TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a package.

BACKGROUND

Generally, a package that is embodied as a hollow box is used for storage of various articles and also for transportation of contents stored within the package. A size of the package may vary, from a small package, such as a matchbox, to a medium or large size package, such as for garden tools and accessories, of a large appliance and can be used for a variety of applications ranging from a functional requirement to a decorative requirement. Further, the package may find application to safely store, showcase or market the articles stored therein.

In many applications, the packages are assembled manually, which is typically a time-consuming and laborious process. The manual approach is also susceptible to errors which may cause loose packaging and may further cause undesirable damage or falling of the articles from the package. Typically, for a high volume of the packages and short packaging cycle time, an automated, reusable, or multi-purpose packaging may be desirable. However, the automated packaging is not possible for conventional packages due to three-dimensional flap motions. Further, conventional packages have a complex arrangement leading to a tedious and time-consuming application for reusable operations. Thus, there is a need for an improved design of the package which facilitates the automated packaging while allowing reusable and multi-purpose applications of the packages. Further, it may be advantageous to have a package that is resealable and theft proof.

German patent reference 9,419,978 (hereinafter referred to as ’978 reference) discloses a cuboid box with a front wall section, a rear wall section, two narrow side wall sections, a glued and/or inserted base, a lid part, and a hanging tab. The suspension tab is glued congmently to an extension piece of a cover part, specifically with the recess of a plug-in tab which is separably connected to the extension piece via a first perforation. The perforation runs along the longitudinal edge of the tuck-in flap that is free after separation. Further, lateral end edges of the tuck-in flap are rounded and already punched through in the cardboard blank. The hanging tab has a so-called euro hole. When the hanging tab and extension piece are subsequently glued on top of one another, the punched holes in the euro hole fit exactly congruently on top of one another. The hanging tab is separably connected to the rear wall section via a second perforation, so that when the box is opened, the hanging tab is torn off, i.e., at both perforations, so that the tuck-in tab remains on the lid part and after opening of the packaging can be used to close the same. However, the ’978 reference seems short of providing ease of access, engagement of the tuck-in tab for users.

US2010133331 reference discloses a carton for a plurality of products. The carton includes a front panel, a top panel and a bottom panel having appended side flaps. Each of the front panel flaps having an appended glue flap, the appended glue flaps having a plurality of glue tabs. Further, US2013341382 reference discloses a box folded from a single cardboard sheet includes two handle members incorporated into the cardboard sheet. Both these references seem short of providing arrangement(s) for ease of packaging and unpacking by common users.

An example of a reclosable folding box is provided in European Patent 1,419,971 (hereinafter referred to as ’971 reference). The ’971 reference discloses the reclosable, folding box with four side walls. Further, the folding box includes a bottom closure formed by two bottom closure tabs and two dust flaps. A closure is formed by one or two closure tabs and two stiffeners, optionally a double-layered hanger, formed by gluing two suspension tabs, each containing one suspension device. A tuck-in flap is provided with a side wall and a front wall includes a region to be separated out by a perforation. Further, the tuck-in flap is bonded on the outside or inside to the perforated region. However, this configuration of the folding box may not be susceptible to unintended openings or theft. The folding box also involves applications of the tuck-in flap requiring gluing and like operations, making it susceptible to improper use or misuse depending upon user experience level. Further, the ‘971 reference may not be usable in an manufacturing set-up for production of high volume of packages in a time efficient and user-friendly manner. SUMMARY

In view of the above, it is an objective of the present disclosure to solve or at least reduce the drawbacks discussed above. The objective is at least partially achieved by a new design of a package. The package includes a body defining a plurality of sides. The plurality of sides define a storage space therebetween. The plurality of sides include a first side wall, a second side wall, two intermediate walls, a top wall, and a bottom wall. The package also includes a first extended part defined with one of the plurality of sides. The package further includes a second extended part defined with another of the plurality of sides. The second extended part defines a flap. The package is characterized in that the first extended part and the second extended part are at least partially coupled with each other. The flap is foldably and releasably connected with the first extended part such that the flap is movable between a first configuration and a second configuration. In the first configuration, the flap is removably couplable to the first extended part. In the second configuration, the flap is at least partially foldably inserted within the body of the package.

