Flatware box and kit

Abstract

The present invention relates to flatware box and kit. More specifically, the present invention relates to a flatware box and kit which contains a set of flatware attached to a rack, in which the top of the box consists of a see through window, means for interlocking the top of the box to the bottom of the box and means for dispensing the flatware box and kit on a store shelf in the upright position so that the contents of the box is visible, while at the same time, the box containing the flatware and kit leans back on the shelf rather then forward, preventing the toppling of the box and kit off the shelf and on to passers by.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a flatware box and kit. More specifically, the present invention relates to a flatware box and kit which contains a set of flatware attached to a rack, in which the top of the box consists of a see-through window, means for interlocking the top of the box to the bottom of the box, and means for dispensing the flatware box and kit on a store shelf in the upright position so that the contents of the box are visible, while at the same time, the box containing the flatware and kit leans back on the shelf rather than forward, preventing the toppling of the box and kit off the shelf and on to passers-by.

Flatware and flatware racks have been around a long time and packaged within various types of boxes. Typically, flatware will be packaged in a box which will not allow the purchaser to see the contents as they are contained in the box. Sometimes the box will have a picture of the flatware on the outside, other times no picture will be displayed. If such is the case, it is typical for the store selling the flatware to display an open set of the flatware so as to allow the consumer to see what he/she is purchasing. In such situations, however, what is actually contained within the box is not seen by the purchaser until the box is ned.

The ideal box for flatware would, therefore, be a box which contains a see-through top, allowing the consumer to check its contents without actually having to open the box. Examples of such display boxes with see-through tops or large windows are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,053,325 to Yonker et al, issued Apr. 25, 2000; U.S. Pat. No. 6,460,703B1 to Thompson et al, issued Oct. 8, 2002; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,371,366B to Edgerton et al, issued Apr. 16, 2002.

There are two problems presented by a box with a see-through top. The first is how the box is displayed on the store shelf. When there is no see-through top, the contents of one box are displayed and usually the boxes containing the flatware to be purchased will be stacked one on top of the other, in a nearby location, out of harms way. When the box contains a see-through top, the box itself acts as the display product and therefore, must be positioned accordingly. The store owner, therefore, would ideally place the box with the see-through top in the upright position, rather then the flat stacked position, allowing the consumer to see what is contained within the box. The boxes will then be lined up one behind the other, so that as the boxes are sold and removed from the shelf, the front of the remaining boxes is in a display position.

However, when the display box is placed in the upright position, there is a danger of the box tipping over and falling on people passing by, or potential purchasers. Usually the box containing a see-through top stands vertically on the shelf, allowing the consumer to see the box's contents clearly. Given the weight of the box and its contents it is very easy for a box to tumble off the shelf and strike a passerby.

A second problem presented by a box with a see-through top is that the box often tends to open up when placed in the vertical display position. This is in contrast to the typical flatware box without a window which consists of one undivided outer shell having flags at the sides or ends. As such, there is no problem of the top and bottom of the windowless box falling apart since they are one continuous piece. Additionally, since the windowless box is not the display itself, it will usually be lying flat on the shelf and therefore, there is less of a chance that it will fall off the shelf.

In contrast, a flatware box with a see-through top ideally would consist of two separate pieces, a top see-through portion and a bottom support portion. A problem exists in attaching the top of the box to the bottom of the box. The problem is exacerbated when one considers that the box will usually be displayed on the store shelf in the upright position. If the flatware box is lying flat, as is usually the case when there is no see-through top or large window, then the top of the box is positioned above the bottom of the box and the box is stable. However, since the flatware box with see-through top is often displayed in the upright position, the contents of the box will drop towards the bottom of the box tending to force apart the top from the bottom.

Additionally, the bottom support portion of the box is stronger and thicker than the see-through top. If the top portion is fit into the bottom portion when the box is assembled, then the top portion will be smaller than the bottom and the box will have a tendency to tip forward when placed in the upright position.

As such, it would be greatly desirable to have a box which has a see-through top, which can be placed on a shelf in the upright position, with a tendency to tip or lean back on the shelf, as opposed to forward. That way the box and the kit will be inclined to fall backwards on to the shelf, rather then forwards on to passers-by. Additionally, the see-through top of the flatware box and the bottom of the flatware box should provide means to conveniently and securely lock the top and bottom of the box so that the entire kit does not split in two at any point in time and can still be opened without undue difficulty.

