US3767109A

US3767109A - Box cover and combination cover and box

Info

Publication number: US3767109A
Application number: US00244747A
Authority: US
Inventors: R Paige
Original assignee: Gift Box Corp of America
Current assignee: Gift Box Corp of America
Priority date: 1972-04-17
Filing date: 1972-04-17
Publication date: 1973-10-23
Anticipated expiration: 1990-10-23

Abstract

An improved box cover and combination box and cover are disclosed wherein the cover is flat and includes a central portion and two end portions hingedly attached to opposite ends thereof. The cover is for use with a box having side and end walls and two flaps extending inwardly from the opposed end walls. The end portions of the cover are adapted to be received between the flaps and the box side walls adjacent the flaps.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Paige Oct. 23, 1973 [54] BOX COVER AND COMBINATION COVER 1,612,166 12/1926 Baldwin 229/43 X AND BOX 1,047,024 12/1912 Fealdson.... 229/43 X 3,498,492 3/1970 McCrea 229/43 X [75] Inventor: Richard E- Paige, e York, NY 3,245,527 4/1966 Martin 229/43 x [73] Assignee: Gift Box Corporation of America,

New York NX Primary Examiner-Davis T. Moorehead Att0rneyLaurence R. Hefter [22] Filed: Apr. 17, 1972 Appl. N0; 244,747

U.S. Cl 229/43, 229/38, 229/23 BT Int. Cl. 865d 43/00 Field of Search 229/38, 39 B, 43,

229/41 B, 41 A, 23 BT References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1960 Ullger ..229 4113 8/1967 Kramer ..229/38 [57] ABSTRACT An improved box cover and combination box and cover are disclosed wherein the cover is flat and includes a central portion and two end portions hingedly attached to opposite ends thereof. The cover is for use with a box having side and end walls and two flaps extending inwardly from the opposed end walls. The end portions of the cover are adapted to be received between the flaps and the box side walls adjacent the flaps.

11 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures BOX COVER AND COMBINATION COVER AND BOX BACKGROUND OF THIS INVENTION This invention relates to improvements in gift boxes, especially gift boxes madeof cardboard, paperboard or other foldable sheet material, which are shipped in a flattened position to the retailer. More particularly, this invention relates to an improved cover for gift boxes which is aesthetically attractive, easy to ship, assemble and remove, difficult to accidentally dislodge and inexpensive to manufacture. This invention also relates to the combination of the cover and a box to receive the cover.

Boxes for wrapping gifts often are used by retail stores to build favorable store images, gain and maintain customers, create extra gift sales and obtain maximum advertising through box use and reuse. These panels, one at each end of the central panel and attached to the central panel along a fold line. The central panel, measured along a line parallel and adjacent to the fold lines, has a dimension at least equal to and preferably slightly greater than the distance between the opposed end walls of the box. The side edges of the central panel curve inwardly toward the center of the central panel to form an aesthetically attractive sculpboxes come in two basic forms, namely asset-up 1 boxes and as folding boxes. Set-up boxes are boxes which are shipped in a fully set up position by the box manufacturer. Folding boxes are supplied tothe retail stores as flat blanks, and are assembled into a container by store personnel; conventionally, covers sides of box caused by the overlapping relationship of the box top and bottom. This overlap makes itdifficult to neatly and tightlywrap paper around the box, especially if the box is packed compactly.

For the set-up tops, the manufacturing procedure requires taping the corners of. the covers and then wrapping the covers with sheetmaterial, such as paper. Setup covers take up considerable space in the warehouse and at the store counter. Furthermore, because of the volume of storage space taken by each cover, the great majority of which is air, itis almosteconomically impossible to ship set-up covers long distances.

Folding covers require the gluing of the corner tabs to an adjacentside panel by the manufacturer and the setting up and interlocking of corner lock tabs by store personnel. While foldingboxes take up less space than set-up covers, many such covers are less attractive because fold lines are observable.

