Protective Shipping And Display Wrapper For An Aquarium

Abstract

A protective shipping and display wrapper for an aquarium, the aquarium having a base, a front wall, a rear wall, and a pair of opposite side walls interconnected to define an enclosure open opposite the base. The protective wrapper comprises a blank, and a plurality of spaced parallel scored folding lines extending integrally in the blank for dividing the latter into a plurality of panels displaceable generally pivotally relative to one another into detachable embracing relation with both the base and the opposite side walls of the enclosure, yet leaving the front and rear walls of the enclosure exposed for observation. The blank includes a pair of opposite end flaps which may be pivotally inserted through the opening in the aquarium into press-fit association with the front and rear walls of the aquarium.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION aquarium

The present invention relates generally to aquariums, and more particularly to a protective shipping and display wrapper for an aquarium.

As those skilled in the art readily understand, aquariums are generally constituted of a plurality of adjoining glass walls which are interconnected to one another in fluid-sealing relation. The aquariums are generally rather large, heavy and bulky and, therefore, require careful handling and treatment when being shipped or transported from the manufacturer to the retail outlet.

In this respect, each aquarium must be individually hand-wrapped with a protective carton so as to diminish the extent of breakage or damage to the aquariums as they tend to jar against one another during the course of shipping or transportation thereof. Each carton must be properly sealed so as to prevent the aquarium enwrapped therein from being displaced therefrom inadvertently during the course of transporting the latter. Moreover, the cartons generally conceal the entire aquarium enwrapped therein, respectively, and disadvantageously require packaging accessories such as numerous padding elements or the like for preventing the respective aquariums from being shifted internally therein into collision with the walls of the carton.

Another disadvantage associated with the conventional manner for enwrapping aquariums, is the fact that after the aquarium is removed from the carton therefor, the aquarium is not protected in any manner whatsoever while displayed and as is often the case, the metallic or plastic frames which interconnect the glass walls to one another are often dented or otherwise damaged in the retail outlet thereby often diminishing its sales appeal. Moreover, in those instances where the aquarium is constituted solely of glass and is not provided with frame segments for protecting the vertical corner edges thereof, since the aquarium is completely unprotected as displayed, it is very probable that a jarring of the aquarium against a solid surface may result in cracking or fracture of the glass walls thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel protective shipping and display wrapper for an aquarium.

It is still another object of the present invention to permit display of the aquarium together with the protective wrapper therefor.

It is another object of the present invention to permit shipping of a plurality of aquariums nested in one another, the aquariums being prevented from jarring against one another during the transportation thereof.

It is still further objects of the present invention to provide an inexpensive wrapper for an aquarium which may be rapidly positioned about the aquarium and which requires absolutely no further packaging accessories for properly interconnecting the wrapper and aquarium to one another.

Another object is to provide a holding means to secure a display label against the inner surface of the front or back panel of the aquarium without the necessary use of an adhesive to secure said display label.

To this end, the present invention relates generally to a wrapper blank constituted generally of cardboard and having spaced parallel scored folding lines therein for permitting displacement of portions of the blank relative to one another into detachable embracing relation with the base and opposite side walls of an aquarium, yet leaving the front and rear walls of the aquarium exposed for observation. The blank is of greater lateral extent than the distance between the front and rear walls of the aquarium and, therefore, protects the interconnected edges of the aquarium against direct external impact.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With the above and additional objects and advantages in view as will hereinafter appear, this invention comprises the devices, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the association of the aquarium as it of enwrapped pursuant to the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a top side plan view of the blank of the wrapper of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a top side plan view of the association of the wrapper and aquarium in association with one another pursuant to the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4--4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 illustrates a top side plan view of the association of a plurality of aquariums nested in one another and individually enwrapped pursuant to the present invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 6--6 in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 illustrates an exploded perspective view of the association of an aquarium as enwrapped pursuant to the present invention with a carton for completely concealing the enwrapped aquarium for long distance transportation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 2 thereof, the present invention relates generally to a wrapper blank generally denoted by the reference character 10. The blank 10 is preferably constituted of cardboard and provided with a first pair of lateral scored folding lines 12, a second pair of lateral scored folding lines 14 outside of the scored folding lines 12 and a third pair of lateral scored folding lines 16 outside the scored folding lines 14.

