U.S. patent application number 10/135292 was filed with the patent office on 2003-10-30 for gift-wrap envelope for media holders.
Invention is credited to Dudley, Brian K..
Application Number | 20030201313 10/135292 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29249435 |
Filed Date | 2003-10-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030201313 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dudley, Brian K. |
October 30, 2003 |
Gift-wrap envelope for media holders
Abstract
A gift envelope for packaging an information media disk holder
that is formed of a decorative substrate. The envelope is formed to
be flat without overlapping corner folds that are typically found
in a wrapped package when the package is empty. The gift-wrap
envelope may also be used as a mailer.
Inventors: |
Dudley, Brian K.; (Enfield,
CT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Donald L. Bowman, Esq.
MeadWestvaco Corporation
11101 John Hopkins Rd.
Laurel
MD
20723
US
|
Family ID: |
29249435 |
Appl. No.: |
10/135292 |
Filed: |
April 29, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
229/68.1 ;
206/312; 229/72 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 85/546
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
229/68.1 ;
206/312; 229/72 |
International
Class: |
B65D 085/57 |
Claims
I claim:
1. An envelope for media disk holders comprising: a face panel, a
rear panel, a pair of opposed side flaps, each having an interior
and exterior side, a bottom flap and a closure flap formed from a
substrate; a trio of parallel, spaced fold lines forming a first
folded side panel between the face panel and the closure flap; a
trio of parallel, spaced fold lines forming a second folded side
panel between the face panel and the bottom flap; a trio of
parallel, spaced fold lines forming a third folded side panel
between the face panel and the first of the opposed side flaps; and
a trio of parallel, spaced fold lines forming a fourth folded side
panel between the face panel and the remaining opposed side flap;
wherein the bottom flap is folded such that its interior side is
positioned adjacent to the interior side of the face panel, and a
portion of the interior side of each of the opposed side flaps is
affixed to the exterior of the bottom flap to form a pocket for
insertion of the disk media holder; and wherein each trio of
parallel, spaced fold lines forming the respective first, second,
third and fourth folded side panels is composed of two outermost
fold lines and a center fold line, each of said first, second,
third and fourth folded side panels being collapsible about its
respective center fold line when the envelope is in a
two-dimensional configuration, and each of said first, second,
third and fourth folded side panels being erected about its
respective center fold line to conform the envelope to a
three-dimensional configuration when a disk media holder is
inserted into the pocket; each of the folded side panels being
positioned at right angles to and abutting each of the two adjacent
folded side panels, each adjacent pair of folded side panels
abutting to form a defined opening at each corner of the envelope
when it is a two-dimensional configuration, each said defined
opening being minimized when the envelope is erected into a
three-dimensional configuration.
2. The envelope of claim 1 wherein each of the first, second, third
and fourth folded side panels is collapsed about its respective
center fold line such that it is folded outward in relation to the
pocket.
3. The envelope of claim 1 wherein each of the first and second
folded side panels is collapsed about its respective center line
such that it is folded outward in relation to the pocket, and each
of the third and fourth folded side panels is collapsed about its
respective center fold line such it is folded inward in an
accordion fold in relation to the pocket.
4. The envelope of claim 1, having a media disk holder inserted in
the pocket.
5. The envelope of claim 4 wherein the media disk holder is a jewel
case.
6. The gift-wrap envelope of claim 1 wherein the substrate is a
decorative material selected from the group consisting of printed
papers, paperboard, plastic and paper-foil laminate.
7. A blank for forming a gift-wrap envelope for a media disk holder
comprising: a face panel, a rear panel, a pair of opposed side
flaps, a bottom flap and a closure flap formed from a substrate; a
trio of parallel, spaced fold lines between the face panel and the
closure flap; a trio of parallel, spaced fold lines between the
face panel and the bottom flap; a trio of parallel, spaced fold
lines between the face panel and the first of the opposed side
flaps; and a trio of parallel, spaced fold lines between the face
panel and the remaining opposed side flap.
8. The blank of claim 7 wherein the substrate is selected from the
group consisting of printed papers, paperboard, plastic and
paper-foil laminate.
