U.S. patent application number 09/748696 was filed with the patent office on 2001-10-18 for multiple compartment package design.
Invention is credited to Todjar-Hengami, David.
Application Number | 20010030228 09/748696 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26867724 |
Filed Date | 2001-10-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010030228 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Todjar-Hengami, David |
October 18, 2001 |
Multiple compartment package design
Abstract
A box for conveniently storing and dispensing pourable materials
has a front wall having a first and a second opening and an inside
surface. The box also has a back wall, a first and a second side
wall, a bottom flap and a first and a second top flap. A first
slide and a second slide are in contact with the inside surface of
the front wall, each of said slides having an opening. The front
wall, the back wall, the first and second side walls, and the top
and bottom flaps are interconnected so as to form a box. The first
slide is movable between an open position in which it substantially
aligns with the first front wall opening, and a closed position in
which it is entirely out of alignment with the first front wall
opening. The second slide moves independently from the first slide.
The second slide is movable between an open position in which the
second slide opening substantially aligns with the second front
wall opening, and a closed position in which the second slide
opening is entirely out of alignment with the second front wall
opening. Additional slides can be added, as desired. The box may
include separate interior compartments in which, for example,
different products may be stored.
Inventors: |
Todjar-Hengami, David;
(Torrance, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OPPENHEIMER WOLFF & DONNELLY LLP
840 NEWPORT CENTER DRIVE
SUITE 700
NEWPORT BEACH
CA
92660
US
|
Family ID: |
26867724 |
Appl. No.: |
09/748696 |
Filed: |
December 26, 2000 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09748696 |
Dec 26, 2000 |
|
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09619700 |
Jul 19, 2000 |
|
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60172069 |
Dec 23, 1999 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
229/120.03 ;
229/120.11; 229/129.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 75/5833 20130101;
B65D 5/48014 20130101; B65D 5/48016 20130101; B65D 77/064 20130101;
B65D 5/723 20130101; B65D 5/0263 20130101; B65D 5/0254
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
229/120.03 ;
229/120.11; 229/129.1 |
International
Class: |
B65D 005/486; B65D
043/20 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A box for conveniently storing and dispensing food comprising: a
front wall having a first and a second opening and an inside
surface; a back wall; a first and a second side wall; a bottom flap
and a first and a second top flap; a first slide and a second slide
that are in contact with the inside surface of the front wall, each
of said slides having an opening; wherein said front wall, said
back wall, said first and second side walls, and said top and
bottom flaps are interconnected so as to form a box, said first
slide being movable between an open position in which said first
slide opening substantially aligns with said first front wall
opening and a closed position in which said first slide opening is
entirely out of alignment with said first front wall opening; and
said second slide being independently movable from said first
slide, said second slide being movable between an open position in
which said second slide opening substantially aligns with said
second front wall opening and a closed position in which said
second slide opening is entirely out of alignment with said second
front wall opening.
2. A box as defined in claim 1, wherein said box further comprises
a supporting wall disposed adjacent to at least a portion of the
inside surface of said front wall, said supporting wall having an
opening that is aligned with one of said front wall openings.
3. A box as defined in claim 2, wherein at least one of said slides
is disposed in between said front Wall and said supporting
wall.
4. A box as defined in claim 1, wherein said box further comprises
an interior, said interior having a first compartment and a second
compartment, said first compartment being opened when said first
slide is in the open position, said second compartment being opened
when said second slide is in the open position.
5. A box as defined in claim 4, wherein an interior wall separates
said first compartment from said second compartment.
6. A box as defined in claim 4, wherein said box further comprises
a front compartment wall disposed adjacent to a portion of the
inside surface of said front wall, said supporting wall having an
opening that is aligned with one of said front wall openings, said
front compartment wall extending across the width of one of said
compartments.
7. A box as defined in claim 1, wherein said box has a top opening
and said box further comprises a top inner flap that extends across
said top opening.
8. A box as defined in claim 1, wherein said box has a stop for
defining the position of at least one of said slides in the open
position of said at least one slide.
9. A box as defined in claim 1, wherein said box has a first stop
for defining the position of said first slide in the open position
of said first slide and a second stop for defining the position of
said second slide in the open position of said second slide.
10. A box as defined in claim 1, wherein the openings in said
slides are substantially the same shape as the openings in said
front wall.
