BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the retail sale of dress shirts and tie combinations, it is desirable to present the merchandise in a manner that permits potential customers to have a good look at the product. On the other hand, it is important for retailers to keep the product clean and free of any soil or stains that may result from handling, to protect against theft, and to maintain the shirts in an orderly and well-folded condition so that their displays remains attractive to passers by.
It is also desirable that the packaging that is used be economical to manufacturer, that it be made from a recyclable material, and that it be made with minimal waste.
It is also desirable to have a packaging that addresses the foregoing needs and which permits shirts to be stacked in great number to promote efficient shelf and display space usage.
The present invention satisfies these and other needs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a shirt box suitable for receiving a shirt or shirt and tie combination is provided which comprises a substrate having a plurality of fold lines including a first set of generally parallel fold lines and a second set of generally parallel fold lines. A plurality of notches extend through the substrate, say, in a first direction. A series of first panels are separated from next panels in the series by a respective fold line in the first set of fold lines. The first panels are foldable along respective fold lines, in the first direction, so as to define a hollow central cavity for the shirt box. Each panel in a set of second panels is bounded at a respective fold line in the second set of fold lines to a respective first panel and has a free end opposite the boundary. The second panels are each adjacent at least one of the notches and are foldable along respective fold lines in a second direction which is substantially perpendicular to the first direction so as to define first and second peripheral ends of the shirt box. A bond permanently connects one of the first panels to another of the first panels, wherein the another panel is after at least the next panel in the series of first panels (that is, the connected panels are not adjacent panels in the series). A first and second double-sided tape member has a first side in adhesive contact with a respective second panel and a second side. First and second removable strips overlie the second side of the first and second double-sided tape members, respectively. The shirt box has a collapsible state in which first and second removable strips overlie the first and second tape members, and a second state in which the second side of at least one of the tape members is in adhesive contact with one of the panels and in which the hollow central cavity is sized to receive the shirt or shirt and tie combination.
These and other aspects, features and advantages shall be apparent from the accompanying Drawings and description of certain embodiments of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a first embodiment in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 showing the shirt box in a partially folded position;
FIG. 3 is a detailed end view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 showing a securement for securing the box in a closed state.
FIG. 4 shows the box of FIG. 3 in the closed state.
FIG. 5 is a cross-section through lines 5-5 of FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a second embodiment in accordance with the invention; and
FIG. 7 is a cross-section of the second embodiment taken along the same lines as that of FIG. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
Referring to FIG. 1, a shirt box container 10 comprises a substrate 20 in the form of a transparent plastic sheet having fold lines generally designated F1 and F2. The fold lines F1 are generally parallel and preferably are parallel to one another. The fold lines F2 are also generally parallel and preferably are parallel to one another. The fold lines F1, F2 define boundaries of respective panels of the substrate 20. A series of first panels 30 all fold in a first direction and include panels 32, 34, and 36. Each of the panels in the series 30 is disposed adjacent another panel in the series and is separated from a next panel by one of the fold lines F1.
As shown in FIG. 2, the first series of panels 30 is foldable along the fold lines Flalong a common, parallel direction to define a hollow central cavity for the shirt box. Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a set of second panels 40 have a boundary along the fold lines F2 to respective panels in the first series 30. Thus, panels 42 are bounded along one margin at the fold lines F2 to panel 34 and flaps 44 are bounded along fold lines F2 to panels 32. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the second set of panels 40 further includes end flaps 46 which fold about fold line F2 and which are joined to a free end of panels 42. Each of the panels 42 and 44 has a free end, opposite its bounded end and each is adjacent to a notch 50, which separate a portion of the panels 42, 44 from the remainder of the substrate 20. As can be appreciated from FIG. 2, the panels in the second set 40 are foldable along their respective fold lines F2 in a direction which is substantially perpendicular to the direction of fold lines F1. In folding the second set of panels 40, peripheral ends of the shirt box 10 are defined.
The notches 50 are generally oriented to extend in the same direction as the fold lines F1, and preferably are axially aligned with the fold lines F1.
