Multi-lamp display packaging for lamps with collapsible lampshades
A lamp and collapsible lampshade packaging, shipping and display device comprising a shell, within which a set of lampshade enclosure panels house collapsible lampshades and an enclosure insert houses floor lamp pole sections and collectively upon which a set of lamps, varying in style and type may be loaded and attached for shipping, storage and ultimately, display such that the entire device houses a complete set of lamps, lampshades and mounting hardware in one space-efficient package.
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This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/154,318 filed Jun. 16, 2005, now pending.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to the field of packaging for electric lamps. More specifically, the present invention is a packing, shipping, storage and display packaging device for a set of lamps with collapsible shades.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONMany types of packaging cartons are available in the marketplace which are prepared from blanks made from cardboard, plastic or other suitably flexi-stiff materials. Flexi-stiff materials are generally flexible enough for bending into place during assembly but stiff enough to retain their shape afterwards. The blanks are pre-dimensioned, pre-creased and pre-cut into sections such that when the so-defined areas are separated, folded and inter-connected, the assembled product is suitable for use in the packaging, shipping, storage and/or display of an article for which it is designed to contain.
Many versions of packaging cartons have been designed for use with lamps and lampshades. Some of these provide containment for the lamps with a separate containment for the shades. Others provide for joint packaging of the lamp and shade. For example, Humphrey in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,325,209 and 6,419,085 teaches the use of packaging designed to store and protect the lamp during shipment and display. One embodiment displays only the lamp, and another displays the lamp and part of the shade.
In the above referenced co-pending application Ser. No. 11/154,318, a packaging device is disclosed wherein a combination view of the lamp with the shade is provided for displaying the lamp and shade together where display space for the shade is limited. In this inventive concept, a collapsible lampshade is stored behind a trunk insert panel, which via a viewing hole through the panel, allows a viewer of the packaging device to see the color and texture of the lampshade.
While the above invention provides a greater measure of utility than its predecessors, it is still lacking in beneficial utility. For example, the referenced packaging device is useful for packaging and displaying multiple lamps of a similar design by simply expanding the width/depth of the packaging device to accommodate the number of lamps/lampshades desired to be displayed. However, it is not particularly well suited to packaging a variety of different type lamps belonging to a generic decorative style as might be purchased as a set, say for lighting an entire room. Such a set may comprise a pair of table lamps, an accent lamp and a floor lamp. The current art does not provide for suitable packaging for a set of these types of lamps together with their respective collapsible shades.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA lamp packaging device is disclosed which provides a useful shipping and storage container as well as a convenient display box for a set of different type lamps belonging to a generic style of lamp with collapsible-shades. The packaging device is designed to hold the lamps within a set of penetrations and recesses and to hold the collapsible lampshades within a set of compartments, located generally behind the lamps within the device. The device comes with a representative photograph depicting the set of lamps fully assembled and with their lampshades mounted. This photograph is affixed to the device in at least one prominent location, permitting a seller of such lamps to display both the physical set of lamps as well as a view of them as they might look during use.
In a first embodiment, the device comprises an outer shell and a series of lamp base holders, inner panels for partitioning areas housing collapsible shades and an insert where certain parts of oversized lamps, in particular, floor lamps, may be stored out of sight. The shell comprises a bottom receptacle, a primary packaging area and a sealing cover panel. The base holders are designed to receive and secure the base of a variety of styles of lamps and fit into the bottom receptacle. The enclosure panels and insert are arranged within the packaging area such that they serve as a layered storage area for collapsible lampshades, their structural supports and associated mounting hardware and parts of the lamps which are not meant to be displayed.
In the exemplary embodiment, three large lampshades are placed within the packaging area and are covered by a full-sized inner enclosure panel which is placed over them. A smaller lampshade with its hardware is placed on one side of the inner panel, which is then covered by a half-size outer enclosure panel. Finally, two of three pole sections of a semi-assembled floor lamp are placed within the enclosure insert which is then placed beside the outer panel within the packaging area. The cover panel is closed over the front of the packaging area, sealing in the enclosure panels and insert. Receiving slots, nesting penetrations and clamshell recesses associated with the enclosure panels, the insert and the cover panel permit a variety of types of lamps to be affixed to the packaging device, with irregular features of the lamps engaging the slots, penetrations and recesses to help secure them in place.