11. A box as defined in claim 1, wherein said top flaps are
connected to said back wall in an articulated manner, such that a
user may lift said top flaps to slide said slides between said open
and said closed positions.
12. A box as defined in claim 1, wherein said box is made of
sulfate cellulose cardboard.
13. A box for conveniently storing and dispensing food comprising:
a front wall having a first and a second opening and an inside
surface; a back wall; a first and a second side wall; a bottom flap
and a first and a second top flap; a first slide and a second slide
that are in contact with the inside surface of the front wall, each
of said slides having an opening; wherein said front wall, said
back wall, said first and second side walls, and said top and
bottom flaps are interconnected so as to form a box, said first
slide being movable between an open position in which said first
slide opening substantially aligns with said first front wall
opening and a closed position in which said first slide opening is
entirely out of alignment with said first front wall opening; said
second slide being independently movable from said first slide,
said first slide being movable between an open position in which
said second slide opening substantially aligns with said second
front wall opening and a closed position in which said second slide
opening is entirely out of alignment with said second front wall
opening; said box further comprising an interior, said interior
having a first compartment and a second compartment, said first
compartment being opened when said first slide is in the open
position, said second compartment being opened when said second
slide is in the open position, an interior wall separating said
first compartment from said second compartment; said box further
having a top opening and a top inner flap that extends across said
top opening; and wherein said box has a first stop for defining the
position of said first slide in the open position of said first
slide and a second stop for defining the position of said second
slide in the open position of said second slide.
14. A box as defined in claim 13, wherein the shapes of the
openings in said slides are different than the shapes of the
openings in said front wall.
15. A box as defined in claim 13, wherein said top flaps are
connected to said back wall in an articulated manner, such that a
user may lift said top flaps to slide said slides between said open
and said closed positions.
16. A box as defined in claim 13, wherein said box is made of
sulfate cellulose cardboard.
17. A box as defined in claim 13, wherein said box further
comprises a front compartment wall disposed adjacent to a portion
of the inside surface of said front wall, said supporting wall
having an opening that is aligned with one of said front wall
openings, said front compartment wall extending across the width of
one of said compartments.
18. A box for conveniently storing and dispensing food comprising:
a front wail having a first and a second opening and an inside
surface; a back wall; a first and a second side wall; a bottom flap
and a first and a second top flap; a first slide and a second slide
that are in contact with the inside surface of the front wall, each
of said slides having an opening; wherein said front wall, said
back wall, said first and second side walls, and said top and
bottom flaps are interconnected so as to form a box, said first
slide being movable between an open position in which said first
slide opening substantially aligns with said first front wall
opening and a closed position in which said first slide opening is
entirely out of alignment with said first front wall opening; said
second slide being independently movable from said first slide,
said first slide being movable between an open position in which
said second slide opening substantially aligns with said second
front wall opening and a closed position in which said second slide
opening is entirely out of alignment with said second front wall
opening; and at least one bag inside said box comprising at least
one removable area, said removable area being positioned adjacent
to at least one of said front wall openings.
19. A box as defined in claim 18, wherein said removable portion is
defined by at least one line of weakness on said bag.
20. A box as defined in claim 18, wherein said removable portion is
removably attached to said bag with a pressure sensitive adhesive.
Description
I. RELATED PATENTS
[0001] This patent application relates to U.S. Pat. No. 5,505,373,
which is entitled Folding Package and which issued on Apr. 9, 1996,
and to U.S. Pat. No. 6,116,499, which is entitled Package Design
and which issued on Sep. 12, 2000, both of which are hereby
incorporated by reference. This patent application is a
continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/619,700
by David Todjar Hengami, entitled IMPROVED PACKAGE DESIGNS, which
was filed on Jul. 19, 2000 and which is hereby incorporated by
reference. This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional
Patent Application No. 60/172,069 by David Todjar Hengami, which
was filed on Dec. 23, 1999 and which is hereby incorporated by
reference.
II. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to the field of packaging and,
in particular, to packaging for pourable food and other items.
[0004] B. Prior Art
[0005] A wide range of pourable products, such as candies, cereals,
laundry soaps, and many other products, are dispensed in cardboard
boxes. To access the contents, a user must generally open the top
of the box. Sometimes the contents are held in a wax paper bag
inside the box, and the bag must be opened as well. To store the
contents, the user closes the bag and then closes the box.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,505,373 discloses a novel box for
conveniently storing and dispensing pourable items. The box has a
back wall and a slide connected to the back wall. The slide has a
slide opening and two side tabs extending from the slide. A front
wall with an opening is connected to the back wall. The box also
has an interior supporting wall having first and second side slits.
