US3679120A - Pre-wrapped box - Google Patents

Abstract

A pre-wrapped gift box comprises a decorative wrapping sheet and first and second box sections operatively attached to the wrapping sheet. The box sections are positioned on the sheet in registration with and adjacent each other and are spaced apart a distance which enables one box section to receive the other box section without buckling or otherwise adversely affecting the smooth surface of the wrapping sheet upon the swinging of the sections toward each other. The box sections may be provided with diagonal fold lines so located as to enable each of the walls of the box sections to be folded downwardly toward the wrapping sheet. With this structure the assembly is readily formed into a compact flattened package adapted for shipping and storage. Preferably the box sections are rectangular in shape and are composed of a stiff but collapsible material such as paperboard.

Description

0 United States Patent 1 3,679,120

Rubin [45] July 25, 1972 PRE-WRAPPED BOX 3,460,738 8/1969 Adams et al ..229/87 M [72] Inventor: gland: Stgrgfn llgagisn, 69 W. 95th St., Primary Examiner koben Reeves Assistant Examiner-Larry Martin [22] Filed: N v, 26, 1969 Attorney-Gottlieb, Rackman & Reisman [2]] Appl. No.: 879,991 7 ABSTRACT A pre-wrapped gift box comprises a decorative wrapping sheet 229/41 229/87 R and first and second box sections operatively attached to the [51] Int. ..B65d 65/12 wrapping sheet. The box sections are positioned on the sheet [58] Field of Search ..229/38-41 R, 28 R, in registration with and adjacent each other and are spaced 229/23 BT, 14 BL, 87 R, 87 M, 87 A, 87 S, 44, 23 apart a distance which enables one box section to receive the A, 40, 32, 41 R other box section without buckling or otherwise adversely affecting the smooth surface of the wrapping sheet upon the [56] Referen es Cited swinging of the sections toward each other. The box sections may be provided with diagonal fold lines so located as to ena- UNITED STATES PATENTS ble each of the walls of the box sections to be folded downwardly toward the wrapping sheet. With this structure 3,458,112 7/1969 Nelson ..229/40 the assembly is readily formed into a compact flattened 3,559,876 2/1971 Conesco ..229/87 R 2 438 509 3/1 948 M G package adapted for shipping and storage. Preferably the box 3276662 [0/1966 iqsgz sections are rectangular in shape and are composed of a stiff 3,434:645 3/1969 Prisco ..229/87 R x but mnaps'ble mama} such as paperboard' 3,443,739 5/1969 Adams, Jr ..229/87 M X 4 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENFEEJULZS I972 SHEET 1 BF 2 FIG. 2

FIG. 3

INVENTOR H V TURH RUB/N ATTORNEY PRE-WRAPPED BOX The present invention relates generally to decorative wrappings for boxes, and specifically to a unique pre-wrapped gift box assembly.

One custom which continues unaffected is that of decorating packages which contain goods to be presented as a gift. This custom flourishes during certain holiday seasons at which time gift giving increases, but it is also followed on other festive occasions which occur at random intervals during the year. To date the most common manner of decorating a gift package is to separately purchase decorative wrapping paper, and to apply this paper to the outer surface of a standard box in which the purchased goods are received. The application of the paper to the box is achieved by the use of adhesive materials such as tape, ornamental stickers, or the like. This somewhat tedious process continues to be carried out by the consumer for want of a satisfactory pre-wrapped gift box.

Department stores are particularly troubled by the difficulties encountered in providing a gift wrapped package to the purchaser. Personnel must be hired solely to do the wrapping, the wrapping takes time, the personnel involved are usually not highly motivated, the customer frets at the necessarily long waiting periods, and valuable space must be set aside for the wrapping operation. The cost in money and lost good will and selling opportunity is extremely high.

In order to overcome the length of time generally required to gift wrap a package by conventional techniques, some prewrapped gift boxes have been developed. These pre-wrapped boxes vary in form; usually one part of a box is covered with a wrapping sheet which is adhesively secured to that part of the box. Thus, the upper box section or cover may be prewrapped with a decorative sheet of paper and then placed over the lower box section in an overlapping engagement. No decorative paper is applied to the surface of the lower box section and therefore the overall effect is quite inadequate and somewhat artificial. To avoid this disadvantageous feature, other pre-wrapped gift boxes have been developed to include wrapping paper on all surfaces. Thus a folded blank including attached wrapping paper has been tried. That blank must be carefully erected and formed into a container and thereafter the goods inserted and the wrapping paper secured in place. That pre-wrapped assembly has not been commercially successful, primarily because it is useful only with a specific type of box. Furthermore the time of assembly is excessive, often exceeding that required to conventionally wrap a box.

