Patent Application
20100314268
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
The present invention relates generally to a universal shoe box.
When a customer in a shoe store requests a pair of shoes to try on, a sales person typically goes to a room filled with shoe inventory stored in boxes that may identify a particular shoe by style no., model no., size, color, and/or other information describing the contents of the box. Often, the numbers and/or letters printed on a box to describe its contents are small and difficult to read. As a result, the sales person looking for a pair of shoes requested by a customer may end up spending an inordinate amount of time looking for the specific box that contains the requested shoes. Needless to say, this reduces the amount of time the sales person may spend with the customer, thereby affecting the customer's perception of the quality of customer service, as well as potentially limiting the number of customers a sales person may be able to service at any given time. As a result, the time lost by a sales person looking for the correct shoe may affect the volume of shoes sold and corresponding profits generated by the shoe store.
Accordingly, there appears to be a need for a new shoe box that has a picture receiving means on the box that displays an image of its contents and provides ease of visual identification and accountability as to its contents for use in the retail shoe store setting. Such a box will reduce the time required by the sales person to locate and retrieve a requested shoe for a customer. In addition, because of the picture, the sales person may quickly locate another shoe that is the right color or style that the customer had overlooked or not been aware of; these too can be brought out by the sales person and suggested to the customer. This form of customer service increases the potential for sales and greater profits by the shoe store.
Similarly, once a customer has purchased a pair of shoes, and they choose to continue to use the same shoe box provided at the time of purchase, they will be able to view in advance and quickly identify and retrieve the desired shoes they wish to wear without looking through several boxes which involves the removal, reinsertion, and restacking of shoe boxes.
In the prior art, there is a shoe box that has a picture receiving means for placing a picture on the box that displays an image of a shoe. U.S. Patent Publication No. US2006/0054674 A1 is understood to disclose a clothing article organizer having a picture retaining apparatus mounted on its surface. The clothing article box has a removable lid. The clothing article box is also understood to have a stackable construction, allowing one box to be stored on top of another based on the height and width of the “family” of boxes. However, the stacking feature of the clothing article organizer does not appear to provide any further support beyond the height and width dimensions of the underlying boxes. Also, this clothing article organizer does not appear to be subject to quick disassembly into a configuration that takes up minimal space. Finally, this clothing article organizer does not appear to provide ready accessibility to its contents when multiple boxes are in a stacked configuration.
Accordingly, there further appears to be a need for a new shoe box in the aftermarket residential use setting that may be readily assembled into a stackable configuration with adequate support that also provides ease of visual identification and accessibility to its contents.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a universal shoe box. The universal shoe box has six faces formed of a common contiguous material. Each face is interconnected with at least one adjacent face, with at least one face being hingedly attached to the adjacent face. Each face further has a preferential fold disposed between the adjacent face. There is a front face defining generally a longitudinal front face axis and a lateral front face axis. The shoe box also has a rear face opposing the front face defining generally a longitudinal rear face axis and a lateral rear face axis. There is also a first face defining generally a longitudinal first face axis and a lateral first face axis disposed generally orthogonal to and between the front face and the rear face. Also included is a non-removable top face defining generally a longitudinal top face axis and a lateral top face axis. The top face is disposed generally orthogonal to and between the front face, the rear face, the first face, and the second face. The preferential fold between the first face and the top face is a first face edge extending from the front face to the rear face. The shoe box further includes a second face opposing the first face defining generally a longitudinal second face axis and a lateral second face axis. The second face is disposed generally orthogonal to and between the front face and the rear face. The preferential fold between the second face and the top face is a second face edge extending from the front face to the rear face. The shoe box also has a non-removable bottom face opposing the top face defining generally a longitudinal bottom face axis and a lateral bottom face axis. The bottom face is disposed generally orthogonal to and between the front face, the rear face, the first face, and the second face. The shoe box further has a first display window disposed on the front face proximate to the access aperture. The first display window may be operative to display a product card depicting an image of a shoe. The shoe box also has an access aperture disposed on the front face.
