FI99202C - Combination Package - Google Patents

Description

1 99202

The present invention relates to a combination package and, more particularly, to a combination package which allows the package to be used even after the shipment has arrived.

When working with a computer, many different means are now used, of which various means for storing and transferring data can be mentioned, such as, for example, various floppy disks and, increasingly, CD-ROMs, so-called “CDs.” In addition to the computer itself, various devices used in offices and also homes include, for example, various cases for storing equipment, mice and mouse pads.

15 The ever-tightening regulations on packaging will in future force the development of packaging, not all of which will be wasted once the actual purpose of packaging is fulfilled. This, of course, is in addition to the need to reduce the amount of packaging waste in any case.

It is an object of the present invention to provide one type of relief for making packaging so that not all packaging material needs to be disposed of, but some of it could serve as a full-fledged device for after-use.

The above-mentioned main advantage of the invention is provided by a combination package, the characteristic features of which are given in the appended claims.

The basic inventive idea of the present invention is that a mouse pad, well known and widely used in office technology, is in itself a relatively small and sturdy means for packaging various media, so that a minimal amount of other packaging material, which is conventionally abundant, is required. Another basic idea of the invention is precisely to package the media using the supporting and protective structure of the mouse pad as a support for the media.

2 99202

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which an embodiment of the invention is illustrated in principle.

So; 5

Figure 1 is a bottom view of an embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 2 shows the above-mentioned embodiment in a sectional view.

10

Thus, Fig. 1 shows a simplified view of an embodiment of the invention with the mouse pad 1 seen directly from below, and Fig. 2, in turn, shows the corresponding embodiment in a cross-sectional view 2-2.

15 As anyone who does office work knows, the mouse pad 1 is generally a plate-like piece, usually made of a suitable plastic material, which is, for example, a mouse pad serving on a table. At its simplest, the mouse pad includes nothing but a disk. However, very often the mouse pads are shaped to improve comfort and general use, for example by including a wrist rest 3 shown in Figure 1 by a convex portion 3 projecting upwards from the lower surface of the panel 2. This portion is thus elevated from the surface of the panel 2 under operating conditions and may be suitably shaped and coated.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the edges of the plate-like part 2 of the mouse base 1 have a reinforcing edge 4 which thus rises towards the viewer in Figure 1. In addition, the base includes a suitable number of "paws" 5 for dual purpose; the use of anti-slip pins in the paws is possible 5.

According to the basic idea of the invention, the lower surface of the mouse tray 1 has a means 6 for placing a CD 8. The device 6 can be of any type and is intended to hold the CD 8 in place so that it is protected by a relatively rigid wall formed by a mouse pad. Figure 1 shows further curved platforms 7 intended to anchor the 3 99202 CD floppy placed in the means 6 by supporting it from behind.

The above placement of a CD can also be converted to place other media, in particular a floppy disk, in a corresponding manner. However, in the case of the floppy disk, the missing central hole makes it necessary to support the floppy disk at the edges, and this can be suitably arranged to provide a suitable support for the two edges of the floppy disk. Such a support is suitably, for example, a tongue pivotable on the edge of the diskette, which may be an integral part of the substrate 1.

10 It is clear that it depends entirely on the design of the mouse pad 1 whether one or more media, such as CDs or floppy disks, are suitable for its protection. If the convexity of the platform 1 is increased, then the possibility of adding more data disks exists.

Considering the basic idea of the invention in practice, the use could be as follows: The sender can print a suitable logo, instruction or the like on the top surface of the mouse pad and place the floppy 8 in the medium 6 while sticking to the bottom surface of the mouse pad. In addition, only a relatively light package 20, such as a plastic film, is required, and the assembly to be shipped is complete. The transceiver removes the data disk 8 and leaves the mouse pad for daily use. The advantage is all sorts, little waste is generated, the recipient gets a mouse pad and the sender gets: his ad to remain a visible reminder of the broadcast in question.

Since it is hardly necessary for the recipient to no longer use the mouse pad to store his CD 8 once it has been removed, the durability requirement of the device 6 is not very high. On the other hand, it might be justified for instrument 6 to be even disposable or available only a few times.

The inherent material of the mouse pad package according to the invention is in particular a suitable plastic-based material which achieves all the desired properties or combination of plastic materials, without being limited to plastic.

Claims (4)

4 99202 A combination package for combining functions and reducing the amount of packaging material, characterized in that it is a mouse pad (1) comprising means 5 (6) for holding a data disk (8). A package according to claim 1, characterized in that the means (6) for holding the data medium (8) is located on the lower surface of the mouse pad. A package according to claim 1, characterized in that the means (6) for holding the information is means for holding the CD (8). A package according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mouse pad (1) also includes on its lower surface other means (e.g. 7) for supporting the position of the data disk. s 99202