Integral toy vehicle display case and product package

Abstract

A package for a collectible toy vehicle utilizes a generally planar backing preferably formed of a paperboard or particle board material together with a five-sided clear plastic blister. The blister defines an interior cavity within which a toy vehicle display case is received. The toy vehicle display case is also preferably formed of a clear plastic material and includes a support base within the display case upon which the toy vehicle rests. The entire display case and enclosed toy vehicle base and toy vehicle is received within the blister of the package. A rear flap formed to be foldable between a closed and an open position provides closure of the rear portion of the package blister. The user is able to open the rear flap, remove the display case together with its supported toy vehicle base and toy vehicle and thereafter utilize the display case in placing the collectible toy vehicle on display.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority of Provisional Application 60/539,400 entitled INTEGRAL TOY VEHICLE DISPLAY CASE AND PRODUCT PACKAGE filed Jan. 27, 2004 on behalf of the applicant of the present invention

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to toy vehicle packages and particularly to packages which also function as display cases for the toy vehicle product therein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Toy vehicles have enjoyed substantial and long-term popularity in the toy arts. Not surprisingly, practitioners have provided a virtually endless variety of toy vehicles for consumers. One of the more popular types of toy vehicles is generally describable as “collectibles”. Collectible toy vehicles vary in size, shape and function but most often comprise relatively small scale models of toy vehicles. One of the more popular scale sizes is 1/64 scale. These toy vehicles are frequently collected and often maintained in elaborate display cases and the like.

In a related practice, practitioners in the toy arts often endeavor to maximally attract consumers to their toy products by using highly colorful and attractive product packages which simultaneously present the toy vehicle to the user in an advantageous manner. One of the most commercially successful toy vehicle product package types is generally referred to as a “blister package”. Such packages derive their name from the clear plastic enclosures or blisters which are supported upon a generally planar backing. Frequently the backing unit is made of a particleboard or paperboard and bares one or more highly attractive images. Most blister packages for toy vehicles are generally rectangular prisms having an open rear facet. Thus, they typically include front, side and top and bottom surfaces within which the toy vehicle is supported while the rear surface of the blister is missing and the blister is secured to the backing. Thus, a portion of the package backing provides the rear surface of the toy vehicle enclosure. Additionally, the backing typically includes a center slot which facilitates hanging the package upon a post-like hanger within the retail display facility.

In most instances, the consumer purchases the package having the toy vehicle therein and simply tears the backing as needed to separate the blister therefrom and removes the toy vehicle for use. Frequently collectors utilize elaborate display cases to house the toy vehicle for display. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,905,828 issued to Dods sets forth a PACKAGE FOR TRADING CARD AND MODELED VEHICLE in which a vehicle package includes a generally planar backing having a colorful decorative set of images thereon. The lower front portion of the backing supports a five-sided rectangular blister which is secured to the front surface of the backing material by an adhesive attachment. The underlying portion of the backing material upon which the blister is secured formed the sixth side of the blister enclosure. Within the enclosure, a platform is supported upon which a toy vehicle is further supported. An aperture is formed in the upper center of the backing to facilitate hanging the package in a conventional point of purchase display.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,896,991 issued to Hippely et al. sets forth a BLISTER CARD PACKAGE FOR HOLDING AND DISPLAYING SMALL ITEMS having a generally planar backing defining a front surface upon which a generally planar support surface is secured. The support surface extends forwardly from the front surface from the backing material and includes a plurality of upwardly extending attachment tabs thereon. A cover plate defining a set of apertures through which the tabs extend is received upon and supported by the support portion. A toy vehicle and other small articles such as a toy figure are secured to the upwardly extending tabs. Finally, a five-sided blister package element is secured to the front surface of the backing by the adhesive attachment and encloses the support shelf and the small articles and toy vehicle secured thereon.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,185,739 issued to Wilford sets forth RETENTION OF ARTICLES ON A SHEET for assembly of an article such as a toy vehicle. The toy vehicle is retained on a sheet in which the article is located on one side of the sheet and is held by a retainer which includes a body portion on the opposite side of the sheet. Projections extend from the body portion and engage in recesses formed in the toy vehicle.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,595,097 issued to Herstein sets forth a TOY PACKAGING which provides a secure open front display of a packaged vehicle. The package is constructed of a carton-forming sheet material having top, bottom and side walls and a rear wall defining a toy vehicle receiving enclosure. The enclosure has an open front through which the toy vehicle is insertable and displayed. The bottom wall is provided with a bottom flap configured to be folded inwardly to define an enclosure floor. The flap further includes a vehicle engaging configuration.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,411,138 issued to Klawiter sets forth a PACKAGING FOR A TOY wherein the package includes a body having a bottom wall defining a slot. The packaging includes bottom, top, front and side walls defining a box sided to receive the toy and a key. The bottom surface of the box has an opening aligned with the toys slot such that a key may be passed through the bottom box opening into the toy body slot.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,919,074 issued to Honda sets forth a DOLL DISPLAY PACKAGE FACILITATING DOLL ACTION DEMONSTRATION in which a toy figure having an animation mechanism therein is received within a toy package constructed to cover substantially the lower portions of the figure. The package includes a vertical back having a further attachment for the neck portion of the figure. The figure sits upon a pivotable spring board and is secured thereto at the figures feet. The spring board is pivotable between a raised and lowered position to allow the figure to move up and down within the package.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,583,641 issued to Gelzer sets forth an ARTICLE PACKAGING SYSTEM having a primary package which includes an elongated strip form carrier tape and bonding tape that are releasably secured together at longitudinally spaced points to package articles between the tape at points intermediate the intersection of the two tapes.

