| Pleaded, expandable package for upright support of a cord product -> Monitor Keywords |
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Pleaded, expandable package for upright support of a cord productPleaded, expandable package for upright support of a cord product description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080093430, Pleaded, expandable package for upright support of a cord product. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001](1) Field of the Invention [0002]The present invention pertains to a pleated, expandable, wedge-shaped package for a coiled cord product, for example an extension cord. More specifically, the invention pertains to a pleated, expandable, package for a coiled extension cord that is expandable to accommodate different size extension cords and supports the extension cord in an upright orientation to display the extension cord. [0003](2) Description of the Related Art [0004]Cord products, for example electrical wiring, coaxial cable, and in particular, extension cords, are typically packaged with the cord being folded back on itself several times or with the cord being wrapped in a coil. When displayed for sale, the typical cord in the folded configuration is packaged in a sleeve or wrapper and the typical cord that has been coiled is packaged in a box. In the prior art packaging of cords, the packaging often hides a desirable feature of the cord that would influence a consumer in purchasing the cord. Additionally, the prior art packaging of a cord is often primarily designed to hold the cord in its folded or coiled configuration, and secondarily to display a trademark or advertising message associated with the cord. The cord and its packaging typically lay flat on a store shelf or on other cords in a stack when the cord is displayed for consumers. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005]The present invention provides a novel construction of a package for coiled cord products, and in particular, extension cords, where the package firmly holds the cord in a coiled configuration and supports the coiled cord uprightly, thereby displaying the cord for consumers. The packaging is economically manufactured from a single blank of foldable material, for example, plastic, paper board, corrugated paper materials, or other equivalent materials. The construction of the package also makes the package expandable, whereby the package can be used for various different sizes of coiled cords. The design of the package blank also requires no gluing or other securing devices separate from the blank to assemble the blank into the package that holds and supports the coiled cord. [0006]The foldable blank material of the package is formed with a center rectangular base that is dimensioned to be set on a surface for the package to hold the coiled cord uprightly on the surface. A trapezoidal front end panel is connected along a fold line to the front edge of the base, and a trapezoidal rear end panel is connected along a fold line to the rear edge of the base. [0007]Left and right rectangular side panels are connected along fold lines to the respective left side edge and right side edge of the base. A plurality of parallel fold lines are formed in each of the left and right side panels, giving the panels a pleated configuration. [0008]Pairs of triangular panels are connected along fold lines to the front and rear end panels and the left and right side panels at each corner of the base. The triangular panels of each pair are separated by a fold line that is the reverse of the fold lines connecting the pair of triangles to the adjacent end panel and side panel. [0009]A rectangular top panel is connected along a fold line to a top edge of the front end trapezoidal panel, and a rectangular top panel is connected along a fold line to a top edge of the rear end trapezoidal panel. [0010]The blank described above is folded around a portion of the coiled cord to form a package containing the portion of the cord. In folding the package to display the coiled cord, the coiled cord is first positioned uprightly on top of the rectangular base. The left and right side panels are then folded upwardly with the pleated fold lines in the side panels conforming around the opposite sides of the coiled cord. The pairs of triangular panels at the opposite sides of each panel are folded inwardly across the front and rear of the coiled cord. [0011]The front and rear trapezoidal end panels are then folded upwardly across the front and rear of the coiled cord. The front and rear top panels are then folded inwardly through the center of the coiled cord. A tab on the rear top panel is inserted into a slot of the front top panel, thereby connecting the two top panels and completing the folding of the package. [0012]With the package folded as described above, the package supports the coiled cord uprightly on end, where a majority of the coiled cord is positioned outside and above the package for viewing by a consumer. The package design exposes a large portion of the coiled cord while securely holding the cord in the upright position, with the package being sufficiently flexible to withstand consumer interaction with the product. No gluing or other types of adhesives or connectors are required in assembling the package. The reverse fold lines at the pair of corners and the plurality of parallel fold lines on the side panels create an elastic-acting action of the package that allows the sides to expand and contract as pressure is applied and removed. [0013]With the package being able to expand and contract, the package allows the consumer to handle the coiled cord without damaging the package by tearing or the package popping open. One size package accommodates multiple size coiled cords. Because the package is formed from a single blank and does not require a separate attachment device to hold the package in its folded configuration, manufacturer of the package uses simple fixtures or jigs which results in less labor cost in manufacturing the package. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES [0014]Further features of the invention are set forth in the following detailed description of the invention and in the drawing figures. [0015]FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the package of the invention in its folded configuration. [0016]FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the single sheet, foldable blank that forms the package of the invention. [0017]FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1, but showing the folded package supporting a coiled cord on end in an upright displayed position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT [0018]FIG. 1 shows the pleated, expandable package 12 for the upright support of a coiled cord product, in particular an extension cord. FIG. 2 shows the flat blank of folding material that is folded to form the package 12. As stated earlier, the foldable material of the package blank 12 may be plastic, paper board, corrugated paper material, or other equivalent types of materials. As described herein, the package blank 12 is formed with a plurality of fold lines. Each of the fold lines are straight, unless otherwise described. The fold lines provide a resilient connection between two adjacent panels of the package 12 that enable the adjacent panels to be easily moved relatively to each other. The package blank 12 shown in FIG. 2 is cut from a larger web of material, with the outer periphery of the package blank 12 being defined by a free edge of the blank that is not connected to any other material of the blank. In describing the panels of the package blank 12, the lower portion of the package blank 12 shown in FIG. 2 is referred to as the front or forward portion, and the upper portion of the package blank 12 is referred to as the rear or rearward portion. The left hand portion of the package blank 12 shown in FIG. 2 is referred to as the left side, and the right hand portion of the package blank 12 is referred as the right side. These terms are used in referring to the orientation of the package blank 12 shown in FIG. 2, and should not be interpreted as limiting the construction of the package of the invention or the use of the package of the invention to any particular orientation. [0019]The package blank 12 has a center rectangular base panel 14. The base panel 14 has a front edge defined by a first end fold line 16, and an opposite rear edge defined by a second end fold line 18. The first and second end fold lines 16,18 are parallel to each other and have the same length dimensions. The base panel 14 also has a left hand edge defined by a first side fold line 22 and an opposite right hand edge defined by a second side fold line 24. The first and second side fold lines 22, 24 are parallel to each other and have the same length dimension. [0020]Although the base panel 14 is shown having a rectangular configuration in FIG. 2, in alternate embodiments of the invention the base panel could have a square configuration. Continue reading about Pleaded, expandable package for upright support of a cord product... Full patent description for Pleaded, expandable package for upright support of a cord product Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Pleaded, expandable package for upright support of a cord product patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Pleaded, expandable package for upright support of a cord product or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Disposable container of liquid food products and a cap of a disposable container of liquid food products Next Patent Application: Angled package and display system Industry Class: Envelopes, wrappers, and paperboard boxes ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Pleaded, expandable package for upright support of a cord product patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.11761 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Novartis , Pfizer , Philips , Polaroid , Procter & Gamble , 174 |
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