US20090014353A1

US20090014353A1 - Battery box in a box packaging

Info

Publication number: US20090014353A1
Application number: US11/774,910
Authority: US
Inventors: John Calvin Lewis, JR.; Mark Joseph Brennan; David M. Cooper
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Edgewell Personal Care Brands LLC
Priority date: 2007-07-09
Filing date: 2007-07-09
Publication date: 2009-01-15

Abstract

A battery supply system comprising a display tray, an outer box and at least one inner box. The display tray includes a receiving area and a plurality of slots on sides of the receiving area. The outer box has a receptacle area and a pair of side flanges extending outwardly from the receptacle area. The at least one inner box is in the receptacle area of the outer box. The at least one inner box has at least one battery therein. The outer box is positioned in the tray by inserting the side flanges of the outer box in a pair of the slots, thereby maintaining the outer box in an upright displayed position within the tray.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to packaging, and in particular to packaging for batteries.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the present invention is to provide a battery packaging comprising an outer box and at least one inner box. The outer box has a receptacle area and a pair of side flanges extending outwardly from the receptacle area. The at least one inner box is in the receptacle area of the outer box. The at least one inner box has at least one battery therein. The outer box is configured to be positioned in a tray having a plurality of slots, with the side flanges of the outer box being located in a pair of opposite slots for maintaining the outer box in an upright displayed position within the tray.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a battery supply system comprising a display tray, an outer box and at least one inner box. The display tray includes a receiving area and a plurality of slots on sides of the receiving area. The outer box has a receptacle area and a pair of side flanges extending outwardly from the receptacle area. The at least one inner box is in the receptacle area of the outer box. The at least one inner box has at least one battery therein. The outer box is positioned in the tray by inserting the side flanges of the outer box in a pair of the slots, thereby maintaining the outer box in an upright displayed position within the tray.
These and other features, advantages, and objects of the present invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following specification, claims and appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of battery packaging of the present invention in a battery packaging holder.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the battery packaging package of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a left side view of the battery packaging package of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the battery packaging package of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a template of an outer box of the battery packaging of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as orientated in FIG. 1. However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative orientations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.
The reference number 10 (FIGS. 1-7) generally designates a battery supply system of the present invention. The battery supply system 10 includes a display tray 12 having at least one battery packaging 14 therein. Each battery packaging 14 in the illustrated embodiment comprises an outer box 16 having a plurality of inner boxes 18 therein. The display tray 12 includes a receiving area 20 and a plurality of slots 22 on sides of the receiving area 20. The outer box 16 has a receptacle area 24 and a pair of side flanges 26 extending outwardly from the receptacle area 24. At least one inner box 18 is positioned in the receptacle area 24 of the outer box 16. The at least one inner box 18 has at least one battery 28 therein. The outer box 16 is positioned in the tray 12 by inserting the side flanges 26 of the outer box 16 in a pair of the slots 22, thereby maintaining the outer box 16 in an upright displayed position within the tray 12.
In the illustrated embodiment, the display tray 12 is for holding a plurality of the outer boxes 16. The display tray 12 comprises a pair of side walls 30 and a bottom wall 32. The display tray 12 can also include a rear wall 34 and a front wall 36 having a recessed area 38 in a top thereof. The side walls 30 include the plurality of slots 22. The receiving area 20 of the display tray 12 is located between the side walls 30 and between the slots 22. In an alternative embodiment, the slots 22 can be formed by another element positioned adjacent the side walls 30, with the element having a plurality of dividers forming the slots 22. In the illustrated embodiment, the slots 22 are parallel and each side of the display tray 12 includes the same number of slots 22. It is contemplated that the display tray 12 could be part of a larger display having a number of at least one receiving area 20, with a plurality walls or dividers in the larger display having the slots 22. As used herein, the term display tray 12 includes any element having at least one receiving area 20 and a plurality of the slots 22 on sides of the receiving area 20 for receiving the outer boxes 16. In the illustrated embodiment, the slots 22 are parallel, vertical and aligned. However, it is contemplated that the slots 22 could be offset relative to each other and/or slanted relative to a vertical line. The display tray 12 could be made from any material (e.g., cardboard, plastic, etc.). The display tray 12 is configured to receive the outer box 16 by inserting the side flanges 26 of the outer box 16 within a pair of the slots 22.
The illustrated outer box 16 is configured to be positioned within the display tray 12 and holds at least one of the inner boxes 18 therein. The outer box 16 includes the receptacle area 24 and the pair of side flanges 26 extending outwardly from the receptacle area 24. The receptacle area 24 is configured to receive the inner boxes 18 therein. The illustrated outer box 16 comprises an outer hollow box 39 having a left side wall 40, a right side wall 42, a front wall 44, a rear wall 46, a top wall 48 and a bottom wall 50, with the left side wall 40, the right side wall 42, the front wall 44, the rear wall 46, the top wall 48 and the bottom wall 50 defining the receptacle area 24. At least one of the left side wall 40, the right side wall 42, the front wall 44, the rear wall 46, the top wall 48 and the bottom wall 50 is configured to be connected to the remainder of the outer hollow box 39 after the inner boxes 18 are placed within the receptacle area 24. The receptacle area 24 can include any number of dividers or other elements therein to assist in locating the inner boxes 18 within the outer box 16. The outer box 16 could be made from any material (e.g., cardboard, plastic, etc.). While the outer hollow box 39 is illustrated as having a rectangular periphery, it is contemplated that the outer box 16 and any wall thereof could have any peripheral shape. Furthermore, it is contemplated that any wall of the outer hollow box 39 could have openings 52 therein to allow viewing of the items in the outer box 16.