The slide is disposed within the box, with each of the tabs being
inserted into a corresponding one of the slits. The box has an open
position in which the openings are aligned and in which the
contents of the box may be poured out, The box also has a closed
position for storing the contents.
III. SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0007] In one embodiment of the present invention, a box for
conveniently storing and dispensing pourable materials has a front
wall having a first and a second opening and an inside surface. The
box also has a back wall, a first and a second side wall, a bottom
flap and a first and a second top flap. A first slide and a second
slide are in contact with the inside surface of the front wall,
each of said slides having an opening. The front wall, the back
wall, the first and second side walls, and the top and bottom flaps
are interconnected so as to form a box. The first slide is movable
between an open position in which it substantially aligns with the
first front wall opening, and a closed position in which it is
entirely out of alignment with the first front wall opening. The
second slide moves independently from the first slide. The second
slide is movable between an open position in which the second slide
opening substantially aligns with the second front wall opening,
and a closed position in which the second slide opening is entirely
out of alignment with the second front wall opening.
[0008] In particular embodiments, the box may have a supporting
wall disposed adjacent to at least a portion of the inside surface
of the front wall. The supporting wall may have an opening that is
aligned with one of the front wall openings. At least one of the
slides may be disposed in between the front wall and the supporting
wall.
[0009] The box may also have a first compartment and a second
compartment. The first compartment may be opened when the first
slide is in the open position. The second compartment may be opened
when the second slide is in the open position. An interior wall may
separate the first compartment from the second compartment. The box
may further comprise a front compartment wall that is disposed
adjacent to a portion of the inside surface of the front wall, the
front compartment wall having an opening that is aligned with one
of the front wall openings. The front compartment wall may extend
across the width of one of the compartments.
[0010] The box may have a top opening. A top inner flap may extend
across the top opening. The top inner flap may consist of a single
flap member, or may be formed from two or more members. The two or
more members may be secured together to form a single top inner
flap.
[0011] The box may have a stop for defining the position of at
least one of said slides in the open position of said at least one
slide. The box may have a first stop for defining the position of
the first slide in the open position of the first slide. The box
may also have a second stop for defining the position of the second
slide in the open position of the second slide.
[0012] The openings in the slides may be substantially the same
shape as the openings in the front wall. Alternatively, the slide
openings may be one shape and the openings in the front wall
another shape, if desired. The top flaps are connected to the back
wall in an articulated manner, such that the user may lift the top
flaps to slide the slides between the open and closed
positions.
[0013] Embodiments of boxes according to the present invention may
incorporate an inner liner. In one embodiment, an inner liner
resides within the box. The inner liner may include a removable
portion that is adjacent to a front wall opening in the box. To
initially access the contents of the inner liner, the user moves
the slide into the open position. The user then removes the
removable portion of the inner liner, and may then pour contents of
the inner liner out of the box.
[0014] In a multiple-compartment box, there may be more than one
inner liner. For example, one inner liner may be a bag in one
compartment, while another inner liner may be a separate bag in
another compartment of the box. As a further alternative, the box
itself may not have multiple compartments but, instead, a plurality
of different bags inside of the box may serve to separate different
products that are stored within the same box.
[0015] Other objects and features of the invention will become
apparent from a review of the Detailed Description below, from the
drawings, and from the claims.
IV. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 illustrates a blank from which a box according to the
present invention is formed;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the box designed from the
blank of FIG. 1 in a half-opened state;
[0018] FIG. 3 illustrates a blank from which an alternative
embodiment of the present invention is formed;
[0019] FIG. 4 illustrates a blank from which another alternative
embodiment of the present invention is formed;
[0020] FIG. 5 illustrates a blank from which a further alternative
embodiment of the present invention is formed;
[0021] FIG. 6 illustrates one embodiment of an inner liner
according to the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 7 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the inner
liner of FIG. 6;
[0023] FIG. 8 is a view of one side of a box according to the
present invention having more than one front opening; and
[0024] FIG. 9 illustrates a blank from which another alternative
embodiment of the present invention is formed, this embodiment
having a heart-shaped opening;
[0025] FIG. 10 illustrates a bag that is compatible with the box
formed from the blank of FIG. 9, in which the perforated removable
portion of the bag is heart-shaped to correspond with the
heart-shaped opening of the box;
[0026] FIG. 11 illustrates a box blank that can be folded and
secured to form a multiple compartment box;
[0027] FIG. 12 illustrates the box blank of FIG. 11 partially
folded and secured to form one compartment;
[0028] FIG. 13 illustrates a box formed from the box blank of FIG.