It is the primary object of this invention, therefore, to provide a unique pre-wrapped box which is characterized by its simplicity of construction and of method required to form a completely wrapped package therefrom.

It is another object of this invention to provide a prewrapped box which may be assembled into its finally wrapped condition in a minimum of time and still maintain the desired appearance of a conventionally wrapped package.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a prewrapped gift box which may be readily stored and shipped without damage to the wrapping sheet which is attached thereto and without taking up any excess space.

The aforementioned difficulties are overcome and the above objects are satisfied by a simple and economical pre wrapped box which comprises a wrapping sheet and first and second box sections positioned adjacent each other on and operatively connected to the wrapping sheet. Each box section is provided with colaterally projecting end and side walls which are interconnected to each other and are operatively connected respectively to a bottom wall on the first box section, and to a top wall on the second box section. The first box section is adapted to be received by the second box section when the sections are swung toward each other. When the box sections are so swung the side and end walls of the second box section telescope into the side and end walls of the first box section in a conventional manner, thereby to form a container.

Since both box sections are operatively attached to the wrapping sheet, as by adhesive, the wrapping sheet is carried with the box sections when they are swung into an overlapping engagement. In order to ensure that proper overlapping engagement of the box sections occurs without wrinkling or shearing the wrapping sheet, the box sections must be precisely positioned adjacent each other on the wrapping sheet. For example, these sections must be positioned substantially in registration on the sheet and must be spaced apart a distance not substantially less than the effective height of one of the end and side walls and less than twice that effective height. This spaced distance is measured between the closest adjacent edges of the top and bottom walls prior to the assembly of the box sections. With this arrangement the first box section may readily be swung directly into the second box section without shifting the box sections laterally relative to each other. Furthermore, this spacing of the box sections ensures that the wrapping sheet which is affixed to the box sections is not buckled, sheared or otherwise adversely affected during the assembly process.

In order that the pre-wrapped box assembly be stored and shipped without damage, each box section may be provided with fold means which enables the side and end walls thereof to be folded downwardly onto the top and bottom walls respectively. When flattended into this condition, the first and second box sections may be swung into overlying engagement to form a compact package readily adapted to be stored and shipped. For this purpose the first box section is provided with diagonal fold lines extending upwardly from the intersection points of the side, end, and bottom walls. In the first box section these diagonal fold lines are placed in the end walls, so that they may be folded downwardly and outwardly relative to the bottom wall and the side walls of the first section may be folded downwardly and inwardly onto the bottom wall. In the second box section the diagonal fold lines are provided in the side walls, thereby enabling the end walls to be folded downwardly and inwardly onto the top wall and to permit the side walls to be folded downwardly and outwardly away from the top wall. With this specific fold arrangement a minimum thickness dimension is obtained when the two folded box sections are swung into overlying engagement during their storage condition.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the box sections are composed of a stiff but collapsible material such as paperboard or the like. The wrapping sheet may be composed of any suitable decorative material such as the conventionally employed wrapping paper, or a suitable fabric. Preferably the box sections are rectangular in shape, and are positioned on the wrapping sheet with the elongated side walls positioned adjacent each other. This latter arrangement enables a minimum thickness flattened package to be achieved when the box sections are swung on top of one another for storage purposes.

To the accomplishment of the above, and to such other objects as may hereinafter appear, the present invention relates to a pre-wrapped box as defined in the appended claims and as described in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an opened-out but non-erected pre-wrapped box with the side and end walls of each box section in a folded condition;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the pre-wrapped box taken on line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the pre-wrapped box taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the pre-wrapped box taken on line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the pre-wrapped box of FIG. 1, folded into a storage condition;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the pre-wrapped box of the invention with side and end walls erected just prior to final assembly;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view on a reduced scale of the prewrapped box of FIG. 7 after the completion of the assembly;

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of the assembled prewrapped box taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of the assembled prewrapped box taken on line 9-9 of FIG. 7.