Accordingly, itis one objective of this invention to provide an aesthetically appealing box cover which is easily and quickly assembled, which is inexpensive to manufacture, ship and store, and-which, while being easy to remove from the box bottom, is difficult to accidentally dislodge.

It is another objective of this invention to provide a gift box which provides an aesthetically appealing sculptured and artistic effect, is easy to open and close and whose closure is secure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention,=in one form comprises a box cover for use with a box, which box includes a bottom panel, two side walls, two end walls and two dust flaps, one dust flap extendinginwardly from each of the opposed end walls. The cover includes a central panel and two end tured effect and to provide a means whereby the cover can be easily grasped and lifted for removal.

In order to place the cover on the box the end panels are folded downwardly along fold lines and are tucked in the narrow spaces between the dust flaps and the side walls adjacent thereto. The portions of the central panels which are wider than the distance between the end walls of the box extend over the end walls of the box and rest upon these end walls thereby using the boxs end walls as supporting structure for the cover rather than relying upon support from the dust flaps.

DRAWINGS The above objectives and advantages and this invention will be better understood from the detailed des'cription below taken together with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the combination of a box. and cover formed in accordance with this invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded view of the box and cover of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a box cover formed in accordance with this invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a fiat blank from which the box of FIG. 1 is formed.

FIG. 5 is a perspective upwardly-looking view of the box of FIG. 1 showing the bottom wall contruction.

FIG. 6 is an end view of the box of FIG. 1 in its flat folded position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION With reference to the drawings, and more particularly FIGS. 1 and 2,.there is illustrated a gift box 10 including a cover 12 and box 14, shown in their erect and closed position (FIG. 1) and shown with the cover 12 spaced from the box 14 (FIG. 2). Throughout this specification and appendedclaims the term box is used to describe the bottom member 14 of the gift box 10. While the primary intended use of this invention is for giftb'oxes it is also understood that this invention can be used on other types of boxes as well. Furthermore, terms of orientation such as upper, lower, inner and outer are used with the reference to the gift box 10 as shown in FIG. 1 for purposes of description only and are not intended to serve as limitations.

The cover 12 is formed from a blank 16 illustrated in FIG. 3. The box 14 may take the form of any of a number of box body constructions and can be of the set-up or folding type. The one which is illustrated and discussed herein is formed from the blank 18 illustrated in FIG. 4. The

blanks

16, 18 for the cover and box may be cut from sheet material such as cardboard, solid fiber, paperboard, or other suitable foldable sheet material.

One form of the box which is well suited for use with the cover 12 is box 14 which comprises a bottom wall 20, two

opposing side walls

22,24, two

opposing end walls

26,28 and two flaps (dust flaps) 30,32. The dust flaps are hingedly connected along

fold lines

34,36 to the

end walls

26,28 respectively. The box 14 illustrated in FIG. 1,2 and is formed from the blank 18 illustrated in FIG. 4 where the panels for the side walls, and dust flaps are denoted by the same numbers as are used above with respect to the walls themselves. The bottom wall is formed from the

several panels

38,40,42,44 attached along a fold line 45 to the

walls

22,24,26,28 respectively. The

panels

38 and 42 are divided into two portions by

perforated fold lines

46,48 namely,

first portions

50,51 adjacent to the

panels

40,44 respectively and

second portions

52,53 remote therefrom.

In order to convert the blank 18 into a folding box 14 a glue flap 54 which is attached to one wall 22 along a fold line 55 is adhesively secured to the interior surface of the wall panel 28 which is adjacent to it when the blank is folded along the fold lines separating the walls. The exterior surface of the

bottom panels

40,44 are adhesively secured to the interior surface of the

first portions

50,51 adjacent thereto. With those portions glued together the box 14 may be folded flat as illustrated in FIG. 6. By pushing on the ends of the flat-folded box of FIG. 6, the box 14 and bottom wall 20 automatically sets up as can be seen in F IG. 5 with the

panels

38 and 42 interlocking to form a closed and locked bottom wall 20.