Thus, the present disclosure provides an improved design of the package which allows simple, resealable, and automated packaging of a number of goods. The automated packaging of such packages may be suitable in a high-volume manufacturing set-up, even involving resealable and/or multipurpose packaging by common users. Further, the automated resealable packaging reduces a cycle time of the package, thus improving productivity. The new design of the package can be used for storing a variety of goods or products. An incorporation of the flap provides a theft proof design, without particular reliance on gluing and the like of the flap. Moreover, in the second configuration, the flap can be inserted within the body of the package to allow reclosing of the package. Thus, the foldable flap allows a user to use the package multiple times to store variety of products.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the body is provided by folding a blank defining the plurality of sides. This manufacturing technique provides material minimization, thus reducing a cost of production and also increases productivity at a manufacturing set-up. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first extended part and the second extended part are defined with the first side wall and the second side wall, respectively. The first extended part and the second extended part provide space for the flap and handing holes. Further, they together allow ease of packaging or folding the blank to define the body of the package.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the flap defines a folding line thereon, such that the flap is foldable along the folding line. The folding line allows the package to be used in the second configuration and also provides improved ergonomics to the package. Further, the user may reclose the package in the second configuration (or even in the first configuration) by simply rotating the flap about the top wall along the folding line.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the flap defines a perforated line, such that the flap is removably connected to the second extended part along the perforated line. The removable connection of the flap allows sealing of the package in the first configuration thereby providing a theft proof design. Further, the user may rotate the flap using only one finger for opening of the package.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the package includes one or more hanging holes. The hanging holes can be used to hang the package on a wall, a door, a wardrobe, and the like. This feature reduces any possibility of misplacement and mishandling of the package.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the one or more hanging holes is an eurohole. The eurohole allows the user to hang or carry the package. The eurohole provides hanging compatibility with on a number of hanging means such as a nail, a hook, and the like. Further, the eurohole provides an improved aesthetics to the package.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first extended part and the second extended part are at least partially glued with each other. The assembly of the first extended part and the second extended part with the glue provides ease of manufacturing of the package and also the theft proof design of the package. Other features and aspects of this disclosure will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will be described in more detail with reference to the enclosed drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of a package, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of a blank, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of the package in a first configuration, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 illustrates a rear view of the package, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 illustrates a top perspective view of the package, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 illustrates a top perspective view of the package in an open position, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 illustrates a top perspective view of the package, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 8 illustrates a top perspective view of the package in a second configuration, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The present disclosure will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which example embodiments of the disclosure incorporating one or more aspects of the present disclosure are shown. This disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art. For example, one or more aspects of the present disclosure may be utilized in other embodiments and even other types of structures and/or methods. In the drawings, like numbers refer to like elements.

Certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and is not to be taken as a limitation on the disclosure. For example, "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "side", "longitudinal", "lateral", "transverse", "upwards", "downwards", "forward", "backward", "sideward", "left," "right," "horizontal," "vertical," "upward", "inner", "outer", "inward", "outward", "top", "bottom", "higher", "above", "below", "central", "middle", "intermediate", "between", "end", "adjacent", "proximate", "near", "distal", "remote", "radial", "circumferential", or the like, merely describe the configuration shown in the Figures. Indeed, the components may be oriented in any direction and the terminology, therefore, should be understood as encompassing such variations unless specified otherwise.

FIG. 1 illustrates a package 100. The package 100 may include any type of storage or transportation device, such as a tool packaging box (say for garden tools), a food packaging box, a corrugated box, and the like. The package 100 is embodied as a generally hollow box that allows storage of a number of articles or goods therein. The package 100 may be manufactured using a cardboard, such as a card stock, a corrugated fiberboard, a paperboard, and the like. It should be noted that the package 100 may be made from any other material, without limiting the scope of the present disclosure.

