GB2458875A

GB2458875A - Reversible insert for a box

Info

Publication number: GB2458875A
Application number: GB0803389A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Edward Henderson
Original assignee: BOXES CLEVER Ltd
Current assignee: BOXES CLEVER Ltd
Priority date: 2008-02-25
Filing date: 2008-02-25
Publication date: 2009-10-07
Anticipated expiration: 2028-02-25
Also published as: GB2458875B; GB0803389D0

Abstract

An insert 10 is arranged to fit inside the lid 55 or body 57 of a box so as to cover an inner surface of the box. The insert comprises a padded side 20 that is arranged to correspond to at least one other inner surface of the box and another side 30 that is engraveable. The insert is arranged in use to be placed in either the lid section 56 or body section of a box, such as a jewellery box. The orientation of the insert in the box can be reversed, with the aid of ring pulls 41, 42 so as to enable the user of the box to have the insert appear like another surface of the box, or show the engraveable side.

Description

INSERT FOR A BOX

This invention relates to an insert for a box. In particular, this invention relates to an insert that is reversible and that has one surface that is similar in appearance of function to the other inner surfaces of the box and another surface that is engaveable.

Conventional jewellery boxes, for example, comprise a body portion and a lid portion.

The body portion and the lid portion of such conventional jewellery boxes are often hingedly joined together. The body portion and lid portion define a space for accommodating jewellery within the box.

In order to protect the jewellery contained within the box during transport of the box, conventional jewellery boxes are often provided with padding on the inner surfaces of the body portion and the lid portion. This padding is often neoprene or foam covered in a suitable textile or fabric material.

In other arrangements, the inner surfaces of the body portion and the lid portion are simply fabric coated or are decorative in some way. In other arrangements still, the inner surfaces of the body portion and the lid portion may simply be made of plastic, without any padding, lining or covering.

It is sometimes desirable to place engraved messages in a box, such as a jewellery box.

This, however, presents a problem. For example, one way of achieving an engraved message in ajewellery box could be to fix an engraveable metal plate to the inner surface of the lid of the box. However, once the metal plate is fixed to the inner surface of the lid of the box, it may be difficult to access the metal pate to carry out the engraving. In other words, there could be insufficient space for the engraver to work.

Alternatively, the metal plate could be fixed to the inner surface of the lid of the box after it has been engraved. This would mean that the metal plate would need to be supplied separately from the box, and that the box would need a bare space to accommodate the insert. This bare space would be unattractive to users in the absence of the insert. If such a bare space is not provided in the box, then there is not likely to be space for the insert to be placed in the box.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided an insert arranged to fit inside the lid or body of a box so as to cover an inner surface of the box, the insert comprising a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface is arranged to correspond to at least one other inner surface of the box and the second surface is engraveable.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided an insert arranged to fit inside the lid or body of a box so as to cover an inner surface of the box, the insert comprising a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface is at least one of padded, fabric coated or decorative and the second surface is engraveable.

An insert according to embodiments of the invention can be placed in either the lid or body section of a box, such as ajewellery box. Once the insert is in place in the box, it covers an inner surface of the box. The orientation of the insert in the box can be reversed so as to enable the insert to match the appearance and/or function of the rest of the box (with, for example, padding, fabric or decoration as appropriate) or to show the engraveable surface.

This therefore allows the insert to be placed in ajewellery or other type of box prior to engraving. For example, prior to engraving the insert could be arranged in ajewellery box so that the first surface that matches the appearance and/or function of the rest of the jewellery box is visible when the box is open. In other words, in this arrangement the jewellery box with the insert would appear as if it were a normal jewellery box, for example with padded inner surfaces. Then, should the user wish to have a message engraved on the engraveable surface, the insert can simply be removed, engraved and then reinserted with the second surface visible when the box is open. Alternatively, the insert could be engraved prior to it being inserted in the box.

Therefore, embodiments of the invention provide a very efficient and useful way of providing engraved messages in boxes. An insert can be provided with a box, and both prior to and after engraving, the user can orientate the insert so as to match the appearance and/or function of the rest of the inner surfaces of the box or show the engraveable surface.

Furthermore, in embodiments of the invention in which the first surface is padded, there are benefits associated with protecting the contents of the box during transfer of the box.

