SHIRT BOX WITH MULTIPLE VIEWING WINDOWS

Abstract

A shirt box suitable for receiving one or more shirts is formed from a single substrate sheet that includes a plurality of fold lines formed in the sheet. The sheet defines a first set of generally parallel fold lines and a second set of generally parallel fold lines and a set of first panels each being separated from a next panel in the series by a respective fold line in the first set of fold lines. The first panels are foldable along the respective fold lines in a first direction to define a hollow central cavity for the shirt box. The shirt box also includes a set of second panels, each having a boundary along a respective fold line in the second set of fold lines to a respective first panel. One panel of the first set of panels has a first opening formed therethrough to permit touching of the shirt without jeopardizing the integrity of the box. In addition, a first window is formed in one of the second panels and includes a transparent protective member covering a second opening that defines the first window to prevent touching of the shirt through the first window.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 60/851,146, filed Oct. 11, 2006, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to retail packaging and in particular, to a shirt box for displaying a shirt in an assembled state and includes a plurality of openings and windows to allow the consumer to better view and assess the quality of the shirt.

BACKGROUND

In the retail sale of dress shirts and dress shirts and tie combinations, it is desirable to present the merchandise in a manner that permits potential customers to have a good look at the product. On the other hand, it is important for retailers to keep the product clean and free of any soil or stains that may result from handling, to protect against theft, and to maintain the shirts in an orderly and well-folded condition so that their displays remains attractive to passers by.

It is also desirable that the packaging that is used be economical to manufacturer, that it be made from a recyclable material, and that it be made with minimal waste.

It is also desirable to have a packaging that addresses the foregoing needs and which permits shirts to be stacked in great number to promote efficient shelf and display space usage.

The embodiments described herein satisfy these and other needs.

SUMMARY

A shirt box suitable for receiving one or more shirts is formed of a single substrate sheet that includes a plurality of fold lines in the sheet which itself includes a first set of generally parallel fold lines and a second set of generally parallel fold lines and a set of first panels each being separated from a next panel in the series by a respective fold line in the first set of fold lines. The first panels are foldable along the respective fold lines in a first direction to define a hollow central cavity for the shirt box. The shirt box also includes a set of second panels, each having a boundary along a respective fold line in the second set of fold lines to a respective first panel. The second panels are foldable along said respective fold lines in a second direction which is substantially perpendicular to the first direction to define first and second peripheral ends of the shirt box.

A first fastening panel and one panel of the set of first panels are attached to another along a fastening region to connect the set of first panels in series and define the central cavity and one panel of the first set of panels has a first opening formed therethrough to permit touching of the shirt without jeopardizing the integrity of the box. In addition, a first window is formed in one of the second panels and includes a transparent protective member covering a second opening that defines the first window to prevent touching of the shirt through the first window.

In another embodiment, a shirt box suitable for receiving one or more shirts is formed of a single sheet of substrate material that includes a plurality of fold lines in the sheet that includes a first set of generally parallel fold lines and a second set of generally parallel fold lines. The shirt box includes a set of first panels, each being separated from a next panel in the series by a respective fold line in the first set of fold lines. The first panels are foldable along said respective fold lines in a first direction to define a hollow central cavity for the shirt box. The set of first panels includes a fastening panel, a bottom panel, a top panel and two side panels that extend between the top and bottom panels when the box is an assembled state.

The shirt box includes a set of second panels, each having a boundary along a respective fold line in the second set of fold lines to a respective first panel. The second panels are foldable along said respective fold lines in a second direction which is substantially perpendicular to the first direction to define first and second peripheral ends of the shirt box. The set of second panels includes a pair of end panels.

The fastening panel and one side panel are attached to another along a length thereof to connect the set of first panels in series and define the central cavity. The bottom panel has a first opening formed therethrough to permit touching of a shirt within the central cavity without jeopardizing the integrity of the box and the top panel includes a first window to permit viewing of the shirt. The first window is defined by a second opening and including a transparent protective member that covers the second opening to prevent touching of the shirt therethrough and the one of the end panels includes a second window formed therethrough and defined by a third opening and including a transparent protective member covering the third opening to prevent touching of the shirt through the second window.

