U.S. patent application number 10/131555 was filed with the patent office on 2002-11-28 for packing box.
Invention is credited to Nemoto, Eiko.
Application Number | 20020175106 10/131555 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 18980748 |
Filed Date | 2002-11-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020175106 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nemoto, Eiko |
November 28, 2002 |
Packing box
Abstract
A packing box includes a first member which receives items in
such a manner that the items are exposed at the upper half thereof,
and which is provided with first and second through holes at a
predetermined side at positions close to each other, and a second
member which covers the upper side of the first member, and which
is provided with a cut portion at a position corresponding to the
first and second through holes, the cut portion being insertable
into the first and second through holes. The first and second
members can be locked to each other by inserting the cut portion
into the first and second through holes. When the second member is
separated from the first member, the items stored in the first
member are exposed at the upper half thereof, so that the items can
be displayed without taking them out.
Inventors: |
Nemoto, Eiko; (Kanagawa,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
COOPER & DUNHAM LLP
1185 Avenue of the Americas
New York
NY
10036
US
|
Family ID: |
18980748 |
Appl. No.: |
10/131555 |
Filed: |
April 23, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/526 ;
229/125.28; 229/125.32 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 5/5445 20130101;
B65D 5/5021 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/526 ;
229/125.28; 229/125.32 |
International
Class: |
B65D 085/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 27, 2001 |
JP |
P2001-132787 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A packing box for storing a plurality of items, the packing box
comprising: a first member which receives the items in such a
manner that the items are exposed at the upper half thereof, and
which is provided with a first through hole and a second through
hole at a predetermined side of the first member at positions close
to each other; and a second member which covers the upper side of
the first member, and which is provided with a cut portion at a
position corresponding to the first and second through holes, the
cut portion being insertable into the first and second through
holes.
2. A packing box according to claim 1, wherein the length of one
side of the second member, the side being opposite to the side at
which the cut portion is formed, is made approximately the same as
the height of the items, and the length of the remaining sides is
made smaller than the length of the side opposite to the side at
which the cut portion is formed.
3. A packing box according to claim 1, wherein projecting portions
with a plurality of slits are formed inside the first member at the
right and left sides thereof, and wherein the items are retained in
an upright position by using the slits.
4. A packing box according to claim 1, wherein a top closure of the
second member is formed by combining members which extend from four
sides of the second member.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to packing boxes for storing,
for example, a plurality of items, and more specifically relates to
a packing box suitable for storing blister packs containing
relatively small electronic devices.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Hitherto, relatively small electronic devices such as
headphones and small tape recorders are often sold in transparent
resin packages called blister packs. Generally, when products are
sold in blister packs, they are displayed by, for example, hanging
them on a peg, that is, a bar fixed on a wall of a store in such a
manner that the bar projects approximately perpendicularly from the
wall. Blister packs are provided with through holes at the upper
side thereof, and are hung on the peg by passing the peg through
the through holes formed in the blister packs. Since blister packs
generally have a thin shape and cannot stand in an upright position
by themselves, the most popular way to display products contained
in blister packs is to hang them.
[0005] On the other hand, packing boxes are used for transferring
products contained in blister packs from a factory to a store, and
multiple products are stored in each packing box. FIG. 9 is a
diagram showing an example of a known packing box used for
transferring products. With reference to FIG. 9, a packing box 900
is constructed such that it can be closed in a so-called tuck-end
style at the top and is closed in a so-called snap-lock style at
the bottom.
[0006] More specifically, the top closure is formed by bending
three flaps 901, 903, and 904 which extend from three sides and
tucking an end portion 902 of the flap 901 inward in such a manner
that the flap 901 covers the entire area of the top side. In
addition, the bottom closure is formed by bending four flaps 911,
912, 913, and 914 which extend from four sides by approximately the
same length.
[0007] Since the top closure is formed in the tuck-end style, it is
relatively easy to open the cover formed of the flap 901 and take
out blister packs stored in the packing box 900.