Referring to the drawings, a pre-wrapped box 10 is best illustrated in FIG. 6. As there shown, the pre-wrapped box 10 comprises a first box section 12 and a second box section 14 both of which are operatively attached to a wrapping sheet 16, as by means of adhesive. The first box section 12 comprises a bottom wall 18, erected side walls 20 and erected end walls 22. Similarly the second box section 14 comprises a top wall 24, erected side walls 26 and erected end walls 28. The prewrapped box 10 is shown in FIG. 6 just prior to the telescoping engagement of box sections 12 and 14. As illustrated, box section 14 telescopically receives box section 12 in a conventional manner to enclose a span between bottom wall 18 and top wall 24 and between the side and end walls 20, 26 and 22, 28. When the box sections are fully telescoped to the condition illustrated in FIG. 7, the side walls 26 overlap the side walls 20 and the end walls 28 overlap the end walls 22. FIG. 6 shows a partial overlap of lower side wall 26 and one side wall 20.

In order that the assembly of the box sections occur in a minimum of time, and in order that the wrapping paper 16 be smoothly formed about the surfaces of the walls of the box sections as shown in FIG. 7, the spacing between box sections 12 and 14 on the wrapping sheet 16 is carefully determined.

when the box sections 12 and 14 are attached to the wrapping sheet 16. Referring to FIG. 1, this spacing is designated by the letter d and is measured between the edge 30 of the top wall 24, and the edge 23 of the bottom wall 18. This distance d is substantially equal to the effective height of one of the end or side walls of the box sections. Thus, the distance d may be substantially equal to the distance h which is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 6 as being the effective erected height of the side wall 20 and end wall 22 of box section 12 or to the distance h which is here shown as being the effective erected height of the side wall 26 and end wall 28 of the box section 14, whichever is the greater.

The specific dimension d should not vary to any appreciable degree from the values above mentioned by any great amount, unless the box is specifically designed to hold a product the thickness of which is greater than the dimension [1 or h, in which case the dimension d should correspond to that thickness. This thickness will however be less than twice the distance 11 or h in order that the box sections 12 and 14 be assembled into telescoping engagement. If the dimension d is too large, non-uniformity of the surface of the wrapping sheet 16 will result, i.e. buckling and wrinkling when the box sections 12 and 14 are placed in their final positions. If the distance dis substantially less than the above mentioned values then the side walls 20 and 22 will interfere with each other when the box is erected. As the drawings show, in the preferred embodiment the distance d is slightly greater than 11' in order to facilitate the manipulation of the box sections during assembly, thereby minimizing the possibility of overstressing and tearing the thin wrapping sheet 16.

FIGS. 1 to illustrate the box sections 12 and 14 as positioned on the wrapping sheet 16 prior to the erected assembly positions depicted in FIGS. 6 and 7. In FIG. 1 it will be noted that the end walls 22 of box section 12 are folded downwardly and outwardly with respect to the bottom wall 18. The side walls 20 of this box section are folded downwardly and inwardly onto the bottom wall 18. Conversely, the end walls 28 of the box section 14 are folded downwardly and inwardly on to the bottom wall 24 while the side walls 26 of this box section are folded downwardly and outwardly away from the top wall 24. This particular folding arrangement is provided so that when the box sections 12 and 14 are rotated into overlying engagement as shown in FIG. 5, a compact package results. With the particular folding arrangement illustrated the walls of one box section do not abut against those of the other box section. For example, since the side walls 26 of box section 14 are folded onto the wrapping sheet 16, they present no substantial thickness dimension as shown in FIG. 4. The

thickness dimension resulting from the side walls is essentially that of the folded side walls 20 of box section 12 (FIGS. 4 and 5). If both side walls 20 and 26 were folded downwardly and inwardly onto the bottom wall 18 of the top wall 24 respectively, a greater thickness dimension would result when the rotated engagement occurs since these walls would abut. The same holds true for the specific manner of folding the end walls 22 and 28. Thus, a comparison of FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate that the only thickness dimension which results from the engagement of the box sections 12 and 14 when in the condition illustrated in FIG. 5 is that of the end wall 28 in its overlapped condition of FIG. 2.