The package 100 includes a body 102 defining a plurality of sides 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120. In the illustrated embodiment, the body 102 is provided by folding a blank 104 (as shown in FIG. 2) defining the plurality of sides 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120. Further, the folding of the blank 104 may be carried either manually or by any one of a number of automated machines (not shown). Such an automated folding of the blank 104 is particularly advantageous for a high- volume packaging set-up and secure packaging of goods as human involvement is minimal. The plurality of sides 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120 define a storage space 106 (as shown in FIG. 6) therebetween. The storage space 106 may be utilized to store and transport a number of goods, tools, and the like. Further, a volume of the storage space 106 may be selected depending upon the shape and size of the goods, tools, and the like.

As shown in FIG. 2, the plurality of sides 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120 include a first side wall 108, a second side wall 110, two intermediate walls 112, 114, a top wall 116, and a bottom wall 118, 120. In the illustrated embodiment, the first side wall 108 and the second side wall 110 includes a generally rectangular profile. However, any other profile, shape, dimension of the plurality of sides 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120 is well within the scope without any limitation. The first side wall 108 and the second side wall 110 are similar in shape and size. The first side wall 108 defines a first upper end 122, a first lower end 124, a first right end 126, and a first left end 128. Similarly, the second side wall 110 defines a second upper end 130, a second lower end 132, a second right end 134, and a second left end 136.

The package 100 also includes a first extended part 140 defined with one of the plurality of sides 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120. The package 100 further includes a second extended part 150 defined with another of the plurality of sides 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120. More particularly, the first extended part 140 and the second extended part 150 are defined with the first side wall 108 and the second side wall 110, respectively. The first extended part 140 and the second extended part 150 define a generally rectangular profile. Moreover, the first extended part 140 is foldably connected to the first side wall 108 proximate the first upper end 122 and the second extended part 150 is foldably connected to the top wall 116 proximate the second upper end 130.

The package 100 also includes one or more hanging holes 152. In the illustrated embodiment, the one or more hanging holes 152 is an eurohole 152. The hanging hole 152 may include any shape and size, without limiting the scope of the present invention. In the illustrated embodiments, the package 100 includes two hanging holes 152. The hanging holes 152 are defined in each of the first extended part 140 and the second extended part 150. Further, the hanging holes 152 are disposed centrally on the first extended part 140 and the second extended part 150. The hanging holes 152 may include different shape and size. The hanging hole 152 may be used to hang the package 100 on a wall, a door, a wardrobe, and the like, by means of hanging means such as a nail, a pin, a stud, and the like.

The blank 104 also defines a first top tab 154, a first bottom tab 156, a second top tab 158, a second bottom tab 160, and a side tab 162. Further, the first top tab 154, the first bottom tab 156, the second top tab 158, and the second bottom tab 160 define a generally trapezoidal profile. The side tab 162 includes a generally rectangular profile. The first side wall 108 and the side tab 162 are foldably connected proximate the first right end 126 of the first side wall 108. As will be evident to person having knowledge in the art, each of the plurality of sides 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120 may be foldably or at least partially rotatably connected with each adjoining side(s) of the plurality of sides 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120. This allows folding of the blank 104 having the plurality of sides 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120 into the package 100, as illustrated in FIG. 3.

Further, the intermediate wall 112, 114 define the first intermediate wall 112 and the second intermediate wall 114. The first and second intermediate walls 112, 114 include a generally rectangular profile. The first intermediate wall 112 and the second intermediate wall 114 are similar in shape and size, though they may have any other or different shape, size as per the application. The first intermediate wall 112 defines an upper end 164 and a lower end 166. Similarly, the second intermediate wall 114 defines an upper end 168 and a lower end 170. Further, the first top tab 154 and the first bottom tab 156 are foldably connected to the first intermediate wall 112 proximate the upper end 164 and the lower end 166, respectively. Moreover, the second top tab 158 and the second bottom tab 160 are foldably connected to the second intermediate wall 114 proximate the upper end 168 and the lower end 170, respectively.

