Display Package for an Inflatable Ball

Abstract

A packaged inflatable ball includes packaging that has a front panel with a first aperture, and a rear panel spaced from the front panel with a second aperture, the front panel and the rear panel form a container. There is an inflatable ball disposed within the container, the inflatable ball is at least partially deflated such that a first portion of the inflatable ball has a generally concave shape, and a second portion has a generally convex shape. The second portion of the inflatable ball extends at least partially out of the container through the first aperture.

1 . A packaged inflatable ball comprising:
 packaging including a front panel having a first aperture, and a rear panel spaced from the front panel and having a second aperture, the front panel and the rear panel forming a container; and   an inflatable ball disposed within the container, the inflatable ball being at least partially deflated such that a first portion of the inflatable ball has a generally concave shape and a second portion has a generally convex shape,   wherein the second portion of the inflatable ball extends at least partially out of the container through the first aperture.   
     
     
         2 . The packaged inflatable ball of  claim 1 , wherein the front panel has a third aperture spaced from the first aperture, and
 wherein the rear panel has a fourth aperture spaced from the second aperture.   
     
     
         3 . The packaged inflatable ball of  claim 2  further comprising:
 a second inflatable ball disposed within the container, the second inflatable ball being at least partially deflated such that a first portion of the second inflatable ball has a generally concave shape and a second portion has a generally convex shape, 
 wherein the second portion of the second inflatable ball extends at least partially out of the container through the third aperture. 
 
     
     
         4 . The packaged inflatable ball of  claim 1 , wherein the first aperture and second aperture are generally aligned with each other such that each of the first aperture and second aperture extend circumferentially around a common axis. 
     
     
         5 . The packaged inflatable ball of  claim 1 , wherein the packaged inflatable ball is a first packaged inflatable ball, the second aperture being configured to receive a portion of another inflatable ball of a second packaged inflatable ball having a generally convex shape to allow the second packaged inflatable ball to nest with the first packaged inflatable ball such that the second portion of the another inflatable ball is at least partially disposed within the container. 
     
     
         6 . The packaged inflatable ball of  claim 1 , wherein the inflatable ball is generally spherical when fully inflated. 
     
     
         7 . The packaged inflatable ball of  claim 1 , wherein the inflatable ball is a soccer ball. 
     
     
         8 . The packaged inflatable ball of  claim 1 , wherein the inflatable ball is any one of a basketball, volleyball, soccer ball, football, rugby ball and a playground ball. 
     
     
         9 . The packaged inflatable ball of  claim 1 , wherein no portion of the inflatable ball extends out of the container through the second aperture. 
     
     
         10 . The packaged inflatable ball of  claim 1  further comprising:
 an air pump at least partially exposed through the packaging. 
 
     
     
         11 . The packaged inflatable ball of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the inflatable ball is nested within the second portion of the inflatable ball. 
     
     
         12 . The packaged inflatable ball of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the inflatable ball has a first surface area and the second portion of the inflatable ball has a second surface area that is about equal to the first surface area. 
     
     
         13 . The packaged inflatable ball of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the inflatable ball is collapsed such that it at least partially abuts the second portion of the inflatable ball. 
     
     
         14 . The packaged inflatable ball of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the inflatable ball includes a base section, a middle section, and a top section, the middle section being disposed between the base section and top section, and the generally concave shape of the first portion being defined by the base section, middle section, and top section, and
 wherein the base section at least partially abuts an inner surface of the rear panel the top section is disposed opposite the base section such that a distance between the front panel and top section is less than a distance between the front panel and base section.   
     