11;
[0029] FIG. 14 is a cross-section taken across section 14-14 of
FIG. 13, illustrating the two interior compartments;
[0030] FIG. 15 illustrates the box of FIG. 13 with one slide in an
open position;
[0031] FIG. 16 illustrates the box of FIG. 13 with both slides in
an open position;
[0032] FIG. 17 illustrates a box blank that can be folded and
secured to form an alternative multiple compartment box;
[0033] FIG. 18. Illustrates the box blank of FIG. 13 partially
folded and secured to form one compartment; and
[0034] FIG. 19 illustrates a box formed from the box blank of FIG.
17, with one slide in an open position.
V. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0035] The box formed from the blank according to FIG. 1 has six
outer walls, namely a front wall 1 and a back wall 2, a first side
wall 3 and a second side wall 4 and a top flap 5 and a bottom flap
6. Between two of these walls the cross-section has folding lines F
that define the edges of the finished box. A partition 7 is
connected to the back wall 2 by a folding line. Partition 7 has a
coating 8 of adhesive to bond the partition to the inside surface
of the first side wall 3.
[0036] A bottom tongue 16 is connected to the bottom flap and its
outside surface is in contact with the inside surface of front wall
1 when the box is completely assembled. A slide 9 is connected to
the top flap 5 by a folding line and its outside surface is also in
contact with the inside surface of front wall 1 when the box is
fully assembled.
[0037] Front wall 1 has an opening 10. A corresponding slide
opening 11 with a matching shape is provided in slide 9. When the
top flap 5 is raised by thumb flap 12, slide 9 is raised along the
inside surface of front wall 1 so the slide opening 11 comes to
cover the opening 10 in front wall 1. Now the pourable product can
be poured or shaken out of the box through the corresponding
openings in the front wall 1 and slide 9. When pressure is applied
from above to push the top flap 5 of the slide 9 down behind the
front wall 1, the unperforated section of slide 9 closes off the
opening 10 in the front wall. A recess 13 that facilitates the
engagement of thumb flap 12 is provided in the front wall 1 in
order to make it easier to open the box.
[0038] A supporting wall 14 is connected to the partition 7. When
the box has been fully assembled, the supporting wall is on the
inside next to the front wall 1. It has essentially the same
dimensions as the front wall 1, and specifically it has an opening
15 which corresponds to the opening 10 in the front wall when the
box is fully assembled.
[0039] The slide 9 is between the front wall 1 and the supporting
wall 14 when the box is assembled, as is the lower tongue 16 that
is connected to the bottom flap 6. The supporting wall 14 has two
slits 17. The two straps 18 that project at a right angle from the
slide in the direction of the interior of the box after the box has
been assembled engage into these two slits. This forms a stop that
defines the position of the slide 9 with regard to the supporting
wall 14 and the front wall 1 when the box is open and prevents the
slide from pulling out of the space between front wall 1 and
supporting wall 14.
[0040] A top inner wall 19, a bottom inner wall 20 and a side inner
wall 21 are attached to the side wall 14. There are four corner
flaps 22, each arranged in a corner between the inner walls and the
partition. The corner flaps are attached to the neighboring walls
by fold lines, and another fold line divides each corner flap into
two parts, so the corner flaps are folded into the inside of the
box when the box is assembled.
[0041] The inner side wall 21 has an adhesive coating 23 for
bonding it to the inside surface of the second side wall 4.
[0042] When the box is assembled, the bottom inner wall 20 is
beneath the bottom flap 6 and the top inner wall 19 is beneath the
top flap 5. The top tongue 24 that is attached to the top inner
wall 19 is in contact with the inner surface of the back wall 2.
The top inner wall 19 seals the box at the top, even when the top
flap 5 is raised in order to open the box at openings 10, 11 and 15
by lifting the slide.
[0043] The blank of FIG. 1 is preferably die cut or laser cut from
a sheet of material such as light cardboard or other material
suitable for forming a box. The blank may be scored at fold lines
to facilitate easily folding the blank into a box. The box is
typically secured together with one of the adhesives that is
conventional in the art.