These and other aspects, features and advantages shall be apparent from the accompanying Drawings and description of certain embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a shirt box according to a first embodiment of the invention in an unassembled state;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the shirt box of FIG. 1 in an assembled state; and

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a shirt box according to a second embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-2, a shirt box container 100 is made from a substrate 110 in the form of a transparent plastic sheet having a series of fold lines generally designated F1 and F2. The fold lines F1 are generally parallel and preferably are parallel to one another and can be characterized as being vertical fold lines that run from one end of the container to the opposite other end. The fold lines F2 are also generally parallel and preferably are parallel to one another and can be characterized as being horizontal fold lines. The fold lines F1, F2 define boundaries of respective panels of the substrate 110.

More specifically, the substrate 110 is divided into a number of different panels that define particular segments or regions of the substrate 110. A series of first panels 112 all fold in a first direction and include panels 120, 122, 124, and 126. Each of these panels 120, 122, 124, 126 is disposed adjacent another panel in the series and is separated from a next panel by one of the fold lines F1. As shown in FIG. 1, the first series of panels 112 is foldable along the fold lines F1 along a common, parallel direction to define a hollow central cavity for the shirt box. Panel 124 forms a top wall and panel 120 forms a bottom wall, and panels 122, 126 define a pair of side walls.

In the illustrated embodiment, each of the panels 120, 124 has a generally rectangular shape and the widths of the panels 120, 124 are preferably equal. In addition, the panels 522, 526 also have a generally rectangular shape, with the panel 122 being disposed between the panels 120, 124 and the panel 126 being formed on the other side of the panel 124. The panels 122, 126 have widths that are preferably equal to one another but are less than the width of the panels 120, 124.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the second series of panels 114 includes a pair of end panels 130 that have a boundary along the fold lines F2 to the panel 124. The end panel 130 is defined by two parallel edges 132, one of which defines the fold line F2, and a pair of end edges 134 that are perpendicular to edges 132. The end panel 130 thus has a rectangular shape.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-2, the panels 130 further includes end flaps 180 which fold about fold line F2 and which are joined to the outer edges (outer edge 132) of the panels 130. The end flap 180 has a pair of sides 182 that include parallel portions 183 that are close to edge 132 and inwardly beveled portions 184 that are further from edge 132 and which terminate at a free outer edge 185 of the end flap 180.

On one side of each end panel 130, a flap 160 is provided. The flaps 160 are bounded along one margin at the fold lines F2 to the panel 122. The flap 160 thus folds about fold line F2 and is generally in the shape of a rectangle in that it includes two parallel side edges 162. It will be appreciated from FIG. 1, that the distance that the flap 160 extends from fold line F2 (the inner edge of the flap) is less than the distance that the end panel 130 extends from fold line F2. In other words, the outer edge of the end panel 130 is at a greater distance from the fold line F2 than the outer edge of the flap 160 as illustrated.

The panel 122 is bounded at its ends by the flaps 160 and along its sides by panel 120 and 124. In other words, the panel 122 is disposed between the panels 120 and 124 and is joined thereto along fold lines F1.

Along a free edge of the panel 120, a first fastening panel 150 is formed and includes a pair of side edges 152 and a free outer edge 154. The first fastening panel 150 is attached to the panel 120 along one fold line F1 and has a generally trapezoidal shape since the two side edges 152 are slightly angled inward (non-parallel to one another). The free edge 154 of the fastening panel 150 represents a free edge that is used to construct and configure the substrate 110 into its sealed folded construction shown in FIG. 2. This aspect will be described in greater detail below.

On the other side of each end panel 130, a flap 140 is provided. The flaps 140 are bounded along one margin at the fold lines F2 to the panel 126. The flap 140 thus folds about fold line F2 and is generally square or rectangular shaped in that it includes two side edges 142. It will be appreciated from FIG. 1 that the distance that the flap 140 extends from fold line F2 (the inner edge of the flap) is about equal to the distance that the end panel 130 extends from fold line F2. In other words, the outer edge of the end panel 130 is at about the same distance from the fold line F2 relative to the outer edge of the flap 140 as illustrated.

With further reference to FIG. 1, the shirt box 100 can further include first and second double sided tape members 200 that have a first side in adhesive contact with a respective panel in the second set of panels 114. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the double-sided tape member 200 is disposed on each end panel 180. A second side of the double-sided tape member 200 includes a removable strip which overlies the second side of the tape member 200. The removable strip maintains the second side of the tape member 200 free of tackiness so that shirt boxes 100 can be stacked in a collapsed state without sticking to one another in the collapsed state. However, the removable strip can be separated from the second side of the tape member 200 by releasing it so as to expose an adhesive surface which permits engagement of one panel 180 with another panel (in this case panel 120 when the box 100 is assembled—see FIG. 2). Once the panels 180, 120 have been adhesively joined by the tape member 200, the shirt box 100 is in the state in which the hollow central cavity is sized to receive a shirt as described below.

