WO2008067835A1

WO2008067835A1 - Package

Info

Publication number: WO2008067835A1
Application number: PCT/EP2006/011760
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mikko Keski-Korsu; Birgir Magnusson; Antti Kujala
Original assignee: Nokia Corporation
Priority date: 2006-12-07
Filing date: 2006-12-07
Publication date: 2008-06-12
Also published as: CN101547842B; CN101547842A; EP2089292A1; EP2089292B1

Abstract

A packaged article is captured between two resilient films mounted on hinged frame (13,14) members. The frames surround the packaged article, and the resilient films envelop the packaged article snugly.

Description

PACKAGE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a package for holding an article therein. In particular, the invention relates to a package for holding a mobile electronic apparatus, for example for shipment purposes. Especially, the invention relates to a package for presenting a mobile electronic apparatus at a point of sales.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Mobile electronic apparatuses, such as mobile phones, have hitherto been shipped and presented at a point of sales in boxes, made from paper, carton, plastic or the like. These boxes were lined with formfitting inserts that securely held the mobile phone and its accessories in recesses with a shape that matches the article or articles to be packed. These inserts are typically made of plastic foil or vacuum aspirated molded fiber and are typically designed to hold a mobile phone, a charger and possibly a CD and a user manual. For each different product (type, shape, size of mobile phone) , a 3-D tooling needed to be designed and manufactured. In view of the relatively short life cycle of mobile electronic devices the design and manufacturing of the 3-D tooling is very resource consuming. Also, keeping stock of different packaging for various models of mobile phones is undesirable from a logistical point of view. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

On this background, it is an object of the present invention to provide a package for holding articles of various shapes and sizes that avoids or at least reduces the resources required for 3-D tooling.

This object is achieved by providing a package for holding an article, comprising: two generally planar frames hinged to one another so as to be able to move between a closed position in which the frames lie on one another and an open position in which the frames do not lie on one another, the frames having a substantially identical outline defining an opening, a resilient film placed over each opening and attached to each of the frames, the resilient films being stretched when the article is placed between the frames and the frames are in the closed position.

With this construction a package is created and that provides a variable sized chamber or recess is defined between the two resilient films by the article itself. Thus, many different shapes and sizes of mobile electronic devices to be held in the package will snugly fit between the two resilient films. The snug fit and the resilient characteristics of the film to ensure that the object to be held is secured relative to the frame. The construction, therefore, provides a "one fit many" type of package.

Preferably, the films resiliently contact the article and resiliently urge the article towards the other film when the frames are in the closed position with the article therebetween. The package may further comprise means for holding the frames in the closed position.

The films may be light-transmissive.

The films may be a flexible, stretchable, elastomeric membrane.

The frame may be made of a polymer material or composition. Alternatively, the frame can be made of wood, metal, or the like. Preferably, the films are adhered to the frames.

The outline of the frames can be generally rectangular. This outline is preferred when the outline of the article to be packed is substantially rectangular

Preferably, the films are stretched over the opening.

The package may define substantially no cavity in the closed position when there is no article between the films .

The frames may comprise complementary parts of a snap-fit connection.

The two films can be formed by one integral piece of film with a portion of the integral piece of film connecting the respective portions of film that are attached to the respective frames forming the hinge of the package. Alternatively, the hinge can be part of the frame and same material as frame. It is another object of the present invention to provide a sales package comprising a mobile apparatus placed between two resilient films suspended from a frame with the resilient frames being stretched due to the presence of the mobile apparatus and the resilient films enveloping the mobile apparatus snugly.

Preferably, the films are stretched to substantially equal amounts. The sales package may not comprise a battery charger even though the mobile apparatus is operated with a rechargeable battery.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a method for packaging a mobile apparatus, comprising placing the mobile apparatus in a frame between two resilient films of a sales package with the resilient films enveloping the mobile apparatus snugly.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method of presenting a mobile rechargeable battery operated apparatus at a point of sales, comprising placing the a mobile rechargeable battery operated apparatus in a substantially transparent sales package without a battery charger and presenting the package at a point of sales.

The method may further comprise not including a data carrier besides the mobile rechargeable battery operated apparatus in the package.

The method may further comprise not including a user manual. The transparent sales package can be made of transparent plastic sheet or foil. It is another object of the present invention to provide a method of selling, comprising selling a mobile phone and its battery charger in separate sales packages.

Further objects,- features, advantages and properties of the package, sales package and methods to the invention will become apparent from the detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following detailed portion of the present description, the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of the package according to the invention,

Fig. 2 is a side view of the package of Fig. 2,

Fig. 3 is a detailed sectional view of the package of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a side view of the package of Fig. 1 in an open position without any article therein,

Fig. 5 is an elevated view of a plurality of sales packages according of an embodiment of the invention at a point of sale, and

Fig. 6 is an elevated view of one package as shown in

Fig. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally identifies a package for holding an article 12.

As illustrated, article 12 is a mobile phone. This has been done merely for ease of illustration. Virtually any article can be packaged in accordance with this invention.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 3 package 10 includes a frame 12 that includes a front frame portion 13 and a rear frame portion 14. The front frame portion 13 and the rear frame portion 14 have a substantially identical outline. The outline of the two frame portions 13,14 is in an embodiment of a generally rectangular. A rectangular frame shape is particularly useful when a generally rectangular object or article is to be packed. Accordingly, other frame shapes can be used that generally correspond to the outline of the article or object to be packed.

Each of the frame portions 12,13 defines an opening, and the frame portions 13,14 are along one of their edges hingeably connected to one another by a hinge 18 that will be described in greater detail further below.