[0008] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an unfolded view of the packing
box 900 shown in FIG. 9. As shown in FIG. 10, the length La, which
is a length by which the flaps 911, 912, 913, and 914 for forming
the snap-lock style closure at the bottom project (that is, the
length of the flaps), is made relatively short. In contrast, since
the entire area of the top side must be covered by a single flap
901 in order to form the tuck-end style closure at the top, the
length Lb, which is a length by which the flap 901 projects (that
is, the length of the flap), is made relatively long. Accordingly,
the snap-lock-style closure is preferable from the viewpoint of
reducing the area of a cardboard used for forming the packing box
and the tuck-end-style closure is preferable from the viewpoint of
making the cover easy to open. Normally, packing boxes are
constructed such that only the top closures thereof are formed in
the tuck-end style as in the package box 900 shown in FIG. 9.
[0009] When products in blister packs are displayed for sale, they
are taken out from a packing box formed like the one shown in FIG.
9 one-by-one and are hung on a peg by inserting the peg through a
hanging hole formed in each blister pack. Accordingly, there is a
problem in that this work becomes very cumbersome when the number
of products to be displayed is large.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] In consideration of the above-described situation, an object
of the present invention is to provide a packing box with which the
items such as products in blister packs, etc., can be easily stored
and displayed.
[0011] According to the present invention, a packing box for
storing a plurality of items includes a first member which receives
the items in such a manner that the items are exposed at the upper
half thereof, and which is provided with a first through hole and a
second through hole at a predetermined side of the first member at
positions close to each other; and a second member which covers the
upper side of the first member, and which is provided with a cut
portion at a position corresponding to the first and second through
holes, the cut portion being insertable into the first and second
through holes.
[0012] The items are disposed in the first member and the exposed
parts of the items are covered by the second member. Thus, the
first member and the second member completely cover the items,
thereby functioning as a packing box. The first member and the
second member are reliably combined together by inserting the cut
portion of the second member into the first and second through
holes of the first member. In addition, when the second member is
separated from the first member, the items stored inside the first
member are exposed at the upper half thereof. Accordingly, the
items can be displayed on a rack, etc., without taking them out
from the first member.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the construction
according to an embodiment of the present invention (state in which
a first member and a second member are separately folded);
[0014] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an unfolded state of a packing
box according to the embodiment of the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which one
product is stored in the packing box according to the embodiment of
the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which
products are stored in the packing box according to the embodiment
of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a combined state of the
packing box according to the embodiment of the present
invention;
[0018] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a manner in which the
packing box according to the embodiment of the present invention is
locked;
[0019] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a locked state of the
packing box according to the embodiment of the present
invention;
[0020] FIGS. 8A to 8C are perspective views showing an example of a
manner in which products stored in the packing box according to the
embodiment of the present invention are displayed;
[0021] FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an example of a packing
box of the known art; and
[0022] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an unfolded view of
the packing box shown in FIG. 9.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0023] An embodiment of the present invention will be further
illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0024] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the construction of a
packing box according to the present embodiment. The packing box of
the present embodiment is formed by combining a first member 100
and a second member 200. The first member 100 is constructed such
that the upper side thereof is exposed, and the second member 200
has a shape such that the second member 200 is able to cover the
first member 100 from the upper side. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing
an unfolded view of the first member 100 and the second member
200.
[0025] In the present embodiment, items to be stored in the packing
box are so-called blister packs, which are formed by adhering a
transparent resin member on a board and disposing an electronic
device between the board and the resin member. In the following
descriptions, items to be stored in the packing box are referred to
merely as blister packs. The first member 100 of the present
embodiment is able to receive five blister packs in series. In
order to store the blister packs in series, the first member 100 is
formed in a relatively long, narrow shape.
[0026] More specifically, the bottom side surrounded by four side
plates 101, 102, 103, and 104 has a relatively long, narrow shape,
and the vertical size of the side plates 101, 102, and 103 is made
smaller than one-half of the height of the blister packs. In
addition, the vertical size of the side plate 104 at the back is
made larger than the vertical size of the other three side plates
101, 102, and 103. The side plate 104 at the back, which has a
large vertical size, is provided with two through holes 131 and
132, which extend symmetrically in the vertical direction at
positions close to each other. With reference to the unfolded view
shown in FIG. 2, the side plate 102 is provided with a protruding
portion 105 at an end thereof. The protruding portion 105 serves as
an overlapping part, and is adhered to an end portion of the side
plate 104 so that a rectangular body is formed.
