Patent Application
20180319544
The present invention is a foldable mailer that is suitable for encasing a fragile item such as a glass vial containing a liquid and protecting the encased item during transit such as via the postal service.
Shipping of fragile items such as small glass vials that contain a liquid, such as perfume and the like, is problematic since protection of the vial from breakage during shipment is a major concern. It is often desired to be able to provide a mailer for a glass vial that can adequately protect the vial, yet not be excessively bulky. Bulky mailers are undesirable since the cost of shipping will increase as the size and weight of the mailer increases.
Thus, it is desired to provide a relatively small, inexpensive, simple and lightweight mailer suitable for protecting items such as glass vials and the like during shipment by the postal service or by any of the private shipping companies. It is also desired to provide such a mailer that is easy to produce and store.
Provided is a foldable mailer suitable for mailing a vial comprising a single substrate formed of a base, a top panel, a right panel, a left panel, and a flap; wherein the top panel and the base are joined by a middle spacer, the left panel and the base are joined by a left spacer, the right panel and the base are joined by a right spacer, and the flap and the top panel are adjoined by a top spacer; and a vial holder adhered or otherwise affixed to the substrate, the vial holder preferably comprising a foam block having a slot suitable for encasing a vial.
An insert may be formed on an outer edge of the left panel and a mating slot may be cut near an edge of the right panel. The vial holder may be adhered to the top panel of the substrate, or in the alternative to the base of the substrate.
When unfolded as in
A foam vial holder 24, which is rectangular in plan is affixed (such as with adhesive) to the top panel 4. The foam vial holder 24 acts as a means for holding the vial, and it has a slot 26 cut along its length, suitable for allowing a glass vial to be inserted within and held by the foam 24 as shown by the dotted vial in
Assembly of the mailer 2 may proceed as shown in
Next, the left panel 8 and the right panel 10 are then each folded over towards each other, along the two edges of the left spacer 14 and the right spacer 16, respectively, as shown by the arrows 2 and 3, in the same manner as the top panel 4 described above. The insert 20 may then be inserted within the mating slot 22, an as such the foam vial holder 26 will be covered and protected by this assembly. Adhesive may be used to secure the closure at this point.
The flap 28 may then be folded along the edges of the top spacer 18 so it overlaps the bottom portion of the base 6, and a small amount of adhesive (or tape, etc.) may be used to secure the assembled package to provide the completed assembly in
The dotted lines that define each of the spacers 12, 14, 16 and 18 may be perforated, scored, or otherwise marked so as to make it easy for the user to fold and assemble the mailer as described. Optionally, the recipient of the mailer may tear the top panel off from the rest of the mailer at the middle spacer 12 and keep just the top panel 4 as a holder for the vial while discarding the rest of the mailer. This is useful in particular if decorative advertising is placed on the top panel 4.
In an alternative embodiment, the vial holder 26 may be located on the base 6 instead of the top panel 4.
The foam block is described in the preferred embodiment as a means for holding the vial, but other means may be used instead of the foam block if desired as long as it is secured within the assembled mailer as described. In a further alternative, the vial or another object may be placed within the assembled mailer without using the means for holding the vial as described, but such implementation may not be as secure.
In the non-limiting preferred embodiment, the size of the mailer is as follows:
These dimensions may of course be varied as desired.
Although the preferred embodiments have been described above by way of example only, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the scope herein.
