Boxes or cartons have been designed to facilitate the distribution of individual products or items contained within the box. Boxes with a dispenser have more than one kind of dispensing openings. Some boxes for packaging goods such as cans or bottles of soft drinks may enable consumers to transport and store such products. In the field of packaging, customers may be provided with a package comprising a plurality of containers of primary products. Such multi-packs may be used for shipping and distribution and for displaying promotional information. Reusable boxes may be used to store products that can be subtracted over time, in which a user may repeatedly open and close the box again.
A feature of repeated closure on a box allows a consumer to repeatedly open and close the box during use without using secondary devices, such as clips. One type of multi-lock feature for cardboard boxes, boxes, or envelope-type containers is a tongue and groove type closure. In such configurations, the container is closed by inserting the tongue into the groove. This type of closure can be found, for example, in cardboard boxes or containers, such as cereal boxes and chewing gum boxes.
In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific examples in which the disclosure may be practiced. It is to be understood that other examples may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The following detailed description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present disclosure is defined by the appended claims. It is to be understood that features of the various examples described herein may be combined, in part or whole, with each other, unless specifically noted otherwise.
There are many configurations for containers used in shipping. Some configurations of boxes include usage of portions of an adhesive tape to bond portions of the box together. The portions of the adhesive tape are used for assembly and closure of the box. For example, a box can include two flaps that are folded over an opening therein to facilitate closure of the box, and the portions of the adhesive tape can be used to join the two flaps of the box together to seal contents within the box. However, besides being an additional cost, adhesive tape may not be readily available for assembly and closure of the boxes, and may be restricted from being used to seal boxes during transit.
Often, packaging boxes are used to ship and/or transport an object. In such instances, the packaging box serves the purpose of transporting the object and then is discarded. With an increased interest in reducing environmental waste, manufacturers and consumers have placed greater emphasis on reducing waste, reusing objects, and recycling materials when possible. The most effective way to reduce waste is to not create it in the first place. Making a new product uses a lot of materials and energy—raw materials are extracted from the earth, and the product is fabricated then transported to wherever it will be sold. As a result, reduction and reuse are the most effective ways to save natural resources, protect the environment and save money. Reuse is the action or practice of using an item, whether for its original purpose or to fulfil a different function.
Some writing devices are transported to consumers in boxes. As used herein, a writing device refers to or includes a tool used to make legible markings, either in physical and/or digital form, on a media. Non-limiting examples of writing devices include pencils, markers, and pens, among others. Additional examples of writing devices include a stylus or other tool used to make legible markings on a digital surface and/or to otherwise interact with a digital surface. For instance, a writing device may include a passive pen, also referred to as a passive stylus, which includes a large tip made of rubber or conductive foam in order to emulate a user's finger. Another example of a writing device may include an active pen, also referred to as an active stylus, which includes electronic components and allows users to write directly onto the display of a computing device such as a smartphone, tablet computer or Ultrabook. An active pen may include electronic components which generate wireless signals that are picked up by a proprietary digitizer and transmitted to a dedicated controller, providing data on pen location, pressure and other functionalities. Additional features enabled by the active pen's electronics include palm rejection to prevent unintended touch inputs, and hover, which allows the computer to track the pen's location when it is held near, but not touching the screen. Most active pens feature one or more function buttons (e.g. eraser and right-click) that can be used in the place of a mouse or keyboard.
After being transported to a user, writing devices are often stored in or on a desk for easy access by users. Moreover, some writing devices include tips and/or components that can be removed and/or replaced. Such removable and/or replaceable components may be misplaced and/or may necessitate the use of specialized tools.
Writing device packaging boxes, in accordance with examples of the present disclosure, provide for a reusable packaging box that reduces waste and provides a storage location for writing devices. Instead of creating additional waste, writing device packaging boxes described herein may repurpose the packaging boxes, and provide a storage location for the writing device which reduces clutter and loss of writing device accessories. Moreover, aspects of the writing device packaging boxes, as described herein, may allow for the replacement and capture of writing device tips, while also accommodating cable charging as appropriate.
An example of writing device packaging boxes in accordance with the present disclosure includes a packaging box, comprising a first section including a first aperture to receive a portion of a writing device, and a second section including a second aperture to receive a remainder of the writing device. The packaging box further includes a hinge mechanism coupling the first section to the second section, wherein the first section and second section are rotatable about the hinge mechanism. The packaging box also includes a tip remover including a surface to remove a tip of the writing device responsive to application of a force.
Another example of writing device packaging boxes in accordance with the present disclosure includes a packaging box, comprising a body defining a cavity, wherein the body includes a first section and a second section, wherein the first section includes a first aperture to receive a portion of a writing device, and wherein the second section includes a second aperture to receive a remainder of the writing device. The packaging box also includes a hinge mechanism coupling the first section to the second section, wherein the first section and second section are rotatable about the hinge mechanism, and a base holder stored in the cavity, wherein the base holder is to retain the first section and the second section when the body is in a folded configuration.
Additional examples of the present disclosure describe a method of using writing device packaging boxes. An example method includes removing a base holder from a body of a packaging box, wherein the body defines a cavity that includes a first section and a second section, and wherein the first section includes a first aperture to receive a portion of a writing device and the second section includes a second aperture to receive a remainder of the writing device. The method further includes applying a force to the first section and to the second section, causing the first section and the second section to fold about a hinge mechanism of the packaging box, and inserting the body in a folded configuration into the base holder.
