Merchandise package

Abstract

A merchandise package includes a back panel and a front panel coupled to the back panel. At least one of the back panel and front panel defines a first channel for retaining a plurality of items. A window defined in the front panel communicates with the first channel. An alternative merchandise package includes a back panel, a front panel mounted to the back panel and a partition member. The partition member extends from the front panel to define a plurality of channels between the front and back panels for retaining a plurality of items. A window defined in the front panel communicates with at least one of the channels. The merchandise package may be used to contain a quantity of items, such as battery packages, for sale as a collective unit. Subsequently, the window may be exposed, and the individual items or packages contained therein may be sold individually. Hence, the merchandise package functions as both a bulk package and a retail display.

1 . A merchandise package, comprising: 
 a back panel; and    a front panel coupled to the back panel, wherein at least one of the back panel and front panel defines a first channel for retaining a plurality of items, and a window communicating with the first channel is defined in the front panel.    
     
     
         2 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein a second channel is defined by at least one of the front and back panels, and the window communicates with the first and second channels.  
     
     
         3 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein a second channel is defined by at least one of the front and back panels, the window comprises a first window communicating with the first channel, and the merchandise package further comprises a second window communicating with the second channel.  
     
     
         4 . The package of  claim 2 , further comprising a partition member extending from one of the front and back panels between the first channel and the second channel.  
     
     
         5 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of items are arranged in a column in the channel.  
     
     
         6 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of items are arranged in a first layer in the channel and a second layer in the channel behind the first layer.  
     
     
         7 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of items comprise batteries.  
     
     
         8 . The package of  claim 7 , wherein the batteries are grouped into packages.  
     
     
         9 . The package of  claim 1 , further comprising a tear strip defined in the front panel covering the window.  
     
     
         10 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the back panel comprises at least one of paperboard, corrugated paper, or thermoplastic material.  
     
     
         11 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the front panel comprises thermoplastic material.  
     
     
         12 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the front and back panels comprise thermoplastic material.  
     
     
         13 . The package of  claim 1 , further comprising a flap extending from the back panel to support the package in a generally upright position.  
     
     
         14 . The package of  claim 13 , further comprising a tab extending from the back panel and interfacing with the flap to fix the position of the flap with respect to the back panel.  
     
     
         15 . The package of  claim 14 , wherein the flap and tab hingedly extend from the back panel.  
     
     
         16 . The package of  claim 1 , further comprising a flap mounted to the back panel to support the package in a generally upright position.  
     
     
         17 . The package of  claim 1 , further comprising a tab defined in the front panel proximate the window.  
     
     
         18 . The package of  claim 1 , further comprising a lip defined in the front panel proximate the window.  
     
     
         19 . The package of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a tab defined in the front panel proximate a top edge of the window; and    a lip defined in the front panel proximate a bottom edge of the window.    
     
     
         20 . The package of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one peg hole defined in the front and back panels.  
     
     
         21 . The package of  claim 1 , further comprising tape covering at least a portion of the window.  
     
     
         22 . The package of  claim 1 , further comprising a shrink band covering at least a portion of the window.  
     
     
         23 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the back panel comprises a paper material, and the front panel is adhesively mounted to the back panel.  
     
     
         24 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the front panel is coupled to the back panel using an interference fit.  
     
     
         25 . A merchandise package, comprising a back panel; 
 a front panel mounted to the back panel;    a partition member extending from the front panel to define a plurality of channels between the front and back panels for retaining a plurality of items;    a window defined in the front panel and communicating with at least one of channels.    
     
     
         26 . The package of  claim 25 , wherein the window communicates with at least two of the plurality of channels.  
     
     
         27 . The package of  claim 25 , further comprising a plurality of windows, each window communicating with at least one of the channels.  
     
     
         28 . The package of  claim 25 , wherein the plurality of items are arranged in columns in the channels.  
     
     
         29 . The package of  claim 25 , wherein the plurality of items are arranged in layers.  
     
     
         30 . The package of  claim 25 , wherein the plurality of items comprise batteries.  
     
     
         31 . The package of  claim 30 , wherein the batteries are grouped into packages.  
     
     
         32 . The package of  claim 25 , further comprising a tear strip defined in the front panel covering the window.  
     
     
         33 . The package of  claim 25 , wherein the back panel comprises at least one of paperboard, corrugated paper, or thermoplastic material.  
     
     
         34 . The package of  claim 25 , wherein the front panel comprises thermoplastic material.  
     
     
         35 . The package of  claim 25 , wherein the front and back panels comprise thermoplastic material.  
     
     
         36 . The package of  claim 25 , further comprising a flap extending from the back panel to support the package in a generally upright position.  
     
     
         37 . The package of  claim 36 , further comprising a tab extending from the back panel and interfacing with the flap to fix the position of the flap with respect to the back panel.  
     
     
         38 . The package of  claim 37 , wherein the flap and tab hingedly extend from the back panel.  
     
     
         39 . The package of  claim 25 , further comprising a flap mounted to the back panel to support the package in a generally upright position.  
     
     
         40 . The package of  claim 25 , further comprising a tab defined in the front panel proximate the window.  
     
     
         41 . The package of  claim 25 , further comprising a lip defined in the front panel proximate the window.  
     
     
         42 . The package of  claim 25 , further comprising: 
 a tab defined in the front panel proximate a top edge of the window; and    a lip defined in the front panel proximate a bottom edge of the window.    
     
     
         43 . The package of  claim 25 , further comprising at least one peg hole defined in the front and back panels.  
     
     
         44 . The package of  claim 25 , further comprising tape covering at least a portion of the window.  
     
     
         45 . The package of  claim 25 , further comprising a shrink band covering at least a portion of the window.  
     
     
         46 . The package of  claim 25 , wherein the back panel comprises a paper material, and the front panel is adhesively mounted to the back panel.  
     
     
         47 . The package of  claim 25 , wherein the front panel is coupled to the back panel using an interference fit.