FOOTWEAR PACKAGING WITH OPENING WHEREIN FOOTWEAR CAN BE SEEN AND TOUCHED

Abstract

A footwear package is provided with an opening (45) that allows to user to view and touch the footwear and its materials of manufacture even when the package is closed; further the package is equipped with a hanging mechanism (43) and can be converted into a carrier bag. The package comprises a tongue (44) which is inserted into the footwear to secure it in a steady position.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to footwear packaging and more specifically to an improved package of carrying and selling footwear.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The shoes, following their manufacture, are packaged in boxes to be conveyed from the factory to warehouses and points of sale through the supply chain. It is also widely known that the sales and repeat sales of goods are greatly affected positively or negatively by customer service and unique consumer experience throughout the in-store process of research, testing and purchase of goods.

Shoe boxes are nothing new in the world of packaging and constitute variations of the form as shown in FIG. 4a. They are made from shapeless cardboard, are die-cut into the shape as shown in FIG. 4b and shaped into a package that closes with a lid 39 after folding. A printed sticker is attached to the package 41 as shown in FIG. 4a, containing all the necessary information required for tracking, storing and selecting footwear throughout the supply chain, such as the name of model, color and size.

The box shown in FIG. 4a has a hole 37 that allows the salesperson to insert his finger and slide the box out of the shelf and remove it from the secondary packaging as shown in FIG. 4e. The placement of these holes 37 also serves another purpose. It allows the transportation of these boxes by holding one in each hand, by inserting the forefinger or middle finger in the hole 37 and tightening the package herein with the forefinger on its outside surface. The maximum number of boxes capable of being carried and removed from the secondary packaging are up to two every time, holding and taking away one package with each hand.

For the transportation of more than two packages, the user must carry the boxes in the way shown in FIG. 5a. In this case, the maximum number of packages an average person can hold is up to six and can reach up to seven should the height of the salesperson exceed that of an average person so that he can have the minimum amount of visibility ensuring his safe moving around.

Footwear packaging has certain drawbacks. One disadvantage is the delayed consumer service attributed to the fact that the packages are closed, thus hindering visibility of the design and colour of footwear. As a result, salespeople are required to memorize the names of design of footwear by reading the sticker 41 on the box. Then, they look for the desired design in the storeroom, going through the stickers 41 on all the stored packages. Having found the desired box, the shoe box is opened to ensure that it contains the right design and colour of footwear.

Another downside is that shoe packaging requires additional storage space in the store for the storage of boxes with the sample footwear. It is common practice for shoe packages to be stored in the warehouse with only one shoe contained in the box. Over and above the additional storage room required for the keeping of these shoe boxes, the detection of the package containing the right type of shoe is further delayed since the number of boxes accumulated is greater. Not only is the process of finding the right shoe package time-consuming but also cost-intensive as this delay results in increased operational costs since the company must rent and use facilities with a larger space.

On the downside, the footwear can also be subjected to malicious removal from the package without anyone noticing since the content is not visible when the shoe boxes are closed, thus inflicting on the company additional financial costs.

The fact that the shoe boxes herein are not consumer-friendly when the shop is crowded and when the salesperson is not available adds to its disadvantages. When the shoe boxes are closed and the content not visible, self-serve customer service comes up short as the consumer cannot find the design and colour of footwear available for his size.

It is common knowledge that salespeople, in order to motivate customers to purchase more than one pair of shoes, follow a sales strategy in which they show the customer more than one design and colour akin to the design of footwear chosen by the consumer. Customer service is slowed down further since the process of finding the shoe boxes in the storeroom requires the memorization of more than one design name and subsequently the reading of the stickers 41 attached on them.

Footwear is placed in the way shown in FIG. 4d, where each shoe is reversed 180 degrees to each other, with the toecap of one shoe coming in contact with the aperture area of the other shoe and with the soles sitting on opposite sides. To avoid this negative consequence of shoes shape being warped, tissue paper balls are inserted into the shoe so that their form and shape shall be retained. These tissue paper balls are not only costly but also increase the total weight of packaging, thus leading to an increase in transportation costs during their transportation across the whole supply chain. In terms of sustainability, their disposal following consumer use contributes to environmental pollution.