[0027] With reference to the unfolded view shown in FIG. 2, the
four side plates 101, 102, 103, and 104 are provided with flaps
141, 142, 143, and 144, respectively, which extend from the side
plates 101, 102, 103, and 104 toward the bottom side. The bottom
closure is formed by combining the flaps 141, 142, 143, and 144 in
the snap-lock style.
[0028] The side plates 102 and 103 at the right and left sides of
the first member 100 are provided with extending portions 110 and
120, respectively. The extending portions 110 and 120 are folded
inward first, and then downward, so as to form upright portions 119
and 129. Four slits 111, 112, 113, and 114 are formed in the
extending portion 110 and the upright portion 119 at a constant
interval, and four slits 121, 122, 123, and 124 are similarly
formed in the extending portion 120 and the upright portion 129 at
a constant interval. The slits are formed at positions such that
the slits at the right side and the slits at the left side oppose
each other. In addition, the width of each slit is made relatively
small under a condition that the blister packs can be retained by
inserting right and left end portions thereof into the slits.
[0029] With reference to the unfolded view shown in FIG. 2, the
upright portions 119 and 129 are provided with end portions 118 and
128, respectively, and the end portions 118 and 128 are folded
further inward. The extending portions 110 and 120, which extend
from the right and left side plates 102 and 103, respectively, are
connected to the side plate 101 in the front at connecting portions
101a and 101b, respectively, and the connecting portions 101a and
101b are provided with gaps wide enough to receive an extending
portion 201a of the second member 200 (that is, gaps corresponding
to the thickness of the cardboard used for forming the packing
box). Similarly, the extending portions 110 and 120, which extend
from the right and left side plates 102 and 103, respectively, are
connected to the side plate 104 at the back at connecting portions
104a and 104b, respectively, and the connecting portions 104a and
104b are also provided with gaps.
[0030] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state in which one blister
pack 300 is disposed inside the first member 100. The blister pack
300 is formed by adhering a transparent resin member 302 on a board
301 (on the front surface of the board in FIG. 3), and a hanging
hole 303 is formed at the upper side of the blister pack 300. In
addition, right and left end portions 304 and 305 are formed by
bonding the resin member and the board in a flat shape. An
electronic device, which is a product, is placed inside the
transparent resin member 302 and the board 301.
[0031] As shown in FIG. 3, the blister pack 300, which is
constructed as described above, is disposed inside the first member
100 by inserting the right and left end portions 304 and 305 into
the slits formed at the right and left sides (slits 113 and 123 in
FIG. 3). Since four slits are formed at each of the right and left
sides, four blister packs 300 can be stored by using the slits. In
addition, another blister pack 300 can be stored by inserting the
blister pack 300 into the gaps formed at the connecting portions
104a and 104b, where the extending portions 110 and 120 and the
side plate 104 at the back are connected. Accordingly, five blister
packs 300 in total can be stored in series in the first member 100.
As shown in FIG. 3, more than half of the blister pack 300 is
exposed at the upper side thereof.
[0032] As shown in FIG. 1, the second member 200, which serves to
cover the first member 100 from the upper side, is constructed of
side plates 201, 202, 203, and 204 and flaps 211, 212, 213, and 214
which extend upward from the side plates 201, 202, 203, and 204,
respectively. With reference to the unfolded view shown in FIG. 2,
the widths of the side plates 201, 202, 203, and 204 are made the
same as the widths of the side plates 101, 102, 103, and 104,
respectively, of the first member 100. In addition, the side plate
202 is provided with a protruding portion 205 at an end thereof.
