Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6460703
-
Patent Number
6,460,703
-
Date Filed
Monday, May 21, 200123 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, October 8, 200221 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Yu; Mickey
- Mohandesi; Jila M.
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 206 486
- 206 723
- 206 476
- 206 418
- 206 756
- 206 763
- 206 765
- 206 769
- 206 525
- 206 68
- 206 426
- 229 162
- 229 1161
- D09 414
- D09 415
- D09 418
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A box includes bottom, opposed side, front, top, and rear panels, which define an interior space of the box. The box has a display opening and an invertible panel that includes a top edge. The invertible panel may include a first section coplanar with the front panel and a second section coplanar with a side panel when the invertible panel is in an unflexed position. In the unflexed position, a vertical passageway is formed behind the invertible panel and in front of the top panel. An article having a body depending from an elongated support can be packaged in the box by placing the support in the vertical passageway and positioning the body in the display opening. Force is applied to the article and/or the invertible panel whereby the invertible panel is moved into a second position and the article is contained within the interior space of the box.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not Applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH
Not Applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to boxes for displaying a product sold at retail, such as a lamp, and more particularly, to a display box that is configured to provide for a cost effective product packaging process at the place of product packaging.
2. Description of the Related Art
After being manufactured, retail products, such as lamps and the like, are commonly packaged in a box for containing, transporting, and preferably, displaying the product at a retail location. Frequently, retailers want to display such products so that the appearance of the product can be viewed by prospective buyers. While manufacturers are certainly interested in providing a box that attractively displays their product, manufacturers are also concerned with the manufacturing costs associated with loading the product into the display box at the manufacturing or distribution site. A box that provides optimum product display characteristics may not provide for a cost effective packaging process at the manufacturing or distribution site.
Therefore, there is a continuing need for product display boxes having improved product display characteristics and having a configuration that allows the box to loaded with a product at a manufacturing site using a cost effective packaging process.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The foregoing needs are met by a box according to the invention which includes a bottom panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, a front panel, a top panel, a rear panel, a display opening having a perimeter, and an invertible panel. The bottom panel, the first side panel, the second side panel, the front panel, the top panel and the rear panel define an interior space of the box. The first side panel, the second side panel, the front panel, and the rear panel are foldably joined at their lower edges to the bottom panel and are foldably joined at their upper edges to the top panel. The first side panel and the second side panel are foldably joined at their front edges to the front panel and are foldably joined at their rear edges to the rear panel. The display opening is formed between at least a portion of the first side panel and at least a portion of the front panel.
The invertible panel of the box includes a top edge, a bottom edge, and opposed side edges, and is located above the display opening. The majority of the top edge of the invertible panel is not joined to any panels of the box and the majority of the bottom edge of the invertible panel is not joined to any panels of the box. One side edge of the invertible panel is foldably joined to the front panel and the other side edge of the invertible panel is foldably joined to the first side panel so that the invertible panel can be moved between a first position and a second position that is nearer a central portion of the interior space of the box than the first position.
In one form of the box, the invertible panel includes a first section and a second section wherein the first section is substantially coplanar with the front panel and the second section is substantially coplanar with the first side panel when the invertible panel is in the first position. In this form, the top panel is dimensioned such that a vertical passageway is formed behind the invertible panel when the invertible panel is in the first position. This form of the box allows the box to loaded with an article at a manufacturing site using a cost effective packaging process. Specifically, a person packaging the article is provided with this form of the box and an article having a body and a movable elongated support. The elongated support is placed into the vertical passageway such that a portion of the elongated support is above or rests on the top edge of the invertible panel. The body of the article is then positioned in the display opening of the box. A force is then applied to the article and/or the invertible panel whereby the invertible panel is moved into the second position and the article is contained within the interior space of the box.
It is therefore an advantage of the present invention to provide a box that allows retailers to display a product so that the appearance of the product can be viewed by prospective buyers.
