Transport and display case for a golf set
A transport and display case for a golf set. The case has a front panel, a pair of side walls, a rear panel, a top and a bottom. The top is transparent so that it allows maximum amount of light into the case to showcase the golf set within. The front panel has two portions: the upper portion is transparent to allow light into the case and allow consumers to view the golf set, while the lower portion is opaque. Both side walls are opaque. The bottom is locked, but can provide easy access by consumers after they purchase the golf set from store. The case is constructed using a cardboard blank with predefined fold lines and cut-out lines. The cut-lines define portions of the case for attaching the transparent covers such as the lid and upper portion. The case can be “sealed” after the golf set is placed in the case. However, to ensure that the golf set, i.e. the golf bag and golf clubs, is secured during transport from the supplier to the store, the golf clubs are secured to a stabilizer structure through wire ties, prior to the case is “sealed”. The stabilizer, which may be a piece of cardboard, is engaged to the golf bag at its dividers. By securing the clubs to the stabilizer, consumers are not prevented from viewing the club heads from close distance, through the transparent part of the display case.
The present invention generally relates to packaging for transporting and displaying a merchandise in a market place, and more particularly relates to a transport and display case for a golf set that is suitable for both transporting and showcasing the golf set.
ART BACKGROUNDIt is quite common for general sporting goods store or mass merchandise stores to carry a golf set in a box. The consumers at such stores generally expect the golf sets to be of a good value and good quality. The box in which the golf set is held generally shows pictures of the golf bag and the golf clubs, as well as other accessories that come with the set. However, despite the pictorial design, consumers have been inclined to open the box to gain a closer look, and feel, of the contents in the box. If a consumer ended up making a purchase after the uninvited self-initiated “try-out,” the store could not have been happier. Quite often, though, the consumer opens the box and swings the clubs around, all without consummating a purchase. Now the store is stuck with a tempered package, with the clubs possibly scratched or damaged due to mishandling by the curious consumer. This kind of user mishandling, whether intentional or unintentional, represents one of the major causes for increased reject and return rates for the store and its suppliers.
While the store wants to discourage consumers from opening the golf set's packaging, it also aims to provide helpful visual information to the consumers to entice them into making a purchase. At the same time, in order to protect the club heads from banging against each other during transport, the store's suppliers have resorted to the use of bubble wraps on the club heads. Despite the obvious utility of the bubble wraps, they make it virtually impossible for the consumers to observe the club heads, which may deter them from purchasing the golf set.
Therefore, it is desirable to have a display case for a golf set that best showcases the golf set while discouraging the consumers from tempering.
It is also desirable to have a display case for a golf set that allows the consumers to easily view and identify the components.
It is further desirable to have a display case for a golf set that prevents damages to the club heads during transport and handling, while still allowing visual inspection of the club heads by the consumers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA transport and display case for a golf set is disclosed. The case has a front panel, a pair of side walls, a rear panel, a top and a bottom. The top is transparent so that it allows maximum amount of light into the case to showcase the golf set within. The front panel has two portions: the upper portion is transparent to allow light into the case and allow consumers to view the golf set, while the lower portion is opaque. Both side walls are opaque. The bottom is locked, but can provide easy access by consumers after they purchase the golf set from store. The case is constructed using a cardboard blank with predefined fold lines and cut-out lines. The cut-lines define portions of the case for attaching the transparent covers such as the lid and upper portion. The case can be “sealed” after the golf set is placed in the case. However, to ensure that the golf set, i.e. the golf bag and golf clubs, is secured during transport from the supplier to the store, the golf clubs are secured to a stabilizer structure through wire ties, prior to the case is “sealed”. The stabilizer, which may be a piece of cardboard, is engaged to the golf bag at its dividers. By securing the clubs to the stabilizer, consumers are not prevented from viewing the club heads from close distance, through the transparent part of the display case.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A transport and display case for a golf set is disclosed. Reference is made to
With reference to
Reference is now turned to
With the case 10 now fully erected and partially assembled in the sense that it still needs to close its front and top sides, the golf set can be placed into the inside of the case 10. Then the transparent upper portion 110 is attached to complete the front portion of the case, followed by placement of the lid 100, which has its four inside faces bonded to the outside rim of the top of the rear panel 150, side panels 105(a) and (b), and transparent upper portion 110. The transport and display box now has the golf set fully enclosed and ready for transport and display, where a prospective buyer would be able to inspect the golf set and its club heads in close proximity, while unable to open the case.
