CN111164018A

CN111164018A - Package (I)

Info

Publication number: CN111164018A
Application number: CN201880063138.2A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 理查德·扬; 詹姆斯·斯威尼
Original assignee: Nicoventures Holdings Ltd
Current assignee: Nicoventures Holdings Ltd
Priority date: 2017-09-29
Filing date: 2018-10-01
Publication date: 2020-05-15
Also published as: WO2019064029A1; GB201715904D0; EP3687910A1; US20200299022A1

Abstract

The package comprises a sleeve (3) having a closed end (32) and an open end (31), and a container (4) insertable into and removable from the sleeve (3) via the open end (31) of the sleeve (3) and along an insertion/removal axis (33) of the sleeve (3). The printed document (5) is removably secured to the front surface (432) of the container (4) by one or more retaining tabs (433A, 433B, 433C, 433D) provided on the front surface (432) of the container (4) and releasably engaging the periphery of the printed document (5). The retaining tab comprises a first retaining tab (433A) projecting towards the closed end (32) of the sleeve (3) and releasably engaging a first portion (51) of the periphery of the printed document (5).

Description

Package (I)

Technical Field

The present invention relates to packaging.

Background

The package may be used to protect the product prior to use by the user.

For example, when the product is an e-vapor device, the package may contain the e-vapor device.

Disclosure of Invention

According to some embodiments described herein, there is provided a package comprising: a sleeve having a closed end and an open end; and a container insertable into and removable from the sleeve via the open end of the sleeve and along an insertion/removal axis of the sleeve; wherein the printed document is removably secured to the front surface of the container by one or more retaining tabs disposed on the front surface of the container and releasably engaging a perimeter of the printed document; and the retaining tab comprises a first retaining tab projecting toward the closed end of the sleeve and releasably engaging a first portion of the perimeter of the printed document.

Since the first retaining tab projects towards the closed end of the sleeve, it can be used to prevent printed documents from sliding out of the sleeve when the container and printed documents have been inserted into the sleeve, for example during transport when the package may be subjected to vibration or shock.

In some embodiments, the printed document is a book.

A book may be a printed document comprising a plurality of pages configured as a stack of pages all connected together on one side of the book (e.g., by stitching on the side to form a spine) or alternately connected together on one side of the book and then on the opposite side of the book (such that the book has, for example, a Z-shaped configuration when opened). More generally, the printed document (e.g. book) need not be limited to a particular shape, provided that the relevant portion of the printed document can be secured by one or more retaining tabs.

In some embodiments, the retaining tab comprises a second retaining tab opposite the first tab and projecting toward the open end of the sleeve and releasably engaging a second portion of the perimeter of the printed document opposite the first portion of the perimeter of the printed document.

The second retaining tab may be used to push the printed document out of the sleeve when the user wishes to gain access to the printed document and the container as the container and the printed document are pulled towards the open end of the sleeve.

In some embodiments, the retention tab comprises opposing third and fourth retention tabs; a third retaining tab projecting toward the closed end of the sleeve and releasably engaging a third portion of the perimeter of the printed document; a fourth retaining tab projects towards the open end of the sleeve and releasably engages a fourth portion of the perimeter of the printed document opposite the third portion of the perimeter of the printed document.

In some embodiments, the first tab and the third tab are positioned side-by-side transverse to the insertion/removal axis of the sleeve; and the second and fourth tabs are positioned side by side transverse to the insertion/removal axis of the sleeve.

The container may have a rectangular array of first to fourth retaining tabs on its front surface which enables the printed document to be releasably secured to the front surface.

In some embodiments, the printed document is a rectangular shape having a first corner to a fourth corner; and the first tab to the fourth tab are positioned on the first corner to the fourth corner of the printed document, respectively.

In this way, the corners of the printed document may be protected from damage by being covered by the retaining tab.

In some embodiments, the width of the printed document transverse to the insertion/removal axis is less than the transverse span of the front surface of the container occupied by the first and third tabs, and less than the transverse span of the front surface of the container occupied by the second and fourth tabs.