In accordance with a salient aspect of the present invention, the shirt box 10 can be configured in a partially assembled state in which a hollow central cavity for containing a shirt or a shirt and tie combination is defined, yet which is collapsible into a generally flat state until such time that a shirt (or a shirt and tie combination) is to be inserted into the box. When the shirt box 10 is to be filled, it is brought to an uncollapsed state, the shirt is introduced into the hollow cavity, and the peripheral ends of the shirt box are bonded so as to define a substantially rectangular and sealed shirt box construction.
With further reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a securement 50 extends along an inner margin of the panel 36 for permanently connecting panel 36 to another panel in the series, preferably one of the panels 32. As shown in FIG. 3, the securement 50 comprises a bond (e.g., thermal or adhesive) which is made between panels 36 and 32 so as permanently connect those panels and secure the shirt box 10 in a rectangular configuration. The bonds preferably comprises a contact cement; however, the bond can comprise other generally permanent connections as understood by those skilled in the art. Preferably, the bond is “permanent” in that it is of such character that it is not readily opened by a consumer, and yet is sufficiently strong to permit the box to be collapsed laterally, so that the panels of the first series 30 can be folded along fold lines F1 to define the shirt cavity while the peripheral ends remain unattached to thereby permit the shirt box to assume a flat condition.
The shirt box 10 further includes a first and second double sided tape member 60 having a first side in adhesive contact with a respective panel in the second set of panels 40. As illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the double-sided tape member is disposed on end panel 42. A second side of the double-sided tape member 60 includes a removable strip 62 (best seen in FIG. 3) which overlies the second side of the tape member 60. The removable strip maintains the second side of the tape member 60 free of tackiness so that shirt boxes 10 can be stacked in a collapsed state without sticking to one another. However, the removable strip 62 can be separated from the second side of the tape member 60 by releasing it in the direction of arrow A so as to expose an adhesive surface which permits engagement of one panel 42 with another panel 42 (see FIG. 4). Once the panels 42 have been adhesively joined by the tape member 60, the shirt box 10 is in the second state in which the hollow central cavity is sized to receive the shirt or shirt and tie combination.
Preferably, the material of the substrate has a thickness so that, in combination with the fold lines F1 and F2, a stable, second state results in which the shirt boxes 10 can be stacked in great number, one upon another, to promote efficient shelf and display space usage.
In order to facilitate folding of the shirt box, in a preferred form, the end panels 46 have chamfered corners adjacent their respective free ends. The chamfered corners reduce interference of one panel member with another as the box is folded.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, it is preferred that the panels in the second set 40 extend symmetrically from the margins of the panels in the first series 30.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view through the folded box in accordance with first the embodiment described above. FIG. 5 shows the relative relationship of the different panels with the shirt box 10 in the fully folded configuration.
Referring now to FIG. 6, a second embodiment of shirt box 10′ is illustrated in which like reference numbers are used to refer to corresponding features. In relevant part, the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that it has been specially configured in order to minimize waste material as the substrate 20 is stamped from a web of material by providing an overall rectangular configuration free of cut-outs. As in the first embodiment, it is preferred that a single sheet of substantially transparent plastic is used to define the panels of the shirt box 10′; however, in order to minimize waste material, the end flaps 46 have been eliminated, and new flaps 48a and 48b are included in the second set of panels 40. The flaps 48A, 48B are folded about fold line F2 when the substrate 20 is folded to define the shirt box 10′. Thus, as shown in FIG. 7, the folded shirt box lacks the end panel 46, so the top and bottom margins of the folded box have the same thickness throughout the length of the shirt box. The additional flap 48a is accommodated within the folded box, as illustrated in FIG. 7.
The fold lines F1 and F2 can be continuous or discontinuous, but preferably are continuous and more preferably comprise score lines in the substrate 10. Depending on the material chosen for the substrate, fold lines can be defined by material at locations that are axially aligned with the notches 50. Also, at least one of the notches 50 preferably has a depth (that is, in a direction parallel to the axis of the fold lines F1) which is equal to the width of the flaps 44. By so-constructing at least some of the notches 50, a substantially rectangular shirt box 10, 10′ can result.
While the invention has been described in connection with certain embodiments thereof, the invention is capable of being practiced in other forms and using other materials and structures. Accordingly, the invention is defined by the recitations in the claims appended hereto and equivalents thereof.
Patent Application
20070051788
