Carrier which is aesthetically irreversibly convertible from planar blank to closed package for coded card and methods for manufacture and use of the same

• US 20040146688A1
• Filed: 12/22/2003
• Published: 07/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blue Line Printing, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Blue Line Printing, Inc.
• Inventors: Treat, Tracey
• Granted Patent: US 7,219,829 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/78
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 15/042 Foldable cards or sheets B42D15/045 and B42D15/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 15/045 Multi-part cards or sheets, i.e. combined with detachably mounted articles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/20 Patched hole or depression

Abstract

A planar carrier for a coded card is substantially aesthetically irreversibly convertible from a substantially two-dimensional blank into a three-dimensional card enclosing gift package.

Claims

1. A planar carrier for a coded card which is substantially aesthetically irreversibly convertible from a substantially two dimensional blank into a three-dimensional card-enclosing gift package, comprising:

a. a blank which prior to package conversion is essentially planar, said blank being essentially rigid and laminated with plastic on at least one side and further comprising;

i. a first panel of generally rectangular configuration;

ii. a pair of foldable flaps connecting to said first panel oppositely one from another along fold lines defining portions of respective longitudinally elongated edges of said first panel, said flaps being adapted to fold towards one another along said fold lines to thereby overlie respective portions of a rear surface of said first panel;

iii. a lower panel of generally rectangular configuration connecting to said first panel along a fold line defining juncture therebetween, adapted to fold subsequently to said flaps along said associated juncture-defining fold line upwardly to facingly overlie said rear surface of said first panel and said folded pair of flaps overlying respective parts of said rear surface of said first panel, to define a card receptacle pocket in space between now mutually facing surfaces of said first and lower panels, said lower panel having an aperture therethrough proximate the center of said lower panel;

iv. an upper panel portion of generally rectangular configuration connecting to said first panel portion along a fold line defining juncture therebetween, adapted to fold along said associated juncture-defining fold line towards said rear surface of said first panel portion after folding of said lower panel portion into position facing said first panel portion, to overlie a part of said lower panel portion between said aperture and a free edge of said lower panel portion which defined the lower extremity of said blank prior to folding, and including a tab portion positioned along and extending from an upper edge extremity of said upper panel portion, said tab portion being adapted for interfering insertion into said aperture in said lower panel portion after first folding of said lower panel portion into facing relationship with said first panel portion and after second folding of said upper panel portion to overlie said part of said lower panel portion between said aperture and said lower panel portion free edge which had defined a lower extremity of said blank prior to folding to retain said upper and lower panel portions in closely facing engagement one with another thereby to retain therewithin any card residing within said receptacle pocket;

v. a manually detachable apertured hang panel connecting to said upper panel along a manually separable perforate line defining said upper edge extremity of said upper panel portion.

2. A planar carrier for a coded card which is convertible from a flat blank into a three-dimensional card-enclosing gift package, comprising:

a. a blank which prior to package conversion is essentially planar and comprises;

i. a first panel;

ii. foldable flaps connecting to said first panel along fold lines defining portions of respective edges of said first panel, adapted to fold towards one another along said fold lines to overlie a rear surface of said first panel;

iii. a lower panel having an aperture therethrough and connecting to said first panel along a fold line defining juncture therebetween, adapted to fold along said associated juncture-defining fold line upwardly to facingly overlie said first panel and said flaps, to define a card receptacle pocket between now mutually facing surfaces of said first and lower panel;

iv. an upper panel connecting to said first panel along a fold line defining juncture therebetween, adapted to fold towards said rear surface of said first panel, to overlie a part of said lower panel between said aperture and an upper edge of said lower panel, and including a tab adapted for interfering insertion into said aperture in said lower panel after folding of said lower panel into facing relationship with said first panel and after folding of said upper panel to overlie said part of said lower panel to retain said upper and lower panel in closely facing engagement one with another thereby to retain in a resulting substantially closed three-dimensional package any card residing within what had been said receptacle pocket.

3. The carrier of claim 2 wherein said blank further comprises a manually detachable apertured hang panel connecting to said upper panel along a manually separable perforate line defining said upper edge extremity of said upper panel.

4. A planar carrier for a coded card which is substantially aesthetically irreversibly convertible from a substantially two dimensional blank into a three-dimensional card-enclosing gift package, comprising:

a. a blank which prior to package conversion is essentially planar, said blank being essentially rigid and laminated with plastic on at least one side and further comprising;

i. a first panel of generally rectangular configuration;

ii. a pair of foldable flaps connecting to said first panel oppositely one from another along fold lines defining portions of respective longitudinally elongated edges of said first panel, said flaps being folded towards one another along said fold lines to thereby overlie respective portions of a rear surface of said first panel;

iii. a lower panel of generally rectangular configuration connecting to said first panel along a fold line defining juncture therebetween, folded subsequently to said flaps along said associated juncture-defining fold line upwardly to facingly overlie said rear surface of said first panel and said folded pair of flaps overlying respective parts of said rear surface of said first panel, to define a card receptacle pocket in space between now mutually facing surfaces of said first and lower panels, said lower panel having an aperture therethrough proximate the center of said lower panel;