In some embodiments, the printed document is positioned in the center of the front surface of the container.

The printed document may be rectangular and may substantially match the rectangular shape of the array of first to fourth retaining tabs. The printed document may be held in a central position on the front surface of the container by retaining tabs, wherein each retaining tab releasably secures a respective portion of the periphery of the book.

In some embodiments, the interior of the sleeve is free of constraining structure arranged to prevent complete removal of the container from the sleeve.

For example, the inner surfaces of the front and rear main panels of the sleeve (and the inner surfaces of the first and second side panels of the sleeve) may be free of any edges that are transverse to the insertion/removal axis and that may hang over the retaining tab or one of the retaining tabs of the container as the container is withdrawn from (and inserted into) the sleeve.

In some embodiments, the or each retaining tab is formed by a cut line in a blank that has been folded over to form the container.

In some embodiments, the cut line is (continuously) curved, and the fold line extends between the ends of the cut line to angle the respective tab outwardly relative to the front surface of the container.

This bending of the or each tab may assist in inserting the printed document behind the retaining tab and then assist in gripping the printed document to hold it in place in front of the container. The curvature may also subsequently assist in removing or separating the printed document from the container.

In some embodiments, the longitudinal edges of the cut lines have a common curved shape.

The or each cut line may have a curved shape to impart a convex curved shape to the free edge of a respective one of the retaining tabs. For each cut line, a fold line may extend between the ends of the cut line. The side or longitudinal edges of each cut line may be parallel and have a complementary or common shape.

In some embodiments, the container has been folded from a single blank that is said blank comprising cut lines.

In some embodiments, the container comprises a box and a front flap hinged together and pivotable between a folded-together configuration, in which the front flap abuts a front panel of the box, and an unfolded configuration; the front surface of the container is provided by the front surface of the front flap; and the printed document is removably secured to the front surface of the front flap by a retaining tab.

A product, such as an e-vapor device, may be stored in a container.

The products may be sold in different countries (different markets) around the world, and each market may require its own particular version of the printed document, for example in a local language appropriate for the market in question. Thus, the manufacturer of the product may produce a series of different market-specific printed documents, and while using the same container for all markets, the manufacturer may secure the correct market-specific printed document to the front surface of the container before inserting the container into the sleeve (which may also be market-specific, e.g., any printing aspect on the outside of the sleeve).

Printed documents for different markets may also vary in ways other than those related only to the language in which the text printed in the printed document is used. Some markets may need to include more information and therefore printed documents for different markets may have different numbers of pages.

When the container is in the sleeve, the printed document is covered by the sleeve and protected from damage or loss. The product in the container is also protected by the sleeve.

When the container is removed from the sleeve, the printed document becomes accessible and it can be removed from the front flap of the container. Because the printed documents are stored on the front surface of the front flap and are not sandwiched between the front flap and the box, the presence of the printed documents becomes apparent to the person removing the container from the sleeve, and for this person, the printed documents can be removed and reviewed intuitively.

In some embodiments, a blank for forming a container is provided.

In some embodiments, there is provided a method of forming a container for packaging, the method comprising: providing a blank for a container; and folding the blank to form the container, including disengaging the or each tab from the associated cut line such that the tab is angled outwardly relative to the front surface of the container.

In some embodiments, there is provided a method of forming a package, the method comprising: providing a blank for a sleeve; providing a blank for a container; providing a printed document; folding a blank for a sleeve to form a sleeve; folding the blank for a container to form a container, including disengaging the or each tab from the associated cut line such that the tab is angled outwardly relative to the front surface of the container; and positioning the printed document on the front surface of the container and plugging the printed document under the retaining tab of the container.

Drawings

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

fig. 1 is a schematic view of how a package according to a first embodiment can be opened by lifting the lid of the cover of the display carton, by lifting the display carton out of the kit (container in sleeve, with booklet attached to the front of the container, and product and auxiliary articles within the container), by lifting the container out of the sleeve, by opening the kit, by removing the booklet from the front of the container, and by opening the container to remove the product and auxiliary articles.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the package of the first embodiment when fully closed.