The protruding portion 205 serves as an overlapping part, and is
adhered to an end portion of the side plate 204, so that a
rectangular body is formed. The top closure of the second member
200 is formed by combining the flaps 211, 212, 213, and 214 in the
snap-lock style, and the bottom side of the second member is
maintained open.
[0033] In addition, the side plate 201 at the front side of the
second member 200 is provided with an extending portion 201a so
that the vertical size of the side plate 201 is made the same as
the height of the blister pack 300. In addition, the vertical size
of the other three side plates 202, 203, and 204 is made smaller
than that of the side plate 201. More specifically, the vertical
size of the three side plates 202, 203, and 204 is set to a value
obtained by subtracting the vertical size of the side plates 102,
103, and 104 of the first member 100 from the height of the blister
pack 300.
[0034] With reference to the unfolded view shown in FIG. 2, the
side plate 204 at the back side of the second member 200 is
provided with a cut portion 221 having the letter `T` shape. More
specifically, when the cut portion 221 is seen in the state in
which the packing box is completed, it has the inverted letter `T`
shape and is connected to the side plate 204 at the upper side
thereof. In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, the cut portion 221 is
provided with end portions 222 and 223 having a predetermined
width. When the cut portion 221 is seen in the state in which the
packing box is completed, the end portions 222 and 223 extend
toward the right and the left at the lower side of the cut portion
221. The width of the end portions 222 and 223 is determined such
that the end portions 222 and 223 can be inserted in the through
holes 131 and 132 formed in the side plate 104 of the first member
100. More specifically, the width of the end portions 222 and 223
is made slightly smaller than the length of the through holes 131
and 132. In addition, the distance between the end portions 222 and
223 (that is, the width of the T-shaped cut portion) is made larger
than the distance between the through holes 131 and 132.
[0035] The manner in which the package box is formed by combining
the first member 100 and the second member 200 and the products
(blister packs) are stored inside the packing box will be described
below with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7. In a packing process, the
blister packs, which are the products, are disposed inside the
first member 100 as shown in FIG. 4. With reference to FIG. 4, five
blister packs 310, 320, 330, 340, and 350, each blister pack having
the same shape as the blister pack 300 shown in FIG. 3, are
prepared. Four blister packs 320 to 350 are stored in an upright
position by inserting the right and left end portions (which
correspond to the end portions 304 and 305 shown in FIG. 3) into
the slits 111, 112, 113, and 114 and the slits 121, 122, 123, and
124. In addition, the remaining blister pack 310 is stored in an
upright position by inserting the right and left end portions
thereof into the gaps formed at the connecting portions 104a and
104b, where the extending portions 110 and 120 and the side plate
104 at the back are connected. In the state in which the blister
packs 310 to 350 are stored in the first member 100, more than half
of each blister pack is exposed at the upper side thereof. In
addition, since the vertical size of the side plate 104 at the back
side of the first member 100 is larger than the vertical size of
the other side plates, the side plate 104 serves to support the
blister packs 310 to 350 stored in an upright position.
[0036] Then, the packing box is completed by covering the first
member 100, in which the blister packs 310 to 350 are stored, with
the second member 200 in the direction shown by the arrow in FIG.
4. When the first member 100 is covered by the second member 200,
the extending portion 201a of the side plate 201 at the front side
of the second member 200 is inserted into the gaps formed at the
connecting portions 101a and 101b, where the extending portions 110
and 120, which extend from the right and left side plates 102 and
103, respectively, are connected to the side plate 101 at the front
side of the first member 100. In addition, an upper portion of the
side plate 104 at the back side of the first member 100 is tucked
inside the cover formed of the second member 200. FIG. 5 is a
diagram showing the state in which the first member 100 is covered
by the second member 200.
[0037] In the present embodiment, the right and left end portions
222 and 223 of the T-shaped cut portion 221 formed in the side
plate 204 at the back side of the second member 200 are externally
inserted into the through holes 131 and 132 formed in the side
plate 104 of the first member 100. More specifically, as shown in
FIG. 6, the T-shaped cut portion 221 is lifted up once, and one of
the end portions, for example, the end portion 222, is inserted
inward through the through hole 131, and then the other end portion
223 is inserted inward through the through hole 132, as shown by
the arrows in FIG. 6. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state in which
the T-shaped cut portion 221 is inserted into the packing box.
