U.S. patent application number 09/859952 was filed with the patent office on 2002-11-21 for self-locking gift boxes with decorative closure.
Invention is credited to Escamila, Elias R..
Application Number | 20020170950 09/859952 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25332148 |
Filed Date | 2002-11-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020170950 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Escamila, Elias R. |
November 21, 2002 |
Self-locking gift boxes with decorative closure
Abstract
A self-locking gift box is disclosed, which includes a
decorative element incorporated in the box closure. The unique box
closure is adaptable to numerous shapes and sizes of gift boxes
having a rectangular opening. The closure incorporates a pair of
slotted and opposed, interlocking closure flaps, each of which has
a decorative end portion. For one embodiment of the invention, the
end portions are shaped so that, together, they form a generally
circular bow-like pattern. The end portions may be printed with the
image of a bow to enhance the effect. Additionally, the end
portions can be die cut to provide multiple tabs, each of which can
be bent upwardly to enhance the three-dimensional effect. For
another embodiment, the end portions are shaped so that each
includes one or more hearts. Other comparable patterns and designs
are also contemplated. For still another embodiment of the
invention, the end portions of the closure flaps may comprise
multiple paperboard layers, at least one of which is die cut to
provide bend-up patterns, designs or scenes.
Inventors: |
Escamila, Elias R.;
(Saratoga Springs, UT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Angus C. Fox, III
4093 N. Imperial Way
Provo
UT
84604-5386
US
|
Family ID: |
25332148 |
Appl. No.: |
09/859952 |
Filed: |
May 17, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
229/116.1 ;
229/155 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 5/4254 20130101;
B65D 5/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
229/116.1 ;
229/155 |
International
Class: |
B65D 005/10 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A gift box comprising: a rectangular opening; a pair of slotted,
interlockable flaps, each flap bendably attached to opposite sides
of said opening at a fold line, each flap having a closure portion
and a decorative end portion, such that when the flaps are
interlocked, a closure is formed over said opening, as is a
decorative pattern which overlies said closure portions.
2. The gift box of claim 1, wherein said decorative end portion
includes die-cut sub-portions, which may be bent upwardly or
downwardly to provide an enhanced three-dimensional effect.
3. The gift box of claim 1, wherein each decorative end portion
has, from a top planar perspective, the shape of a bow.
4. The gift box of claim 1, wherein each decorative end portion
includes, from a top planar perspective, at least one heart-shaped
element.
5. The gift box of claim 1, wherein at least one end portion
comprises multiple paperboard layers, at least one of which is die
cut to provide bend-up patterns, designs or scenes.
6. The gift box of claim 1, wherein each decorative end portion
includes a printed design.
7. The gift box of claim 1, wherein each closure portion is
dimensioned to be somewhat wider than one half the distance across
said rectangular opening, taken in a direction perpendicular to the
fold lines of the interlocking flaps.
8. The gift box of claim 7, wherein said closure portions assume a
gabled configuration, and said decorative end portions are upwardly
angled when said flaps are interlocked to close the box.
9. The box of claim 7, wherein said wider dimensioning ensures
adequate play when the interlocking flaps are mated together during
assembly so that the slots in the flaps do not tear.
10. A flat-foldable, ready-to-assemble paperboard gift box
comprising: a container portion having a rectangular opening; a
pair of slotted, interlockable flaps, each flap bendably attached
to opposite sides of said opening at a fold line, each flap having
a closure portion and a decorative end portion, such that when said
flaps are interlocked, both a closure over said opening, and a
decorative pattern overlying said closure portions which constitute
the closure, are formed.
11. The gift box of claim 10, wherein said decorative end portion
includes die-cut sub-portions, which may be bent upwardly or
downwardly to provide an enhanced three-dimensional effect
12. The gift box of claim 10, wherein each decorative end portion
has, from a top planar perspective, the shape and color printed
form of a bow.
