BACKGROUND CDs are often purchased as gifts and may then be accompanied by a greetings card, usually put into the same bag as the CD.

THE INVENTION The present inventor has appreciated that it would be particularly convenient to combine a container adapted to house a CD or the like with a greetings card. This is one aspect of the invention. The term"CD or the like"as used herein includes a DVD and any other disc-like optical storage medium. The term"greetings card or the like"has reference to any sheet-like material that includes a printed region and a writing region adapted to receive a written message.

The inventor considered that the most suitable form of packaging would be a container having an external front flap adapted to lie over the front surface of the container, substantially co-extensive therewith, and hinged at one side to an edge of this surface.

In considering how to make this practically, and the somewhat wider uses to which it might be put, the inventor considered that the container in one form should be available for sale as a flat that can be erected by the purchaserto insert his or her own CD jewel case containing a CD. In another form, it would be sold already containing the CD jewel case containing a CD and would be reprinted to suit the particular CD. In the form for sale when flat, it might not be immediately apparent to a purchaser how he or she could erect the container, and for this purpose the inventor devised a form in which the flap lies outside a protective transparent envelope which surrounds the remainder of the container when on a shop shelf, and the construction is such that by slightly opening the flap, the prospective purchaser can immediately see the beginning of the erection method.

Another aspect of the invention consists in packaging means comprising an erectable or collapsible container having an external flap adapted to lie over a surface of the container. The term"container"includes reference to a flat (an un-erected or collapsed container) and an erected container or partially erected container, according as the case will allow.

Preferably, the flap is connected to the rest the container in such a manner that opening the flap will tend to aid at least part of the erection of the container, and in a preferred form, starting such opening will make it apparent how the container will erect.

In a practical form, the container comprises panels, first hinge means that connect the panels together, and second hinge means that connect the flap to the remainder of the container. Preferably, the second hinge means are substantially rigid in a direction to open the flap from its position of lying over said surface. More preferably, the second hinge means in a direction to open the flap from its position of lying over said surface are stiffer than said first hinge means.

In embodiments to be illustrated below, said first and second hinge means are substantially collocated.

In a preferred form, a first said panel and a second said panel are interconnected by said first hinge means, and said flap is connected to said first panel by said second hinge means. More preferably, said first panel is smaller than said second panel and said second panel comprises said surface. Even more preferably, said flap when lying over said surface has substantially the same length and breadth as, and may simply be substantially co-extensive with, said second panel, The packaging means preferably comprise at least one writing area and at least one printed area less conducive to being written upon than said writing area.

As illustrated below, said flap comprises a said writing area and a said printed area.

As mentioned above, the packaging means may further comprise a transparent envelope, itself preferably comprising a re-sealable adhesive means. As illustrated below, said envelope comprises a closure portion that can be sealed to the rest of said envelope by said adhesive means to seal said envelope. Preferably, said re-sealable adhesive means are located on the outside of said rest of said envelope. Said rest of said envelope is preferably adapted substantially to surround said rest of said container when un-erected, with said adhesive means lying between said flap and said surface with said flap lying over the latter and adhering to said adhesive means. In one form, said container is un-erected with said rest of said envelope substantially surrounding said rest of said container and said flap adhering to said adhesive means.

In a preferred form, said envelope is adapted to surround said container when the latter is erected and said closure portion is sealed to said rest of said envelope as aforesaid. When said container is erected, said envelope may be sealed and surround the whole of said container.

Another aspect of the invention consists in a method of erecting a container having an external flap adapted to lie over a surface of the container, in which the flap is opened to aid the erection.

Another aspect of the invention consists in a method of erecting a partly folded container having an external flap adapted to lie over a surface of the container, in which the flap is opened to aid the erection and change the folding of the container.

The invention extends to a container erected by any such method, and to a container of any such packaging means, that has been erected.

Another aspect of the invention consists in a method of using any such container, comprising a flap adapted to lie over a surface of the container when un-erected, which flap is open when the container is erected, in which method the flap is closed to lie over said surface of the container when erected. Preferably, contents are placed in the container when erect and the container is then closed.

The invention extends to a container with contents placed in it during any such method.

