Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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~ITLE OF INVENTION
COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to containers and finds specific application to
containers which are small, and used in a preferred embodiment for containing
light articles in a convenient and esthetically pleasing package.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is known to package chocolates, food and other confections in a container.
Some foods are shrink wrapped in a flat styrofoam tray, while others are packaged
in a boxboard container sealed at both ends and sent on to the wholesalers for
distribution.
When opening a box typically to remove the contents thereof, one either
pulls the staples out of the flap ends of the box, opens the flaps and removes the
contents, or one uses a pair of scissors or knife to cut open the box. Heretofore, to
the best of the inventors' knowledge there is no box which collapses when the lid is
lifted.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a container having a first
end provided therewith from which extend outwardly flat extending and abutting flat
planar portions wherein when the opposite end of the container is disassociated
from the remote ends of the flat planar portions remote the first end this allows for
ease of collapse of the container.
It is yet a further object of this invention to provide an esthetically pleasingpresentation for food, confectioneries, and assorted novelties which is both
attractive and functional.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide a collapsible container
which includes marketing materials such as advertising or promotional literatureconveniently contained for the market audience when the end of the box is
disassociated with the flat planar portions remaining.
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Further and other objects of the invention will become apparent to those
skilled in the art when considering the following summary of invention and a more
detailed description of the preferred embodiments illustrated herein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a container for
advertising purposes having a top and bottom and at least two sides and preferably
four, preferably the container being formed from one continuous flat planar member
such as cardboard or boxboard with score lines, folds or the like provided therewith
to define: the bottom end of the container, the side portions of the container, and the
top of the container, the top of the container having side portion abutting portions
located therewith to retain the side portions in their closed position, preferably the
side portion abutting portions provided with the top of the container being
downwardly extending lips formed with the top of the container and effective when
assembled, preferably the top of the container being integrally formed with the flat
planar sheet, the top of the container being preferably provided with a side portion
of the container and preferably being hinged to one of the side portions of the
container, wherein when the container is in its substantially closed position, the
abutting portions of the top of the container assist in retaining the side portions of
the container in their closed position, and wherein when the top of the container is
moved to its container opening position, the abutting portions no longer retain the
side portions of the container and the side portions under gravity unfold revealing
the contents of the container and preferably revealing the advertising information
printed on the inner surface of the container. (In another embodiment the top may
be formed separately from the side portions and the bottom of the container.)
In a preferred embodiment the container may further comprise advertising
information printed on the sides of the side portions, top or bottom of the container.
In another embodiment the side portion retaining means provided with the
top of the container are integral with the top when formed and are effective when
these integral portions are folded along their respective score lines, fold lines or the
3_ 211716~
li~e to provide downwardly extending lips extending from the top of the container in
use.
According to yet another aspect of the invention there is provided a
collapsible container for containing prewrapped food, confectioneries, or the like,
5 said container comprising a flat planar member having a substantially crucifixshape when in the flat planar position, the flat planar member including two
intersecting branches of the crucifix (the intersecting crucifix branches) proximate
the bottom of the box, whereat each branch extends from the bottom of the
container via a fold or score line or the like to allow for the upward extension of the
10 branches away from the bottom of the container thus defining the side portions of
the container, one of the side portions including a larger portion proximate the end
thereof remote the bottom of the box defining the top of the container in use, the top
being situated proximate one end of a branch of the crucifix and including when
assembled means to retain the portions extending upwardly away from the bottom
15 of the container in the closed position of the container, preferably said means
including integral flanges provided with the top of the container which includes fold
or score lines or the like which when folded provide said means to retain the
portions in the closed position, alternatively said means being provided by
reusable flaps, or glue like portions, or velcro like portions, provided with either the
20 top or the side portions of the box, wherein when the side portions are lifted
upwardly away from the bottom of the container and the top is closed to abut theends of the side portions remote the bottom of the container then the retaining
portions disposed with either the top or the sides retain the container in its closed
position until such time as the top of the container is moved to open the container,
25 the panels of the container unfolding open under the influence of gravity. In a
preferred embodiment of the invention the inner surfaces of the side portions,
bottom and/or top of the container are printed with advertising literature and
preferably include a comestible, confectionery, food or the like.