iv. an upper panel portion of generally rectangular configuration connecting to said first panel portion along a fold line defining juncture therebetween, adapted to fold along said associated juncture-defining fold line towards said rear surface of said first panel portion after folding of said lower panel portion into position facing said first panel portion, to overlie a part of said lower panel portion between said aperture and a free edge of said lower panel portion which defined the lower extremity of said blank prior to folding, and including a tab portion positioned along and extending from an upper edge extremity of said upper panel portion, said tab portion being adapted for interfering insertion into said aperture in said lower panel portion after first folding of said lower panel portion into facing relationship with said first panel portion and after second folding of said upper panel portion to overlie said part of said lower panel portion between said aperture and said lower panel portion free edge which had defined a lower extremity of said blank prior to folding to retain said upper and lower panel portions in closely facing engagement one with another thereby to retain therewithin any card residing within said receptacle pocket; and

v. a manually detachable apertured hang panel connecting to said upper panel along a manually separable perforate line defining said upper edge extremity of said upper panel portion.

5. A planar carrier for a coded card which is substantially aesthetically irreversibly convertible from a substantially two dimensional blank into a three-dimensional card-enclosing gift package, comprising:

a. a planar blank comprising;

i. a first panel;

ii. at least one foldable flap connecting to said first panel along an associated first fold line and being adapted to fold along said fold line to thereby overlie a rear surface of said first panel;

iii. a lower panel connecting to said first panel along a second fold line defining juncture therebetween, adapted to fold along said associated juncture-defining second fold line to facingly overlie said rear surface of said first panel and said folded flap overlying said rear surface of said first panel, to define a card receptacle pocket in space between now mutually facing surfaces of said first and lower panels and;

iv. an upper panel connecting to said first panel portion along a third fold line defining juncture therebetween, adapted to fold along said associated juncture-defining third fold line towards said rear surface of said first panel portion, to overlie a part of said lower panel portion to overlie said part of said lower panel portion to retain said upper and lower panel portions in closely facing engagement one with another thereby to retain therewithin any card residing within said receptacle pocket.

6. A planar carrier for a coded card which is convertible from a flat blank into a three-dimensional card-enclosing gift package, comprising:

a. a blank which prior to package conversion is essentially planar and comprises;

i. a first panel;

ii. flaps connecting to said first panel and adapted to fold towards one another to overlie a rear surface of said first panel;

iii. a lower panel connecting to said first panel along a fold line defining juncture therebetween, adapted to fold along said associated juncture-defining fold line facingly overlie said first panel and said flaps, to define a card receptacle pocket between now mutually facing surfaces of said first and lower panel;

iv. an upper panel connecting to said first panel along a fold line defining juncture therebetween, adapted to fold towards said rear surface of said first panel, to overlie said lower panel and means for retaining said upper and lower panel in closely facing engagement one with another thereby to retain in a resulting substantially closed three-dimensional package any card residing within what had been said receptacle pocket.

7. The carrier of claim 6 wherein said blank further comprises a detachable apertured hang panel connecting to said upper panel along a separable perforate line.

8. A method for substantially aesthetically irreversibly converting a planar carrier for a coded card from a substantially two dimensional blank into a three-dimensional card-enclosing gift package, comprising:

a. folding a pair of foldable flaps connecting to a first panel oppositely one from another along fold lines defining portions of respective longitudinally elongated edges of said first panel, towards one another along said fold lines to thereby overlie respective portions of a rear surface of said first panel;

b. folding a lower panel of generally rectangular configuration connecting to said first panel along a fold line defining juncture therebetween subsequently to said flaps along said associated juncture-defining fold line upwardly to facingly overlie said rear surface of said first panel and said folded pair of flaps overlying respective parts of said rear surface of said first panel, to define a card receptacle pocket in space between now mutually facing surfaces of said first and lower panels;

c. folding an upper panel portion of generally rectangular configuration along a fold line towards said rear surface of said first panel portion after folding of said lower panel portion into position facing said first panel portion, to overlie a part of said lower panel portion between an aperture therein and a free edge of said lower panel portion which defined the lower extremity of said lower panel prior to folding, and including a tab portion positioned along and extending from an upper edge extremity of said upper panel portion;

d. interferingly inserting said tab into said aperture in said lower panel portion after first folding of said lower panel portion into facing relationship with said first panel portion and after second folding of said upper panel portion to overlie said part of said lower panel portion between said aperture and said lower panel portion free edge which had defined a lower extremity of said lower panel portion prior to folding to retain said upper and lower panel portions in closely facing engagement one with another thereby to retain therewithin any card residing within said receptacle pocket;