In a somewhat related art, a large number of fasteners and attachment mechanisms are utilized in packaging and other similar environments. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,566,430 issued to Cheng; U.S. Pat. No. 4,676,370 issued to Rudick; U.S. Pat. No. 4,448,563 issued to Zankl; U.S. Pat. No. 4,392,279 issued to Schwager; U.S. Pat. No. 4,293,984 issued to Kaufman, Jr.; U.S. Pat. No. 373,860 issued to Steffey; U.S. Pat. No. 1,615,698 issued to Hartzell; U.S. Pat. No. 1,857,530 issued to Dandridge et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 2,355,196 issued to Zahodiakin and U.S. Pat. No. 3,025,093 issued to Millman.

In a further related art which provides in pertinent part fasteners which are used to secure closure of items such as handbags and the like, U.S. Pat. No. 1,931,707 issued to Quigan and Des.295,919 issued to Makio provide further examples of closure devices.

While the foregoing described prior art devices have to some extent improved the art and have in some instances enjoyed commercial success, there remains nonetheless a continuing need in the art for ever more improved, interesting and effective packaging structures for toy articles such as toy vehicles and the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved toy vehicle package. It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide an improved toy vehicle package which serves additionally as a vehicle display case.

The present invention provides a package for a collectible toy vehicle which utilizes a generally planar backing preferably formed of a paperboard or particle board material together with a five-sided clear plastic blister. The blister defines an interior cavity within which a toy vehicle display case is received. The toy vehicle display case is also preferably formed of a clear plastic material and includes a support base within the display case upon which the toy vehicle rests. The entire display case and enclosed toy vehicle base and toy vehicle is received within the blister of the package. A rear flap formed to be foldable between a closed and an open position provides closure of the rear portion of the package blister. The user is able to open the rear flap, remove the display case together with its supported toy vehicle base and toy vehicle and thereafter utilize the display case in placing the collectible toy vehicle on display.

Thus, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in the several figures of which like reference numerals identify like elements and in which:

FIG. 1 sets forth a front perspective view of a toy vehicle within a toy vehicle package constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 sets forth a side perspective view of the present invention toy vehicle package having a toy vehicle supported herein;

FIG. 3 sets forth a rear view of the present invention toy vehicle package having a toy vehicle supported herein with the package in its closed configuration;

FIG. 4 sets forth a rear view of the present invention toy vehicle package having a toy vehicle within its display case supported therein and having the package in its open configuration; and

FIG. 5 sets forth a rear perspective view of the present invention toy vehicle display case and its toy vehicle package having the display case removed from the package.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

By way of overview, the present invention integral toy vehicle display case and product package includes a colorful planar backing which supports a clear plastic blister. Within the blister, a toy vehicle display case is received and supported. The toy vehicle display case also formed of a clear plastic material supports a toy vehicle base and a toy vehicle. The rear portion of the backing includes a flap hingedly secured to the backing material and covering the rear opening of the blister. The toy vehicle and its supporting toy vehicle base within the display case is removable from the blister package as a single unit.

More specifically, and with simultaneous reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention integral toy vehicle display case and product package generally referenced by numeral 10 includes a generally planar backing 11. Backing 11 is preferably fabricated of a paperboard or particleboard material or the like and defines a hanging slot 12 on the upper edge thereof. Backing 11 further defines a front face 13 upon which a colorful image is supported. Front face 13 further defines a generally rectangular aperture 14 upon which a clear plastic generally rectangular blister 15 is secured by conventional adhesive or the like. Within blister 15, a toy vehicle display case 20 is supported. Display case 20 includes a toy vehicle base upon which a typical toy vehicle 21 is supported. In the closed configuration shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, package 10 supporting display case 20 and toy vehicle 21 together with toy vehicle base 22, forms a single integral product package which may be conveniently stored upon the hanging displays often utilized in retail stores.

