WO2008020433A1

WO2008020433A1 - A package adapted for holding a substantially flat object

Info

Publication number: WO2008020433A1
Application number: PCT/IL2007/001010
Authority: WO
Inventors: Aliza Frenkel
Original assignee: Aliza Frenkel
Priority date: 2006-08-14
Filing date: 2007-08-13
Publication date: 2008-02-21
Also published as: IL177476A0

Abstract

A package (10,110,210) comprised of a single sheet of material (5,105,205) with first, second and third sections separated by folding lines. The sections are detachably attachable to each other via slits and slit engaging portions formed therein. When each section is folded across its folding lines and attached via each slit and slit engaging portion, the package is adapted to secure an object (100,200) held therein from six sides.

Description

A PACKAGE ADAPTED FOR HOLDING A SUBSTANTIALLY

FLAT OBJECT

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the field of packages in general and particularly to card-like packages that are adapted to hold objects, in particular flat objects such as checks, compact discs (CDs), cards with magnetic strips, or objects with flat edges such as cosmetic samples, and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention particularly refers to a package of the kind disclosed in US 6,978,562, which is in the form of a card made of a single sheet of material comprising at least two sections separated by a single folding line, a first of the two sections having a smaller dimension than the second section in the direction perpendicular to the folding line. One of the two sections is formed with at least one slit spaced from the folding line and the other section is formed with at least one slit-engaging portion insertable into the at least one slit when the package is folded along the folding line. Thereby, the first section lies flat over the second section and a pocket is formed for holding a flat object.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a package comprised of a single sheet of material with sections separated by folding lines and having slits and slit engaging portions formed in cooperating regions thereof via which these regions may be detachably attached to each other, when the package is folded. The folding lines and the cooperating regions of the sections in the package are designed so that, when all sections are folded across all folding lines therebetween and all slit engaging portions engage the slits, a pocket is formed in the package adapted to secure an object held therein from six sides. For the puφoses of the specification and claims:

- the term "package" refers only to packages of the "gift-sample" type, i.e. packages designed to hold substantially flat objects, which have a thickness essentially less than all its other dimensions, and are foldable in a manner similar to that of a greeting card. Gift-sample packages of the type referred are used, for example, as inserts in magazines or for mass-postal advertising promotions, and commonly include a free promotional-object such as a CD or a cosmetic sample;

- when two sections are folded across a folding line and this line is described as separating between the two sections, this line constitutes a single separation line therebetween, and when the package holds an object, these sections will be parallel to each other to the degree allowed by the shape of the object. For example, in an embodiment of a package of the present invention adapted to secure a flat object therein, such as a compact disc (CD), each two sections thereof that are separated by a folding line, when folded across this folding line and all slit engaging portions engage the slits, will lie substantially flat and parallel with respect to each other. In an alternative example, a package of the present invention adapted to secure an object having a bulging portion, such as a cosmetic sample, each two sections thereof that are separated by a folding line, when folded across this folding line and all slit engaging portions engage the slits, may be somewhat curved and, nonetheless, remain substantially parallel to each other.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, the package comprises at least a first and a second section separated by a first folding line. One of the first and second sections is formed with at least one first slit spaced from the first folding line, and the other one is formed with at least one corresponding first slit-engaging portion detachably insertable into the at least one slit, when the package is folded along the first folding line. The package further includes at least a third section separated from the second section by a second folding line oriented transversely relative to the first folding line. One of the third and the second sections is formed with at least one second slit, and the other one is formed with at least one corresponding second slit engaging portion detachably insertable into the at least one second slit, when the package is folded along the second folding line. When the three sections are folded across the two folding lines and all their slit engaging portions engage the corresponding slits, a pocket is formed in the package adapted to enclose an object held therein, from six sides. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the package further includes a fourth section, separated from any one of the first, second or third sections by a third folding line. The third folding line may be spaced from the second folding line, when the package is folded across each of the folding lines, by a distance equal to the length of the section from which the forth section is separated by the third folding line, which length is parallel to the first folding line. In this embodiment, the fourth section may further comprise a third slit engaging portion to which the third section may further comprise a slit engaging portion for attachment thereto.