9. The blank of claim 8 wherein the decorative substrate is a
decorative paper-foil laminate.
10. The blank of claim 9 wherein the substrate is a decorative
printed paper.
11. A method of forming an envelope for packaging media disk
holders comprising: a) the steps of cutting a blank from a
substrate; b) scoring the blank with fold lines defining a face
panel, a rear panel, a pair of opposed side flaps, a bottom flap
and a closure flap, each of said face panel, rear panel, opposed
side flaps, bottom flap and closure flap having an interior side
and an exterior side; c) further scoring the blank with a trio of
parallel, spaced fold lines between the face panel and the closure
flap defining a first folded side panel, a trio of parallel, spaced
fold lines between the face panel and the bottom flap defining a
second folded side panel, a trio of parallel, spaced fold lines
between the face panel and the first of the opposed side flaps
defining a third folded side panel, and a trio of parallel, spaced
fold lines between the face panel and the remaining opposed side
flap defining a fourth folded side panel; d) folding the bottom
flap upward to locate its interior side adjacent to the interior
side of the face panel; and e) affixing a portion of the interior
side of each opposed side flap to the exterior of the bottom flap
to form a pocket.
12. The method of claim 11, further comprising folding the first,
second, third and fourth folded side panels outward in relation to
the pocket.
13. The method of claim 11, further comprising folding each of the
first and second folded side panels outward in relation to the
pocket, while folding each of the third and fourth folded side
panels inward in relation to the pocket.
14. The method of claim 11 wherein the substrate is a material
selected from the group consisting of printed papers, paperboard,
plastic and paper-foil laminate.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein the substrate is a decorative
material.
Description
FIELD OF INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0001] The invention provides an envelope for encasing information
storage media packages such as compact disk holders. The envelope
provides at first, a two-dimensional configuration, which may be
erected into a three-dimensional configuration that accommodates
the entire length, height and width of an appropriately sized
package, however it is folded flat when not in use. The envelope
can additionally be formed of a substrate that provides a
decorative appearance, thus rendering it suitable for use as a
pre-made gift-wrap for media holders. The envelope may also be used
as a mailer.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention provides a flat envelope that can be erected
to a three-dimensional envelope, and this structure can alternately
or simultaneously provide gift-wrap and packaging for an
information media storage disk holder. While pre-formed gift
wrapping has been previously identified as a desirable article for
other types of packaging, an envelope such as is herein described
and claimed has not previously been conceived.
[0003] For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,435,645 discloses an instant
gift package which is a gift box formed of separate parts, each
part covered with a decorative overlay to permit separation without
disturbance of the overlay. The overlay is made up of specially
folded and overlying portions to give the appearance of a unitarily
wrapped package. The wrapping can be a decorative paper, and it is
shaped to provide several overfolded and overlapping areas at the
end of the box to give the appearance of a conventionally wrapped
package. U.S. Pat. No. 6,187,403 describes a preformed gift-wrap
sheet for wrapping a rectangular gift box. The gift-wrap sheet is
formed as a generally rectangular sheet divided by fold lines into
three generally rectangular panels. Extending from each side of the
middle second panel is a generally trapezoidal middle flap, while
extending from each side of the side flaps is a side flap. Each of
the side panels also has two corner flaps extending therefrom such
that each of a first pair of corner flaps is positioned against the
first (side) panel and each of a second pair of corner flaps is
positioned adjacent to the third (side) panel. The middle flap,
side flaps and corner flaps are folded over each other at the end
of the box to cover the ends of the box. Neither of the foregoing
references teaches or suggests the claimed invention, which is
hereinafter described.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The invention provides pre-formed envelopes for information
media disk holders that may be formed flat and later erected into a
three-dimensional structure. The envelope includes a pocket into
which a media disk holder may be inserted and the wrapping
completed by sealing the closure flap. Preferably, the envelope is
made of a substrate selected from paper, lightweight paperboard,
foil/paper laminates or foldable plastic materials. In certain
preferred embodiments, decoratively printed papers, laminates,
plastics or paperboards may be used to provide an envelope that
functions as a preformed gift-wrap for media disk holders.
