GB2480235A

GB2480235A - Container convertible between an envelope and a box

Info

Publication number: GB2480235A
Application number: GB201007629A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lindi Jean Lawrenson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-05-07
Filing date: 2010-05-07
Publication date: 2011-11-16
Also published as: GB201007629D0

Abstract

A flat envelope or wallet used for storage and packaging that can convert into an open box or tray, so that items stored or packaged can be easily seen and retrieved. Triangular panels 4 connected by tabs allow the container to fold flat from a box mode to a tray mode. Four sides of the envelope are connected by means of a tab lock that has a particular shape. Lid 1 covers the folded container in its envelope form and tabs (7, figure 1) secure the envelope closed. When in a box mode, the lid 1 is folded aside to allow access.

Description

A Convertible Envelope

Background

When considering a product that consists of a number of small items or a number of different sized items, they are usually packaged in either: 1. Flat plastic cases or envelopes. These have two sides to them (a front and a back, with some kind of extra piece for folding over to close the case/envelope). For selling purposes, these cases/envelopes are often transparent (so that the items are visible).

2. Three dimensional boxes/bags of some sort These have six sides to them, if you include a lid.

These cases/envelopes (referred to as cases in this description) and boxes/bags (referred to as boxes in this description) usually have one main function, that is, to package the product. There is usually some kind of closing mechanism, whether it be by a sealed case that the customer has to cut open; a resealable closing or an attachment type of closing such as Velcro. If the packaging case is a resealable case, the items can be stored in that packaging case and then the case can be opened when necessary to retrieve the items.

There can be potential problems relating to both a flat packaging case and a three dimensional packaging box. The problems I refer to relate to the reuse of the items (the using of the items at different intervals, while working on a particular project or task) and the storage of the items.

Potential problems a) The flat packaging case/envelope that can also be reused for storage: The potential problem/issue with this flat case is that when there are multiple items that are packaged in the flat case, it is not easy to retrieve the items from a flat case. There is usually some difficulty to retrieve individual items, particularly if they are small items. This can be particularly frustrating or problematic when one is working on a project or needing just one item from the case, and it is hard to retrieve that particular item that is needed. One can usually retrieve all the items at once, by pulling on them or by turning the case upside down (and possibly shaking the case too) and letting them fall out. None of these methods is ideal. One may not want all the items out at once and the items may be scattered in a haphazard manner if the items leave the case all at once.

Furthermore, if one didn't want all the items to be scattered, one would have to find another container to catch/hold the items.

b) The three dimensional box that can be reused for storage: The potential problem/issue with a three dimensional box is: If one wants to store a number of small items, a box often takes up more space than is necessary. The envelope remains almost two dimensional but will bulge to accommodate items, thus only taking up as much space as is needed.

This Convertible Envelope solves the above problems because it consists of two different forms! modes.

The flat, packaging mode: It can be a relatively flat packaging case/envelope, holding multiple items in this packaging mode. The flatness of the packaging envelope will be determined by the size of the items.

* The functional, box mode: It can convert to become a three dimensional box. In this functional mode, it serves as a box whereby items can be easily seen and individual items can be easily retrieved.

Statement of invention

This invention is a flat packaging envelope that converts into an open box. It consists of a base, four sides and a cover. The template of this Convertible Envelope is constructed in such a manner that the sides are able to collapse down into a flat form but also remain erect in a box form. The cover of the envelope folds backwards when the envelope is in its box mode. This means that the box is open and items can be easily seen and retrieved.

This Convertible Envelope can be used to package and store a number of items such as: * Art, craft and stationary items * Children's small toys * Woodwork equipment such as nails, screws etc. * Gardening equipment such as seed packets.

* Fishing equipment AdditIonalfeatures/benefits 1. One could have a number of smaller Convertible Envelopes inside a larger Convertible Envelope. The smaller Convertible Envelopes could open up and sit inside the larger Convertible Envelope. This makes for good organisation and easy access of items, particularly when one is working on a project and needing to access different items at different times.

This feature means that when could package a number of items that are related to one another, for a particular purpose, in different smaller Convertible Envelopes, that would then sit inside a larger Convertible Envelope. An example of this is an art and craft activity kit. All the materials needed to do an activity are arranged in the various size Convertible Envelopes. The activity is then well structured and organised and items can be easily seen and retrieved when needed.

2. One can store a number of Convertible Envelopes when they are in their flat form. They can lie on top of one another or side by side in a container! box. It is useful if one does not want to take up too much height in a storage space.

Introduction to drawings

A craft activity kit will be used as an example of items packaged and stored in this Convertible Envelope. A number of items are included in this craft activity kit, including an instruction card, paper and two other smaller Convertible Envelopes. The Convertible Envelope will now be described by referring to the accompanying drawings. The drawings are based on a Convertible Envelope that is made from a transparent material such as frosted Polypropylene.

