Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BOX WITH DISPENSING FLAP
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates generally to packaging, and more
particularly to
boxes suitable for storage and dispensing.
[0002] It is known to store and ship retail products in boxes
made from fibrous
materials such as paper, chipboard, or corrugated cardboard.
[0003] It also is known to manufacture boxes having removable
portions which
can be used to dispense the product inside.
[0004] One problem with such boxes is that they typically
contain plastic which is
an environmentally questionable material.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] This problem is addressed by a box haying an integral
dispensing flap.
[0006] According to one aspect of the technology described
herein, a blank for a
box comprises: a sheet of material defining a plurality of panels separated by
a
plurality of fold lines, the plurality of panels defining an enclosure which
includes: a
top panel including first perforation lines defining a zipper tear-open
element; and a
back wall including second perforation lines defining a dispensing flap.
[0007] According to another aspect of the technology described herein, a box
comprises: a plurality of interconnected panels which define an enclosure
surrounding
an interior space, the plurality of panels including: a top panel including
first
perforation lines defining a zipper tear-open element; and a back wall
including
second perforation lines defining a dispensing flap.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The invention may be best understood by reference to the
following
description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures in
which:
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[0009] FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a flat box blank for an
exemplary box;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a box assembled from the
blank of FIG. 1,
in an open condition ready to be filled with product;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the box of FIG. 2,
completely closed;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a left side elevational view of the box of FIG.
3;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a right side elevational view of the box of
FIG. 3;
[0014] FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the box of FIG. 3;
[0015] FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the box of FIG. 3;
[0016] FIG. 8 is a rear elevational view of the box of FIG. 3;
[0017] FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of the box of FIG. 3;
and
[0018] FIG. 10 is a perspective exploded view of the box of FIG.
3 in
combination with an internal tray.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0019] Referring to the drawings wherein identical reference
numerals denote the
same elements throughout the various views, FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary
box
blank 10, which may be cut (e.g., by die-cutting, laser cutting, water jet
cutting, etc.)
from sheet stock according to a predetermined pattern
[0020] The blank 10 may be made from any sheet stock or sheet-
like material that
is capable of being formed in a predetermined shape (e.g. by cutting) and
folded,
including, for example, paper or other fibrous materials, cardboard, card
stock, chip
board, plastic, or sheet metal. For the purpose of avoiding the introduction
of non-
biodegradable materials in the environment, it is preferred to avoid plastics
and
metals. One example of a suitable material for such boxes is a product made
from
cellulosic fiber commercially known as "U-board" or "chipper", which is a
thin,
single-layer material. Another common material is double-walled cardboard with
a
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fluted spacer positioned between two outer layers, commonly referred to as
"corrugated" cardboard.
[0021] In the illustrated example, the blank 10 defines a first
top flap 12 with a
tear-open element referred to as a "zipper" 14, a back wall 16 with first side
flaps 18,
a bottom wall 20 with bottom tabs 22, a front wall 24 with second side flaps
26, and a
second top flap 28 with top tabs 30. As noted that directional terms such as
"front",
"back", "top", or "bottom" are used merely for purposes of convenient
explanation
and do not require any particular orientation of the components described. For
example, a component described as being on the "top" of an object may be on
the
"bottom" if the object is inverted. Similarly, special structural features
described as
being present on any one of the sides or faces of the inventive box may be
implemented on other sides or faces.
[0022] These elements are demarcated by fold lines 32 which may
be marked by
printing. Alternatively, the fold lines 32 may represent physical areas of
weakness
prone to folding, defined for example by scoring, crimping, pre-folding, or
partially
cutting. Alternatively, they may simply be virtual lines along which folds
take place
during a manufacturing process.
[0023] The blank 10 may be assembled by folding it along the
fold lines 32, and
secured together by means such as friction, interlocking of tabs, adhesives,
fasteners,
or combinations thereof, to form a box 34 (FIG. 3).
[0024] More specifically, the blank 10 is folded into a
rectangular sleeve shape as
shown in FIG. 2. The first top flap 12 is secured to the second top flap 28
and overlies
the second top flap 28. In one example these two elements are joined with
adhesive.
[0025] In the sleeve form, the first side flaps 18, the bottom
tabs 22, the second
side flaps 26, and the top tabs 30 are unfolded and extend laterally outward,
exposing
a large pass-through opening.