Fig. 3A is an exploded perspective view of the package of the first embodiment in which the lid of the display carton has been opened and the kit is lifted out of the display carton and opened by removing the security seal from the top end of the sleeve to enable lifting of the container out of the sleeve.

Fig. 3B is a perspective view of the package of the first embodiment when the cover of the display carton has been completely removed to expose all of the kits located in the base tray of the display carton.

Fig. 4-10 are perspective, front, rear, right side, left side, top, and bottom views, respectively, of the display carton of the first embodiment, wherein the display carton is shown with the lid raised and the left and right portions of the inner front wall of the cover separated along a vertical line of weakness.

Fig. 11 is a plan view of a blank used to form the display carton of the first embodiment.

Fig. 12-18 are perspective, front, rear, left, right, top and bottom views, respectively, of the container of the first embodiment, shown with its front flap swung to an open position and without product in the aperture of the container's tray.

Fig. 19 is a plan view of a blank used to form the container of the first embodiment.

Fig. 20 is a plan view of a blank used to form the sleeve of the first embodiment.

Fig. 21 is a perspective view of the display carton of the first embodiment similar to fig. 4 but showing the left and right portions of the inner front wall of the cover still connected together along a vertical line of weakness.

Fig. 22 is a perspective view of the container similar to the first embodiment of fig. 12, but without the tray within the container and with the locking tab at the top of the rear wall of the container unlocked from the top panel of the box of the container.

Fig. 23 and 24 are rear perspective views of the container of the first embodiment, showing an initial stage of accessing the top of the tray in the container (fig. 23) and a subsequent stage when the tray has been partially raised out of the container to allow access to the second compartment behind the tray where auxiliary items may be stored (fig. 24).

Detailed Description

The first embodiment of the package shown in fig. 1 of the drawings comprises a display carton 1 and four product kits 2 assembled within the display carton 1. The length of the display carton 1 from front to back can be varied to accommodate different numbers of sets 2.

In fig. 1, three kits 2 are still in the display carton 1. The foremost kit 2 has been removed from the display carton 1 and disassembled to show the main components of the kit 2, which are: a sleeve 3 having an open top end 31 and a closed bottom end 32; a container 4 slidably insertable into and removable from the open top end 31 along an insertion/removal axis 33 of the sleeve 3; a printed document 5 (e.g. a book) removably secured to the container 4 when the container 4 is in the sleeve 3, and separable from the container 4 (as shown in figure 1) when the container 4 has been lifted out of the sleeve 3; a product 6 (e.g. an electronic vaping device), which is shown schematically in figure 1 as comprising a first part 61 and a second part 62; and an auxiliary item 7, such as a charger for the product 6. As will be explained later, the product 6 and the auxiliary item 7 may be stored in respective front and rear compartments of the container 4.

Figure 2 shows the closed (initial) configuration of the package of the first embodiment. This configuration may be employed when the cartridge 2 is moved from the factory to a location where it is intended for sale or use. In this position, the display carton 1 may be partially opened (as shown in fig. 3A). The display carton 1 can be fully opened to adopt a final configuration (as shown in fig. 3B, and as will be explained in more detail later) such that each sleeve 2 can be removed and sold or used.

The display carton 1 will now be described in more detail with reference to fig. 4 to 10, which are a perspective view, a front view, a rear view, a right side view, a left side view, a top view and a bottom view, respectively, of the display carton 1. Reference will also be made to fig. 11, which shows a single blank made of thin paperboard and which can be folded to form the display carton 1.

The display carton 1 comprises a base tray 11 and a cover 12 removably attached to the base tray 11.

The base tray 11 includes a bottom plate 110 (see fig. 10) and a front wall 111, a first side wall 112, a second side wall 113, and a rear wall 114 that extend upward from the bottom plate 110. The bottom panel 110 (see blank in fig. 11) is constructed from four sections 110A-110D that lock together when the blank is folded to form the display carton 1.