The shoe box is innovative in that the preferential folds enable the quick assembly and disassembly of the shoe box into a flat configuration that may be readily stored and may save space when the shoe box is not being used. The preferential folds may be configured to enable the shoe box to be universally adapted to shoes of different types and sizes. The shoe box may also be adapted for the storage of articles of clothing and other miscellaneous items The access aperture on the front face of the shoe box enables ready access to and/or retrieval of a single shoe box, either by hand or through the use of a tool. The first display window enables quick and efficient visual identification of the contents of the shoe box based on the image depicted on the product card. The non-removable top face and bottom face have no lid that may be dropped or dislodged, thereby improving the stackability and underlying support provided by the shoe box.
This embodiment of the shoe box may be most advantageously used in a retail shoe store or commercial setting, where the shoe inventory is stored in a room filled with shoe boxes stacked one on top of the other. The first display window on the universal shoe box may enable a sales person to readily locate, identify, and retrieve a shoe with the size, color, style, and/or brand requirements requested by a customer, or to readily find another shoe that may also satisfy the customer's tastes that had not been previously considered by the customer. As such, the sales person is able to devote less time looking for shoes in inventory and more time presenting shoes to the customer. The increased amount of time a shoe salesperson is able to spend with the customer and the more shoe selection alternatives the salesperson is able to present to the customer may improve the perceived quality of customer service and therefore increase the potential revenue and profits for the shoe store.
U.S. Patent Publication No. US2006/0054674 A1 as discussed above has a removable lid that may be dislodged, thereby impairing the stackability and support of shoe boxes placed thereon. Furthermore, for this reason, many prior art shoe boxes are distinguishable in their absence of having all faces made of a common contiguous separated by a preferential fold disposed between adjacent faces, with each face interconnected with at least one adjacent face.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the shoe box may have a front face that is pivotally extendable in an open position at a front face angle greater than orthogonal to the first face and the second face. The front face may have a first front face edge adjacent the first face and a second front face edge adjacent to the second face. The first front face edge may have a first face wall extending generally orthogonal to the first front face edge proximate the first face. The second front face edge may have a second face wall extending generally orthogonal to the second front face edge proximate the second face. The first face wall may have a first face wall hook and the second face wall may have a second face wall hook operative to attach to the first face and the second face respectively to stop the front face from being pivotally extended past the front face angle in an open position.
The shoe box is further innovative in that the pivoting mechanism of the front face enables the shoe box to be opened, even when there are other shoe boxes stacked on top of it. As a result, the contents of the shoe box may be readily accessed without having to remove, adjust, or otherwise affect the position of the other stacked shoe boxes. As such, once the contents of the shoe box has been visually identified by the product card on the first display window, the shoes contained therein may be readily removed while maintaining the stacked configuration of the shoe boxes.
These embodiments of the shoe box may be most advantageously used in an aftermarket residential setting by an individual desiring to save space by storing multiple shoe boxes in a stacked configuration while still being able to readily identify and access the contents therein. The individual may also choose to store articles of clothing or other miscellaneous items in the shoe box, in addition to or in lieu of shoes. As in the case of the embodiment of the shoe box used in the retail or commercial shoe store setting, the image of the shoe in the first display window in these embodiments of the shoe box may enable the individual to readily locate and identify a shoe having the desired size, color, style, and/or brand. In addition, the pivoting mechanism of the front face in this embodiment of the shoe box enables the individual to readily remove a desired shoe from a shoe box without disturbing the configuration of shoe boxes stacked on top of the shoe box. This in turn enables an individual to more efficiently determine what shoe they wish to wear with a particular outfit and then retrieve the desired shoe while at the same time maintaining an organized shoe storage system in their closet.
In another embodiment, the first face wall of the shoe box may have a first face wedge and the second face wall may have a second face wedge proximate to the front face. The first face wedge and the second face wedge may be operative to secure the front face orthogonal to the first face and the second face respectively in a closed position.
In this regard, the shoe box is further innovative in that the front face may be securely closed against the first face and the second face while maintaining the stacked configuration. As such, the shoe box will remain in the closed position.
According to another embodiment, the access aperture may be oval in shape. This configuration of the shoe box may be most useful in the aftermarket residential setting to an individual desiring to be able to pivotally open or close with their fingers the front face of the shoe box in the stacked configuration. In another embodiment, the access aperture may be circular. This configuration may be most useful in the retail or commercial shoe store setting to a salesperson desiring to be able to retrieve and remove a shoe box from inventory stored in a stacked configuration with other shoe boxes. It is also contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the various aspects of the shoe box may be employed with the access aperture being any other shape, including but not limited to square, polygonal, rectangular, etc.