DESCRIPTION RELATING TO THE DRAWINGS Reference will now be made by way of example to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a blank ready to be folded into container embodying the invention; Figure 2 is a view corresponding to Figure 1 of the container when folded into a flat suitable for erection; Figure 3 is a front perspective view of the erected container; Figure 4 is a top view of the Figure 3 container; Figure 5 is a side perspective view of the container in a direction seen from the right-hand side of Figure 3; Figures 6A to 61 are schematic top views, somewhat distorted in Figure 6D for clarity for explanatory purposes, corresponding to Figure 4, of stages 6A to 61 in the folding of the Figure 1 arrangement to form the Figure 2 arrangement and then erecting the same; corresponding parts of Figures 6A to 6F are vertically aligned in the Figures; Figure 6D2 corresponds to Figure 6D but showing a variation; Figure 7 is an enlarged partial top sectional view, corresponding to Figure 6E, showing one possible rigid arrangement of the second hinge means; Figure 8 is a schematic top sectional view, corresponding to Figure 6E, showing how a transparent envelope may be included in the flat ;

Figure 9 is a view corresponding to Figure 8, showing how the transparent envelope may be sealed around the whole container before insertion of its contents, or equally how it may be re-sealed after insertion of the contents; and Figure 10 is a view corresponding to Figure 2 of the Figure 8 arrangement.

In the various drawings, like references indicate the same items or items having the same or similar functions.

Referring to the drawings, a blank 20, Figure 1, comprises equal-sized main panels 1,2, 3,4, equal-sized edge panels 5,6, 7, equal-sized folding flaps 8,9, equal-sized support flaps 10,11, 12,13, equal-sized tuck-in flaps 22,23, and scored fold lines 14,15, 16,17, 18,19, of which fold line 15 is scored less than (e. g. 50% of the depth of the scoring on) the other fold lines so that it will produce a stiffer hinge action than these. For example, fold line 15 has intermittent scoring while the other fold lines have continuous scoring, or fold line 15 has shallower scoring than the other fold lines.

To form the blank 20, Figures 1 and 6A, into a flat 21, Figures 2 and 6E, main panel 1 is coated around its edges (or spot-gummed) on its front face (facing the viewer in Figure 1) with adhesive 26 and folded forwards (towards the viewer) 180 degrees about fold line 14 so that this front face adheres to the front face of main panel 2, forming a reinforced external flap 1,2 (with a free edge 14), Figure 6B, which will be the front greetings card element of the embodiment. (The rear element will be described below.) The edge panel. 7 is coated on the back with adhesive 27, Figure 6B, and main panel 4 carrying edge panel 7 is folded forwards 180 degrees about fold line 18 so that edge panel 7 lies over main panel 3 without adhering thereto, with its edge 25 just reaching fold line 16 of edge panel 5 but not overlapping the same, Figure 6C. Edge panel 5, carrying flap 1,2, is then folded forwards 180 degrees about fold line 16 until edge panel 5 lies over edge panel 7 and adheres thereto, Figure 6D, seen more clearly in Figure 6E which omits showing the adhesive 26,27.

This produces flat 21, Figures 2 and 6E, the first form of container 24.

Drawing edge 14 of external flap 1,2 towards the viewer as seen in Figure 2, i. e. in the direction of arrow 28 Figure 6F, then tends to cause rotation about fold line 16 of both main panel 1,2 and edge panel 5 together, because of the stiffness of fold line 15 (at least in relation to rotation in this direction), see Figure 7. Because the rest of the container 24 comprising main panels 3,4 and edge panels 5,6 forms a parallelogram 3,4, 5,6, this rotation of edge panel 5 away from back main panel 3 causes the parallelogram 3, 4, 5,6 to start opening, thus starting to erect the container 24 forming this parallelogram 3,4, 5,6. Quite a small such movement of edge 14 is sufficient to indicate to a viewer viewing the embodiment in a direction from the top of Figure 2 the manner in which the container 24 will erect. This is an important psychological feature of the embodiment. If external flap 1,2 is drawn forwards until it is at 90 degrees to main panel 4, the container parallelogram 3,4, 5,6 is fully opened, Figure 6G, and the erection of the container 24 may be completed by bending in support flaps 10,11, 12,13, bending forwards folding flaps 8,9, and tucking in flaps 22,23, Figure 6H. Once the container 24 is thus erected and rigid, external flap 1,2 can be rotated about fold line 15 to close its edge 14 to fold line 18 of main panel 4, so that flap 1,2 lies over the (now) front surface 39 of main panel 4.

For display of the flat 21 on a shop shelf, the packaging means 34, Figure 8, in addition to container 24, further comprise a transparent envelope 29, itself comprising a shorter panel 37 and a longer panel 38 and re-sealable adhesive means 35 in the form of a strip 35 of adhesive 35 running along the outside of the lip of the shorter panel 37. The extension of longer panel 38 beyond shorter panel 37 of envelope 29 constitutes a closure portion 36 that can be sealed to the rest of said envelope 29 by said adhesive means 35 to seal said envelope 29. Said re-sealable adhesive means 35 are located on the outside of said rest of said envelope 29.

