GB2412911A

GB2412911A - Box having a ball-like shape

Info

Publication number: GB2412911A
Application number: GB0506428A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Adam Harvey Leonard
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-03-30
Filing date: 2005-03-30
Publication date: 2005-10-12
Anticipated expiration: 2025-03-30
Also published as: GB2412911B; GB2412911C; GB0506428D0

Abstract

A box has an external surface defined by a plurality of facets including facets which are other than of four sided configuration, which facets cooperate to define an overall generally ball-like shape, one or more of the facets having a window which can be opened to remove an item or items from within a respective underlying compartment within the box. The facets may be square and triangular and the windows may comprise hinged tabs defined by perforations. Compartments may be defined by recesses in an inner core located within the window. The box may be used to package confectionery or as an advert calendar.

Description

Three dimensional chocolate box/gift box/advent calendar.

This invention relates to a three-dimensional box to be used as a chocolate box, gift box or advent calendar.

In late November there is a huge market for advent calendars which are purchased to count down the 24 days from 1 December until Christmas Eve. These advent calendars generally come in two varieties: they are either formed from a flat piece of card with 24 mutually spaced windows which, when opened, reveal a picture; or they are formed from a shallow box in which, behind the 24 windows, are hidden 24 pieces of confectionery. The former example generally has a religious or typically Christmas-themed design on the front and traditional pictures inside. The latter is often used as a marketing tool by football clubs, branded confectionery manufacturers, children's television shows etc. In both cases, the advent calendars have the following limitations: the company can only print a picture the size of the advent calendar flat on the front of the advent calendar the confectionery can only be accessed from the front of the advent calendar the advent calendar must be hung from a wall or lent against a stable

background in order to stand up

in the latter example the area behind the windows is limited and allows only for small pieces of confectionery to be placed within To overcome these limitations, and to provide a more novel and appealing option, the present invention relates to an advent calendar generally resembling a ball. The advent calendar is constructed from a blank of sheet stock which folds to form a pseudo-rhombicuboctahedron (26-sided polyhedron). 24 of the 26 sides contain a window which opens to reveal a piece of confectionery or a gift for every day of advent.

The advantages of the above invention are such: individual images can be printed on a each of the sides- or one large image can be printed to spread over all sides- so that the advent calendar could represent a football, tennis ball, Christmas pudding, or other spherical novelty design the confectionery can be accessed from all sides of the advent calendar the advent calendar is free-standing the area behind the advent calendar windows can be much larger allowing for larger pieces of confectionery or small gifts to be placed within the large volume in the centre can hold a larger piece of confectionery or gift The invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows the blank of the outer shell of the advent calendar, Figure 2 shows the inner core of the advent calendar, Figure 3 shows the blank of the outer shell semi-folded, Figure 4 shows an overall view of the advent calendar as it would appear on a shop shelf, and Figure 5 shows the plastic vacuum- formed mid layer.

In figure 1, the blank of the advent calendar is cut out from a single sheet of sheet stock such as cardboard. The blank for the outer shell consists of a course of eight square facets 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. Every other square facet of this course 1, 3, 5 and 7 is joined at the top and the bottom with a fold (28) by pairs of square facets 9, 10, 11 and 12 (eight in total). The square facets g, 10, 11 and 12 are each joined by folds 13 to facets 14, 15, 16 and 17. The pairs of facets 14, IS, 16 and 17 form a joining mechanism at the top and bottom of the box once assembled. The remaining four annular square facets 2, 4, 6 and 8 are joined at the top and the bottom with a fold (28) by four pairs of equilateral triangular facets 18, 19, 20 and 21. Each of these triangular facets is connected to its neighbouring square facets 9, 10, 11 and 12 by pairs of isosceles triangular facets 22 and 23 that fold at 24, 25 and 26 allowing them to meet and the edges 24 and 26 to meet, forming a smooth complete outer shell when the blank is assembled (see below).

In order to describe the finished product, it is necessary to outline a possible method of its assembly from the original blank. The blank is folded to form the pseudo- rhombicuboctahedron as such: - Fold lines (27) are located between adjoining square facets 1 to 8 allowing the blank to be bent to form an octagonal cylinder by inserting joining tabs 29 into incisions 30 (see figure 2).

