Selectively configurable package for retaining separated items

• US 5,029,705 A
• Filed: 09/08/1989
• Issued: 07/09/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Schmidt-Connor Joint Venture Group A Partnership of NC
• Original Assignee: Schmidt-Conner Joint Venture Group
• Inventors: Schmidt, James J., Connor, Wilton M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gehman, Bryon P.
• Application Number:
  US07/404,745
• Time in Patent Office: 669 Days
• Field of Search: 206/45.31, 206/45.33, 206/45.34, 206/333, 206/445, 206/461, 206/463, 206/467, 206/468-471, 206/806, 229/2.5 R, 220/337, 220/339, 220/23.4, 220/23.6, 220/23.8
• US Class Current: 206/705
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/323 and forming several compartments
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/54 Cards, coupons, or other inserts or accessories opening devices B65D75/70

Abstract

A package for retaining and displaying a plurality of cylindrical items in separated compartments as formed from a pair of compatibly configured plastic clam shells secured to one another. The plastic clam shells define a front package portion having a plurality of cylindrical item receptacles and a rear package portion having another plurality of cylindrical item receptacles. The front and rear package portions are interconnected to permit predetermined movement of the front and rear package portions relative to one another between a first display position in which the front and rear package portions are disposed in generally superimposed, adjacent relation to one another and a second access position in which the front and rear package portions are substantially displaced from one another to permit ready access to the cylindrical items retained in the item receptacles.

Claims

1. A package for retaining and displaying a plurality of cylindrical batteries in separated compartments, comprising:

a front package portion having a plurality of cylindrical discrete item receptacles;

a rear package portion having a plurality of cylindrical discrete item receptacles, each cylindrical item receptacle of said front and rear package portions having a longitudinal axis and being adapted for independently retaining one of the cylindrical batteries therein with the axis of the cylindrical battery generally parallel with the axis of the said cylindrical item receptacle in which it is retained,

said cylindrical item receptacles of said front package portion being arranged relative to one another with their longitudinal axes substantially parallel to define a first plane and said cylindrical item receptacles of said rear package portion being arranged relative to one another with their longitudinal axes substantially parallel to define a second plane;

interconnecting means for interconnecting one end of said front package portion to one end of said rear package portion;

retaining means for retaining said front and rear package portions in a preferred disposition, said retaining means including a slot means formed in the other end of said front package portion for receiving a tab portion therein and a tab portion formed at the other end of said rear package portion, said tab portion being selectively insertable into said slot means; and

said interconnecting means permitting relative movement between said front package portion and said rear package portion between a first display position in which said first and second planes are substantially parallel to one another and said tab portion is inserted into said slot means to maintain said front and rear receptacles at said first display position, and a second access position in which said first and second planes are substantially co-planar, said cylindrical item receptacles of said front and rear package portions being readily accessible in said second access position for removing the cylindrical batteries.

2. A package for retaining and displaying a plurality of cylindrically-shaped batteries to be retained and displayed in separated compartments, comprising:

a pair of plastic shells adapted to be cooperatively engaged with one another, said plastic shells forming, in their cooperatively engaged disposition;

a front item receptacle having a plurality of cylindrical discrete item retaining portions each having a longitudinal axis and being adapted for retaining a cylindrical battery therein with the axis of the cylindrical battery being generally parallel with the axis of the cylindrical discrete item retaining portion and said cylindrical discrete item retaining portions being arranged relative to one another with their longitudinal axes substantially parallel to define a first plane;

a rear item receptacle having a plurality of cylindrical discrete item retaining portions each having a longitudinal axis and being adapted for retaining a cylindrical battery therein with the axis of the cylindrical battery being generally parallel with the axis of the cylindrical discrete item retaining portion and said cylindrical discrete item retaining portions being arranged relative to one another with their longitudinal axes substantially parallel to define a second plane;

means interconnecting said front and rear item receptacles, the interconnecting means permitting predetermined movement of said front and rear receptacle relative to one another between a first display position in which said receptacles are disposed in generally superposed, adjacent relation to one another with said first and second planes being substantially parallel to one another and a second access position in which said receptacles are substantially displaced from one another to permit ready access to both said front and rear receptacles, each said front and rear receptacle being formed to support and retain an item received therein independently of the other receptacle at said first display position and during said predetermined movement between said first display position and said second access position;

retaining means for selectively maintaining said front and rear receptacles at said first display position; and

means for securing said plastic shells to one another in said cooperatively engaged disposition thereof.

3. A package according to claim 2 and characterized further in that said retaining means includes a tab portion and a slot means for releasably securing said tab portion when said tab portion is inserted therein, said tab portion being selectively insertable into said slot means to selectively maintain said front and rear receptacles at said first display position.

4. A package according to claim 2 and characterized further by a plurality of perforations for permitting detachment of said front item receptacle from said rear item receptacle, said perforations being disposed between said front and rear item receptacles.

5. A package according to claim 2 and characterized further in that said pair of plastic shells define a hang slot for hanging the package from a retail display rack.

6. A package according to claim 2 and characterized further in that said interconnecting means includes a generally planar portion adapted to rest on a surface, said generally planar portion cooperating with said retaining means to permit the package to be generally self-standing on a flat surface.

7. A package according to claim 6 and characterized further by a stabilizing leg portion formed on said rear item receptacle for stabilizing the package when it is at said self-standing position thereof.

8. A package according to claim 2 and characterized further in that a selected one of said front item receptacle and said rear item receptacle includes an alignment leg for engaging the outer periphery of the other of said selected front item receptacle and said rear item receptacle to enhance the stability of the package in its said first display position.

9. A package according to claim 2 and characterized further in that the edges of said pair of shells and the edges of said interconnecting means and said retaining means form a parallelogram when said front and rear receptacles are disposed in said first display position.