In accordance with any of the above aspects of the invention, the package may secure an object from six sides without a fourth section or the package being secured by the slit or slit engaging portions of the third section. This may be accomplished by the first section having a cutout formed therein to hold a portion of the object thereby, with the remainder of the object projecting from the cutout in the direction away from the first folding line, lying over the second section of the package, hi such a case the dimensions of the cutout and its distance from the first folding line should suit the dimensions of the portion of the object which is being held by the cutout. Also, in this case, the package may have a third section with a dimension in the direction perpendicular to the first folding line, such as to cover the cutout and the portion of the object projecting therefrom. Alternatively, the first section may be formed with a cutout simply serving as a window in the pocket, formed between the first and second sections, enabling viewing the object held in the pocket without taking it out or opening the pocket.

The package may be designed so that, when it is folded along the first folding line and the first slit-engaging portion in one of the first and second sections - A -

is inserted into the first slit in the other section, the first section lies flatly over the second section, whereby the pocket is adapted for tightly holding a flat object.

The first section may have a first length thereof, which is smaller in magnitude than a second length of the second section, which lengths are both perpendicular to the first folding line and extend between the first folding line and distal edges of the first and second sections, respectively. Additionally, the second length is larger in magnitude than a third length of an object the package is adapted to enclose therein, which third length is parallel to the second length when the object is enclosed within the package as described above. Shapes of the first and second sections may vary, in which case the above lengths refer to the maximum lengths of the sections. Also, the design of the slit-engaging portion and the slits may vary as well as their dimensions.

The attachment of the first section to the second section may be performed in a number of ways. For example, the at least one first slit may be formed in the second section of the package, and the corresponding at least one first slit-engaging portion may be formed in the first section of the package. The slit in the second portion may be parallel to the folding line with the slit-engaging portion in the first section being in the form of a tab accordingly projecting from the edge of the first portion opposite the folding line. Alternatively, the second section of the package may have a plurality of first slits, which may be oriented transversely to the folding line, with the first slit-engaging portions being located at the side edges of the first section. Also, the second section may comprise two diagonal first slits positioned to receive two respective corners of the first section. Other examples are possible, where the first slit is formed in the first section and the corresponding first slit- engaging portion is formed in the second section, or the first and the second sections are each formed with both a tab and a slit to form slit-tab interengaging pairs with corresponding slit and tab of the other section..

The package may further comprise a cover section, substantially equal in size to the second section, separated therefrom by an additional folding line parallel to the first folding line between the first and second sections. When the package is folded across all its folding lines, the cover section covers the first, second and third (and in cases where such exists, fourth) sections, to form an external face of the package. The cover section may be formed with a fourth slit engaging portion insertable into at least a fourth slit, which may be formed in the third section. The third section is described above as being separated by the second folding line from the second section, with its second slit or slit engaging portion being adapted to detachably engage the respective second slit engaging portion or second slit of the second section. Alternatively or additionally, the respective second slit engaging portion or slit may be formed in the first or fourth sections. In particular, if the third section is formed with the second slit engaging portion and the second slits are formed on either the first and/or second and/or fourth sections, the third section may be inserted simultaneously into each of the second slits formed in the first section and/or the second section and/or the fourth section.

The package with the pocket in accordance with the present invention is simple and inexpensive in manufacture, being made of a single sheet of material and having a relatively small number of sections and, consequently, a small number of folding lines, and is easily foldable by a user to form a card suitable for insertion in an envelope. It is particularly advantageous for enclosing such popular gifts as checks, compact discs (CDs), cards with magnetic strips, and the like, since they may be safely held due to the package being adapted to secure them from six sides. Where desired, the package may be utilized to hold more than a single object.

It is particularly advantageous that in the package of the present invention no adhesive is needed to form the pocket therein. However, adhesive means may be optionally added to secure the closure of the entire package e.g. by bonding the section of the package to be folded last to the remainder of the package. This option enables the package to be sent by post without an envelope, for example when the package is being used as a greeting card. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to understand the invention and to see how it may be carried out in practice, embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a plan view of a sheet of material for forming a package in accordance with a first aspect of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the sheet shown in Fig. 1, in the process of being folded to form a pocket in the package;

Figs. 3A and 3B are plan views of a sheet of which a package is made in accordance with alternative embodiments of the first aspect of the present invention;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a package in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention, with a pocket and a flap covering it;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a sheet of material for forming a package in accordance with still a further alternative of an embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a sheet of material for forming a package in accordance with a further aspect of the present invention;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a package in Fig. 6, with a pocket and a flap covering it;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a sheet of material for forming a package in accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the sheet shown in Fig. 8, in the process of being folded to form a pocket in the package; and Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a package made from the sheet shown in

Fig. 8, with a pocket and a flap covering it.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Fig. 1 shows a sheet 5 of material for forming a package 10 in accordance with one example of the present invention, depicted in Figs. 2 and 4. The material of which the sheet is made may be any suitable for packages such as cardboard, plastic and the like. The package 10 is designed for holding an object 100 (Fig. 2), in the form of a credit card having a length Ll and a width Wl.

