Interactive package for display and sale of a gun sight

Abstract

The present invention is a package for the display and sale of a gun sight where the components of the gun sight are arranged such that they are positioned in the same manner and orientation as they would be installed on the a firearm after purchase. The package includes a portion that is formed and illustrated to resemble that portion of a firearm to which a gun sight would be installed. The package includes a protective covering material that is substantially transparent which secures the gun sight components in place to prevent loss and misalignment of the gun sight components. The package also includes a substrate material which has an opening formed in a first section into which the gun sight, the portion of the package resembling a firearm and the protective covering material is inserted. The substrate material is folded in a manner to cause a second section to trap portions of the protective covering material between the first and section sections of the substrate, securing the gun sight beneath the protective covering and forming a package.

Description

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION[0001]Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate generally to methods of packaging a gun sight in a manner that the gun sight may be demonstrated by holding the packaging at eye level as if one were sighting along the body of a firearm.[0002]Conventionally, methods of packaging consumer products including such items as gun sights, have included cardboard or paper boxes, plastic containers, and methods commonly referred to as a bubble pack or clamshell. Packaging methods using clear plastic or other substantially transparent resin type materials offer the potential purchaser of a product the opportunity to view the actual product rather than relying upon a photograph or other illustration. A product may be affixed under a plastic bubble onto a piece of backing material or substrate, comprised of a material such as heavy paper, cardboard, plastic or other similar materials. When applied to aftermarket gun sights, such methods may allow...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0003]A novel gun sight design may be difficult to understand and appreciate without a demonstration of its advantages over other, less novel, designs. The packaging described herein positions the components of the gun sight in such a way as to allow a potential purchaser to both visualize how the components of the gun sight will appear on graphic representation of a firearm, and also view “through” the components of the gun sight as if they were installed on an actual firearm. This viewing through the components of the gun sight allows a potential purchaser to “self-demonstrate” the gun sight. As a result of this self-demonstration, a potential purchaser will be able to understand the benefits provided by a gun sight and more easily differentiate it from other gun sights available for purchase and also confirm that the gun sight will improve their ability to sight the firearm to which the gun sight may be installed after purchase. Further advantages of the packaging method described herein may be that a potential purchaser can examine the gun sight components from a plurality of views such that they can quickly determine the quality of the product. The resulting interaction with the packaging containing the gun sight may allow a potential purchase to visualize owning and using the gun sight, which may create a sense of product ownership which in turn may increase the likelihood that the potential purchaser will decide to purchase the gun sight.

[0004]A first embodiment of the present invention is a package for the display and retail sale of a gun sight where the package incorporates a raised portion that simulates the portion of a firearm whereupon a gun sight would normally be mounted. The components of the gun sight may be situated on the raised portion to convey the appearance that they are mounted on an actual firearm. Such a package may be comprised of a substrate material, a raised portion, and a covering material. The substrate material, which may be formed from heavy paper, cardboard, plastic, or similar materials, may be folded to form at least two sections such that a first section forms the front face of the package and a second section forms the rear face of the package. The first section may have an opening formed in its surface to accept a raised portion and covering material. The raised portion may be formed by folding a sheet material such as paper, cardboard, or plastic. An alternative embodiment of the raised portion may be formed using solid material such as rigid foam, plastic, or wood. The raised portion may be shaped or illustrated such that it appears to be the upper portion of a firearm. Thus constructed, a completed display and sale package may permit a purchaser to view the gun sight components as they would be installed on an actual firearm. A purchaser may also position the display and sale package at eye level such that the purchaser may be able to “sight” through the gun sight components much as if those components were installed on an actual firearm. This provides a unique opportunity for a purchaser to self-demonstrate the features and benefits of a gun sight prior to purchase.

[0005]A second embodiment of the present invention is a package for display and retail sale of a gun sight. Such a package may be comprised of a covering that may be a transparent, semi-rigid or rigid plastic or similar material applied to a substrate material. The substrate may be formed from materials such as heavy paper, cardboard, plastic, or similar materials. The substrate material may be imprinted with descriptive or promotional information, which further describes the gun sight or its attributes and benefits to the purchaser. The components of the gun sight may be positioned on the substrate material and held in place by the covering in a manner that allows a potential purchaser to hold the package in such a way that they may be able to view through the gun sight components as if those components were mounted on an actual firearm. By viewing through the components, a potential purchaser may be able to visualize how the gun sight components would appear and perform after purchase and installation on a firearm.

Problems solved by technology

When applied to aftermarket gun sights, such methods may allow the potential purchaser to view the product with regard to construction quality, size, and color, but these types of packaging do not allow a potential purchaser of a gun sight to “try-out” the product prior to purchase and installation onto a firearm.

A novel gun sight design may be difficult to understand and appreciate without a demonstration of its advantages over other, less novel, designs.

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