[0044] FIG. 3 illustrates an alternative design that requires
somewhat less material to construct. The components of the design
are numbered consistently with the components of FIG. 1, with the
numbering increased by 100. The supporting wall 114 is somewhat
shorter than the supporting wall 14 in FIG. 1. The partition 107
may also be somewhat shorter than the partition 7 in FIG. 1. In the
embodiment of FIG. 1, there is a side wall 3 that the embodiment of
FIG. 3 does not include, for the purpose of further saving
material.
[0045] In FIG. 3, the supporting wall 114, the partition 107, and
the inner side wall 121 are approximately one-half the length (or
other shortened length) of corresponding wall 14, partition 7 and
inner side wall 21 in FIG. 1. When hundreds of thousands or
millions of the same box are produced, the shortened walls and
partition can result in a large savings of material and reduced
production costs. Eliminating the side wall 3 of FIG. 1 can further
reduce the material and cost requirements.
[0046] FIG. 4 illustrates a further alternative design. The
components of the design are numbered consistently with the
components of FIG. 1, with the numbering increased by 200. In this
embodiment, the opening 210 is substantially larger than the
corresponding opening 10 in the embodiment of FIG. 1. To further
save material, the height of the supporting wall 214, inner side
wall 221 and partition 207 can be reduced as in FIG. 3.
Alternatively, the inner side 221 and supporting wall 214 can be
eliminated entirely. To form the box, the front wall 201 would then
be connected to partition 207, which could be provided with an
extension to which front wall 201 could be adhered. Bottom tongue
216 could also be eliminated.
[0047] FIG. 5 illustrates a further alternative design in which the
opening 315 is enlarged in order to save material. The opening 315
extends into the top inner wail 319, and below the midpoint of the
supporting wall 314. The first side wall 3 of FIG. 1 is also
eliminated. The tabs 318 are optional and, if eliminated, the slits
317 may also be eliminated.
[0048] Material may be added or reduced from the box designs
depending on the type of pourable product that is to be stored in
the box. For example, the box may require more rigidity in order to
store heavier items such as rice or some candies. Consequently, the
design of FIG. 1 may be preferred over the design of FIG. 4 or FIG.
5 for use with certain products. On the other hand, lighter items,
such as popcorn, dried pastas, and many other light weight
products, may be stored in a box requiring less material than the
design of FIG. 1.
[0049] Various embodiments of the present invention may be used in
conjunction with a bag that fits inside the box. The general
concept of bags within a box is conventional. For example, cereal
is generally stored inside a wax paper or cellophane bag that the
user opens from the top in order to pour the cereal from the
box.
[0050] FIG. 6 illustrates a bag 50 having a perforated area 52. The
perforated area 52 is positioned to correspond with the box opening
10, for example, in FIG. 2. Referring to FIG. 2, to open the bag,
the user slides the slide 9 into the open position. The user then
opens the bag 50 by reaching through the box opening 10, grasping
the perforated area of the bag 52, and removing the area of the bag
defined by perforations 54. The bag is then open, and the user can
pour contents of the bag 50 through the now-opened portion of the
bag, and out of the box through the opening 10.
[0051] In the presently preferred embodiment of the bag 50, the
perforated area 52 is defined by microperforations, which are fine
perforations that leave a relatively smooth edge after separation.
However, alternatively, other types of perforations may be used. As
an alternative to perforations, other forms of weakening may be
employed, such as scoring.
[0052] As a further alternative, the bag 50 may be provided with an
aperture. A sticker that is backed with a removable adhesive is
applied to the bag 50 to seal off the aperture. To open the bag,
the user removes the sticker from the aperture, so that the user
may pour contents of the bag through the bag aperture and out the
box aperture when the box is in the open position. The sticker may
have a preprinted design and/or indicia on one or both surfaces.
The bag may be provided with a release coating such as silicone to
facilitate easy removal of the sticker. Alternatively, the bag may
be constructed of a material from which the sticker may be peeled
without a release coating. To reseal the bag, the user may replace
the sticker on the bag. Alternatively, the user may seal the
opening of the box itself with the sticker. As a further
alternative, the user need not reseal the box opening or the bag
opening at all, as the slide prevents the contents of the bag from
pouring out of the box when the slide is in the closed
position.