There should also be some means for attaching the rack that holds the flatware to the support portion of the box, and the combination of the flatware and the rack to the bottom portion of the box.

Accordingly, there is a need for a flatware box with a see-through top which contains means to cause the box to lean backward when in a vertical position, means to fasten the top and bottom of the box to each other, and means for attaching the flatware to the rack, and the flatware and the rack to the bottom of the box.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention sets forth a flatware box and kit which consists of a see-through top, tabs causing the box to lean backward on the shelf while in the upright position, means to fasten the top of the box to the bottom of the box, and a means for attaching the flatware to the rack, and the flatware and the rack to the bottom of the box.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a flatware box and kit which consists of a see-through top for ease of visualization of the contents.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a flatware box and kit which consists of means for maintaining the box in the upright position when on display.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a flatware box and kit which consists of means for standing the box in the upright position when on display, which further causes the box when in the upright position to lean backward rather then forward.

Another object of the present invention to provide a flatware box and kit which consists of means to lock the top of the flatware box with the bottom of the flatware box so that the top and bottom of the box will not separate or split.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a flatware box and kit which contains a rack capable of holding a set of flatware in an organized manner while inside the box and when removed from the box.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a flatware box and kit which consists of a rack to hold flatware in an organized manner, a set of flatware organized in the rack, and means to attach the flatware to the rack.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a flatware box and kit which consists of a rack for holding flatware in an organized manner, the flatware held in the rack, and means to hold the flatware in the rack, and means to hold the rack which further consists of the rack with the flatware organized in the rack, wherein the flatware is affixed to the rack, and means of holding the rack to the bottom of the box.

A further object of the invention is to provide a flatware box and kit which is relatively durable and long-lasting.

Another object of the invention is to provide a flatware box and kit which contains a rack in which flatware may be easily removed or replaced.

These and other objects are accomplished by providing a flatware box and kit which consists of a rack, a flatware set, a box with a see-through top, means for attaching the flatware to the rack, means for attaching the flatware rack containing the flatware set to the box, means for locking the top of the box to the bottom of the box and means for causing the box containing the flatware kit to lean backwards rather than forward when the box is in the vertical position.

These, and various other and further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate by way of example the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference may be had to the detailed description of the invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is am exploded view from the upper left side showing the major components of a flatware box and kit in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view from the upper left side of the flatware box and kit shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view from the upper left side of the top portion of the flatware box and kit shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view from the upper left side of the flatware rack of the flatware box and kit shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view from the upper left side of the bottom portion of the flatware box and kit shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 a left side view of the flatware box and kit shown in FIG. 1 as displayed on a shelf.

FIG. 7 is a top view of the flatware rack shown in FIG. 1 with flatware positioned in the rack.

FIG. 8 shows a group of flatware secured together.

FIG. 9 shows a group of flatware secured to the flatware rack.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown in the FIGS. 1 through 9, the flatware box and kit, indicated generally by reference number 10, consists of a box 20 and a kit 30. The kit 30 can be seen clearly in FIG. 7. The box consists of a top portion 100 and a bottom portion 300. The kit consists of a rack 200 and possibly flatware 40, which can also be seen in FIG. 7. The top portion 100 of the box 20 is made of a see-through material, such as plastic. The bottom portion 300 of the box 20 is made of a rigid material, such as cardboard.

The top portion 100 of the box 20 consists of a roof portion 110 and four walls, a front wall 120, a back wall 130, a left wall 140, and a right wall 150. The roof portion 110 consists of a top side 111 and an under side 112. Each of the four walls 120, 130, 140, 150 consist of an outer side, an inner side, a top side and a bottom side. The outer side is respectively numbered 121, 131, 141, and 151. The inner side is respectively numbered 122, 132, 142, and 152. The top side is numbered 123, 133, 143, and 153, respectively. The bottom side is numbered 124, 134, 144, 154 respectively. The top portion 100 of the box 20 is formed from one continuous piece of material which consists of four horizontal fold lines and four vertical fold lines. The four horizontal fold lines respectively are numbered 125, 135, 145, and 155. The vertical fold lines will be respectively numbered according to the walls that form them. Accordingly, the vertical fold lines are respectively numbered 120/150, 150/130, 130/140, 140/120. The numbering for the vertical fold lines can be seen clearly in FIG. 3. The four horizontal fold lines 125, 135, 145, and 155 separate the roof portion 110 from the four walls 120, 130, 140, and 150. The four vertical fold lines 120/150, 150/130, 130/140, 140/120 separate each of the four walls 120, 130, 140, 150, respectively, from each other.