     
         15 . A system of packaged inflatable balls comprising:
 a first packaged inflatable ball comprising:   a first packaging including a front panel having a first aperture, and a rear panel spaced from the front panel and having a second aperture, the front panel and the rear panel forming a first container; and
 a first inflatable ball disposed within the first container, the first inflatable ball being at least partially deflated such that a first portion of the first inflatable ball has a generally concave shape and a second portion of the first inflatable ball has a generally convex shape, 
 wherein the second portion of the first inflatable ball extends at least partially out of the first container through the first aperture of the first packaging; 
   a second packaged inflatable ball comprising:   a second packaging including a front panel having a first aperture, and a rear panel spaced from the front panel and having a second aperture, the front panel and the rear panel forming a second container; and
 a second inflatable ball disposed within the second container, the second inflatable ball being at least partially deflated such that a first portion of the second inflatable ball has a generally concave shape and a second portion of the second inflatable ball has a generally convex shape, 
   wherein the second portion of the second inflatable ball extends at least partially out of the second container through the first aperture of the second packaging and through the second aperture of the first packaging such that the second portion of the second inflatable ball is at least partially disposed within the first container of the first packaging.   
     
     
         16 . A method of packaging and displaying an inflatable ball, the method comprising:
 providing a first packaging including a front panel having a first aperture, and a rear panel spaced from the front panel and having a second aperture, the front panel and the rear panel of the first packaging forming a first container;   positioning a first inflatable ball disposed within the first container, the first inflatable ball being at least partially deflated such that a first portion of the first inflatable ball has a generally concave shape and a second portion has a generally convex shape, the second portion of the first inflatable ball extends at least partially out of the first container through the first aperture;   providing a second packaging including a front panel having a first aperture, and a rear panel spaced from the front panel and having a second aperture, the front panel and the rear panel of the second packaging forming a second container; and   positioning a second inflatable ball disposed within the second container, the second inflatable ball being at least partially deflated such that a first portion of the second inflatable ball has a generally concave shape and a second portion of the second inflatable ball has a generally convex shape, the first portion of the second inflatable ball is generally aligned with the first aperture of the second packaging and the second portion of the second inflatable ball extends at least partially out of the second container through the first aperture of the second packaging,   wherein the second portion of the second inflatable ball extends at least partially out of the second container through the first aperture of the second packaging and through the second aperture of the first packaging such that the second portion of the second inflatable ball is at least partially disposed within the first container of the first packaging.   
     
     
         17 . A package for displaying an inflatable ball, the package comprising:
 a front panel having a first aperture, the front panel having a length of about 8.4 inches and the first aperture having a radius of about 3 inches;   a rear panel, spaced from the front panel and having a second aperture, the rear panel having a length of about 8.4 inches and the second aperture having a radius of about 2.9 inches; and   two side panels opposite one another and each coupled to and extending between the front panel and rear panel, the two side panels each having a length of about 2.7 inches,   wherein a width of the front panel, rear panel and two side panels is about 10 inches, and   wherein, when the package is in a use configuration in which the front panel, rear panel, and two side panels are folded to form a box structure, the front panel, rear panel, and two side panels define a container for receiving an inflatable ball.   
     
     
         18 . A packaged inflatable ball comprising:
 packaging including a front panel having a first aperture, and a rear panel spaced from the front panel and having a second aperture, the front panel and the rear panel forming a container;   an inflatable ball disposed within the container, the inflatable ball being at least partially deflated such that a first portion of the inflatable ball has a generally concave shape and a second portion has a generally convex shape; and   an air pump at least partially exposed through the packaging,   wherein the second portion of the inflatable ball extends at least partially out of the container through the first aperture,   wherein the first aperture and second aperture are generally aligned with each other such that each of the first aperture and second aperture extend circumferentially around a common axis,   wherein the first portion of the inflatable ball includes a base section, a middle section, and a top section, the middle section being disposed between the base section and top section, and the generally concave shape of the first portion being defined by the base section, middle section, and top section, and   
       wherein the base section at least partially abuts an inner surface of the rear panel the top section is disposed opposite the base section such that a distance between the front panel and top section is less than a distance between the front panel and base section. 
     
     
         19 . The packaged inflatable ball of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a spacer positioned within the package between the inflatable ball and the rear panel of the package thereby causing the inflatable ball to be spaced from the rear panel.