Simulated Container

Abstract

A simulated gift box comprising a plurality of connected panels assembleable to form a simulated container, each panel of the simulated container having at the inside thereof indicia indicating a surprise reward and easily separable reward certificate.

Description

SUMMARY

This invention relates to a simulated container in the form of a box, of cardboard or the like, which is decorated to resemble a gift box and contains on the outer surface thereof simulated ribbon and greeting indicia appropriate for the occasion such as Happy Birthday, Happy Anniversary, or the like. The simulated box is not really a container but surprisingly is empty and, even more surprisingly, is readily foldable outwardly to its original blank form having a plurality of connecting panels delineated by score lines, each of the panels having an inside surface formed with a readily removable subpanel delineated by a perforate line, the subpanel being readily detachable from the blank.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a blank illustrating the inner surfaces of the panels;

FIG. 2 is a view, on reduced scale, of the opposite side of the blank of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the box of the present invention on the same scale as FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an assembled simulated box in the condition in which it is presented to the recipient;

FIG. 4a is a view in perspective of an optional ribbon assembly which may be used with the simulated box of FIG. 4;

FIG. 5 is a blank of a modified form of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of a box according to the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an assembled view of a box made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a modified view of the invention in the form illustrated in FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a plan view on reduced scale of the opposite side of the blank of FIG. 5.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1, the simulated box of the present invention is illustrated in blank form and is indicated generally by reference numeral 10. The blank 10 includes a central panel 12 which is illustrated as being rectangular in shape although it may assume other configurations, a panel 14 hingedly connected to the panel 12 by score line 16, a panel 18 hingedly connected to the panel 12 by means of score line 20, a panel 22 hingedly connected to the panel 12 by means of score line 24, a panel 26 hingedly connected to the panel 12 by means of score line 28, and a panel 30 hingedly connected to the panel 26 by means of a score line 32.

To form the box illustrated in FIG. 4, the panels 14, 18, 22 and 26 are folded upwardly to a position perpendicular to the plane of the panel 12. The panel 30 forms a top panel.

Referring more particularly to FIG. 1, it will be noted that each of the panels 12, 18, 22, 26 and 30 have a subpanel 34, 36, 38, 40 and 42, respectively, each having a perforate periphery and containing indicia indicating a reward. The panel 14 is the first panel actually seen by the recipient and contains the principal message suitable for the occasion and, in this instance, Happy Anniversary.

FIG. 2 illustrates the obverse side of the blank of FIG. 1; the several panels are preferably printed with simulated ribbons 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54 and 56. In FIG. 4a is a simulated rosette made of ribbon or the like having outwardly extending sections 58 secured to the line 44 on each side of line 56 and section 60 secured to the line 56 on each side of the line 44. By this arrangement, the simulated gift box of the invention will assume the appearance illustrated in FIG. 4 when presented to the recipient. It will be appreciated that the simulated gift box may be shipped or mailed in flat condition and arranged in the condition for presentation immediately prior thereto.

In FIG. 5 is shown a modified form of the present invention in which panel 62 is the bottom panel and indicates on the inner surface thereof a certificate for an evening at the movies. The certificate is illustrated as being defined by perforate lines 64. Connected to the bottom panel 62 by means of score line 68 is a side panel 70 having a reward panel 72 delineated by score line 74. A side panel 76 is hingedly connected to the panel 70 by means of a score line 78 and has a plurality of tabs 80, 82 and 84 for a purpose hereafter described. The panel 70 has a tab 86 which will also be hereafter described. A side panel 88 is hingedly connected to the bottom panel 62 by means of score line 90 and has a reward panel 92 delineated by perforation line 94. A top panel 96 is connected to side panel 88 by means of score line 98 and has a reward panel 100 defined by perforation line 102. Extending downwardly from the top panel 96 is a side panel 104 which is connected to the top panel 96 by means of score line 106 and has a reward panel 108 defined by score line 110. The panel 104 also has tabs 112 and 114.

The panel 76 functions as a door. It will be seen that the outside of the panel 76 has the word "happy" while the inside has the word "birthday." The tabs 80, 82 and 84 snugly engage the sides of the associated panels when the simulated box is in the position illustrated in FIG. 7 to maintain the boxlike configuration. If desired, the exterior of the box may be adorned with decorative stickers 116 which also function to keep the box in assembled relation.

Applicant has devised a blank or preform for a simulated gift box. The preform may be shipped in flat condition and arranged in box form just before presentation. The reward panels are visible only upon opening of the box and are intended to cause an element of surprise and laughter.

Claims

I claim:

1. A simulated gift box comprising a plurality of contiguous hinged panels foldable to simulate a gift box, (each of said panels having indicia in the form of a reward certificate) at least one of said panels including a severable portion having indicia thereon and forming a reward certificate, said portion being disposed internally of said gift box.

2. A simulated box in accordance with Claim 1 wherein one of said panels has a plurality of tabs for securing the assembled panels in box form.

3. A simulated box in accordance with Claim 1 wherein the blank for making the assembled box includes a panel which forms the bottom panel of the simulated box, panels extending oppositely outwardly from said bottom panel, panels extending perpendicularly oppositely from said last-named panels, and a panel foldably connected to one of said last-named panels.

4. A simulated gift box as claimed in claim 1 wherein said panels are cruciform when said box is in its unfolded condition.

5. A simulated gift box as claimed in claim 1 wherein said panels thereof include indicia simulating the presence of decorative ribbons on the exterior of the simulated box.

6. A blank for a simulated container, said blank being of flexible material and having a plurality of panels connected by score lines (or the like, each of said panels having indicia indicating a reward) at least one of said panels having a severable portion including indicia indicating a reward, said panels being foldable to form a simulated container with the (reward indicia) severable portion indicating a reward being concealed until the container is opened.

7. A blank in accordance with claim 6 wherein the panels are arranged in the form of a cross (and have simulated ribbons on the outer surface thereof).

8. A simulated gift box as claimed in claim 7 wherein said panels thereof include indicia simulating the presence of decorative ribbons thereupon.

9. A blank in accordance with claim 6 wherein the panels include a base panel, a first panel extending outwardly from said base panel in one direction and hingedly connected thereto, a second panel hingedly connected to said base panel and extending in a direction perpendicular to the direction of said first panel, a third panel hingedly connected to said second panel and extending in the same direction, a fourth panel hingedly connected to said third panel and extending in a direction opposite to that of said first panel, and a fifth panel hingedly connected to said first panel and extending in a direction opposite to that of said second panel.

10. A simulated box in accordance with FIG. 1 wherein each panel has a detachable subpanel containing reward indicia, the subpanel being delineated by a perforate periphery.