[0038] Since the T-shaped cut portion 221 of the second member 200
is inserted into the first member 100 as shown in FIG. 7, the first
member 100 and the second member 200 are locked to each other.
Accordingly, the first member 100 and the second member 200 are
combined together and the second member 200 does not become
separated from the first member 100, SO that the combined body of
the first member 100 and the second member 200 serves as a packing
box. The first member 100 and the second member 200 are locked to
each other at only one part. However, since the extending portion
201a, which extends from the side plate 201 at the front side of
the second member 200, is tucked inside the first member 100,
separation of the second member 200 from the first member 100 is
also prevented at the front side thereof. Accordingly, the products
(blister packs 310 to 350) can be reliably protected while they are
being transferred.
[0039] In addition, in the case in which the products are displayed
on a rack, etc., the second member 200 is removed from the first
member 100 by disengaging the lock formed by the T-shaped cut
portion 221 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 4
at the lower side thereof, the products are exposed while they are
arranged inside the first member 100. Thus, the products such as
the blister packs 310 to 350, etc., which cannot stand in an
upright position by themselves, can be easily displayed merely by
disposing the first member 100 on the rack without taking the
products out from the first member 100. Accordingly, compared with
the case in which the blister packs are hung on a bar called a peg
one-by-one, labor for displaying the products can be greatly
reduced. In the case in which the products are displayed in the
above-described manner, the through holes 131 and 132 used for
forming the lock are hidden behind the products, so that the
display appearance is not degraded by through holes 131 and
132.
[0040] Also in the case in which the blister packs are hung on a
peg, they can be easily displayed by using the packing box of the
present embodiment. FIGS. 8A to 8C are diagrams showing a manner in
which the products are displayed in the present embodiment. As
shown in FIG. 8A, a horizontally-extending peg 11 retained by a peg
retainer 10 is prepared. As shown in FIG. 8B, the peg 11 is
inserted through the through holes 303 formed in the blister packs
310 to 350 without taking the blister packs 310 to 350 out from the
first member 100. After the peg 11 is inserted through the through
holes 303 of all the blister packs 310 to 350, the first member 100
is pulled downward as shown in FIG. 8C. Accordingly, only the
blister packs 310 to 350 are hung on the peg 11.
[0041] When the products are hung in the manner shown in FIGS. 8A
to 8C, all the products contained in a single packing box can be
hung simultaneously, so that time and labor for displaying the
products can be greatly reduced compared with the case in which the
products are hung on the peg one-by-one.
[0042] Although the packing box of the present embodiment is
constructed by combining two members 100 and 200, the area of the
cardboard required for forming the packing box is almost the same
as in the case in which a packing box is formed of a single member.
The packing box of the known art whose unfolded view is shown in
FIG. 10 and the packing box of the present embodiment whose
unfolded view is shown in FIG. 2 are able to contain the same
number of products having the same shape, and the reduction rates
of the unfolded views shown in FIGS. 10 and 2 are the same. By
comparing FIG. 10 and FIG. 2, it is understood that the area of the
cardboard used for forming the packing box of the present
embodiment is only slightly larger than the area of the cardboard
used for forming the packing box of the known art. Therefore, the
manufacturing cost of the packing box of the present embodiment can
be made almost the same as the manufacturing cost of the packing
box of the known art shown in FIG. 9. Since the packing box of the
present embodiment is opened by disengaging the lock and separating
the first and second members 100 and 200, both the top closure and
the bottom closure can be formed in the snap-lock style, which
serves to reduce the area of the cardboard.
[0043] Although the products in blister packs are considered as the
items to be stored in the packing box in the above-described
embodiment, the present invention may also be applied to packing
boxes for containing other items. In addition, although five items
(blister packs) are contained in a single packing box in the
above-described embodiment, the packing box of the present
invention may also be designed to contain more of less than five
items.
* * * * *