Display package for a hand tool

• US 10,926,931 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2019
• Issued: 02/23/2021
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meridian International Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Meridian International Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Christopher, Brent
• Primary Examiner(s): Hawn, Patrick D
• Application Number:
  US16/454,313
• Publication Number:
  US 20190315542A1
• Time in Patent Office: 607 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 15/04 with ratchet action
• CPC Class Codes: B25H 3/006 Storage means specially adapted for one specific hand apparatus, e.g. an electric drill
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 73/0014 by means of separate fixing elements, e.g. clips, clamps, bands
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 73/0064 the articles being supported by or suspended from a tag-like element
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 73/0092 combined with a preformed enclosure, e.g. a bulb

Abstract

Packaging comprising of a display structure for displaying the hand tool. A retaining structure is combined to the display structure for engaging the working end of the ratchet tool with friction to prevent rotation of the working end. A securement structure is combined to the display structure and is configured to secure a portion of the ratchet tool in a manner that permits rotation of the handle of the ratchet tool relative to the working end while preventing the ratchet tool from being separated from the securement structure.

Claims

1. Packaging for a ratchet tool having a handle and a working end comprising:

a display structure for displaying the ratchet tool;

a retaining structure combined to the display structure comprising at least one cradle for receiving and surrounding the working end and for touchingly engaging the working end of the ratchet tool to prevent rotation of the working end; and

a securement structure combined to the display structure and configured to secure a portion of the ratchet tool in a manner that permits rotation of the handle of the ratchet tool relative to the working end while preventing the ratchet tool from being separated from the securement structure, wherein the surrounding structure of the retaining structure is a snap clip that is selectively removable from the retaining structure and fits over and attaches to the cradle to secure the working end of the ratchet tool to prevent rotation of the working end.

2. The packaging of claim 1, wherein the at least one cradle further comprises of a friction pad on the retaining structure to provide friction to engage the working end of the ratchet tool to prevent rotation of the working end.

3. The packaging of claim 1, wherein the retaining structure further comprises a first cradle and a second cradle for receiving the working end and a first snap clip that fits over the working end and attaches to the first cradle and a second snap clip that fits over the working end and attaches to the second cradle to secure with friction the working end of the ratchet tool to prevent rotation of the working end.

4. The packaging of claim 1, wherein the working end further comprises a ratchet portion and a ratchet extension that is selectively separable from the ratchet portion and the second cradle furthercomprises a stop to prevent the ratchet extension from being separated from the ratchet portion and limits axial movement of the ratchet extension.

5. The packaging of claim 1, wherein the ratchet tool further comprises of a groove and wherein the securement structure further comprises of a housing and a mechanical lock that engages the groove of the ratchet tool and fixedly attaches to the housing to secure the ratchet tool to the securement structure.

6. The packaging of claim 5, wherein the groove is an annular groove that circumscribes the ratchet tool and the mechanical lock is a snap ring with an inner diameter that fits into the annular groove and a plurality of snap-members combined to the snap ring that engage an inner diameter of the housing of the securement structure to secure the ratchet tool to the securement structure.

7. The packaging of claim 6 wherein the ratchet tool can be inserted through the inner diameter of the housing.

8. The packaging of claim 7, wherein the ratchet tool further comprises a directional switch, and wherein the annular groove is positioned on the directional switch to allow a consumer to grip the handle of the ratchet tool to test a ratcheting function of the ratchet tool.

9. The packaging of claim 1, wherein the display structure further comprises of a first portion and a second portion with the securement structure positioned between the first portion and the second portion of the display structure.

10. The packaging of claim 9, wherein the first portion comprises of a plurality of cutouts through which portions of the securement structure can extend through.

11. The packaging of claim 10, wherein the first portion and the second portion of the display structure are secured together to fix the securement structure in position.

12. The packaging of claim 11, wherein the display structure is folded in half wherein one half of the display structure is the first portion and the other half of the display structure is the second portion.

13. The packaging of claim 12, wherein the first portion and the second portion are glued together to fix the securement structure in position.

14. A ratchet tool and packaging comprising:

a ratchet tool comprising a handle and a working end;

a display structure for displaying the ratchet tool;

a retaining structure combined to the display structure for surrounding and engaging an outer diameter of the working end of the ratchet tool to prevent rotation of the working end; and

a securement structure combined to the display structure and configured to secure a portion of the ratchet tool in a manner that permits rotation of the handle of the ratchet tool relative to the working end while preventing the ratchet tool from being separated from the securement structure, wherein the retaining structure further comprises the first cradle and a second cradle for receiving the working end and wherein the surrounding structure is a first snap clip that fits over the working end and attaches to the first cradle and a second snap clip that fits over the working end and attaches to the second cradle to secure with friction the working end of the ratchet tool to prevent rotation of the working end;

wherein the working end of the ratchet tool further comprises a ratchet portion and a ratchet extension that is selectively separable from the ratchet portion; and

wherein the second cradle further comprises a stop to prevent the ratchet extension from being separated from the ratchet portion and limits axial movement of the ratchet extension.

15. A ratchet tool and packaging comprising:

a ratchet tool comprising a handle and a working end;

a display structure for displaying the ratchet tool;

a retaining structure combined to the display structure for surrounding and engaging an outer diameter of the working end of the ratchet tool to prevent rotation of the working end; and

a securement structure combined to the display structure and configured to secure a portion of the ratchet tool in a manner that permits rotation of the handle of the ratchet tool relative to the working end while preventing the ratchet tool from being separated from the securement structure, wherein the ratchet tool further comprises of a groove and wherein the securement structure further comprises of a housing and a mechanical lock that engages the groove of the ratchet tool and fixedly attaches to the housing to secure the ratchet tool to the securement structure;

wherein the groove is an annular groove that circumscribes the ratchet tool and the mechanical lock is a snap ring with an inner diameter that fits into the annular groove and a plurality of snap-members combined to the snap ring that engage an inner diameter of the housing of the securement structure to secure the ratchet tool to the securement structure;

wherein the ratchet tool can be inserted through the inner diameter of the housing; and

wherein the ratchet tool further comprises a directional switch, and wherein the annular groove is positioned on the directional switch to allow a consumer to grip the handle of the ratchet tool to test a ratcheting function of the ratchet tool.

16. A hand tool and packaging comprising:

a hand tool comprising a handle and a working end;

a display structure for displaying the hand tool;

a retaining structure combined to the display structure for engaging the working end of the hand tool so that the hand tool cannot be separated from the packaging;

wherein the retaining structure further comprises a first cradle for receiving the working end and a first snap clip that fits over the working end and attaches to the first cradle to secure the working end of the hand tool to prevent the hand tool from being separated from the packaging; and

a securement structure combined to the display structure and configured to secure a portion of the hand tool in a manner that permits rotation of the handle tool while preventing the hand tool from being separated from the securement structure.

17. The hand tool and packaging of claim 16, wherein the hand tool further comprises of a groove and wherein the securement structure further comprises of a housing and a mechanical lock that engages the groove of the hand tool and fixedly attaches to the housing to secure the hand tool to the securement structure;

wherein the groove is an annular groove that circumscribes the hand tool and the mechanical lock is a snap ring with an inner diameter that fits into the annular groove and a plurality of snap-members combined to the snap ring that engage an inner diameter of the housing of the securement structure to secure the hand tool to the securement structure; and

wherein the hand tool can be inserted through the inner diameter of the housing.