Packaging having access for presenting and displaying special features

Abstract

A package for a water-wiping apparatus for wiping standing water from a curved surface has sides forming a plastic enclosure. The enclosure is provided with an opening through one of the sides for tactile access to a specific physical feature of the water-wiping apparatus.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED DOCUMENTS [0001] The present patent application is related as a continuation-in-part (CIP) to copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 461,536, filed Jun. 13, 2003 which is a CIP to copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 254,295, filed Sep. 24 / 2002, all disclosure of which is incorporated herein at least by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention is in the field of car-wash accessories and pertains more particularly to hand-held devices used for removing standing water from automobiles and other vehicles, and to means of packaging such devices for commercial presentation. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] One of the largest and most lucrative product markets in the United States involves cosmetic accessories for automobiles and light trucks. There are literally thousands of products available that are dedicated to enhancing the cosmetic appearance of a consumer's pride and joy, namely, his automobile. From products that a...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention provides a package for a product with a specific physical feature, such as a water-wiper blade, which is enclosed in a plastic package with an opening that provides tactile access to the physical feature. The package has a first side with a formed shape for retaining the product and a second side opposite the first side for enclosing the product. The first and second sides can be contiguous or snapped together with matching snap-in elements. The technical effect of this invention is that it allows for easy and convenient examination of the specific physical feature of the product without having to remove it from the package."

Problems solved by technology

Although the chamois cloth is widely accepted as a viable method for removing standing water, there are some inherent problems and limitations associated with it's use.

Because of the chamois cloth's persistent adhesion to a wet surface, moving the chamois from side to side, or at directions away from the user, is difficult.

The chamois cloth has a tendency to fold or roll under itself if it is not being pulled directly toward the user.

This drawback limits accessibility to areas that may need to be wiped.

Another problem is that, while a chamois is very successful in absorbing standing water, the chamois must be wrung out when it is loaded with water, a such cloths are difficult to wring.

Although the chamois is very soft and generally harmless to a paint job or finish, it is possible that unseen dirt or particles left over from the car-wash process get lodged in the chamois and can cause scratches when the chamois is pulled across the surface of an automobile.

This can be particularly disturbing for those who own expensive show cars that support special auto paints that may be susceptible to scratching.

While hand-held pads provide a convenient place for a user's hand (usually straps on the top surface), they do little else to improve the technology of water removal.

These devices, however, are not well adapted to removal of standing water from automobile bodies, because they cannot conform to the sometimes radical and compound curvature of an automobile body.

Moreover, many body panels for vehicles such as trucks and airplanes have uneven surfaces, such as broken by rivet heads and the like, and also by intentional functional or ornamental patterns.

Wipers are not known in the art that are efficient in removing standing water from such surfaces.

Moreover, air blowers of the type that are hand-held are typically difficult because they are cumbersome, awkward, and rather heavy to hold for the time it takes to dry a car body.

Furthermore, power cords can get in the way while working on an automobile surface, and cause scratches and other damage as well.

It is the nature of this edge that is unique, and which is a significant advantage over competing products, yet conventional preformed packages do not allow a potential customer to actually examine the unique edge closely.

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