13. The gift box of claim 10, wherein each decorative end portion
includes, from a top planar perspective, the shape and
color-printed form of at least one heart-shaped element.
14. The gift box of claim 10, wherein at least one end portion
comprises multiple paperboard layers, at least one of which is
color printed and die cut to provide bend-up patterns, designs or
scenes.
15. The gift box of claim 10, wherein each closure portion is
dimensioned to be somewhat wider than one half the distance across
said rectangular opening, taken in a direction perpendicular to the
fold lines of the interlocking flaps.
16. The gift box of claim 15, wherein said closure portions assume
a gabled configuration, and said decorative end portions are
upwardly angled when said flaps are interlocked to close the
box.
17. The box of claim 15, wherein said wider dimensioning ensures
adequate play when the interlocking flaps are mated together during
assembly so that the slots in the flaps do not tear.
18. The box of claim 10, which further includes an auto-bottom
feature.
19. The box of claim 10, which is partially assembled, yet flat
foldable for shipment and display.
20. A flat-foldable, ready-to-assemble paperboard gift box
comprising: a container portion having an opening having at least
two parallel opposed sides; a pair of slotted, interlockable flaps,
each flap bendably attached to a pair of parallel opposed sides of
said opening at a fold line, each flap having a closure portion and
a decorative end portion, such that when said flaps are
interlocked, both a closure over said opening, and a decorative
pattern overlying said closure portions which constitute the
closure, are formed.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates generally to gift-wrapped packages
and, in particular to self-locking package having decorative
closures.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] The wrapping of gifts often consumes more time than the
purchase of the gifts, themselves. It has become a social
expectation that gifts be personally wrapped. For many busy, active
people, taking time to wrap a gift is about the last thing they
would choose to do. Hence, the delivery of unwrapped gifts has
become increasingly common. However, there is a perception on the
part of many gift recipients that failure to wrap a gift
demonstrates a lack of consideration and caring on the part of the
gift giver. Such a perception is exactly the opposite of the
sentiment sought to be conveyed.
[0005] There are alternatives available to the moneyed elite. For
example, a gift-wrapping service may be employed. However, the use
of such a service not only requires a substantial additional
outlay, but requires time-consuming coordination of the process. An
even more costly alternative is to purchase a gift in combination
with a wrapping service. For the majority of people, such
alternatives represent unwise use of resources.
[0006] Specially constructed, quickly-assemblable gift boxes are
well known in the art. Many are equipped with a decorative design
that emulates gift wrapping paper. For example, U.S. Pat. No.
5,558,272 to Magister discloses an octagonal container,
manufactured from paperboard, having a novel closure which forms a
multiplanar decorative element. Other examples of a gift boxes
having unique, somewhat decorative, closures are found in U.S. Pat.
No. D362,619 to Haas and in U.S. Pat. No. 4,850,528 to Hanus. Other
examples of pre-wrapped gift boxes are U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,836,508;
5,826,402; 5,740,959; 5,584,429; 5,245,815, all to Savage; U.S.
Pat. No. 5,294,040 to Choen et al.; U.S. Pat. No. D270,042 to
Fisher, U.S. Pat. No. 4,809,907 to Langer; and U.S. Pat. No.
1,020,878 to Bendelari.
[0007] Though some of the referenced patents include gift boxes
which are relatively attractive when assembled, few, if any of
them, are as presentable as a standard package that has been
wrapped with wrapping paper, tied with ribbon and crowned with a
bow.
