EP1097046A1

EP1097046A1 - Package combination

Info

Publication number: EP1097046A1
Application number: EP99933009A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Darren Lawrence Mccrory; Su Lorraine Drew
Original assignee: Warpture Ltd
Current assignee: Warpture Ltd
Priority date: 1998-07-10
Filing date: 1999-07-12
Publication date: 2001-05-09
Also published as: AU4919399A; GB2339420B; GB9916320D0; GB9914503D0; WO2000002737A1; GB2339420A

Abstract

A package combination (1) comprises a container (3) for receiving a present and a greeting card or like card (5) detachably connected to the container (3). Conveniently the package and card (5) can be manufactured from a single blank, the card (5) being detachable by destruction of a fold therebetween.

Description

PACKAGE COMBINATION

This invention relates to a package combination.

In the field of gifts, it is often desired to purchase a small gift such as a video-cassette or a CD to give to someone as a present. Currently, in addition to buying the gift, it is necessary to buy some gift wrap and also a suitable greetings card. Then often enough it is necessary to wrap all the articles together to send the gift through the post.

The present invention seeks to provide a solution to this problem.

According to the invention, there is provided a package combination comprising a container for receiving a present and a greeting or like card detachably connected to the container.

Preferably the greeting or like card is permanently attached to the container during manufacture and is removable from the container only by destruction of the join between the greeting and like card and the container.

Suitably the greeting or like card may be connected to the container by perforations. The package combination may be constructed from a single sheet material blank which is perforated between that part of the blank which forms the container and that part of the blank which forms the greeting or like card.

Preferably the greetings card is folded along a fold line to form two panels, or has a fold line enabling it to be folded to form two panels which can be, for example, of substantially the same size. The greetings card can be detachably connected to the container along a tear line substantially parallel to the fold line on the greetings card.

In a further aspect, the invention provides a package in the form of a container formed by folding a blank of card or like material; the container comprising a pair of panels hingedly linked along lateral edges thereof by a spacer panel; a hanging tab detachably connected to an upper edge of one panel; spacer flaps being provided at the edges of the panels to enable the package when folded to form a box-like structure; means being provided for releasably securing a spacer flap on a lateral edge of one panel to a lateral edge of the other panel to form a closure for the container; wherein the package has a greeting card or like card detachably connected thereto as hereinbefore defined.

In a still further aspect, the invention provides a combination of an item such as a video cassette, audio cassette, CD (for example a musical CD or a CD for computer software or computer game), optical disk or digital video disk (DVD) together with a container as hereinbefore defined.

The container of the invention is typically formed of card or a material having similar properties thereto. The card will be of such a thickness as to provide a sufficiently rigid box for the gift, but will be sufficiently flexible to allow folding. The blank may, where appropriate, be scored along fold lines to increase the ease of folding.

The spacer flaps are typically provided with fold lines extending substantially parallel to, but spaced apart from, the edges of the panel to which they are attached. The width of the region between the fold line and the edge of the panel defines the depth of the container when assembled. The portion of the flap lying outwardly of the fold line is usually tucked inside the opposing panel when the container is assembled. The spacer flap attached to the lateral edge of one of the panels is preferably provided with mechanical interlocking means for securing to the lateral edge of the other panel. Such interlocking mechanical means can comprise a tongue formed on a lateral edge of one of the panels which engages a slot in the spacer flap on the other panel. The tongue can be formed, for example, by means of a slot (eg an arcuate slot) extending inwardly from the lateral edge, or can be formed as a flap protruding from the lateral edge.

Alternatively, the lateral spacer flap and lateral edge can be secured together by a removable adhesive means, such as adhesive tape, or an adhesive patch or disc.

The hanging tag detachably connected to the upper edge of the first panel preferably has a fold line, typically substantially parallel to the upper edge of the first panel, the fold line serving to divide the hanging tag into front and rear portions, the combined thicknesses of the front and rear portions together serving to strengthen the tab. The hanging tab is typically provided with a cutout or slot to allow it to be suspended from a rail or hook. Alternatively, the hanging tag can be provided with a hookiike formation enabling it to be hooked over a hanging rail.

One face of each of the panels is marked to define an outer surface and typically it is provided with a patterned or decorative finish. The reverse faces of the panels constitute the inner surfaces of the package when assembled ana typically are left at least partially blank to allow a greetings message to be written or printed thereon. Alternatively, the inner surfaces may be marked with a pre-printed greetings message, or a space may be defined within which a greetings message may be written.

Thus the container of the invention avoids the need for a separate greetings card, since the interior of the packaging serves the function of a greetings card. Nevertheless, a separate greetings card or label can additionally be provided and suitably this can be detachably connected to the single sheet blank, for example on an edge of one of the spacer flaps.