The panel 124 which represent the top wall or panel of the box 100 preferably includes a window 125 formed therein to permit the consumer to view the contents of the box 100. The window 125 is defined by an opening formed through the panel 124 and a transparent protective member 127, such as a protective film, that is attached to the panel 124 so that it extends across and covers the opening forming the window 125. The film 127 can be attached using an adhesive or the like. The opening defining the window 125 can be formed to have any number of different shapes and sizes so long as the contents of the box 100 are easily visible. In the illustrated embodiment, the window 125 occupies a majority and even 75% or greater of the entire surface area of the panel 124.

To assemble the box 100, first the box 100 is folded about the fold line F1 between panels 120, 122 and then the panel 124 is folded about the fold line F1 between the panels 122, 124. The first fastening panel 150 is folded about the fold line F1 between the panels 120, 150 so that the panel 150 is substantially perpendicular to the panel 120 and similarly, the panel 122 will be substantially perpendicular to the panel 120 and thus substantially parallel to the panel 150. The panel 126 is folded about the fold line F1 between panels 124, 126 so that the panel 126 lies outside the panel 150. An adhesive or the like, including down-sided tape, is disposed along an outer face or surface of the panel 150 that faces the panel 126 so as to create a box like structure with sides 122, 126 being substantially parallel to one another and substantially perpendicular to the panels 120, 124.

The flaps 160, 140 are folded in toward the panels 120, 124 and then the panels 130 are folded about the fold line F2 between panels 124, 130, while the end panel 180 is folded about the fold line F2 and since the protective cover is removed from the tape 200 on the panel 180 to permit the panel 180 to be securely attached to the panel 120 by tucking the panel 180 underneath the flaps 140, 160. The tape 200 securely attaches the end panels 130 to the panel 120 and closes off the ends of the box 100.

The fold lines F1 and F2 can be continuous or discontinuous, but preferably are continuous and more preferably comprise score lines in the substrate 520.

The shirt box 100 can be formed with hole 300 in one of the panels that forms the box 100 and in particular, the hole 300 can be formed in the bottom panel 120. Hole 300 is positioned such that the outline of the hole overlies a portion of the shirt contained in the box 100. This arrangement provides access to the garment(s) inside the shirt box 100 so that consumers can touch and feel the garments yet does not compromise the structural integrity of the box 100. It will be appreciated that the shape and size of the hole 300 are not critical and the hole 300 is therefore not limited to having an oval shape but can have any number of irregular and regular shapes, including, a circle, square, rectangle, triangle, etc. Thus, the hole 300 is not covered over by any protective film element or the like but instead, the hole 300 allows free access into the interior of the box 100.

In another aspect of the illustrated embodiment, a window 400 is provided in at least one of the end panels 130. The window 400 is in the form of an opening formed through the end panel 130. The shape and size of the window 400 is not critical so long as the window permits a consumer to view the contents of the box 100 by viewing through one end of the box 100. The window 400 can thus be in the shape of a circle, oval, rectangle, square, triangle, etc. Unlike the hole 300, the window 400 is not open in its intended use state in that a transparent protective member 410, such as a film, is placed across the window 400. For example, a sheet of transparent plastic film 402 cut to size can be adhered to an inner surface or face of the end panel 130 across the window opening so as to prevent a person from freely putting a finger through the window 400.

The substrate 110 can be formed from paper, such as cardboard. In another embodiment, shown in FIG. 3, a box 500 is formed of a base structure 510 and a cover 600 that is removably attached to the base structure 510. Both the base structure 510 and the cover 600 are formed of paper (e.g., cardboard) and both have rectangular shapes.

The rectangular base structure 510 includes a floor 512 and opposing upstanding end walls 514 and opposing upstanding side walls 516. In accordance with the present invention, one of the end walls 514 includes an opening 520 formed therein to permit viewing of the product contained within the base structure 510. In the illustrated embodiment, the opening 520 has a rectangular or oblong shape; however, other shapes are possible. The opening 520 can be a through hole through which the product that is contained in the interior of the base structure 510 to be accessed or alternatively, a transparent member, such as a film, can be placed over the opening 520 to as to permit viewing of the product inside the base structure 510 but prevents access to and touching of the product.