In the illustrated embodiment, the outer box 16 includes the side flanges 26 for assisting in positioning the outer box 16 in the display tray 12. The side flanges 26 are parallel and extend from sides of the outer hollow box 39. In the illustrated example, the side flanges 26 are co-planar and comprise extensions of the front wall 44 of the outer hollow box 39. However, it is contemplated that the side flanges 26 could extend anywhere from the left side wall 40 and the right side wall 42 of the outer hollow box 39 or could comprise extensions of the rear wall 46 of the outer hollow box 39. It is also contemplated that the side flanges 26 could be parallel, but not co-planar. Furthermore, while the side flanges 26 are illustrated as extending from the top to the bottom of the outer box 16, it is contemplated that the side flanges 26 could only extend for a portion of the height of the outer box 16.
FIG. 5 illustrates a template 54 of an embodiment of the outer box 16 before assembly. The template 54 includes a plurality of fold lines 56 where the template 54 is folded to form the outer box 16. The template 54 also includes side flaps 58 on tops and bottom of the left side wall 40 and the right side wall 42 to cover tops and bottom of the receptacle area 24. Furthermore, the top wall 48 and the bottom wall 50 of the outer box 16 when the template of FIG. 5 is used are formed by a pair of top flaps 60 and a pair of bottom flaps 62. While FIG. 5 illustrates one template 54 for the outer box 16, any template could be used to form the outer box 16. For example, the outer box 16 could just include all of the walls connected to their adjacent walls, with the side flanges 26 being formed from an extension of the front wall 44.
The illustrated inner boxes 18 are configured to be placed into the outer box 16. Each inner box 18 comprises an inner hollow box 64 having a left side wall 70, a right side wall 72, a front wall 74, a rear wall (not shown), a top wall 78 and a bottom wall (not shown), with the left side wall 70, the right side wall 72, the front wall 74, the rear wall, the top wall 78 and the bottom wall defining a battery storage area 82. At least one of the left side wall 70, the right side wall 72, the front wall 74, the rear wall, the top wall 78 and the bottom wall is configured to be connected to the remainder of the inner hollow box 64 after the batteries 28 are placed within the battery storage area 82. The battery storage area 82 can include any number of dividers or other elements therein to assist in locating the batteries 28 within the inner box 18. The inner box 18 could be made from any material (e.g., cardboard, plastic, etc.). While the inner hollow box 64 is illustrated as having a rectangular periphery, it is contemplated that the inner hollow box 64 and any wall thereof could have any peripheral shape. Furthermore, it is contemplated that any wall of the inner hollow box 64 could have openings 84 therein to allow viewing of the items in the inner box 18. The inner boxes 18 are configured to hold the batteries 28 therein.
The illustrated batteries 28 can comprise electrochemical cells for supplying voltage to battery powered devices. The at least one battery 28 can comprise any of the popular alkaline or lithium cells of the generally cylindrical shape that are commercially available in industry-recognized, standard sizes, including D-, C-, AA-, AAA-, and AAAA-size cells, as well as other sizes and configurations (e.g., 9 volt batteries). Alternatively, disc-shaped batteries commercially available for small electrically operated devices, such as hearing aids, could be used. In the illustrated embodiment, each inner box 18 includes two cylindrical batteries 28 therein. However, it is contemplated that the inner boxes 18 could include any number of batteries 28 therein and that the inner boxes 18 could include different size batteries 28 within one of the inner boxes 18. Furthermore, it is contemplated that the inner boxes 18 could include different batteries 28 and/or size batteries 28 than all of the other inner boxes 18 in the outer box 16.
In the illustrated embodiment, the battery supply system 10 is formed by first placing at least one of the inner boxes 18 into one of the outer boxes 16. In the illustrated example, seven inner boxes 18 are placed into the outer boxes 16, thereby taking up ⅞ of the receptacle area 24. The remaining ⅛ of the receptacle area 24 of the outer box 16 can be filled with corrugated paper 100 or other filler. However, it is contemplated that any number of inner boxes 18 could be placed in the receptacle area 24 of the outer box 16, with the remaining area being empty or filled with the corrugated paper 100 or other filler. Furthermore, while the inner boxes 18 are illustrated as comprising two columns within the outer box 16 with one column having four inner boxes 18 and one column having three inner boxes 18, it is contemplated that any number of inner boxes 18 could be placed within the outer box 16 in any number of rows and columns and including any depth of inner boxes 18 (e.g., the bottom row of inner boxes 18 could include six inner boxes 18 in a 2 by 3 format). In the illustrated embodiment, the openings 84 in at least one of the inner boxes 18 can be aligned with the openings 52 in the outer box 16 to allow viewing of the batteries 28 within the inner box 18 through both the inner box 18 and the outer box 16.
After the illustrated outer boxes 16 are filled with the inner boxes 18, the outer boxes 16 are placed into the display tray 12 by sliding the side flanges 26 of the outer boxes 16 into sets of the slots 22 in the display tray 12. The outer boxes 16 are then ready to be purchased. Furthermore, since the outer boxes 16 can include a flat bottom wall 50, the outer boxes 16 are configured to stand on their own when the side flanges 26 are not located in the slots 22 of the display tray 12. As outer boxes 16 are purchased, the battery supply system 10 can be refilled by placing more outer boxes 16 in the display tray 12. Furthermore, the outer boxes 16, once removed from the display tray 12 (e.g., by being purchased), can be opened to allow access to the inner boxes 18. The inner boxes 18 can also individually be displayed for purchase. Therefore, it is contemplated that the outer boxes 16 can be sold by a wholesaler and the inner boxes 18 can be sold by a retailer. For example, a retailer can buy the outer boxes 16 with the inner boxes 18 therein and then remove the inner boxes 18 from the outer box 16 to sell to the general public. The inner boxes 18 can include features for allowing the retailer to display the inner boxes 18 once removed from the outer boxes 16. For example, the inner boxes 18 can include a top flap 102 having an opening 104 therein for allowing the inner boxes 18 to be hung from a rod (not shown) at a display of the retailer.
In the forgoing description, it will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the concepts disclosed herein. Such modifications are to be considered as included in the following claims, unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.