[0053] The bag 50 may be adhered to the interior of the box in
order to ensure that the bag opening remains aligned with the box
opening 10. In one embodiment, the top of the bag 56 (FIG. 7) is
adhered to the top interior of the box. The bag may also be adhered
to the side of the box or, in some embodiments, may be adhered to
the bottom of the box, or may be otherwise secured within the box
so that the bag opening aligns with the box opening in the open
position. In one embodiment, the bag is glued to the interior of
the box immediately adjacent to the box opening, so that the bag
opening is held in alignment with the box opening. The perforated
area may be glued to the slide, such that when the slide is lifted,
the perforated area is torn open.
[0054] The perforated area 52 may optionally be connected to a tab
58 to simplify opening the bag. When the box is open, the user may
reach through the box opening 10, grasp the tab 58, and pull the
tab in order to remove the area 52 from the bag. The tab 58 may be
made of the same material as the bag or, alternatively, may be made
of a different material. The tab 58 may be formed integrally with
the bag as, for example, by simply die-cutting a tab out the
portion 52. However, the tab 58 is preferably a separate member
that is attached to the area 52 by conventional means.
[0055] The foregoing has described a presently preferred embodiment
of the invention, as well as alternative embodiments. However, it
should be understood that the scope of the invention is not limited
to what is described in the Detailed Description. Numerous
variations may be employed within the scope of the invention. For
example, referring to FIG. 1, the opening 10 may be located at
various other positions on the box. Referring to FIG. 8, the
opening may be moved to an upper corner, to one side of the center,
and/or to a lower corner. Any other position on the front is
possible. The slide opening 11 (FIG. 1) should be located on the
slide so as to be out of alignment with the box opening when in the
closed position, and aligned with the box opening in the open
position, so that the user can open and close the box opening by
sliding the slide.
[0056] Referring again to FIG. 8, the opening can have any shape,
such as circle 70, triangle 72, or L-shape 74. A wide range of
opening shapes and sizes is available. FIG. 10 illustrates that the
openings in the box may have a shape to correspond with the shape
of the opening in the bag.
[0057] The box and the bag may each have more than one opening. The
slide may have a plurality of openings, too, so that in the open
position, several box openings are opened simultaneously.
Alternatively, the openings in the slide may be such that sliding
the slide a certain distance opens less than all of the box
openings. With further sliding, one or more additional openings may
be opened. As a further alternative, the box and bag may be
provided with several openings, while the slide is provided with
only one opening. The slide opening can then be moved from box
opening to box opening, allowing the user to choose from which
opening to pour.
[0058] FIG. 9 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the present
invention in which the various components are numbered consistently
with the numbering of FIG. 1, with 400 added. In FIG. 9 the box
openings 410 and 411 are heart-shaped, rather than the elongated,
narrow shape of opening 10 in FIG. 3. If an inner bag is used
inside the box, the bag may also have a heart-shaped opening.
[0059] The box of FIG. 9 has a portion 422 that folds inside of the
box. The lower portion of 422 may be glued in place to secure the
blank into a box. Relatively little material is required to form
the right hand side of the blank illustrated in FIG. 9, and the
embodiment of FIG. 9 is particularly material-efficient.
[0060] FIG. 10 illustrates one embodiment of a bag 150 that is
compatible with the box of FIG. 9. The bag of FIG. 10 has a
removable heart-shaped area 152 defined by one or more lines of
weakness, preferably perforations. The position of the heart-shaped
area 152 corresponds with heart-shaped opening 410 in the box of
FIG. 9. The bag 150 may be glued in place at the bottom of the bag
160 or else where the box to align the heart shaped area 152 with
box opening 410.
[0061] The embodiments of the present invention may be formed from
a wide variety of materials. The presently-preferred material is
sulfate cellulose cardboard. However, the box may alternatively be
made of plastic or wax. Other materials such as paper and wood may
also be utilized to form part or all of the box in special
embodiments, as well as a variety of cardboards. The material may
be coated, if desired, with a moisture-resistant coating.
[0062] In a further embodiment, the box opening and/or the slide
opening may be sealed with a small sheet of plastic, wax paper, or
other sealing material. The small sheet may be adhered about the
edges of the opening with an adhesive, or otherwise attached to the
box. The small sheet may be perforated or provided with lines of
weakness to define a removable portion, which the user removes
before dispensing the contents of the box. A tab or tear strip may
be provided on the sealing sheet to assist in removing the
removable portion. Alternatively, the sheet may be a sticker that
the user peels away rather than tearing. This embodiment may be
used without an inner liner with some pourable products, such as
powdered dishwasher soap and rice, to name just a few.
