Not Applicable
Not Applicable
This invention relates to packets, packet kits and methods of making packets. In particular, the invention relates to a packet made by folding a sheet of material, a kit for a packet made by folding a sheet of material and a method of folding a sheet of material to produce a packet. The invention finds particular application as a paper packet or envelope and is described herein with particular reference thereto. However, it is to be appreciated that the invention is also amenable to other applications.
The background art is characterized by U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,461,635; 1,823,114; 3,482,765; 3,756,504; 3,878,638; 4,022,374; 4,744,509; 5,314,112; 5,518,491; 5,641,115; 6,053,399; 6,056,192; 6,499,653; 6,635,003; 6,866,183; D295,536; and D440,251; and U.S. Patent Application Nos. 2001/0042782; 2003/0173395; 2003/0193488; 2005/0106995; the disclosures of which patents and patent applications are incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. The background art is also characterized by Japan Patent Nos. JP3009781; JP2003126567; and JP2005087498; International Patent Application Publication No. WO 2005/044414; Chu, H. Y., Origami Card and Envelope, WWW Domain yasutomo.com/project/origamicard.htm; and The Origami Envelope Page at Gillian Cards, WWW Domain, gilliancards.com/origamievelope.htm.
The purpose of a preferred embodiment of the invention is to contain a small object. For example, a preferred embodiment of the invention can be used by an elderly person to hold individual prescription pills when the person does not wish to carry around an entire bottle of pills. As another example, another preferred embodiment of the invention can be used by a child to hold candies. Preferred embodiments of the invention can also be used to hold any relatively small object that the possessor wishes to keep separate from other objects. Alternatively, preferred embodiments of the invention can be used to play a game disclosed herein.
One advantage of a preferred embodiment of the invention is that only five folds are required to produce a packet in accordance with the invention. Another advantage of the invention is that glue is not required to maintain the shape of preferred embodiments of the packet. Another advantage of preferred embodiments of the invention is that it is self secured.
One object of a preferred embodiment of the invention is to provide an origami packet or envelope. Another object of a preferred embodiment of the invention is to provide an origami packet or envelope that requires only five folds.
In a preferred embodiment, the inventions is a kit comprising: a substantially square sheet of material having a center and two pairs of opposing corners, said sheet of material having a first fold line or crease that extends between a first of said two pairs of opposing corners, two second fold lines or creases, each of which is disposed substantially perpendicular to said first fold line or crease and is located between said center and one of said first of said two pairs of opposing corners, two third fold lines or creases, each of which is disposed substantially parallel to said first fold line or crease and is located between said first fold line or crease and one of said second of said two pairs of opposing corners, two fourth fold lines or creases, each of which is disposed substantially parallel to said first fold line or crease and is located between one of said two third fold lines or creases and one of said second of said two pairs of opposing corners; wherein said sheet of material is adapted to be foldable along said first fold line or crease to produce a substantially triangular structure having two tips and a flap; wherein each of said tips is foldable along one of said second fold lines or creases, said tips being engagable with one another when in a folded condition to produce an open packet having an opening and a slot; wherein said open packet is foldable along said third fold lines or creases to produce a closed packet; and wherein said closed packet is foldable along said fourth fold lines or creases to produce a secured packet when said flap is inserted in said slot. Preferably, said sheet of material is paper. Preferably, said paper is gloss paper. Preferably, one of said tips has a narrow hollow into which said other tip is insertable.
In another preferred embodiment, the invention is a packet comprising: a first wall having a first wall bottom portion and a first wall top portion, said first wall top portion having a first flap member; a second wall having a second wall lower portion and a second wall upper portion, said second wall upper portion having a second flap member, and said second wall lower portion being connected to said first wall bottom portion along a first fold line; a first wing member that is connected to said first wall and said second wall by a second fold line, said first wing member having a narrow hollow; and a second wing member that is connected to said first wall and said second wall by a third fold line, said second wing member having an end that is disposed in said narrow hollow; wherein a combination of said second wall lower portion and said first wing member or said second wing member define a slot; and wherein said first flap member and said second flap member are insertable into or tucked into said slot. Preferably, said first wall, said second wall, said first wing member and said second wing member comprise a single sheet of paper. Preferably, said first wall and said second wall define an opening that extends to said first fold line. Preferably, said sheet of paper has two sides, a portion of one side being visible through said opening and being white and another side being a dark color.