9. A planar carrier for a coded card which is substantially aesthetically irreversibly convertible from a substantially two dimensional blank into a three-dimensional card-enclosing gift package, having:

a. a blank which prior to package conversion is essentially planar, said blank being essentially rigid and laminated with plastic on at least one side and further including;

i. a first panel of generally rectangular configuration;

ii. a pair of foldable flaps connecting to said first panel oppositely one from another along fold lines defining portions of respective longitudinally elongated edges of said first panel, said flaps being adapted to fold towards one another along said fold lines to thereby overlie respective portions of a rear surface of said first panel;

iii. a lower panel of generally rectangular configuration connecting to said first panel along a fold line defining juncture therebetween, adapted to fold subsequently to said flaps along said associated juncture-defining fold line upwardly to facingly overlie said rear surface of said first panel and said folded pair of flaps overlying respective parts of said rear surface of said first panel, to define a card receptacle pocket in space between now mutually facing surfaces of said first and lower panels, said lower panel having an aperture therethrough proximate the center of said lower panel;

iv. an upper panel portion of generally rectangular configuration connecting to said first panel portion along a fold line defining juncture therebetween, adapted to fold along said associated juncture-defining fold line towards said rear surface of said first panel portion after folding of said lower panel portion into position facing said first panel portion, to overlie a part of said lower panel portion between said aperture and a free edge of said lower panel portion which defined the lower extremity of said blank prior to folding, and including a tab portion positioned along and extending from an upper edge extremity of said upper panel portion, said tab portion being adapted for interfering insertion into said aperture in said lower panel portion after first folding of said lower panel portion into facing relationship with said first panel portion and after second folding of said upper panel portion to overlie said part of said lower panel portion between said aperture and said lower panel portion free edge which had defined a lower extremity of said blank prior to folding to retain said upper and lower panel portions in closely facing engagement one with another thereby to retain therewithin any card residing within said receptacle pocket;

v. a manually detachable apertured hang panel connecting to said upper panel along a manually separable perforate line defining said upper edge extremity of said upper panel portion;

fabricated according to a method including the steps of;

b. folding said pair of foldable flaps connecting to said first panel oppositely one from another along fold lines defining portions of respective longitudinally elongated edges of said first panel, towards one another along said fold lines to thereby overlie respective portions of a rear surface of said first panel;

c. folding said lower panel of generally rectangular configuration connecting to said first panel along said fold line defining juncture therebetween subsequently to said flaps along said associated juncture-defining fold line upwardly to facingly overlie said rear surface of said first panel and said folded pair of flaps overlying respective parts of said rear surface of said first panel, to define said card receptacle pocket in space between now mutually facing surfaces of said first and lower panels;

d. folding said upper panel portion of generally rectangular configuration along said fold line towards said rear surface of said first panel portion after folding of said lower panel portion into position facing said first panel portion, to overlie said lower panel portion between an aperture therein and a free edge of said lower panel portion which defined the lower extremity of said lower panel prior to folding; and

,

e. interferingly inserting said tab into said aperture in said lower panel portion after first folding of said lower panel portion into facing relationship with said first panel portion and after second folding of said upper panel portion to overlie said part of said lower panel portion between said aperture and said lower panel portion free edge which had defined a lower extremity of said lower panel portion prior to folding to retain said upper and lower panel portions in closely facing engagement one with another thereby to retain therewithin any card residing within said receptacle pocket.

10. A planar carrier for a coded card which is convertible from a flat blank into a three-dimensional card-enclosing gift package, including:

a. a blank which prior to package conversion is essentially planar and comprises;

i. a first panel;

ii. flaps connecting to said first panel and adapted to fold towards one another to overlie a rear surface of said first panel;

iii. a lower panel connecting to said first panel along a fold line defining juncture therebetween, adapted to fold along said associated juncture-defining fold line facingly overlie said first panel and said flaps, to define a card receptacle pocket between now mutually facing surfaces of said first and lower panel;

iv. an upper panel connecting to said first panel along a fold line defining juncture therebetween, adapted to fold towards said rear surface of said first panel, to overlie said lower panel and means for retaining said upper and lower panel in closely facing engagement one with another thereby to retain in a resulting substantially closed three-dimensional package any card residing within what had been said receptacle pocket;

fabricated according to steps comprising;

b. folding a pair of foldable flaps connecting to said first panel oppositely one from another along fold lines defining portions of respective longitudinally elongated edges of said first panel, towards one another along said fold lines to thereby overlie respective portions of said rear surface of said first panel;

c. folding said lower panel connecting to said first panel along a fold line defining juncture therebetween subsequently to said flaps along said associated juncture-defining fold line upwardly to facingly overlie said rear surface of said first panel and said folded pair of flaps overlying respective parts of said rear surface of said first panel, to define said card receptacle pocket in space between now mutually facing surfaces of said first and lower panels;

d. folding said upper panel portion along a fold line towards said rear surface of said first panel portion after folding of said lower panel portion into position facing said first panel portion, to overlie a part of said lower panel portion between an aperture therein and a free edge of said lower panel portion which defined the lower extremity of said lower panel prior to folding; and

,

e. interferingly inserting said tab into said aperture in said lower panel portion after first folding of said lower panel portion into facing relationship with said first panel portion and after second folding of said upper panel portion to overlie said part of said lower panel portion between said aperture and said lower panel portion free edge which had defined a lower extremity of said lower panel portion prior to folding to retain said upper and lower panel portions in closely facing engagement one with another thereby to retain therewithin any card residing within said receptacle pocket.