Clamshell package with spinner insert

Abstract

A clamshell package for display and sale of an article at retail contains two principal parts, namely first and second package members. The second package member, called a spinner, defines a cavity for enclosing the article and the first package member supports the second package member in a passage through the front and rear faces of the first package member for manually motivated rotational movement of the second package member relative to the first package member. Axles, integrally formed in the second package member, extend outwardly from opposite sides of that member and mount to journal bearings integrally formed in the first package member.

1 . A package for an article, comprising: 
 a first package member and a second package member;    said second package member defining a cavity for housing said article; and    said first package member for supporting said second package member for manually motivated rotational movement relative to said first package member.    
   
   
       2 . The package for an article as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said second package member includes at least one wall comprising a transparent material, said wall defining a window into the interior of said cavity for viewing said article.  
   
   
       3 . The package for an article as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said first package member and said second package member comprise thermoformed plastic sheet material.  
   
   
       4 . The package for an article as defined in  claim 1 , wherein 
 said second package member comprises a main portion defining said cavity and first and second axles extending radially outwardly in opposite directions from said main portion along a common axis, each of said axles including a cylindrical axial axle stop, said cylindrical axial axle stop being of greater diameter than the diameter of said axles, whereby pressing a finger on said main body portion at a location thereon off said common axis rotates said second package member a predetermined amount about said common axis.    
   
   
       5 . The package for an article as defined in  claim 1 , wherein 
 said second package member comprises a main portion defining said cavity and first and second axles extending radially outwardly in opposite directions from said main portion along a common axis, each of said axles including a cylindrical axial axle stop, said cylindrical axial axle stop being of greater diameter than the diameter of said axles, whereby pressing a finger on said main body portion at a location thereon off said common axis rotates said second package member a predetermined amount about said common axis wherein said article may be viewed from a different angle.    
   
   
       6 . The package for an article as defined in  claim 4 , wherein said first package member includes a passage through the front and rear sides defining an open window; a pair of journal bearings and a pair of axial axle stop housings, one of said journal bearings and an associated one of said axial axle stop housings being located along said common axis on one side of said open window and the other one of said journal bearings and an associated other one of said axial axle stop housings being located along said common axis on a diametrically opposite side of said open window, said journal bearings and axial axle stop housing portions being in alignment; and said axial axle stop housings permitting rotation of said axial axle stop, but preventing withdrawal of said axial axle stop from said axial axle stop housing by pulling on an axle; and 
 said main portion of said second package member comprising a size to fit within said open window and said axles and axial axle stops being supported in respective journal bearings and axial axle stop housings of said first package member for rotational movement about said common axis.    
   
   
       7 . The package for an article as defined in  claim 6 , wherein said first package member and said second package member comprise thermoformed plastic sheet material.  
   
   
       8 . The package for an article as defined in  claim 7 , wherein said second package member includes at least one wall of transparent material defining a window into the interior thereof to view said article.  
   
   
       9 . A packaged product, comprising: 
 a first package member of shallow depth and of a predetermined length and width defining a first predetermined area, said first package member having front and back sides, and including a passage from said front and back sides through said first predetermined area;    a second package member supported by said first package member in said passage for rotation relative to said first package member; and    said second package member including:    a sealed compartment housing a product wherein said second package member may be manually rotated to a variety of different angular positions relative to said first package member.    
   
   
       10 . The packaged product as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said second package member includes at least one wall of transparent plastic material to permit said product to be viewed from the exterior of said first and second package members, wherein said second package member may be manually rotated to a variety of different angular positions relative to said first package member to permit said product to be viewed from a variety of angles.  
   
   
       11 . The packaged product as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said second package member further includes: 
 a pair of circular shafts, said circular shafts being respectively located in axial alignment on diametrically opposite sides of said sealed compartment and integrally formed therewith, each said shaft including a cylindrical surface of a first diameter, defining a journal, and a cylindrical end portion of a second diameter, larger than said first diameter, defining an axial stop.    
   
   
       12 . The packaged product as defined in  claim 11 , wherein said first package member further comprises: 
 a first axial stop housing and a first journal bearing, said first journal bearing located in alignment with and adjacent to said first axial stop housing for receiving and supporting one of said shafts for rotation, said first axial stop housing being spaced more distant from said passage than said first journal bearing; and    a second axial stop housing, and a second journal bearing, said second journal bearing located in alignment with and adjacent to said second axial stop housing for receiving and supporting the other one of said shafts for rotation, said axial stop housing being spaced more distant from said passage than said second journal bearing;    said first and second axial stop housings and journal bearings being in axial alignment and being located on diametrically opposite sides of said passage.    
   
   
       13 . The packaged product as defined in  claim 12 , wherein 
 said axial stop of one of said circular shafts of said second package member is captured in said first axial stop housing and said one of said circular shafts is supported for rotation in said first journal bearing;    said axial stop of a second one of said circular shafts is captured in said second axial stop housing and said second one of said circular shafts is supported for rotation in said second journal bearing; and    said first and second journal bearings being large enough in diameter to receive a respective circular shaft, but too small in diameter to receive an axial stop, whereby a circular shaft of said second package member cannot be withdrawn from the associated axle stop housing of said first package member by pulling on said second package member and wherein said second package member cannot be separated from said first package member.    
   
   
       14 . The packaged product as defined in  claim 13 , wherein said axial stop housings comprise a cylinder of a first diameter and said journal bearings comprise a cylinder of a second diameter, said second diameter being smaller than said first diameter, to define a washer-shaped wall between an axial stop housing and an associated journal bearing; said washer-shaped wall between said axial stop housing portion and said journal bearing portion preventing axial movement of an axial stop into said journal bearing by pulling directly or indirectly in an axial direction on said cylindrical shaft to prevent separation of said second package member and the product sealed therewithin from said first package member and inhibit pilferage of said product.  
   
   
       15 . The packaged product as defined in  claim 14 , wherein said first package member and said second package member comprise a thermoformed plastic material  
   
   
       16 . The packaged product as defined in  claim 14 , wherein said passage comprises a circular passage; and 
 wherein said second package member comprises a circular geometry that fits within said circular passage, said second package member including axially outwardly extending first and second axles that extend beyond the sides of said circular passage; and    wherein said first package member includes a pair of journal bearings that respectively support said first and second axles for rotation and a pair of axle end housings that capture ends of said axles and prevent any pulling on said second package member from removing said respective axles to prevent pilfering of said product.