Consumer product package

Abstract

A consumer product package and method for merchandising consumer products in a retail store, particularly Food, Drug and Mass (FDM) markets.

1 . A package for enclosing a consumer product comprising: 
 a. an upper enclosure, said upper enclosure comprising a top panel and at least one side panel extending away from said top panel and defining an interior portion sufficiently large to enclose a consumer product; said upper enclosure further comprising, 
 i. an upper stabilizing extension extending from said top panel in said interior portion, said stabilizing extension being sufficiently long so as to contact said consumer product; wherein  
 ii. a first portion of said side panel is visibly clear and a second portion of said side panel is substantially opaque; and  
   b. a lower base comprising a bottom surface and a lower stabilizing extension extending away from said bottom surface in said interior portion, said lower stabilizing extension being sufficiently long so as to contact said consumer product; wherein    c. said upper enclosure is in mating relationship to said lower base portion such that said consumer product is held by said contact of said upper and lower stabilizing extensions.    
   
   
       2 . The package of  claim 1 , comprising four side panels comprising a front surface, a back surface, and two side surfaces.  
   
   
       3 . The package of  claim 2 , wherein said front surface and said two side surfaces comprise said first portion and said back surface comprises said second portion.  
   
   
       4 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein said mating relationship is maintained by at least one locking tab and locking protrusion.  
   
   
       5 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein said lower stabilizing extension further comprises at least one orientation tab.  
   
   
       6 . The package of  claim 5 , wherein said consumer product is securely held in said front-facing orientation after a handling impact occurring from at least about 3 feet to said package.  
   
   
       7 . The package of  claim 5 , wherein said consumer product is securely held and able to resist a drop-impact occurring from at least about 3 feet from a hard surface.  
   
   
       8 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein said upper enclosure and said lower base comprise materials selected from the group consisting of polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), polyethylene-terepthalate (PET), Styrene-Acrylonitrile Copolymer (SAN); Polyethylene-terepthalate copolymers, polycarbonate (PC), polyamides and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       9 . A method of merchandising a consumer product in a retail store, comprising: 
 a. displaying said consumer product within the package of  claim 1;  and    b. displaying said package in a retail store.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the retail store is selected from the group consisting of FDM markets, department stores, specialty stores, and club markets.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the retail store is an FDM.  
   
   
       12 . A package for enclosing a consumer product comprising: 
 a. an upper enclosure, said upper enclosure comprising a visibly clear top panel, at least three visibly clear side panels and a substantially opaque side panel wherein said side panels extend away from said top panel and define an interior portion sufficiently large to enclose a consumer product;    said upper enclosure further comprising an upper stabilizing extension extending from said top panel in said interior portion, said stabilizing extension being sufficiently long so as to contact said consumer product; and    b. a lower base comprising a visibly clear bottom surface and a lower stabilizing extension extending away from said bottom surface in said interior portion, said lower stabilizing extension being sufficiently long so as to contact said consumer product; wherein 
 said upper enclosure is in mating relationship by at least one locking tab on said upper enclosure to a locking protrusion within said interior portion of said lower base portion and said consumer product is held secure by said contact of said upper and lower stabilizing extensions.  
   
   
   
       13 . The package of  claim 12 , wherein said lower stabilizing extension further comprises at least one orientation tab.  
   
   
       14 . The package of  claim 13 , wherein said consumer product is securely held in said front-facing orientation after a handling impact occurring from at least about 3 feet to said package.  
   
   
       15 . The package of  claim 13 , wherein said consumer product is securely held and able to resist a drop-impact occurring from at least about 3 feet from a hard surface.  
   
   
       16 . The package of  claim 12 , wherein said upper enclosure and said lower base comprise materials selected from the group consisting of polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), polyethylene-terepthalate (PET), Styrene-Acrylonitrile Copolymer (SAN); Polyethylene-terepthalate copolymers, polycarbonate (PC), polyamides and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       17 . A method of merchandising a consumer product in a retail store, comprising: 
 a. displaying said consumer product within the package of  claim 12;  and    b. displaying said package in a retail store.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the retail store is selected from the group consisting of FDM markets, department stores, specialty stores, and club markets.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the retail store is an FDM.