The lateral scored folding lines 12 define a central panel 18 on the opposite sides of which central panel 18 are a pair of side panels 20. Extending from each of the side panels 20 are a pair of transition panels 22 respectively and adjoining the latter respectively are a pair of end flaps 24 each terminating in a free edge 26.

The configuration of the blank 10 is a preferred embodiment and of significance in that the lateral extent in a direction parallel to the scored folding lines of the central panel 18 and side panels 20 are substantially identical, whereas each of the transition panels 22 taper to a dimension of minimum lateral extent toward the respective scored folding lines 16. Moreover, the end flaps 24 taper from a dimension of minimum lateral extent along the scored folding lines 16 respectively to a dimension of maximum lateral extent at the free edges 26 thereof respectively, the lateral extent of the free edges 26 respectively being less than the maximum lateral extent of the central and side panels 18 and 20 respectively. The importance of the configuration of the blank 10 will be further clarified below as discussed in association with an aquarium it is to protect.

In this respect, referring now to FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, an aquarium denoted generally by the reference character 27 includes a base portion 28, front and rear walls 30 and 32 respectively, and a pair of opposite side walls 34 respectively, each of the walls terminating in an upper free edge 36 defining the upper open end of the aquarium 27.

Each of the walls of the aquarium 27 are, for example, interconnected to one another at the vertically extending corner edges thereof, solely with an appropriate adhesive in fluid-sealing relation and, thus, the vertical edges of the aquarium 27 are not at all externally provided with vertical segments of a conventional protective frame, this permitting a display of marine life which may be observed from all vantage points without obstacles at the vertical corners thereof, the vertical corner edges being susceptible to cracking or fracture during shipping because of the exposed nature thereof.

The blank 10, pursuant to the present invention, may be utilized simply by being properly opened in a convenient position in a manner as illustrated in FIG. 2. Thereafter, the aquarium 27 is disposed above the blank 10 such that the base portion 28 rests upon the central panel 18 of the blank 10 between the opposite lateral edges of the central panel 18, the width of the aquarium 27 being denoted generally by the phantom lines extending horizontally in FIG. 2 along the blank 10. The longitudinal extent of the central panel 18 is substantially identical to that of the base portion 28 and, thus, the lateral scored folding lines 12 are spaced from one another over a distance substantially identical to or the same as that distance separating the opposite side walls 34 of the aquarium 27.

The side panels 20 of the blank 10 are thereafter folded upwardly into contact with the opposite side walls 34 of the aquarium 27 and generally together with the central panel 18 embrace the opposite side walls 34 and base portion 28 of the aquarium 27 respectively, the side panels 20 being generally vertically coextensive with the side walls 34 respectively.

The transition panels 22 of the blank 10 are thereafter folded relative to the side panels 20 respectively so as to overlie the upper free edge 36 of each of the opposite side walls 34 respectively, the transition panels 22 being folded along the scored folding lines 14 respectively.

Each of the end flaps 24 of the blank 10 are thereafter folded along the respective scored folding lines 16, relative to the transition panels 22 respectively and are inserted into the open end of the aquarium 27 in a manner as illustrated in FIG. 1. The lateral extent of each of the lateral scored folding lines 16 is preferably less than that distance separating the front and rear panels 30 and 32 respectively of the aquarium 27 and this permits an initial unobstructed insertion of the end flaps 24 respectively into the open end of the aquarium 27.