Another embodiment of the present invention further includes a first face first tab proximate to the first face edge that may be disposable in a first face first recess proximate to the first face edge of a second shoe box placed on top of the shoe box. A second face first tab proximate to the second face edge may be disposable in a second face first recess proximate to the second face edge of a second shoe box, thereby enabling the second shoe box to be fixedly mounted on the shoe box. In another embodiment, the first face first tab may be on the first face edge proximate to the front face projecting above the top face. The second face first tab may be on the second face edge proximate to the front face projecting above the top face. The first face first tab may be disposable in the first face first recess on the first face edge of the second shoe box. The second face first tab may be disposable in the second face first recess on the second face edge of the second shoe box. In yet another embodiment, the shoe box may further include a first face second tab on the first face edge proximate to the rear face projecting above the top face. A second face second tab may be on the second face edge proximate to the rear face projecting above the top face. In this embodiment, the first face second tab may be disposable in a first face second recess on the first face edge of the second shoe box. The second face second tab may be disposable in a second recess on the second face edge of the second shoe box. In yet a further embodiment, a plurality of shoe boxes may be fixedly mounted on top of the shoe box, with each shoe box having a first face tab, a first face second tab, a second face first tab, a second face second tab, a first face first recess, a first face second recess, a second face first recess, and a second face second recess on the first face edge and the second face edge respectively.
These features of the shoe box uniquely enable the mounting of one shoe box on top of another in a stackable configuration. These features further allow one shoe box to be precisely positioned on top of another shoe box, with the insertion of the tabs on the lower shoe box into the recesses located on the upper shoe box such that the upper shoe box will not be dislodged or slip off the lower shoe box. In this embodiment, the shoe box is able to support the second shoe box above it, the second shoe box is able to support the third shoe box above it and so forth, without risk of slippage or dislodgment of one or more shoe boxes from the stacked configuration. As such, the space-saving features of this stackable configuration may be maintained. Furthermore, the absence of a removable lid avoids the dropping or misplacing of the top of the shoe box. This embodiment of the shoe box may be most advantageously used in the aftermarket residential setting by an individual desiring to store a pluarility of shoe boxes in a stackable configuration in their closet. In particular, the pivoting mechanism enables the front face to be extended in an open position, thereby enabling removal of a pair of shoes from an individual shoe box, while still maintaining the stackable configuration of all shoe boxes stored on top of the shoe box.
In a further embodiment of the present invention, the non-removable top face of the shoe box may be hingedly attached to the rear face of the shoe box. In another embodiment, the non-removable top face may be hingedly attached to the first face of the shoe box. In yet a further embodiment, the non-removable top face may be hingedly attached to the second face of the shoe box. As discussed above, these embodiments uniquely enable the shoe box to be maintained either individually or in a stackable configuration without risk of dislodgment of a lid that is commonly found in many prior art shoe boxes. Accordingly, the non-removable top face may provide more reliable support, especially in a stackable configuration.
In another embodiment, the shoe box may further include a shoe label on the front face identifying information about the shoe, such as the size, brand, and/or model information. In a further embodiment, the shoe label may be disposed in the first display window. In an alternative embodiment, the shoe label may disposed in a second display window. Accordingly, the contents of the shoe box may be further identifiable by the model no., style no., color, size, or other descriptive information about the shoe, in addition to the visual identification provided by the product card in the first display window. This feature may uniquely enable more convenient and efficient identification of the shoe contained in the shoe box.
In another embodiment, the shoe box may be made of cardboard or corrugated paper board. This material is light weight and therefore amenable to convenient transport and/or storage. Furthermore, this material is inexpensive, thereby reducing the costs of production and enabling competitive pricing of the shoe box.