The cover 12 includes a (first or inner) front wall 121, a first side wall 122, a second side wall 123 and a rear wall 124 that are positioned above the front wall 111, the first side wall 112, the second side wall 113 and the rear wall 114, respectively, of the base tray 11. The first or inner front wall 121 includes a left portion 121A and a right portion 121B that are initially connected together by a line of weakness 125A (see the blank shown in fig. 11 and the perspective view of the display carton shown in fig. 21). In fig. 4-10, the line of weakness 125A has been broken, and the left and

right portions

121A and 121B are shown as having swung slightly forward.

The lid 12 also includes a lid 126 that is connected by a hinge 1261 to the top of the back wall 124 of the lid so as to project forwardly from the back wall 124 when the lid is closed. The lid 126 includes a first or proximal panel 1262 that forms a top wall of the hood 12 when the lid is closed, and a second or distal panel 1263 that forms an outer or second front wall when the lid is closed (e.g., as shown in fig. 2).

When the lid 126 is closed, the bottom (distal) end 1263A of the panel 1263 plugs into the triangular groove 127 (see fig. 21) that exists between the horizontal top edge 1111 of the front wall 111 of the base tray 11 and the bottom edges 121A1, 121B1 of the left and

right portions

121A, 121B of the inner front wall 121 of the cover 12. Edges 121a1, 121B1 slope upward in a symmetrical fashion toward line of weakness 125A such that line of weakness 125A is centrally located as a vertical line of weakness of inner front wall 121.

The hood 12 includes first and second side flaps 128A, 128B pivotally connected to top edges of the first and

second side walls

122, 123 by respective hinges 128A1, 128B1 so as to be pivotable between an inwardly directed (e.g., in fig. 4) and an outwardly directed (e.g., in fig. 1).

The display carton 1 further includes lines of

weakness

125B, 125C, 125D that removably connect the cover 12 to the base tray 11.

The line of weakness 125B connects the top edge of the first side wall 112 of the base tray to the bottom edge of the first side wall 122 of the cover.

The line of weakness 125C connects the top edge of the second side wall 113 of the base tray to the bottom edge of the second side wall 123 of the cover.

The line of weakness 125D connects the top edge of the back wall 114 of the base tray to the bottom edge of the back wall 124 of the cover.

Breaking the three lines of

weakness

125B, 125C, 125D has the effect of separating the cover 12 from the base tray 11.

The roughness treatment involved may also break the vertical line of weakness 125A connecting the left and

right portions

121A, 121B of the inner front wall 121 of the cover 12 together during the act of removing the cover 12 from the base tray 11. Up to this point in time, the inner front wall 121 has provided structural rigidity to the front of the display carton 1 by structurally connecting together the first side wall 122 and the second side wall 123 of the cover 12. However, when the display carton is ready to display the kit 2, the cover 12 is no longer required, and the structural rigidity of the disposable upper portion (cover 12) of the display carton is no longer required.

With the cover 12 removed, the display carton 1 now includes only the base tray 11 for the display kit 2 for purchase or use (see fig. 3B). Because the rear wall 114 of the base tray is higher than the front wall 111, the top edges of the

side walls

112, 113 of the base tray slope downwardly from the rear wall to the front wall of the base tray, and thus the base tray intuitively presents the set 2 adjacent to the front wall 111 as a set that can be presented towards a prospective purchaser or user.

The blank of the display carton 1 (see fig. 11) comprises an extension 115 attached to the first side wall 112 of the base tray 11, and this extension may be provided with an adhesive such that when the blank is folded up to form the display carton, the extension 115 forms an adhesive connection between the first side wall 112 and the rear wall 114 of the base tray 11.

The container 4 will now be described in more detail with reference to fig. 12 to 18, which are a perspective view, a front view, a rear view, a left side view, a right side view, a top view and a bottom view, respectively, of the container 4. Reference will also be made to fig. 19, which shows a single blank made of cardboard and which can be folded to form the box 41 and the front flaps 43 of the container 4.