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According to any of the above mentioned aspects of the invention there is
provided a kit of components which are contained within any of the aforementioned
containers including comestibles, candy or food stuffs or the like having contained
therewith either within the food stuff such as a fortune cookie or on the wrapper
5 information which is consistent with the information normally displayed within the
inner panels of the container and provided for marketing purposes.
In another embodiment the container may be used to package toys or other
novelty items.
In yet another embodiment the container is shipped within a separate
10 preformed outer container when the collapsible container is to be sent through the
postal service or other means of transport wherein it is suspected that the
collapsible container will be roughly handled.
In another aspect of the invention, the container is used as a display carton
for merchandising, toys, novelties, sporting goods or the like to the consumer in
15 retail sales.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the container illustrated in a preferred
embodiment of the invention.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the container in its collapsed pre-formed
20 position illustrated in a preferred embodiment of the invention.
Figure 2a is a perspective view of the container in its collapsed position
which has additional rigidifying flaps as illustrated in a preferred embodiment of the
invention.
Figure 3 is a side view of the container of Figure 1 illustrated in a closed
25 position.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the container of Figure 1 illustrated in a
closed position.
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` DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to the figures, there is illustrated a collapsible container 5
being formed from a generally flat planar sheet of material such as boxboard 10,the flat planar member 10 being formed in a substantially crucifix or cross shape
having a central portion 20 with arms 30, 40, 50 and 60 extending laterally awayfrom the portion 20. Each of the portions 30, 40, 50 and 60 being joined to the
portion 20 via a fold or score line, 32, 42, 52 and 62 respectively to allow for the
folding of each of the side portions 30, 40, 50 and 60 upwardly of the bottom 20 of
the container to the point illustrated in Figure 2.
The portion 60 includes proximate the end thereof a portion 70 separated
from the portion 60 via score line 71. The portion 70 includes a score line 72
extending around the three sides. Portions 75, 76 and 77 of the portion 70 are
folded upwardly away from the portion 70 substantially as shown in Figure 1 and
thus providing a flange extending around three sides of portion 70 when
assembled so that when the portions 30, 40, 50 and 60 are folded upwardly away
from the bottom 20 of the container, the flange portions 73 will cover and retain the
ends 30(a), 40(a) and 50(a) of the portions 30, 40 and 50 of the container 5 so as to
prevent the portions 30, 40 and 50 from collapsing to their position substantially
shown in Figure 2.
Therefore, when the container is assembled, the top portion 70 and the
preferred flange portions 73 which cover the ends 30a, 40a and 50a of the side
portions 30, 40 and 50 of the container 5 retain the container 5 in a closed position
until such time as the top 70 is removed allowing the container 5 to unfold to its
position shown in Figure 2.
In another embodiment the top portion 70 may be provided separate from
the sides 60 and bottom 20 of the container 5 as a separate member which
functions substantially the same way as described in retaining the portions 30, 40
and 50 in their closed position until the top 70 is removed.
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In another embodiment the top portion 70 or the side portions exemplified by
30, 40 and 50 may include other alternative means for retaining the collapsible
container in its closed position such as flaps and co-operative slots, reusable tape
or a glue portions, velcro portions or the like.
In the preferred embodiment advertising information is provided is provided
on the inner panels 39, 49, 59, 69 and 79 of the collapsible container so that when
the target audience of the container 5 opens the top, the entire box will unfoldrevealing the contents of the container 5 and the information printed on the inside
of the container.
Referring to figure 2a it has been found that the addition of flaps 30x, 30y,
40x, 50x, 50y serves as means of rigidifying the container when assembled. For
example when the container is assembled these portions engage portion 40x
rigidifying this portion, and also reinforcing the side panels and their ability to hold
up the lid portion. The cut portions of 30z and 50z serve to hold 40 in positionwhen assembled.
As many changes can be made to the invention without departing
from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all material contained herein by
interpreted as illustrative of the invention and not in a limiting sense.