It is another advantage of the present invention to provide a box having improved product display characteristics and having a configuration that allows the box to loaded with a product at a manufacturing site using a cost effective packaging process.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood upon consideration of the following detailed description, drawings, and appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1A
is a top view showing a flat planar sheet of box material, such as cardboard, that is cut, creased and assembled to form a display box in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 1B
is a top view showing another flat planar sheet of box material, such as cardboard, that is cut, creased and assembled to form another display box in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 2
is a front perspective view from above and to one side of a display box in accordance with the present invention produced from the sheet of box material shown in
FIG. 1A
, the box having the invertible panel pushed inward;
FIG. 3
is a right side elevational view of the box of
FIG. 2
;
FIG. 4
is a top plan view of the box of
FIG. 2
;
FIG. 5
is a front view of the box of
FIG. 2
;
FIG. 6
is a rear view of the box of
FIG. 2
;
FIG. 7
is a left side elevational view of the box of
FIG. 2
;
FIG. 7B
is a left side elevational view of another display box in accordance with the invention produced from the blank shown in
FIG. 1B
;
FIG. 8
is a bottom plan view of the box of
FIG. 2
;
FIG. 9
is a front perspective view from above and to one side of the display box of
FIG. 2
with the invertible panel pulled outward;
FIG. 10
is a right side elevational view of the box of
FIG. 9
;
FIG. 11
is a plan view of the box of
FIG. 9
;
FIG. 12
is a plan view of the box of
FIG. 9
;
FIG. 13
is a front perspective view from above and to one side of a display box in accordance with the present invention being loaded with a first component of a product;
FIG. 14
is a front perspective view from above and to one side of a display box in accordance with the present invention being loaded with a second component of the product;
FIG. 15
is a front perspective view from above and to one side of a display box in accordance with the present invention being further loaded with the second component of the product;
FIG. 16
is a front perspective view from above and to one side of a display box in accordance with the present invention loaded with the product;
FIG. 17
is a front perspective view from above and to one side of a display box in accordance with the present invention having the product packaged therein;
FIG. 18
is a cross-sectional view taken along line
18
—
18
of
FIG. 17
; and
FIG. 19
is a cross-sectional view taken along line
19
—
19
of FIG.
17
.
It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale and that the embodiments are sometimes illustrated by graphic symbols, phantom lines, diagrammatic representations and fragmentary views. In certain instances, details which are not necessary for an understanding of the present invention or which render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It should be understood, of course, that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein.
Like reference numerals will be used to refer to like or similar parts from Figure to Figure in the following description of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring now to
FIG. 1A
, a display box in accordance with the invention can be formed from a single planar rectangular blank of box material indicated generally at
10
. The box material may be cardboard, corrugated paperboard, stiffened plastic sheeting, or other any other conventional box material. The blank
10
can be formed by the use of a single die having sharp blade edges to make cuts through the box material, as illustrated by the solid lines in
FIG. 1A
, and blunted edges that are pressed into the box material to form crease lines, as illustrated by the dashed lines in FIG.
1
A. Any of the crease lines depicted in
FIG. 1A
or any of the other Figures may be a crease line or the combination of one or more crease lines and one or more cuts. The blank
10
can then be folded along the crease lines and selected flaps of the blank
10
can be secured to selected panels by conventional means, such as gluing or stapling, to form the display box.
The blank
10
includes a front panel
20
, a right panel
40
, a left panel
60
, a rear panel
80
, a bottom panel
42
and a top panel
45
. When the blank
10
is assembled into a display box in accordance with the invention, the front panel
20
, right panel
40
, left panel
60
, rear panel
80
, bottom panel
42
and top panel
45
form the front, right, left, rear, bottom and top sides of the display box. It should be understood that when describing the panels of the blank or the sides of the display box, the terms front, right, left, rear, bottom and top have been used for convenience and do not imply that the display box must be arranged with the front of the display box facing a viewer. However, in an example use for the display box, a viewer facing the display box would be looking at the front panel of the box, with the bottom panel of the box typically resting on a display surface. In addition, when the term “substantially” is used herein with reference to the shape of flaps or panels, the term “substantially” means that the flap or panel may vary slightly from the general geometric shape such as by the rounding or chamfering of corners.
The front panel
20
is. hinged to the left panel
60
by a crease lines
23
and is hinged to the right panel
40
by a crease line
27
. The right panel
40
is hinged to the rear panel
80
by a crease line
46
. The substantially trapezoidal top panel
45
is hinged to the right panel
40
by a crease line
44
and the substantially rectangular bottom panel
42
is hinged to the right panel
40
by a crease line
41
. The perimeter of the top panel
45
is formed by edges
45
a
,
45
b
,
45
c
and
45
d
and may include chamfered or rounded corners at the intersection of any of the edges
45
a
,
45
b
,
45
c
and
45
d
. The perimeter of the bottom panel
42
is formed by edges
42
a
,
42
b
, and
42
c
and may include chamfered or rounded corners at the intersection of any of the edges
42
a
,
42
b
and
42
c.