The purpose of use in envelope 29 is to protect the majority of container 24, consistent with the psychological feature mentioned above. Said rest of said envelope 29 is made large enough substantially to surround said rest of said container

24 when un-erected, i. e. in the form of flat 21, as seen in Figures 8 and 10, with said adhesive means 35 lying between said flap 1,2 and said surface 39 of panel 4, and with said flap 1,2 lying over the surface 39 and adhering to said adhesive means 35. While container 24 is thus partially within envelope 29, and protected by the same, raising edge 14 of flap 1, 2 slightly in the direction of arrow 28 will slightly erect container 24 in the manner shown in Figure 6F, to indicate to the potential buyer how container 24 will erect. In this form, said container 24 is the un-erected flat 21 with said rest of said envelope 29 substantially surrounding said rest of said container 24 and said flap 1,2 adhering to said adhesive means 35.

After purchase, the buyer will un-seal flap 1,2 from adhesive 35 and envelope 29 so that container 24 can be withdrawn from envelope 29. Flap 1,2 is then drawn forwards to the position shown in Figure 6G, flaps 12 and 13 are folded inwards, bottom flap 9 is folded up and its flap 23 tucked into container 24 behind the bottom of panel 4, the intended contents 42 (e. g. a CD in its usual jewel case) placed within the erected container 24, flaps 10 and 11 are folded inwards, and top flap 8 is folded over and its flap 22 tucked into container 24 behind the top of panel 4 to complete the erection of the container 24, as seen in Figure 6H. After writing on writing surface 31, flap 1,2 is bent back against front face 39 of panel 4, as seen in Figure 61. The erected container 24 is then re-inserted in envelope 29 so that this surrounds said container 24 and said closure portion 36 is folded over the mouth of envelope 29 to meet adhesive 35 and thus be sealed to said rest of said envelope 29, so that with said container 24 erected, said envelope 29 is sealed and surrounds the whole of said container 24.

Clearly, packaging means 34 can also be sold erected in the form shown in Figure 9, already containing contents.

It is then down to the purchaser to un-seal closure portion 36 from releasable and re-sealable adhesive means 35, withdraw container 24, write a message on area 31, re-insert container 24 into envelope 29, and re-seal the same with closure portion 36.

Thus, there are provided packaging means 34 comprising an erectable or collapsible container 24 having an external flap 1,2 adapted to lie over a surface (front surface 39 of panel 4) of the container 24.

The flap 1,2 is connected to the rest the container 24 in such a manner that opening the flap 1,2 will tend to aid at least part of the erection of the container 24, and starting such opening will make it apparent how the container 24 will erect, more particularly when the container 24, apart from its external flap 1,2 is within transparent envelope 29.

The container 24 comprises panels 4 and 7, first hinge means 19 that connect the panels 4 and 7 together, and second hinge means 15 that connect the flap 1,2 to the remainder of the container 24. The second hinge means 15 are substantially rigid in a direction, arrow 28, to open the flap 1,2 from its position of lying over said front surface 39 of panel 4. The second hinge means 15 in a direction, Arrow 28, to open the flap 1,2 from its position of lying over said front surface 39 of panel 4 are stiffer than said first hinge means 19, at least in relation to rotating in the direction of arrow 28.

Said first and second hinge means 19,15 are substantially collocated, as seen in Figure 7.

A first said panel 5,7 (effectively a single panel in formed container 24) and a second said panel 4 are interconnected by said first hinge means 19, and said flap 1,2 is connected to said first panel 5,7 by said second hinge means 15. Said first panel 5,7 is smaller than said second panel 4 and said second panel 4 comprises said front surface 39. Said flap 1, 2 when lying over said front surface 39 of panel 4 has substantially the same length and breadth as, and is substantially co-extensive with, said second panel 4. Alternatively, said flap 1,2 may be shaped, e. g. substantially circular, so that it has the same length and breadth as, but is not co-extensive with, said second panel 4.

The packaging means 34 comprise at least one writing area 31, Figure 5, and at least one printed area 30, Figure 3, less conducive to being written upon than said writing area 31. For this purpose, the outer surface 32, Figure 3, of panel

2 (of flap 1,2) comprises print 33 and, over this, surface 32 is covered with a plastic laminated area 32 not conducive to being written upon. Writing surface 31 of panel 1 has no such covering. Thus, said flap 1,2 comprises a said writing area 31 and a said printed area 30. The front face 39 of panel 4 is provided with a printed area, and possibly a writing area, and constitutes the rear greetings card element of the container 24.