Claims

1. A battery packaging comprising:

an outer box having a receptacle area and a pair of side flanges extending outwardly from the receptacle area; and

at least one inner box in the receptacle area of the outer box, the at least one inner box having at least one battery therein;

wherein the outer box is configured to be positioned in a tray having a plurality of slots, with the side flanges of the outer box being located in a pair of opposite slots for maintaining the outer box in an upright displayed position within the tray.

2. The battery packaging of claim 1, wherein:

the side flanges are substantially parallel and co-planar.

3. The battery packaging of claim 1, wherein:

the outer box is a parallelepiped having rectangular walls; and

the at least one inner box is a parallelepiped having rectangular walls.

4. The battery packaging of claim 3, wherein:

the at least one battery is cylindrical.

5. The battery packaging of claim 4, wherein:

the at least one battery comprises a plurality of batteries.

6. The battery packaging of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one battery is cylindrical.

7. The battery packaging of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one battery comprises a plurality of batteries.

8. The battery packaging of claim 1, wherein:

the side flanges extend from a front wall of the outer box.

9. The battery packaging of claim 1, wherein:

the outer box includes at least one outer window; and

the at least one inner box includes an inner window, the inner window of at least one inner box being configured to align with one of the at least outer window when the at least one inner box is in the outer box.

10. A battery supply system comprising:

a display tray including a receiving area and a plurality of slots on sides of the receiving area;

wherein the outer box is positioned in the tray by inserting the side flanges of the outer box in a pair of the slots, thereby maintaining the outer box in an upright displayed position within the tray.

11. The battery supply system of claim 10, wherein:

the side flanges are substantially parallel and co-planar.

12. The battery supply system of claim 10, wherein:

the outer box is a parallelepiped having rectangular walls; and

the at least one inner box is a parallelepiped having rectangular walls.

13. The battery supply system of claim 12, wherein:

the at least one battery is cylindrical.

14. The battery supply system of claim 13, wherein:

the at least one battery comprises a plurality of batteries.

15. The battery supply system of claim 10, wherein:

the at least one battery is cylindrical.

16. The battery supply system of claim 10, wherein:

the at least one battery comprises a plurality of batteries.

17. The battery supply system of claim 10, wherein:

the side flanges extend from a front wall of the outer box.

18. The battery supply system of claim 10, wherein:

the outer box includes at least one outer window; and

19. The battery supply system of claim 10, wherein:

the display tray includes a pair of side walls and a bottom wall defining the receiving area, with the slots being located adjacent the side walls.

20. A battery packaging comprising:

an outer box comprising a parallelepiped having rectangular walls, the outer box having a receptacle area and a pair of side flanges extending outwardly from the receptacle area; and

a plurality of inner boxes in the receptacle area of the outer box, each inner box being a parallelepiped having rectangular walls, each inner box having cylindrical batteries therein;

21. The battery packaging of claim 20, wherein:

the outer box includes at least one outer window; and