Jewel box liner

Abstract

A liner formed from a blank for a display case having a unique arrangement of fold lines such the blank can be folded and placed within the display case to form a sanitary storage compartment and provide a viewable surface containing print material. The liner has front and back panels which are attached along fold lines to a spine member. The back panel of the liner is attached to one or more side flaps along fold lines. A top flap may be attached along a fold line to a tab which is accessible exteriorly of the case and can be used to hang the display case. The liner is movable between a closed position where the panels are generally stacked in parallel disposition to one another to an open position where the panels are generally separable when the case is opened.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a jewel box receptacle and, more particularly, a liner adapted to be disposed in the receptacle which can be folded to provide a print surface viewable from the exterior of the jewel box and an enclosure to assure a sanitary housing for goods disposed in the jewel box, whose contents can be displayed by indicia on the print surface.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] A large variety of display boxes for a variety of contents are known. Many of these boxes, known as jewel boxes or cases, are transparent or at least contain one transparent wall. This allows the consumer to view the contents of the case directly through the transparent wall or to view printed information displayed within the case. Such printed information will typically relate to the contents within the case as well as to the source of the contents or goods or provide other advertising material.

[0005] One way to store contents along with printed information in a display or jewel case is to include the contents in the case and then place an insert card on top of the contents. Such insert card will typically have written material on one side of the card which can be viewed from outside the display case if the written material is facing a transparent panel of the display case.

[0006] Although serving an important function of allowing the consumer to see the printed material on the insert card, such cards do not themselves contain the goods within the display case. It is sometimes desirable to include an insert card or blank which can be folded to form a liner for the case and serve as a type of container within the display case much like a box in order to keep the contents within the display case organized and sanitary, and prevent the contents from falling out of the display case when it is opened. For example, the contents may contain a food product or a reusable item which needs to be housed after the original package is opened.

[0007] There therefore exists a need for a jewel box liner which can be folded from a blank to form an inner container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] In accordance with the invention, a blank is provided having a front and back panel which is connected along fold lines to a spine member or panel. The back panel is also connected to one or more side flaps and a top flap along fold lines. The front and back panels of the blank are easily folded into overlying relation along the fold lines, separated by the spine member or panel.

[0009] When in overlying relation, the front and back panels of the blank are generally in parallel disposition to one another so that an interior space is defined by the folded side flaps, top flap, and the front and back panels of the blank. In a fully extended open position, the front and back panels of the blank are separated in an axial direction, and the goods contained within the interior space between the panels are thereby easily accessible.

[0010] The folded blank is also provided in combination with a rigid display case or jewel box which has a top and bottom cover, and each of which has a front wall, a rear wall and a plurality of side walls. The top and bottom covers of the case are hinged to each other in such a manner that the top and bottom covers can be pivoted with respect to each other.

[0011] When the top and bottom covers of the display case are pivoted to a closed position, the front walls of the top and bottom covers are generally in parallel, overlying disposition to one another such that an interior space is defined by the front, rear and side walls of the covers. This interior space is typically large enough to contain the closed and folded blank or liner which is placed inside the rigid display case.

[0012] In a separate embodiment of the invention, the blank of the present invention includes a tab having a hole which is attached along a fold line to one of the flaps attached to the back panel of the folded blank. The tab is positioned so that so that it can pass inbetween the first and second parts of the display case or jewel box such that the tab is disposed and accessible outside the case. The tab typically also has one or more holes or apertures which are used to hang the folded blank together with the display case on a rack, for example, a pegboard hook on a pegboard.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] Further objects and advantage of the invention will become apparent from the following specification and claims and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0014] FIG. 1 is a top plan view of one form of blank used to form the liner of the present invention;

[0015] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a display case top cover used in the present invention;

[0016] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a display case bottom cover used in the present invention;

[0017] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a blank used to form a liner in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention;

[0018] FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of a display case and folded liner formed from the blank of FIG. 4, in a closed position;

[0019] FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of a display case and folded liner formed from the blank of FIG. 1, in a closed position;

[0020] FIG. 7A to FIG. 7E illustrate the folding of the blank of FIG. 1 to form a liner for a display case; and

[0021] FIG. 8A to FIG. 8F illustrate the folding of the blank of FIG. 4 to form a liner for a display case.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals indicate like elements throughout the several views, there is illustrated a jewel box or display case 10 in combination with a liner 12 or 12′ of the present invention.