In alternate embodiments, the device may be designed to accommodate different quantities and varieties of lamps, all of which may be stored together with their collapsible lampshades, either hidden or visible through viewing holes as may be desired by the designer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSExemplary embodiments of the invention are discussed hereinafter in reference to the drawings, in which:
In a preferred embodiment, the packaging and storage device 1 of the present invention comprises an outer shell 2 having elements designated as a bottom receptacle 3, a lamp and lampshade packaging area 4 and a cover panel 5. As shown in
The table and accent lamps are fully assembled into single units for packaging and display, whereas the floor lamp comprises several sub-assembled parts, depicted in
The exemplary collective group of shell 2, base holders 6A and 6B, enclosure panels 7 and 8 and insert 9 are shown in
Shell 2 is depicted in
Bottom receptacle 3 is sized to accommodate base holders 6A and 6B as is shown in
Packaging area 4 simply comprises an open cavity within shell 2 which is large enough to receive and accommodate for storage purposes a set of collapsible lampshades and corresponding lampshade support harps, enclosure panels 7 and 8, insert 9 and lamps 10, 11 and 12, all of which are to be packaged within device 1 during assembly thereof. It is to be understood throughout this detailed description of the preferred embodiment that assembly of the packaging device generally takes place in concert with the loading within and affixing onto its shell all of the associated lamps, harps and lampshades which will be packaged and, at least in part, displayed therein and thereupon. For the purposes of describing the invention hereunder, each of the elemental parts will be described in relation to both its general nature and the general purpose served, and then an overall assembly and use instruction will be provided.
Inner enclosure panel 7 comprises a front face 7A with side panels 7B as shown in
Outer enclosure panel 8 is similar in design and scope to inner panel 7, but also comprises different features.
Another important feature of outer panel 8 is the a folding base section 8E. This feature can best be seen in
Enclosure insert 9 comprises a blank 9A of material scored for folding into an individual storage compartment.
Cover panel 5 comprises a section of shell 2 which is connected at one edge to one side of packaging area 4 as is shown in
Also as shown in
Clamshell recesses 5A are designed to line up with both the nesting penetrations of insert 9 and the nesting penetrations 8C and clamshell recesses 8D of outer enclosure panel 8 when insert 9 and panel 8 are placed into packaging area 4. Therefore, when cover panel 5 is closed over installed panel 8 and insert 9 as shown in
The preferred embodiment described thus far comprises a packaging device configured for the purposes of storing and displaying a pair of table lamps, a smaller accent lamp and a sectional floor lamp. In the preferred embodiment, only one of three poles are placed in the device where it may be viewed. It is presumed that one skilled in the art of packaging items for shipping and display will recognize that the packaging device many be configured to store and display many other quantities and combinations of lamps, lamp styles and types and their associated collapsible lampshades and mounting hardware. For example, an alternate embodiment might not include an accent lamp, or the packaging device might be configured to display all three of the floor lamp's pole segments. No alternate embodiment will prejudice the inventive concept of packaging within a single packaging device a set of lamps comprising a variety of lamp types together with their associated collapsible lampshades and mounting hardware wherein the packaging device is also used for displaying said set of lamps.
To utilize the packaging device of the present invention for lamp packaging, shipment, storage and display, shell 2 of the device is loaded with the group of elemental panels and inserts 7, 8 and 9 as well as the group of lamps, lampshades and associated hardware, if any, at the same time, and in a manner that integrates the two groups into a compact package able to be shipped, stored and displayed. This is best accomplished in a step-by-step process developed specifically for each embodiment created. The steps of assembling and loading the packaging device will be addressed in detail hereunder.
First, cover panel 5 of shell 2 is opened as shown in
Beginning with the floor lamp, two pole sections 12C are slid into enclosure area 9E as shown in
With all panel and insert elements placed into the shell, cover panel 5 is now closed and secured in place via its fastening means and the remaining lamps and lamp sections are loaded into the packaging device. The fully loaded device is shown in
Because many varying and different embodiments may be made within the scope of the inventive concept herein taught, and because many modifications may be made in the embodiments herein detailed in accordance with the descriptive requirements of the law, it is to be understood that the details herein are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
Claims
1. A lamp and lampshade packaging device comprising:
- a shell for receiving at least a first and second lamp and their associated collapsible lampshades with associated lampshade structural and mounting hardware and having a bottom receptacle, a packaging area and a cover panel;
- at least a first and second base holder removably positioned within said bottom receptacle; and
- at least one each of an enclosure panel and an enclosure insert removably positioned within said packaging area, wherein said lampshades and hardware are removably enclosed within said packaging area via said enclosure panel and said cover panel for shipping and storage, first portions of said first lamp are stored within said enclosure insert which is removably enclosed within said packaging area via said cover panel for shipping and storage, second portions of said first lamp are stored within said device via said enclosure insert and said first base holder, third portions of said first lamp are stored upon said device for display, and said second lamp is stored upon said device for display in a manner which permits said lamps to be viewed by a viewer of said device with said lampshades and hardware stored within said device.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein said first and second lamps are of different types.