As illustrated, the top wall 116 includes a generally rectangular profile. The top wall 116 defines an upper end 172 and a lower end 174. The top wall 116 is foldably connected to the second side wall 110 proximate the second upper end 130 of the second side wall 110. The top wall 116 is disposed between the second extended part 150 and the second side wall 110. Further, the bottom wall 118, 120 includes the first bottom wall 118 and the second bottom wall 120. The first bottom wall 118 and the second bottom wall 120 are similar in shape and size. The first bottom wall 118 and the second bottom wall 120 define a substantially rectangular shaped profile. The first bottom wall 118 and the second bottom wall 120 are foldably connected to the first side wall 108 proximate the first lower end 124 and the second side wall 110 proximate the second lower end 132, respectively. It should be noted that the shape and size of the blank 104 and each portion (say the plurality of sides 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120) of the blank 104 may vary as per application requirements, without limiting the scope of the present disclosure.

Further, the first side wall 108 is foldably connected to the side tab 162, the first extended part 140, the first intermediate wall 112, and the first bottom wall 118. Further, the second side wall 110 is foldably connected to the first intermediate wall 112, the top wall 116, the second intermediate wall 114, and the second bottom wall 120.

The second extended part 150 defines a flap 180. The flap 180 defines a generally rectangular profile. The flap 180 is foldably connected to the top wall 116 proximate the upper end 172 of the top wall 116. The flap 180 further defines a number of round corners 186 (as shown in FIGS. 1, 2) proximate the hanging hole 152. In the illustrated embodiment, the flap 180 includes two round comers 186.

The flap 180 defines a folding line 196 thereon, such that the flap 180 is foldable along the folding line 196. The folding line 196 is disposed at a junction of the top wall 116 and the flap 180. The flap 180 defines a perforated line 190, which defines the flap 180 with the second extended part 150. The perforated line 190 is such that the flap 180 is removably connected to the first extended part 140 along the perforated line 190, based on coupling or assembly of the first extended part 140 and the second extended part 150. The perforated line 190 allows easy removal of the flap 180 from the second extended part 150 (as shown in FIGS. 5, 6). Further, the perforated line 190 is disposed at a junction of the flap 180 and the second extended part 150. The perforated line 190 of the present disclosure may be readily replaced or supplemented by any other releasable coupling means such as a live hinge, tab(s) and the like, and the present disclosure is not to be limited by the choice thereof.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the flap 180 is foldably and releasably connected with the first extended part 140 (and the second extended part 150) such that the flap 180 is movable between a first configuration, as shown herein, and a second configuration (as shown in FIGS. 7, 8). In the first configuration, the flap 180 is removably couplable to the first extended part 140. As shown in FIG. 4, the flap 180 is disposed, such that some portion of the flap 180 overlaps with the hanging hole 152 of the first extended part 140 to define an overlapped portion 192. Further, in the first configuration, the flap 180 is releasably connected to the first extended part 150.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4, in a folded configuration of the blank 104, and more particularly, in the first configuration of the package 100, the first side wall 108 and the second side wall 110 are positioned at least substantially parallel to each other. Further, the second intermediate wall 114 is glued with the side tab 162, such that the first intermediate wall 112 and the second intermediate wall 114 are positioned at least substantially parallel to each other and the side tab 162 faces the storage space 106 (see FIG. 6). Furthermore, the first bottom wall 118, the second bottom wall 120, the first bottom tab 156, and the second bottom tab 160 are folded. The first bottom wall 118, the second bottom wall 120, the first bottom tab 156, and the second bottom tab 160 may be glued to each other using an adhesive for closing a bottom section of the package 100.

