TAMBOURINE DISPLAY/PROTECTIVE CASE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention.

The invention generally relates to product packaging and, more specifically, to a tambourine display/protective case. Description of the Prior Art.

Numerous packaging cases have been designed for a multitude of different products. Some of these cases are intended to display a product at a point of sale. Some of these cases are intended to produce an aesthetic package to attract consumers. Other cases are designed to at least partially expose a product so that a prospective user can touch and interact or interface with the product contained inside the case in order to sample one or more attributes of the product. An important function of many such cases, or course, are also to protect the product, particularly when not in use. Most cases, for musical instruments for example, include a separate handle for carrying the musical instrument and transporting it from one location to another. However, many of the cases that have been used up to now, and particular cases for musical instruments such as a tambourine, have not provided all of the aforementioned functions, features or benefits.

Accordingly, one object of the invention to provide a display/protective case for a product which does not have the disadvantages or drawbacks of known product cases.

It is another object of the invention to provide a display/protective case as in the previous object, which is simple in construction and economical to manufacture.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a display/protective case of the type in the discussion which is especially suitable for displaying, transporting and safely storing a tambourine such that the tambourine is protected when not in use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various further objects, features and advantages under present invention will be more fully appreciated as the invention will be better understood in light of the accompanying figures, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of tambourine display/protective case in accordance with the present invention, shown in its closed condition;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the case shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the case shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a rear elevational view of the case shown in Figs. 1-3;

Figs. 5 and 6 respectively show rear and front perspective views of a tambourine of the type that may be displayed or stored in the case shown in Figs. 1-4;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the case shown in Figs. 1-4, shown in its open condition; and,

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the case shown in Figs. 1-4 and 7, shown in its closed or locked condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, in which identical or similar parts are designated by the same reference numerals throughout, and first referring to Figs. 1-4, and 8, a tambourine display/protective case in accordance with the present invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 10.

While the case 10 is specifically configured to display, receive and store a specific tambourine, of the type illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, it will be clear to those skilled in the art that the display/protective case can be suitably modified to receive and store tambourines having other configurations, such as circular, as well as other small musical instruments and non- musical objects.

The case 10 is in the form of a clam shell housing 11 formed of a lower shell member 12 and upper shell member 14 that are suitably attached to each other at a hinge 16. The hinge 16 may be in the form of a separate piano hinge made, for example, from metal or plastic. However, in the presently preferred embodiment, the hinge 16 is integrally molded with a portion of the rear edges of the lower and upper shell members 12, 14 to form a living hinge.

Referring particularly to Figs. 2, 3 and 8, there is preferably provided about at least a portion of the lower shell member 12 an upwardly projecting alignment wall 18 which is shown to extend substantially along the sides and the front of the lower shell member 12 and arranged to also receive and surround a corresponding portion of the periphery of the upper shell member 14 when the case is closed, as shown in Figs. 2-4 and 8. It will be appreciated that the alignment wall 18 prevents excessive shifting of the lower and upper shell members 12, 14 relative to each other, particularly in the living hinge 16 is made of a relatively thin plastic web that does not rigidly maintain the shell members in alignment.

The case 10 is provided with a lock 20, at the front of the case opposite to the position of the living hinge 16 so that when the lower and upper shell members 12, 14 are in abutment with each other, as shown in Figs. 1-4 and 8, the lock 20 may be selectively closed to prevent inadvertent opening of the case by separation of the shell members from each other. It will be appreciated that any suitable locking mechanism well-known to those skilled in the art may be

used. A simple and inexpensive locking mechanism may be used for this purpose. Illustrated in Fig. 3, for example, are a plurality of rigid but somewhat flexible tabs 22a projecting upwardly from the lower shell member 12, as viewed in Fig. 7. A suitable detent lip 22b is provided in the upper shell member 14 that resiliently snaps against the tabs 22a to cause the shell members to lock. Only when the tabs 22a are physically outwardly deflected by a user is the detent mechanism rendered ineffective and the tabs may be moved beyond the lip 22b to thereby unlock the shell members from each other.