Although it is envisaged that the spacer flaps will typically be left in place after opening the container to remove the gift, they can be removed if desired. In order to facilitate removal, the fold lines delineating the spacer flaps from the first and/or second panels, can be formed as rows of perforation.

An advantage of the container of the invention is that it can be formed simply by cutting from sheet card and marking, scoring or perforating as necessary. There is no requirement to glue the panels of the container together, although they can of course be glued if required or if desired.

Prospective purchasers of greetings cards or gift wrappings and containers are usually provided with a range of different designs and patterns to choose from. Such items can often be tightly packed in a display box or on a display hanger such that it is difficult to see the design on the product without removing it from the box or hanger. The present invention offers a solution to this problem by providing on the header tag of a greetings card package or a gift box package an index tab which bears a miniaturised version of the card or box design so that the prospective purchaser can select a particular design without removing the card or box from the display.

Accordingly, in another aspect, the invention provides a package comprising a substantially flat product having a surface bearing decorative and/or functional markings, the package having secured to an upper edge thereof a header tag formed from card, plastics sheet or a like material folded along a fold line to form a pair of panels, the header tag carrying identifier indicia for the product and being detachable therefrom; characterised in that the header tag is provided with an index tab which protrudes outwardly from the fold line when the header tag is folded, the index tab bearing decorative and/or functional markings corresponding at least in part to the markings on the said surface of the product.

The substantially flat product can be a greetings card, or a container for a data carrier or data carrier holder, such as a box (e.g. a gift box as hereinbefore defined) for a compact disk, floppy disk for a computer, optical disk, digital video disk, audiotape cassette or videotape cassette.

The substantially flat product can be enclosed within a bag or wrap (for example formed of a polymeric film such as a "cellophane" film), and the panels of the header tag are secured to the bag or wrap to form a closure. More usually, however, the substantially flat product is a container as hereinbefore defined, for example a container for receiving a present, optionally having a greeting or like card detachably connected to the container as hereinbefore defined.

The present invention also contemplates a header tag per se bearing an index tab as hereinbefore defined.

The invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of example. with reference to the following diagrammatic drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a package combination in accordance with the invention intended to house a CD with the card in a folded state:

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the card unfolded:

Figure 3 is a plan view of a blank used for the construction of the package combination as shown in Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is a perspective view, similar to Figure 1 but showing a second embodiment of a package combination in accordance with the invention intended to house a video-cassette with the card in the folded state;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 but showing the card unfolded;

Figure 6 is a plan view of the blank from which the package combination of Figures 4 and 5 are produced;

Figure 7 is a plan view of a blank from which a package combination according to a third embodiment of the invention can be formed; and

Figure 8 is a partial view of a package of Figure 7 illustrating the hanging tag when folded.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 to 3 there is shown a first package combination intended to house a CD with an attached greetings card. Thus the package combination 1 comprises a container 3 with dimensions suitable for receiving a CD and a card 5 of similar dimensions to the container 3 and which is attached to the container 3 by means of a perforated hinge 7. The card 5 is, apart from being attached to the container 3, a standard type of card with a front part 9 carrying the card picture and folded over a rear part 11 forming the "inside" of the card which may be provided with a suitable greeting.

As can be appreciated, the card 5 can, on receipt, be separated from the container 3 along the perforations 7 and thereafter be used as a normal greetings card.

From Figure 3, it will be seen that the package combination of Figures 1 and 2 can be produced from a simple blank 13 which, apart from cutting to shape, needs to be printed, glued and perforated at appropriate positions.

Thus, the blank comprises a main rectangular part 15 divided into six sections 17, 19, 21 , 23, 27 and 29. The sections 17 and 19 form the front and back of the container for the CD, the sections 17 and 19 being connected by a section 21 forming the base of the container. The sides of the container 3 are formed of sideways extending sections 31 and 33 on the front section 17, the sections 31 and 33 being adhered to the back section 19 in the completed package.

The top of the container 3 is formed by the section 23 of the blank 13 by means of which the container 3 is connected to the greetings card 5 and, to this end ,in this particular embodiment the section 23 of the blank 13 is perforated along the fold line 39, although the blank could alternatively be scored or made detachable by any other conventional means.

The greetings card 5 is formed of the sections 27 and 29, section 27 forming the front of the card while the section 29 forms the rear of the card, attached by way of the perforations on the fold line 39 to the container 3. The greetings card 5 may be of conventional form and either take the form of various different greetings or may be a general card left blank, apart from the design, for any suitable greeting to be added.

The front section 17 may have a curved edge as shown at 35 in Figure 3 for easy insertion and extraction of the CD. Alternatively, a smaller "thumb- sized" cut-out could be provided to assist removal of the CD.