Figure 1: The Convertible Envelope in its flat, packaging mode-viewed from above. This diagram shows the front view of the Convertible Envelope. The cover of the envelope (1) is depicted with dotted lines. The cover is attached to the length sides (2) of the envelope. In this example, tab locks (7) are used as an attachment means. There are two smaller Convertible Envelopes (6) inside the larger one. These smaller Convertible Envelopes have craft items in them.

Figure 2: The cover (1) is no longer attached to the length sides (2). This process of detaching the cover from the length sides causes the sides of the envelope to slightly unfold. The sides are not yet vertical; they remain slightly folded (depicted by label 4).

Figure 3: The Convertible Envelope in its functional, box mode. One needs to manually straighten out the sides by bending them slightly backwards, so that they become vertical (5). The shape of the Convertible Envelope is now the shape of the base of a box.

Figure 4: The Convertible Envelope in its functional, box mode with smaller Convertible Envelopes (6) also in their functional, box mode. This makes it easy to access the items as the items are all in their own separate open boxes. It creates an organised system for doing an activity with different items involved.

Figure 5: This shows a flat template of the Convertible Envelope. The template shows the tab locks (7) and slits (8) for the tab locks that are used to close the cover to the sides. There are crease lines (9 and 15 show examples) that assist in the folding! collapsing and unfolding of the envelope. The triangle shapes in the corners (10) also assist in this process of converting the envelope into a box.

The centre piece of the widths (11) become attached to the triangles (10) by means of tab locks (18), which allow there to be give' in the sides. These tabs (18) are a different shape to the closing tabs (7). The main body (the base) of the envelope is labelled 13. The three different sides of the triangle are labelled 15,

16 and 17-this is explained in the description.

Figure 6: The shape of the tab lock-Enlarged view: This tab has a particular shape, with one side rounded and the other side more angled. It is also wider on the one side. There is a small cut (12) between the triangle (10) and the tab (18).

Figure 7: This depicts the triangle shapes (10), with their tabs (18J slotting into their slits (19). This is from an aerial view, showing one of the corners. The triangle shape, with its tab, slots into the slits from the outside.

Figure 8: One of the corners: The sides have now been collapsed. There are three layers visible. The length side (2) is on the top surface; the inner side of the triangle shape (10) is next and the width centre piece (11) is at the bottom.

The cover is not depicted in this drawing. The cover, if it was shown, would be the top layer.

Figure 9: View from the side of the collapsed Convertible Envelope. When there are items (14) inside the box, the cover will slightly curve (1) so as to accommodate the items being stored. This drawing also depicts how the length sides (2) fold in, into the centre of the Convertible Envelope.

Detailed description

The flat. packaging mode of the Convertible Envelope: The Convertible Envelope will not lie perfectly flat when it has items stored in it.

It is referred to as flat in terms of its relative shape to that of the Convertible Envelope when in its box mode.

But, what is so beneficial about the Convertible Envelope in its flat mode, is that the final size of the Convertible Envelope is, for most items that it holds, substantially flatter than if another box or container was used to store/hold the items.

It may be that this other box or container has a smaller length or width, but if its length or widths are smaller, the height of this other box or container will certainly be higher.

Another advantage of this Convertible Envelope in its flat mode is that one can then store the Convertible Envelope in a space that does not require as much height. It may even be, in some instances, depending on the item being stored/held, that a number of Convertible Envelopes can be stored on top of one another and could take up less space than if one tried to store the same number of items in the same number of containers or boxes.

A further feature is that the flat sides of the Convertible Envelope will hold small items in place in a contained and secure space.

The functional. box mode: The Convertible Envelope only needs a very slight manual manipulation of the sides (the width sides need to be bent backwards), and it is converted into a box form. The cover also needs to be manually bent backwards so that the cover does not interfere with the ability to retrieve items from the box.

Because of the stiff material that is used, the Convertible Envelope, when in its box form, has sides that will remain upright and in the shape of a box (they may not remain necessarily perfectly straight, but certainly straight and vertical enough to be considered to be a box shape).

When in its box mode, the box can serve as a useful container for structuring a task/project. For example: * If one is doing a craft activity, a number of boxes that store various items for making a craft project, can all be opened up so that one can retrieve the various items with ease, when one needs them. It makes completing an activity fuss free. If one had to retrieve the items from say a flat

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envelope/case, one would generally have to use two hands to get the items out: one to hold the bag and the other to retrieve the items.

Material used The material used to manufacture the Convertible Envelope needs to made from a relatively stiff material that has some kind of memory property. This is so that it can convert into different forms and then stay in those forms. Polypropylene is an excellent material to use for this purpose. It may be that another material may also have properties suitable.

Specifics about the folding of the box To describe how the box folds down flat into the flat, packaging mode and how it opens up into the functional, box mode, one needs to understand how the box is manufactured.