The top portion 100 of the box 20 additionally comprises two types of tabs, leaning tabs 180 and connecting tabs 160. There are three leaning tabs 180 and eight connecting tabs 160. Each leaning tab 180 is formed by two cuts in the bottom side 134 of the back wall 130 of the top portion 100. The leaning tabs 180 are folded at the point where the two adjacent cuts end, thereby forming horizontal leaning fold lines 181 (much smaller then the horizontal lines 125, 135, 145, 155), and creating a right angle between the leaning tabs 180 and the bottom side 134 of the back wall 130 of the top portion 100. The leaning tabs 180 extend past the bottom side 134 of the back wall 130 or the top portion 100 of the box 20, to facilitate the box 20 leaning backwards on the shelf rather then forwards. The leaning tabs 180 can be seen clearly for this purpose in FIG. 6.

The rack portion 200 consists of a mesh bottom side 210 and a plurality of varying size compartments 220 for flatware 40 of different sizes and utility, i.e. a fork and a knife. The mesh bottom side 210 can receive connecting means 230 for securing flatware 40 to the rack 200 and for securing rack 200 and flatware 40 to the bottom portion 300 of the box 20. The connecting means 230 can be seen clearly in FIG. 7.

The bottom portion 300 of the box 20 consists of a floor portion 310 and four walls, front wall 320, back wall 330, left wall 340 and right wall 350. The floor portion 310 consists of a top side 311 and an under side 312. Each of the four wall 320, 330, 340, and 350 consists of an outer side, an inner side, a top side and a bottom side. The outer side is respectively numbered 321, 331, 341, and 351. The inner side is respectively numbered 322, 332, 342, and 352. The top side is respectively numbered 323, 333, 343, and 353. The bottom side is respectively numbered 324, 334, 344, and 354. The outer side 321, 331, 341, and 351 and the inner side 322, 332, 342, 352 of the four walls 320, 330, 340, 350 are created by fold lines respectively numbered 325, 235, 345, and 355 on the top side 323, 333, 343, and 353 of the four walls 320, 330, 340, and 350 which allows each of the four walls 320, 330, 340, and 350 to fold down on itself thereby causing the four walls 320, 330, 340, and 350 to be of a double thickness. As such, the four walls 320, 330, 340, 350 have an external and internal portion of the outer side and an external and internal portion of the inner side. The internal portion of the outer side and the internal portion of the inner side come in contact with each other to form the four walls 320, 330, 340, 350. The external portion of the outer side 321, 331, 341, 351 of the four walls 320, 330, 240, 350 is respectively numbered 326, 336, 346, 356. The internal portion of the outer side 321, 331, 341, and 351 of the four walls 320, 330, 240, and 350 is respectively numbered 327, 337, 347, and 357. The external portion of the inner side 322, 332, 342, and 352 of the four walls 320, 330, 240, and 350 is respectively numbered 328, 338, 348, and 358. The internal portion of the inner side 322, 332, 342, and 352 of the four walls 320, 330, 240, and 350 is respectively numbered 329, 339, 349, and 359.

The outer side 321, 331, 341, and 351 and the inner side 322, 332, 342, and 352 of all four walls 320, 330, 340, 350 consist of a top side and a bottom side. The top side of the outer side 321, 331, 341, and 351 is actually the top side of the inner side 322, 332, 342, and 352 which is also the top side of the four walls 320, 330, 340, and 350. Accordingly, the top side of the outer side and the inner side shall maintain the numbering of the top side of the four walls, namely 323, 333, 343, and 353. The bottom side of the outer side 321, 331, 341, 351 and the bottom side of the inner side 322, 332, 342, 352 come togther to form the bottom side of the four walls 324, 334, 344, 354. The bottom side of the outer portion 321, 331, 341, 351 falls on the fold lines 325, 335, 345, 355. Accordingly, the bottom side of the outer side 321, 331, 341, 351 is respectively numbered 3250, 3350, 3450, 3550. The bottom side of the inner side 322, 332, 342, 352 is the free side, and is respectively numbered 3251, 3351, 3451, 3551. This numbering can be seen clearly in FIG. 5.

