US20060054516A1

US20060054516A1 - Box and match package

Info

Publication number: US20060054516A1
Application number: US11/212,770
Authority: US
Inventors: Victoria Bingham
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-09-14
Filing date: 2005-08-29
Publication date: 2006-03-16
Also published as: DE102005041047A1; CA2516152A1; GB2417940A; US6978887B1; GB0513834D0

Abstract

A box and match package wherein a container having front, back, end and side walls is provided with a plurality of match is integral and co-planar with the container. In one form, perforations are provided between the matches and the back wall so that the matches can be individually torn from the back wall. A match striking surface is provided on an end wall. The front wall may include a window portion, and the back wall may include a foldable panel for covering the matches.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation-in-part of a prior application Ser. No. 10/940,381, filed Sep. 14, 2004.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a box and match package wherein a container having a front, back, end and side walls is provided with a plurality of matches integral with the container.
2. Description of the Related Art
The continuing decrease of people smoking today at home and away results in fewer people caring matches or a lighter or even having them in the home. Thus, for example, it can be disconcerting at a child's birthday party when it is time to light the birthday candles but no one has a light to ignite the candles.
While it is known to provide a box of items to be lit with matches, it has been found that these boxes are complicated in construction and are designed specifically for containing candles or matches in separate compartments within the boxes.
After considerable research and experimentation, the box and match package of the present invention has been devised which is constructed and arranged to provide a container wherein a plurality of matches are integral with the container and are detachably connected therefrom.
Thus, a box and match package solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The box and match package of the present invention comprises, essentially, a blank made of cardboard, or other suitable material, which, when cut and scored, is folded and adhesively secured to form a box having front and back walls, end and side walls. The portion of the blank providing the back wall of the container is formed by a plurality of planar matches detachably connected from each other and the remainder of the blank providing the back wall of the container. The end wall of the container is provided with a striking surface for the matches. The back wall of the container is also provided with an aperture tab so that the package can be hung from a display rack.
In one embodiment, the front wall of the container is provided with a window for displaying the contents of the package.
In another embodiment, the portion of the blank forming the back wall of the container is provided with an external flap or panel which is adapted to be folded over the matches when the container is constructed to thereby provide a cover for the matches.
In yet another embodiment, the front wall of the package has no window.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the portion of the blank forming the back wall of the container is provided with an extended flap or panel which houses a plurality of planar matches detachably connected from each other and the remainder of the flap or panel.
These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the blank, cut and scored before being folded into a container.
FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of one embodiment of the invention wherein the blank of FIG. 1 has been folded to form a package containing candles and having a window in the front face of the package.
FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the package shown in FIG. 2, illustrating a match being pulled from the back wall of the package and a striking surface on an end of the package.
FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the blank, cut and scored before being folded into another embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the package were in the blank of FIG. 4 has been folded to form another embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of the package shown in FIG. 5, showing a rear panel pivoted to the open position to expose the matches, and illustrating a match being pulled from a group of matches.
FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the blank, cut and scored before being folded to form yet another embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 8 is a front perspective view where and the blank of FIG. 7 has been folded to form yet another embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 9 is a rear perspective view of the package shown in FIG. 8, showing a match being pulled from the back wall of the package.
FIG. 10 is a top plan view of a blank, cut and scored before being folded to form yet another embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 11 is a rear perspective view of the package shown in FIG. 10, and illustrating the match striking surface on the panel.
Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1, the combined box and match package of the present invention comprises a blank 1 of cardboard, plastic or other suitable material which is cut and scored to form a front panel 2 having a window portion 2 a, a back panel 3, side panels 4 and 5 and end panels 6 and 7. Each of the side panels 4 and 5 have flap portions 4 a, 5 a and the end panels 6 and 7 have flap portions of 6 a, 7 a which, when folded inwardly and adhesively secured to each other, form the front wall 2, side walls 4 and 5, and end walls 6 and 7 of the container shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The end wall 7 has a striking surface 7 b. It is a recognized that the striking surface 7 b may be formed on any surface out of the container.
The back panel 3 includes a plurality of co-planar matches 3 a detachably connected from each other and the remainder of the panel by perforations 3 b. The back panel 3 also includes a flap portion 3 c which, when folded inwardly, cooperates with panel 4 to form the sidewall 4 of the container. The back panel 3 also includes tab portions 3 d, having apetures 3 e to be folded upon themselves, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, to provide a hanger for detachably suspending the container from the display rod of a display rack (not shown).
As will be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, one example of using the container is to fill it with the birthday candles 8, and the matches 3 a may be torn away from the back panel 3, as shown in FIG. 3, and are adapted to be struck on the surface 7 b whereby the match 3 a is ignited.
Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 wherein the back panel 3 is provided with an additional panel portion 3 f connected to the flap portion 3 c along a fold line 3 g. When the blank is folded to form the container, shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the panel portion 3 f is folded to a position overlying the matches 3 a, to thereby provide a cover for the matches similar to a cover on a book of matches. The panel portion 3 f may be secured to the back panel 3 by any mechanism, for example, with at least one adhesive dot 9 as shown in FIG. 4.
FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 illustrate yet another embodiment of the invention wherein the front panel 2 of the blank is continuous and therefore not provided with a window portion, as shown in FIG. 8.
FIG. 10 illustrates yet another embodiment of the invention wherein the container is formed similar to FIGS. 4-6 using similar numerals but with noted differences. In this embodiment, the plurality of planar matches 3 a′ are detachably connected to panel portion 3 f and from each other and the remainder of the panel by perforations 3 b′. In order to provide a safe striking surface location, the striking surface 7 b′ can be located on any wall of the container, for example, side panel 4, rather than end panel 7 as previously shown. The panel portion 3 f may be secured to the back panel by any mechanism, for example with at least one adhesive dot 9′.
FIG. 11 illustrates the container with the striking surface 7 b″ located on the rear panel 3 f.
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A box and a match package comprising:

