WO2006043067A2

WO2006043067A2 - An article comprising at least one flat blank

Info

Publication number: WO2006043067A2
Application number: PCT/GB2005/004046
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andrew Azorbo
Original assignee: Andrew Azorbo
Priority date: 2004-10-19
Filing date: 2005-10-19
Publication date: 2006-04-27
Also published as: GB2419302A; GB2419302B; GB0423191D0; WO2006043067A3

Abstract

An article comprises at least one flat blank (16, 18), the or each blank (16, 18) arranged to be erectable by folding into a 3D item, the or each blank (16, 18)being connected to a cover (10) comprising a sheet (12, 14) to protect the blank or blanks, and the or each blank being connected to the cover at only one side (19) thereof.

Description

An Article Comprising At Least One Flat Blank

The present invention relates to an article comprising at least one flat blank.

It is known to have a sheet on which there is drawn a blank, which is in the shape of, for example, an animal, soldier, car, building or the like. The blank is obtained by cutting around its periphery using a pair of scissors or a craft knife. However, this may require adult supervision and/or assistance, especially with young children. To overcome this disadvantage another known blank has at its periphery a perforated line so that the blank can be pushed out without the need of a knife or a pair of scissors. However, this form of push-out blank still has the disadvantage that the sheet may be torn when separating the blank from the sheet on which it is formed.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an article comprising at least one flat blank, the or each blank arranged to be erectable by folding into a 3D item, the or each blank being connected to a cover comprising a sheet to protect the blank or blanks, and the or each blank being connected to the cover at only one side thereof.

In this way the blank is connected in a manner so as to reduce the likelihood of ripping or tearing the body of the blank when detaching it from the cover. Also, the blank is protected by the cover so as to reduce the risk of accidental tearing, detachment or soiling.

The blank or blanks may be used to form a figure, which may be an animal figure.

The or at least one blank may be provided with at least one protruding flap extending from the main body of the erected item to represent one or more features of the character. The features may be, for example, legs, ears, arms or a tail. Advantageously, the or each blank is detachably connected to the cover sheet. The or each blank may be detachably attached to the cover by a weakened line, which is preferably a perforated line. Alternatively, the or each blank may be attached to the cover by releasably gluing the or each blank to the cover.

The cover may be provided with a tab on to which the or each blank is connected.

The or each blank may have at least one flap and may be connected to the cover at an edge of one or more flaps located on the same side of the or each blank, and preferably is connected to the cover at the edge of only one flap.

The or each blank may be made of card or cardboard.

In one embodiment the cover may comprise two hingedly connected sheets between which the blank or each of the blanks is sandwiched to protect the blank or blanks. This arrangement protects either side of the blank from being soiled, accidentally tom or detached. Preferably, each sheet is larger than the or each blank so as to cover the or each blank entirely. The two sheets may be hingedly connected through a fold line. Advantageously, the two hingedly connected sheets form a greeting card. The blank or blanks may be connected at or adjacent the hinge between the two sheets. Preferably, the or each sheet is made of card or cardboard.

The article may comprise a first and a second blank, the first blank, when erected, being connectable to the second blank so as to form the complete article.

Preferably, the first and second blank are provided with means for coupling the blanks together. The coupling means may be in the form of one or more slots provided in the first blank, the or each slot arranged to receive respective tabs provided on the second blank.

The or each blank may be arranged to be erected into a box which may be a parallelepiped and the parallelepiped may be a cuboid. Preferably, the or each blaiik is provided with a slit in one or more folds, the latter defining one or more edges of the parallelepiped and which slits are arranged to receive a flap so as to lock the figure into shape. In this way the blank is erected and held in shape by interlocking the or each slit with its associated flap and thereby alleviates the need for glue when erecting the blanks.

The or each slit may be provided between panels forming the sides of the parallelepiped.

The one or more slits may be provided in a flap extending from a fold defining the edge of the item.

