BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the kind of flexible container that the present invention is configured to cover, the container being depicted in an unfolded condition.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container of FIG. 1, depicted in a folded configuration.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view from the top of a prior art display box.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view from the bottom of a prior art display box.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view from the top of a display box having features of the present invention, depicted in an unfolded condition.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view from the bottom of the display box of FIG. 1.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view from the side of the display box of FIG. 1, depicted in a folded configuration, showing further aspects of the present invention.
FIG. 8. is a view of the display box of FIG. 7, showing yet further aspects of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a view of the display box of FIG. 1, depicting the box opened out into an original manufactured flat configuration.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
With reference to FIGS. 5-9 by way of example and without limitation, a display box generally designated 40 is shown having features of the present invention.
The display box 40 is dimensioned to snugly receive a container, such as the container 20 exemplified in FIGS. 1-2, for holding products such as tools, or for holding a product and its accessories. The display box 40 is particularly useful where the container is flexible by having various parts that may move in relation to each other, either independently and unconnected or by hinges.
By way of describing the product that forms the display box 40 of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a method of forming such display box will first be described to assist with envisioning the product. The producer may conceptually start with a rigid display box, such as the box 28 exemplified in FIGS. 3-4, dimensioned to snugly receive a flexible container such as that exemplified in FIGS. 1-2. As in the case of the box shown in FIGS. 3-4, the display box 40 of the present invention may be manufactured from a single sheet of cardboard, or other suitable material. FIG. 9 exemplifies such a single sheet and will be described more fully below. Windows 30 of a desired size and shape may be stamped into the sheet, and may these windows may be sealed with a sturdy transparent film such as cellophane.
Turning now to FIGS. 5-8, to achieve the desired structure in a display box 40 having features of the present invention, the following steps may be envisaged, although it will be appreciated that actual manufacture may be more conveniently done by stamping out a single sheet as exemplified in FIG. 9, followed by folding the box and gluing or stapling the loose edges appropriately. At least one continuous single cut 44 is made into three sides 46, 48, 50 of the box 40, so that the two end points 52, 54 of the cut 44 are positioned at opposite ends of a fourth side 56 of the box, as exemplified in FIGS. 5-6. It will be appreciated that the fourth side 56 of the box is now flexible along a score line or hinge 58 (shown as a broken line in FIG. 5) extending from the first end 52 to the second end 54 of the cut, and will permit the fourth side 56 to bend about the score line 58 without any other side having to bend. A second cut 60 having a first end 62 and second end 64 may similarly be made into three sides of the box, to allow the box to bend about a second score line or hinge 66.
Although the first score line 58 and second score line 66 may be on the same side of the box, the cuts and the score lines may be on different sides of the box, depending on the configuration of the container that it is to be inserted within. The cuts and the score lines are positioned on the box 40 to coincide with the positions of hinges of a container that is desired to be inserted within, thus ensuring that when the container bends at a hinge, the outer display box 40 bends along a score line without any other portion of the box 40 having to bend.
One beneficial result of the configuration of the display box of the present invention is that it permits the overall package, including the container surrounded by the display box 40, to be shipped and stored in a folded configuration, as exemplified in FIGS. 7-8. This characteristic has the advantage of allowing the overall package to be rendered more compact, making it easier to handle and eliminating the tendency of the container within to bias from an unfolded to a folded configuration while being handled, which, as explained above, may cause a rigid display box, such as exemplified in FIGS. 3-4, to break up. There is the further advantage that, after the package has been shipped, it may be unfolded for display in a store to consumers. The windows 30 in the front permit a consumer to look into the contents of both the box 40 and the container within, while the transparent material in the windows 30 prevent tampering with the contents. After purchasing the package, the consumer may easily fold up the package for transport away from the store, and may thereafter easily slide the container from the interior of the display box 40.
Thus, following from the foregoing method of making a preferred embodiment of the display box of the present invention, a preferred structure of the invention may be described as follows. A display box 40 is provided having six rectangular sides. (The term “side” is to be understood herein as allowing that a side is positionable in a single plane, but is not necessarily continuous from one extremity to another. For example, the side 48 as shown in FIG. 6 is positionable in a single plane in one configuration, but it is not continuous from one extremity to another to the extent it includes incisions 44, 60. So also, side 56 as shown in FIG. 5 is positionable in a single plane but is not continuous from one extremity to another to the extent it includes windows 30.) At least one incision extends from a starting point 52 adjacent a perimeter of a first side 56, circumferentially through three other sides 46, 48, 50, and terminates at an ending point 54 adjacent the perimeter of the same side 56 that includes the first point 52.