[0008] What is needed is a rapidly assemblable gift box having an
improved appearance that includes a decorative element incorporated
in the box closure, which serves as a reasonable substitute for a
bow.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention fulfills the need, expressed in the
background section, by providing a rapidly assemblable gift box
that includes one or more decorative elements incorporated in the
box closure. The unique box closure is adaptable to numerous shapes
and sizes of gift boxes having a closable rectangular opening. The
closure incorporates a pair of slotted and opposed, interlocking
closure flaps, each of which has a decorative end portion. For one
embodiment of the invention, the end portions are shaped so that,
together, they form a generally circular bow-like pattern. The end
portions may be printed with the image of a bow to enhance the
effect. Additionally, the end portions can be die cut to provide
multiple tabs, each of which can be bent upwardly to enhance the
three-dimensional effect. For another embodiment, the end portions
are shaped so that each includes one or more hearts. Other
comparable patterns and designs are also contemplated. For still
another embodiment of the invention, the end portions of the
closure flaps may comprise multiple paperboard layers, at least one
of which is die cut to provide bend-up patterns, designs or
scenes.
[0010] In order to further enhance the three-dimensional effect of
the mated end portions, the flaps, to which the end portions are
attached, may be dimensioned so that they are somewhat wider than
one half the distance across the box opening, taken in a direction
perpendicular to the fold lines of the interlocking flaps. This
feature causes the end portions of the interlocking flaps to be
upwardly angled and imparts a gabled appearance to the box closure.
It also ensures adequate play when the interlocking flaps are mated
together during assembly so that the slots in the flaps do not
tear.
[0011] The invention may be incorporated in shirt boxes, cubic,
rectangular and truncated pyramidal boxes having either square or
rectangular bases. The exterior surfaces of the boxes may also be
printed with a pattern that emulates wrapping paper. The boxes may
be of nearly any type, including auto-bottom-type boxes,
partially-assembled fold-flat boxes, boxes employing assembly tabs,
and many other types known in the field of box design and
manufacture.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a first planar die-cut
paperboard blank, which can be assembled to form a cubic gift box
incorporating the invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a second planar die-cut
paperboard blank, which can be assembled to form a truncated,
inverted, pyramidal gift box incorporating the invention;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a third planar die-cut
paperboard blank, which can be assembled to form a wine-bottle gift
box incorporating the invention; and
[0015] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a fourth planar die-cut
paperboard blank, which can be assembled to form a shirt box
incorporating the invention;
[0016] FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the fully assembled cubic
gift box of FIG. 1;
[0017] FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the fully assembled
truncated, inverted, pyramidal section gift box of FIG. 7;
[0018] FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the fully assembled
wine-bottle gift box of FIG. 3;
[0019] FIG. 8 is an isometric view of the fully assembled shirt box
of FIG. 4;
[0020] FIG. 9 is a top plan view of a pair of closure flaps, each
of which has a decorative portion shaped like half a looped ribbon
bow; and
[0021] FIG. 10 is a top plan view of a pair of closure flaps, each
of which has a decorative portion which includes multiple
paperboard layers, with the uppermost layer having been die cut so
that an included image, pattern or scene may be folded
upwardly.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
[0022] The focus of the present invention is a unique box closure
incorporating decorative elements in the box closure. The unique
box closure is adaptable to numerous shapes and sizes of
rapidly-assemblable gift boxes having a closable opening with two
parallel opposed sides. Boxes having both square and rectangular
openings fit this criteria, as do boxes having an opening in the
shape of a regular polygon with an even number of sides. The
invention is even applicable to boxes having irregularly openings,
as long as there are two parallel sides.
[0023] The invention will be described in reference to the attached
drawings figures, which show the invention as being incorporated
into boxes of various different designs. It should be noted that
broken lines indicate fold lines, while solid lines indicate either
die-cut slits or the perimeter of the blank. In order to decrease
the probability that a slit will tear at the end or ends thereof,
the end of each slit has been radiused to distribute a tearing
force over a larger area. This is a technique that is used to stop
the propagation of cracks in glass, hard plastic sheets, sheet
metal, and metal castings. It should be noted that the assembled
boxes do not show the layers of paperboard as a multi-dimensional
object, as the line width required to make the drawings acceptable
is about as thick as the preferred thickness of paperboard.
