GB2079251A

GB2079251A - A foldable package

Info

Publication number: GB2079251A
Application number: GB8022852A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1980-07-12
Filing date: 1980-07-12
Publication date: 1982-01-20
Also published as: GB2079251B

Abstract

A triangular prismatic container e.g. for matches comprises three rectangular sections A1, A2, A3 arranged side-by-side, two triangular sections B1, B2, and four blocking sections C1, C2, C3, C4 defined by crease lines in a blank. A flap H is also provided so that it can hold the package in the triangular prism shape by cooperating with a slit H'. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A foldable package The present invention relates to a foldable package.

In particular the present invention relates to a foldable package which can be folded to enable articles to be contained therein and which can be unfolded for easy storing. The present invention is particularly useful when used as a match container, though use should not be limited only for that purpose.

Match boxes and folders, or sometimes called as match books, are the conventional containers for matches. It is true that matches are less used at home these days, but they are still used in volume especially at restaurants and hotels.

Matches are mainly used as free-to-take souvenirs at these places since match boxes and folders play an important role in advertisement. Moreover, it is also true that matches are still important in our daily life and even at home.

Match boxes are usually used for storing wood strip matches. Wood strip matches are more convenient for lighting by friction as compared with cardboard strip matches which are usually folded in a small match book. It is often required or desirous for various reasons to keep matches separately from the container, such as match boxes and folders. For example, since the containers are usually provided with a friction surface, they must be kept separately to eliminate fire hazard. When a large volume of matches are kept at a storage, it is often required to keep the matches in a fire-proof container. Under such circumstances, the conventional match containers are disadvantageous because empty match boxes will require a large storing space, and a match folder and an array of cardboard matches must be stapled or glued together.

Sometimes, one finds many unused matches at home. There are many occasions to collect freeto-take matches, and these collected matches are just kept in drawers or on shelves without being used for an extended period of time. Some are in match boxes and others are in small folders. In such a case, it is desirous to keep matches in a sealed container, such as a jar, in order to keep them dry. Moreover, in order to eliminate fire hazard, it is desirous to keep matches separately from a box which has a friction surface for lighting.

Again, empty boxes are troublesome because they will occupy a large space.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a foldable package which can be easily folded for use as a container and which can be easily unfolded to a sheet of paper for storing.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a foldable package which is particularly useful as a match container.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a foldable package which can be easily manufactured at low cost.

According to the present invention there is provided a foldable package comprising a sheet of material having creases formed therein which define at least in part several sections including a central rectilinear section, two rectilinear side sections, each of which is contiguous with the central rectilinear section, and two triangular sections contiguous with a respective end of the central rectilinear section, four web sections disposed respectively between one of said triangular sections and one of said side sections, and holding means for containing the package, when folded, in the intended shape.

The present invention will now be described further, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a top plan view showing the unfolded state of one embodiment of the present foldable package; Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the halffolded state of the present embodiment; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the completely folded state.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the foldable package 1 consists of a sheet of paper in a desired peripheral shape. The package 1 comprises various sections which are defined by creases formed on the sheet of paper. The creases are shown with solid and dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2.

The solid lines and dotted lines indicate that they are bent in the opposite directions.

The package 1 includes three rectangular sections A1, A2, and A3, which are arranged side by side. The section A3 and the section At have a common side line D2, and the side line D1 is shared by the sections A, and A2. The side lines D1 and D2 are creased so that the sections At, A2 and A3 present three side surfaces when they are bent to form a hollow triangular prism. A stopper section H is provided along the side line D't of the section A2. While, the section A3 is provided with a slit H' into which the stopper H may be partly inserted when the three rectangular sections At, A2 and A3 are bent to form a triangular prism.On the surface of the section A1 is provided a friction surface J against which a match can be struck for lighting.

Two triangular sections B, and B2 are provided along the end lines D3and D4, respectively, of the rectangular section A . Two sides, F, and F2 or F3 and F4, of each of the triangular sections B1 and B2 must be equal in length to the corresponding end lines, E, and E2 or E3 and4, respectively. The package 1 also has four fan-shaped web sections Ct through C4. Each of the web sections has a folding line, G1 through G4, along which the web section can be folded inside the package.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the web section is provided to bridge between the triangular section and the rectangular section. It is to be noted, however, that the web section can also be provided in different manners. For example, focussing on the web section C, for the purpose of explanation, the web section C, can be partly cut away along the lines G1 and E1, or along the lines G1 and F1. In any event, the web sections, whether partly cut away or not, will have the function of blocking the articles contained in the package, thus preventing them from falling out when the package is half open, as shown in Fig. 3.

In use, since the package 1 has predetermined crease lines, it can be folded quite easily. And, when it is half folded, as shown in Fig. 3, matches or any other things can be placed in the cavity defined by the half folded package. Then, the package 1 can be folded completely and the flap H can be inserted in the slit H' to hold the package in the intended shape as shown in Fig. 4. A flap and slit combination is most preferable, but any other fastening means or hook means can also be employed. If it is desired to keep matches or any other articles contained in the folded package in some other place, e.g., in a jar or sealed box, then the package 1 can be completely unfolded as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The unfolded package is nothing but a sheet of paper so that it is most convenient and space saving for storing.

Obviously, numerous variations and modifications can be made without departing from the present invention. Accordingly, it should be clearly understood that the form of the present invention described above and shown in the accompanying drawings is illustrative only and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A foldable package comprising a sheet of material having creases formed therein which define at least in part several sections including a central rectilinear section, two rectilinear side sections, each of which is contiguous with the central rectilinear section, and two triangular sections contiguous with a respective end at the central rectilinear section, four web sections disposed respectively between one of said triangular sections and one of said side sections, and holding means for containing the package, when folded, in the intended shape.

2. A package as claimed in claim 1, in which the web sections are partly cut away.

3. A package as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which the holding means comprises a flap section formed as part of said sheet of material and a slit formed in said sheet of material into which the flap section may inserted to hold the package when folded in the intended shape.

4. A package as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 in which the rectilinear central section and the rectilinear side sections are rectangular.

5. A package as claimed in any preceding claims in which the sheet of material is paper.

6. A package constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.