The sheet 5 comprises a first section 20, a second section 30, a third section 60 and a cover section 40. The first and the second sections 20 and 30 are separated by a first folding line 15, and the second and the third sections 30 and 60 are separated by a second folding line 18, and the second and cover sections 30 and 40 are separated by a third folding line 16. The lengths of the folding lines 15 and 16, as well as of the corresponding dimension L2 of the entire sheet, are greater in than the length Ll of the object 100.

The first section 20 has a length d smaller than the corresponding length D of the second section 30, which lengths are both perpendicular to the first folding line, the length d being not less than the width Wl of the object 100.

The second section 30 is formed with a slit 25 parallel to the first folding line 15 and spaced therefrom to a distance essentially equal or greater than the length d referred to above. The length of the slit 25 is between 25% and 75%, in particular between 40% and 60%, of the length of the first folding line 15. The first section 20 is formed with a slit-engaging portion in the form of a tab 35 whose length is slightly less than the length of the slit 25 and whose width in the direction perpendicular to the slit, is only that large as to ensure the sufficiently firm engagement between the slit 25 and the tab 35.

Alternatively, as can be seen in Fig. 3A and Fig. 3B, the second section 30 of the sheet 5 may have a plurality of slits 26 or 27 which may be oriented transversely to the first folding line 15. In Fig. 3 A, the slits are perpendicular to the first folding line 15 and slit-engaging tabs 36 are located at side edges of the first section 20. In Fig. 3B, the slits 27 are oriented at an acute angle to the first folding line 15 to receive two respective corners 37 of the first section 20. In both cases, the first section 20 is shorter than the second section 30 in the direction along the first folding line 15. It should be noted that in all of the above cases the second section 30 is formed with at least one slit transverse, in Figs. 1, 2, 3B and 4 indicated by the numeral 66 and in Fig. 3A indicated by the numeral 26, which is adapted for engagement with the third section 60, as will be explained hereinafter.

Reverting to Figs. 1 and 2, the first section 20 is formed with a cutout 45 having a pair of first edges 47 generally co-directional with the first folding line 15 and a pair of second edges 49 generally transverse to the first folding line 15. The first section 20 is further formed with a slit 66, disposed adjacent to a so-called "distant second edge 49", which is the further of the two second edges 49 from the second folding line 18. One of the first edges 47 is located adjacent to the tab 35, extending along most of the width L2 of the sheet 5. Thereby, a holding area 50 is formed in the first section 20 between the edge 47 of the cutout 45 and the tab 35, adapted to exert pressure towards the second section 30 when the tab 35 is inserted in the slit 25. This provides a holding force on the object 100 when secured in the pocket 70 of the package 10. Additionally, the cutout 45 serves as a window to the pocket 70 enabling the recipient of the package to see the object 100 held therein without taking it out or opening the pocket. The cutout 45 may be made of smaller dimensions than those defined above, for example when there is no need to form the holding area 50, or to form the window in the pocket 70.

The sheet 5 further comprises a third section 60 projecting from one of the edges 17 of the second section 30, and separated from the second section 30 by a second folding line 18. The third section 60 has two side edges 62 of which one is co-linear with the first folding line 15 between the first and second sections 20 and 30, and a remote edge 64 extending between the side edges 62 and opposite the second folding line 18. The remote edge 64 of the third section 60 is spaced from the second folding line 18 to a distance substantially equal to that between the second folding line 18 and a central point between the distant second edge 49 of the cutout 45, and the slit 66 of the first section 20. The remote edge 64 of the third section 60 is formed with a slit engaging portion 61, in the form of a tongue, so that, when the package is folded as shown in Fig. 4, the tongue 61 engages the slit 66 formed in the first section 20 and the slit 68 formed in the second section 30, with the third section 60 covering the cutout 45. It should be noted, that in the example shown in Fig. 3 A the slit engaging portion 61 would engage the slit 26 in addition to the engagement thereof by one of the slit-engaging tabs 36.

