Calico box

Abstract

A multi-sided gift box with water-repellant exterior surfaces of organic and inorganic material designs, such as wallpaper, cloth, leather and suede.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This Invention relates to a gift box as an article of manufacture, and a process of manufacturing same.

2. Background of Prior Art

Gift boxes are well known in the arts. They are made of paper, cardboard and various woods, which in finished form take the shape of a carton or box for containing valuable gifts. Generally, they have an exterior design which is colorful, ornate, and appealing to the eye. As of late, because of their cost and beauty, an effort has been made to make them reusable.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is a general object of the Invention to have a gift box which is reusable.

A further object of the Invention is to have a gift box that is shipped in collapsed form, to save space, to a merchant or user and easily formed into a box or carton to receive and protect a gift.

Another object of the Invention is to have diverse sizes of boxes shipped to the merchant or user to facilitate the accommodation of various gift sizes.

Still another object of the Invention is to form the box having a laminated structure which includes a base material having bonded to its exterior a material bearing an appealing design.

Further still, another object of the Invention is to have the box material with an exterior surface which is washable.

Again, another object of the Invention is to have a gift box that can be collapsed and stored, and then reformed many times and reused for diverse gifts through the years.

So also, another object of the Invention is to provide an inner liner in each box bearing a scent, for example, and/or one of a multitude of designs.

Another object of my Invention is to provide a transparent window in the gift box so that one may view the contents.

Still another object of my Invention is to partially assemble my gift box for easy fabrication by the user by providing a collapsed structure for shipment.

SUMMARY OF MY INVENTION

It is conventional to form gift boxes with a “pre-wrapped” exterior by laminating the outer wrapping or cover to a stronger paperboard backing. My Invention is formed in the same way, but I provide for the outer cover or wrapping to be washable. I do this by providing the exterior with a water repellant cover or varnish the cover with a transparent water repellant coating or overlay. Further, if desired, I provide the interior of the box with an attractive inner lining, either matching the exterior or comprising a different appealing color, design or texture.

The backing can be comprised of a reformable metal, plastic, paperboard or combination thereof.

The wrapping or box exterior can be comprised of diverse materials made up of different colors, designs and textures, all designed to be pleasing to the eye. The wrapping or exterior can include wallpaper designs, cloth and plastic fabric designs, quilt appliques, leather and suede complimented by dyed muslin strips: tea-stained muslin strips and ribbon, for example. Also, individual components such as dots, stars, squares, etc. can be adhered to the exterior.

The boxes, for stability, are provided with adhesive layers, Velcro or staples on the hold down tabs.

The interior of the boxes can be scented and walled with many designs like those used on the exterior, for example. Also nesting material in the form of fill or bags can be used on the box interior to softly cradle the contents.

On the exterior of the box, if the outer layer is not waterproof, per se, a transparent waterproof overlay can be provided as by coating or heat sealing an overlay thereon.

The box is first made by making a blank laminate from sheet stock backing material while in flat form. This is done by cutting the exterior form with bottom, sides and a top with tabs to hold the box in assembled shape. Also, while cutting to size, the fold lines are also impressed where necessary to allow for easy bending of the parts.

For special orders, the exterior can include, photos, personal writings, art work, book pages and individually disposed components such as dots, dashes, figures, etc. adhered on to the design layers.

DRAWING

FIG. 1 shows a portion of the blank in laminated form.

FIG. 2 is a depiction of a carton or box blank, with bottom, top and sides and securing tabs.

FIG. 3 shows my gift box 60 in partially collapsed form prior to use of shipment. The side walls 11-14 are bent at fold lines to form a sustained rectangle after securing tab 20 to the inside of wall 10 by any form of permanent adhesive.

FIG. 4 shows a 3-sided box blank that can be formed as described below.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF MY INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 2, I show my blank 10 in flat shape before forming it into my box or carton shape. It is cut to shape and provided with fold lines 30, 29, 31, 32, 15-19 and 35-37. The outer layer is bonded thereto with adhesive or bonding material (any well known material will suffice as long as it is flexible when hardened). If the outer layer is water repellant, once the bonding material dries, the blank is ready to be formed into the gift box shape. If the outer layer is not water repellant, it is provided by a transparent coating or overlay. Numerous commercially available repellants can be used. So also, a heat seal type overlay can be used. Blank 10 is comprised of side panels 11-14, a top 28 and bottom panels 24-27.

In assembly, side panels 11-14 are bent at the fold lines until a rectangle is formed then tab 20 folded at fold line 29 is caused to engage panel 14. It is secured thereat by adhesive, glue, staples or, if pre-assembled, by Velcro components. Once this is done top 28 is folded at fold line 19 to engage side panel 13. Then top 23 is folded at fold line 30 to engage the inner side 13 and secured thereat.

Then tabs 21 and 22 are folded at fold lines 32 and 31 respectively, to engage top panel 28. Then bottom panels 25 and 27 are folded at fold lines 16 and 18 respectively to slightly overlap and touch each other. Then bottom panels 24 and 26 are folded at fold lines 15 and 17 respectively to engage bottom panels 25 and 27 whereat tabs 33 and 34 are slipped into cuts 36A and 37A to render my completed box.