In order to effect the folding arrangement described, each box section is provided with diagonal fold lines extending in a prescribed direction from the intersection points of the walls of that box section. For example, in FIG. 1, the box section 12 has four points 25 at the intersections of the bottom, side and end walls 18, 20 and 22. Diagonal fold lines 27 are formed in the end walls 22 and project outwardly from the intersecting points 25 to the outer edge 29 of these end walls 22. These fold lines 27 permit the simultaneous folding of the side walls 20 and the end walls 22, as shown. The second box section 14 is provided with diagonal fold lines 31 in its side wall 26 which extend upwardly from corresponding intersection points 25. These diagonal fold lines 31 extend to the outer edge 33 of the side walls 26. To assist the folding operation, additional fold lines 35 and 37 may be formed at the outer edges of the walls 24 and 18 respectively in conventional manner.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the described manner of folding the walls of the box sections enables the outer edges 29 of end walls 22 in box section 12 to project beyond the edge 41 of wrapping sheet 16. The projecting end walls 22 thereby provide a gripping means whereby the folded assembly of FIG. 5 may readily be inserted into or taken from a storage shelf, without having to grasp the relatively flimsy and delicate sheet 16.

The box sections 12 and 14 may be operatively attached to the wrapping sheet 16 by means of a suitable adhesive material 32 as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4. The adhesive is interposed between the box sections and the wrapping sheet 16 at suitable locations, typical such locations being designated 32. This condition minimizes the possible tearing or ripping of the wrapping sheet. Only that amount of adhesive which is sufficient to hold the box sections to the sheet is required, since the box sections are normally stored and shipped in the condition illustrated in FIG. 5.

Referring again to FIGS. 6 through 9, the wrapping paper 16 may be of a size sufiicient to include an extended section 34 which extends beyond the side wall 26 of box section 14. This section 34 may be provided with a suitable adhesive material 36 which is shown in FIG. 1. A release paper (not shown) may be placed over the adhesive material as a protective covering. When the box sections are placed into overlapping engagement as illustrated in FIG. 7, the extended section 34 is adhesively secured to the lower surface 38 of the wrapping sheet 16 as shown in FIG. 9. This particular over lapping section 34, although not necessary to the proper assembly of the box, is desirable since it facilitates the final attachment of that section of the wrapping sheet to the box and is effective to impart a finished appearance which convincingly detracts from the artificial pre-wrapped look which characterizes prior art devices.

The wrapping sheet 16 may also be sized to provide projecting sections 40, 42 which extend beyond the end walls 22 and 28 respectively of the box sections. These projecting sections may be dimensioned so as to provide either a butt or lap joint 44 when finally assembled on the box sections as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. An adhesive material similar to that indicated by the numeral 36 in FIG. 1, but not shown in FIG. 7, may also be applied to the inside surface of these projecting sections 40 and 42 so that they may be conveniently attached to the end wall 28 of the box section 14. Any other manner of adhesively securing any of the wrapping sheet sections herein described is also acceptable and the invention is not limited to the manner of adhesion described.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that the prewrapped box of the invention is simple and economical. The attachment of both box sections to a wrapping sheet in a position which enables the box sections to be quickly swung into telescoping engagement facilitates the assembly process, and renders the pre-wrapped box highly desirable for use in situations such as a department store gift wrapping service. In addition, the ability of the box sections to be folded in a specific manner enables the pre-wrapped box to be stored and shipped conveniently, stacked and taking up a minimal amount of space, while minimizing the possibility of damage to the wrapping sheet. Thus, the pre-wrapped box may readily be commercially sold as a unit at any retail outlet.

Purely by way of example, the fold means if included may be any suitable arrangement of fold lines effective to flatten the box sections. Thus the fold means need not comprise diagonal fold lines as shown but may instead comprise perpendicularly positioned fold lines in the end and side walls. These lines would tend to square off" the box sections in their flattened condition. The side and end walls may be separated at their joints when flattened and interconnected by tabs or suitable connecting means when erected. In addition, the box sections need not be rectangular in shape but may be round or irregularly shaped, if desired. These and other modifications may be made in the disclosed embodiment, all without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

I. A collapsed pre-wrapped box assembly adapted to be erected into a gift box with the appearance of being handwrapped, the assembly comprising:

a. a substantially rectangular wrapping sheet,

b. a flat-folded erectible first box section including a first base wall, a pair of side walls each foldably connected to the first base wall along fold lines, and a pair of end walls each foldably connected to the first base wall along other fold lines,'said side walls and end walls being substantially parallel to the first base wall and being swingable to erect positions,

c. a flat-folded erectible second box section separate from the first box section, said second box section including a second base wall, a pair of side walls each foldably connected to the second base wall along fold lines, and a pair of end walls each foldably connected to the second base wall along other fold lines, said side walls and end walls being substantially parallel to the second base wall and being swingable to erect positions, the side walls of the second box section being flat-folded inwardly and the side walls of the first box section being flat-folded outwardly, the box sections being complimentarily configured to be telescoped within one another when erected,

