Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02542150 2006-O1-25
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Title of the Invention
Dispenser and Display Device
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a dispenser (also referred herein as a box),
made of
a single sheet of cardboard or other pliable material. This dispenser can be
used for
a variety of purposes, including the storage of stacked items such as
individual
pieces of paper. Aesthetically pleasing, this dispenser may also be used as a
promotional or marketing tool.
Background of the Invention
Containers or boxes madefrom cardboard or other pliable materials are known-in
the
art. Examples include the boxes described in the following patents which are
suitable
for storing a variety of things, such as cards and even laundry detergent: US
Patent
No. 5,476,218 ("Cardboard Box Having a Smooth Flat Bottom"), US Patent No.
5,439,168 ("Paper Box Having Strip-Shaped Inlet"), US Patent No. 4,019,673
("Cardboard Box") and US Patent No.3,688,625 ("Cardboard Box and Method ~f
Making Same").
Boxes made from a single cardboard piece are also known in the art. ~ne
example
of a box of this type is US Patent No. 5,366,142 ("Cardboard Box Having Corner
Seals")
Additionally, boxes that are suitable for holding and dispensing pieces or
sheets of
paper have been around for some time. Examples of such containers or
dispensers
include the following patents: US Patent No. 5,183,200 ("Folder Type Paper
Box"),
US Patent No.5,427,254 ("Holding Device for Self-Stick Note Pads"), US Patent
No.5,161,712 ("No-Spring Pop-Up Note Dispenser") and US Patent No.6,119,851
("Container for Notepads, Paper Clips, Staples and the Like").
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Despite the variety of boxes available, boxes or containers that combine
elements
from all of the types of boxes mentioned above are not believed to be common.
Boxes that combine the pliability of cardboard, that can be constructed from a
single
sheet, that can serve to dispense paper (or be used to store a limitless
variety of
items) and that can be personalized by decorating one or more sides or walls
in an
aesthetically pleasing manner do not abound. Advantageously, a box of this
description would be produced inexpensively and would allow for individual
creative
modifications. A box of this type could also be used as a promotional or
marketing
tool.
The present invention relates to a novel box or container that seeks to meet
all of
these features and advantages.
Detailed Description of the Invention
FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the box (10) in accordance with a preferred
embodiment of the present invention. This box (10) has a frustopyramidal shape
with
an opened top (12) and a closed bottom (14). The box (10) is characterized in
that it
comprises four interior walls (20,22,24,26) and four exterior walls
(30,32,34,36). The
exterior walls (30,32,34,36) are spaced apart from the interior walls
(20,22,24,26) in
order to create a space between them. At least one of the exterior walls
(30,32,34,36) comprises an opening (40). FIG. 1 shows one of the openings (40)
being oval. However, the opening or openings (40) can have any shape. An
exterior
wall (30,32,34,36) may comprise more than one opening (40) as well.
FIG. 2 shows a top plan view of the box (10) shown in FIG. 1 once unfolded.
The
doted lines in FIG. 2 correspond to the folding lines. As aforesaid, the
material used
for manufacturing the box (10) is preferably a single sheet of cardboard but
any other
pliable material can be used. Example of these other materials are paper, thin
plastic
sheets, thin metal sheets, etc.
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One of the advantages of this box (10) is that it can be used to display
illustrations or
any other kind of markings on both its exterior walls (30,32,34,36) and its
interior
walls (20,22,24,26). The openings (40) on the exterior walls (30,32,34,36)
allow to
see the illustrations or markings on the exterior face of the corresponding
interior
walls (20,22,24,26). This provides an effect of "depth" that creates a very
elegant
and sophisticated display.
FIG. 3 is a side view of the box (10). In a finish product, a person looking
at this side
of the box (10) would see the printed illustrations or markings on both the
interior wall
(26) and the exterior walls (36).
In the illustrated embodiment, one of the exterior walls (30,32,34,36), namely
the
front exterior wall (30), and its corresponding interior wall (20) comprises a
slot (42).
This slot (42) is very useful when the box (10) is used to hold a stack of
individual
pieces of paper (16), as shown in FIG 1. The slot (42) will allow the fingers
of a
person to easily retrieve a piece of paper (16) from inside the box (10).
Referred back to FIG.2, the unfolded box (10) comprises a substantially cross-
shaped center portion (50) and four side portions (52,54,56,58). The cross-
shaped
center portion (50) comprises a middle section (60) that will become the
bottom (14)
of the box (10). The four adjacent sections, once folded, will become the
exterior
walls (30,32,34,36). At least one of the exterior walls (30,32,34,36), in this
case three
of the exterior walls (30,32,34,36), comprise an opening (40). FIG. 2 shows
that the
openings (40) are not limited to an oval shape, one of the openings (40) being
shaped as a leaf. Any shape can be used, as required by the design. Yet, some
designs may require that one or more openings (40) be covered by a transparent
or
translucent liner. This will not change the nature of the present invention
since it
would still allow someone to see illustrations or markings on the
corresponding
interior walls (20,22,24,26). Similarly, one or more openings (40) may be
provided
with a hinged or otherwise removable opaque door that can be lifted to see the
corresponding interior wall or walls (20,22,24,26).
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The cross-shaped center portion (50) further comprises four pairs of flaps
(62,64),
one pair of flaps (62,64) being disposed at each corner of the cross-shaped
center
portion (50). These flaps (62,64) will provide a holding point for maintaining
the box
(10) in a folded position, as explained hereafter.
FIG. 2 also shows the slot (42). Half of this slot (42) is provided in the
exterior wall
(30) and the other continues into the adjacent side portion (52), more
particularly into
the section that will become the interior wall (20) once folded. This side
portion (52)
also comprises two opposite lateral sections (66,68) and a flap (70). The
lateral
sections (66,68) are preferably symmetrical with reference to the interior
wall (20).
Each of them comprises two slots (72,74) separated by an inclined edge (76).
These
slots (72,74) are designed to provide an interlocking engagement with slots
(86,88) of
corresponding side sections (80,82) of the opposite side portion (56), which
side
portion (56) appears at the bottom of FLG. 2 and also comprises a flap (84).
Once
folded, this will allow to hold the box (10) together without glue or
mechanical
fasteners. Nevertheless, one can omit this feature from a box (10) and use
glue or
mechanical fasteners to hold the folded box (10) together.
The two remaining side portions (54,58) of the unfolded box (10) comprises two
elongated side flaps (90,92) located at the end of corresponding interior
walls
(22,26).
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken from line IV-IV in FIG. 1. This figure
shows the
configuration of two exterior walls (30,34) with reference to corresponding
interior
walls (20,24) of the preferred embodiment. It also shows the pieces of paper
(16)
inside the box (10).
As can be appreciated, this box (10) provides many advantages for designers
and
those who will manufacture them. It can be used for a wide range of purposes
and it
is particularly useful for promotional material. Someone may also provide a
top
cover, if desired. Of course, the box (10) can be designed with a different
shape than
that illustrated in the appended figures. For example, the interior receptacle
of the
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box (10) can be rectangular instead of being a square. The angle between the
interior walls (20,22,24,26) and the exterior walls (30,32,34,36) can also be
different
and not necessarily the same for all sides of the box (10). The top of the box
(10)
can be provided with a wide horizontal edge. The unfolded single sheet from
which
the box (10) is made may be itself composed of two or more smaller pieces
glued or
otherwise attached together before being folded.
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