Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02497667 2005-02-18
Envelope Container and Dispenser
Field
[00011 The present invention relates generally to containers and, more
particularly,
to containers that are adapted to store and dispense envelopes.
Background
[0002] Envelopes are typically packaged and sold in paperboard rectangular
containers that are slightly larger than the periphery of the envelopes and
have a sufficient depth
to store a quantity of envelopes. Most envelope containers also have a hinged
top access panel
with a folded closure tab and a pair of laterally hinged interior tabs that
support the top panel and
help hold it in a closed position when the container is not in use. Although
the top panel
provides access to the envelopes stored in the container, this configuration
is of limited
convenience because a user must move the tabs and top panel away from the
envelopes with one
hand while removing the envelopes with the other hand. If the tabs and top
panel are not moved
out of the way, they tend to interfere with removal of the envelopes, often
bending or damaging
the envelopes.
[0003] The tabs and/or top panel can be removed from the container by tearing
or
with scissors, but such removal can damage the container and/or the envelopes.
In addition,
whether or not the top panel and/or tabs are removed, envelopes stored in such
containers are
difficult to extract because only the top edge of the envelopes is exposed,
making them difficult
to separate and grasp.
[0004] An alternate approach is to completely remove the envelopes from their
storage container. For example, a user could stack the envelopes in a pile.
However, envelopes
stored in this manner are prone to becoming disarrayed, damaged or lost.
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[0005] Another alternate approach is to store the envelopes in a separate,
dedicated
dispenser specifically designed to hold envelopes therein. However, a separate
dispenser is an
added expense. In addition, it is inconvenient to transfer the envelopes from
their packaging to
the dispenser. There is a need for an envelope container that is also capable
of easily dispensing
the envelopes.
Summary
[0006] The present invention overcomes the aforementioned limitations of
envelope
containers and dispensers by providing a rectangular prism to contain the
envelopes. The
container is easily converted for use from a storage container to a dispenser
by tearing along a
tear guideline or strip that is formed in a closed loop such that when the
tear strip is tom, portions
of a top panel, two side panels, a bottom panel and an entire end panel of the
container are
separated and can be removed. Once these portions of the container are
removed, three edges of
the envelopes stored therein are at least partially exposed for easy access
and removal. The
container and dispenser may be oriented in either a vertical or horizontal
configuration.
[0007] An object of the present invention is a container. The container
comprises a
rectangular prism having first and second side panels, first and second end
panels, a top panel,
and a bottom panel. A tear guideline extends across the bottom panel, first
side panel, top panel
and second side panel, forming a generally closed loop and defining a retained
portion and a
removable portion. The removable portion, when removed, removes at least a
portion of the
bottom panel, first side panel, top panel, second side panel and one end
panel, to expose product
stored therein.
[0008) Another object of the present invention is a method for malcing a
container.
The method comprises the steps of providing a rectangular prism having first
and second side
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panels, first and second end panels, a top panel, and a bottom panel and
forming in the prism a
generally closed-loop tear guideline extending across the bottom panel, first
side panel, top panel
and second side panel. The tear guideline defines a retained portion of the
prism and a
removable portion of the prism wherein the removable portion, when removed,
removes at least
a portion of the bottom panel, first side panel, top panel, second side panel
and one end panel to
expose product stored therein.
Brief Descriution of the Drawines
[0009] Further features of the inventive embodiments will become apparent to
those
skilled in the art to which the embodiments relate from reading the
specification and claims with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0010] Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a first side of an envelope
container and
dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0011) Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of a second side of the envelope
container
and dispenser of Fig. 1;
[0012] Fig. 3 is a top view of the envelope container and dispenser of Fig. 1;
[0013) Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the envelope container and dispenser of Fig.
1;
[0014] Fig. 5 is a unitary blank substrate as viewed from the inside and from
which
indicates in a general way the principal constructional features of an
envelope container and
dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[00151 Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view taken along the
line
designated 6-6 in Fig. 1;
[0016] Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the container of Fig. 1;
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[00171 Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the envelope container and dispenser of
Fig. 7
oriented horizontally with a removable portion removed to dispense the
contents; and
[0018] Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the envelope container and dispenser of
Fig. 8
oriented vertically.