The container 4 comprises a box 41, a tray 42 within the box 41, and a front flap 43 pivotally connected to the box 41 at a hinge line 431. In fig. 12-18, container 4 is shown with front flap 43 swung into an open position and no product stored in tray 42. In fig. 3A, the front flap 43 is closed.

The container 4 is reconfigurable between a folded-together (closed) configuration, in which the front flap 43 abuts the front major panel 411 of the cartridge 41, and a deployed (open) configuration, in which the container 4 is insertable into and removable from the sleeve 3 along the insertion/removal axis 33 (see fig. 3A) via the open end or top end 31 of the sleeve 3, and in which the aperture 412 in the front panel 411 of the cartridge 41 is accessible to provide access to the first and

second apertures

421 and 422 of the tray 42 providing the first or front compartment of the cartridge 41 (see fig. 12). The first aperture 421 is for receiving the first part 61 of the product 6 and the second aperture 422 is for receiving the second part 62 of the product 6.

The box 41 and front flap 43 are folded together from the blank shown in fig. 19. The box 41 includes a front main panel 411, a rear main panel 413, and first to fourth edge panels 414 to 417. The first edge panel 414 is located at the top of the box 41 and is in the form of a closable flap that provides access into the box 41. The first edge panel 414 is connected to the extension 414A via a fold line that includes a slit 414B. The locking tab 413A is engageable with the slot 414B at the top edge of the rear panel 413 to hold the first edge panel 414 closed.

The blank (see fig. 19) comprises an extension 411A attached to a side edge of the front panel 411 of the box 41, and this extension may be provided with adhesive such that when the blank is folded up to form the box and the front flap, the extension 411A forms an adhesive connection between the front panel 411 and the fourth edge panel 417 such that the hinge line 431 between the front panel 411 and the front flap 43 of the box 41 is located along the side edge of the front panel 411.

The hinge line 431 includes a plurality of longitudinal cuts 431A-431C that help to precisely define the location of the hinge line 431 and reduce resistance to pivoting of the front flap 43 relative to the carton 41.

Front flap 43 has a rectangular array of first through fourth retaining tabs 433A-433D on its front surface 432 that enables book 5 to be releasably secured to front surface 432. Each retention tab 433A-433D is formed by a cut line 434 in the front flap 43 and is outwardly bendable relative to the plane of the front surface 432 along a fold line 435. This curvature may assist in inserting book 5 behind retaining tabs 433A to 433D and then grasping the book to hold it in place in the front of container 4. This curvature may also subsequently assist in removing or separating book 5 from container 4.

Each cut line 434 has a curved shape so as to impart a convex curved shape to the free edge of a corresponding one of the retaining tabs 433A to 433D. For each cut line 434, an associated fold line 435 extends between the ends of the cut line. The side or longitudinal edges of each cut line 434 are parallel and have a complementary or common shape.

When the container 4 has been inserted into the sleeve, the first and

third retaining tabs

433A, 433C are directed towards the closed end 32 of the sleeve 3, and these two tabs are positioned side by side in a direction transverse to the insertion/removal axis 33.

When the container 4 has been inserted into the sleeve, the second 433B and fourth 433D retaining tabs point towards the open end 31 of the sleeve 3, and these two tabs are also positioned side by side in a direction transverse to the insertion/removal axis 33.

The set comprising the opposing first and

second retaining tabs

433A, 433B and the set comprising the opposing third and fourth retaining

tabs

433C, 433D are symmetrical with respect to the insertion/removal axis 33 (see fig. 19).