Shoe boxes following sale are put into carrier bags leading to an increase in total product costs and contributing to the overall amount of carbon footprint.

It is known that there is a kind of box with a window 64 as shown in FIG. 4c, allowing only a limited degree of visibility due to the window's small size to ensure the necessary amount of durability. It is also known from Patent US 20100314268 A1 a kind of packaging with a specially formed slot allowing the entrance of a photo depicting the footwear contained in the box into a special casing.

Both of these solutions are not only time-consuming but also costly since they require considerable manual work and the use of additional materials such as glue and a transparent plastic film attached to the window of the box. Moreover, they are not eco-friendly as they use materials that are difficult to separate during the recycling process, such as glue and the transparent film stuck on the cardboard.

For the production of the package of Patent US 20100314268 A1, additional work and costs are necessary. For instance, footwear photographing, processing of photos, printing, cutting and manual positioning of the photos into the specially designed area of the shoe box.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The benefits of this invention are multiple. Besides serving its functional purpose as a carrying and storage package, it allows direct visibility and touch-ability of footwear and materials of manufacture when closed without requiring any action on the part of the user i.e opening the box. Consequently, it is consumer-friendly as it allows the consumer to serve himself in a hassle-free manner, thus enhancing consumer experience. In terms of salesperson experience, the salesperson can identify the shoe boxes very fast without having to memorize all the shoe model names and is able to verify whether the correct pair of shoes is contained in the box without having to open the box to find out.

The tongue 44 that is placed within the shoe gives it the advantage of locking them in place, without any fear of the shoe becoming unfastened, keeping it in a steady position inside the box as shown in FIG. 1a, thus enabling the storage and placement of the box herein in any direction which prevents the footwear from transfer and removal from the box. Additionally, since the shoes are locked in place and positioned alongside each other, they are not subject to shape distortion and the need for paper balls is eradicated. Thus, the absence of paper balls reduces packaging weight and packaging costs. On top of that, it reduces the transportation costs across the entire supply chain making shoe packaging more environmentally-friendly thanks to its reduced weight and greater resource efficiency as the amount of material for manufacture is less.

It has the advantage to be equipped with an inbuilt hanging mechanism 43 as shown in FIG. 6b and can be put perpendicularly as is shown in FIG. 8a, FIG. 8b and FIG. 8c on a shelf or hung on a hook or rod as shown in FIG. 6b retaining the advantage of allowing the direct visibility and touch-ability of footwear and materials of manufacture. Even if piled in the traditional way on top of one another, the said package has a slope that makes the finding of the desired design much easier whatever the height of the shelf when compared to its predecessors thanks to the ideal angle formed by the walls of the box which affords the user visibility of a wider surface thus facilitating the spotting of the desired design. FIG. 9a illustrates the viewing of package from on high, FIG. 9b at eye level and FIG. 9c at low shelf level.

To its credit, this type of packaging allows the simultaneous disposition and removal from the secondary packaging of eight packets, four in each hand as shown in FIG. 5b. It also allows unhindered viewing and safe salesperson movement to the storehouse and to the showroom with eight boxes on his hands irrespective of the salesperson's height. Consequently, the packing of the secondary package is expedited, as inside the package described are contained eight boxes each time, thus accelerating the speed of in-store efficiency and organization. Prior packaging design enabled the removal of only two boxes while with this innovative shoe packaging there is a fourfold increase in the number of packets, allowing the removal of eight boxes.

This said footwear packaging can be converted into a carrier handbag without the use of additional materials like cord, plastic or rope handles and without even requiring the use of a bag as shown in FIG. 7, thereby decreasing the total packaging cost.

This said footwear packaging is lighter since the weight of the parcel is 25%-60% lighter than its antecedent counterparts and the use of raw material for the making of the specific box is down by 25%-60% when compared to previous types of shoe boxes. Consequently, their manufacture and transportation across the entire supply chain is less costly and more environmentally sustainable.

An additional advantage is the ability to display its content in the shop window through the openings it is furnished with, as it allows consumers to see and touch the footwear and its materials of manufacture in an unhindered way. The shoes specified can be displayed both when the shoe box is closed and when it is open as is shown by FIG. 11, thereby saving storage room in the warehouse and money as the store owners are not forced to move to larger premises to cover storage needs.

