Packaging with integrated part mating check

Abstract

A packaging for a part having a first exterior profile selected from at least first and second distinct exterior profiles. The packaging includes an interior compartment that is adapted to retain the part. A first cavity is formed in an exterior of the packaging. The first cavity has a first cavity profile that substantially corresponds to at least a portion of the first exterior profile of the part.

1 . A packaging for a part having a first exterior profile selected from at least first and second distinct exterior profiles, the packaging comprising:
 an interior compartment that is adapted to retain the part; and   a first cavity that is defined along an exterior of the packaging, the first cavity having a first cavity profile that substantially corresponds to at least a portion of the first exterior profile of the part.   
     
     
         2 . The packaging of  claim 1 , the packaging further comprising a second cavity having a second cavity profile that is different than the first cavity profile, the second cavity profile substantially corresponding to a different portion of the first exterior profile of the part. 
     
     
         3 . The packaging of  claim 1 , further comprising a second cavity having a second cavity profile that is different than the first cavity profile, the second cavity profile substantially corresponding to at least a portion of the second exterior profile of the part. 
     
     
         4 . The packaging of  claim 1 , wherein the first cavity is accessible from the exterior of the packaging when the interior compartment of the packaging is sealed such that it is not accessible from the exterior of the packaging. 
     
     
         5 . The packaging of  claim 1 , wherein the first cavity extends from a front side of the exterior of the packaging towards a rear side of the exterior of the packaging. 
     
     
         6 . The packaging of  claim 1 , wherein the first cavity extends laterally from a first side of the exterior of the packaging towards a second side of the exterior of the packaging. 
     
     
         7 . The packaging of  claim 1 , wherein the first cavity has a cavity depth that is less than a respective depth of the part. 
     
     
         8 . The packaging of  claim 3 , further comprising a third cavity having a third cavity profile that is different than the first cavity profile and the second cavity profile, the third cavity substantially corresponding to at least a portion of a third exterior profile of the part that is different than the first exterior profile and the second exterior profile of the part. 
     
     
         9 . The packaging of  claim 1 , further comprising a hang tab along a side of the packaging, the hang tab configured to permit displaying of the packaging at a height. 
     
     
         10 . The packaging of  claim 1 , wherein the interior compartment is divided into two or more sub-compartments, each of the sub-compartments being adapted to retain a different unit of the part. 
     
     
         11 . A packaging for at least one part selected from a group comprising a first of the parts having a first exterior profile and a second of the parts having a second exterior profile distinct from the first exterior profile, the packaging comprising:
 an interior compartment that is configured to retain one or more parts;   a first cavity that is defined along an exterior of the packaging, the first cavity having a first cavity profile that substantially corresponds to at least a portion of an exterior profile of a first reference part that is insertable into the first cavity from the exterior of the packaging; and   a second cavity that is defined along the exterior of the packaging, the second cavity having a second cavity profile that substantially corresponds to at least a portion of an exterior profile of a second reference part that is insertable into the second cavity from the exterior of the packaging,
 wherein the first cavity profile and the second cavity profile are not identical. 
   
     
     
         12 . The packaging of  claim 11 , both of the first cavity and the second cavity are accessible from the exterior of the packaging when the interior compartment of the packaging is sealed such that it is not accessible from the exterior of the packaging. 
     
     
         13 . The packaging of  claim 11 , wherein either or both of the first cavity and the second cavity extends from a front side of the exterior of the packaging towards a rear side of the exterior of the packaging. 
     
     
         14 . The packaging of  claim 11 , wherein either or both of the first cavity and the second cavity extends laterally from a first side of the exterior of the packaging towards a second side of the exterior of the packaging. 
     
     
         15 . The packaging of  claim 11 , further comprising a third cavity that is formed in an exterior of the packaging, the third cavity having a third cavity profile that substantially corresponds to at least a portion of an exterior profile of a third reference part that is insertable into the third cavity from the exterior of the packaging, wherein the third cavity profile is not identical to either of the first cavity profile or the second cavity profile. 
     
     
         16 . The packaging of  claim 11 , wherein the interior compartment is divided into two or more sub-compartments, each of the sub-compartments being adapted to retain a different unit of a part. 
     
     
         17 . A method of checking mating of a reference part having a first exterior profile selected from at least first and second distinct exterior profiles on a packaging adapted to retain a part and having a first cavity defined along an exterior of the packaging and accessible from the exterior of the packaging, the first cavity having a first cavity profile that substantially corresponds to at least a portion of the first or second external profile of the reference part, the method comprising:
 positioning at least a portion of the reference part including the first exterior profile into the first cavity; and   determining if the reference part is in a mated configuration within the first cavity.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 after determining the reference part is in the mated configuration within the first cavity, opening the packaging to access the part.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 positioning at least a portion of the reference part including the first exterior profile into a second cavity formed in the exterior of the packaging from the exterior of the packaging, the second cavity having a second cavity profile that substantially corresponds to the other of the first or second external profiles of the part; and   determining if the reference part is in a mated configuration within the second cavity.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 after determining the reference part is in the mated configuration within the second cavity, opening the packaging to access the part.