Packaging for visually impaired and blind persons

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9828158-B2
Application number	US-201414243928-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 3, 2014
Priority date	Apr 3, 2014
Publication date	Nov 28, 2017
Grant date	Nov 28, 2017

Abstract

Packaging for visually impaired and blind user is disclosed. In one embodiment, a package includes an exterior surface, a first sub-component package, and a second sub-component package. The first sub-component package and the second sub-component package are enclosed by the exterior surface in an interior region of the package. The package further includes a first non-visual message element associated with the first sub-component package, and a second non-visual message element associated with the second sub-component package. The non-visual message elements may be configured as tactile and/or audio non-visual message elements. In some embodiments, wireless signal emitter devices are provided within the package to actuate one or more speaker devices to thereby play auditory signals.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A package comprising:
an exterior surface including a lid that is adjustable between an open and a closed position;
an exterior non-visual message element disposed on the exterior surface;
a first sub-component package, and a second sub-component package, wherein the first sub-component package and the second sub-component package are enclosed by the exterior surface in an interior region of the package;
a first non-visual message element associated with the first sub-component package, wherein the first non-visual message element is disposed on a top surface of the first sub-component package, the top surface facing the lid when the lid is in the closed position; and
a second non-visual message element and a third non-visual message element associated with the second sub-component package, wherein:
the second non-visual message element and the third non-visual message element provide tactile messages, the second non-visual message element is configured as a Braille message, and
the third non-visual message element is configured as a textured surface indicative of a proximity of the Braille message of the second non-visual message element and defining an enclosed perimeter, wherein the enclosed perimeter does not include and does not surround the Braille message, and
the third non-visual message element is further configured as an embossed directional shape indicative of a proximity of the Braille message of the second non-visual message element and defining an enclosed perimeter that does not include and does not surround the Braille message, wherein the embossed directional shape comprises an arrow pointing toward the Braille message of the second non-visual message element.

2. The package of claim 1 , wherein the first non-visual message element is positioned on an exterior surface of the first sub-component package, and the second non-visual message element is positioned on an exterior surface of the second sub-component package.

3. The package of claim 1 , wherein the first sub-component package and the second sub-component package are hierarchically arranged and stacked within the interior region of the package, such that the first sub-component package is provided in a first layer within the interior region of the package and the second sub-component package is provided in a second layer within the interior region of the package, wherein the first layer is disposed on a first vertical-level and the second layer is disposed on a second vertical level one of above or below the first vertical level in the interior region.

4. The package of claim 3 , further comprising a substrate enclosed by the exterior surface, the substrate comprising an additional non-visual message element describing aspects of at least a first sub-component and a second sub-component.

5. The package of claim 1 , further comprising one or more non-visual message elements disposed within an interior region of the first sub-component package and/or the second sub-component package.

6. The package of claim 1 , wherein the first non-visual message element and the second non-visual message element provide a tactile message, an auditory signal, or combinations thereof.

7. The package of claim 1 , wherein the first non-visual message element provides one or more tactile messages.

8. The package of claim 7 , wherein the one or more tactile messages are configured as Braille messages.

9. The package of claim 7 , wherein the one or more tactile messages are configured as embossed shapes.

10. The package of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the first non-visual message element and the second non-visual message element comprises a speaker device and an actuator device, wherein actuation of the actuator device causes the speaker device to produce one or more auditory signals.

11. The package of claim 10 , further comprising an exterior auditory message device comprising an external speaker device.

12. The package of claim 10 , wherein the actuator device comprises a switch.

13. The package of claim 1 , wherein the first non-visual message element and/or the second non-visual message element comprises a wireless signal emitter device operable to produce a wireless signal.

14. The package of claim 1 , wherein the textured surface comprises at least one of a rough texture, a fuzzy texture, a scaly texture, and a smooth texture.

15. A package comprising:
an exterior surface;
a first sub-component package, wherein the first sub-component package is enclosed by the exterior surface in an interior region of the package;
a first wireless signal emitter device and a second wireless signal emitter device, wherein each of the first and second wireless signal emitter devices is configured to emit a wireless signal that is encoded and associated with an associated auditory signal, and at least the first wireless signal emitter device is disposed on the first sub-component package and the second wireless signal emitter device is disposed on one of the first sub-component package and the exterior surface of the package; and
a wireless signal receiving device comprising a speaker device coupled to, as an attached electrical structural component of, the exterior surface, wherein the wireless signal receiving device is operable to:
receive the wireless signal emitted by the first or second wireless signal emitter device;
decode the wireless signal; and
produce one or more associated auditory signals in accordance with the wireless signal emitted by the first or second wireless signal emitter device upon receipt and decoding of the wireless signal.

16. The package of claim 15 , wherein the first and second wireless signal emitter devices are operable to produce wireless signals such that the wireless signals are received by an external communications device.

17. The package of claim 16 , wherein the external communications device is a cellular phone.

18. A package comprising:
an exterior surface including a lid that is adjustable between an open and a closed position;
an exterior non-visual message element disposed on the exterior surface;
a first sub-component package, and a second sub-component package, wherein the first sub-component package and the second sub-component package are enclosed by the exterior surface in an interior region of the package;
a first non-visual message element associated with the first sub-component package, wherein the first non-visual message element is disposed on a top surface of the first sub-component package, the top surface facing the lid when the lid is in the closed position; and
a second non-visual message element and a third non-visual message element associated with the second sub-component package, wherein:
the second non-visual message element and the third non-visual message element provide tactile messages, the second non-visual message element is configured-as a Braille message, and
the third non-visual message element is configured as an embossed directional shape indicative of a proximity of the Braille message of the second non-visual message element and defining an enclosed perimeter, wherein the enclosed perimeter does not include and does not surround the Braille message, and the embossed directional shape comprises an arrow pointing toward the Braille message of the second non-visual message element.

Assignees

• Toyota Eng & Mfg North America

Inventors

• Moore Douglas A

Classifications

• B65D5/4212

  Information or decoration elements, e.g. content indicators, or for mailing (B65D5/522 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G09B21/007 Primary

  using both tactile and audible presentation of the information · CPC title

• B65D77/02 Primary

  Wrapped articles enclosed in rigid or semi-rigid containers · CPC title

• B65D77/042

  the inner container being of polygonal cross-section formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks, e.g. carton · CPC title

• B65D2203/02

  Labels · CPC title