Detailed Descriation
[0019] The term "dispenser" as used herein is intended to describe a device
that
stores product in such way that a quantity of the product is made readily
available for use. An
envelope container and dispenser 10, termed "container" herein for
convenience, is shown in
Figs. 1-4 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Container 10 is
a generally
rectangular prism comprising a top panel 12, a bottom panel 14, a first end
panel 16, a second
end panel 18, a first side pane120, and a second side panel 22. Panels 12, 14,
16, 18, 20 and 22
are all generally planar surfaces.
[00201 Container 10 is preferably made from a generally planar blank substrate
24
such as shown in Fig. 5. Substrate 24 may be any conventional material
including, without
limitation, paperboard, plastic, cardboard and corrugated cardboard. Substrate
24 comprises top
panel 12, bottom panel 14, first end panel 16 (comprising end panel portions
16A and 16B),
second end panel 18 (comprising end panel portions 18A and 18B), first side
panel 20, and
second side panel 22. Container 10 fiarther comprises a first end tab set 26
(comprising tabs
26A, 26B), a second end tab set 28 (comprising tabs 28A, 28B), and a bottom
tab 30.
[0021] Container 10 is formed by folding blank substrate material 24 into the
shape
of a rectangular prism. Substrate 24 is folded upwardly along fold lines 32
and 34. Bottom tab
30 is then folded toward first side panel 20 by folding along fold line 36.
Bottom panel 14 is
then folded toward second side panel 22 by folding along fold line 38 such
that the bottom panel
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rests atop bottom tab 30. First end tabs 26A, 26B are each then folded toward
each other, end
tab 26A being folded along fold line 40 and end tab 26B being folded along
fold line 42. End
panel portion 16A is then folded along fold line 44 such that it rests atop
end tabs 26A and 26B.
End panel portion 16B is then folded along fold line 46 such that it rests
atop end panel portion
16A. Second end tabs 28A, 28B are each then folded toward each other, end tab
28A being
folded along fold lin.e 48 and end tab 28B being folded along fold line 50.
End panel portion
18A is then folded along fold line 52 such that it rests atop end tabs 28A and
28B. End panel
portion 18B is then folded along fold line 54 such that it rests atop end
panel portion 18A. The
folded panels and tabs of substrate 24 may be secured in any conventional
manner, such as
adhesives, tapes and fasteners.
[0022] The order in which the panels and tabs are folded is not critical and
is but one
way to assemble container 10. The order of assembly and the arrangement of the
panels and tabs
may be changed without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition,
although Fig. 5
shows a unitary blank substrate 24 as viewed from the inside, Fig. 5 could
also be an outside
view in this embodiment due to the symmetry of the substrate. However, such
symmetry is not a
required feature of the present invention.
[00231 When container 10 is assembled, top panel 12 is oriented generally
parallel to
and is aligned with bottom panel 14 and is located on a generally opposite
side of the bottom
panel. Likewise, first side panel 20 is oriented generally parallel to and is
aligned with second
side panel 22 and is located on a generally opposite side of the second side
panel. In addition,
first end panel 16 is oriented generally parallel to and is aligned with
second end panel 18 and is
located on a generally opposite side of the second end panel.
= = CA 02497667 2006-08-18
[0024] With reference again to Figs. 1-4, container 10 further comprises a
tear strip
56. Tear strip 56 is formed by a pair of tear guidelines 58 that are spaced
apart from each other
and oriented generally parallel to each other. Tear guidelines 58 may be
formed by either a cut
scoring line or a reverse-cut scoring li.ne. Alternatively, tear guidelines 58
may be formed by a
combination of cut scoring lines and reverse-cut scoring lines. Reverse-
cutting processes and the
formation of tear lines are well-known in the art, as exemplified by U.S. Pat.
No. 4,974,731.
[0025] With continued reference to Fig. 1, an example of a tear guideline 58
comprising a cut score line 60A and a reverse cut score line 60B are shown in
Fig. 6, which
depicts a cross-sectional view 6-6 of the tear guideline. Cut scoring line 60A
is formed in the
outer surface of container 10 and is displaced from reverse cut scoring line
60B, which is formed
on the inside surface of the container. When the tear guideline 58 of Fig. 6
is torn, the tear
guideline is caused to separate along a medial line 61.
[0026] One skilled in the art will recognize that tear guidelines 58 can be
any strip or
line which guides tearing therealong, including without limitation, fold
lines, crease lines, areas
of weakness, score lines, cuts partially therethrough the thickness of
container 10, and
perforation lines.