[0024] Referring now to FIG. 1, a first die-cut paperboard blank
100, which can be assembled to form a cubic gift box incorporating
the invention, is shown. The bottom of the box is formed by panel
101 and the sides by square panels 102A, 102B, 102C and 102D. The
opposed square side panels 102A and 102C incorporate a pair of
auxiliary side flaps 103, which provide additional rigidity to the
box and can be optionally bonded to the adjacent square side panels
102B or 102D during assembly by the consumer. The blank 100
incorporates four assembly slits 104A, 104B, 104C, and 104D, each
of which is bounded at both ends by a tear-reduction radiused
punching 105. During assembly of the first paperboard blank 100,
the four assembly slits 104A-104D respectively receive assembly
tabs 106A, 106B, 106C and 106D. For this particular box, all folds
are made in a downward direction. The blank 100 also incorporates a
pair of primary closure flaps 107A and 107B and a pair of secondary
closure flaps 108A and 108B. Each of the primary closure flaps 107A
and 107B incorporates a closure slit 109A and 109B, respectively.
Likewise, each of the secondary closure flaps 108A and 108B
incorporates a closure slit 110A and 110B, respectively. The
primary closure flaps 107A and 107B are the focus of the present
invention, as each incorporates both an inner closure portion 111
and an outer decorative portion 112. For this particular
embodiment, each decorative portion 112 incorporates a decorative
design which consists of a trio of hearts 113, which may be either
printed on the outer decorative portion 112 or adhesively or
mechanically bonded thereto.
[0025] Referring now to FIG. 2, a second die-cut paperboard blank
200, which can be assembled to form a truncated, inverted,
pyramidal gift box incorporating the invention, is shown. As with
the die-cut blank 100 of FIG. 1, all folds for the blank 200 are
made in a downward direction. The bottom of the box is formed by
panel 201 and the sides by trapezoidal panels 202A, 202B, 202C and
202D. The opposed trapezoidal panels 202A and 202C incorporate a
pair of auxiliary side flaps 203, which provide additional rigidity
to the box and can be optionally bonded to the adjacent trapezoidal
panels 202B or 202D during assembly by the consumer. The blank 200
incorporates a pair of primary closure flaps 204A and 204B and a
pair of secondary closure flaps 205A and 205B. Each of the primary
closure flaps 204A and 204B incorporates a closure slit 206A and
206B, respectively. Likewise, each of the secondary closure flaps
205A and 205B incorporates a closure slit 207A and 207B,
respectively. The primary closure flaps 204A and 204B are the focus
of the present invention, as each incorporates both an inner
closure portion 208 and an outer decorative portion 209. For this
particular embodiment, each decorative portion 209 incorporates a
decorative design which consists of a pair of joined 3/4-circle
patterns, which may be either printed on the outer decorative
portion 209 or adhesively or mechanically bonded thereto so as to
provide the appearance of a decorative bow.
[0026] Referring now to FIG. 3, a third die-cut paperboard blank
300, which can be assembled to form a wine-bottle gift box
incorporating the invention, is shown. This box, which features an
automatically-forming bottom, is shipped to consumers partially
assembled. The box bottom is formed from two types of folding tabs:
two irregularly shaped tabs 301A and 301B and two trapezoidal tabs
302A and 302B. Each of the irregularly-shaped tabs 301A and 301B
comprises a major portion 301A-M, 301 B-M and a lesser portion
301A-L, 301 B-L. The underside of each lesser portion 301A-L, 301
B-L is adhesively bonded to the upperside of the adjacent
trapezoidal tab during the manufacturing process. Thus, 301A-L is
bonded to 302A, and 301B-L is bonded to 302B. Likewise, the
upperside of trapezoidal longitudinal edge 303 is adhesively bonded
to the underside of the opposite longitudinal edge 304. The sides
of the wine bottle box are formed by panels 305A, 305B, 305C and
305D. The closure at the top of the box is formed by a pair of
opposed, non-interlocking secondary closure flaps 306A and 306B and
a pair of interlocking primary closure flaps 307A and 307B. Each of
the primary flaps 307A and 307B incorporates a closure slit 308A
and 308B, respectively. In addition, each of the primary flaps 307A
and 307B incorporates both an inner closure portion 309 and an
outer decorative portion 310. For this particular embodiment, each
decorative portion 310 incorporates a decorative design which
consists of a pair of adjacent and joined hearts, which may be
either printed on the outer decorative portion 310 or adhesively or
mechanically bonded thereto.