FIG. 3 sets forth a rear view of package 10 in the closed position. Package 10 includes a generally planar backing 11 having a hanging slot 12 on the upper edge thereof. Package 10 further includes a clear plastic blister 15 within which a toy vehicle display case 20 having a toy vehicle base 22 and toy vehicle 21 supported therein is received and stored. Package 10 further includes a package flap 30 secured to backing 11 by a hinge 31 and seperateable from backing 11 by a pair of tear seams 32 and 33. Flap 30 further defines an aperture 34 which is covered by a clear plastic window 35. Blister 15 defines a slot 37 along the lower edge thereof while flap 30 defines a lock tab 36. Tab 36 and slot 37 cooperate to provide closure of flap 30 upon backing 11.

In the closed configuration shown in FIG. 3, tear seams 32 and 33 have not yet been separated and accordingly package flap 30 is maintained as part of rear face 18 of backing 11. Additionally, lock tab 36 is received within slot 37.

FIG. 4 sets forth a rear view of package 10 shown in the open configuration. Package 10 includes a generally planar backing 11 having a hanging slot 12 on the upper edge thereof. Package 10 further includes a clear plastic blister 15 within which a toy vehicle display case 20 having a toy vehicle base 22 and toy vehicle 21 supported therein is received and stored. Package 10 further includes a package flap 30 secured to backing 11 by a hinge 31 and seperateable from backing 11 by a pair of tear seams 32 and 33. Flap 30 further defines an aperture 34 which is covered by a clear plastic window 35. Blister 15 defines a slot 37 along the lower edge thereof while flap 30 defines a lock tab 36. Tab 36 and slot 37 cooperate to provide closure of flap 30 upon backing 11.

In the open configuration shown in FIG. 4, tear seams 32 and 33 have been separated allowing flap 30 to be pivoted upwardly about hinge 31. This release of tab 30 necessitates removing lock tab 36 from slot 37. Once flap 30 has been opened to the position shown in FIG. 4, the combination of display case 20, toy vehicle base 22 and toy vehicle 21 is restrained solely by a flexible lip 23 extending along the lower edge of blister 15. Display case 20 together with toy vehicle 21 and toy vehicle base 22 is removed from blister interior 16 by simply flexing lip 23 downwardly and outwardly and withdrawing display case 20. Once display case 20 has been removed, it may be separately displayed apart from the remainder of package 10 as shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 5 sets forth a rear perspective view of package 10 having display case 20 supporting toy vehicle 21 upon toy vehicle base 22 entirely separated and removed from the remainder of package 10. As described above, package 10 includes a planar backing 11 defining a hanging slot 12 and a rear face 18. As is also described above, package 10 includes a clear plastic blister 15 defining a blister interior 16 having a flexible lip 23 and slot 37 formed therein. A pair of tear seams 32 and 33 shown separated in FIG. 5 release a flap 30 hingedly supported upon backing 11 by a hinge 31. Flap 30 defines an aperture 34 having a clear plastic window 35 formed therein. Flap 30 further includes a lock tab 36 which cooperates with slot 37 to reclose flap 30 should the user desire to return display case 20 to the interior of blister 15.

What has been shown is an integral toy vehicle display case and product package which maintains a secure retail package for supporting a removable display case within which a toy vehicle may be housed and displayed. The display case may be returned to the package and the package reclosed should the need arise. 23

While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. Therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A toy vehicle display case and toy vehicle package comprising:

a generally planar backing defining an aperture and a closure flap foldable between a closed position covering said aperture and an open position exposing it;

a transparent blister supported by said backing having an open rear portion generally corresponding to said aperture;

a display case having an outer shell sized to be passed through said aperture and be received within said blister;

a display platform supported within said display case having an upper surface for receiving a toy vehicle; and

closure means for releasably securing said closure flap in said closed position to captivate said display case and its display platform therein,

said flap being constructed to be opened allowing said display case and display platform to be removed from said blister to display a toy vehicle on said platform.

2. The toy vehicle display case and toy vehicle package set forth in claim 1 wherein said blister and said display case are both generally rectangular.

3. The toy vehicle set forth in claim 1 wherein said blister is formed of transparent plastic.

4. The toy vehicle set forth in claim 2 wherein said platform is formed of an opaque material.

5. The toy vehicle set forth in claim 4 wherein said closure means includes a lock tab formed on said flap and a cooperating slot formed on said backing.

6. The toy vehicle set forth in claim 5 wherein said aperture defines an upper edge and wherein said flap is hinged along said edge.