Additionally, the malicious removal of footwear from the box is prevented since the shoes can be seen through the openings 45. Thus, any removal of footwear can immediately be perceived.

Usually in trade, the supply chain must be optimal and footwear packaging must be both economical and attractive to the prospective consumer when presented to the customer during the sale. The appeal of this invention doesn't not only lie in its graphic design but also in its functionality as it affords ample viewing of the footwear and tactile experience of shoe design, color and material of manufacture, thus making it more use-friendly and attractive to the customer.

Accordingly, it is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention herein described are not intended to limit the scope of the claims and are merely illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the package in a three-dimensional form,

FIG. 1b shows the openings of the package shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 2a shows the rear side view of the package shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 2b shows the front side view of the package shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 2c shows the plan view of the package shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 2d shows the side view of the package shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 shows the die-line of the package of FIG. 1,

FIG. 4a shows previous footwear packaging,

FIG. 4b shows the die-line of a prior package of footwear,

FIG. 4c shows a prior package with a window on which has been stuck a transparent plastic film,

FIG. 4d shows the way of footwear disposition inside the previous package of footwear,

FIG. 4e shows a secondary packaging,

FIG. 5a shows the salesman embracing the packages containing the footwear while transportation,

FIG. 5b shows the way in which the salesman can transport simultaneously the 4 packages shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 6a shows the hanging mechanism of the package shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 6b shows the package of FIG. 1 hung in bars,

FIG. 7 shows the use of package shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 8a,

FIG. 8b and

FIG. 8c shows ways of stacking of packaging shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 9a,

FIG. 9b and

FIG. 9c shows they ways of stacking of packages shown in FIG. 1 depending on the height of bookshelf that they are placed on,

FIG. 10 shows the way in which one of the flaps of the package shown in FIG. 1 is manufactured,

FIG. 11 shows ways in which footwear is displayed in the shopping window together with the package shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to shoe packaging formed out of a sheet of shapeless cardboard as shown in FIG. 1. Other materials can be used as well such as paper, paper pulp or even another flexible material e.g sheet of plastic.

The package shown in FIG. 1 is made by die-cutting the shapeless material into the shape shown in FIG. 3.

The die-cut and already shaped sheet uses as its base panel the surface 18. From the said base are extended outward lateral walls 42, 19. From lateral wall 42 is extended outward wall 4 and from wall 19 is extended wall 26.

From walls 18, 42, 4 are extended outward two optional flaps which are across each other as shown in FIG. 3. Each flap consists of five triangular surfaces 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.

The surfaces 5, 6 fold at the intersection of edges 50 forming an angle of 180 degrees while surface 7 folds at intersection of edges 51, vice versa when compared to surface 6 and is tangent to its rear side. Surface 8 folds at a 90 degrees angle in relation to surface 18 while surface 9 folds at intersection of edges 53 at an angle of 180 degrees and is placed behind surface 8. At the same time, lateral wall 42 folds at an angle of 90 degrees with surface 18 which forms the base of the package. The protrusions 10 extending outwards from surface 6 and the protrusions 11 extending outwards from surface 7 are optional and are inserted into the two optional slots 12a, 12b of lateral wall 42 as shown in FIG. 10.

From wall 19 two optional flaps are extended, being formed by surfaces 23, 24 and the said flaps are disposed opposite one another. From wall 26 are extended outward surfaces 25, each disposed opposite the other.

Surface 24 folds at intersection of edges 57 at an angle of 90 degrees while at the same time, surface 25 folds at intersection of edges 60 at an angle of 90 degrees in relation to wall 26.

After that, wall 26 folds at intersection of edges 59 until surface 25 touches the rear part of surface 24. Having done that, surface 23 folds at intersection of edges 58 and protrusions 22 are inserted into the slots 20a, 20b so that surfaces 19, 26, 24 are locked together.

From wall 4 is extended outwards wall 2, folding at intersection of edges 46 forming an angle between 80 and 145 degrees, thus forming a tongue 44 which is inserted into the shoe. From wall 2 is extended outward an optional surface 1 which folds at intersection of edges 47 at an angle of between 90 and 120 degrees.

