EP-4741312-A1 - HARDHAT RETAIL PACKAGING

EP4741312A1EP 4741312 A1EP4741312 A1EP 4741312A1EP-4741312-A1

Abstract

The present invention discloses a retail packaging assembly (22) having a protective shell (24) sized and dimensioned to substantially cover an upper surface of a headwear while leaving an interior of the headwear accessible to potential consumers without removal of the protective shell. The protective shell couples to the headwear and thereby retains the headwear in the protective shell without another shell disposed under the headwear. Accordingly, the protective shell facilitates potential consumers evaluating fit of the headwear while simplifying packaging of the headwear.

Inventors

RIETDYK, Guido
BARNES, JASON
Craig, Rory

Assignees

Fairway Import-Export, Inc. (dba Lift Safety)

Dates

Publication Date: 20260513
Application Date: 20251112

Claims (15)

A retail packaging assembly, comprising: a protective shell sized and dimensioned to cover at least a portion of an upper surface of a headwear while leaving an interior of the headwear accessible to potential consumers without removal of the protective shell; and a coupler that is sized and dimensioned to extend under the headwear and thereby selectively couple the protective shell to the headwear and retain the headwear in the protective shell, whereby the protective shell facilitates potential consumers evaluating fit of the headwear while simplifying packaging of the headwear.
The retail packaging assembly of claim 1, wherein the protective shell is sized and dimensioned to couple to the headwear and thereby retain the headwear in the protective shell without another shell disposed under the headwear opposite the headwear from the protective shell.
The retail packaging assembly of claim 1, wherein the protective shell conforms to the shape of the upper surface of the headwear, and preferably wherein the headwear includes a hardhat or helmet.
The retail packaging assembly of claim 1, further comprising a panel holder sized and dimensioned to extend away from the headwear when the protective shell is coupled to the headwear, the panel holder being sized and dimensioned to couple to an information panel that extends from the protective shell when the information panel is coupled to the panel holder, and preferably wherein the information panel or the panel holder define a hanger opening to enable hanging the shell and headwear from a retail hanger or post.
The retail packaging assembly of claim 1, wherein the coupler is sized and dimensioned to extend away from the protective shell, around an outer perimeter of the headwear, and to a portion of the headwear disposed inward of the outer perimeter or to the protective shell while the protective shell covers the upper surface of the headwear, thereby coupling the protective shell to the headwear.
The retail packaging assembly of claim 1, wherein the headwear has an accessory port, and the coupler includes a tab that is sized and dimensioned to extend away from the protective shell, around the outer perimeter of the headwear, and into the accessory port, thereby coupling the protective shell to the headwear.
The retail packaging assembly of claim 1, wherein the coupler has a retainer and is sized and dimensioned to extend away from the protective shell, around the outer perimeter of the headwear, and toward a portion of the headwear inward of the outer perimeter with the retainer securing the coupler to the portion of the headwear and thereby coupling the protective shell to the headwear.
The retail packaging assembly of claim 1, wherein the protective shell is transparent or translucent, thereby enabling the potential consumers to view the upper surface of the headwear.
A method of packaging headwear, comprising: covering a portion of an upper surface of a headwear with the retail packaging assembly of claim 1; and coupling the protective shell to the headwear, whereby the protective shell facilitates potential consumers evaluating fit of the headwear while simplifying packaging of the headwear.
The method of claim 9, wherein the retail packaging assembly is devoid of a clamshell joint, and/or devoid of a weld.
The method of claim 9, wherein the headwear includes a hardhat or helmet, and the protective shell conforms to the shape of the upper surface of the headwear.
The method of claim 9, further comprising coupling an information panel to a panel holder of the retail packaging assembly, the panel holder extending away from the protective shell, and preferably wherein the information panel or the panel holder defines a hanger.
The method of claim 9, further comprising: wrapping a coupler of the retail packaging assembly around an outer perimeter of the headwear; coupling the coupler to a portion of the headwear disposed inward of the outer perimeter, thereby coupling the protective shell to the headwear.
The method of claim 13, wherein either coupling the coupler to the portion of the headwear disposed inward of the outer perimeter includes inserting a tab into an accessory port of the headwear, or the coupler has a retainer and coupling the coupler to the portion of the headwear disposed inward of the outer perimeter includes securing the retainer to the portion of the headwear.