[0005] In one aspect, therefore, the invention comprises an
envelope for media disk holders comprising a face panel, a rear
panel, a pair of opposed side flaps, a bottom flap and a closure
flap, each having an interior and an exterior side; a trio of
parallel, spaced fold lines forming a first folded side panel
between the face panel and the closure flap; a trio of parallel,
spaced fold lines forming a second folded side panel between the
face panel and the bottom flap; a trio of parallel, spaced fold
lines forming a third folded side panel between the face panel and
the first of the opposed side flaps; and a trio of parallel, spaced
fold lines forming a fourth folded side panel between the face
panel and the remaining opposed side flap; wherein the bottom flap
is folded such that its interior side is positioned adjacent to the
interior side of the face panel, and a portion of the interior side
of each of the opposed side flaps is affixed to the exterior side
of the bottom flap to form a pocket for insertion of a disk media
holder; and wherein each trio of parallel, spaced fold lines
forming the respective first, second, third and fourth folded side
panels is composed of two outermost fold lines and a center fold
line, each of said first, second, third and fourth folded side
panels being collapsible about its respective center fold line when
the envelope is in a two-dimensional configuration, and each of
said first, second, third and fourth folded side panels being
erected about its respective center fold line to conform the
envelope to a three-dimensional configuration when a disk media
holder is inserted into the pocket; each of the folded side panels
being positioned at right angles to and abutting each of the two
adjacent folded side panels, each adjacent pair of folded side
panels abutting to form a defined opening at each corner of the
envelope when it is in a two-dimensional configuration, each said
defined opening being minimized when the envelope is erected into a
three-dimensional configuration. As used herein, the term
"minimized" means that the edges of the defined opening are pulled
together to narrow the opening as much as possible, thereby
concealing the contents of the envelope. In this respect, when the
envelope is erected and a media disk holder is inserted into the
pocket, either end of each folded side panel is positioned at an
angle in relation to an end of adjacent side panel without any
overlap between said adjacent folded side panels. Preferably, the
folded side panels abut each other in this manner at right angles,
yet there is no overlap between adjacent folded side panels. In
this manner, the bulky corners that usually result from wrapping a
box or other cuboid article with a sheet of paper are not formed.
Elimination of the folded, bulky corners also allows a flat
envelope to be formed in a machine operation that may later be
erected into a three-dimensional form.
[0006] In various embodiments, the folded side panels at the side
of the envelope, namely the third and fourth folded side panels as
designated herein, may be folded outward from the center of the
pocket when the envelope is flattened, in which case the center
fold line is visible outside the perimeter provided by the edges of
the face panel. Alternatively, the third and fourth folded side
panels may be folded inward toward the center of the pocket, as may
be done with an accordion fold, such that the center fold line of
these folded side panels is hidden beneath the side edges of the
envelope and do not protrude beyond the perimeter of the face
panel. Either of these folds may be created in the in-line process
that is desirably used for manufacturing the envelope of the
invention.
[0007] In another aspect, the invention is a blank for forming an
envelope for a media disk holder comprising a face panel, a rear
panel, a pair of opposed side flaps, a bottom flap and a closure
flap formed from a substrate; a trio of parallel, spaced fold lines
between the face panel and the closure flap; a trio of parallel,
spaced fold lines between the face panel and the bottom flap; a
trio of parallel, spaced fold lines between the face panel and the
first of the opposed side flaps; and a trio of parallel, spaced
fold lines between the face panel and the remaining opposed side
flap.
[0008] In yet another aspect, the invention further comprises a
method of forming an envelope for packaging media disk holders
comprising the steps of cutting a blank from a substrate, scoring
the blank with fold lines defining a face panel, a rear panel, a
pair of opposed side flaps, a bottom flap and a closure flap, each
of said face panel, rear panel, opposed side flaps, bottom flap and
closure flap having an interior side and an exterior side; further
scoring the blank with a trio of parallel, spaced fold lines
between the face panel and the closure flap, a trio of parallel,
spaced fold lines between the face panel and the bottom flap, a
trio of parallel, spaced fold lines between the face panel and the
first of the opposed side flaps, and a trio of parallel, spaced
fold lines between the face panel and the remaining opposed side
flap; folding the bottom flap upward to locate its interior side
adjacent to the interior side of the face panel; and affixing a
portion of the interior side of each opposed side flap to the
exterior of the bottom flap.
