least partially of a generally transparent material to enable ancillary items positioned therein to be viewed to determine the condition and proper orientation of the ancillary items.

15. A package comprising:

a) a first container having a first compartment for retaining a primary item therein and a second compartment spaced from the first compartment;

b) an ancillary container configured to be positioned within the second compartment; and

c) a second container within which the first container and the ancillary container are positioned, wherein the first container includes a tray member that defines the first compartment and a support member disposed at one end of the tray member that defines the second compartment.

16. The package of claim 15 wherein the support member includes a rear support wall, a support panel secured to and positioned inwardly from the rear support wall, and at least one support flap extending between the rear support wall and the support panel to define the second compartment between the rear support wall and the support panel.

17. The package of claim 16 further comprising at least one locking member on the at least one support flap that is engageable with the support panel.

18. The package of claim 15 wherein the second container is formed at least partially of a generally transparent material.

19. A method for forming a package containing both a primary item and a number of ancillary items, the method comprising:

a) providing a first container having a first compartment for retaining a primary item therein and a second compartment spaced from the first compartment, the first container including a tray member that defines the first compartment and a support member disposed at one end of the tray member that defines the second compartment, and an ancillary container formed at least partially of a generally transparent material and configured to be positioned within the second compartment;

b) placing the inner container on a transport device;

c) positioning the primary item within the first compartment at a first location;

d) positioning the ancillary container within the second compartment at a second location; and

e) determining if the primary item and the ancillary container are in the proper locations within the inner container.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of placing the inner container within a second container that is formed at least partially of a generally transparent material after determining if the primary item and the ancillary container are in the proper locations.