- Tab 31 is folded outwards of the cylinder.

- Facets 14 and 1 are folded inwards to the centre of the cylinder at fold line 13 so that tab 31 is inserted through incision 33.

- Facet 15 is folded inwards at fold line 13 so that tab 31 is inserted through incision 34.

- Facet 17 is folded inwards at fold line 13 so that tab 31 is inserted through incision 35.

- Tab 31 is folded flat onto facet 17 and stuck in place with a sticker 36 (see figure 3).

- As tab 31 goes through each of the incisions the isosceles triangular facet pairs 22 and 23 meet, resulting in the edges of the equilateral triangle (24) being brought into contact with the edges of the neighbouring square facets (26).

It should be noted that the top and bottom joining methods are identical. A continuous surface of a pseudrhombicahoctchedron box is thus formed (see figure 3).

In figure 3 each square facet, except the two square facets that are formed by the joining mechanism at the top and bottom of the box, (16 in total) has a square shaped window with opening tabs 37 that are formed by perforations on three of the square window edges and around the tab. This allows each of the windows to be opened by bending at the remaining edge 38. Similarly, each of the 8 triangular facets are given triangular shaped windows with opening tabs 39 which are opened by bending at 40.

The outer surface is to be decorated using any graphics suiting the required theme.

Graphics can be printed on both sides of the blank allowing them to be seen behind windows once they are opened.

A formed plastic hollow inner core (see figure 4) is placed within the outer card blank. The inner core is of the same shape as the outer surface (a pseudo- rhombicuboctahedron). The inner core is slightly smaller in size than the outer blank, allowing the blank to be wrapped securely around the inner core. The inner core is shaped so that each of the outer surface blank windows lines up with a recess in the inner core surface 41. The recesses are to be deep and wide enough to allow a loose chocolate or gift to be located in each one. This chocolate or gift is prevented from falling out because the outer blank is wrapped tightly around the inner core.

An alternative to the design described above which uses an outer core formed from a blank of sheet stock and a formed plastic hollow inner core is to construct the advent calendar from three separate layers. The outer layer is formed in the same manner as described above. The inner core is formed either from another folded blank of sheet stock, or from a solid formed shape, both of which are slightly smaller than the outer core and which do not contain any recesses. The inner core is located inside the outer surface such that there is a small volume between the two layers for a mid layer containing confectionery or gifts. Figure 5 shows a vacuum formed tray (the mid layer) whereby a formed plastic net 42 contains pieces of confectionery set into 24 recesses (43). During assembly the mid layer is rolled up around the inner core and is held in place by the outer core. Each chocolate in the mid layer lines up with a respective window in the outer core enabling the pieces of confectionery to be retrieved by the consumer.

A further alternative is to use the pseudo-rhombicuboctahedron blank as discussed above in conjunction with a vacuum formed layer as in figure 5. With this alternative loose pieces of confectionery or gifts are to be located in recesses 43 in the vacuum formed tray. The blank of the outer core is then adhered to the flat surface of the vacuum formed layer thus trapping the pieces of confectionery or gifts in place. The outer blank and the vacuum formed layer are then folded as one unit into thepseudorhombicuboctahedron as described above.

The above-mentioned example demonstrates the use of the invention as an advent calendar. The invention is, however, not limited to being used solely as an advent calendar. One example of how the invention could be used is as a novelty 3D chocolate box, gift dispenser or packaging for everyday items such as washing machine tablets to be sold all year round.

The invention is not limited to dispensing singular pieces of confectionery or gifts out of each window. Multiple pieces of confectionery or gifts could be placed behind each window.

The volume in the centre of the box could also be used to contain a further larger piece of confectionery or gift. As an example, an advent calendar constructed using the above-mentioned design would contain 24 smaller pieces of confectionery or gifts located behind each of the windows with a large gift or a selection of pieces of confectionery located in the centre of the box. This method is not limited to being used as an advent calendar and thus has the potential to be used as a multi faceted gift box with a larger gift located in the centre.

A further example is for the invention to be designed so that it is in the form of a reusable dispenser made from durable sheet stock such as plastic. An example of this could be in the form of an advent calendar whereby the chocolates or gifts could be replenished annually.