[0009] The envelope is preferably used as a gift-wrap article, but
it may also be used as a mailer, and may, if desirable be
pre-printed with mailing indicia such as blank areas for addressing
or placement of stamps.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a plan view of an unsealed gift-wrap CD envelope
according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the open gift-wrap CD
envelope having a media disk holder inserted therein.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a sealed CD gift-wrap
envelope having a media disk holder packaged therein.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a plan view of a blank for forming a preferred
embodiment of the invention.
[0014] FIG. 5 depicts an alternative embodiment of the invention in
which the third and fourth folded side panels at the sides of the
envelope are accordion-folded inward.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE
INVENTION
[0015] While it is to be understood that the envelope of the
invention may be used for mailing, packaging, promotional and
informational purposes, the present disclosure is not intended to
be limiting in this regard. A preferred embodiment contemplated
herein is the use of the invention as a pre-formed gift-wrap
envelope for media disk holders. In respect of this preferred
embodiment, the decorative gift-wrap envelope of the invention may
be sized to hold an information media storage disk holder of any
size or shape, though square or rectangular shapes are the typical
configuration for such holders. Typically, the holders may be used
to house compact disk (CD) or digital video disk (DVD) products. In
many cases, the holders for either type of product are of the same
shape and size. Therefore, as used herein, the term "CD" is
intended to refer to compact disks, DVDs, or any other information
storage media in disk form that may be packaged in a box or case,
e.g. a jewel case.
[0016] As shown in FIG. 1, a preferred gift-wrap envelope of the
invention comprises a face panel 1, a pair of opposed side flaps 2,
3, a bottom flap 4 and a closure flap 5 formed from a decorative
material. Each of the opposed side flaps 2 and 3 is folded inward
about fold lines 11 and 8, respectively to provide side seam
closure of the envelope. Bottom flap 4 overlays the folded opposed
side flaps 2,3 and is affixed thereto by any known means such as
glue, hot melt adhesive or gum to form a pocket into which an
information storage media holder may be inserted. Closure flap 5
overlays the opening of the pocket to seal the envelope. Closure
flap 5 may additionally include an adhesive strip 6 that serves to
affix the closure flap 5 over the exterior of the bottom flap 4.
Alternatively, the exterior of flap 4 may have an adhesive strip of
size and shape (not shown) corresponding to the adhesive strip 6 on
closure flap 5, such that both strips cooperate adhesively to
provide the closure means.
[0017] Folded side panels 19, 20, 21 and 22 form perpendicularly
raised sides of the envelope when a media disk holder is inserted,
as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Each of the folded side panels is
defined by a trio of parallel, spaced fold lines. Accordingly, as
shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, fold lines 7, 8 and 9 defining folded side
panel 22, which separates said face panel 1 from side flap 3. Fold
lines 10, 11 and 12 separate face panel 1 define folded side panel
20, which separates the face panel 1 from the side flap 2. Fold
lines 13, 14 and 15 define a folded side panel 21 that separates
the face panel 1 from the closure flap 5. Similarly, fold lines 16,
17, and 18 define a folded side panel 19 that separates the face
panel 1 from the bottom flap 4.
[0018] As can be seen in FIG. 2, each of the folded side panels 19,
20, 21 and 22 is characterized by a central fold line along its
length that is in parallel, spaced relationship to the two
outermost fold lines that define the edge of the panel. Thus, for
example, folded side panel 20 is defined by outermost fold lines 10
and 12, while central fold line 11 defines a hinge which, when
compressed allows the envelope to be flattened to a two-dimensional
shape. Each of the central fold lines 8, 11, 13 and 17 thus forms
such a hinge that allows the envelope to be compacted for shipment
and storage, while also allowing each of the folded side panels to
be extended upwards to form walls that accommodate the side walls
of a conventional media disk holder. Although each of the folded
side walls 19, 20, 21 and 22 cooperate perpendicularly to form the
sides of the gift-wrap envelope, there is no overlap between them.
