Packaging arrangement leaving a portion of a product exposed for examination by potential purchasers

Abstract

A packaging arrangement configured to entrap a product while leaving a portion of the product exposed for examination by potential purchasers comprises a card defining an aperture and a retainer fixed to the card with a ring of the retainer extending through the aperture. The ring of the retainer defines a ring opening and a bore extending in a downward direction along a bore axis from the ring opening. A ring opening edge defines a ring opening plane extending in forward, backward, portward, and starboardly directions. The ring may encircle the product so as to limit or prevent translational movement of the product in directions parallel to the ring opening plane. The upper edge of the card may be located proximate an upper surface of the product so as to limit or prevent translational movement of the product in the upward direction.

1 . In combination:
 a product for dispensing lip balm, the product comprising a product body, the product body comprising a base portion and an overmolded portion, the base portion comprising a first thermoplastic material and the overmolded portion comprising a second thermoplastic material different from the first thermoplastic material, the first thermoplastic material being more rigid than the second thermoplastic material, the base portion having a base surface and the overmolded portion having a overmolded surface, the base surface being smoother than the overmolded surface; and   an insert and a card that cooperate to entrap the product and having a portion of the product exposed for touch examination by potential purchasers, the card defining an aperture and the retainer being fixed to the card with a ring of the retainer extending through the aperture;   wherein the ring of the retainer defining an upper ring opening and a lumen extending downward from the upper ring opening along a lumen axis, the ring encircling the product so as to limit or prevent translational movement of the product transverse to the lumen axis;   the aperture of the card being at least partially defined by a port edge, a starboard edge, and an upper edge extending between the port edge and the starboard edge, the upper edge being located proximate an upper surface of the product so as to limit or prevent translational movement of the product in the upward direction.   
     
     
         2 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein the ring comprises a shelf portion, the shelf portion comprising an upward facing surface, the upward facing surface of the shelf portion contacting a downward facing surface of the product so as to limit or prevent translational movement of the product in the downward direction. 
     
     
         3 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein:
 a horizontal axis extends in the portward and starboardly directions, the portward direction being opposite the starboardly direction; 
 a longitudinal axis extends in the forward and rearward directions, the forward direction being opposite the rearward direction; 
 the lumen axis is orthogonal to a plane defined by the horizontal axis and the longitudinal axis; 
 the longitudinal axis is orthogonal to a plane defined by the horizontal axis and the lumen axis; and 
 the horizontal axis is orthogonal to a plane defined by the lumen axis and the longitudinal axis. 
 
     
     
         4 . A lipstick, lip gloss, or lip balm dispenser in combination with a card and a retainer, the combination having a portion of the product exposed for touch examination by potential purchasers;
 the card comprising a front panel and a rear panel connected at a fold, the fold extending along a fold line, the front panel defining a front panel cutout, the rear panel defining a rear panel cutout, the front panel cutout and the rear panel cutout cooperating to define an aperture of the card;   the retainer comprising an upper ring, a lower ring and a bridge extending therebetween, the upper ring being separated from the lower ring by a separation distance so that a portion of the product extending between the upper ring and the lower ring is exposed for examination by potential purchasers;   the bridge of the retainer having a first end fixed to the lower ring, a second end fixed to the upper ring and an intermediate part extending between the first end and the second end, the retainer being positioned so that the intermediate part of the bridge extends between the front panel and the rear panel and between the upper ring and the lower ring;   the upper ring defining an upper ring opening, the upper ring encircling the product so as to limit or prevent translational movement of the product;   the lower ring defining a lower ring opening, the lower ring encircling the product so as to limit or prevent translational movement of the product.   
     
     
         5 . The combination of  claim 4  wherein a forward portion of each ring extends through the front panel cutout and a rearward portion of each ring extends through the back panel cutout. 
     
     
         6 . The combination of  claim 4  wherein:
 the front panel comprises an inner surface and an outer surface: 
 the rear panel comprises an inner face and an outer face; and 
 the inner surface of the front panel is fixed to the inner face of the rear panel by an adhesive with the bridges of the retainer trapped between the front panel and the rear panel. 
 
     
     
         7 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The combination of  claim 4  wherein the aperture of the card is defined by a port edge, a starboard edge, and an upper edge extending between the port edge and the starboard edge, the upper edge being located proximate an upper surface of the product so as to limit or prevent translational movement of the product in the upward direction. 
     
     
         12 . The combination of  claim 4  wherein the lower ring comprises a shelf portion, the shelf portion comprising an upward facing surface, the upward facing surface of the shelf portion contacting a downward facing surface of the product so as to limit or prevent translational movement of the product in the downward direction. 
     
     
         13 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A packaged lip product dispenser, the packaged lip product dispenser comprising a dispenser and packaging for securing the dispenser and providing touch access to the exterior of the dispenser,
 the dispenser comprising a housing that is of an elongate shape, having an exterior surface, and that contains a lip product, the housing being openable for allowing dispensing of the lip product,   the packaging comprising a card and a transparent retainer secured in the card, the card comprising a pair panels in a parallel confronting engagement, the pair of panels defining an aperture, the retainer secured in the aperture, the retainer having exposed portions that are form fit to the lip product and unitary securement portions that are generally flat and are sandwiched between the pair of panels, the retainer securing the housing positioned in the aperture, the retainer having open areas allowing access to the exterior surface of the housing,   
     
     
         22 . The packaged lip product dispenser of  claim 21  wherein the dispenser is captured within a containment defined by the retainer and at least one edge of the cardboard panels. 
     
     
         23 . The packaged lip product dispenser of  claim 21  wherein the dispenser is captured within a containment defined exclusively by the retainer and edges of the cardboard panels. 
     
     
         24 . The packaged product of  claim 21  wherein the pair of panels connect at a hinge portion. 
     
     
         25 . The packaged product of  claim 21  wherein the retainer is formed of a polymer and is injection molded. 
     
     
         26 . The packaged product of  claim 21  wherein the retainer is vacuum formed from softened polymer sheets. 
     
     
         27 . The packaged product of  claim 21  wherein each of the panels is formed of cardboard. 
     
     
         28 . The packaged product of  claim 21  wherein the housing has an exterior layer that is softer than an inner portion of the housing. 
     
     
         29 . The packaged product of  claim 28  wherein the retainer comprises a pair of ring portions, a lower ring portion for engaging a bottom portion of the dispenser and an upper ring portion for engaging a non-bottom portion of the dispenser. 
     
     
         30 . The packaged product of  claim 21  wherein the card has two pairs of opposing edges and the aperture is spaced from the two pairs of opposing edges. 
     
     
         31 . The packaged product of  claim 21  wherein the card has two pairs of opposing edges and the aperture extends from one of the edges. 
     
     
         32 . The packaged product of  claim 21  wherein the lip product is one of lipstick, lip balm, or lip gloss.