3. The device of claim 1 wherein said first lamp is a floor lamp and said first portions comprise pole sections and said second portion comprises a base section.
4. The device of claim 1 wherein said enclosure insert and said first base holder each contain a slotted opening for receiving an edge of said second portion.
5. The device of claim 1 wherein said second base holder comprises a recess for receiving the base of said second lamp to prevent said base from accidental disassociation from said base holder during said shipping, storage and display.
6. The device of claim 1 which further comprises nesting penetrations, clamshell recesses, cut-outs and voids in said enclosure panel and insert and said cover panel, wherein said penetrations, recesses, cut-outs and voids are aligned on said enclosure panel, insert and cover panel such that protruding edges of said lamps may be inserted through said cover panel and into said enclosure panel and insert as required to permit said lamps to fit tightly against the front side of said device.
7. The device of claim 1 wherein
- said cover panel is connected on a first edge to one side of said shell, in a hinge-type connection;
- said cover panel may be closed over said removably positioned enclosure panel and enclosure insert such that said enclosure panel and insert are held in place within said packaging area; and
- said cover panel engages with a locking mechanism on a second edge to said shell such that said packaging device is strengthened by said cover panel when said locking mechanism is engaged.
8. A method of packaging and displaying lamps comprising:
- associating at least a first and second lamp and their associated collapsible lampshades with associated lampshade structural and mounting hardware with a lamp and lampshade packaging device, wherein said lamp and lampshade packaging device comprises:
- a shell for receiving said lamps and their associated collapsible lampshades with associated lampshade structural and mounting hardware and having a bottom receptacle, a packaging area and a cover panel;
- at least a first and second base holder removably positioned within said bottom receptacle; and
- at least one each of an enclosure panel and an enclosure insert removably positioned within said packaging area, wherein said lampshades and hardware are removably enclosed within said packaging area via said enclosure panel and said cover panel for shipping and storage, first portions of said first lamp are stored within said enclosure insert which is removably enclosed within said packaging area via said cover panel for shipping and storage, second portions of said first lamp are stored within said device via said enclosure insert and said first base holder, third portions of said first lamp are stored upon said device for display, and said second lamp is stored upon said device for display in a manner which permits said lamps to be viewed by a viewer of said device with said lampshades and hardware stored within said device.
9. The device of claim 8 wherein said first and second lamps are of different types.
10. The device of claim 8 wherein said first lamp is a floor lamp and said first portions comprise pole sections and said second portion comprises a base section.
11. The device of claim 8 wherein said enclosure insert and said first base holder each contain a slotted opening for receiving an edge of said second portion.
12. The device of claim 8 wherein said second base holder comprises a recess for receiving the base of said second lamp to prevent said base from accidental disassociation from said base holder during said shipping, storage and display.
13. The device of claim 8 which further comprises nesting penetrations, clamshell recesses, cut-outs and voids in said enclosure panel and insert and said cover panel, wherein said penetrations, recesses, cut-outs and voids are aligned on said enclosure panel, insert and cover panel such that protruding edges of said lamps may be inserted through said cover panel and into said enclosure panel and insert as required to permit said lamps to fit tightly against the front side of said device.
14. The device of claim 8 wherein
- said cover panel is connected on a first edge to one side of said shell, in a hinge-type connection;
- said cover panel may be closed over said removably positioned enclosure panel and enclosure insert such that said enclosure panel and insert are held in place within said packaging area; and
- said cover panel engages with a locking mechanism on a second edge to said shell such that said packaging device is strengthened by said cover panel when said locking mechanism is engaged.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 17, 2006
Publication Date: Dec 21, 2006
Applicants: ,
Inventors: Chou Bin (Shihlin), Michael Perillo (Coral Springs, FL)
Application Number: 11/505,523
International Classification: B65D 71/00 (20060101); B65D 85/42 (20060101);