At the bottom side 3251, 3351, 3451, 3551 of the inner side 322, 332, 342, 352 of all four walls 320, 330, 340, 350 are rectangular cut out portions 370, a total of eight (8) cut out portions 370 in all four walls 320, 330, 340, 350. There are two (2) cut out portions on each wall, one on each of the far corners. When the inner side 322, 332, 342, 352 of the four walls 320, 330, 340, 350 are folded down on the outer side 321, 331, 341, 351 of the four walls 320, 330, 340, 350 to create the four walls 320, 330, 340, 350 (of double thickness), the rectangular cut out portions 370 on the bottom side 3251, 3351, 3451, 3551 of the inner sides 322, 332, 342, 352 of all four walls 320, 330, 340, 350 create a slit 371 for receiving the connecting tabs 160 of the top portion 100 of the box 20.

Additionally, the bottom portion 300 of the box 20 contains a removable floor board 380 preferably made of the same rigid material as the bottom portion 300 of the box 20. The floor board 380 consists of a top surface 381, an under surface 382, a back side 383, a front side 384, a left side 385 and a right side 386. The floor board fits 380 into the bottom portion 300 of the box 20 perfectly with its under surface 382 pressing against the top side 311 of the bottom portion 300 of the box 20. All four sides 383, 384, 385, 386 of the floor board 380 come in contact with the internal portion 326, 336, 346, 356 of the inner side 322, 332, 342, 352 of all four walls 320, 330, 340, 350 of the bottom portion 300 of the box 20. The top side 323, 333, 343, 353 of the inner side 322, 332, 342, 352 of the walls 320, 330, 340, 350 of the bottom portion 300 of the box 20 are folded down at the fold lines 325, 335, 345, 355 and are essentially locked into place by having the bottom/free side 3251, 3351, 3451, 3551 being pressed against the top surface 381 of the floor board 380 as it is coming in contact with the internal portion 327, 337, 347, 357 of the outer side 321, 331, 341, 351 of the four walls 320, 330, 340, 350 of the bottom portion 300 of the box 20. The numbering of the floor board can be seen clearly in FIG. 5.

Additionally, the floor portion 310 of the bottom portion 300 of the box 20 have a number of centrally placed wholes 500 that extend from the under side 312 through the top side 311 of the floor portion 310, and then through the entire width of the floor board 380. These holes 500 are for receiving straps 550 that secure the rack 200 and the flatware 40 to the bottom portion 300 of the box 200. The holes 500 can be seen clearly in FIG. 5. The straps 550 can be seen clearly in FIG. 1.

As seen in FIG. 2. all three portions of the flatware rack with kit 10 are connected to form one entity. The way this is accomplished is that the rack 200 is secured to the bottom portion 300 of the box 20 via straps 550 that are inserted at the under side 312 of the floor portion 310 of the bottom portion 300 of the box 20 and extend upwards through the wholes 500 in the floor portion 310 and the wholes 510 in the floor board 380 and subsequently through the mesh base 210 of the rack 200. The straps 550 are then twisted or tied to secure the rack 200 in place.

The top portion 100 of the box 20 is then placed over the bottom portion 300 of the box 20 with the rack 200 attached. The top portion of the box 20 is slightly smaller in width and length then the bottom portion 300 of the box 20 so that the top portion 100 of box 20 can fit into the bottom portion 300 of the box 20 with the outer side 121, 131, 141, 151 of the four walls 120, 130, 140, 150 on the top portion 100 of the box 20 coming in contact with the internal side 329, 239, 249, 259 of the inner portion 322, 332, 342, 352 of the four walls 320, 330, 340, 350 of the bottom portion 300 of the box 20 when the top portion 100 of the box 20 is placed into the bottom portion 300 of the box 20. The top portion 100 of the box 20 is secured to the bottom portion 300 of the box 20 by inserting the connecting tabs 160 on the top portion 100 of the box 20 into the slits 370 in the bottom portion 300 of the box 20.