The method of claim 9, wherein only one or more couplers of the retail packaging assembly cover any portion of a lower surface of the headwear.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This application relates to retail packaging for headwear and more particularly, but not limited to, retail packaging for hardhats or helmets. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Retail packaging for headwear often either (i) covers and protects the headwear or (ii) makes the headwear available for potential consumers to touch and try on without removing the packaging, but retail packaging for headwear rarely does both. For example, the approach taught in U.S. Patent No. 6,257,398 issued to Lindars allows potential consumers to touch and try on the bicycle helmet, but it fails to cover and protect the helmet. One approach to resolve this shortfall is taught in EP0401127 issued to Chollet Sa. Such approach involves welding two half shells together after insertion of a motorcycle helmet into one of the halves. Such approach requires special tools to friction weld the two halves together after inserting the helmet into the packaging and therefore requires the helmet to be located at the same location as the special tools. This approach therefore prevents packaging the helmet at a different location than where the retail packaging is manufactured. Moreover, it prevents the consumer from touching the outer material of the helmet without removing the packaging. It also is difficult for the consumer to remove the packaging because the packaging must be torn or cut before using the helmet. For these reasons, there is a need for retail packaging for headwear that both covers and protects the headwear while making it available for potential consumers to touch and try on without removing the packaging. There is also a need for such packaging to make it simple to package the headwear. There is a further need for such packaging to make it simple for consumers to remove the packaging from the headwear. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide retail packaging assemblies that provide potential consumers the ability to touch headwear packaged therein without removing the packaging assembly. It is also an object of the present invention to provide retail packaging assemblies that achieve the above object and that also make it simple for purchasers of the headwear to remove the packaging assembly. It is another object of the present invention to provide retail packaging assemblies that achieve the above objects and that also enable packaging the headwear at a different location than where the packaging is manufactured. The invention achieves the above objects, as well as other objects and advantages that will become apparent from the description that follows, by providing retail packaging assemblies that have a protective shell sized and dimensioned to substantially cover a portion of or an entire upper surface of a headwear while leaving an interior of the headwear accessible to potential consumers without removal of the protective shell. The protective shell is sized and dimensioned to couple to the headwear and thereby retain the headwear in the protective shell and, in some embodiments, without another shell disposed under the headwear or opposite the headwear from the protective shell. Accordingly, the protective shell facilitates potential consumers evaluating fit of the headwear while simplifying packaging of the headwear. The protective shell preferably conforms to the shape of the upper surface of the headwear. In some embodiments, the protective shell is transparent or translucent, thereby enabling the potential consumers to view the upper surface of the headwear. The headwear preferably includes a hardhat or helmet. In some embodiments, the assembly has a panel holder that extends away from the headwear when packaged in the protective shell. The panel holder couples to an information panel that extends from the protective shell. In some embodiments, the information panel or the panel holder defines a hanger. In some embodiments, the assembly has a coupler that extends away from the protective shell, around an outer perimeter of the headwear, and to a portion of the headwear disposed inward of the outer perimeter, thereby coupling the protective shell to the headwear. In some embodiments, the headwear has an accessory port, and the coupler includes a tab that extends into the accessory port, thereby coupling the protective shell to the headwear. In some embodiments, the coupler has a retainer that secures the coupler to the portion of the headwear and thereby couples the protective shell to the headwear. In some embodiments, the retail packaging assembly is devoid of a clamshell joint or a weld. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The preferred embodiment of the present invention is described in detail below with reference to the following drawings: Figure 1 is a top perspective view of a retail packaging assembly.Figure 2 is an overhead view of the retail packaging assembly of Figure 1 with headwear disposed therein.Figure 3 is a bottom view of the retail