With box 14 set up as shown in FIG. 2 it is now ready to receive the cover 12. The cover is produced and shipped as a single flat piece 16 (see FIG. 3) which requires no gluing or interlocking of corners. The cover 12 is formed with three panels or portions, namely a central portion 60 and two

end portions

62,64 hingedly attached to the central portion 60 along fold lines 66,68 respectively. The width of the

end portions

62,64 is slightly less than the distance between the

end walls

26,28. The central portion 60 is contoured such that at least a portion of its width measured parallel and adjacent to the fold lines 66,68 at least equal to and preferably slightly greater than the distance between the

end walls

26,28. The

side edges

69,70 of the central portion 60 at its four corners 7 1,72,74,76 extend beyond the side edges of the

end portions

62,64. In other words, the distance between the

corners

71,72 and between the

corners

74,76 is greater than the width of the

end portions

62,64 and is also at least equal to, and preferably slightly greater than, the distance between the

end walls

26,28 of the box 14.

The cover 12 is mounted on the box 14 by folding the

end portions

62,64 downwardly along the fold lines 66,68 respectively and inserting the

end portions

62,64 into the narrow space between the side edges of the dust flaps 30,32 and the side walls 22,24 (see FIG. 2). Because of the distance between the

corners

71,72 and 74,76 of the central portion 60, the central portion rests upon and is supported by the

end walls

26,28 and

dust panels

30,32 rather than solely by the

dust panels

30,32.

The side edges 69,70 of the central portion 60 are provided with an inwardly curved contour which, in addition to being decorative, provides an edge which is easy to grasp when it is desired to remove the cover 12 from the box 14. To further enhance the design of the gift box 10 and to further simplify removal of the cover,

, the

upper edges

80,82 of the

side walls

22,24 of the box 14 also are provided with a downwardly curved contour. This permits the user to easily grasp the

end portions

62,64 of the cover 12 to lift the cover from the box 14.

The finished appearance of the combined box and cover is neat and streamlined with no protruding edges and no unsightly scores or fold lines for folding the cover.

The curvature of the central portion side edges and the upper edges of the side walls produces an artistic sculptured effect which ties the cover 12 and box 14 together instead of being two obviously independent elements. The cover and box each form a visable part of the other and, through the use of colors or patterns, or both, an integral sculptured effect is achieved. This also permits the use of relatively inexpensive exterior finishing of the box 14 with quality exterior finishing of the cover 12 to produce a quality appearance for the combination. While one particular design or curvature has been illustrated, it is understood that other designs, such as scallops, also are contemplated.

Because the cover is flat and relatively small and has no overlapping or interlocking glue or lock tabs and no fold lines appearing on the flat surface thereof, the cover of this invention is easier and less expensive to print and laminate.

The elimination of the overhang as usually exists with a telescoping cover makes it difficult to accidentally knock the cover off the box in spite of the fact that it is easy to mount on and remove from the box. The elimination of the overhang also allows the gift box 10 to be wrapped with paper easily and smoothly without bulges. The cover is inexpensive to manufacture since all that is necessary is that it be stamped from paperboard or other sheet material and no gluing or interlocking of comer tabs is required. Since the cover remains flat at all times when not in use, it is inexpensive to ship and store.

I claim:

1. A box cover for use with a box having a bottom wall, two opposed side walls, two opposed end walls and two flaps, one flap extending inwardly from each of the end walls, the cover comprising a flat member having a central portion, first end and second end portions, the first end portion being hingedly attached to one end of the central portion, the second end portion being hingedly attached to the opposite end of the central portion, the central portion having opposed side edges, at least a portion of the central portion side edges extending outwardly beyond the side edges of the first and second end portions, the first and second end portions being adapted to be received between the flaps and the side walls adjacent thereto.

2. A box cover as defined in claim 1 wherein the first and second end portions are connected along fold lines to the central portion and wherein at least a protion of the width of the central portion measured parallel to the fold lines is less than the distance between the end walls of the box.