The book 5 is rectangular and matches (but is slightly smaller than) the rectangular shape of the array of first through fourth retaining tabs 433A-433D. Book 5 may be retained by a retaining tab at a central location on front surface 432 of front flap 43, wherein each retaining tab 433A-433D releasably secures a respective portion of a perimeter of book 5. These first to fourth peripheral portions 51 to 54 of book 5 are shown in fig. 1. The width of the book 5 is smaller than the width of the front surface 432 of the front flap 43 occupied by the first and

third retaining tabs

433A, 433C and also smaller than the width of the front surface 432 occupied by the second and fourth retaining

tabs

433B, 433D. Thus, the corners of book 5 are protected from damage by being covered by retaining tabs 433A to 433D.

The products 6 may be sold in different countries (different markets) around the world, and each market may require its own book in a particular version, for example in a local language appropriate for the market in question. Thus, the manufacturer of the product 6 can produce a series of different market-specific books, and while using the same container 4 for all markets, the manufacturer can fix the correct market-specific book to the front of the container 4 before inserting the container into the sleeve (this can also be market-specific, for example any printing aspect on the outside of the sleeve).

Books for different markets may also vary in ways other than those relating only to the language used for the text printed in the book. Some markets may need to include more information and thus books for different markets may have different numbers of pages.

The front flap 43 includes a first side tab 436A and a second side tab 436B on the free edges of the flap distal from the hinge line 431. When the front flap 43 has been closed, the

side tabs

436A, 436B may releasably engage with respective slits (cut lines) 418A, 418B in the underlying edge of the box 41, such that the front flap 43 is held closed by this engagement.

Fig. 22 shows a container 4 in which there is no tray 42 inside the box 41, so that the internal cavity 419 of the box 41 is visible.

The manner in which the tray 42 can be slid into and out of the tray 41 will now be described in more detail with reference to fig. 23 and 24, which are rear perspective views of the container 4 showing an initial stage of accessing the top of the tray 42 in the container (fig. 23) and a later stage when the tray 42 has been partially lifted out of the container to provide access to the second compartment behind the tray in which the auxiliary items 7 can be stored (fig. 24).

The tray 42 is made of a molded plastic material and has dimensions (height, width and depth) that conform to the shape of the interior cavity 419 of the cassette 41. Therefore, when the tray 42 is located inside the cartridge 41, the tray 42 is sandwiched between the front panel 411 and the rear panel 413 of the cartridge. The tray 42 is also held in place laterally by the first through fourth edge panels 414 through 417 immediately adjacent to the cassette 41.

In fig. 23, the process of lifting the tray 42 out of the cassette 41 is started. The locking tab 413A has been released from the slot 414B of the top panel 414 of the box 41 and the top panel (top flap) 414 has been opened to enable access to the tray.

The tray 42 includes first 423 to fourth 426 side walls that support a platform surface 427, followed by an interior cavity 428 that provides a second or rear compartment of the container 4. The front surface of the tray 42 is provided by a platform surface 427, and the platform surface 427 has first and

second apertures

421 and 422 molded therein that provide a first or front compartment of the cartridge 41 (see fig. 12).

As previously described, the first part 61 of the product 6 may be stored in the first aperture 421 and the second part 62 of the product 6 may be stored in the second aperture 422. Auxiliary items 7, such as chargers for products 6, may be stored in the rear compartment 428 behind the platform surface 427. By raising the tray 42 (moving from the configuration of fig. 23 to the configuration of fig. 24), access to the rear compartment 428 is gained and the auxiliary item 7 can be removed so that it can be used.

In fig. 24, the bottom surface 421A of the first hole 421 is visible, and the bottom surface 422A of the second hole 422 is visible. The depth of the

holes

421, 422 matches the depth of the first and

second parts

61, 62 of the product 6, and the depth of the

holes

421, 422 is less than the total depth of the tray 42.

The manufacturer can produce a range of different products 6 (either unitary or made up of parts similar to the first part 61 and the second part 62) wherein the range of products have different shapes and depths. The total depth of the tray 42 can be made greater than the maximum depth required for any product in the array. Thus, a series of different custom trays may be molded to accommodate different products, but each tray in the series may fit within the same interior cavity 419 of the case 41. Thus, the same box 41 (and thus the same sleeve 3 and the same display carton 1) with front flaps 43 can be used for each product in the series of products. This results in a significant cost savings because the only structurally customized item required for a product in the array of products is the customization tray 42.

