PACKAGING ASSEMBLY FOR LIGHT BULBS, SUCH AS LED LIGHT BULBS, AND SIMILAR DEVICES
A packaging assembly for packaging a light bulb device. The packaging assembly includes a package and a flexible ribbon. The package is sized and shape in accordance with a size and shape of at least one light bulb device. The flexible ribbon extends from the package and displays product information. In some embodiments, the package has a clamshell-like design, including first and second packaging sections connected at a hinge. In other embodiments, the package forms a first hanger hole and the ribbon forms a second hanger hole.
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This Non-Provisional patent application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/817,235, filed Apr. 29, 2013, entitled “PACKAGING ASSEMBLY FOR LIGHT BULBS, SUCH AS LED LIGHT BULBS, AND SIMILAR DEVICES,” the entire teachings of which are herein incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUNDThe present disclosure relates to consumer product packaging, shipping and retail display. More particularly it relates to packaging and display assemblies for light bulb-shaped products, such as LED-based light bulb products, and other irregularly shaped items.
Conventional packaging for individual or multiple incandescent (and other format) light bulbs entails a corrugated paperboard or similar material box-like structure within which the light bulb(s) is frictionally held. The paperboard protects the light bulb(s) from damage during shipping and handling, and provides a convenient surface for displaying product information and other graphics/labels. While well-accepted, the box-like shape occupies a volume much larger than the light bulb(s) itself, and thus wastes valuable retail space and resources.
In light of the above, a need exists for improved light bulb (and other product) packaging and display assemblies and schemes.
SUMMARYSome aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a packaging assembly for packaging a light bulb device. The packaging assembly includes a package and a flexible ribbon. The package is sized and shaped in accordance with a size and shape of the light bulb device. The flexible ribbon extends from the package and displays product information. In some embodiments, the package has a clamshell-like design, including first and second packaging sections connected at a hinge. In other embodiments, the package forms a first hanger hole and the ribbon forms a second hanger hole. With these constructions, the packaging assembly can be loaded to a display rod for, retail sale at either hanger hole, facilitating a compact, nested, side-by-side arrangement, can promote shipping of more product in a typical shipping container, and maximizes viewing of the product by a potential customer.
One embodiment of a light bulb packaging assembly 20 in accordance with principles of the present disclosure is shown in
As best reflected in
Each section 40, 42 has a perimeter region 50 and a central region 52. A combined size and shape of the central region 52 corresponds with a size, shape, and surface contours of the light bulb device 26 such that the light bulb device 26 can be compactly received within and maintained by a combination of the central regions 52 of the sections 40, 42. For example, the central regions 52 each have a bulbous area 54 the combined size and shape of which mimics the size and shape of the bulbous portion 28 of the light bulb device 26 to be packaged. Similarly, the central regions 52 each have a socket area 56 that mimics the socket portion 30. The perimeter regions 50 can be flat.
In some embodiments, the packaging sections 40, 42 include or define optional ribs 60 along the corresponding central regions 52. Where provided, the ribs 60 correspond with features optionally included with the light bulb device 26 to be packaged. For example, with the non-limiting exemplary light bulb device 26 of
The first and second packaging sections 40, 42 combine to define a retention zone 70 adjacent the first end 44 (i.e., the retention zone 70 is apart from the central regions 50). The retention zone 70 includes or forms a hanger hole 72 (e.g., each of the packaging sections 40, 42 forms a hole that, upon final assembly, are aligned with one another to define the continuous hanger hole 72). The hanger hole 72 can have various shapes and sizes, and is generally configured to receive a rod-type hanger conventionally employed for retail display.
The retention zone 70 is further configured to receive the flexible ribbon 24. For example, a slot 74 (referenced generally) is provided, and is sized and shaped for passage of the ribbon 24. In other embodiments, the package 22 can be molded or otherwise formed about the flexible ribbon 24.
The flexible ribbon 24 can assume a variety of forms, and in some embodiments is a ribbon-like material (e.g., a thin polymer or paper-based material with minimal lengthwise rigidity) having a surface conducive to displaying indicia or information (words, numbers, characters, pictures, bar codes, or other indicia). The indicia can be directly printed on to surfaces of the ribbon 24 (e.g., front surface 80 visible in
The flexible ribbon 24 further defines one or more hanger holes 86. The hanger hole(s) 86 can have various shapes and sizes, and is generally configured to receive a rod-type hanger conventionally employed for retail display.
With the above construction, all desired information, bar codes, pictures, instructions, etc., of interest can be displayed on the flexible ribbon 24, with the package 22 being substantially clear or transparent so that a potential purchaser can easily view the contained light bulb device. Further, the multiple hanger holes 72, 86 promote a compact retail display arrangement. For example,
Due to the flexible construction, the ribbon 24 of the packaging assembly 20 freely “drops” in the display state of
In addition to promoting the compact display arrangements described above, the packaging assemblies of the present disclosure occupy less shipping space as compared to conventional light bulb packaging designs. Multiple ones of the packaging assemblies (previously packaged with the corresponding product, such as the light bulb device described above) are placed into a common shipping box for delivery to the retailer. In this regard, a shape of the shipping box can closely conform to a footprint of the package 22 alone (and thus of the light bulb device packaged therein); the ribbons 24 readily collapse down into the shipping box.