Assembly flaps
82
,
22
,
64
,
66
,
25
and
85
are arranged around the blank in strategic locations to allow for assembly of a display box in accordance with-the invention. Substantially trapezoidal assembly flap
82
is hinged to the bottom of the rear panel
80
by a crease line
81
. Substantially trapezoidal assembly flap
22
is hinged to the bottom of the front panel
20
by a crease line
21
. Substantially trapezoidal assembly flap
64
is hinged to the side of the left panel
60
by a crease line
63
. Substantially trapezoidal assembly flap
66
is hinged to the top of the left panel
60
by a crease line
65
. Substantially rectangular assembly flap
25
is hinged to the top of the front panel
20
by a crease line
24
. Substantially trapezoidal assembly flap
85
is hinged to the top of the rear panel
80
by a crease line
84
.
The blank
10
includes an invertible panel
30
that is arranged between the front panel
20
and the right panel
40
. A left section
301
of the invertible panel
30
is hinged to the front panel
20
by a crease line
26
and a right section
30
r
of the invertible panel
30
is hinged to the right panel
40
by a crease line
43
. The upper edge of the invertible panel
30
comprises upper edge
391
and upper edge
39
r
that are spaced apart by notch
49
. The lower edge of the invertible panel
30
includes spaced apart lower edge
31
and lower edge
33
. A display hole
70
is defined in the blank
10
by the invertible panel
30
, a curvilinear inner edge
72
of the front panel
20
, and a curvilinear inner edge
73
of the right panel
40
.
Extending downward from the invertible panel
30
is a left retention tab
32
that is hinged to the left section
301
of the invertible panel
30
by a crease line
37
. Also extending downward from the invertible panel
30
is a right retention tab
34
that is hinged to the right section
30
r
of the invertible panel
30
by a crease line
38
. At the center of the invertible panel
30
, there is a crease line
36
that runs from the notch
49
to the intersection of crease line
37
and crease line
38
. The right section
30
r
of the invertible panel
30
also includes a crease line
35
that runs from the upper edge
39
r
of the invertible panel
30
to the intersection of the crease line
38
and the lower edge
33
of the invertible panel
30
.
Referring now to
FIG. 1B
, another display box in accordance with the invention can be formed from a single planar rectangular blank of box material indicated generally at
10
B. The blank
10
B includes all of the features of the blank
10
of FIG.
1
A. However, the blank
10
B includes two additional assembly flaps
47
and
48
. Assembly flap
47
is hinged to the top of the top panel
45
by a crease line
57
, and assembly flap
48
is hinged to the bottom of the bottom panel
42
by a crease line
58
.
The blank
10
of
FIG. 1A
can be assembled into the display box
15
shown in
FIGS. 2
,
3
,
4
,
5
,
6
,
7
,
8
,
9
,
10
,
11
and
12
using (among other methods) the following steps (the sequence of which can be altered). The rear panel
80
is folded 90 degrees rearward (i.e., into the plane of the drawing of
FIG. 1A
) along crease line
46
and then the right panel
40
is folded 90 degrees rearward (i.e., into the plane of the drawing of
FIG. 1A
) along crease lines
27
and
36
. The assembly flap
64
is then folded 90 degrees rearward (i.e., into the plane of the drawing of
FIG. 1A
) along crease line
63
. The left panel
60
is then folded 90 degrees rearward (i.e., into the plane of the drawing of
FIG. 1A
) along crease line
23
. The assembly flap
64
may then be secured (such as by gluing) to the interior of the rear panel
80
near the edge
83
of the rear panel
80
.
Next, assembly flap
66
is folded 90 degrees downward along crease line
65
, assembly flap
25
is folded 90 degrees downward along crease line
24
, and assembly flap
85
is folded 90 degrees downward along crease line
84
. Glue may then be applied to the top surfaces of assembly flaps
66
,
25
and
85
, and top panel
45
is folded 90 degrees downward along crease line
44
to secure the top surfaces of assembly flaps
66
,
25
and
85
to the bottom surface of the top panel
45
. Then, assembly flap
62
is folded 90 degrees upward along crease line
61
, assembly flap
22
is folded 90 degrees upward along crease line
21
, and assembly flap
82
is folded 90 degrees upward along crease line
81
. Glue may then be applied to the bottom surfaces of assembly flaps
62
,
22
and
82
, and bottom panel
42
is folded 90 degrees upward along crease line
41
to secure the bottom surfaces of assembly flaps
62
,
22
and
82
to the top surface of the bottom panel
42
.