However, the lateral extent of each of the free edges 26 of the end flaps 24 is slightly greater in dimension than that distance separating the front and rear walls 30 and 32 respectively of the aquarium 27 and, thus, as the end flaps 24 are pivotally inserted into the open end of the aquarium 27, the extreme opposite ends of each of the free edges 26 of the end flaps 24 respectively will squeeze against the inner faces of each of the front and rear panels 30 and 32 respectively. The squeezing of the free edges 26 into contact with the front and rear panels 30 and 32 respectively results in a detachable press-fit locking relation of the end flaps 24 with that of the aquarium 27. Therefore, each of the end flaps 24 may be pivotally displaced such that the free edges 26 thereof respectively contact the opposite side walls 34 respectively of the aquarium 27 and will be maintained in this position in press-fit relation.

As pointed out above, the lateral extent of the aquarium 27 is smaller than the maximum lateral extent of the central and side panels 18 and 20 respectively of the blank 10 and is generally denoted by the horizontally extending phantom lines illustrated in FIG. 2 on the blank 10. Thus, when the aquarium 27 is enwrapped in the blank 10 in a manner as illustrated in FIG. 1, there is defined a protective ledge 38 which extends entirely along the base portion 28 and opposite side walls 34 respectively of the aquarium 27. The protective ledge 38 extends transversely of the front and rear walls 30 and 32 respectively of the aquarium 27 and, thus, completely protects the external interconnected edges of the aquarium 27 against direct external impact and, accordingly, diminishes the extent of cracking or fracture associated with unprotected edges of the aquarium.

As indicated above, the blank 10 is generally constituted of cardboard, the cardboard having internal corrugated ribs of undulating extent 40 extending generally parallel to the scored folding lines of the blank 10 for reenforcing the protective ledge 38 which, because of the cardboard nature thereof, preferably requires some form of added reenforcement, the added reenforcement in this case being provided by the specific orientation of the corrugated ribs 40 which extend generally parallel to the scored folding lines of the blank 10.

As those skilled in the art readily understand, the protective ledge 38 will prevent the interconnected edges of the aquarium 27 from directly colliding or jarring against an external body and, therefore, the blank 10 may be utilized for protecting the aquarium 27 during shipping and handling thereof without further padding accessories. Moreover, since the front and rear walls 30 and 32 respectively of the aquarium 27 are maintained in exposed relation, when the retailer receives the enwrapped aquarium 27, the retailer is not required to remove the blank 10 therefrom, this because of the exposure of the front and rear walls 30 and 32 respectively of the aquarium 27, and may simply display the aquarium 27 in its partially enwrapped condition in the retail outlet.

When it is necessary to transport or ship a great number of aquariums over long distances, it is preferable to enwrap the aquariums with the blanks pursuant to the present invention in a manner aforementioned, and thereafter insert the enwrapped aquariums into respective cartons in a manner as illustrated in FIG. 7. In this respect, as illustrated in FIG. 7, a carton 60 having a front wall 62, a rear wall 64 and opposite side walls 66 respectively, is of sufficient volumetric capacity for receiving the partially enwrapped aquarium 27 and, thereafter, the front cover flap 68, rear cover flap 70 and opposite side cover flaps 72 respectively of the carton 60 may be folded so as to completely cover the aquarium 27 as partially enwrapped with the blank 10.

In this condition, the blank 10 serves to prevent the aquarium 27 from jarring against the walls of the cartons 60 without auxiliary padding having to be interposed between the aquarium 27 and the inner walls of the carton 60. Obviously, it is the protective ledge 38 of the blank 10 which separates the aquarium 27 from the front and rear walls 62 and 64 respectively of the carton 60 over a distance D which defines the lateral extent of the protective ledge 38.

It is significant that a sheet of paper, of a size generally identical to the front wall 30, may be placed inside of the aquarium 27 and maintained in flush relation with the front wall 30 solely by means of the end flaps 24 which squeeze the paper into direct contact with the inner face of the front wall 30, the sheet of paper carrying advertising messages or the like and readily observable because of the exposed condition of the front wall 30.

