Packaging

Abstract

A packaging ( 10 ) containing a product ( 11 ). The product ( 11 ) may be a solar powered light device ( 110 ). The packaging ( 10 ) includes a switch ( 23 ) that is operable to activate the product ( 11 ) while the product ( 11 ) is still within the packaging ( 10 ) so that a user may observe operation of the product ( 11 ) without removing the product ( 11 ) from the packaging ( 10 ).

1 . In combination a packaging and an electrically operated product located in the packaging, said product having an electric circuit to electrically operate a part of the product, the circuit including a power supply to energize the circuit, said packaging including: 
 a body housing said product;    a switch attached to the body and positioned to enable a user to operate the switch;    an electric connector electrically attached to the switch and removably attached to the circuit, and wherein    said switch is operated by a user to cause said circuit to be energized and therefore said part to be operated, with said power supply powering said circuit by operation of said switch, with operative detachment of said connector with respect to said circuit also providing for powering of said circuit by said power supply, and thereof operation of said circuit.    
     
     
         2 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the body of said packaging includes a wall, and said switch is fixed to said wall.  
     
     
         3 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein said connector includes two conducting members attached to said switch, with the switch including a user engaged member that is moved to a position electrically connecting the two members and therefore causes operation of the circuit, and is urged to a position not connecting said members.  
     
     
         4 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein said connector includes a flexible strip including longitudinally extending conductive strip portions between which there is located an insulating strip portion, with the conductive strip portions being attached to the switch so that operation of the switch electrically connects the two conductive portions with detachment of the strip with respect to said circuit providing for the operation detachment of the connector with respect to said circuit.  
     
     
         5 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein said connector is elongated to enable removal of the product from the packaging without disconnection from the switch.  
     
     
         6 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein said connector disables the circuit when attached thereto until said switch is operated.  
     
     
         7 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein said power source is at least one battery.  
     
     
         8 . The combination of  claim 7 , wherein said product includes a battery compartment containing said battery, and said connector is an insulator in respect of said battery and said part, and extends into said compartment, and is slidably removable therefrom to provide for connection of said battery electrically to said part.  
     
     
         9 . The combination of  claim 6 , wherein the power supply is a battery having a positive terminal and a negative terminal, and said circuit further includes a positive terminal to be operatively associated with the positive terminal of the battery and a negative terminal to be operatively associated with the negative terminal of the battery, and said connector is an insulator in respect of said battery by being located between the two positive terminals and/or the two negative terminals so as to electrically isolate the battery, the insulator being removable from between the terminals so that the battery can electrically energize the circuit.  
     
     
         10 . The combination of  claim 9 , wherein the product includes a battery compartment containing the battery, with the connector passing through an aperture in the compartment.  
     
     
         11 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein said product is a solar powered light device to produce light of varying colour, said device including: 
 a product body;    a lens mounted on the product body and generally enclosing a chamber having an upper rim surrounding a top opening, and a bottom region;    a reflector mounted in the bottom region;    a cap assembly including securing means to releasably engage the rim so that the cap assembly can be selectively removed from the lens; said assembly including:    a base;    said circuit, with the circuit having at least two lamps of different colours to produce a desired colour including a varying colour, the lamps being mounted to direct light into said chamber, and a solar cell mounted on an exposed surface of the assembly and operatively associated with battery to charge the battery, and a device switch operated to control delivery of electric power from the battery to operate said circuit, the device switch being exposed to provide for access thereto by a user, and wherein    the packaging switch is connected in parallel with said device switch.    
     
     
         12 . The combination of  claim 11 , wherein said circuit includes a light sensitive switch that renders the circuit operative at low light levels, the light sensitive switch being shielded from light.  
     
     
         13 . The combination of  claim 11 , wherein said device switch is on an exposed downwardly facing surface of said device.  
     
     
         14 . The combination of  claim 13 , wherein said circuit includes three lamps, each of a different colour.  
     
     
         15 . The combination of  claim 14 , wherein said lens is a first lens, and said device includes a second lens, said second lens being attached to said base and providing a cavity into which the LEDs direct light, with the light leaving said second lens then passing through said first lens.  
     
     
         16 . The combination of  claim 15 , wherein the first and second lenses diffuse light.  
     
     
         17 . The combination of  claim 16 , wherein said second lens is detachably secured to said post.  
     