For example, when the user of the box desires to transfer the contents of the box (e.g. jewellery), the user can place the insert in the box so that when the box is closed the padded surface faces the contents. This keeps the contents of the box safe during transport. After transportation has been completed, the user can reverse the orientation of the insert so as to show the second side of the insert. The second side of the insert, with its engraveable or mirrored and engraveable finish is decorative.

In some embodiments of the invention, the first surface is at least one of padded, fabric coated or decorative. In embodiments of the invention, the second surface can be both mirrored and engraveable.

The insert can comprise a metal sheet, one surface of the metal sheet providing the second surface, and the opposite surface of the metal sheet having padded material attached thereto so as to provide the first surface. The padded material could be of the same sort of material as that used to cover the inner surfaces of the box that the insert is placed into.

In other embodiments, the insert can comprise a metal sheet, one surface of the metal sheet providing the second surface, and the opposite surface of the metal sheet having fabric coated material attached thereto so as to provide the first surface. The fabric coated material, which could be padded, could be of the same sort of material as that used to cover the inner surfaces of the box that the insert is placed into.

In other embodiments still, the insert can comprise a metal sheet, one surface of the metal sheet providing the second surface, and the opposite surface of the metal sheet having material attached thereto so as to provide the first surface. The material could be of the same sort of material as that used to cover the inner surfaces of the box that the insert is placed into. For example the material could be plastic.

In yet further embodiments, the insert can comprise a metal sheet, one surface of the metal sheet providing the second surface, and the opposite surface of the metal sheet providing the first surface. The first surface could therefore be provided as, for example, a suitable pattern on one surface of the metal sheet.

The insert can further comprise grip means, such as ring pulls, for aiding the removal of the insert from a box.

In some embodiments, the insert is arranged for use with ajewellery box.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a box comprising a body portion and a lid portion, wherein at least one of the body portion and the lid portion is arranged to receive a reversible insert according to the first or second aspect of the invention, the box being arranged so that either the first or second surface of the insert is visible when the box is open. Such a box may be suitable for storing and displaying jewellery.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an insert according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the insert according to the embodiment of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a box accommodating the insert according to the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2; and Figure 4 is a perspective view of an insert according to the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2 after engraving.

Figures 1 and 2 show an insert 10 according to a first embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the insert 10 has a padded surface 20 and an engraveable surface 30.

In this embodiment the insert 10 has a generally rectangular elongate shape. The padded surface 20 is provided on one major surface of the insert 10 and the engraveable surface is provided on the other major surface of the insert 10. Ring pulls 41 and 42 are provided on the insert 10 approximately midway along the major sides of the rectangular insert 10.

In this embodiment, the padded surface 20 comprises a foam material that is covered with a textile material. However, it would be appreciated that any conventional padded material, for example those suited for jewellery boxes, could be used to provide the padded surface 20. For example, the padded surface 20 could be provided by a layer of neoprene, fabric or other suitable material.

In this embodiment the insert 10 comprises a sheet of metal that has been polished on one surface to provide the engraveable surface 30. The engraveable surface 30 thus has a mirror finish in this embodiment. The padded surface 20 is adhered to the opposite side of the metal sheet to the engraveable surface 30. In this embodiment, the metal sheet is made out of anodised aluminium. However, in other embodiments, the engraveable surface could be formed from silver, sliver-plated metal, stainless steel or any other suitable material.

It will also be appreciated that in other embodiments the engraveable surface 30 need not have a mirrored finish. The engraveable surface 30 could have any suitable finish.

In this embodiment the ring pulls 41 and 42 are made out of two loops of material that are adhered to the opposite side of the metal sheet to the engraveable surface 30. In this embodiment, the ring pulls 41 and 42 are fixed by adhesive located between the engraveable surface 30 and the padded surface 20. However, it would be appreciated that any other suitable attachment mechanisms for the ring pulls would be suitable.

Furthermore, as discussed below, other embodiments of the invention do not require the ring pulls 41 and 42.

Figure 3 shows the insert 10 in use in a box 50. In this embodiment the box 50 is a jewellery box, but embodiments of the invention are not limited to inserts for jewellery boxes.