After this assembly process, the display box
15
will be configured as shown in
FIGS. 6
to
12
. During subsequent processing in a packaging process (as described below), the invertible panel
30
is pressed inward such that the display box
15
is configured as shown in
FIGS. 1
to
8
. In order for the display box
15
to assume the configuration of
FIGS. 1
to
8
, the invertible panel is folded inward along crease line
36
and inward along crease lines
43
and
26
. The angle of the folds along crease lines
26
,
36
and
43
will vary depending on the dimensions of the invertible panel
30
. The left retention tab
32
and the right retention tab
34
may also be folded inward along crease lines
37
and
28
respectively during subsequent processing in a packaging process.
The blank
10
B of
FIG. 1B
can be assembled into another display box
15
B which is identical to the display box
15
in the views of
FIGS. 2
,
3
,
4
,
5
,
6
,
8
,
9
,
10
,
11
and
12
but has a side view as shown in FIG.
7
B. The sequence of assembly steps is the same as above for display box
15
except that (i) when securing the top surfaces of assembly flaps
66
,
25
and
85
to the bottom surface of the top panel
45
, assembly flap
47
is folded 90 degrees downward along crease line
57
and secured (such as by glue) to the top portion of the left panel
60
, and (ii) when securing the bottom surfaces of assembly flaps
62
,
22
and
82
to the top surface of the bottom panel
42
, assembly flap
48
is folded 90 degrees upward along crease line
58
and secured (such as by glue) to the bottom portion of the left panel
60
. It can be appreciated that the assembly flaps
47
and
48
can be located in an alternative position on the top panel
45
and the bottom panel
42
respectively such that the assembly flaps
47
and
48
are secured to the top and bottom portion of the rear panel
80
.
Looking at
FIGS. 2-12
, it can be seen that the invertible panel
30
can flex along crease line
36
(which is intermediate and preferably centered between the opposed side edges or crease lines
26
and
43
of the invertible panel
30
) when the invertible panel
30
is moved between a first (unflexed) position as best shown in
FIG. 9 and a
second (inwardly flexed) position as best shown in FIG.
2
. Referring to
FIG. 9
, it can be seen that the left section
301
of the invertible panel
30
is substantially (i.e., almost completely) coplanar with the front panel
20
and the right section
30
r
is substantially (i.e., almost completely) coplanar with the right panel
40
when the invertible panel
30
is in the first position. In addition, the top panel
45
is dimensioned such that a vertical passageway
55
is formed behind the invertible panel
30
and in front of edge
45
a
of the top panel
45
. With this configuration of the top panel
45
and the invertible panel
30
, an elongated object can be inserted downward into the vertical passageway
55
when the invertible panel
30
is in the first position.
After the object is inserted in the vertical passageway
55
, pressure may be applied to the invertible panel
30
such that the invertible panel
30
flexes along crease lines
26
,
36
and
43
. Upon the application of pressure, the invertible panel
30
is placed in the second position as shown in
FIG. 2
which is nearer a central portion of the interior space of the display box
15
or
15
B than the first position. It can be seen that the top panel
45
is dimensioned such that the vertical passageway
55
does not exist behind the invertible panel
30
when the invertible panel
30
is in the second position. With this configuration of the top panel
45
and the invertible panel
30
, the invertible panel
30
and the top panel
45
provide a means to contain the elongated object in the interior space of the box
15
or
15
B.
Having detailed the construction of a display box according to the invention, the use of the display box in packaging and displaying an article can be described. In order to illustrate the use of a display box according to the invention, a process for packaging a hanging mosquito lantern assembly has been shown in
FIGS. 13-19
. Looking at
FIG. 18
, the hanging mosquito lantern assembly includes a number of elongated cylindrical pole segments
93
, a number of tubular connector sleeves
94
, a curvilinear elongated hanger support
92
, and a volatile dispenser (or lamp)
90
with an attached hanger
91
. The volatile dispenser
90
with a hanger
91
is fully shown and described in PCT International Publication Number WO 00/78135 A2 which is incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth herein. The cylindrical pole segments
93
(which are held together by tape
95
when boxed) are assembled into a pole using the connector sleeves
94
and the hanger support
92
is assembled to the top of the pole using a connector sleeve
94
. The pole may be inserted into the ground and the volatile dispenser
90
then depends from the hanger support
92
by way of the hanger
91
. It should be understood that the display box
15
is suitable for holding other articles, such as those having a body and a movable elongated support.