d. adhesive means fixing at least one of the box sections to the wrapping sheet so that an edge of said one box section is parallel to an edge of the wrapping sheet,

e. the first box section being situated over and in registry with the second box section to form a stacked array of box sections, one side edge of the first box section being situated substantially directly over one side edge of the second box section to form a common edge at one side of said array and the other side of the first box section being situated beyond the other side edge of the second box section to form another edge at the other side of the ary,

f. the wrapping sheet enveloping both box sections of the array and being folded on itself along one crease line immediately adjacent the common edge of said array and along another crease line at said another edge of said array, said crease lines constituting crease lines of the wrapping sheet when wrapped about a fully erected gift box, the wrapping sheet being otherwise free of crease lines that would be visibly situated at positions other than edges of the gift box when the box 1s fully erected and wrapped.

2. A collapsed pre-wrapped box assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the adhesive means fixes both box sections to the wrapping sheet.

3. A collapsed pre-wrapped box assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the end walls of one box section are fiatfolded inwardly and the end walls of the other box section are flat-folded outwardly.

4. A collapsed pre-wrapped box assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein one end edge of the wrapping sheet is substantially coincident with an edge of one of the box sections.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent N 3,679 ,120 Dated July 25 1972 lnventofls) Marion Sturm Rubin It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

On the cover sheet ['72] "Marion Sturm Rubin, .69 W. 95th St. Brooklyn, N. Y. 10025" should read Marion Sturm Rubin,

65 West 95th St., New York, N. Y. 10025 This certificate supersedes Certificate of Correction issued December l9';"1972.

Signed and sealed this 25th day of June 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.PLETCHER,JR. C. MARSHALL DANN. Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents FORM Po-1050 (10-69) USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 v U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: I969 03B6-334,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE QTHICATE 0F COECTIN Patent No. 3 679,120 Dated Julv 25, 1972 Inventor(s) Marion Sturm Rubin It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

On the cover sheet [72] "69 West 95th Street", should read 65 West 95th Street Signed and sealed this 19th day of December 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK- Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents USCOMM-DC flO376-P69 u.s. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE men o-sea-au.

F ORM PO-1050 (10-69)

Claims (4)

1. A collapsed pre-wrapped box assembly adapted to be erected into a gift box with the appearance of being hand-wrapped, the assembly comprising: a. a substantially rectangular wrapping sheet, b. a flat-folded erectible first box section including a first base wall, a pair of side walls each foldably connected to the first base wall along fold lines, and a pair of end walls each foldably connected to the first base wall along other fold lines, said side walls and end walls being substantially parallel to the first base wall and being swingable to erect positions, c. a flat-folded erectible second box section separate from the first box section, said second box section including a second base wall, a pair of side walls each foldably connected to the second base wall along fold lines, and a pair of end walls each foldably connected to the second base wall along other fold lines, said side walls and end walls being substantially parallel to the second base wall and being swingable to erect positions, the side walls of the second box section being flatfolded inwardly and the side walls of the first box section being flat-folded outwardly, the box sections being complimentarily configured to be telescoped within one another when erected, d. adhesive means fixing at least one of the box sections to the wrapping sheet so that an edge of said one box section is parallel to an edge of the wrapping sheet, e. the first box section being situated over and in registry with the second box section to form a stacked array of box sections, one side edge of the first box section being situated substantially directly over one side edge of the second box section to form a common edge at one side of said array and the other side of the first box section being situated beyond the other side edge of the second box section to form another edge at the other side of the array, f. the wrapping sheet enveloping both box sections of the array and being folded on itself along one crease line immediately adjacent the common edge of said array and along another crease line at said another edge of said array, said crease lines constituting crease lines of the wrapping sheet when wrapped about a fully erected gift box, the wrapping sheet being otherwise free of crease lines that would be visibly situated at positions other than edges of the gift box when the box is fully erected and wrapped.

2. A collapsed pre-wrapped box assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the adhesive means fixes both box sections to the wrapping sheet.

3. A collapsed pre-wrapped box assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the end walls of one box section are flat-folded inwardly and the end walls of the other box section are flat-folded outwardly.

4. A collapsed pre-wrapped box assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein one end edge of the wrapping sheet is substantially coincident with an edge of one of the box sections.

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