Turning now to the Figures,
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The packaging box 100 further includes a hinge mechanism 105 coupling the first section 101 to the second section 103, wherein the first section 101 and second section 103 are rotatable about the hinge mechanism 105. As used herein, a hinge mechanism refers to or includes a connection between the first section 101 and the second section 103, allowing each to rotate. The first section 101 and the second section 103 may rotate relative to each other about a fixed axis of rotation 115. The hinge mechanism 105 may be made of flexible material or of moving components, among others.
In some examples, the first section 101 includes a first face wall 117-1 and a first back wall 119-1, and the second section 103 includes a second face wall 117-2 and a second back wall 119-2, wherein the first back wall 119-1 and the second back wall 119-2 comprise a contiguous surface with a lateral perforated line forming the hinge mechanism 105. For instance, the packaging box 100 may be comprised of cardboard, paper, plastic, composite, or other suitable packaging material, and first back wall 119-1 extending the length L of first section 101 may comprise a same piece of cardboard, paper, plastic, composite, or other suitable packaging material as second back wall 119-2. A perforated line or other flexible portion of the cardboard, paper, plastic, composite, or other suitable packaging material may form the hinge mechanism 105, although examples are not so limited. For instance, in some examples the hinge mechanism 105 may include a plurality or rotating components that couple the first section 101 and the second section 103.
In some examples, the packaging box 100 also includes a tip remover 107 including a surface to remove a tip of the writing device responsive to application of a force. For instance, referring to
In various examples, the packaging box 200 may include a body defining a cavity. As used herein, the body 231 of the packaging box 200 refers to or includes a plurality of walls of a solid material, arranged to define the various portions of the packaging box 200 described herein. The cavity 233, as used herein, refers to or includes a space between the walls of solid material comprising the body 231 and including an internal space within the body 231. Referring to
Referring to
In various examples, the body 231 includes a first section 201 a second section 203, wherein the first section 201 includes a first aperture 209-1 to receive a portion of a writing device, and wherein the second section 203 includes a second aperture 209-2 to receive a remainder of the writing device. For the ease of review, the writing device is not illustrated in
In some examples, the first aperture 209-1 of the first section 201 is defined by a first plurality of side walls extending parallel to the hinge mechanism 205, and the second aperture 209-2 of the second section 203 is defined by a second plurality of side walls extending parallel to the hinge mechanism 205. For instance, referring to
Similarly, referring to
As described herein, the packaging box 200 may also include a hinge mechanism coupling the first section to the second section, wherein the first section and second section are rotatable about the hinge mechanism. For instance, referring to
In various examples, the packaging box 200 also includes a base holder stored in the cavity, wherein the base holder is to retain the first section and the second section when the body is in a folded configuration. As used herein, a base holder refers to or includes a structure including a base and orthogonal side walls configured to receive and support the packaging box 200. In an unfolded configuration, such as the configuration illustrated in
In some examples, the base holder 245 has a width W″ approximately equal to a width W of the first section 201 and a width W′ of the second section 203. In some examples, the width W″ of the base holder 245 is less than the width W of the first section 201 and the width W′ of the second section 203 such that the base holder 245 can fit inside the cavity 233 of the body 231. In some examples, the base holder 245 has a length L″ approximately equal to a sum of a thickness T of the first section 201 and a thickness T′ of the second section 203. In some examples, the base holder 245 includes a top surface 251 to receive the first section 201 and the second section 203 when the packaging box 200 is folded at the hinge mechanism 205, and a bottom surface 253 opposite of the top surface 251. In some examples, the top surface 251 includes a protective substrate to receive a tip of the writing device. For instance, the top surface 251 may include a plastic, rubber, and/or flexible surface that may receive a tip of the writing device (e.g., 235 illustrated in
As discussed with regards to
In some examples, the packaging box 200 may include a second lid 216 disposed at an end of the second section 203 distal to the hinge mechanism 205. The second lid 216 may similarly have an aperture 218. The aperture 218 of the second lid 216 may allow for cable charging of the writing device when stored in the packaging box 200. The side wall 239-2 and the second lid 216 may form a second storage area 256 of the second section 203, wherein the second storage area 256 is distal to the hinge mechanism 205. The second lid 216 may open and close, and provide access to the writing device 235.
In
Once the first section 301 and the second section 303 are folded together, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
At 404, the method 402 includes removing a base holder from a body of a packaging box. For instance, as illustrated in
At 406, the method 402 includes causing the first section and the second section to fold about a hinge mechanism of the packaging box. For instance, the method may include applying a force to the first section and to the second section, causing the first section and the second section to fold about a hinge mechanism of the packaging box.
At 408, the method 402 includes inserting the body in a folded configuration into the base holder.
As discussed with regards to
In some examples, the method includes removing the body in the folded configuration from the base holder. For instance, the method may include removing the folded packaging box from the base holder, by moving from
In some examples, inserting the body in the folded configuration into the base holder includes coupling a first back wall of the first section and a second back wall of the second section such that the first section and the second section are aligned in parallel in the folded configuration.
Although specific examples have been illustrated and described herein, a variety of alternate and/or equivalent implementations may be substituted for the specific examples shown and described without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the specific examples discussed herein. Therefore, it is intended that this disclosure be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/US2021/039892 | 6/30/2021 | WO |