In another embodiment, the product card may be mounted on a product card face behind the first display window, the product card face being slidably disposable between the front face and a first front face fold behind the front face. In a further embodiment, a product card retaining tab disposed on the product card face may be operative to hold the product card in position behind the first display window. These embodiments of the shoe box may be most advantageously used in a retail commercial shoe store setting, wherein the front face of the shoe box is not pivotally extendable. In this configuration, the product card may slide behind the front display window onto the product card face without having to disassemble or otherwise open the shoe box. In yet another embodiment, the product card may be disposed behind the first display window between the front face and a second front face fold. This embodiment of the shoe box may be most advantageously used in a residential aftermarket setting, wherein the front face of the shoe box may be pivotally opened, thereby allowing the individual to slide the product card behind the first display window between the front face and the second front face fold.
These and other features and advantages of the various embodiments disclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the following description and drawings, in which like numbers refer to like parts throughout, and in which:
The drawings referred to herein are for the purposes of illustrating the preferred embodiments of the present invention and not for the purposes of limiting the same.
Still referring to
Referring now to
As shown in
Referring to
The shoe box 10 is innovative in that the preferential folds 12 enable the quick assembly and disassembly of the shoe box 10 into an interconnected flat configuration that may be readily stored in a space-saving manner when the shoe box is not being used. The preferential folds 12 may be configured to enable the shoe box 10 to be universally adapted to store shoes of different types and sizes. The shoe box 10 may also be adapted for the storage of articles of clothing and other miscellaneous items. Furthermore, the access aperture 54 on the front face 14 of the shoe box 10 may enable ready accessibility to and/or retrieval of a single shoe box 10, either by hand or through the use of a retrieval tool. The first display window 56 enables quick and efficient visual identification of the contents of the shoe box 10 based on the image 60 depicted on the product card 58, before the shoe box 10 is opened. As is discussed in further detail below, the non-removable top face 20 and bottom face 48 are innovative in that there is no lid that may fall off or otherwise be dislodged from the shoe box 10. This feature may uniquely enable the shoe box 10 to be more readily positioned in a stackable configuration as well as providing underlying support to a plurality of shoe boxes 102 that may be stacked on top of the shoe box 10.
This embodiment of the shoe box 10 shown in
Referring now to
As shown in
This feature of the shoe box 10 is further innovative in that the pivoting mechanism of the front face 14 enables the shoe box to be in an opened position 62, even when there are a plurality of shoe boxes 102 stacked on top of the shoe box 10 as shown in
The embodiments of the shoe box 10 shown in
Still referring to
Still referring to
These features of the shoe box 10 uniquely enable the mounting of the second shoe box 88 or a plurality of shoe boxes 102, one on top of the other in a stackable configuration. In these embodiments, the second shoe box 88 or one of a plurality of shoe boxes 102 may be precisely positioned on top of the shoe box 10, with the insertion of the tabs 84, 90, 94, 96 on the lower shoe box 10 into the recesses 86, 92, 98, 100 located on the second shoe box 88 or one or more plurality of shoe boxes 102 on top of the shoe box 10. In this embodiment, the second shoe box 88 or one more plurality of shoe boxes 102 stacked on top of the shoe box 10 may be better supported and less likely to be dislodged or to otherwise fall off of the shoe box 10. Accordingly, the lower shoe box 10 may be better able to support the second shoe box 88 above it, and the second shoe box 88 may be better able to support the one or more of a plurality of shoe boxes 102 above it, and so forth, thereby reducing the risk of slippage of dislodgement of one or more shoe boxes placed in a stacked configuration. As such, the space-saving features of this stackable configuration may be maintained.
This embodiment of the shoe box 10 may be most advantageously used in the aftermarket residential setting by the individual consumer desiring to use the shoe box 10 for storage purposes in their closet at home. In particular, this configuration may be most effectively used in an embodiment of the shoe box 10 wherein the front face 14 may also be pivotally extended in an open position 62 as depicted in
As shown in
These features uniquely enable the shoe box 10 to identify its contents by descriptive information in addition to the visual identification provided by an image of the shoe 60 on the product card 58 in the first display window 56. As such, this feature may uniquely enable the more convenient and efficient identification of the shoe contained in the shoe box 10 without having to open the shoe box 10.
Although the shoe box 10 depicted in
The above description is given by way of example, and not limitation. Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art could devise variations that are within the scope and spirit of the invention disclosed herein. Further, the various features of the embodiments disclosed herein can be used alone, or in varying combinations with each other and are not intended to be limited to the specific combination described herein. Thus, the scope of the claims is not to be limited by the illustrated embodiments.