Preferably, the flap extends inwardly into the item when erected.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an article to represent an object or figure, the article being constructed from at least one box, the or each box being folded from a flat blank, the or at least one box defining a flap protruding therefrom to represent a protruding feature of the object or figure.

Preferably, the article represents a figure and the or each protruding flap represents a feature such as a limb, ear, tail or the like.

The term "figure" as used herein is intended to encompass animals, humans, and invented or alien animals or beings, such as cartoon characters.

The or each box may be a parallelepiped, is preferably rectangular and may be a cuboid.

Preferably, the article includes two protruding flaps extending upwardly from the front face of the or one box when the figure is orientated in an upright position. The protruding flaps may represent ears of the figure. Conveniently, the box includes a tuck-in flap which tucks in behind the front face of the box. The article may include at least one, preferably two protruding flaps extending forwards from each side face of the or one box. The protruding flaps may represent arms and/or legs of the figure. The front face of the box may comprise a Hd panel which may have a tuck in flap.

The article in one embodiment includes at least one, preferably two, protruding flaps extending downwardly from each side face of the or one box. The protruding flaps may represent arms or legs of the figure. The underneath face of the box may comprise a lid panel which may have a tuck in flap.

The article may include a protruding flap extending rearwardly from the rear face of the or one box. The protruding flap may represent a tail of the figure. The box may include a tuck in flap which tucks behind the rear face of the box.

The article may comprise more than one box. Where the article represents a figure, one box may represent the head of the figure and one box may represent the torso of the figure. In one embodiment there are only two boxes, one representing the head of the figure and the other representing the remainder of the figure. Preferably, means is provided for connecting the boxes together. The connecting means may be mechanical means such as one or more tabs to be received in one or more slots. In another embodiment the article comprises a single box.

Embodiments of the present 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 article comprising a gift card and two blanks in a first embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2A is^" a plan view of one of the two blanks of the article of Figure 1; Figure 2B is a plan view of the other of the two blanks of the article of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a front perspective view of the fully erected and assembled blanks of the article of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is the view of Figure 3 showing the article with a face printed on; Figure 5 is a front perspective view of an article in another embodiment of the present invention; and

Figure 6 is a plan view of a flat blank arranged to be erected into the article of Figure 5.

Referring to Figure I₅ a gift card 10 comprises two sheets 12, 14 hingedly connected along a fold line 15. The card 10 is provided with two blanks 16, 18 arranged to form a figure.

Each blank 16, 18 is detachably connected to the card 10 by a perforated line of weakness 19 so as to reduce the likelihood of ripping or tearing the body of the blank 16,18 when detaching that blank from the card. In this embodiment, the blanks 16, 18 are connected along an edge of respective flaps 20, 80 to a tab 17 extending along the length of the fold-line 15 of the card 10.

Referring to Figure 2, the first blank 16 comprises a square front panel 30 which can be readily distinguished by the two protruding generally circular flaps 33. The front panel 30 is connected through parallel side fold-lines 32 to side square panels 34, 36, and is connected to a square bottom panel 38 through fold-line 40, which lies perpendicular to fold lines 32. The bottom panel 38 is connected to a flap 42 through a fold-line 44, which lies parallel with fold-line 40. The right hand side panel 36 in the figure is connected to a rear square panel 28 through a fold-line 46, which is parallel to fold-lines 32. In addition, the rear panel 28 is connected to a square top panel 24 through a fold-line 26 which top panel 24 is in turn connected to the flap 20 through fold-line 22. Fold-lines 22 and 26 are parallel to one another and perpendicular to fold-lines 32 and 46.

The rear panel 28 is also connected to a flap 48 through a fold-line 50, the latter being parallel to fold-lines 32 and 46. There is also provided a slot 52 coincident with fold-line 50 and which extends over a substantial length of the fold-line 50. The slot 52 is arranged to receive a flap 54 which is connected to side panel 34 through fold-line 56 which is parallel to fold line 32. The first blank 16 is also provided with a flap 58 connected to rear panel 28 through a fold-line 60, which is parallel to fold-line 26. A slot 62 is provided coincident with the fold-line 60 and which is arranged to receive the flap 42 when the blank is erected. In addition, the blank includes flaps 64 and 66 connected to respective side panels 34, 36 through respective fold-lines 68, 70. The fold-lines 68, 70 are co-linear with one another and are perpendicular to fold-lines 56, 32 and parallel to fold line 26.