The sleeve 3 will now be described in more detail with reference to fig. 1 and 3A, which show the sleeve 3 in a perspective view. Reference will also be made to fig. 20, which shows a single blank made of cardboard, which blank can be folded to form the sleeve 3.

The sleeve 3 comprises front and rear main panels 34, 35 and first and

second side panels

36, 37 and a bottom 38 made up of four sections 38A to 38D which lock together to form the closed bottom end 32 when the blank is folded to form the sleeve 3. The top edges of the

side panels

36, 37 each include a

cutout

36A, 37A to facilitate the user's grasping of the container 4 within the sleeve 3 so that the container 4 can be lifted out of the open top end 31 of the sleeve.

The sleeve 3 comprises an extension 34A attached to a side edge of the front panel 34 and this extension may be provided with adhesive such that when the blank is folded up to form the sleeve, the extension 34A forms an adhesive connection between the front panel 34 and the second side panel 37.

The interior of the sleeve 3 is free of any internal restraining structure that might prevent the container 4 from being completely removed from the sleeve. In particular, the inner surfaces of the front and rear main panels 34, 35 and the first and

second side panels

36, 37 do not comprise any edges that are transverse to the insertion/removal axis 33 and that may hook over one of the retaining tabs 433A to 433D of the front flap 43 when the container 4 is inserted or withdrawn from the sleeve 3.

The cartridge 3 operates in a "vertical loading" mode with respect to the container 4 and has a closed bottom end 32. This means that there is only one opening (at the top end 31) and this opening can be closed with a stamp placed across the opening. The printing may be in the form of a band or strip 39 and may include tamper-evident features. The decal 39 may serve as an additional print bearing surface on which market specific information may be printed and/or product specific information related to the specific product 6 included in the package may be printed.

When the package reaches its destination, it looks like fig. 1. The cover 12 of the display carton 1 can then be removed by breaking the lines of weakness 125B-125D (and possibly the line of weakness 125A). The package then looks like the package in fig. 2. A selected one of the product kits 2 can be removed from the base tray 11 of the display carton 1. The product kit 2 may then be opened. As shown on the left side of fig. 3A, the decal 39 may be removed from the sleeve 3. At this point, container 4 is still within sleeve 3, and book 5 in front of container 4 is covered by sleeve 3.

When container 4 is lifted out of sleeve 3, book 5 becomes accessible and may be removed from front flap 43 of container 4 by lifting one or more retaining tabs 433A to 433D. The front flap 43 can be pivoted from its closed position to an open position and the products 6 (the first product part 61 and the second product part 62) can be removed from the first aperture 421 and the second aperture 422 of the tray 42.

When the container 4 is in the sleeve 3, the locking tab 413A is covered by the sleeve 3 and is inaccessible. As the container 4 is removed from the sleeve 3, the locking tab 413A is accessible and can be pivoted rearwardly so that it disengages from the slit 414B of the top flap 414 (top panel) of the box 41. The top flap 414 can then be opened and the tray 42 can be lifted out of the box 41 to provide access to the rear compartment 428 beneath the tray 42 so that the auxiliary item 7 can be removed for use in conjunction with the product 6.

The product 6 and the auxiliary item 7 can be returned to the front compartment (apertures 421, 422) and the rear compartment 428, respectively. The booklet 5 can be reattached to the front of the container 4 by tucking back under the retaining tabs 433A to 433D and the front flap 43 can be closed and then the container 4 can be slid back down into the sleeve 3.

During removal of the container 4 from the sleeve 3, and during reinsertion of the container 4 into the sleeve 3, the booklet 5 and the retaining tabs 433A to 433D will not hang or catch on the inner surface of the sleeve 3, since the main wall of the inner surface does not have a laterally extending edge that protrudes into the cavity of the sleeve 3.