Fig. 4 illustrates the package 10 formed with the pocket 70 as shown in Fig. 2. To form the package 10, the object 100 (not seen) was placed on the second section 30, the sheet 5 was folded along the first folding line 15 and the tab 35 was inserted into the slit 25, which resulted in the first section 20 lying over the second section 30 with the object 100 held therebetween. The third section 60 was then folded along the second folding line 18 and the tongue 61 was inserted into the slit 66 formed in the first section 20 and subsequently into the slit 68 formed in the second section 30. Thereby, the pocket 70 was formed for securing the object 100 enclosed therein from six sides. It should be explained that the object 100 is secured in the package 10 from six sides as follows: two opposing sides of the object are held between the second section 30 and, in this example, the first and third sections 20 and 60; the object 100 is prevented from exiting the package by sliding out of one of the four remaining sides due to the barriers formed along the first folding lines 15 and 18 and the barriers formed by the engagement of the tab 35 and the slit 25, and the engagement of the tongue 61 and the slit 68. To close the package 10, the cover section 40 was folded along the third folding line 16 to cover the first, second and third sections, respectively numbered 20, 30 and 60. It should be noted that the cover section 40 is not needed to secure the object 100 in the package 10 and is therefore optionally included.

Fig. 6 shows a sheet 105 of material for forming a package 110 in accordance with another example of the present invention. Package 110 is similar to the package 10 shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, with the exceptions of an additional, fourth section 180, an additional slit engaging portion 146 in the form of a tab, formed on cover section 140 adapted to engage an additional slit 165 formed in third section 160, and a lack of a corresponding slit 68 in second section 130 for tongue 161 to be inserted therein. The fourth section 180 comprises a slit 184 formed therein and is separated from the second section 130 by a fourth folding line 182. The slit 184 is formed so that, when the fourth section 180 is folded along the fourth folding line 182, the tongue 161 is able to engage both the slit 166 in the first section 120 and the slit 184 formed in the fourth section 180 simultaneously.

Fig. 7 illustrates the package 110 formed with a pocket 170. To form the package 110 with an object 101, e.g. in the form of a cosmetic sample (not shown), secured therein, the sample 101 was placed on to the second section 130 and the sheet 105 was folded along the fourth folding line 182 which resulted in the fourth section 180 lying over the second section 130 with the object disposed therebetween. Subsequently the sheet 105 was folded along the first folding line 115 and the tab 135 was then inserted into the slit 125, which resulted in the first section 120 lying over the fourth section 180 and the second section 130 with the object 100 disposed between the second section 130 and the first and fourth sections 120 and 180. The third section 160 was then folded along the second folding line 118 and the tongue 161 engaged the slit 166 formed in the first section 120 and the slit 184 formed in the fourth section 180. Thereby, the pocket 170 was formed for securing the object 100 therein from six sides, similarly to the previous example. A notable difference to the last example being the presence of a slight bulge in the pocket 170, caused by the shape of the cosmetic sample 101. To close the package 110, the cover section 140 was folded along the third folding line 116 to cover the first, second, third and fourth sections, respectively numbered 120, 130, 160 and 180.

Fig. 8 shows a sheet 205 of material for forming a package 210 in accordance with a further example of the present invention, for securing an object 200 in the form of a compact disc (CD) therein, in a manner shown in Fig. 9. Package 210 is similar to the package 110 shown in Fig. 6, however, it differs from the above-described package 110 in that there is no fourth section 180, and that the third section 260 and the cutout 245 are shaped differently. The cutout 245 has a thin oval shape with a cutout length Dl extending between a first side-edge 246 and a second side-edge 247. During design of the package, a method to determine the appropriate cutout length Dl, for an object 200 to be secured therein, may include, the making of a small initial cutout (not shown) in the first section 220, place the object 200 on the second section 230 with one edge touching the first folding line 215, and subsequent folding of the first section 220 over the object 200 such that the object 200 is visible through the initial cutout. The length of the portion of the object 200 which is visible through the initial small cutout, whose length is parallel to the first folding line 215, would thus be chosen to be slightly smaller than the appropriate cutout length Dl for the cutout 245. Therefore, in the present example, as the first folding line 215 is a distance roughly half the diameter D2 of the circular CD 200 from the cutout 245, the cutout length Dl is slightly greater in magnitude than the diameter D2 of the object 200, thereby facilitating secure placement of the CD 200 in the cutout 245 when the first and second sections, respectively numbered 220 and 230, are folded as shown in Fig. 9. It is important to note that in other examples, the cutout 245 may be designed at a different distance relative to the first folding line 215, and in such cases the cutout length Dl would need to be designed accordingly, i.e. to be slightly greater in magnitude to the corresponding length of the object 200 visible through the initial cutout. Additionally, in the present example the length D3 of the second section 230, measured from the first folding line 215 to the third folding line 216, is slightly greater in magnitude than the diameter D2 of the object 200.