It will be understood that the embodiments described herein are merely exemplary and that a person skilled in the art may make many variations and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the invention as defined herein.

Claims

1. A flatware box and kit comprising: A box; having a top portion and a bottom portion, the bottom having a bottom panel at least one hole in the bottom panel adapted for receiving fastening straps, at least one vertical side, at least one fastening cut out in the at least one vertical side to receive fastening tabs. a rack adapted to hold flatware, at least one strap to hold flatware to the rack at least one strap connected to the rack and passing through the at least one hole in the bottom panel to hold the rack to the box the top of the box having, a clear top a plurality of sides that fit into the bottom of the box at least one of the sides having at least one fastening tab positioned to register with the at least one fastening cutout in the at least one vertical side. at bottom of sides the at least one of the sides being deformable to allow insertion and removal of the fastening tab into the fastening cut of the bottom portion of the box. at least one leaning tab extending from at least one edge of the clear top said at least one tab extending beyond the side walls of bottom to cause the box to rest on the leaning tabs and the lowermost side of the bottom of the box to cause the box to lean when the assembled box is positioned on the side with the leaning tabs in the lowermost position.

2. The flatware box and kit as set forth in claim 1, wherein the bottom having a plurality of vertical sides the top having a plurality of vertical sides

3. The flatware box and kit as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of the at least one vertical side of the bottom includes a plurality of fastening cuts

4. The flatware box and kit as set forth in claim 3, wherein each of the at least one of the vertical sides of said top includes a plurality of fastening tabs positioned to register with said fastening cuts in said bottom portion

5. The flatware box and kit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said at least one leaning tab comprises a plurality of leaning tabs.

6. The flatware box and kit as set forth in claim 5, wherein said at least one leaning tab comprises a plurality of leaning tabs, the bottom having a plurality of vertical sides, the top having a plurality of vertical sides.

7. The flatware box and kit as set forth in claim 6, wherein the bottom having four vertical sides, the top having four vertical sides.

8. The flatware box and kit as set forth in claim 7, wherein each of the vertical sides of the bottom includes a plurality of fastening cuts each of the vertical sides of said top includes a plurality of fastening tabs positioned to register with said fastening cuts in said bottom portion.

9. A display comprising: a top portion and a bottom portion the bottom having a bottom panel at least one hole in the bottom panel adapted for receiving fastening straps at least one vertical side at least one fastening cut out in the at least one vertical side to receive fastening tabs the top of the box having, a clear top a plurality of sides that fit into the bottom of the box at least one of the sides having at least one fastening tab positioned to register with the at least one fastening cutout in the at least one vertical side at bottom of sides the at least one of the sides being deformable to allow insertion and removal of the fastening tab into the fastening cut of the bottom portion of the box, at least one leaning tab extending from at least one edge of the clear top said at least one tab extending beyond the side walls of bottom to cause the box to rest on the leaning tabs and the lowermost side of the bottom of the box to cause the box to lean when the assembled box is positioned on the side with the leaning tabs in the lowermost position.

10. The display box as set forth in claim 9, wherein the bottom having a plurality of vertical sides the top having a plurality of vertical sides

11. The display box as set forth in claim 9, wherein each of the at least one vertical side of the bottom includes a plurality of fastening cuts.

12. The display box as set forth in claim 11, wherein each of the at least one of the vertical sides of said top includes a plurality of fastening tabs positioned to register with said fastening cuts in said bottom portion.

13. The display box as set forth in claim 9, wherein said at least one leaning tab comprises a plurality of leaning tabs.

14. The display box as set forth in claim 13, wherein said at least one leaning tab comprises a plurality of leaning tabs, the bottom having a plurality of vertical sides, the top having a plurality of vertical sides.

15. The display box as set forth in claim 14, wherein the bottom having four vertical sides, the top having four vertical sides.

16. The display box as forth in claim 15, wherein each of the vertical sides of the bottom includes a plurality of fastening cuts each of the vertical sides of said top includes a plurality of fastening tabs positioned to register with said fastening cuts in said bottom portion.