A resilient film 15 is placed over the opening of frame portion 12 and a substantially identical resilient film 16 is placed over the opening of frame portion 13. In an embodiment, the resilient films 15,16 are attached to the respective frame portions 13,14 by plastic welding (ultrasonic welding) or by applying an adhesive. In the embodiment, the films 15,16 are part of one larger piece of film that includes a hinge portion 18, which can be seen in greater detail in Fig. 3. In another embodiment (not shown) the hinge is part of the frame and is of the same material as frame. When the films 15,16 are attached to the frames, they are not or only very little pre-tensioned (Fig. 4). Thus, when the package 10 is in an open position (Fig. 4) the films 15, 16 are substantially planar, and when the package 10 is closed without any article between the films 15, 16, there is essentially no cavity between the two films 15,16.

The frame portions 15,16 are at their ends opposite to the hinge 18 provided with (complementary) snap means

(not shown) or other locking means for keeping the frame portions 15, 16 in the closed position. Additional snap means may also be provided along the outline of the frame portions 15,16 to securely keep the frame portions attached to one another when they are brought into the closed position shown in Figs 1 to 3 with the frame portions 13,14 lying on one another.

When the package 10 is closed with an article, such as the mobile phone 1, or other mobile rechargeable battery operated apparatus the films 15,16 are stretched to make place for the mobile phone 1. Thus, the mobile phone 1 is snugly kept in place by the force applied to the mobile phone by the stretched films 15,16. The films 15,16 resiliently contact the article and resiliently urge the article towards the other film. The package is a substantially flat and/or planar structure when there is no article between the films.

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate a package 10 according to an embodiment at a point of sales. The sales package 10 can be essentially identical to the package described above, or it may vary by having a different frame outline, a different type of film, a different type of locking means, a different type of hinge, etc. This sales package 10 includes a mobile phone 1, but no battery charger, user manual or CD, i.e. only the mobile phone 1 or other mobile rechargeable battery operated apparatus.

The mobile rechargeable battery operated apparatus 1 is placed in the substantially transparent (can be colored) sales package without a battery charger and then presented at a point of sales.

The plastic films 15,16 are in an embodiment flexible, stretchable, elastomeric membranes. In an embodiment the membrane is made from a is silicon based polymer and has a thickness of approximately 0.5mm. The thickness of the film may depend on which material is used. In an embodiment the film material is based on a bio plastic.

The films 15,16 are in an embodiment light-transmissive .

The frame portions 13,14 are in an embodiment made of a polymer material or composition. In other embodiments the frame can be made of wood, metal, or the like.

In an embodiment the frame portions are substantially mirror images of one another, this may or may not apply to the locking means that hold them together in the locked position

The invention has numerous advantages. Different embodiments or implementations may yield one or more of the following advantages. It should be noted that this is not an exhaustive list and there may be other advantages which are not described herein. One advantage of the invention is that it allows different types, shapes and sizes of articles to be packed without the need for 3-D tooling. Another advantage of the invention is that it allows a mobile apparatus to be presented at the point of sales in an attractive manner. A further advantage of the invention provides for a relatively inexpensive way of packaging articles for presentation at the point of sales .

The term "comprising" as used in the claims does not exclude other elements or steps. The term "a" or "an" as used in the claims does not exclude a plurality.

Although the present invention has been described in detail for purpose of illustration, it is understood that such detail is solely for that purpose, and variations can be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. A package for holding an article, comprising: two generally planar frames hinged to one another so as to be able to move between a closed position in which the frames lie on one another and an open position in which the frames do not lie on one another, the frames having a substantially identical outline defining an opening, a resilient film placed over each opening and attached to each of the frames, the resilient films being stretched when the article is placed between the frames and the frames are in the closed position.

2. A package according to claim 1, wherein films resiliently contact the article and resiliently urge the article towards the other film when the frames are in the closed position with the article therebetween.

3. A package according to claim 1, further comprising means for holding the frames in the closed position.

4. A package according to claim 1, wherein said films are light-transmissive .

5. A package according to claim 1, wherein the film is a flexible, stretchable, elastomeric membrane.

6. A package according to claim 1, wherein said frame is made of a polymer material or composition.

7. A package according to claim 1, wherein the films are adhered to the frames.

8. A package according to claim 1, wherein the outline of the frames is generally rectangular.

9. A package according to claim 1, wherein the films are stretched over the opening.

10. A package according to claim 1, a substantially flat and/or planar structure when there is no article between the films.

11. A package according to claim 1, wherein said frames comprise complementary parts of a snap-fit connection.

12. A package according to claim 1, wherein the two films are formed by one integral piece of film with a portion of the integral piece of film connecting the respective portions of film that are attached to the respective frames forming the hinge of said package.

13. A sales package comprising a mobile apparatus placed between two resilient films suspended from a frame with the resilient frames being stretched due to the presence of the mobile apparatus and the resilient films enveloping the apparatus snugly.

14. A sales package according to claim 13, wherein the films are stretched to substantially equal amounts.

15. A sales package according to claim 13, wherein the apparatus is operated by a rechargeable battery and the package does not comprise a battery charger.

16. A method for packaging a mobile apparatus, comprising placing said mobile apparatus in a frame between two resilient films of a sales package with said resilient films enveloping the mobile apparatus snugly.

17. Method of presenting a mobile rechargeable battery operated apparatus at a point of sales, comprising:

placing said a mobile rechargeable battery operated apparatus in a substantially transparent sales package without a battery charger and presenting said package at a point of sales.

18. A method according to claim 17, further comprising not including a data carrier and/or a user manual besides said mobile rechargeable battery operated apparatus in said package.

19. A method of selling, comprising selling a mobile phone and its battery charger in separate sales packages.