This is in contrast to a conventional gift-wrapped cuboid article
wrapped with a single sheet of gift-wrap paper, wherein wrapping
the corners of the article necessitates mitering the corners of the
sheet and overlapping each side edge at least partially over the
other to form the mitered folds. The lack of the conventional
overfolds at these intersections permits the folding and flattening
of the envelope to permit in-line manufacture and other processing,
which is an advantage not previously recognized. Instead, according
to the invention, the ends of adjacent and perpendicularly placed
folded side panels meet together but do not overlap, thus forming
openings 23 at each corner of the erected envelope.
[0019] FIG. 3 shows the closed package in which closure flap 5
overfolds the bottom flap 4. The height necessary to accommodate
the side walls of the compact disk holder is provided by the
elevation of first folded side panel 21, second folded side panel
19, third folded side panel 20 and fourth folded side panel 22.
Folded side panels 19, 20, 21 and 22 are folded inward to the
center of the envelope and meet perpendicularly, however there is
no overlap between them. A defined opening 23 is thus formed at
each such perpendicular intersection of adjacent folded side
panels.
[0020] FIG. 4 is a planar representation of a blank for forming the
envelope of the invention. According to this preferred embodiment,
a trio of parallel spaced fold lines 7, 8, 9 are interposed on a
cut sheet to delineate a first side flap 3 from a face panel 1; a
trio of parallel spaced fold lines 10, 11, 12 delineate a second
side flap 2 from face panel 1. A similar trio of parallel spaced
lines 7, 8, 9 separate the face panel 1 from closure flap 5, and a
trio of parallel spaced lines 16, 17 and 18 separate face panel 1
from bottom flap 4. Adhesive area 6 provides a closure mechanism.
The adhesive area 6 may optionally be excluded and any other known
closure means provided.
[0021] FIG. 5 represents an alternative embodiment of the envelope
of FIG. 1, as discussed above, in which the third and fourth folded
side panels 20 and 22 are collapsed inward via an accordion fold
about each of fold lines 8 and 11. In this manner, the third and
fourth folded side panels 20 and 22 are folded beneath and do not
protrude beyond the side edges and the pocket of the envelope. At
the same time, first folded side panel 21 is collapsed along center
fold line 13, and second folded side panel 19 is collapsed along
center fold line 17 such that the respective folded side panels 19
and 21 are folded outward in relation to the side edges and the
pocket of the envelope. Regardless of whether the orientation in
this embodiment or in the previously discussed embodiment of FIG. 1
is employed, the envelope may be erected to form a
three-dimensional structure. Either of these embodiments is well
suited to machine forming, which is an important feature for fast
manufacture of this product in large quantities in an in-line
process.
[0022] The envelope of the present invention provides a packaging
means for a compact disk, which, in certain embodiments, eliminates
the need for separate wrapping with decorative material. It may
also be printed with promotional or advertising information, or
required product labeling, depending on the intended use for the
media disk that is contained within the holder. The envelope,
though decorative or otherwise printed, may also be formatted for
use as a mailer so that the gift-wrapped media holder may be
shipped without further packaging. In this latter embodiment, the
substrate chosen for the envelope may be of a heavier weight paper
or paperboard or a laminate. The envelope may be manufactured in a
machine operation, as the overlapping corner flaps that would
otherwise form bulky, three-dimensional corners are eliminated. The
flat shape of the envelope also provides a more space-efficient
product for stacking, shipping and storage.
[0023] It is believed that the present invention includes many
other embodiments that may not be herein described in detail, but
would nonetheless be appreciated by those skilled in the art from
the disclosures made. Accordingly, this disclosure should not be
read as being limited only to the foregoing examples or only to the
designated preferred embodiments.
* * * * *