     
         18 . The combination of  claim 11 , wherein said circuit includes a light sub-circuit connected to the lamps to deliver electric power thereto so that the lamps produce said desired colour, with said device switch delivers electric power from the batteries to said sub-circuit.  
     
     
         19 . The combination of  claim 18 , wherein said device switch is a first switch, and said sub-circuit includes an integrated circuit and a second switch connected to said integrated circuit, the second switch being operable to select a desired fixed colour and exposed to provide for access thereto by a user, and the first switch is the on/off switch.  
     
     
         20 . The combination of  claim 19 , wherein said second switch is on said exposed external surface.  
     
     
         21 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein said product is a solar powered light includes: 
 a product body;    a lens mounted on the product body and generally enclosing a chamber;    said circuit, the circuit having at least two lamps of different colours to produce a desired colour including a varying colour, the lamps being mounted to direct light into said chamber, and a solar cell mounted on an exposed surface of the assembly and operatively associated with the battery to charge the battery, and a device switch operable to control delivery of electric power from the battery to operate said circuit, the device switch being an on/off switch and exposed to provide for access thereto by a user, with the device switch being in parallel to the packaging switch.    
     
     
         22 . The combination of  claim 21 , wherein said circuit includes a light sensitive switch that renders the circuit operative at low light levels, the light sensitive switch being shield from light.  
     
     
         23 . The combination of  claim 21 , wherein said circuit includes a light sub-circuit connected to the lamps to deliver electric power thereto so that the lamps produce said desired colour, with said device switch being an on/off switch to deliver electric power from the batteries to said sub-circuit.  
     
     
         24 . The combination of  claim 22 , wherein said circuit includes a light sub-circuit having an integrated circuit operable to select a desired fixed colour, with the device including a further switch said further switch being connected to said integrated circuit and operable to select said desired fixed colour.  
     
     
         26 . The combination of  claim 11 , wherein the solar cell is shielded from light.  
     
     
         27 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein said product is a solar powered light including a battery and a solar cell operative associated with the battery to charge the battery.  
     
     
         28 . The combination of  claim 27 , wherein the solar powered light includes a light sensitive switch that renders the light operative at low light levels, and wherein the light sensitive switch is shielded from light when in said packaging.  
     
     
         29 . The combination of  claim 7  wherein said product is a solar powered light including a battery and a solar cell operative associated with the battery to charge the battery, and a light sensitive switch that renders the light operative at low light levels, and wherein the light sensitive switch is shielded from light when in said packaging.  
     
     
         30 . The combination of  claim 2 , wherein the switch includes a button that is pressed to activate the circuit, with said button being recessed relative to said wall.  
     
     
         31 . The combination of  claim 2 , wherein said connector includes two conducting members attached to said switch, with the switch including a user engaged member that is moved to a position electrically connecting the two members and therefore causes operation of the circuit, and is urged to a position not connecting said members.  
     
     
         32 . The combination of  claim 2 , wherein said connector includes a flexible strip including longitudinally extending conductive strip portions between which there is located an insulating strip portion, with the conductive strip portions being attached to the switch so that operation of the switch electrically connects the two conductive portions with detachment of the strip with respect to said circuit providing for the operation detachment of the connector with respect to said circuit.  
     
     
         33 . The combination of  claim 32 , wherein said connector is elongated to enable removal of the product from the packaging without disconnection from the switch.  
     
     
         34 . The combination of  claim 33 , wherein said connector disables the circuit when attached thereto until said switch is operated.  
     
     
         35 . The combination of  claim 34 , wherein said power source is at least one battery.  
     
     
         36 . The combination of  claim 35 , wherein said product includes a battery compartment containing said battery, and said connector is an insulator in respect of said battery and said part, and extends into said compartment, and is slidably removable therefrom to provide for connection of said battery electrically to said part.  
     
     
         37 . The combination of  claim 34 , wherein the power supply is a battery having a positive terminal and a negative terminal, and said circuit further includes a positive terminal to be operatively associated with the positive terminal of the battery and a negative terminal to be operatively associated with the negative terminal of the battery, and said connector is an insulator in respect of said battery by being located between the two positive terminals and/or the two negative terminals so as to electrically isolate the battery, the insulator being removable from between the terminals so that the battery can electrically energize the circuit.  
     