The various embodiments described herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding and teaching of the claimed features. These embodiments are provided merely as representative samples of embodiments and are not exhaustive and/or exclusive. It is to be understood that advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and/or other aspects described herein are not to be considered limitations on the scope of the invention as defined by the claims or limitations on equivalents to the claims, and that other embodiments may be utilized and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed. Various embodiments of the invention may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of, suitable combinations of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, and the like, in addition to those specifically described herein. Additionally, the present disclosure may include other inventions not presently claimed, but which may be claimed in the future.

Claims

1. A package, comprising:

a sleeve having a closed end and an open end; and

a container insertable into and removable from the sleeve via the open end of the sleeve and along an insertion/removal axis of the sleeve;

wherein a printed document is removably secured to a front surface of the container by one or more retaining tabs disposed on the front surface of the container and releasably engaging a perimeter of the printed document; and is

The retaining tab comprises a first retaining tab projecting toward the closed end of the sleeve and releasably engaging a first portion of the perimeter of the printed document.

2. The package of claim 1, wherein the printed document is a book.

3. A package according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the retaining tab comprises a second retaining tab opposite the first tab and projecting towards the open end of the sleeve and releasably engaging a second portion of the perimeter of the printed document opposite the first portion of the perimeter of the printed document.

4. The package of claim 3, wherein:

the retention tab comprises opposing third and fourth retention tabs;

said third retaining tab projecting toward said closed end of said sleeve and releasably engaging a third portion of said perimeter of said printed document;

the fourth retaining tab projects toward the open end of the sleeve and releasably engages a fourth portion of the perimeter of the printed document opposite the third portion of the perimeter of the printed document.

5. The package of claim 4, wherein:

the first and third tabs are positioned side-by-side transverse to the insertion/removal axis of the sleeve; and is

The second and fourth tabs are positioned side-by-side transverse to the insertion/removal axis of the sleeve.

6. The package of claim 4 or 5, wherein:

the printed document is rectangular in shape having first to fourth corners; and is

The first to fourth tabs are positioned on the first to fourth corners of the printed document, respectively.

7. The package of claim 6, wherein a width of the printed document transverse to the insertion/removal axis is less than a transverse span of the front surface of the container occupied by the first and third tabs and less than a transverse span of the front surface of the container occupied by the second and fourth tabs.

8. The package of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the printed document is positioned in the center of the front surface of the container.

9. A package according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the interior of the sleeve is free of constraining structure arranged to prevent complete removal of the container from the sleeve.

10. A package according to any of claims 1 to 9 wherein the or each retaining tab is formed by a cut line in the blank.

11. The package of claim 10, wherein the cut line is continuously curved and a fold line extends between ends of the cut line to angle the respective tab outwardly relative to the front surface of the container.

12. A package according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the longitudinal edges of the cut lines have a common curved shape.

13. A package according to claim 10, 11 or 12 wherein the container has been folded from a single blank, the single blank being the blank containing the cut line.

14. The package of any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein:

the container comprising a box and a front flap hinged together and pivotable between a folded-together configuration in which the front flap abuts a front panel of the box and an unfolded configuration;

the front surface of the container is provided by a front surface of the front flap; and is

The printed document is removably secured to the front surface of the front flap by the retaining tab.

15. A blank for forming a container according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

16. A method of forming a container for packaging, comprising:

providing a blank for a container; and

folding the blank to form a container according to any one of claims 1 to 14, comprising disengaging the or each tab from the associated cut line such that the tab is angled outwardly relative to the front surface of the container.

17. A method of forming a package comprising:

providing a blank for a sleeve;

providing a blank for a container;

providing a printed document;

folding the blank for a sleeve to form a sleeve according to any one of claims 1 to 14;

folding the blank for a container to form a container according to any of claims 1 to 14, comprising disengaging the or each tab from the associated cut line such that the tab is angled outwardly relative to the front surface of the container; and

positioning the printed document on the front surface of the container and plugging the printed document under the retaining tab of the container.