U.S. patent application number 10/556531 was filed with the patent office on 2007-01-04 for book-like stacked array with cover.
Invention is credited to Dana Exner, John A. Gelardi, David P. Ladwig, Andrew Prewett.
Application Number | 20070000803 10/556531 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37588189 |
Filed Date | 2007-01-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070000803 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gelardi; John A. ; et
al. |
January 4, 2007 |
Book-like stacked array with cover
Abstract
A book-like stacked array having a spine and a cover has a
stacked array of planar-like articles having a spine and a cover
having a cover spine and a back cover portion hingedly adjoining
said cover spine along a first hinge line and attached to an
outermost one of said planar-like articles beyond a second hinge
line that is offset from said first hinge line such that when said
stacked array is placed in open condition tearing away of the back
cover portion from said outermost one of said planar-like articles
is mitigated.
Inventors: |
Gelardi; John A.;
(Kennebunkport, ME) ; Exner; Dana; (Chicago,
IL) ; Ladwig; David P.; (Chicago, IL) ;
Prewett; Andrew; (Berkshire, GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MEADWESTVACO CORPORATION;ALEXANDRA B. URBAN,ESQ.
299 PARK AVENUE, 13TH FLOOR
NEW YORK
NY
10171
US
|
Family ID: |
37588189 |
Appl. No.: |
10/556531 |
Filed: |
May 13, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
May 13, 2004 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US04/15201 |
371 Date: |
November 14, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/472 ;
206/499; G9B/33.014 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G11B 33/0444
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/472 ;
206/499 |
International
Class: |
B65D 73/00 20060101
B65D073/00; B65D 85/62 20060101 B65D085/62 |
Claims
1. A book-like stacked array having a spine and a cover comprising:
a stacked array of planar-like articles having a spine; and a cover
having a cover spine and a back cover portion hingedly adjoining
said cover spine along a first hinge line and attached to an
outermost one of said planar-like articles beyond a second hinge
line that is offset from said first hinge line such that when said
stacked array is placed in open condition tearing away of the back
cover portion from said outermost one of said planar-like articles
is mitigated.
2. The invention of claim 1, said planar-like articles comprising
trays.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] (N/A)
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] (N/A)
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The invention relates to stacked arrays of article trays,
and more particularly to a hinged stacked array of article trays
having a cover with offset attachment to the stack.
[0004] Manufactures often desire to package articles that they sell
in packages that contain multiples of the article. Often, the
package for containing multiples of the article may be used as a
permanent storage device for reusable articles.
[0005] Trays are often used as storage mechanisms for disc-shaped
articles such as compact discs (CD's), digital versatile discs
(DVD's) and similarly shaped disc-like information storage mediums.
A useful configuration for packaging multiple disc-shaped articles
is a stacked array of trays. In such a stacked array, the trays are
often hinged to one another for ease in accessing individual trays
while maintaining the ability to easily restack. A cover is
frequently applied to the stacked array for informational and
aesthetic purposes. The cover may be applied so that the individual
trays of the array may be accessed in book-like fashion.
[0006] A problem in using a stacked array of trays with a cover is
that when the trays are pivoted from a single stack configuration,
stresses are often place upon the cover that cause the cover to
pull away from where it is attached to the trays. This tearing away
structurally damages the back portion of the cover and is also
undesirable aesthetically. This problem occurs because the trays
are rigid and have widths that cannot be fully accommodated by the
spine portion of the cover. This problem also arises in other
book-like stacked arrays. Thus, it can be appreciated that it would
be useful to have a means for covering a stacked array of article
trays that does not cause the cover to tear away from the region of
connection to the trays.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention provides a stacked array of trays for
articles having a cover that is placed around the stack in the
manner of a book cover. The cover consists of back and front
portions connected by a spine. The width of the spine corresponds
to the height of the stack of trays. In a preferred embodiment of
the invention, the back portion of the cover is affixed to the back
of the bottom, or base, tray. A narrow region on the back cover
adjacent the spine is not adhered to the bottom panel. In
accordance with a further preferred embodiment, the back panel is
two-ply with one ply affixed to the bottom/base tray and the ply
adjoining the spine containing the narrow region.
[0008] Other advantages and objects of the present invention will
be apparent from the following description, the accompanying
drawings, and the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is an isometric illustration of a stacked array of
article trays having a cover with offset attachment region, in
accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention.
[0010] FIG. 2 is an illustration of the package of FIG. 1 in
upright condition showing the individual trays fanned as in a
book.
[0011] FIG. 3 is an illustration of the package of FIG. 1 in
upright condition with the front portion of the cover opened, the
spine of the cover pivoted away from the stacked array, and the
narrow non-adhered region of the back cover pivoted away from the
bottom/base tray.