Turning attention to Figs. 9 and 10, the sheet 205 was folded along the first folding line 215 and the tab 235 was inserted into the slit 225, which resulted in the first section 220 lying over the second section 230, thereby forming a pocket 270. The CD 200 was then inserted into the cutout 245 with its lower portion 290 shown by dotted lines in Fig. 9. being disposed in the pocket 270 and its remainder 295 projecting from the cutout 245 and lying over the second section 230. The third section 260 was folded along the second folding line 218 and the tongue 261 was inserted into the slit 266 formed in the first section 220. To close the package 210, the cover section 240 was folded along the third folding line 216 to cover the first, second and third sections, respectively numbered 220, 230 and 260. The cover section is thus secured to the third section 260 via its tab 219 and the corresponding slit 265 on the third section 260. Thereby, the pocket 270 was formed for securing the CD 200 therein from six sides. The CD 200 was secured in the package 210 from six sides as follows: two opposing sides of the object 200 are pressed between the second section 230 and, in this example, the first and third sections 220 and 260; the CD 200 is prevented from exiting the package from the four remaining sides along the folding lines 215 and 216, and barriers constituted by the first side-edge 246 and the second side-edge 247.

The packages described above may be used as a greeting card and are particularly suitable for insertion in an envelope in the same manner as a greeting card. However, they may also be suitable for being sent by post without an envelope, for which purpose it is advisable to provide the package with adhesive means. Thus, in a package of any of the above embodiments, adhesive means may be added for example to its cover section or section covered by the cover section and/or to any other sections. This is illustrated in the package shown in Figs. 9 and 10, where an adhesive strip 217 covered by a peelable cover layer is optionally added to the cover section 240 to additionally secure the cover section 240 to the section 260. The peelable cover layer (not shown) had to be removed from the adhesive strip 217 before the insertion of the tab 219 of the cover section 240 into the slit 265 in the section 260. The strip 217 could have any form and be disposed in any appropriate location of the section 240 or section 260. The adhesive means could include a plurality of strips arranged, for example, along the entire or part of the circumference of the section 240 or 260.

It should be understood that a variety of alternatives exist, different from the design described above, to provide a package with a pocket, in accordance with the present invention. Thus, some of the elements of the package 10 may be eliminated. For example, Fig. 5 shows a sheet of material for forming a package without a cover section. In other embodiments of the invention, a cutout may not be provided. Also, a pocket does not need to be narrow but may occupy most of the second section. The third section 60 may be designed for the attachment of its tongue 61 to the second section 30, without being attached to the first section 20, e.g. to securely close the pocket 70 at the side opposite the second folding line 18 between the second section 30 and the third section 60. More embodiments may, for example, incorporate different shapes of the cutout 45, e.g. as shown in Fig. 5, of the third or fourth or cover sections, respectively numbered 60, 180 or 40, or of the slits and slit engaging portions, or even different shapes of the entire card.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A package made of a single sheet of material and adapted for holding an object, comprising first and second sections separated by a first folding line and being detachably attachable to each other via at least one slit spaced from the first folding line, formed in one of the sections and at least one slit-engaging portion insertable into the at least one slit formed in the other section, when the package is folded along the first folding line; a third section separated from the second section by a second folding line oriented transversely relative to the first folding line, wherein the third section is further detachably attachable to the second section via at least one slit and at least one slit engaging portion insertable into the at least one slit formed in the second and third sections, when the package is folded along the second folding line; the sections when folded across each of the folding lines and attached via the at least one slit and the at least one slit engaging portion, forming a package adapted to secure the object held therein, from six sides.

2. A package according to Claim 1, wherein said second section is formed with at least one slit and the first section is formed with at least one slit-engaging portion.