The container illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 can be supplied to retailers or users in a partially or fully assembled condition, optionally in a suitable wrapping such as plastics film (e.g. "cellophane" or like film). The container is preferably supplied in a flattened or collapsed form for economy of space during transport and display. Where glue is used to bond panels or flaps together, the glue joints are preferably made prior to sending out the container to a retailer.

Figures 4 to 6 show a second embodiment of the invention in which the combined package is applied to a video-cassette. The construction of this embodiment is basically the same as that shown in the first embodiment but the container 3 is larger and of a different shape since it has to contain a video- cassette. As shown, the greetings card 5 is of relatively standard size and thus, unlike the first embodiment, does not take up the same area as the face of the container 3. In this case, additional flaps 41 are provided outside the area covered by the card. However, it will be appreciated that greetings card could be made to the same size as the container 3 if desired. Alternatively, the card may be of any suitable size or shape, for example, circular, triangular or star shaped.

Figure 7 illustrates a container or package for a CD or DVD in which a hanging tag is provided with a pop-up index tab which assists purchasers in identifying the contents of the package and thereby makes selection of a particular package easier. As shown in Figure 7, the package according to the third embodiment of the invention is formed from a blank 102 cut from a sheet of card or similar material. The blank comprises a first panel 104 which in use constitutes one side of the container, and a second panel 106 which in use constitutes the opposing side of the container. Either the first or second panels, or both, can bear decorative and/or informative matter.

The first panel 104 and second panel 106 are connected on adjacent lateral edges 106a and 104a by means of a spacer panel 108, the width "d" of which corresponds to or is slightly greater than, the depth of a CD holder in this embodiment. On the opposite lateral edge 106b of panel 106 is attached a spacer flap 1 10 which has a fold line 1 10a running parallel to edge 106b. Along the fold line 106b is an elongate slit 106d for engaging a tongue portion 114 extending from the lateral edge 104b on panel 104. Tongue portion 114 is folded along fold line 114a except in the region of the cut-out tab 114b approximately half way along the fold line. The region of the flap 110 outwardly of the fold line 110a bears a second slit 136, the purpose of which is discussed below. The lower edge 106c of panel 106 has extending therefrom a lower spacer flap 118 which is foidable along fold line 118a running parallel to edge 106b.

Extending from the upper edge 106e of panel 106 is upper spacer flap 120 which is foidable about fold line 120a lying parallel to lateral edge 116. It will be appreciated that in addition to being foidable along the fold lines 110a, 118a and 120a, the spacer flaps 110, 118 and 120 are also foidable about lateral edges 106b, 106c and 106e.

The lower edge 104c of panel 104 has a greetings card/tag 122 extending therefrom, the tag 122 being detachable from edge 104c along the line of perforations 124. The tag 122 is foidable in half about fold line 122a.

Panel 104 has extending from the upper edge 104d thereof, a hanging tag 124. Hanging tag 124 is detachable by means of a line of perforations at the edge 104d. Hanging tag 124 is foidable about line 124a so as to bring the two cut-out regions 126 and 128 into register. It will be noted that the upper portion 124b of hanging tag 124 is slightly wider than the lower portion 124c and the significance of this will be explained below.

The fold line 124a extends along the greater part of the length of the hanging tag 124, but terminates at 124e. A cut extends along two sides of a rectangle from 124e to 124f, the area 130 bounded by the cut 124e-124f and the edge of the hanging tag forming an index tab which projects upwardly when the hanging tag is folded as shown in Figure 8. The index tab 130 is decorated or marked with a design 134 which is complimentary to the decoration or design 132 on the front and rear panels of the package, and is thus indicative of the contents of the package.

For presentation purposes prior to sale, the blank is folded about fold lines 106a. 106b, 104b and 120a to form a flat pack. The hanging tag 124 is folded about line 124a such that the upper edge 124b of the blank overlies the folded edge 106e of panel 106. In this folded state the container can be sealed (e.g. in a cellophane wrapping) and hung by means of the hanging slots 206, 208 over a suitable hanging rail. Alternatively, the packages could be stacked in an upright position in a display box. Alternatively, particularly for bulk users, the outer plastics film wrapping can be omitted and the containers supplied in flat-pack form in a box.

It will be appreciated that as the hanging tag 124 is folded about line 124a, the index tab 130 will protrude upwardly from the fold line and will serve as a means of indicating to a prospective purchaser of the package the design and/or contents of the package. Thus, rather than having to move, or even remove, each package in a display in order to see the design on the container, the prospective purchaser can obtain the necessary information about the package from the miniaturised version of the design on the index tab 130. This should of course greatly assist and speed up the process of selecting a package to purchase.