The floor 512 also includes the hole 300 that permits the quality of the product (fabric) to be checked by the consumer.

The cover 600 includes a ceiling or top wall 610 and opposing side walls 612 and opposing end walls 614. The ceiling 610 includes a main window 630 through which the product is visible. For example, the ceiling 610 can include an opening 632 that is formed through the ceiling 610 and is surrounded by a perimeter wall section. In the illustrated embodiment, the window 630 has an oblong or rectangular shape. The cover 600 includes a transparent cover sheet (such as plastic) 634 that extends across the opening 632. The transparent cover sheet 634 is part of the window 630 and prevents the consumer from touching the product, while still permitting the consumer to view the product.

In another aspect, one end wall 614 includes an opening 640 that aligns with the opening 520 of the base structure 510 when the cover 600 mates with the base structure 510 so as to permit the consumer to view the product but not touch it. The opening 640 can be a through hole or it can also include a transparent cover sheet that extends over the opening 640. For example, the opening 640 can be a through hole and the underlying opening 520 can include the transparent cover sheet or the opening 640 can include the transparent cover sheet and the underlying opening 520 can be a through opening. In either embodiment, the consumer can see the product through the end window but not touch it. In yet another embodiment, the openings 640, 520 can be through openings with neither containing a transparent cover sheet.

It will be appreciated that the positioning of openings 520, 640 permits viewing of the contents of the box 500 without positioning the box so that the top panel of the cover 600 is visible. In other words, often times, boxes are stacked in stores and thus, in order to see the contents of a box that is located in a top region of the stack, the consumer has to remove many boxes to reach the box of interest or the consumer has to get assistance and use a ladder or the like to reach the box. In the box 500 of the present invention, the aligned openings 520, 640 permit the consumer to see the contents of the box without physically removing the box from the stack since the consumer can look up and see the contents of the box and if interested, can then remove the box from the stack for further inspection. This eliminates the removal of boxes from the stack that contain contents that are no interest to the consumer.

It will further be appreciated that the openings 520, 640 are formed in regions of the base and cover, respectively, to permit viewing of not only at least one shirt contained in the interior compartment but also it permits viewing of a tie that is also disposed in the box. Thus, when a person is viewing the entire stack of shirts in a store, the consumer can view shirt and tie combinations by simply looking through the aligned openings 520, 640.

While the invention has been described in connection with certain embodiments thereof, the invention is capable of being practiced in other forms and using other materials and structures. Accordingly, the invention is defined by the recitations in the claims appended hereto and equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. A shirt box suitable for receiving one or more shirts comprising:

a single substrate sheet;

a plurality of fold lines formed in the sheet and including a first set of generally parallel fold lines and a second set of generally parallel fold lines;

a set of first panels each being separated from a next panel in the series by a respective fold line in the first set of fold lines, the first panels being foldable along said respective fold lines in a first direction to define a hollow central cavity for the shirt box; and

a set of second panels each having a boundary along a respective fold line in the second set of fold lines to a respective first panel, the second panels being foldable along said respective fold lines in a second direction which is substantially perpendicular to the first direction to define first and second peripheral ends of the shirt box;

wherein a first fastening panel and one panel of the set of first panels are attached to another along a fastening region to connect the set of first panels in series and define the central cavity;

wherein one panel of the first set of panels has a first opening formed therethrough to permit touching of the shirt without jeopardizing the integrity of the box and a first window formed in one end panel that is member of the set of second panels and including a transparent protective member covering a second opening that defines the first window to prevent touching of the shirt through the first window.

2. The shirt box of claim 1, wherein the second set of panels includes a first end panel and a second end panel that are bounded along the second set of fold lines to a top panel that is part of the first set of panels and defines a top of the shirt box in the assembled state and the first set of panels includes the top panel, a bottom panel, and two side panels.

3. The shirt box of claim 2, wherein the first window is formed in one of the first and second end panels and the protective member comprises a transparent plastic film that covers the second opening.

4. The shirt box of claim 2, further including a second window formed in the top panel to permit viewing of an interior of the box, the second window including a transparent protective member covering a third opening that defines the second window to prevent touching of the shirt through the second window.

