Reducible cereal box packaging

• US 6,102,277 A
• Filed: 07/23/1999
• Issued: 08/15/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert J. Krapohl Sr
• Original Assignee: Robert J. Krapohl Sr
• Inventors: Krapohl, Robert J. Sr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elkins, Gary E.
• Application Number:
  US09/360,409
• Time in Patent Office: 389 Days
• Field of Search: 229/101, 229/101.1, 229/101.2, 229/117.35, 229/235
• US Class Current: 229/101.2
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/0005 of variable capacity
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/5445 for dividing a tubular body into separate parts

Abstract

A reducible cereal box packaging for reducing the height of the cereal box as more and more cereal contained therein is consumed. The reducible cereal box packaging includes a box with a separation line extending therearound dividing the box into upper and lower portions. The box is separable along the separation line to permit separation of the upper and lower portions of the box and to define a lower opening in the upper portion of the box and a upper opening in the lower portion of the box. The upper edge of the lower portion is slidably insertable into the lower opening of the upper portion when the upper and lower portions are separated along the separation line.

Claims

1. An article of manufacture, comprising:

a box having a separation line extending therearound and dividing said box into upper and lower portions;

said box being separable along said separation line to permit separation of said upper and lower portions of said box and to define a lower opening in said upper portion of said box and a upper opening in said lower portion of said box, wherein said upper edge of said lower portion being slidably insertable into said lower opening of said upper portion when said upper and lower portions are separated along said separation line, said upper and lower portions are separated such that said upper portion of said box telescopically receives said lower portion of said box so that said upper and lower portions of said box may be slid closer together and further apart from one another to adjust the overall height of said box defined between said top and bottom panels of said box; and

said top panel of said box comprising a pair of flaps substantially covering a top opening into said box, one of said flaps having a tab and the other of said flaps having a slot receiving said tab to hold said flaps of said top panel together in a closed position over said top opening of said box such that said top panel of said box can be easily opened without removing said upper portion from said lower portion.

2. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein said box has top, bottom, front, back and a pair of side panels, said separation line being extended around said front, back and side panels of said box.

3. The article of manufacture of claim 2, wherein said separation line, said top panel and said bottom panel of said box lie in substantially parallel planes with one another.

4. The article of manufacture of claim 3, wherein said plane of said separation lie is generally equidistantly positioned between said top and bottom panels of said box.

5. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein said box has a plurality of perforations along said separation line to aid separation of said box along said separation line.

6. The article of manufacture of claim 1, further comprising a flexible bag being disposed in said box, said bag having a bottom located in said lower portion of said box adjacent said bottom panel and an upper mouth located in said upper portion of said box adjacent said top panel, said bag being adapted for holding particular material therein, said upper mouth of said bag being rollable into a roll to close said upper mouth of said bag.

7. An article of manufacture, comprising:

a generally rectangular box having spaced apart and substantially parallel generally rectangular top and bottom panels, spaced apart and substantially parallel generally rectangular front and back panels, and a pair of spaced apart and substantially parallel generally rectangular side panels;

said front, back, and side panels of said box being extended substantially perpendicular to said top and bottom panels of said box, said front and back panels of said box being extended substantially perpendicular to said side panels of said box;

said top panel of said box comprising a pair of flaps substantially covering a top opening into said box, one of said flaps having a tab and the other of said flaps having a slot receiving said tab to hold said flaps of said top panel together in a closed position over said top opening of said box such that said top panel of said box can be easily opened without removing said upper portion from said lower portion;

said box having a generally rectangular separation line extending around said front, back and side panels of said box;

said separation line of said box lying in a plane substantially parallel to said top and bottom panels of said box, said plane of said separation lie of said being generally equidistantly positioned between said top and bottom panels of said box;

said separation line of said box dividing said box into upper and lower portions, said upper portion of said box comprising said top panel of said box and upper regions of said front, back and side panels, said lower portion of said box comprising said bottom panel of said box and lower regions of said front, back and side panels;

said box being separable along said separation line to permit separation of said upper and lower portions of said box;

wherein said front, back and side panels of said box each have a plurality of perforations along said separation line to aid separation of said box along said separation line;

said separation line forming a generally rectangular upper edge of said lower portion along said lower regions of said front, back and side panels and a generally rectangular lower edge of said upper portion of said box along said upper regions of said front, back and side panels of said box;

said lower edge of said upper portion defining a generally rectangular lower opening into said upper portion of said box, said upper edge of said lower portion defining a generally rectangular upper opening into lower portion of said box;

said upper edge of said lower portion being slidably inserted into said lower opening of said upper portion by slightly bending inwards of said lower regions of said panels of said box when said upper and lower portions are separated such that said upper portion of said box telescopically receives said lower portion of said box so that said upper and lower portions of said box may be slid closer together and further apart from one another to adjust the overall height of said box defined between said top and bottom panels of said box; and

a flexible bag being disposed in said box, said bag having a bottom located in said lower portion of said box adjacent said bottom panel and an upper mouth located in said upper portion of said box adjacent said top panel, said bag being adapted for holding particular material therein, said upper mouth of said bag being rollable into a roll to close said upper mouth of said bag.