The steps for packaging the components of the hanging mosquito lantern assembly into the display box
15
are best shown in
FIGS. 13-16
. In
FIG. 13
, a group of cylindrical pole segments
93
(which are held together by tape
95
) is placed by movement in direction A into the vertical passageway
55
that is formed behind the invertible panel
30
of the box
15
. When packaging certain products, this step may be omitted depending on the number of components of the product. Next, as shown in
FIG. 14
, the curvilinear elongated hanger support
92
, which is shown supporting the attached hanger
91
of the volatile dispenser (or lamp)
90
, is placed by movement in direction B into the vertical passageway
55
that is formed behind the invertible panel
30
of the box
15
. The hanger support
92
is placed into the vertical passageway
55
such that a portion of the hanger support
92
is above or rests on the top edges
39
l
,
39
r
of the invertible panel
30
. Preferably, the hanger support
92
rests on or is above the notch
49
in the top edges
39
l
,
39
r
of the invertible panel
30
.
Thereafter, the volatile dispenser (or lamp)
90
is placed by movement in direction C into the display opening
70
of the box
15
as shown in FIG.
15
. The user then applies a force F
3
to the volatile dispenser
90
and/or forces F
1
, F
2
to the invertible panel
30
as shown in FIG.
16
. As a result, the invertible panel
30
is thrust back into the interior space of the box
15
, inverting and carrying the top of the volatile dispenser
90
to its final position in the box
15
as shown in FIG.
16
. The left retention tab
32
and the right retention tab
34
automatically spring downward to clip within the top of the volatile dispenser
90
to secure the volatile dispenser
90
within the box
15
. In one example arrangement, the invertible panel
30
preferably remains flexed at crease lines
26
,
35
,
43
(shown in
FIG. 1A
) causing the portion of the invertible panel
30
between crease lines
26
and
35
to form a generally, continuous, smooth, curved surface.
After the hanging mosquito lantern assembly is packed into the display box
15
, the box and hanging mosquito lantern assembly are arranged as shown in
FIGS. 17-19
. It can be seen that the invertible panel
30
is arranged such that the invertible panel
30
is set back from a first plane formed by the front panel
20
and a second plane formed by the right panel
40
. The hanger support
92
is positioned above or on the top edges
39
l
or
39
r
of the invertible panel, and preferably on or above the notch
49
in the top edges
39
l
,
39
r
of the invertible panel
30
. The hanging mosquito lantern assembly is contained within the interior space of the box
15
such that at least a portion of the volatile dispenser
90
is displayed through the display opening
70
of the box
15
. The left retention tab
32
and the right retention tab
34
of the invertible panel
30
preferably both contact a top portion
112
of the volatile dispenser
90
as shown in
FIGS. 18 and 19
and preferably both contact a rear lip
111
of the top of the volatile dispenser
90
in order to secure the volatile dispenser
90
in the display box
15
against both up and down movement and forward to back movement.
It can be appreciated that the display box according to the invention provides cost advantages when packaging a product, especially a product having a body depending from a movable elongated support. The display box may be delivered to a packaging assembly line fully assembled with all joints and ends glued as is shown in FIG.
9
. In this “pre filling” configuration, the invertible panel is in an initial unflexed position. The product may then be packaged in the box by one person using the steps detailed above. When using prior boxes, multiple handling steps and multiple people were needed to pack such a product into a conventional box as the conventional box had end panels that were open to allow the product to be inserted from an end. The end panels then had to be closed and securely fastened to retain the product. When using a display box according to the invention, the packaging process can be accomplished in fewer steps using fewer people.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to certain embodiments, the invention can be practiced by other than the described embodiments, which have been presented for purposes of illustration and not of limitation. Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the embodiments contained herein.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
The invention relates to a box for containing and displaying a product sold at retail, and to product packaging processes using the box.
Claims
- 1. A box for containing and displaying a product, the box comprising:a bottom panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, a front panel, a top panel, a rear panel, a display opening having a perimeter, and an invertible panel, the bottom panel, the first side panel, the second side panel, the front panel, the top panel and the rear panel defining an interior space of the box, the first side panel, the second side panel, the front panel, and the rear panel being joined at their lower edges to the bottom panel, the first side panel, the second side panel, the front panel, and the rear panel being joined at their upper edges to the top panel, the first side panel and the second side panel being joined at their front edges to the front panel, the first side panel and the second side panel being joined at their rear edges to the rear panel, the display opening being formed between at least a portion of the first side panel and at least a portion of the front panel, and the invertible panel including a top edge, a bottom edge, and opposed side edges, the invertible panel being located above the display opening, the majority of the top edge of the invertible panel not being joined to any panels of the box, the majority of the bottom edge of the invertible panel not being joined to any panels of the box, one side edge of the invertible panel being joined to the front panel and the other side edge of the invertible panel being joined to the first side panel such that the invertible panel can be moved between a first position and a second position, the second position being nearer a central portion of the interior space of the box than the first position.