When erecting the blank 16 into shape, flap 54 is inserted into slot 52 so that flap

48 is placed on an internal face of side panel 34 thereby locking the basic structure of the blank 16 into shape. Flaps 58,64 and 66 are folded through 90°. In addition, flap 42 is inserted into slot 62, flap 20 is tucked in behind the internal face of the front panel 30 so that flaps 64, 66 lie under the top panel 24.

The bottom panel 38 of the blank is provided with a pair of slots 72, 74 to receive respective tabs 76, 78 provided on a top panel 82 of the second blank 18. The tabs 76, 78 are formed by creating C-shaped slots in the top panel 82 which define the shape of the tabs 76, 78 and which tabs can be manipulated so as to extend outwardly from the planar face of the top panel 82, when the blank 18 is erected.

The second blank 18 comprises panels, slots, flaps and fold-lines arranged and laid out in a similar manner as those in the first blank 16. Only the differences from the first blank 16 will be discussed. The same reference numerals will be used for equivalent features.

Unlike the first blank 16 the second blank 18 is not provided with protruding flaps

33 on the corresponding front panel 30, and is instead provided with two protruding flaps 86 and 88 which extend forwardly, when the figure is erected, from the first side panel 34 and two protruding flaps 92, 94 forwardly from side panel 36. The flap 54 of the second blank 18 is of shorter extent than in the first blank 16. The second blank 18 is erected in a similar manner to that of the first blank 16 as described hereinbefore.

Referring also to Figure 3, when both blanks 16, 18 are erected they form two discrete cuboids 100, 102 which are attached to one another by inserting tabs 76, 78, provided on the second blank 18, into respective corresponding slots 72, 74 provided on the first blank 16, to create a fully assembled figure.

Referring also to Figure 4, in this embodiment the figure represents a panda in which the first cuboid 100 represents the head of the panda and the second cuboid 102 represents the torso of the panda. The first and second cuboids 100, 102 are provided with respective patterns to represent colouring and feature of the face and body of the panda. Thus, the circular flaps 33 represent the ears of the panda, and the protruding flaps 86, 88, 92, 94 represent its legs.

It is thus seen that the article is presented in a first form as shown in Figure 1 in which it resembles a greeting card. The blanks 16, 18 are flat and the sheets 12, 14 can fold around them so that the article is entirely flat, and the blanks 16, 18 are entirely covered and thereby protected by the sheets 12, 14. The article may be sold in this form. To make the figure shown in Figures 3 and 4, the blanks 16, 18 are detached from the sheets 12, 14 by tearing along the lines of weakness 19. As these lines are so short, as each defines merely the end of a flap of the blank, there is a reduced risk of tearing, and even if tearing should take place, the damage will be limited. Once the blanks 16, 18 have been detached they can be erected by folding and tucking in of flaps as described, without the need for glue to hold the blanks in shape. The flaps 33 and protruding flaps 86, 88, 92, 94 will protrude from the cuboid boxes thus formed and represent the ears and legs of the figures respectively.

Referring now to Figure 5, an article 150, in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention, is arranged to represent a creature. In this embodiment, the article is made from a single blank 160, which is arranged to be folded to form a box-like shape. The article 150 includes a number of protruding flaps 152, 154 and 156 that respectively represent the legs, ears and a tail of the creature.

Referring also to Figure 6, the article 150 is formed from a single blank 160 which is arranged with panels, flaps and fold-lines arranged in a similar manner to that of the first blank 16 of the first embodiment. The same reference numbers are used for equivalent features. Only the differences from the blank 16 of the first embodiment will be described.