3. A box cover as defined in claim 1 wherein the first and second end portions are connected along fold lines to the central portion and wherein at least a portion of the width of the central portion measured parallel to the fold lines is at least equal to the distance between the end walls of the box.

4. A box cover as defined in claim 2 wherein at least a second portion of the width of the central portion measured parallel to the fold lines is at least equal to the distance between the end walls.

5. A combination box and cover,

a. a box including a bottom wall, two opposed side walls, two opposed end walls, and two flaps, one flap extending inwardly from the upper edge of each of the end walls,

b. the cover unattached to the box including a memher having a central portion, first and second end portions connected along fold lines to the opposite ends of the central portion, a portion of the width of the central portion measured parallel to the fold lines being at least equal to the distance between the end walls of the box, the first and second end portions being adapted to be received between the flaps and the side walls adjacent thereto.

6. A combination box and cover as defined in claim 5 wherein the first and second end portions are connected along fold lines to the central portion and wherein at least a second portion of the width of the central portion measured parallel to the fold lines is less than the distance between the end walls of the box.

7. A box cover for use with a box having a bottom wall, two opposed side walls, two opposed end walls and two flaps, one flap extending inwardly from each 'of the end walls, the cover comprising a flat member having a central portion, a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion being hingedly attached to one end of the central portion, the second end portion being hingedlyattached to the opposite end of the central portion, at least a portion of the width of the central portion being unequal to the distance between the end walls of the box and unequal to the distance between the side edges of its first and secend end portions, the first and second end portions of the cover being adapted to be received between the flaps and side walls adjacent thereto of the box.

8. A combination box and cover,

a. the box including a bottom wall, two opposed side walls, two opposed end walls, and two flaps, one flap extending inwardly from the upper edge of each of the end walls,

b. the cover unattached to the box including a flap member having a central portion, including first and second end portions connected along fold lines to opposite ends of the central portion, at least a portion of the width of the central portion measured parallel to the fold lines being unequal to the distance between the end walls of the box and unequal to the distance between the side edges of the first and second end portions, the first and second end portions being adapted to be received between the flaps and side walls adjacent thereto.

9. A combination box and cover as defined in claim 8 wherein at least one side edge of said central portion is curved inwardly toward the center of said central portion.

10. A combination box and cover as defined in claim 6 wherein at least a second portion of the width of the central portion measured parallel to the fold lines is at least equal to the distance between the end walls of the box.

11. A combination box and cover in claim 5 wherein the upper edges of the side walls are curved downwardly toward the bottom wall.

Claims

5. A combination box and cover, a. a box including a bottom wall, two opposed side walls, two opposed end walls, and two flaps, one flap extending inwardly from the upper edge of each of the end walls, b. the cover unattached to the box including a member having a central portion, first and second end portions connected along fold lines to the opposite ends of the central portion, a portion of the width of the central portion measured parallel to the fold lines being at least equal to the distance between the end walls of the box, the first and second end portions being adapted to be received between the flaps and the side walls adjacent thereto.

7. A box cover for use with a box having a bottom wall, two opposed side walls, two opposed end walls and two flaps, one flap extending inwardly from each of the end walls, the cover comprising a flat member having a central portion, a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion being hingedly attached to one end of the central portion, the second end portion being hingedly attached to the opposite end of the central portion, at least a portion of the width of the central portion being unequal to the distance between the end walls of the box and unequal to the distance between tHe side edges of its first and second end portions, the first and second end portions of the cover being adapted to be received between the flaps and side walls adjacent thereto of the box.

8. A combination box and cover, a. the box including a bottom wall, two opposed side walls, two opposed end walls, and two flaps, one flap extending inwardly from the upper edge of each of the end walls, b. the cover unattached to the box including a flap member having a central portion, including first and second end portions connected along fold lines to opposite ends of the central portion, at least a portion of the width of the central portion measured parallel to the fold lines being unequal to the distance between the end walls of the box and unequal to the distance between the side edges of the first and second end portions, the first and second end portions being adapted to be received between the flaps and side walls adjacent thereto.