The shape of the invention is not to be limited to pseudorhombicuboctahedron. In fact the invention could take the form of any shape with any number of facets and with windows located on all or some of these facets. An example could be a cube- shaped design used as a chocolate box, gift dispenser or advent calendar. Each facet can contain one or more windows.

The shapes of the facets to be used in the invention are not limited to being square or triangular. Any combination of different geometricallyshaped facets could be used to form a shell of the required volume. Furthermore, the invention could be created from an outer shell formed from a curved surface area.

If pieces of confectionery are to be used in the advent calendar or gift box they can be of any form or shape. The confectionery may be wrapped in foil or paper, or may be loose The confectionery compartment can be sealed with foil keeping the confectionery fresh.

Claims

Claims 1. A box for dispensing pieces of confectionery or gins which

generally resembles a hall, whereby the outer surface of the box is constructed from a blank of sheet stock folded to form a pseudorhombicuboctahedron (26-sided polyhedron).
2. A box as claimed in Claim 1, with an inner core.
3. A box as claimed in Claim 2, whereby one or more of its facets contain windows which can be opened to reveal the item that is required to be dispensed located between the inner core and the outer surface.
4. A box as claimed in Claim 3, wherein it is used as an advent calendar whereby one piece of chocolate, sweet or gift is dispensed on each day of advent.
5. A box as claimed in Claim 3, wherein it is used for dispensing of any sweet or gin.
6. A box as claimed in Claim 3, wherein it is used for dispensing of multiple giRs or sweets from some or all of the windows.
7. A box as claimed in Claim 3, wherein an inner core of similar shape to the outer surface is formed from plastic and contains recesses which underlie the respective windows in the outer surface providing the space for the gift to be located and prevented from falling out of the recesses by the outer surface being in close proximity or contact with the outer most extremities of the inner core.
8. A box as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the inner core is of similar shape to that of the outer surface but of smaller volume and wherein when the inner core is located in the centre of the outer surface a space results between the inner core and the outer surface where a mould containing chocolate is located such that a moulded piece of chocolate underlies each of the windows and thus a piece of chocolate can be retrieved upon opening each window.
9. A box as claimed in Claim 8, in which the inner core is formed from plastic.
10. A box as claimed in Claim 8, in which the inner core is folded from a blank of sheet stock.
11. A box as claimed in Claim 8 wherein chocolates, sweets or giRs are located within the volume of the inner core.
12. A box as claimed in Claim 3 whereby a vacuum formed inner core containing loose pieces of confectionery or gifts is adhered to the outer surface blank, thus trapping the pieces of confectionery or gifts in place.

-O
13. A box for packaging items (including confectionery) as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

13. Any polyhedron box containing multiple facets whereby some or all of the facets contain windows that once opened reveal a chocolate, sweet or gin.

14. A box for packaging pieces of confectionery or gifts as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows Claims 1. A box having an external surface defined by a plurality of facets including facets which are other than of four sided configuration, which facets cooperate to define an overall generally ball-like shape, one or more of the facets having a window which can be opened to remove an item or items from within.

2. A box as claimed in Claim 1, with underlying compartments within the box below each respective window.

3. A box as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, whereby the external shape forms a complete pseudo-rhombicuboctahecon (26-sided polyhedron).

4. A box as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, whereby the external surface is folded from a blank of sheet stock.

5. A box as claimed in Claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, with an inner core containing items to be dispensed.

6. A box as claimed in Claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein it is used as an advent calendar whereby one item is dispensed on each day of advent.

7. A box as claimed in Claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein it is used as a gift box for dispensing of any item.

8. A box as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein it is used for the dispensing of multiple items from some or all of the windows.

9. A box as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the inner core contains recesses which underlie the respective windows in the outer surface providing space for items to be contained.

10. A box as claimed in Claim 9, in which the inner core is formed from plastic.

11. A box as claimed in Claim 9, in which the inner core is folded from a blank of sheet stock.

12. A box as claimed in Claim 5, 9, 10 or 11, wherein a void at the centre of the box located inside of the inner core also contains items.