The packaging assemblies of the present disclosure provide a marked improvement over previous designs and in some embodiments build upon the attributes embodied by recently available LED-based light bulb devices that utilize a durable (e.g., polycarbonate) enclosure; these bulb enclosures are quite durable and provide support to the packaging itself. The close-offset package protects the light bulb device from abrasion during transport. Another embodiment of a packaging assembly 200 in accordance with principles of the present disclosure is shown in
All the writing required on the package is remote from the product by printing on a flexible ribbon-like material extending from the package. This printing can be on both sides of the ribbon as desired. The entire packaged light bulb device is viewable by a potential customer unlike conventional light bulb packaging.
The light bulb device is well centered in the package, optionally making use of the heat sink (or other features) provided with the light bulb device being packaged. This can further serve to orient the product as displayed.
The printed ribbon collapses and packs in the shipping box permitting the bulbs to stack end-to-end and in offset rows for a most compact solution. Considerably more bulbs fit into a typical bulb shipping box compared with other packaging systems. It is estimated that the packaging assemblies of the present disclosure can facilitate containment of in upwards of 97,200 packaged light bulb devices in a 40 foot shipping container. Similar efficiencies carry over to trucking, distribution storage and store display space savings.
The package has a hanger hole at the top, and the printed ribbon can also have a hanger hole, allowing a rod hanger display to partially nest adjacent packaged bulbs. In other words, every other packaged light bulb device can be hung high or low to nest the shapes of the packaged light bulb devices while displaying them upright. The ribbon simply drops or flops to the side of the hanger rod.
The entire packaging assembly can be made of recyclable material. Further, the molded package and the ribbon can be manufactured and/or handled by advanced automation.
Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes can be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
Claims
1. A packaging assembly for packaging a light bulb device, the packaging assembly comprising:
- a package sized and shaped in accordance with a size and shape of the light bulb device; and
- a flexible ribbon extending from the package and displaying product information.
2. The packaging assembly of claim 1, wherein the package includes first and second packaging sections connected at a hinge.
3. The packaging assembly of claim 2, wherein the packaging sections are connected at a first end of the package, the first end being opposite a second end, and further wherein the ribbon extends from the first end.
4. The packaging assembly of claim 3, wherein the first and second packaging sections combine to define a retention zone adjacent the first end, and further wherein the retention zone forms a first hanger hole.
5. The packaging assembly of claim 4, wherein the ribbon forms a second hanger hole.
6. The packaging assembly of claim 4, wherein the retention zone further forms a slot for receiving the ribbon.
7. The packaging assembly of claim 1, wherein the ribbon forms a plurality of segments each separated by a fold line.
8. The packaging assembly of claim 7, wherein each of the segments forms a hanger hole.
9. The packaging assembly of claim 8, wherein at least one of the segments displays a bar code.
10. The packaging assembly of claim 1, wherein the package is configured to contain a plurality of light bulb devices.
11. A method of displaying packaged light bulbs for retail sale, the method comprising:
- receiving first and second packaged light bulbs each including: a light bulb, a package sized and shaped in accordance with a size and shape of the light bulb, wherein the light bulb is stored within the package, the package forming a first hanger hole,
- a flexible ribbon extending from the package;
- mounting the first packaged light bulb on a display rod at a retail location, including inserting the first hanger hole of the first packaged light bulb over the display rod; and
- mounting the second packaged light bulb on the display rod, including inserting the second hanger hole of the second packaged light bulb over the display rod.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the package of each of the first and second packaged light bulbs defines a bulbous area and a socket area, and further wherein following the steps of mounting the first and second packaged light bulbs on the display rod, the socket area of the first packaged light bulb nests within the bulbous area of the second packaged light bulb.
13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:
- receiving third and fourth packaged light bulbs each including the light bulb, the package and the flexible ribbon; and
- following the step of mounting the second packaged light bulb on the display rod, the method comprising: mounting the third packaged light bulb on the display rod, including inserting the first hanger hole of the third packaged light bulb over the display rod, mounting the fourth packaged light bulb on the display rod, including inserting the second hanger hole of the fourth packaged light bulb over the display rod.
14. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of mounting the first packaged light bulb includes folding the ribbon of the first package light bulb onto the package of the first packaged light bulb.
15. A packaged good article comprising:
- a light bulb device having an outer shape defining a bulbous region and a socket region; and
- a packaging assembly comprising: a package sized and shaped in accordance with the outer shape of the light bulb device, the package including a bulbous area corresponding with the bulbous region and a socket area corresponding with the socket region, a flexible ribbon extending from the package and displaying product information;
- wherein the light bulb device is stored within the package.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 29, 2014
Publication Date: Oct 30, 2014
Applicant: Forever Bulb, LLC (Grantsburg, WI)
Inventors: David W. Carroll (Grantsburg, WI), Wendell Carroll (Minneapolis, MN)
Application Number: 14/264,985
International Classification: B65D 85/42 (20060101);