3. A package according to Claim 2, wherein said at least one slit in the second section is generally parallel to the first folding line.

4. A package according to Claim 2 or 3, wherein said at least one slit-engaging portion of the first section is in the form of a tab formed at the edge of the first section opposite the first folding line.

5. A package according to any one of Claims 2 to 4, wherein said first section further comprises a cutout formed therein.

6. A package according to Claim 5, wherein said cutout, when the object is secured therein from six sides, enables the object to be at least partially seen through the cutout.

7. A package according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein said second section is formed with a single slit and the first section is formed with a single tab.

8. A package according to any one of Claims 5 to 7, wherein said third section is adapted to cover the cutout.

9. A package according to any one of Claims 5 to 8, wherein said third section is further adapted to hold the object, when inserted into the cutout, extending through the cutout.

10. A package according to any one of Claims 5 to 9, wherein said cutout is adapted to hold the object extending therethrough, by having a width of slightly greater magnitude than the width of the portion of the object which is being held by the cutout, when the object is inserted in the cutout and the sections are folded across each of the folding lines and attached via the at least one slit and the at least one slit engaging portion.

11. A package according to any one of Claims 5 to 10, wherein said first section has a first length and the second section has a second length of larger magnitude than the first length, which lengths are both perpendicular to the first folding line.

12. A package according to any one of Claims 5 to 11, wherein said second length is larger than the magnitude of the length of the object, which length is perpendicular to the first folding line when the object is held within the cutout.

13. A package according to any one of Claims 1 to 12, wherein said package further comprises a cover section substantially equal in size to the second section, separated therefrom by a third folding line parallel the first folding line, such that when the sections are folded across each of the folding lines with the third folding line being folded last, the cover section covers the first, second and third sections to form an external face of the package.

14. A package according to Claim 13, wherein said third section is formed with at least one slit and the cover section is formed with at least one slit-engaging portion insertable into the at least one slit formed in the third section, when the package is folded along each of the folding lines and the object is held therein.

15. A package according to any one of Claims 1 to 14, wherein said package further comprises an object.

16. A package according to Claim 15, wherein said object is a flat object.

17. A package according to Claim 15 or 16, wherein said object is a compact disc, or a card with a magnetic strip.

18. A package according to any one of Claims 15 to 17, wherein said object is an object with flat edges.

19. A package according to Claim 15 or 18, wherein said object is a cosmetic sample.

20. A package according to any one of Claims 1 to 19, wherein said package further comprises adhesive means for bonding the last section to be folded to the remainder of the package, thereby enabling the package to be sent by post without an envelope.

21. A package made of a single sheet of material and adapted for holding an object, comprising a first section having a cutout formed therein, and a second section separated to the first section by a first folding line, the first and second sections being detachably attachable to each other via the at least one slit spaced from the first folding line, formed in one of the sections and at least one slit-engaging portion insertable into the at least one slit formed in the other section, when the package is folded along the first folding line; a third section separated from the second section by a second folding line oriented transversely relative to the first folding line, wherein the third section is further detachably attachable to the first section via at least one slit and at least on slit engaging portion formed in the first and third sections, when the package is folded along the first and second folding lines and the object is extending through cutout; and a cover section substantially equal in size to the second section, separated therefrom by a third folding line parallel the first folding line, such that when the sections are folded across each of the folding lines with the third folding line being folded last, the cover section covers the first, second and third sections to form an external face of the package; the sections when folded across each of the folding lines and attached via the at least one slit and the at least one slit engaging portion, forming a package adapted to secure the object, when extending through the cutout, from six sides.

22. A package according to Claim 21, wherein said second section is formed with at least one slit and the first section is formed with at least one slit-engaging portion.

23. A package according to Claim 22, wherein said at least one slit in the second section is generally parallel to the first folding line.

24. A package according to Claim 22 or 23, wherein said at least one slit-engaging portion of the first section is in the form of a tab formed at the edge of the first section opposite the first folding line.

25. A package according to any one of Claims 21 to 24, wherein said second section is formed with a single slit and the first section is formed with a single tab.

26. A package according to any one of Claims 21 to 25, wherein said third section is adapted to cover the cutout and/or the object extending therethrough.

27. A package according to any one of Claims 21 to 26, wherein said cutout further comprises a width of slightly greater magnitude than the magnitude of the width of the portion of the object which is being held by the cutout, when the object is held therein.

