The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 16, 2001
Filed:
Aug. 25, 1999
Anthony J. Gunderman, Phoenix, MD (US);
Catholyn T. Griffiths, Phoenix, MD (US);
Color Prelude, Inc., Baltimore, MD (US);
Abstract
A product sampler package for insertion or binding into a periodical, catalog, brochure, or other literature includes a composite carrier card formed by affixing a planar support frame to a bottom carrier sheet of the carrier card to thereby form a shallow well, and a top carrier sheet of the composite carrier card affixed to the bottom carrier sheet and covering the support frame. The top carrier sheet may have an opening positioned over the well so as to be surrounded by the support frame. The package is completed by affixing a product sampler unit containing a sample of a fluid or volatile personal care product on top of the composite carrier card. Packaged in this manner, the support frame enhances the burst strength of the sampler unit by absorbing compressive forces exerted across the plane of the sampler. The support frame is preferably made of an N-flute corrugated cardboard and is shaped to define an enclosed space in its center, while the sampler unit is formed by hermetically sealing together a cover film and backing film to form a pouch or compartment. Preferably, at least the cover film is transparent or translucent so that the product sample can be viewed through the package without opening the sampler unit. Longevity of the fluid product sample is ensured by incorporating barrier layers in each of the cover and backing films which have a moisture vapor transmission rate similar to that of foil.