Windowed display carton

Abstract

A windowed carton for use during retail sale and including a transparent internal tray for containing, positioning and displaying a product. The tray is adapted with integral support members for providing strength and rigidity to the carton.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A carton assembly for containing and displaying a product and comprising: 
 a carton having a plurality of walls defining an inner chamber for containing the product, at least one of said walls containing a viewing window therethrough; and    a transparent tray disposed within said inner chamber and contoured to engage both the product and at least a portion of said inner chamber to thereby support and position the product rigidly within said inner chamber such that at least a portion of the product is viewable through said viewing window.    
     
     
         2 . The carton assembly of  claim 1  wherein said transparent tray is interposed between said window and said at least a portion of the product to protect the product from tampering through said window.  
     
     
         3 . The carton assembly of  claim 2  wherein said transparent tray further comprises one or more support members formed integrally therein and adapted for engaging said inner chamber to increase the rigidity of said carton.  
     
     
         4 . The carton assembly of  claim 3  wherein said tray further comprises a basket contoured to engage the product, and a flange contoured to engage said at least a portion of the inner chamber to thereby position the product within said inner chamber such that the product is viewable and protected through said window.  
     
     
         5 . The carton assembly of  claim 4  wherein said one or more support members comprise one or more struts extending between and engaging said flange and said basket.  
     
     
         6 . The carton assembly of  claim 5  wherein the product is a guitar having a body with strings disposed on the face thereof, and said basket is contoured to contain and protect the body and strings, and said tray is adapted to position the guitar within said inner chamber such that the body and strings thereof are viewable and protected through said window.  
     
     
         7 . The carton assembly of  claim 1  wherein said transparent tray further comprises one or more support members formed integrally therein and adapted for engaging said inner chamber to increase the rigidity of said carton.  
     
     
         8 . The carton assembly of  claim 7  wherein said tray further comprises a basket contoured to engage the product, and a flange contoured to engage said at least a portion of the inner chamber to thereby position the product within said inner chamber such that the product is viewable through said window.  
     
     
         9 . The carton assembly of  claim 8  wherein said one or more support members comprise one or more struts extending between and engaging said flange and said basket.  
     
     
         10 . The carton assembly of  claim 9  wherein the product is a guitar having a body with strings disposed on the face thereof, and said basket is contoured to contain the body and strings, and said tray is adapted to position the guitar within said inner chamber such that the body and strings thereof are viewable through said window.  
     
     
         11 . A carton having a musical instrument contained therein, wherein said carton has a shape generally contoured to the instrument and a window shaped and arranged to allow a potential purchaser sufficient access to the instrument to simulate use of the instrument without removal thereof from said carton.  
     
     
         12 . The carton of  claim 11  further including a transparent shield interposed between said window and the instrument to protect the instrument from damage by the potential purchaser while allowing at least a partial view of the instrument through the window.  
     
     
         13 . The carton of  claim 12  wherein the musical instrument is a guitar and wherein said carton is contoured to mimic the general shape of the guitar and said window is shaped and arranged to allow the potential user access substantially adjacent to the guitar's strings, so that the potential user can thereby simulate holding and use of the guitar without removal thereof from the carton.  
     
     
         14 . The carton of  claim 13  wherein said carton comprises a plurality of walls defining an inner chamber for containing the guitar and including a face wall containing said window, and said transparent shield comprises a tray disposed within said inner chamber and contoured to engage the guitar and a portion of said inner chamber to thereby support and position the guitar rigidly within said inner chamber.  
     
     
         15 . The carton assembly of  claim 14  wherein said tray further comprises a plurality of support members formed integrally therein and adapted for engaging said inner chamber to increase the rigidity of said carton.  
     
     
         16 . The carton assembly of  claim 15  wherein said tray further comprises a basket contoured to engage the guitar's body, and a flange contoured to engage said portion of the inner chamber to thereby position the guitar within said inner chamber.  
     
     
         17 . The carton assembly of  claim 16  wherein said support members are struts extending between and engaging said flange and said basket.