The Convertible Envelope is die cut out of one flat template. The flat template consists of tab lock closures (18) on the four triangles (10) on the sides of the template. The tab locks need to be inserted into their corresponding slits (19).

When assembling the template, the triangle shapes are placed on the outer side of the width centre piece (11) i.e. the tab locks get inserted from the outside towards the inside of the box form. When inserting them, they need to be slightly angled to be able to slot into the slits so that they lock tight and don't come undone.

The Convertible Envelope is able to collapse down into a flat form and be converted into a box form because of the uniqueness of how the shape of the tabs work in conjunction with the creasing and die cutting of the template. This is explained more specifically below: 1. The shape of the tab locks: The shape of the tab locks is different to an ordinary tab lock in that it has its own particular and unique shape. The shape is constructed in such a way that: * When the Convertible Envelope is collapsed flat, the tabs will not slip out.

The cut (12) in the tab section also assists the tab to lock in securely.

* When the sides fold down flat, the shapes of the tabs do not interfere/ get in the way with the folding process.

2. The shape of the template is such that the two width sides of the Convertible Envelope are the ones that initiate the process of the Convertible Envelope collapsing and are the first sides to collapse. One needs to bend down the triangles in order for the width sides to first collapse. The triangle shapes (10) have: * A crease on one side (15) * Is open on another side i.e. has been die cut (16) * Has the tab on the third side (17) This means that the triangle shapes have the ability to fold and to lie flat, as well as to stand up erect.

When the width sides are in the process of collapsing flat, the length sides automatically follow suit and also then lie flat, on top of the width sides. This is because of the crease line (15) between the widths and the lengths, as well as the other processes described.

3. The fact that the triangles are attached by means of the tab locks to the centre piece of the width sides (11), means that there is give' in the material so that it can collapse. The attachment is such that the connection between the tabs and the width sides forms a foldable edge.

The closingmechanisms There may be a variety of ways that the cover (1) of the Convertible Envelope attaches to the length sides (2), such that it can lie flat in its flat, packaging mode.

The following could be used: a) A tab lock closure. There would need to be at least two slits for the conventional tab lock closure to lock into. This would give different options for attachment that would depend on the thickness of the items being stored and used in the Convertible Envelope.

b) Velcro-one side of the Velcro being attached to the cover and the other side of the Velcro being attached to the sides c) Poppers-as for the Velcro attachment method.

Claims

A Convertible EnvelopeCLAIMS1. An envelope that comprises of two different modes of function, that being a flat, envelope mode used for packaging and storage and a three dimensional box mode used for viewing and retrieving items packaged or stored.
2. An envelope as claimed in claim 1, wherein the envelope comprises a base, four sides and a cover, such that the four sides when opened can remain, to a degree, upright/erect, such that the items in the envelope are visible and retrievable.
3. An envelope as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the four sides of the envelope are manually opened out into their upright/erect position for the box mode.
4. An envelope as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the degree to which the envelope forms a flatter shape, compared to the box shape/mode, will be determined by the items that it is storing.
5. An envelope as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the cover is manually bent back so that the cover does not interfere when retrieving items.
6. An envelope as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the sides of the envelope have a width and length that is at least as wide and long as the items that are being stored/packaged in that envelope.
7. An envelope as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the envelope LI) comprises a resilient substrate that is able to fold and unfold along crease Q lines.
8. An envelope as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the envelope (0 comprises of a stiff, yet bendable material that can be folded, such that the Q sides of the envelope can remain to a degree erect and can also collapse into a flat shape.
9. An envelope as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the four corners of the envelope have at their ends a triangular shape, which is an extension of a side and extending from this triangle is a tab lock.
10. An envelope as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the opening of the envelope into its erect box mode is made possible by two means, the first being the particular shape of the tab lock, shown in Figure 6, with the tab having one rounded side, one angled, straight side and a slit at the angular side.
11. An envelope as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the opening of the envelope into its erect box mode is made possible by a second means, that being the ability of the four sides of the envelope to connect to one another by means of the tab locks which extend off the triangular extension.
12. An envelope as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the slit for the tab is a tight fit, such that the tab does not slip out from the slit when the envelope is opened.
13. An envelope as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the shape of the tab lock and the movement of the tab lock in the corresponding slit enables the sides of the envelope to fold and unfold.
14. An envelope as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the shape of the envelope when in its storage or packaging mode, holding items, is substantially flatter than when items are held in the box mode.
15. An envelope as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a number of smaller envelopes can be held inside a larger envelope.
16. An envelope as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a number of different shapes and sizes of envelopes can be constructed.
17. An envelope as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the lid of the envelope may be constructed from a see-through substrate in order for items to be visible when in the envelope mode.
18. An envelope that comprises of a flatter, envelope mode that can convert into an open, erect, box mode as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. L() (0