Before the case and its golf set can be displayed in store, they must be transported from the factory to the eventual store destination. Transporting involves handling and possible movements of the case and its contents. Since the case is now closed from transport to display, pre-cautionary measures should be utilized to prevent the club heads from impacting each other. As mentioned before, scratches to the club heads make the club heads unattractive, thus increasing the reject rate for the store and the supplier. On the other hand, wrapping the club heads in the conventional bubble wraps makes it extremely difficult, if not impossible, for the consumers to inspect the club heads. This blockage hurts sales, since the consumers would be unlikely to purchase a golf set which they can neither touch nor see, especially when the design of the club heads is frequently one of the best selling points of the golf set. Therefore, to make the golf set and club heads safe for transport, a new security device is introduced, as will be described with reference to
Although the invention is described herein with reference to the preferred embodiment, one skilled in the art will readily appreciate that other applications may be substituted for those set forth herein without departing from the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the invention should only be limited by the claims included below.
Claims
1. A transport and display case for a golf bag with a plurality of golf clubs, said golf clubs being placed inside said golf bag through at least one divider, the case comprising:
- an elongated box for housing the golf bag and golf clubs, said box comprising: a transparent top lid; a transparent front upper portion; an opaque front lower portion, said front upper portion and front lower portion defining a front panel; an opaque side panels; an opaque back panel;
- at least one club stabilizer, said stabilizer securing a golf club thereto, said stabilizer having a clamping opening to releasably engage said divider.
2. The transport and display case of claim 1, wherein said front lower portion has a curved cut-out at its top.
3. A transport and display case for a golf bag with a plurality of golf clubs, said golf clubs being placed inside said golf bag through at least one divider, the case comprising:
- a cardboard blank with pre-defined fold lines and cut-out lines, defining: a bottom; a pair of side panels; a rear panel; a opaque front lower panel; a transparent front cover, extending from the top of said front lower panel, said front lower panel and said transparent front cover defining a front face of said case; a top lid, said top lid being transparent, said top lid closing a space formed by said bottom, said pair of side panels, said rear panel, and said front face, and
- a stabilizer adapted to secure each of said clubs and to engage said divider, such that said clubs are protected from movement during transport.
4. The transport and display case of claim 3, wherein said transparent front upper cover is a U-shaped cover with a pair of end tabs at its side for affixing to the inside surface of said side panels, the bottom of said front upper cover is overlapped by the top edge of said front lower panel, said top edge defining a curved edge from side to side.
5. A method of making a transport and display case for a golf bag with a plurality of golf clubs, said golf clubs being placed inside said golf bag through at least one divider, the method comprising:
- providing a cardboard blank with pre-defined fold lines and cut-out lines, said cardboard blank defining a bottom, a pair of side panels, a rear panel, a opaque partial front panel;
- folding said cardboard blank according to said fold lines;
- cutting said cardboard blank according to said cut-outlines;
- applying a transparent front cover, said transparent front cover extending from the top of said partial front panel, said partial front panel and said transparent front cover defining a front face of said case;
- securing said golf clubs to a stabilizer unit;
- releasably engaging said stabilizer unit to said divider;
- placing said golf bag with golf clubs into said case;
- applying a top lid to said case, said top lid being transparent, said top lid closing a space formed by said bottom, said pair of side panels, said rear panel, and said front face.
6. A method according to claim 5, wherein said transparent front cover is a U-shaped cover with its end tabs attaching to the inside of the side panels.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 29, 2004
Publication Date: Nov 3, 2005
Inventors: Frank Zou (Baldwin Park, CA), Charles Chiang (Baldwin Park, CA)
Application Number: 10/837,456