5. The shirt box of claim 2, further including a first pair of flaps and a second pair of flaps that are folded along the second fold lines and are attached to side panels that are part of the first set of panels, the first and second pairs of flaps being bent inward to permit the end flaps to fold and be tucked underneath the first and second pairs of flaps.

6. The shirt box of claim 2, wherein each of the first and second end panels includes an end flap that is folded about one second fold line and includes a double-sided tape member that has a first side in adhesive contact with the end flap and an opposite second side, and a removable strip overlying the second side of the double-sided tape member, wherein in a first state, the removable strip overlies the tape member, and in a second state in which the second side of the tape members is in adhesive contact with the bottom panel to close off the box.

7. The shirt box of claim 1, wherein the first opening is formed in a bottom panel and the first opening has a shape selected from the group consisting of: a circle, a square, an oval, a rectangle, and a triangle.

8. A shirt box suitable for receiving one or more shirts comprising:

a single substrate sheet;

a plurality of fold lines formed in the sheet and including a first set of generally parallel fold lines and a second set of generally parallel fold lines;

a set of first panels each being separated from a next panel in the series by a respective fold line in the first set of fold lines, the first panels being foldable along said respective fold lines in a first direction to define a hollow central cavity for the shirt box, the set of first panels including a fastening panel, a bottom panel, a top panel and two side panels that extend between the top and bottom panels when the box is an assembled state; and

a set of second panels each having a boundary along a respective fold line in the second set of fold lines to a respective first panel, the second panels being foldable along said respective fold lines in a second direction which is substantially perpendicular to the first direction to define first and second peripheral ends of the shirt box, the set of second panels including a pair of end panels;

wherein the fastening panel and one side panel are attached to another along a length thereof to connect the set of first panels in series and define the central cavity;

wherein the bottom panel has a first opening formed therethrough to permit touching of a shirt within the central cavity without jeopardizing the integrity of the box and the top panel includes a first window to permit viewing of the shirt, the first window defined by a second opening and including a transparent protective member that covers the second opening to prevent touching of the shirt therethrough and the one of the end panels includes a second window formed therethrough and defined by a third opening and including a transparent protective member covering the third opening to prevent touching of the shirt through the second window.

9. The shirt box of claim 8, wherein the transparent protective members comprises a piece of transparent plastic material that is attached to the panel around the respective opening.

10. The shirt box of claim 8, wherein each of the end panels includes an end flap that is folded about one second fold line and includes a double-sided tape member that has a first side in adhesive contact with the end flap and an opposite second side, and a removable strip overlying the second side of the double-sided tape member, wherein in a first state, the removable strip overlies the tape member, and in a second state in which the second side of the tape members is in adhesive contact with the bottom panel to close off the box.

11. A shirt box suitable for receiving one or more shirts comprising:

a base that includes a floor panel and upstanding first walls that extend from the floor to define an interior compartment for receiving the one or more shirts, wherein one upstanding wall includes a first opening and a floor panel includes an opening and the floor panel has a second opening formed therethrough to permit touching of at least one shirt within the interior compartment without jeopardizing the integrity of the box; and

a cover that includes a top panel and second walls that extend downwardly from the top panel, the top panel includes a window to permit viewing the one or more shirts contained in the interior compartment, wherein one of the second walls includes a third opening;

wherein when the cover is mated with the base, the second walls are disposed exterior to and adjacent the upstanding first walls and the third opening aligns with the first opening to permit viewing of at least one of the shirts in the interior compartment.

12. The shirt box of claim 11, wherein the base and the cover is formed of a paper material.

13. The shirt box of claim 11, wherein the window includes a transparent protective sheet that covers and extends across the window to prevent direct touching of the one or more shirts.

14. The shirt box of claim 11, wherein the cover includes a transparent protective sheet that covers and extends across the third opening to prevent direct touching of the one or more shirts through the aligned first and third openings.

15. The shirt box of claim 11, wherein window occupies a greater area compared to each of the first and third openings.

16. The shirt box of claim 11, wherein the base includes a transparent protective sheet that covers and extends across the first opening to prevent direct touching of the one or more shirts through the aligned first and third openings.

17. The shirt box of claim 11, wherein the first opening is formed in one end wall of the base and the third opening is formed in one end wall of the cover.

18. The shirt box of claim 11, wherein at least one tie is disposed with the at least one shirt in the interior compartment and the first and third openings are located in end walls of the base and cover, respectively, so that both the tie and shirt are visible therethrough.