In yet another preferred embodiment, the invention is a method of forming a packet comprising: providing a substantially square sheet of material having two pairs of opposing corners, said sheet of material having a first fold line that extends between a first of said two pairs of opposing corners, a first pair of second fold lines that are disposed substantially parallel to said first fold line, each of said second fold lines being located between said first fold line and one of a second of said two pairs of opposing corners, a second pair of third fold lines that are disposed substantially parallel to said first fold line, each of said third fold lines being located between one of said of second fold lines and one of said second of said two pairs of opposing corners, and a third pair of fourth fold lines that are disposed substantially perpendicular to said first fold line, each of said fourth fold lines being located between one of said first of said two pairs of opposing corners and a line connecting said second of said two pairs of opposing corners; folding said sheet of material along said first fold line to produce a substantially triangular structure having two tips and a flap; folding each of said tips along one of said fourth fold lines and engaging said tips with one another when in a folded condition to produce an open packet having an opening and a slot; folding said open packet along said second fold lines to produce a closed packet; and folding said closed packet along said third fold lines to produce a secured packet when said flap is inserted into said slot. Preferably, said providing step comprises providing a substantially square sheet of paper. Preferably, said providing step comprises providing a substantially square sheet of paper upon which said fold lines have been indented by a press.
In another preferred embodiment, the invention is a method of forming a packet comprising: a step for providing a substantially square sheet of material having two pairs of opposing corners, said sheet of material having a first fold line that extends between a first of said two pairs of opposing corners, a first pair of second fold lines that are disposed substantially parallel to said first fold line, each of said second fold lines being located between said first fold line and one of a second of said two pairs of opposing corners, a second pair of third fold lines that are disposed substantially parallel to said first fold line, each of said third fold lines being located between one of said of second fold lines and one of said second of said two pairs of opposing corners, and a third pair of fourth fold lines that are disposed substantially perpendicular to said first fold line, each of said fourth fold lines being located between one of said first of said two pairs of opposing corners and a line connecting said second of said two pairs of opposing corners; a step for folding said sheet of material along said first fold line to produce a substantially triangular structure having two tips and a flap; a step for folding each of said tips along one of said fourth fold lines and engaging said tips with one another when in a folded condition to produce an open packet having an opening and a slot; a step for folding said open packet along said second fold lines to produce a closed packet; and a step for folding said closed packet along said third fold lines to produce a secured packet when said flap is inserted into said slot. Preferably, said providing step comprises a step for providing a substantially square sheet of paper. Preferably, said providing step comprises a step for providing a substantially square sheet of paper upon which said fold lines have been indented by a press.
In a further embodiment, the invention is a packet comprising: a first wall having a first wall bottom portion and a first wall top portion, said first wall top portion having a first flap member; a second wall having a second wall lower portion and a second wall upper portion, said second wall upper portion having a second flap member, and said second wall lower portion being connected to said first wall bottom portion along a first fold line; a first wing member that is connected to said first wall and said second wall by a second fold line; and a second wing member that is connected to said first wall and said second wall by a third fold line; wherein a combination of said second wall lower portion and said first wing member or said second wing member define a slot; and wherein said first flap member and said second flap member are insertable into or tucked into said slot. Preferably, said first wall, said second wall, said first wing member and said second wing member comprise a single sheet of a flexible substrate. Preferably, said first wall and said second wall define an opening that extends to said first fold line. Preferably, said single sheet of a flexible substrate has two sides, a portion of one side being visible through said opening and being white and another side being a dark color.
In yet another preferred embodiment, the invention is a method of producing an origami packet, said method comprising: providing a single, substantially-square sheet of paper having seven indented creases; and folding said sheet of paper five times along said indented creases to construct and secure said origami packet.
Further aspects of the invention will become apparent from consideration of the drawings and the ensuing description of preferred embodiments of the invention. A person skilled in the art will realize that other embodiments of the invention are possible and that the details of the invention can be modified in a number of respects, all without departing from the concept. Thus, the following drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive.