     
         38 . The combination of  claim 37 , wherein the product includes a battery compartment containing the battery, with the connector passing through an aperture in the compartment.  
     
     
         39 . The combination of  claim 38 , wherein said product is a solar powered light device to produce light of varying colour, said device including: 
 a product body;    a lens mounted on the product body and generally enclosing a chamber having an upper rim surrounding a top opening, and a bottom region;    a reflector mounted in the bottom region;    a cap assembly including securing means to releasably engage the rim so that the cap assembly can be selectively removed from the lens; said assembly including:    a base;    said circuit, with the circuit having at least two lamps of different colours to produce a desired colour including a varying colour, the lamps being mounted to direct light into said chamber, and a solar cell mounted on an exposed surface of the assembly and operatively associated with battery to charge the battery, and a device switch operated to control delivery of electric power from the battery to operate said circuit, the device switch being exposed to provide for access thereto by a user, and wherein    the packaging switch is connected in parallel with said device switch.    
     
     
         40 . The combination of  claim 39 , wherein said circuit includes a light sensitive switch that renders the circuit operative at low light levels, the light sensitive switch being shielded from light.  
     
     
         41 . The combination of  claim 40 , wherein said device switch is on an exposed downwardly facing surface of said device.  
     
     
         42 . The combination of  claim 41 , wherein said circuit includes three lamps, each of a different colour.  
     
     
         43 . The combination of  claim 42 , wherein said lens is a first lens, and said device includes a second lens, said second lens being attached to said base and providing a cavity into which the LEDs direct light, with the light leaving said second lens then passing through said first lens.  
     
     
         44 . The combination of  claim 43 , wherein the first and second lenses diffuse light.  
     
     
         45 . The combination of  claim 44 , wherein said second lens is detachably secured to said post.  
     
     
         46 . The combination of  claim 45 , wherein said circuit includes a light sub-circuit connected to the lamps to deliver electric power thereto so that the lamps produce said desired colour, with said device switch delivers electric power from the batteries to said sub-circuit.  
     
     
         47 . The combination of  claim 46 , wherein said device switch is a first switch, and said sub-circuit includes an integrated circuit and a second switch connected to said integrated circuit, the second switch being operable to select a desired fixed colour and exposed to provide for access thereto by a user, and the first switch is the on/off switch.  
     
     
         48 . The combination of  claim 47 , wherein said second switch is on said exposed external surface.  
     
     
         49 . The combination of  claim 7 , wherein said product is a solar powered light includes: 
 a product body;    a lens mounted on the product body and generally enclosing a chamber;    said circuit, the circuit having at least two lamps of different colours to produce a desired colour including a varying colour, the lamps being mounted to direct light into said chamber, and a solar cell mounted on an exposed surface of the assembly and operatively associated with the battery to charge the battery, and a device switch operable to control delivery of electric power from the battery to operate said circuit, the device switch being an on/off switch and exposed to provide for access thereto by a user, with the device switch being in parallel to the packaging switch.    
     
     
         50 . The combination of  claim 49 , wherein said circuit includes a light sensitive switch that renders the circuit operative at low light levels, the light sensitive switch being shield from light.  
     
     
         51 . The combination of  claim 50 , wherein said circuit includes a light sub-circuit connected to the lamps to deliver electric power thereto so that the lamps produce said desired colour, with said device switch being an on/off switch to deliver electric power from the batteries to said sub-circuit.  
     
     
         52 . The combination of  claim 51 , wherein said circuit includes a light sub-circuit having an integrated circuit operable to select a desired fixed colour, with the device including a further switch said further switch being connected to said integrated circuit and operable to select said desired fixed colour.  
     
     
         53 . The combination of  52 , wherein the solar cell is shielded from light.  
     
     
         54 . The combination of  claim 6  wherein said product is a solar powered light including a battery and a solar cell operative associated with the battery to charge the battery.  
     
     
         55 . The combination of  claim 54 , wherein the solar powered light includes a light sensitive switch that renders the light operative at low light levels, and wherein the light sensitive switch is shielded from light when in said packaging.  
     
     
         56 . The combination of  claim 10 , wherein said product is a solar powered light including a battery and a solar cell operative associated with the battery to charge the battery, and a light sensitive switch that renders the light operative at low light levels, and wherein the light sensitive switch is shielded from light when in said packaging.