a container having at least front, back, side and end walls;

a plurality of matches being integral with said container;

means for detachably connecting each match from said container; and

a match striking surface on said container.

2. The box and match package according to claim 1, wherein said matches are integral with said back wall of said container.

3. The box and match package according to claimant 2, wherein said back wall of said container and said matches are co-planar.

4. The box and match package according to claim 2, wherein said means for detachably connecting each match from said back wall comprises perforations positioned between each match and said back wall.

5. The box and match package according to claim 2, wherein a panel is connected to said container back wall along a fold line, to thereby provide a cover for said plurality of matches.

6. The box and match package according to claim 5, wherein said match striking surface is provided on said end wall of said container.

7. The box and match package of according to claim 5, wherein said match striking surface is provided on said side wall of said container.

8. The box and match package according to claim 5, wherein said match striking surface is provided on said panel of said container.

9. The box and match package according to claim 5, wherein said panel is secured to said container by at least one adhesive dot when in a position covering said plurality of matches.

10. The box and match package according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of candles are contained in said container.

11. The box and match package according to claim 1, wherein said match striking surface is provided on said end wall of said container.

12. The box and match package according to claim 1, wherein said match striking surface is provided on said sidewall of said container.

13. The box and match package according to claim 1, wherein said front wall of said container is provided with a window portion.

14. The box and match package according to claim 1, wherein a panel is connected to said container.

15. The box and match package according to claim 14, wherein said plurality of matches are integral with said panel.

16. The box and match package according to claim 15, wherein said plurality of matches and said panel co-planar.

17. The box and match package according to claim 15, wherein said means for detachably connecting each match of said plurality of matches from said panel comprises perforations positioned between each match and said panel.

18. The box and match package of claim 15, wherein said match striking surface is said end wall.

19. The box and match package of claim 15, wherein said match striking surface is said side wall of the container.

20. The box and match package of claim 15, wherein said match striking surface is on an opposite side of said panel from said plurality of matches.