[0026] The sleeve may be flattened to collapse the back wall 16
against the front
wall 24 for the purposes of compact storage or handling.
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[0027] When the sleeve is to be filled, it is put in the open
configuration shown in
FIG. 2. It may then be loaded with product (not shown) in the direction of the
arrow
[0028] Once loaded, the first side flaps 18, the bottom tabs 22,
the second side
flaps 26, and the top tabs 30 are folded down and secured together, for
example with
adhesive, forming the complete box 34 as seen in FIG. 3.
[0029] The box 34 is generally a parallelepiped shape when
assembled and is used
to store products therein. Stated another way, box 34 forms a complete six-
sided
enclosure with a hollow interior space 35.
[0030] When assembled, the front wall 24 and the back wall 16
are parallel and
spaced apart from each other.
[0031] The side flaps 18, 26 and the bottom tabs 22 and the top
tabs 30 are
secured together to collectively define side panels 36 which are parallel and
spaced
apart from each other.
[0032] The top flaps 12, 28 are secured together to collectively
define a top panel
38. The top panel 38 defines the zipper 14.
[0033] More specifically, referring to FIG. 7, the first top
flap 12 includes a distal
portion 40 interconnected to a proximal portion 42 via a tear strip 44. The
proximal
portion 42 is joined to the back wall 16 at a fold line 32. During assembly of
the box
34, only the distal portion 40 is secured to the second top flap 28, e.g.,
using adhesive.
The tear strip 44 is demarcated from the distal and proximal portions 40, 42
via first
perforations 46. These represent lines of relative weakness permitting easy
tearing.
They may be formed, for example, by deep scoring, partially cutting, or
punching a
series of small holes or slots. The first perforations 46 may have various
shapes such
as linear or sawtooth.
[0034] When the tear strip 44 is pulled away along the first
perforations 46, the
distal and proximal portions 40, 42 are disconnected from each other. The
proximal
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portion 42 and the second top flap 28 are thus disconnected from each other
and free
to fold open so that the product inside the box 34 can be removed.
[0035] Referring to FIG. 8, the back wall 16 includes second
perforation lines 48
defining a dispensing flap 50. The dispensing flap 50 comprises first and
second
parallel end edges 52, 54, interconnected by side edges 56. In the illustrated
example,
the dispensing flap 50 is generally rectangular. However, it will be
understood that
any size or shape of dispensing flap 50 that will fit on the back wall 16 may
be used.
[0036] In the illustrated example, the first end edge 52 and the
side edges 56 are
defined by the second perforations 48. The second end edge 54 is defined by a
fold
line. In use, the perforated edges would be broken and the dispensing flap 50
folded
open along the second end edge 54 to remove product from the box 34. The
dispensing flap 50 can then be re-closed. One or more of the perforated edges
may be
provided with a finger tab 58. This serves both as an access point to start
tearing the
perforations and as a locking element to hold the dispensing flap 50 closed
between
uses.
[0037] Alternatively, all four edges of the dispensing flap 50
could be defined by
perforations so it can be completely removed.
[0038] Optionally, as seen in FIG. 10, a tray 60 may be provided
which fits
closely in the interior space 35 of the box 34. The tray 60 may be made from
sheet
stock as described above. In the illustrated example, it is generally an open-
topped
parallelepiped shape with a flat bottom 62. Instead of loading products
directly into
the box 34 as described above, the product may be loaded into the tray 60
which may
then be loaded into the box 34 prior to the flaps being closed and sealed as
described
above. Subsequently, when the zipper 14 is opened, top flaps 12 and 28 may be
folded
back to allow the tray 60 to slide out of the end of the box 34. The user may
then
retrieve some or all of the product and push the tray 60 back into the box 34.
The box
34 may incorporate one or the other of the dispensing flap 50 and the tray 60,
or both
of these features simultaneously.
[0039] Compared to the prior art, the box 34 has the benefit of
providing secure
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storage for product along with easy access. It may be made without any
nonrecyclable
or environmentally damaging materials.
[0040] The foregoing has described a storage and dispensing box.
All of the
features disclosed in this specification, and/or all of the steps of any
method or
process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations
where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.
[0041] Each feature disclosed in this specification may be
replaced by alternative
features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly
stated
otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is
one
example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.
[0042] The invention is not restricted to the details of the
foregoing
embodiment(s). The invention extends, or to any novel one, or any novel
combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.
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