Packaged Set of Articles and Method of Loading Packages onto a Support Member

Abstract

A packaged set of articles that are easily mounted to a pegboard hook. The packaged set of articles includes a container defining an internal cavity. A plurality of packages may be located in the internal cavity’ of the container in a single file arrangement. Each of the packages may comprise a receiving cavity within which an article, such as a toothbrush, is disposed. The packages may also have an aperture that permits the package to be hung from a pegboard hook in a retail environment. Furthermore, an elongated rod may be located within the internal cavity of the container so as to extend through the apertures of each of the packages. This enables the elongated rod and packages to be removed from the container simultaneously so that the elongated rod can be used to facilitate loading of the packages onto a pegboard hook.

1 . A packaged set of articles comprising:
 a container defining an internal cavity, the container being alterable between: (1) a closed state in which the internal cavity is enclosed; and (2) an open state in which an opening is formed into the internal cavity for unloading articles from the internal cavity;   a plurality of packages located in the internal cavity of the container in a single file arrangement, each of the packages comprising a receiving cavity and an aperture;   an article disposed within the receiving cavity of each of the packages; and   an elongated rod located within the internal cavity of the container and extending through the apertures of each of the plurality of packages, the elongated rod comprising a mounting cavity.   
     
     
         2 . The packaged set of articles according to  claim 1  wherein the container comprises a base portion and a cover portion, and wherein in the open state the cover portion is separated from the base portion and the packages protrude from a top edge of the base portion. 
     
     
         3 . The packaged set of articles according to  claim 1 , wherein the elongated rod extends from a first end to a second end, the elongated rod having an opening in the first end that forms a passageway into the mounting cavity. 
     
     
         4 . The packaged set of articles according to  claim 3  wherein the second end of the elongated rod is closed. 
     
     
         5 . The packaged set of articles according to  claim 3 , wherein the elongated rod comprises a support portion and a stopper, wherein the stopper forms the second end of the elongated rod. 
     
     
         6 . The packaged set of articles according to  claim 5  wherein the apertures have a first cross-sectional profile, the support portion has a second cross-sectional profile, and the stopper has a third cross-sectional profile, and wherein the apertures and the elongated rod are configured so that the second cross-sectional profile of the support portion fits into the first cross-sectional profile of the apertures and the third cross-sectional profile of the stopper does not fit into the first cross-sectional profile of the apertures. 
     
     
         7 . The packaged set of articles according to  claim 5 , wherein the mounting cavity of the elongated rod extends into the stopper. 
     
     
         8 . The packaged set of articles according to  claim 3 , wherein the packages have a display side and a non-display side, and wherein the display side of each of the packages faces the second end of the elongated rod. 
     
     
         9 . The packaged set of articles according to  claim 1 , wherein the elongated rod comprises a support portion extending from a first end to a second end and having a length measured between the first and second ends, the support portion comprising an opening in the first end that forms a passageway into the mounting cavity. 
     
     
         10 . The packaged set of articles according to  claim 9  wherein the support portion comprises a hollow section that defines the mounting cavity and a solid portion, and wherein the solid portion comprises at least 75% of the length of the support portion. 
     
     
         11 . The packaged set of articles according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of packages comprises a backer panel and a front cover that is coupled to the backer panel to form the receiving cavity between the front cover and the backer panel, and wherein the front cover of each the packages faces in the same direction. 
     
     
         12 . The packaged set of articles according to  claim 11  wherein the backer panel of each of the packages is formed from cardboard and the front cover of each of the packages is formed from thermoformed plastic, and wherein the front cover is three-dimensionally contoured to form the receiving cavity between the front cover and the backer panel. 
     
     
         13 . The packaged set of articles according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the articles is a toothbrush. 
     
     
         14 . The packaged set of articles according to  claim 13  wherein each of the toothbrushes are of the same style. 
     
     
         15 . The packaged set of articles according to  claim 1 , wherein the mounting cavity of the elongated rod is configured to receive at least a distal portion of a retail display hook to facilitate sliding the plurality of packages from the elongated rod onto the retail display hook. 
     
     
         16 . The packaged set of articles according to  claim 1 , wherein in the open state the internal cavity of the container has an open top end, and wherein all of the packages can be removed from the internal cavity of the container simultaneously through the open top end. 
     
     
         17 . The packaged set of articles according to  claim 16  wherein the container comprises a base portion and a cover portion, and wherein in the open state the packages protrude from the base portion and from the open top end of the internal cavity such that the apertures and the elongated rod are elevated above a top edge of the base portion. 
     
     
         18 . The packaged set of articles according to  claim 1 , wherein the elongated rod is tubular. 
     
     
         19 . The packaged set of articles according to  claim 1 , wherein the elongated rod extends along an axis, and wherein the mounting cavity of the elongated rod has a circular or oval-shaped transverse cross-sectional profile. 
     
     
         20 . A method of loading packages onto a support member for retail display, the method comprising:
 a) providing a container defining an internal cavity with a plurality of packages located in the internal cavity, each of the packages containing an article;   b) opening the container to provide access to the packages in the internal cavity;   c) grasping an elongated rod that is located in the internal cavity and that extends through an aperture of each of the packages and removing the elongated rod from the internal cavity, each of the packages hanging from the elongated rod and being removed from the internal cavity along with the elongated rod;   d) coupling the elongated rod to the support member;   e) moving the packages onto the support member so that the packages are hanging from the support member; and   f) decoupling the elongated rod from the support member.   
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20  wherein step d) comprises inserting a distal portion of the support member into a mounting cavity of the elongated rod; and wherein step e) comprises sliding the packages from the elongated rod onto the support member. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 20  wherein step d) comprises sliding the elongated rod in a first direction so that the support member is inserted into a mounting cavity of the elongated rod; and wherein step e) comprises sliding the elongated rod in a second direction opposite the first direction while preventing the packages from sliding along with the elongated rod.