The case 10 illustrated in the Figures is specifically configured to be used in conjunction with a tambourine TlO, shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The details of the tambourine TlO will not be described in full detail in this application, as they are described in co-pending U.S. patent application no. 60/781,466 filed on March 10, 2006 and assigned to the same assignee as the subject application. Thus, the tambourine TlO is generally shown to include a longer arcuate rim, segment or portion T12 and a shorter rim, segment or portion T14 extending to the ends of the arcuate rim T12. A handle T16 is provided on the shorter segment or portion T14. A plurality of jingles Tl 8 are mounted within spaced slots T20 as shown.

When used in conjunction with a tambourine similar to the tambourine TlO shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the case 10 is advantageously provided with an opening 23 which creates a generally elongate portion 24 that can serve as a handgrip or handle 24 suitable for gripping and carrying the case. As will be evident from Figs. 5 and 6, the opening 22 is formed to be positioned adjacent or proximate to but beyond the handle Tl 6. Similarly, the case may be provided with recessed portions or panels 26 which are suitably received between the larger arcuate segment T12 and the shorter segment T14, as will become evident in conjunction with Fig. 7. All or part of the region for the recess 26 may also be empty, thus generating another

through-opening similar to the opening 23. The resulting webs created by the recessed panels instead of an opening provide suitable surface areas on which a trademark or a logo 28 may be applied.

Referring specifically to Fig. 7, in which the case 10 is shown in its open condition, the lower shell member 12 is shown provided with a larger arcuate channel 30 and a shorter arcuate channel 32. The larger arcuate channel 30 is dimensioned to receive the larger arcuate segment or portion T12 of the tambourine while the shorter or smaller arcuate channel 32 is dimensioned and configured to receive both the shorter segment or portion Tl 4 of the tambourine as well as the handle T16. A first positioning member 34 is provided that extends substantially the entire length of the larger arcuate channel 30 but radially outwardly and generally closer to the outer periphery of the lower shell member 12. A similar second positioning member 36 is provided which is more inwardly than the first position member 34 to define the channel 30. It will be noted that both the first and second positioning members 34, 36 are, in the presently preferred embodiment, undulating or wavy in configuration to provide regions for matingly nesting with and securing the circular outer peripheries of the jingles Tl 8. The first and second positioning members 34, 36 in addition, prevent excessive shifting of the tambourine within the case and stabilize the tambourine during display and transportation or storage of the instrument. Similar larger and smaller channels 38, 40 are provided in the upper shell member 14, the undulations of which generally match the undulations of the positioning members 34, 36 so as to form a continuous pair of undulating walls in both shell members. Additional stabilizing walls 42, 44 are provided in the lower shell member 12 and similar walls 46, 48 are provided in the upper shell member 14, which nest with the tambourine when received within the case. Suitable reinforcing ribs 50 may be provided in those spaces not occupied by the tambourine when

received within the case. The ribs 50 in the embodiment shown in Fig. 7, are provided within the handle or handgrip 24 to reinforce the handle against warping or excessive deflection.

It will be appreciated that the tambourine case 10 in accordance with the present invention is simple in construction and may be formed by molding to form the lower and upper shell members 12, 14 as well as the living hinge 16 and the lock 22, substantially in one manufacturing operation. Once molded, the case can be used to display, transport or store the instrument. If the case 10 is to be used to display the instrument at a point of sale it is preferably made of a transparent plastic material which may be clear or slightly translucent. Thus, once a customer examines the tambourine inside the case and chooses to purchase the tambourine, the case may continue to serve useful functions or purposes after the purchase to protect the instrument against scratching, nicking or other damage when stored or transported.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity and understanding, it will, of course, be understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the form, details, and arrangements of the parts without departing from the scope of the invention.