Thus, the display box may be folded about a score line or hinge 58, on the first side 56, extending between starting point 52 and ending point 54 of the incision In a further embodiment, further such incisions as indicated generally by numeral 60 may be formed in the box with a starting point 62 and an end point 64. In the latter embodiment, it is not necessary that the cuts and resulting score lines all exist on the same one of the sides of the display box, but in a preferred embodiment, as exemplified in FIGS. 5-6, two score lines 58, 66 exist on the same side 56, allowing the display box to be folded in two places, so that a first end panel 74 and second end panel 76 of the box may be folded over a middle panel 78, the end panels generally meeting each other at the center of the middle panel (FIGS. 7-8). Additionally, one or more windows 30 may be cut into the sides, and may be covered by a transparent material such as cellophane. In a preferred embodiment, a window, or a plurality of windows, are cut into the same side 56 so that, when the end panels 74, 76 are folded over the middle panel 78 as described, the windows are covered and are not visible or accessible from outside the folded box, and thus are “closed.”
At least one, but preferably two opposite sides 70, 72 may form conventional flaps 90 that may be opened to permit a flexible container to be inserted within the display box 40, and thereafter to be closed to receive the container within. Conventional tabs may be provided to secure the flaps in a closed position.
Turning now to FIGS. 7-8, in another aspect of the invention, rectangular blocking pieces 80 may be formed for insertion into openings 82 that appear in the display box 40 adjacent the score lines 58, 66 when the box is folded as described above, and exemplified in FIG. 7. The blocking pieces 80 may be formed from separate sheets of cardboard, and shaped to close off an opening 82. To easily achieve this purpose, the blocking piece may be folded into three flaps, namely two edge flaps 84, 85 and a middle flap 86. The edge flaps 84, 85 are configured to fit adjacent the inner surface 87 of a side (e.g. side 48) of the box that is exposed after the box is folded as exemplified in FIG. 7, leaving the middle flap 86 to close off the opening 82. In order to allow the blocking piece to operate when the box 40 is both folded (FIG. 8) and unfolded (FIGS. 5-6) with a flexible container positioned within the box 40, one of the edge flaps 84 (but not both) may be glued (or otherwise affixed, for example by staples) to an inner surface 87 with which the flap 84 is in contact. The blocking piece 80 is preferably made of flexible cardboard, sufficient to allow the unconnected part of the blocking piece to slide against the inner surface and against a container within when the box is moved from folded to unfolded condition, and vice versa. Thus, when the box 40 is in an unfolded condition, the blocking piece 80 (shown in broken line in FIG. 6) lies entirely against the inner surface 87 of the side 48. When the box is subsequently folded, the blocking piece repositions itself to have the edge flaps 84, 85 against the inner surface of side 48, but the middle flap 86 closes off the opening 82 (FIG. 7). It will be appreciated that, where the container within the box 40 has three panels and is hinged, the container will not be able to fall out of the display box 40 when folded. However, should the container within have only two hinged panels, or three separate panels not connected to each other, a blocking piece 80 will desirably tend to prevent such container from sliding out of the box 40 inadvertently.
Thus, once the blocking piece 80 is secured in the unfolded display box 40 as indicated in FIG. 6, insertion of the container into the box may be achieved simply by sliding the container in through one of the closable flaps 90 on the side of the container, to slide over the blocking piece lying against an inner surface 87 of side 48. Then, when the display box is folded, the blocking piece is automatically pulled into the correct position as the flap affixed to the internal surface 87 is pulled away. Alternatively, if the blocking piece 80 is not affixed to an internal surface 87, it may be inserted after the container is positioned within the display box and the display box is folded.
Finally, a so-called “die line” image of a preferred embodiment of the display box is exemplified in FIG. 9. The image does not include any blocking pieces which, as described, are cut out and applied separately. The die line indicates how the display box may be stamped out of a single sheet of cardboard or other suitable covering material for folding into the desired shape. The reference numerals applied to FIG. 9 identify elements of the display box identified above.
Thus, the present invention describes a display box 40 that is conveniently suited for enclosing and protecting flexible product containers. The display box 40 is configured to bend in unison with a flexible product container within, and provides the user with the ability to fold the overall package including container and display box for compact shipment, and to unfold the package to allow it to be put on display for consumers to view the contents of the container through transparent windows in the display box, all the while maintaining security of the contents.
The present invention may, of course, be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the essential characteristics of the invention. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.
Patent Application
20080083647