The features of the invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate presently preferred embodiments of the invention. In the drawings:
The following reference numerals are used to indicate the parts and environment of the invention on the drawings:
In a preferred embodiment, the invention is origami packet 10. Preferably, packet 10 comprises sheet of material 20 that is folded by its user in accordance with a manual process such as those disclosed herein, but packet 10 may be folded by a machine. While all of the corners of the embodiments of sheet 20 presented herein are shown as right angle corners, the corners may have any shape (e.g., may be rounded or blunt). A person skilled in the art would understand that, in some less preferred embodiments, the fold lines may not be actual creases (indentations in the sheet) and may be located anywhere in the vicinity of the locations disclosed herein to accomplish the purposes of those embodiments of the invention.
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In a more preferred embodiment, sheet 20 is made of paper and is about 2 13/16 inches on a side. Second fold line 32 is preferably located about 1¼ inches from first corner 24 and third fold line 36 is preferably located about 1¼ inches from second corner 26. Fold lines 38 and 44 are preferably located about 11/16 inch from first fold line 32 and fold lines 42 and 44 are located about 9/16 inch from third corner 28 and fourth corner 30, respectively.
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In another embodiment, the invention is a method of forming a packet. This embodiment calls for providing substantially square sheet of material 20 having two pairs of opposing corners, preferably the sheet of material illustrated in
In another preferred embodiment, the invention is a square, gloss text weight (paper), sheet 20 of paper folded to make packet 10. Packet 10 is preferably provided in various sizes, ranging from one by one inch squares to eight by eight inch squares (the dimensions given being those of the unfolded square of paper). The paper used is preferably similar to that used in color magazines. The paper is preferably slightly thicker than an inside page of a color magazine, but not as thick as a common color magazine cover.
In total, in a preferred embodiment, there are five folds needed to complete the packet. The completely folded packet preferably has a rectangular shape. Each sheet 20 is preferably pre-folded and unfolded so that the user can easily put an object inside the packet and secure it. Sheet 20 folds into be a self-closing packet 10, holding the object placed inside tightly. Packet 10 is preferably sold creased, but unfolded, so the user can easily put the object inside packet 10 and fold it themselves. Unfolding a packet 10 also makes it easer to stack a plurality of them, as they can be placed one on top of another. In preferred embodiments, strict attention is paid to the location of each fold. Preferably, each sheet 20 is pre-creased by machine.
The area on sheet 20 which is not visible to a user after the first fold takes place is the inside of packet 10. The area on sheet 20 which is visible after the first fold takes place is the outside of packet 10. The outside of packet 10 may be colored or may comprise pictures or advertising to better distinguish among the different sizes offered. The area on the inside of packet 10 may be black or another dark color, or comprise a picture or advertising. One preferred size for sheet 20 is 2 13/16 inches by 2 13/16 inches. The other preferred sizes are in the range from 1½ inch by 1 1/2 inch to 4 inch by 4 inch. In one embodiment, 80 pound gloss paper is preferred. Preferably, the 2 13/16 inch by 2 13/16 inch size is white on the outside, and other sizes have different colors on the outside. In a preferred embodiment, a logo of applicants' company, EZFlaps.com, is placed on the outside of the each packet 10. Alternatively, one of three designs (e.g., martini glass, crown and diamond) is printed on the outside of packet 10 in a specific region that is visible when packet 10 completely folded. The designs are used so the user can tell by looking at a packet what he/she put inside. After colors, logo and design are printed on sheet 20, both sides of sheet 20 are preferably varnished. The varnish is any coating used to seal in the color, make the sheet less water-absorptive and keeps the color from flaking off at the creases.
Preferred embodiments of the invention are used to hold one or more small objects for a user. Packet 10 may be used to hold individual prescription pills for an elderly person who does not want to carry around an entire bottle of pills. Packet 10 may also be used hold candies. It can hold relatively any small object the possessor wishes to keep separate from other objects. Packet 10 can also be used in childrens' games, such as those disclosed at WWW domain EZFlaps.com, the disclosure of which games is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.
Many variations of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art. Some variations are foldable kits. Other variations are machine produced. All such variations are intended to be within the scope and spirit of the invention.
Although some embodiments are shown to include certain features, the applicant specifically contemplates that any feature disclosed herein may be used together or in combination with any other feature on any embodiment of the invention. It is also contemplated that any feature may be specifically excluded from any embodiment of the invention.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/675,319, filed Apr. 28, 2005, now pending, the disclosure of which patent application is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60675319 | Apr 2005 | US |