Display box and method for packaging an article in the box

• US 6,460,703 B1
• Filed: 05/21/2001
• Issued: 10/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Inventors: Thompson, Chad A., Bukovich, Dennis M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu, Mickey
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mohandesi, Jila M.
• Application Number:
  US09/861,953
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 206/775-783, 206/486, 206/723, 206/476, 206/418, 206/756, 206/763, 206/765, 206/769, 206/525, 206/68, 206/426, 229/162, 229/116.1, D 9/414, D 9/415, D 9/418
• US Class Current: 206/779
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/4204 Inspection openings or windows
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/5007 formed by inwardly protruding of folded parts of the body
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/5016 formed by folding inwardly of extensions hinged to the side edges of the body
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/5019 formed by openings in the body walls
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/00 Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials B65D71/00, B65D83/00 take precedence; hand implements or travelling equipment A45C; cosmetic or toiletry equipment A45D; packages for surgical knives, scalpels or blades therefor A61B17/3215; containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes A61J1/00; paint cans B44D3/12; oil cans F16N3/04; containers for carrying small arms F41C33/06; packaging of ammunition or explosive charges F42B39/00; containers for record carriers, specially adapted for cooperation with the recording or reproducing apparatus G11B23/00

Abstract

A box includes bottom, opposed side, front, top, and rear panels, which define an interior space of the box. The box has a display opening and an invertible panel that includes a top edge. The invertible panel may include a first section coplanar with the front panel and a second section coplanar with a side panel when the invertible panel is in an unflexed position. In the unflexed position, a vertical passageway is formed behind the invertible panel and in front of the top panel. An article having a body depending from an elongated support can be packaged in the box by placing the support in the vertical passageway and positioning the body in the display opening. Force is applied to the article and/or the invertible panel whereby the invertible panel is moved into a second position and the article is contained within the interior space of the box.

Claims

1. A box for containing and displaying a product, the box comprising:

a bottom panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, a front panel, a top panel, a rear panel, a display opening having a perimeter, and an invertible panel,

the bottom panel, the first side panel, the second side panel, the front panel, the top panel and the rear panel defining an interior space of the box,

the first side panel, the second side panel, the front panel, and the rear panel being joined at their lower edges to the bottom panel,

the first side panel, the second side panel, the front panel, and the rear panel being joined at their upper edges to the top panel,

the first side panel and the second side panel being joined at their front edges to the front panel,

the first side panel and the second side panel being joined at their rear edges to the rear panel,

the display opening being formed between at least a portion of the first side panel and at least a portion of the front panel, and

the invertible panel including a top edge, a bottom edge, and opposed side edges, the invertible panel being located above the display opening, the majority of the top edge of the invertible panel not being joined to any panels of the box, the majority of the bottom edge of the invertible panel not being joined to any panels of the box, one side edge of the invertible panel being joined to the front panel and the other side edge of the invertible panel being joined to the first side panel such that the invertible panel can be moved between a first position and a second position, the second position being nearer a central portion of the interior space of the box than the first position.

2. The box of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one tab extending downward from the bottom edge of the invertible panel.

3. The box of claim 1, further comprising:

a pair of tabs extending downward from the bottom edge of the invertible panel.

4. The box of claim 1, wherein:

the top edge of the invertible panel includes a downwardly extending notch.

5. The box of claim 1, wherein:

the invertible panel can flex along a longitudinal fold line intermediate the opposed side edges of the invertible panel when the invertible panel is moved between the first position and the second position.

6. The box of claim 1, wherein:

the invertible panel includes a first section and a second section, the first section being substantially coplanar with the front panel and the second section being substantially coplanar with the first side panel when the invertible panel is in the first position.

7. The box of claim 1, wherein:

the top panel is dimensioned such that a vertical passageway is formed behind the invertible panel when the invertible panel is in the first position.

8. The box of claim 7, wherein:

the top panel is dimensioned such that a vertical passageway does not exist behind the invertible panel when the invertible panel is in the second position.

9. A one-piece blank for forming the box of claim 1.

10. A boxed article comprising the box of claim 1, and

an article having a body and a movable elongated support,

wherein the elongated support is positioned above or on the top edge of the invertible panel, and

the article is contained within the interior space of the box such that at least a portion of the body of the article is displayed through the display opening.

11. The boxed article of claim 10, wherein:

the top edge of the invertible panel includes a downwardly extending notch, and

the elongated support rests in the notch.

12. The boxed article of claim 10, wherein:

the body depends from the movable elongated support.

13. The boxed article of claim 10 wherein:

the invertible panel includes at least one tab extending downward from the bottom edge, and

each tab contacts a top portion of the body of the article.

14. The boxed article of claim 10 wherein:

the body of the article is a lamp and the support is a hanger support.

15. A method for packaging in a box an article having a body and a movable elongated support such that the body of the article is displayed, the method comprising:

providing a box having a bottom panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, a front panel, a top panel, a rear panel, a display opening having a perimeter, and an invertible panel,

the bottom panel, the first side panel, the second side panel, the front panel, the top panel and the rear panel defining an interior space of the box,

the first side panel, the second side panel, the front panel, and the rear panel being joined at their lower edges to the bottom panel,

the first side panel, the second side panel, the front panel, and the rear panel being joined at their upper edges to the top panel,

the first side panel and the second side panel being joined at their front edges to the front panel,

the first side panel and the second side panel being joined at their rear edges to the rear panel,

the display opening being formed in at least a portion of the first side panel and at least a portion of the front panel, and

the invertible panel including a top edge, a bottom edge, and opposed side edges, the invertible panel being located above the display opening, the majority of the top edge of the invertible panel not being joined to any panels of the box, the majority of the bottom edge of the invertible panel not being joined to any panels of the box, one side edge of the invertible panel being joined to the front panel and the other side edge of the invertible panel being joined to the first side panel such that the invertible panel can be moved between a first position and a second position, the second position being nearer a central portion of the interior space of the box than the first position, the invertible panel being initially in the first position, the top panel being dimensioned such that a vertical passageway is formed behind the invertible panel when the invertible panel is in the first position;

providing an article having a body and a movable elongated support;

placing the elongated support into the vertical passageway such that a portion of the elongated support is above or rests on the top edge of the invertible panel;

positioning the body of the article in the display opening of the box; and

applying a force to the article and/or the invertible panel whereby the invertible panel is moved into the second position and the article is contained within the interior space of the box.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein:

the top edge of the invertible panel includes a downwardly extending notch, and

the elongated support rests in the notch when the elongated support is placed into the vertical passageway.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein:

the invertible panel includes at least one tab extending downward from the bottom edge, and

each tab contacts a top portion of the body of the article when the article is contained within the interior space of the box.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein:

the body depends from the movable elongated support.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein:

the body of the article is a lamp and the support is a hanger support.