It should be further noted that the top wall 116, the first top tab 154, and the second top tab 158 are folded in such a way that the top wall 116 and the bottom wall 118, 120 are positioned at least substantially parallel to each other. Moreover, the first extended part 140 and the second extended part 150 are at least partially coupled with each other. Further, the first extended part 140 and the second extended part 150 are at least partially glued with each other in some embodiments. The glue may include any adhesive, such as a polyvinyl acetate, a rubber cement, and the like. Further, the first extended part 140 and the second extended part 150 are glued in such a way that the first extended part 140 and the second extended part 150 remain at least substantially parallel to the first side wall 108 and the second side wall 110. The folding of the top wall 116 and the gluing of the first and second extended parts 140, 150 may allow desired packing of the goods (say gardening tools, not shown) within the package 100. Such a design may allow theft proof packaging of the goods within the package 100. In this folding arrangement, the first side wall 108, the second side wall 110, the first intermediate wall 112, the second intermediate wall 114, the top wall 116, and the bottom wall 118, 120 define the storage space 106 (see FIG. 6) therebetween. Furthermore, the folding of the blank 104 does not include three dimensional folding of the blank 104, thus a fully automated packaging is possible for variety of goods.

As shown in FIG. 5, the flap 180 may be released by a user to switch the position of the flap 180 from the first configuration to the second configuration (see FIGS. 7, 8). Further, the user may use only one finger 194 to engage with and release the flap 180 from the first extended part 140. Furthermore, the user may pull the overlapped portion 192 of the flap 180 by the finger 194 to release the flap 180 from the first extended part 140. As the user pulls the flap 180, the flap 180 gets detached from the first extended part 140. In some embodiments, the flap 180 is at least partially teared off along the perforated line 190. The flap 180 may be released to use the package 100 in the second configuration. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the flap 180 may be then folded along the folding line 196 to rotate the flap 180 about the top wall 116, such that the flap 180 is generally perpendicular to the top wall 116. In the second configuration, the flap 180 is at least partially foldably inserted within the body 102 of the package 100, as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8.

Referring to FIG. 8, the flap 180 may be inserted into the storage space 106 of the package 100 to reclose the package 100. Further, the rotation of the flap 180 along the folding line 196 allows easy insertion of the flap 180 within the body 102 of the package 100. Furthermore, the user may not be able to open the package 100 without releasing the flap 180 from the first extended part 140, thus making the package 100 theft proof and multipurpose. The illustrated design also provides a means to identify if the package 100 has been tampered with. The present invention provides an improved design of the package 100 which allows automated packaging of various goods within the package 100. The automated, multi-purpose, releasable packaging of such packages 100 is suitable in a high- volume manufacturing set-up. Further, the automated packaging reduces a cycle time of the package 100, thus improving productivity and reducing cost. The perforated line 190 and the folding line 196 allows the package 100 to be used in the first and second configuration and also provides improved ergonomics to the package 100 as the package 100 can be opened using the user’s finger 194. Further, the releasable connection of the flap 180 provides the theft proof design. Moreover, in the second configuration, the flap 180 can be inserted within the body 102 of the package 100 to allow reclosing of the package 100. More particularly, the foldable flap 180 allows the user to use the package 100 multiple times to store variety of goods or products.

In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed preferred embodiments and examples of the disclosure and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for the purpose of limitation of the scope of the disclosure being set forth in the following claims.

LIST OF ELEMENTS

100 Package

102 Body

104 Blank

106 Storage Space

108 First Side Wall

110 Second Side Wall

112 First Intermediate Wall

114 Second Intermediate Wall

116 Top Wall

118 First Bottom Wall

120 Second Bottom Wall

122 First Upper End

124 First Lower End

126 First Right End

128 First Left End

130 Second Upper End

132 Second Lower End

134 Second Right End

136 Second Left End

140 First Extended Part

150 Second Extended Part

152 Hanging Hole/ Eurohole

154 First Top Tab

156 First Bottom Tab Second Top Tab Second Bottom Tab Side Tab

Upper End of First Intermediate Wall Lower End of First Intermediate Wall Upper End of Second Intermediate Wall Lower End of Second Intermediate Wall Upper End of Top Wall Lower End of Top Wall Flap

Round Corners Perforated Line Overlapped Portion Finger Folding Line