There has thus been provided a method of erecting a container 24 having an external flap 1, 2 adapted to lie over a surface 39 of the container 24, in which the flap 1,2 is opened to aid the erection.

There has also been provided a method of erecting a partly folded container 24, i. e. in the form of flat 21, having an external flap 1,2 adapted to lie over a surface 39 of the container 24, in which the flap 1,2 is opened to aid the erection and change the folding of the container, or especially at fold is 16,17, 18,19.

There has also been provided a method of using such a container 24, comprising a flap 1,2 adapted to lie over a surface 39 of the container 24 when un-erected, which flap 1,2 is open when the container 24 is erected, in which method the flap 1,2 is closed to lie over said surface 39 of the container 24 when erected. The contents are placed in the container 24 when erect and the container 24 is then closed.

The embodiment illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 can be used to provide a folding gift box and greetings card combination 24, into which a CD jewel case 42 can be inserted to fit neatly and be secured with folding flaps 10,11, 8,22 at the top, and 12,13, 9,23 at the bottom, of the gift box 24, which flaps also serve to support the container 24 in its erect state. The additional, movable front flap 1,2, which is the greetings card part of the folding gift box 24, provides a space for printed images and handwritten messages on both the external and internal sides of the front flap 1,2. When the additional, movable front flap 1,2 is lifted on a folded gift box 24 in the form of a flat 21, the structure 24 opens to reveal its dual functionality as a gift box as well as a greetings card. The embodiment can be provided in various sizes that range from folding a gift boxes 24 that hold a single CD jewel case to those (thicker boxes 24) able to hold double and treble CD jewel case packages, or to hold DVD's, video tapes, socks, ties, books or other gifts. The folding gift box and greetings card combination 24 can reduce and/or replace the need for wrapping paper, scissors, tape and a separate greetings card, when giving a gift.

Various materials can be used in the production and construction of the combination gift box 24, for example: recycled paperboard; recycled newsprint; cardboard; corrugated cardboard; coated and/or holographic board; foils; plastics ; textile fabrics; wood; aluminium ; tin. In the case that the material does not lend itself to a hinge made of a fold of the material, a separate hinge means may be provided, the hinges provided by folding are preferred. In the case of, for example, card as the material, this is die-cut with a number of main panels, edge panels, folding flaps, support flaps and scored folds, as described above. The card can have a thickness of 340 to 500 microns, though paper or plastics material may be suitable down to 100 microns, although it may then require stiffener lining sheets for the panels.

For a CD jewel case, the dimension 40, Figure 10, may be 160 mm or 5 mm wider than container 24 when erected, and the dimension 41 may be 185 mm or 190 mm, i. e. 5 mm deeper than container 24 when erected.

Container 24 may be anything from 5 cm square to 10 cm by 5 cm, or 12 cm by 12 cm, or up to a little more than A4 size, ranging in thickness from 1 cm to 5 cm.

The term"hinge means"is used herein in its broadest meaning and includes means conducive to producing a hinge, e. g. such as a line of weakening.

It is to be noted that the extra stiffness of hinge means 15 may be partly or wholly destroyed when flap 1,2 is first rotated about the hinge means 15, in particular after the carton 24 has been erected including the fixing of the erection in

stage 6H by tucking in of flaps 22 and 23. Indeed, initially, hinge means 15 may not even be present and there may simply be a notional line 15 until the first time there is such opening or closing rotation of flap 1, 2 of the fully erected carton, Figure 6H, about this notional line 15 which changes the line 15 from being notional into being a hinge 15. In furtherance of this type of stiffness (i. e. in which the hinge means 15 are not even present initially as hinge means), the flap 1, 2 may be formed by initially rotating panel 1 to the opposite side (back, as seen in Figure 1) of panel 2 before adhering them together, panel 1 being of extended length so as then to cover panel 5 also, and will be adhered to this as well as, or instead of, panel 2 as indicated in Figure 6D2 as a variation of the Figure 6D stage.

It will be apparent to one skilled in the art, that features of the different embodiments disclosed herein may be omitted, selected, combined or exchanged and the invention is considered to extend to any new and inventive combination thus formed. Where a preference or particularisation is stated, there is implied the possibility of its negative, i. e. a case in which that preference or particularisation is absent.

Many variations of the invention and embodiments hereinbefore described will be apparent to people skilled in the art and all such variations are to be considered as falling within the scope of the invention.