- 2. The box of claim 1, further comprising:at least one tab extending downward from the bottom edge of the invertible panel.
- 3. The box of claim 1, further comprising:a pair of tabs extending downward from the bottom edge of the invertible panel.
- 4. The box of claim 1, wherein:the top edge of the invertible panel includes a downwardly extending notch.
- 5. The box of claim 1, wherein:the invertible panel can flex along a longitudinal fold line intermediate the opposed side edges of the invertible panel when the invertible panel is moved between the first position and the second position.
- 6. The box of claim 1, wherein:the invertible panel includes a first section and a second section, the first section being substantially coplanar with the front panel and the second section being substantially coplanar with the first side panel when the invertible panel is in the first position.
- 7. The box of claim 1, wherein:the top panel is dimensioned such that a vertical passageway is formed behind the invertible panel when the invertible panel is in the first position.
- 8. The box of claim 7, wherein:the top panel is dimensioned such that a vertical passageway does not exist behind the invertible panel when the invertible panel is in the second position.
- 9. A one-piece blank for forming the box of claim 1.
- 10. A boxed article comprising the box of claim 1, andan article having a body and a movable elongated support, wherein the elongated support is positioned above or on the top edge of the invertible panel, and the article is contained within the interior space of the box such that at least a portion of the body of the article is displayed through the display opening.
- 11. The boxed article of claim 10, wherein:the top edge of the invertible panel includes a downwardly extending notch, and the elongated support rests in the notch.
- 12. The boxed article of claim 10, wherein:the body depends from the movable elongated support.
- 13. The boxed article of claim 10 wherein:the invertible panel includes at least one tab extending downward from the bottom edge, and each tab contacts a top portion of the body of the article.
- 14. The boxed article of claim 10 wherein:the body of the article is a lamp and the support is a hanger support.
- 15. A method for packaging in a box an article having a body and a movable elongated support such that the body of the article is displayed, the method comprising:providing a box having a bottom panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, a front panel, a top panel, a rear panel, a display opening having a perimeter, and an invertible panel, the bottom panel, the first side panel, the second side panel, the front panel, the top panel and the rear panel defining an interior space of the box, the first side panel, the second side panel, the front panel, and the rear panel being joined at their lower edges to the bottom panel, the first side panel, the second side panel, the front panel, and the rear panel being joined at their upper edges to the top panel, the first side panel and the second side panel being joined at their front edges to the front panel, the first side panel and the second side panel being joined at their rear edges to the rear panel, the display opening being formed in at least a portion of the first side panel and at least a portion of the front panel, and the invertible panel including a top edge, a bottom edge, and opposed side edges, the invertible panel being located above the display opening, the majority of the top edge of the invertible panel not being joined to any panels of the box, the majority of the bottom edge of the invertible panel not being joined to any panels of the box, one side edge of the invertible panel being joined to the front panel and the other side edge of the invertible panel being joined to the first side panel such that the invertible panel can be moved between a first position and a second position, the second position being nearer a central portion of the interior space of the box than the first position, the invertible panel being initially in the first position, the top panel being dimensioned such that a vertical passageway is formed behind the invertible panel when the invertible panel is in the first position; providing an article having a body and a movable elongated support; placing the elongated support into the vertical passageway such that a portion of the elongated support is above or rests on the top edge of the invertible panel; positioning the body of the article in the display opening of the box; and applying a force to the article and/or the invertible panel whereby the invertible panel is moved into the second position and the article is contained within the interior space of the box.
- 16. The method of claim 15 wherein:the top edge of the invertible panel includes a downwardly extending notch, and the elongated support rests in the notch when the elongated support is placed into the vertical passageway.
- 17. The method of claim 15 wherein:the invertible panel includes at least one tab extending downward from the bottom edge, and each tab contacts a top portion of the body of the article when the article is contained within the interior space of the box.
- 18. The method of claim 15 wherein:the body depends from the movable elongated support.
- 19. The method of claim 15 wherein:the body of the article is a lamp and the support is a hanger support.
US Referenced Citations (14)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
WO0078135 |
Dec 2000 |
WO |