Although in this embodiment the index tab is shown as being at one end of the hanging tab, it could be located instead inwardly of the edges of the hanging tab. In such a case, the cut line 124e-124f would extend along three sides of a rectangle rather than oniy two sides as shown in Figure 7.

Upon purchase, the purchaser detaches the hanging tag 124 from the reminder of the package by tearing along perforated line 104d. Tag 122 is aiso detached by tearing along line 124 and a message written or printed on the plain surface of the tag.

The blank can then be opened out and re-folded about lines 106a, 106b, 106c, 110a, 118a, 120a. 104a and 114a to form a box structure with the flaps

110, 118 and 120 tucked inside the box, the tongue 114 being interlocks with slot 106d and the tags 118 and 120 are tucked in the bottom and top respectively to complete the box As will be appreciated, the capacity of the box will be determined by the area of the panels 104 and 106 and the depth of the spacer portions 110b, 118b and 120b of the spacer flaps In this embodiment, the relative dimensions have been selected to provide a box for containing a CD, or DVD (digital video disc) However, by suitable elongation and enlargement of the panels 104 and 106, and by deepening the spacer portions of the spacer flaps, a container can also be provided for a video cassette Tag 122 bearing a greetings message can then be inserted into the slot 136 on the flap 110

Following assembly, the packaging may be given to a recipient who will then separate the tongue 114 and slot 106d to open the package and remove the contents

It is to be understood that, whilst several embodiments have been described for use with a CD, DVD and video cassette casings, the combined packages according to the invention can be used for packaging other gift articles and in consequence both the container and the greetings card can be of any suitable size and shape Other articles which come to mind which lend themselves to combined packaging treatment include books, articles of clothing, computer games and other software, pen sets and perfumes

It will be appreciated that numerous modifications and alterations may be made to the packaging shown in the accompanying drawings without departing from the principles underlying the invention, and all such modifications and alterations are intended to be embraced by this application

Claims

1. A package combination comprising a container for receiving a present and a greeting or like card detachably connected to the container.

2. A package combination according to claim 1 wherein the greeting or like card is permanently attached to the container during manufacture and is removable from the container only by the destruction of the join between the greeting and like card and the container.

3. A package combination according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the greeting or like card is connected to the container by perforations.

4. A package according to claim 3 which is constructed from a single sheet material blank which is perforated between that part of the card which forms the container and that part of the card which forms the greeting or like card.

5. A package according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the greetings card is folded along a fold line to form two panels, or has a fold line enabling it to be folded to form two panels.

6. A package according to claim 5 wherein the two panels are of substantially the same size.

7. A package according to claim 5 or claim 6 wherein the greeting card is detachably connected to the container along a tear line substantially parallel to the fold line on the greeting card.

8. A package in the form of a container formed by folding a blank of card or like material; the container comprising a pair of panels hingedly linked along lateral edges thereof by a spacer panel; a hanging tab detachably connected to an upper edge of one panel; spacer flaps being provided at the edges of the panels to enable the package when folded to form a box-like structure; means being provided for releasably securing a spacer flap on a lateral edge of one panel to a lateral edge of the other panel to form a closure for the container; wherein the package has a greeting card or like card detachably connected thereto as defined in any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. A package according to claim 8 wherein the greeting card or like card is detachably attached to a lower edge of one of the panels.

10. A single sheet blank adapted to be folded to form a package as defined in any one of the preceding claims.

11. A package comprising a substantially flat product having a surface bearing decorative and/or functional markings, the package having secured to an upper edge thereof a header tag formed from card, plastics sheet or a like material folded along a fold line to form a pair of panels, the header tag carrying identifier indicia for the product and being detachable therefrom; characterised in that the header tag is provided with an index tab which protrudes outwardly from the fold line when the header tag is folded, the index tab bearing decorative and/or functional markings corresponding at least in part to the markings on the said surface of the product.

12. A package according to claim 1 1 wherein the substantially flat product is a greetings card.

13. A package according to claim 11 wherein the substantially flat product is a container for a data carrier or data carrier holder.

14. A package according to claim 13 wherein the data carrier is a compact disk, floppy disk for a computer, optical disk, digital video disk, audiotape cassette or videotape cassette.

15. A package according to claim 13 or claim 14 wherein the container is formed from card or a like material.

5 16. A package according to any one of claims 11 to 15 wherein the substantially flat product is enclosed within a bag or wrap (for example formed of a polymeric film such as a "cellophane" film), and the panels of the header tag are secured to the bag or wrap to form a closure.

[0 17. A package according to claim 1 1 which comprises a container for receiving a present and a greeting or like card detachably connected to the container as defined in any one of claims 1 to 10.

18. A header tag as defined in claim 11. 5

19. A package substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

20. A header tag substantially as described herein with reference to the 0 accompanying drawings.