[0063] In a further alternative embodiment, a bag is provided with
a zipper or other known sliding closure system. In this embodiment,
the user slides the closure to an open position rather than tearing
along a line of weakness. The bag can then be re-sealed by sliding
the closure to a shut position.
[0064] It is possible to form boxes having multiple interior
compartments. This type of box is particularly useful when two
different types of products are to be stored in the same container.
For example, it might be desirable to provide a box for storing and
dispensing raisins, in which dark raisins are stored in one portion
of the box, and golden raisins are stored separately in another
portion of the box. Or, powdered laundry detergent may be stored in
one portion of the box, while powdered bleach may be stored in
another portion of the box. Many other uses for a multiple
compartment box can be imagined.
[0065] FIG. 11 illustrates a box blank for forming a multiple
compartment box. The box blank may be formed by die cutting a sheet
of cardstock. The box blank may be cut with other methods known in
the box cutting art, such as by laser cutting or other types of
cutting.
[0066] The box blank of FIG. 11 has a side wall 500, a front wall
502, a side wall 504, a back wall 506, an inner side wall 508, a
front compartment wall 510, an interior center wall 512, and a
compartment retaining flap 514. The front compartment wall 510 has
an opening 516, which may be any shape. The front wall 502 includes
openings 518 and 520. The box blank also includes a first slide 522
and a second slide 524. The slides include slide openings 526 and
528, respectively. The slides may also include notches 530 and 532,
respectively, which may be part of an arrangement to retain the
slides within the box after the box is constructed, as will be
explained below.
[0067] Connected to the respective slides 522 and 524 are top flaps
534 and 536, respectively. Respective thumb flaps 538 and 540 are
cut in between the respective top flaps and slides. Top inner flaps
542 and 544 are also provided, and are positioned beneath top flaps
536 and 538, respectively, when the blank is folded into a box. The
inner flaps 542 and 544 are provided with notches 546 and 548,
respectively, which work together with slide notches 530 and 532 to
retain the slides 522 and 524 within the box when the blank is
folded into a box.
[0068] The box blank of FIG. 11 is also provided with a bottom side
flap 550, a bottom flap 552, and a bottom flap 556, which together
form the bottom of the box when the box blank is folded into a
box.
[0069] FIG. 12 illustrates the box blank of FIG. 11 as it appears
when it is partially folded to form one compartment 510. The
compartment retaining flap 514 is glued or otherwise secured to the
back wall 506. The box blank may be pre-scored along fold lines to
ensure accurate and convenient folding. Techniques for pre-scoring
box blanks are well known in the art. The box is typically folded
by automated machinery, but may also be folded by hand, if
desired.
[0070] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a fully constructed box
formed from the box blank of FIG. 11. The box has a fully closed
position as in FIG. 13, in which the slide openings 526 and 528 are
not in alignment with the openings 518 and 520 on the front of the
box. Consequently, the box is closed, and the contents of the box
cannot be poured out of the box.
[0071] FIG. 14 illustrates the interior of the box, as taken along
Section 14-14 of FIG. 13. The box has two compartments, 560 and
562, in which two separate types of pourable items may be stored
without intermingling. The interior center wall 512 separates the
two compartments. The side wall 500 is secured to the side inner
wall 508 with a standard box-forming glue that is known in the art,
or by other known means.
[0072] FIG. 15 illustrates the box of FIG. 13 as it appears with
one compartment open. In particular, the slide 522 has been raised
such that the opening 518 is aligned with the opening 526 to open
the compartment 562 (FIG. 14). In the configuration of FIG. 15, the
contents of the compartment 562 can be poured from the box. FIG. 16
shows that the slide 524 may also be raised to open the second
compartment 560, such that the opening 528 on the slide 524 is
aligned with the opening 516 on the front compartment wall 510 and
the opening 518 on the front wall 502. Consequently, the user may
open and close the slides 522 and 524 in whatever combination is
desired.
[0073] It should be noted that top inner flap 542 and the top inner
flap 544, which may also be known as "minor" flaps, are typically
glued or otherwise secured together when the box is formed to
create a continuous inner flap. As an alternative to having two
separate top inner flaps 542 and 544, a single longer flap may be
used. So, for example the box can be designed with a single top
inner flap similar to flap 542 but slightly more than twice as
long, and without top inner flap 544.