[0027] Referring now to FIG. 4, a fourth die-cut paperboard blank
400, which can be assembled to form a shirt gift box incorporating
the invention, is shown. This box is also shipped to consumers
partially assembled. The bottom of the box is formed by panel 401
and the sides by rectangular panels 402A, 402B, 402C and 402D. Each
of the opposed rectangular side panels 402A and 402C incorporates a
pair of auxiliary side flaps 403, each of which is adhesively
bonded to the adjacent rectangular side panels 402B or 402D during
manufacture. For a preferred embodiment, the upperside of each
auxiliary flap 403 is bonded to the underside of either side panel
402B or 402D. The fold lines 404 and the cut lines 405 on
rectangular side panels 402B and 402D permit the
partially-assembled box to be folded flat during shipment and
display. All folds, except for fold lines 404 are downward folds.
The closure at the top of the box is formed by a pair of opposed,
interlocking secondary closure flaps 406A and 406B and a pair of
interlocking primary closure flaps 407A and 407B. Each of the
secondary flaps 406A and 406B incorporates a closure slit 408A and
408B, respectively, while each of the primary closure flaps 407A
and 407B incorporates a closure slit 409A and 409B, respectively.
In addition, each of the primary flaps 407A and 407B incorporates
both an inner closure portion 410 and an outer decorative portion
411. For this particular embodiment, each decorative portion 411
incorporates a decorative design which consists of six adjacent and
joined hearts 412, which may be either printed on the outer
decorative portion 411 or adhesively or mechanically bonded
thereto.
[0028] FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8 show the completed gift boxes 500, 600,
700 and 800 assembled from blanks 100, 200, 300 and 400,
respectively. It will be noted that each box has a decorative
design 501, 601, 701 and 801. Each decorative design 501, 601, 701,
and 801 is a composite of the decorative portions of both primary
closure flaps. It will also be noted that, as is the case with gift
boxes 500, 600, and 700, when the closure portion of each primary
closure flap is wider than one half the width of the box opening,
the primary closure flaps form a gabled box top, which imparts a
three-dimensional appearance to the decorative designs 501, 601 and
701.
[0029] FIG. 9 shows a pair of closure flaps 900A and 900B, each of
which has a decorative portion 901 that is shaped like half a
looped ribbon bow. When the two closure flaps 900A and 900B are
interlocked together, a full circular bow results. Each decorative
portion 901 includes die-cut sub-portions 902, which may be bent
upwardly or downwardly to provide an enhanced three-dimensional
effect.
[0030] Referring now to FIG. 10, a pair of closure flaps 1000A and
1000B are shown, each of which has a decorative portion 1001A and
1001B, respectively. Each decorative portion includes multiple
laminated paperboard layers. The upper most layer has been die cut
at lines 1002A and 1002B around an image 1003A and 1003B so that
the image may be folded up at lines 1004A and 1004B, respectively,
so that it is generally perpendicular to the flap. The fold-up
images may be patterns, designs or scenes.
[0031] Although only several embodiments of the method for
atomizing solid chlorpropham and several embodiments of apparatus
which may be utilized to implement the atomization methods are
disclosed herein, it will be obvious to those having ordinary skill
in the art that changes and modifications may be made thereto
without departing from the scope and the spirit of the invention as
hereinafter claimed.
* * * * *