The blank 160 includes two generally triangular protruding flaps 154 that extend upwardly from the front face panel 30 replacing the circular flaps 33 of the blank 16 of the first embodiment. Two generally triangular protruding flaps 152 extend downwardly from each side panel 34, 36, to represent legs of the creature. There is also provided an elongate triangular protruding flap 156, that replaces the flap 58 on blank 16, and which protruding flap 156 extends outwardly from a lower edge 168 of the rear panel 28. The elongate triangular protruding flap 156 represents the tail of the creature.

The blank 160 also differs from the blank 16 in that the lower face 38 of the blank 160 is not provided with slots for coupling to another erected blank. However, the lower face 38 is provided with two flaps 180, 182 which are parallel to one another and which are connected though parallel fold lines 184 and 186 respectively at the side edges of the panel 38. The fold lines 184, 186 are perpendicular to fold lines 44 and 40 of the blank 160. The flaps 180 and 182 are arranged so as to tuck in behind side panels 34 and 36 respectively. Ih this embodiment the flaps 184 and 182 do not extend along the full length of the lower panel 38.

Blank 160 also differs from blank 16 in that flap 186, which corresponds to flap 42 of blank 16, is more elongate than flap 42 such that when the blank 160 is erected, the flap 186 extends along a substantial portion of the internal face of rear panel 24.

The material of the sheets 12, 14 and of the blanks 16, 18, 160 can be made from card or cardboard. In the second embodiment the blank 160 when flat is sandwiched between the two sheets 12, 14 of the card 10, so as to protect both sides of each blank 160 from being damaged or soiled. Furthermore, the blank 160 is connected to the card 10 at only one side thereof through line of weakness 19 at the end of flap 20. This arrangement provides a blank which can be easily detached from the card 10. By forming the blank 160 into a cuboid base, the protruding flaps 154, 152, 156 naturally protrude in the correct positions for the features of the animal that they represent, namely the ears, legs and tail respectively.

It will be appreciated that the various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the or each blank may be glued to the tab 80 instead of connected via a perforated line and/or the blanks may be attached to the gift card via a number of discrete tabs. Where glue is used it may be an easy release glue, such as the type used on Post-it (TM) notes.

Claims

1. An article comprising at least one flat blank, the or each blank arranged to be erectable by folding into a 3D item, the or each blank being connected to a cover comprising a sheet to protect the blank or blanks, and the or each blank being connected to the cover at only one side thereof.

2. An article as claimed in claim I₅ wherein the blank or blanks are erectable to form a figure.

3. An article as claimed in claim 2, wherein the blank or blanks are erectable to form an animal figure.

4. An article as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the or at least one blank is provided with at least one protruding flap extending from the main body of the erected item to represent one or more features of the character, such as a leg, ear, arm or tail.

5. An article as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the or each blank is detachably connected to the cover sheet.

6. An article as claimed in claim 5, wherein the or each blank is detachably attached to the cover by a weakened line.

7. An article as claimed in claim 6, wherein the or each blank is detachably connected to the cover sheet through a perforated line.

8. An article as claimed in claim 5, wherein the or each blank is attached to the cover by releasably gluing the or each blank to the cover.

9. An article as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the cover is provided with a tab to which the or each blank is connected.

10. An article as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the or each blank has at least one flap and is connected to the cover at an edge of one or more flaps located on the same side of the or each blank.

11. An article as claimed in claim 10, wherein the or each blank is connected to the cover at the edge of only one flap.

12. An article as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the or each blank is made of card or cardboard.

13. An article as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the cover comprises two hingedly connected sheets between which the blank or each of the blanks is sandwiched to protect the blank or blanks.

14. An article as claimed in claim 13, wherein each sheet is larger than the or each blank so as to cover the or each blank entirely.

15. An article as claimed in claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the two sheets are hingedly connected through a fold line.