Still a further feature of the present invention may be appreciated by referring to FIGS. 5 and 6 of the drawings. In this respect, three aquariums denoted by the reference characters 27, 27A and 27B respectively, are illustrated in nested relation in one another, the aquarium 27 being slightly larger than the aquarium 27A, and the aquarium 27A being slightly larger than the aquarium 27B. Each of the aquariums 27, 27A and 27B are enwrapped with respective blanks in a manner as discussed above for the aquarium 27 and illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4. After each of the aquariums aforementioned are enwrapped with respective blanks, they are nested one in the other so that they may be commonly shipped or transported from the manufacturer to the retailer in a minimal space. The respective portions of each of the aquariums 27, 27A and 27B are denoted by reference characters having the same numerical prefix yet may be distinguished from one another because of the alphabetical suffix associated with each of the reference characters in FIGS. 5 and 6, a direct reference herein to each of the reference characters being omitted for the sake of clarity and conciseness.

Thus, the protective ledge 38 associated with the aquarium 27 acts to prevent the edges of the aquarium 27 from being jarred against an external body, whereas the protective ledges 38A and 38B of the aquariums 27A and 27B respectively act to prevent jarring of each of these aquariums against one another and against the inner faces of the aquarium 27. Moreover, as those skilled in the art readily understand, the nested arrangement of aquariums 27, 27A and 27B, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, may thereafter be deposited as a common unit in an appropriate carton in a manner discussed above for the aquarium 27 and illustrated in FIG. 7.

Numerous alterations of the structure herein disclosed will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be understood that the present disclosure relates to a preferred embodiment of the invention which is for purposes of illustration only and is not to be construed as a limitation of the invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A wrapper for an aquarium, the aquarium having a base, a front wall, a rear wall, and a pair of opposite side walls interconnected to define an enclosure open opposite the base, said wrapper comprising a blank, and means extending integrally in said blank for dividing the latter into a plurality of panels displaceable generally pivotally relative to one another into detachable embracing relation with both said base and said opposite side walls of said enclosure, yet leaving the front and rear walls of said enclosure exposed for observation.

2. A wrapper as claimed in claim 1, wherein said enclosure has a plurality of mutually adjoining external edges, said blank further including mean for protecting said external edges against direct external impact.

3. A wrapper as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of said walls terminate in respective free edges defining an open end of said enclosure opposite said base, said blank including a pair of opposite end flaps displaceable over the free edges of said opposite side walls respectively and insertable into said enclosure at the open end of the latter.

4. A wrapper as claimed in claim 3, wherein said end flaps are operatively associated with said front and rear walls in press-fit relation.

5. A wrapper as claimed in claim 4, wherein said end flaps each have a maximum lateral extent greater than the distance between said front and rear walls.

6. A wrapper as claimed in claim 5, wherein said end flaps respectively change in dimension in a direction longitudinally of said blank.

7. A wrapper as claimed in claim 5, wherein said end flaps respectively taper from a minimum lateral extent to a free lateral edge of maximum lateral extent.

8. A wrapper as claimed in claim 5, wherein said blank includes a central panel, a pair of opposite side panels spaced from one another through the intermediary of said central panel, and a pair of transition panels separating said end flaps from said side panels respectively.

9. A wrapper as claimed in claim 8, wherein said blank is provided with lateral scored folding lines constituting said means which divides said blank into said panels.

10. A wrapper as claimed in claim 8, wherein said central and opposite side panels have a greater lateral extent than the maximum external lateral extent of said enclosure in a direction transversely of said front and rear walls of said enclosure.

11. A wrapper as claimed in claim 10, wherein said transition panels taper from a maximum extent adjacent said side panels respectively to a minimum extent adjacent said end flaps respectively.

12. A wrapper as claimed in claim 9, wherein said blank is constituted of cardboard having internal reenforcing corrugated rib portions extending generally parallel to one another and said lateral scored folding lines.