[0012] FIG. 4 is an illustration of the package of FIG. 1 in opened
condition wherein some of the trays have been pivoted off of the
stack, forming two stacks of approximately equal height.
[0013] FIG. 5 is an illustration of the package of FIG. 1 in opened
condition wherein substantially all of the trays have been pivoted
off of the original stack, leaving only the bottom, or base, tray
on the original stack.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0014] Throughout the drawings, the same reference numerals are
used to denote the same or like features of the invention.
[0015] Referring first to FIG. 1, therein is illustrated a package
10 that is a stacked array 30 of trays for articles having a cover
20 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention.
Referred now also to FIG. 2, the package 10 of FIG. 1 is shown in
upright condition with the individual trays 32 joined along a spine
33 partially fanned like the pages of a book about their region of
common joinder that is, the spine 33. In FIG. 2, the elements of
the cover 20 can be seen. The cover 20 has a front portion and back
portion 24/26 joined by a spine 28. The back portion has one
portion, a back cover portion, 24 that is affixed by adherence or
other means to the bottom, or base, tray 34 of the array 30 of
trays beyond a line of joinder or hinge line 25 that is offset from
the line of joinder or hinge line 27 that hingedly adjoins the
cover spine 28 to the back cover 24/26. A strip 26 completes the
back cover. The strip is shown and noted to be fairly narrow in the
preferred embodiment illustrated but the width may vary. The
narrower the strip 26, the wider the remainder of the back portion
24 of the cover. The wider the back portion 24 that is adhered to
the bottom/base tray, the more firmly affixed is the back portion
to the bottom/base tray 34.
[0016] In the preferred embodiment, the strip 26 is defined by
substantially parallel lines of demarcation, such as fold or score
lines. One line of demarcation 25 creates a pivot line that
separates the main portion back portion of the cover 24 from the
strip 26. The second line of demarcation 27 separates the
non-affixed strip 26 of the back portion of the cover 20 from the
spine 26.
[0017] Referring now to FIG. 3, in another view of the package of
FIG. 1 shown in upright condition, from a more top isometric view,
the manner in which the cover is offset at the back portion by the
strip 26. The strip 26 is shown pivoted away from the array 30 of
trays along the line of demarcation (fold line) 25 of the back
portion of the cover.
[0018] Referring now to FIG. 4, the package of FIG. 1 is shown open
in the manner of a book with some of the trays 32 pivoted away from
the original stack. This illustration demonstrates that package
opened to a condition of no more stacks on the open portion than on
the original stack where the problem of pressure being exerted
against the spine and back portion of the cover has not
occurred.
[0019] Referring now to FIG. 5, therein is shown the package of
FIG. 1 opened to a condition where the stack of trays 32 that have
been pivoted away from the original stack (and therefore the
bottom/base tray 34) exceeds the number (and therefore height) of
trays in the original stack (base tray stack). The manner in which
pressure is exerted by the removed stack against the spine and back
portion of the cover is shown. The manner in which relief is
provided by the offset of the non-adhered strip 26 is also shown.
The relief provided by the offset mitigates tearing or other
undesirable effects of pressure.
[0020] Referring now back to FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5, an optional
feature of the invention is illustrated wherein the back portion of
the cover is two ply with the main back cover portion 24 and its
adjoining strip 26 forming the outer ply and a second panel 23
forming an inner play that is affixed to the bottom/base tray 34.
This configuration provides a panel 23 that is affixed to the
bottom/base tray at the greatest number of points, the main portion
of the back cover region 24 is firmly affixed to the inner ply 23
and the un-adhered strip provides the offset.
[0021] The present invention provides a stacked array of trays for
articles having a cover that is placed around the stack in the
manner of a book cover. The cover consists of back and front
portions connected by a spine. The width of the spine corresponds
to the height of the stack of trays. The back portion of the cover
is affixed to the back of the bottom tray. However, a region of the
back cover adjacent the spine is not adhered to the bottom
panel.
[0022] Modifications may be made in the foregoing without departing
from the scope and spirit of the claimed invention. For example,
although the preferred embodiment illustrated and described is
directed to trays in particular the invention is equally applicable
to stacked arrays of other substantially planar or planar-like
articles or elements.
[0023] The figures forming a part of this specification convey the
best mode for carrying out the invention known to the inventor at
the time of filing the patent application. The figures are further
presented to enable those skilled in the art to make and use the
invention. After learning of the details of the invention as
presented herein, including the figures, it is likely that
alternative embodiments could be devised according to the
invention, which have a much different appearance than the
embodiments disclosed in the accompanying figures. The figures
forming a part of the specification convey utilitarian aspects of
the invention and the preferred embodiments, and also include
ornamental features which are not necessary to the utilization of
the invention.
* * * * *