The box 50 comprises a lid portion 55 and a body portion 57. The body portion 57 comprises sidewalls 57a, 57b, 57c and 57d and a base portion 58. In some embodiments of the invention, the inner surface of the side walls 57a-57d as well as the inner surface of the base portion 58 are padded. It will be appreciated that the body portion 57 could take many forms, and could be the shape of any conventional jewellery box. In some embodiments, the base portion 58 could comprise a padded member that substantially fills the space defined by the sidewalls 57a, 57b, 57c and 57d. Such a padded member could have a recess or suchlike for holding items such as jewellery.

The lid portion 55 comprises sidewalls 55a, 55b, 55c and 55d that define a space 56 for receiving the insert 10. The dimensions of the space 56 are such that it can receive the insert 10 in the way shown in Figure 3.

The lid portion 55 is joined to the body portion 57 by a hinge (not shown). Therefore, the lid portion 55 can be closed, in which case the space between the base portion 58 of the body 55 and the insert 10 that is bounded by the sidewalls 57a-57d and 55a-55d defines a space for accommodating jewellery in the box 50.

In Figure 3, the lid 55 of the jewellery box 50 is shown in an open position, and the insert 10 is arranged so that the engraveable surface 30 is visible. When the jewellery box 50 and insert 10 are in this configuration, the jewellery box 50 and insert 10 provide a decorative display arrangement for jewellery (not shown) placed in the box 50. An image of the jewellery (not shown) would be reflected in the mirrored finish of the engraveable surface 30 of this embodiment, which would look pleasing to the user. In such a configuration, the box 50 and insert 10 combine to form a display case for j ewellery.

As shown in Figure 3, when the insert 10 is placed in the receiving space 56 in the lid 55, the ring pulls 41 and 42 are bent away from the insert 10. Thus, the ring pulls 41 and 42 provide a convenient way of enabling the user to remove the insert 10 from the lid 55. As a result, the user can reverse the orientation of the insert, so as to enable the engraveable surface 30 or the padded surface 20 to be visible when the lid 55 is open.

Figure 4 shows an insert 10 according to the embodiment of the invention discussed above in relation to Figures 1 and 2 after engraving. The metal sheet in this embodiment is made out of anodised aluminium, which is engraveable using conventional engraving techniques. As shown in figure 4, the words "SAMPLE TEXT" have been engraved on the engraveable surface 30.

To engrave a message on the engraveable surface 30, the insert 10 can be removed from the box and engraved using conventional engraving techniques. Alternatively, the insert could be engraved before it is inserted in the box.

An important advantage associated with the insert 10 is its reversibility. Embodiments of the invention can provide an insert arranged to fit inside the lid or body of a box so as to cover an inner surface of the box. Such an insert can be considered to comprise a first surface that is arranged to correspond to at least one other inner surface of the box and a second surface that is engraveable. The first surface can match the appearance and/or function of the rest of the box when it is inserted in the box so as to be visible.

In other words, when the insert is placed in the box so that the first surface is visible, the first surface could appear to be a normal part of the box. It will be appreciated that the form of the first surface could therefore depend on the type of box for which the insert is used.

In some embodiments, the insert can comprise a metal sheet, one surface of the metal sheet providing the engraveable second surface, and the opposite surface of the metal

S

sheet having material attached thereto or being decorated in some way so as to provide the first surface. If material is used, then this could be of the same sort of material as that used to cover the inner surfaces of the box that the insert is placed into. For example the material could be plastic, padded, fabric or otherwise.

The insert can be placed in ajewellery or other type of box prior to engraving or after engraving. For example, prior to engraving the insert could be arranged in ajewellery box so that the first surface that matches the appearance and/or function of the rest of the jewellery box is visible when the box is open. In other words, in this arrangement the jewellery box with the insert would appear as if it were a normal jewellery box, for example with padded inner surfaces. Then, should the user wish to have a message engraved on the engraveable surface, the insert can simply be removed, engraved and then reinserted with the second surface visible when the box is open. Should the user then wish not to display the engraved message for any reason, the insert could be removed and reinserted with the first surface visible.

Such inserts therefore provide a very efficient and useful way of providing engraved messages in boxes. An insert can be provided with a box, and both prior to and after engraving, the user can orientate the insert so as to match the appearance and/or function of the rest of the inner surfaces of the box or show the engraveable surface.

It will also be appreciated that when transporting jewellery, it is beneficial to provide the inner surface ofajewellery box be with padding. This prevents the jewellery from being damaged.