To close the package, surface 30 on the wall 26 folds at intersection 61 at an angle of 90 degrees. Subsequently, the locked walls 19, 26 fold at intersection 56 so that wall 26 can be found underneath wall 4 and intersection of edges 61 can be tangent to intersection 46. This optional lock 3 is extended outward from wall 4 and folds at the intersection of edge 61 and then is inserted into slot 28 to lock the package.

When closed, the package creates two openings 45 which are not covered by material as shown in FIG. lb, enabling viewing and visibility of the footwear.

Folding outward surface 14 at intersection of edges 32 at an angle between 80 and 110 degrees and subsequently intersections of edges 16, 63 so that intersections of edges 17a, 17b of the protrusions can be slotted into the opening formed by the folding of the surface described and intersection of edges 17a, 17b are tangent to intersections of edges 62a, 62b in the interior section of the package herein to create a hanging mechanism 43 as shown in FIG. 6a.

Folding surface 14 at an angle of 180 degrees so that surface 14 is internally tangent to wall 19, converting the package into a carrier bag.

The package bears optional holes 21a, 21b, 13a, 13b, ideally four, two on each lateral wall 42, 19. They can take any shape. For example, triangular, circular, oval, rectangular of multangular. The disposition of the holes described 21a, 21b, 13a, 13b, despite being optional, enable the salesman to hold up to four packages in each hand as shown in FIG. 5b.

Thus, the consumer can see and touch the footwear and examine the materials of manufacture of the specific pair of shoes while at the same time customer self-service is achieved. On the other hand, the salesman is relieved of having to memorize the information listed on the sale sticker 41, thereby serving consumer needs faster and optimizing personal work efficiency.

Claims

1. The package for carrying and selling footwear comprising a body that has a receiving space for the footwear as is specified by base panel 18 and two lateral walls 42, 19 extending outward from base panel 18, comprising a lateral wall 42 forming an obtuse angle (a) and for best results between 95 and 120 degrees with wall 4 as well as comprising one uncovered by material opening 45 allowing unhindered viewing and touching of footwear and materials of manufacture.

2. The package for carrying and selling footwear of claim 1 wherein the package comprising a second uncovered by material opening 45 opposite the said opening of claim 1.

3. The package for carrying and enabling shoe selling, shoe viewing and shoe touching of claim 1, wherein said package comprising at least one tongue 44 extending outward from wall 4 and is comprised of at least one wall 2 which is inserted into the shoe to secure it safely in a steady position.

4. The package for carrying and selling footwear of claim 1, wherein said package comprising a hanging mechanism 43 created when folding outward surface 14 at intersection of edges 32 at an angle between 80 and 110 degrees and then the folding of intersection of edges 16, 63 so that the intersections of edges 17a, 17b of the protrusions are inserted into the opening formed by the folding of the said surface and so that the intersections of edges 62a, 62b are disposed substantially coincident with the interior part of the said package.

5. The package for carrying and selling footwear of claim 1, wherein said package comprising a handle manufactured by folding surface 14 preferably at an angle of 180 degrees is tangent to the interior of the wall 19 for conversion purposes of the said package into a carry bag.

6. The package for carrying and selling footwear of claim 1, wherein said package comprising on wall 42 at least one hole preferably 13a, or and comprising on wall 19 at least one hole preferably 21a for the transportation and sliding of said package and the said holes have a circular, oval, triangular, rectangular or multiangular shape.

7. The package for carrying and selling footwear of claim 1, wherein the package wall 26 extends outward from wall 19, thus forming an acute angle and for best results between 60 and 85 degrees between the said walls 26, 19.

8. The package for carrying and selling footwear of claim 7 wherein said package comprising a lock 3 extending from wall 4 is inserted into slot 28 of wall 26 to close the said package.

9. The package for carrying and selling footwear of claim 1, wherein said package is made of paper, cardboard or another type of material like paper pulp or plastic.

10. A method of enabling the unhindered viewing and touching of footwear and materials of manufacture when the package for carrying or and selling of the said footwear is closed and disposed in any direction including the disposition of said footwear in said package comprising at least an opening that is not covered by any material and include at least a tongue that secures the said footwear in a steady place inside the said package.