[0074] FIGS. 17-19 illustrate an alternative multiple-compartment
box design that is particularly adapted to minimize the use of
material needed to construct the box. Referring to FIG. 17, an
alternative box blank for forming a multiple-compartment package
includes a side wall 600, a front wall 602, a side wall 604, a back
wall 606 and a side wall 608. The blank also includes a top wall
610, a divider wall 612 and a retaining flap 614.
[0075] The front wall 602 includes openings 618 and 620. Slides 622
and 624 include openings 626 and 628, respectively. The slides 622
and 624 also include notches 630 and 632, respectively, which help
to retain the slides within the box once the box is constructed.
Top flaps 634 and 636 each include a respective thumb flap 638 or
640, which are die cut or cut by other means known in the art.
[0076] The box blank also includes a top flap 642 with a notch 646
that interacts with the notch 630 on slide 622 to retain the slide
622 within the box when the box is constructed. The box blank also
includes bottom flaps 652, 654, 656 and 658, which can be glued
together or otherwise secured when the box is constructed.
[0077] FIG. 18 illustrates the box blank of FIG. 17 partially
constructed into a box. The box includes a compartment 660 that is
defined by the dividing wall 612 on one side and the side wall 608
on the other. A second compartment is defined in between the
dividing wall 612 and the side wall 604, in a manner similar to how
the compartment 562 is formed in the embodiment of FIG. 14.
[0078] FIG. 19 illustrates that, as in the embodiment of FIGS.
13-16, the slides 622 and 624 can be selectively raised and lowered
to open and close the compartments, as desired.
[0079] The multiple compartment embodiments of FIGS. 11-19 may be
used in conjunction with inner liners. For example, a
two-compartment embodiment may have one inner liner as shown in
FIG. 10 for each compartment. The removable opening of each bag is
lined up with a corresponding opening in the front wall of the box.
To open the inner liner, the user opens the box and removes the
removable member that is adjacent to the opening.
[0080] In another embodiment, the box is a single-compartment
design having two or more slides. A single inner liner having two
removable portions, each aligned with a corresponding slide opening
when the slide is in the open position, may be used. Alternatively,
two or more inner liners may be used so as to separate different
pourable materials within the box. For example, in a
single-compartment, two-slide design, two separate bags may be
used. Each bag may have a removable portion aligned with a
corresponding slide opening when the slide is in the open
position.
[0081] As an alternative to having multiple openings in the front
wall to correspond with openings in the multiple slides, the front
wall may have a single elongated opening that is sufficiently large
in dimension to provide an opening corresponding to the slide
openings. The design of FIG. 17, for example, may be varied in
order to form a box having additional compartments. For instance,
the top flap 642 may be altered to be similar to the top wall 610,
the divider wall 612 and the retaining wall 614. Then, a third
compartment on the left hand side of the box can be formed. By
adding one additional slide, a three compartment box can be
constructed. Other multiple compartment boxes can be constructed by
varying the design of the box blank.
[0082] In a box having more than one slide, one or more of the
slides may have multiple openings. For instance, a slide may have a
large opening to create a wide open position, and a smaller open to
create a normal open position, depending on how wide an opening the
user wants at a particular time. Alternatively, when the box is
used in conjunction with an interior bag, a slide may have multiple
openings to correspond to multiple openings in the bag. As a
further alternative, whether used in conjunction with a bag or not,
a slide may have multiple openings to correspond with multiple
openings in the front wall of the box. Numerous other variations
are possible within the scope of the invention.
[0083] It should be noted that the relative dimensions of the
drawings are approximate. The drawings are intended to convey
general concepts and are not precise engineering drawings. The
particular dimensions of the various embodiments may be adjusted as
necessary. For example, but not limitation, the openings 210 and
315 in FIGS. 4 and 5, respectively, may be made proportionately
larger or smaller in particular embodiments of the box, as can the
various other openings in the boxes and bags. The shapes of the
openings may be varied, as well, and the openings in the slides
need not precisely match the size or shape of the corresponding
openings in the front wall of the box.
[0084] Similarly, what is referred to as the "front" and "side" of
the box are interchangeable, in that the "front" may be narrower
than the side, or vice versa.
[0085] Accordingly, the present invention is not limited precisely
to the arrangements as shown in the drawings and as described in
detail hereinabove. in
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