16. An article as claimed in claim 15, wherein the two hingedly connected sheets form a greeting card.

17. An article as claimed in any of claims 13 to 16, wherein each sheet is made of card or cardboard.

18. An article as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the article comprises a first and a second blank, the first blank, when erected, being connectable to the second blank so as to form the complete article.

19. An article as claimed in claim 18, wherein the first and second blank are provided with coupling means for coupling the blanks together.

20. An article as claimed in claim 19, wherein the coupling means is in the form of one or more slots provided in the first blank, the or each slot arranged to receive respective tabs provided on the second blank.

21. An article as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the or blank is arranged to be erected into a box.

22. An article as claimed in claim 21, wherein the or each blank is arranged to be erected into a parallelepiped box.

23. An article as claimed in claim 22, wherein the or each blank is provided with a slit in one or more folds, the or each fold defining one or more edges of the parallelepiped box and which slit or slits are arranged to receive a flap so as to lock the item into shape.

24. An article as claimed in claim 23, wherein the or at least one slit is provided between panels forming the sides of the parallelepiped box.

25. An article as claimed in claim 23 or claim 24, wherein the or at least one slit is provided in a flap extending from a fold defining the edge of the item.

26. An article as claimed in claim 25, wherein the flap extends inwardly into the item when erected.

27. An article to represent an object or figure, the article being constructed from at least one box, the or each box being folded from a flat blank, the or at least one box defining a flap protruding therefrom to represent a protruding feature of the object or figure.

28. Au article as claimed in claim 27, wherein the article represents a figure and the or each protruding flap represents a feature such as a limb, ear, tail or the like.

29. An article as claimed in claim 27 or claim 28, wherein the or each box is a parallelepiped.

30. An article as claimed in claim 27, 28 or 29, wherein the article includes two protruding flaps extending upwardly from the front face of the or one box when the figure is orientated in an upright position.

31. An article as claimed in claim 30, wherein the protruding flaps represent ears of the figure.

32. An article as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the box includes a tuck-in flap which tucks in behind the front face of the box.

33. An article as claimed in any of claims 27 to 32, wherein the article includes at least one protruding flap extending forwards from each side face of the or one box.

34. An article as claimed in claim 33, wherein the article includes two protruding flaps extending forwards from each side face of the or one box.

35. An article as claimed in claim 33 or claim 34, wherein the protruding flaps represent arms and/or legs of the figure.

36. An article as claimed in claim 33, 34 or 35, wherein the front face of the box carrying the flaps comprises a lid panel which has a tuck-in flap.

37. An article as claimed in any of claims 27 to 36, wherein the article includes at least one protruding flap extending downwardly from each side face of the or one box.

38. An article as claimed in claim 37, wherein the article includes two protruding flaps extending downwardly from each side face of the or one box.

39. An article as claimed in claim 37 or claim 38, wherein the downwardly protruding flaps represent arms or legs of the figure.

40. An article as claimed in claim 37, 38 or 39, wherein the underneath face of the box carrying the downwardly protruding flaps comprises a lid panel which has a tuck-in flap.

41. An article as claimed in any of claims 27 to 40, wherein the article includes a protruding flap extending rearwardly from the rear face of the or one box.

42. An article as claimed in claim 41, wherein the protruding flap represents a tail of the figure.

43. An article as claimed in claim 41 or claim 42, wherein the box includes a tuck-in flap which tucks behind the rear face of the box

44. An article as claimed in any of claims 27 to 43, wherein the article comprises more than one box.

45. An article as claimed in claim 44, wherein where the article represents a figure, one box may represent the head of the figure and one box may represent the torso of the figure.

46. An article as claimed in claim 44, wherein the article comprises only two boxes, one representing the head of the figure and the other representing the remainder of the figure.

47. An article as claimed in 44, 45 or 46, wherein means is provided for connecting the boxes together.

48. An article as claimed in claim 47, wherein the connecting means is mechanical means such as one or more tabs to be received in one or more slots.

49. An article as claimed in any of claims 27 to 43, wherein the article comprises a single box.

50. An article substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 to 4 or 5 and 6.