This formed box can then be dismantled by reversing the steps to render the composite flattened for storage as shown in FIG. 3.

To temporarily secure the tabs, Velcro, water-soluble glue, heat seal glue, clips or staples can be used. If one does not want to return the box to flattened form, permanent glues and epoxies can be used on the bottom.

Referring to FIG. 1, I depict my laminate 70 comprising base backing 2, bonding material 3, design or outer layer 4 and water repellant overlay 5. If outer layer 4 is water repellant the overlay coating on layer 5 need not be applied. In the event one desires an inside liner in the box, layer 1 should be adhered to back 2.

The outer covering layer with the design can be any type of organic or inorganic fiber, denim, lace, wallpaper, burlap, velvet, leather, suede, photos, book pages, personal handwriting and artwork.

Overlay or outer transparent layer 5 can either be integral with the design covering 4 or an overlay placed thereover by a coating or heat seal operation. The important aspect of my Invention is to provide my box outer layer of design covering impervious to water so that the box in final form is washable.

To form the blank a conventional laminating press can be used. To cut the blank to size and form fold lines a box cutting press is common in the art. The blank cutting and fold lines can be made either before or after the laminating process.

Also, as a display, numerous formed boxes having various colored coverings can be temporarily secured together with glue dots so that the assembly would resemble a quilt.

For easy shipment, as shown in FIG. 3, I join the structure 60 with adhesive at side 14 with tab 20. Then the structure can be collapsed to flattened form for easy shipment or storage.

To provide for visibility of the contents of my gift box, I can cut a window in one or more sides of the blank and laminate transparent material thereto on the intended inside of the box. This can be any form of plastic sheeting secured with adhesive.

My box is made in the following fashion for more ready comprehension. Stock material of paperboard, light metal, or plastic is bonded to one of the above mentioned design materials. Water repellant is overlaid the design material if it is not water repellant as by heat laminating or a water seal coating. Then the stock material laminate in flat form is cut to shape with fold lines provided as shown. Once this is accomplished tab 20 is adhered to the inside of side wall 14 by any well known adhesive. Sides 11-14 having fold lines are bent thereat to render the structure depicted in FIG. 3. More sides then four can be provided in the blank without departing from the Invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, blank 50 is a three-sided box type. Sides 51 and 53 are bent 120° at fold lines 54 and 55 and tab 56 is bent at fold line 57 and overlapped side 53 at its far end. It can be secured thereat with adhesive, for example. Then tabs 60 and 61 are bent at fold lines 62 and 63 to right angles. Then top 58 is bent at fold line 64 to engage sides 51 and 53 at the inside of each and secured as by adhesive. Then bottom 59 has tabs 65 and 66 bent at fold lines 67 and 68 and bottom 59 is bent at fold line 69 so that the tabs engage the inside of sides 51 and 53 and secured thereat with adhesive to render a closed gift box. If one desires that the box be collapsed, it is suggested Velcro strips be used on the tabs and placed so that the loop engages opposing hooks of the Velcro components. The three-sided box can be provided with design overlays in the same way as the blank of FIG. 2 is formed. It is emphasized that the 3-sided box of FIG. 4 cannot be collapsed as the blank formed with 4 or more sides as depicted in FIG. 3.

In summary, while preferred forms of my Invention have been shown, it is clearly understood that various changes could be made without departing from the Invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A gift box comprising a laminate made up of a backing material, a outer design overlay cover from the group including water repellant, wallpaper, organic or inorganic fibers, quilt appliques, leather and suede bonded to said backing and formed into a box for a gift.

2. The claim of 1 further including muslin strips and ribbons there over.

3. A gift box comprising a laminate made up of a backing material, an outer overlay design material from the group including non-water repellant wallpaper, fabric, pictures, book pages, lace, quilt appliques and handwriting bonded to said backing and, a water repellant covering there over; and formed into a box to receive a gift.

4. The Invention of claim 1 wherein the box is only partially formed and collapsible for shipment and fully formed at time of using.

5. The Invention of claim 3, wherein the box is only partially formed and is collapsible for shipment and fully assembled before use.

6. The process of forming a gift box comprising the following steps:

Providing a stock backing material of paper, thin metal or plastic;

Bonding to said backing material a desired design material from the group composed of wallpaper, organic or inorganic fibers, quilt appliques, leather, paper, suede, pictures, book pages, lace and handwriting;

Coating said design material with water repellant material if it is not water repellant;

Cutting the said stock material and bonded design material to form a gift box blank, having a top, plural sides, and bottom parts wherein one side has a tab and further providing fold lines in said blank;

Folding the sides at the fold lines and forming said tab to the far sidewall with adhesive;

and collapsing the box to flat form for shipment.

7. In preparation for use bending the top and bottom parts at the fold lines to engage matching sides and rendering the completed box.