Using embodiments of the invention with padded surfaces, the user can arrange the insert 10 in the lid 55 of the jewellery box 50 so that when the lid 55 is closed, the padded surface 20 of the insert 10 faces the jewellery. Then, if the user later wishes to use the jewellery box as a display case, the user can remove the insert 10 from the lid 55 by means of the ring pulls 41 and 42, reverse the orientation of the insert 10 and place it back in the lid 55 with the engraveable surface 30 visible.

It would be appreciated that the ring pulls 41 and 42 are one of many possible arrangements that could be used to facilitate the removal of the insert 10 from the inner surface of the lid 55. The ring pulls 41 and 42 are merely examples of suitable grip means for the insert. For example, a single strand of material could be used. In addition, as an alternative to the ring pulls 41 and 42, one or more appropriate notches could be provided in the side walls 55a-55d of the lid.

Furthermore, it would be appreciated that Figure 3 shows ajewellery box of one particular orientation that has a generally rectangular shape. However, it is well known that jewellery boxes come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, and embodiments of the present invention are applicable to all such shapes and sizes. For example, the present invention is applicable to boxes of rectangular, square, circular, triangular or any polygonal shape.

In addition, the embodiments of the invention so far described have discussed the insert as being suitable for placing in the lid portion of a box. It will, however, be appreciated that the present invention is equally applicable to the body portion of such a box.

Furthermore, embodiments of the invention could use a box with two inserts according to the invention: one for the body portion and one for the lid portion.

Inserts according to embodiments of the invention could be supplied with the boxes that they would be used in, or they could be supplied separately. Furthermore, inserts according to embodiments of the invention could be retrofitted to existing boxes.

Conventional jewellery boxes, for example, can sometimes have a generally similar form to that shown in Figure 3, with the insert 10 according to an embodiment of the invention replaced by a padded or fabric coated surface. Such a padded or fabric coated surface is not designed to be removed, but it is often possible to remove them. Such a padded or fabric coated surface of a conventional jewellery box could therefore be replaced by a reversible insert according to an embodiment of the present invention.

This would allow a user of an existing jewellery box to replace the padded or fabric portion on the inner side of the lid with a reversible insert according to an embodiment of the present invention. Therefore, there is no need to carry out any engraving with an engraving plate attached to the box, and the insert can be used with existing box designs, with no modification.

Many further variations and modifications will suggest themselves to those versed in the art upon making reference to the foregoing illustrative embodiments, which are given by way of example only, and which are not intended to limit the scope of the invention, that being determined by the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. An insert arranged to fit inside the lid or body of a box so as to cover an inner surface of the box, the insert comprising a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface is arranged to correspond to at least one other inner surface of the box and the second surface is engraveable.
2. An insert according to claim I or 2, wherein the first surface is at least one of padded, fabric coated or decorative.
3. An insert arranged to fit inside the lid or body of a box so as to cover an inner surface of the box, the insert comprising a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface is at least one of padded, fabric coated or decorative and the second surface is engraveable.
4. An insert according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the second surface is both mirrored and engraveable.
5. An insert according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the insert comprises a metal sheet, one surface of the metal sheet providing the second surface, and the opposite surface of the metal sheet having padded material attached thereto so as to provide the first surface.
6. An insert according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the insert comprises a metal sheet, one surface of the metal sheet providing the second surface, and the opposite surface of the metal sheet having fabric coated material attached thereto so as to provide the first surface.
7. An insert according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the insert comprises a metal sheet, one surface of the metal sheet providing the second surface, and the opposite surface of the metal sheet having material attached thereto so as to provide the first surface.
8. An insert according to any one of claims I to 4, wherein the insert comprises a metal sheet, one surface of the metal sheet providing the second surface, and the opposite surface of the metal sheet providing the first surface.
9. An insert according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising grip means for aiding the removal of the insert from a box.
10. An insert according to any one of claims ito 8, wherein the insert is arranged for use with a jewellery box.
11. A box comprising a body portion and a lid portion, wherein at least one of the body portion and the lid portion are arranged to receive an insert according to any one of claims 1 to 10, the box being arranged so that either the first or second surface of the insert is visible when the box is open.
12. A box according to claim 11, wherein the box is suitable for storing and displaying jewellery.