[0027] With reference now to Fig. 4, tear strip 56 may include a pull tab 62.
Pull tab
62 may be integrally formed at an end portion of tear strip 56, terminating at
an edge 64 of
bottom panel 14. Edge 64 is an outer edge of substrate 24 (see Fig. 5). In
altemate
embodiments, pull tab 62 may be located anywhere along the length of tear
strip 56.
[0028] As shown in Figs. 1-4 and Fig. 7, tear strip 56 forms a closed or
substantially
closed loop that extends across bottom panel 14, first side panel 20, top
panel 12, and second
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side panel 22. Tear strip 56 thus defines a retained portion 66 and a
removable portion 68 of
container 10.
[0029] In one embodiment of the present invention, tear strip 56 has a
serpentine
shape 70 such as an "S" shape along first and second side panels 20, 22
respectively. A parallel
portion 72 of serpentine shape 70 may be oriented generally parallel to the
longitudinal axis of
container 10, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 7. Serpentine shape 70 also includes
portions 74
extending generally perpendicular to parallel portion 72. Parallel portion 72
is shaped such that
when tear strip 56 is torn and removable portion 68 is removed, the contents
of container 10 are
more exposed for ease of dispensing while leaving a retained portion 66 of
sufficient shape to
hold the contents in place, as will be discussed in fiu-ther detail below.
(0030] In other embodiments tear strip 56 may be any shape that facilitates
separation of retained portion 66 and removable portion 68, wherein the
removable portion
comprises at least a portion of top panel 12, side panels 20, 22 and bottom
panel 14, and wherein
the removable portion includes one of end panels 16, 18. For example, tear
guidelines 58 may be
various other serpentine shapes or angular, square, trapezoidal, or curved
cuts. In addition, tear
strip 56 may be a decorative or contrasting color or design pattern on
container 10. It should be
further noted that the separation distance between tear guidelines 58 is not
critical, and may be
greater or lesser than the relative distances depicted in Figs. 1-5 and Fig.
7. In some
embodiments a single tear guideline 58 may be formed, or a plurality of tear
guidelines could
coincide wherein no tear strip 56 is specifically formed or defined. For
example, a single tear
guideline 58 may form a closed or substantially closed loop to define retained
portion 66 and
removable portion 68. In still other embodiments tear guideline 58 may or may
not extend
across top panel 12 and/or bottom panel 14.
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[0031] Referring to Figs. 1-4 and 7 in combination, container 10 can be opened
by
pivoting or elevating pull tab 62 away from bottom panel 14 and separating
tear strip 56 from, in
order, bottom panel 14, first side panel 20, top panel 12, and second side
panel 22. Tear strip 56
thus becomes completely disengaged from container 10, separating retained
portion 66 and
removable portion 68. Removable portion 68 is then discarded, exposing a
plurality of
envelopes 76 within container 10. Container 10 in this state functions as an
envelope dispenser,
as shown in Figs 8 and 9. Container 10 may be oriented to dispense envelopes
horizontally, as
shown in Fig. 8, or vertically, as shown in Fig. 9.
[0032] As can be ftirther seen in Figs. 8 and 9, envelopes 76 stored in
container 10
are exposed for easy removal, yet they are sufficient retained in container 10
in an orderly
fashion for storage. A top edge 78, side edge 80 and bottom edge 82 of each
envelope 76 is at
least partially exposed. If the longitudinal axis of container 10 is oriented
to dispense envelopes
76 horizontally as depicted in Fig. 8, a user may grasp one or more of the
envelopes at either top
edge 78 or side edge 80 and slide the envelopes out of the container in
general direction "A."
Alternatively, if the longitudinal axis of container 10 is oriented vertically
as depicted in Fig. 9, a
user may grasp one or more of envelopes 76 at either top edge 78, side edge 80
or bottom edge
82 and slide the envelopes out of the container in general direction "B."
[0033] While this invention has been shown and described with respect to a
detailed
embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that
various changes in form
and detail thereof may be made without departing from the sciope of the claims
of the invention.
For example, container 10 as disclosed herein is not limited to storing and
dispensing envelopes.
Panels 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 and 22 may be any shape adapted to contain objects
therein. Likewise,
tear strip 56 maybe any appropriate shape for dispensing the objects. Thus,
container 10 may be
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adapted to dispense various types of objects including, without limitation,
index cards, file cards,
sheets of media, and paper labels.
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