28. A package according to any one of Claims 21 to 27, wherein said first section has a first length and the second section has a second length of larger magnitude than the first length, which lengths are both perpendicular to the first folding line.

29. A package according to Claim 28, wherein said second length is larger than the magnitude of the length of the object, which length is perpendicular to the first folding line when the object is held within the cutout.

30. A package according to any one of Claims 21 to 29, wherein said third section further comprises at least one slit formed therein and the cover section is formed with at least one slit-engaging portion insertable into the at least one slit formed in the third section, when the package is folded along each of the folding lines and the object is held therein.

31. A package according to any one of Claims 21 to 30, wherein said package further comprises an object.

32. A package according to Claim 31, wherein said object is a flat object.

33. A package according to Claim 31 or 32, wherein said object is a compact disc or a card with a magnetic strip.

34. A package according to Claim 31, wherein said object is an object with flat edges.

35. A package according to Claim 31 or 34, wherein said object is a cosmetic sample.

36. A package according to any one of Claims 31 to 35, wherein said package further comprises adhesive means for bonding the last section to be folded to the remainder of the package, thereby enabling the package to be sent by post without an envelope.

37. A package made of a single sheet of material, comprising first and second sections separated by a first folding line and being detachably attachable to each other via at least one slit spaced from the first folding line, formed in one of the sections and at least one slit-engaging portion insertable into the at least one slit formed in the other section, when the package is folded along the first folding line; and a third section separated from the second section by a second folding line oriented transversely relative to the first folding line, wherein the package further comprises a fourth section separated from any one of the first, second or third sections by a third folding line, the third folding line being spaced from the second folding line, when the package is folded across each of the folding lines, by a distance equal to the length of the section from which the forth section is separated by the third folding line, which length is parallel to the first folding line, the sections when folded across each of the folding lines and attached via the at least one slit and the at least one slit engaging portion forming a package adapted to secure an object held therein from six sides.

38. A package according to Claim 37, wherein said second section is formed with at least a first slit and the first section is formed with at least a first slit-engaging portion for attachment to the at least first slit when the sections are folded across each of the folding lines.

39. A package according to Claim 38, wherein said fourth section further comprises at least a first slit formed therein and the third section is further formed with a slit engaging portion for attachment to the at least first slit when the sections are folded across each of the folding lines.

40. A package according to Claim 39, wherein said first section further comprises at least a first slit formed therein for attachment to the slit engaging portion formed on the third section, such that when the sections are folded across each of the folding lines the slit engaging portion formed on the third section can be inserted in the at least first slit of the fourth section and the at least first slit of the first section simultaneously.

41. A package according to any one of Claims 38 to 40, wherein said at least first slit in the second section is generally parallel to the first folding line.

42. A package according to any one of Claims 38 to 41, wherein said at least first slit-engaging portion of the first section is in the form of a tab formed at the edge of the first section opposite the first folding line.

43. A package according to any one of Claims 37 to 42, wherein a cutout is formed in the first section.

44. A package according to Claim 43, wherein said cutout enables the object, when secured from six sides, to be at least partially seen through the cutout.

45. A package according to any one of Claims 37 to 44, wherein said second section is formed with a single slit and the first section is formed with a single tab.

46. A package according toany one of Claims 43 to 45, wherein said third section is adapted to cover the cutout.

47. A package according to any one of Claims 37 to 46, further comprising a cover section substantially equal in size to the second section, separated therefrom by a fourth folding line parallel the first folding line, such that when the sections are folded across each of the folding lines with the fourth folding line being folded last, the cover section covers the first, second, third and fourth sections, to form an external face of the package.

48. A package according to Claim 47, wherein said third section is formed with at least one slit and the cover section is formed with at least one slit-engaging portion insertable into the at least one slit formed in the third section, when the package is folded along each of the folding lines and the object is secured therein.

49. A package according to any one of Claims 37 to 48, wherein said package further comprises an object.

50. A package according to Claim 49, wherein said object is a flat object.

51. A package according to Claim 49 or 50, wherein said object is a compact disc or a card with a magnetic strip.

52. A package according to Claim 49, wherein said object is an object with flat edges.

53. A package according to Claim 49 or 52, wherein said object is a cosmetic sample.

54. A package according to any one of Claims 37 to 53, wherein said package further comprises adhesive means for bonding the last section to be folded to the remainder of the package, thereby enabling the package to be sent by post without an envelope.