[0023] The jewel box 10 has a rigid top cover 16 and a rigid bottom cover 17 hinged to the top cover 16 by one or more hinges 18. The top cover 16 and bottom cover 17 of the box 10 each has a split portion or half of a front wall 20, a split portion or half of a rear wall 21 and a plurality of interconnected side walls 22 which mate along opposed edges 23, when the covers 16, 17 are in overlying parallel relation when pivoted about hinges 18.

[0024] An interior space 15 is defined by the split front wall 20, the split rear wall 21, and side walls 22 when top cover 16 and bottom cover 17 are pivoted to a closed position. The covers 16 and 17 are substantially co-planar when pivoted to an open position.

[0025] A variety of mechanisms well known in the art can be used to open and close or fasten top cover 16 and bottom cover 17. In a preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, box 10 has one or more bosses 24 on each of the split front walls 22. Each boss 24 flexes and snaps past the other on the opposite split front wall 22 of covers 16, 17. Pivoting cover 16 and cover 17 into an open position is accomplished typically by applying a slight pressure on bosses 24 so that bosses 24 snap and flex past one another. As shown, the jewel box 10 is preferably rectangular in shape.

[0026] FIG. 1 illustrates one form of a blank 14 used to form a liner 12 which is used in the jewel box 10. Liner 12 includes front panel 32 and back panel 34 which are connected along fold lines 35 (either a score line or perforated line) to spine member 36. Back panel 34 further includes right and left flaps 38, 40 and a top flap 42. Top flap 42 is connected to back panel 34 along fold line 43. Right flap 38 is connected to back panel 34 along fold line 44, and left flap 40 is connected to back panel 34 along fold line 45.

[0027] When jewel box 10 is in a closed position, and liner 12 folded, it can occupy space 15 as shown by the dotted lines in FIG. 6 with the front panel 32 and back panel 34 generally stacked in parallel disposition to one another within an interior space defined between the folded flaps 38, 40 and 42 of liner 12.

[0028] Flaps 38, 40 and 42 of insert 12 conform to the size and shape of side walls 22, and the front and rear walls, 20, 21, respectively, of display case 10 such that interior space is maximized. A wide variety of items can be sanitarily stored in interior space of the folded liner 12.

[0029] Because flaps 38, 40 and 42 of back panel 34 are not attached to front panel 32, liner 12 can be quickly opened simply by pivoting front panel 32 away from back panel 34 along fold line 35 connected to spine member 36. Any contents (not shown) which are stored in interior space 46 are thereby quickly accessible. Front panel 32 and back panel 34 are generally stacked in a coplanar relationship, when the jewel case is closed.

[0030] Various advertising indicia may be printed on the surface area of liner 12. Such information may be printed on front panel 32, back panel 34 as well as any of flaps 38, 40, and 42 attached to back panel 34 or on spine member 36, which indicia is generally viewable through a transparent cover 16, cover 17, or a side wall 22 of box 10.

[0031] The liner 12 of the present invention can be made quickly and inexpensively. Liner 12 is typically formed from a one-piece foldable blank 14 of thin cardboard, paper or any other suitable material well known in the art, provided with a unique arrangement of fold lines and cut out portions, where necessary.

[0032] FIGS. 7A to 7E illustrate in sequence, by following the arrows, of the manner in which the liner 12 is folded from its blank 14 along the fold lines of the blank into a generally rectangular parallelepiped form prior to insertion into jewel box or display case 10.

[0033] Referring to FIG. 4, a liner 12′ formed from a blank 14′ can be formed according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] The display case 10 is the same for both the first and second embodiments herein described. The only essential difference between the hereinafter described second embodiment with the previously described first embodiment of the liner 12 is that liner 12′ is modified so as to provide an additional hanging tab 60. Hanging tab 60 is attached to top flap 42 of back panel 34 by a crease or fold line 62. The folded line or crease 62 is positioned so that hanging tab 60 can project between the split halves of front wall 20 of front cover 16 and bottom cover 17 of display case or jewel box 10 even when case 10 is in a closed position.

[0035] Hanging tab 60 includes one or more cut-out portions 64 to receive a peg hook and other application when tab 60 projects out of display case 10 when case 10 is in a closed position to display case 10 on a rack.

[0036] Further, because top flap 42 is one half its typical size, due to the necessity of the projection of tab 60 between the split halves of front wall 20, back cover 34 of liner 12′ will typically include a side flap 66 which is foldable along a line 67 in order to insure that any contents in insert 12′ are completely contained when insert 30 is in the closed position. Side flaps 66 and 42 will preferably conform together to the height of front wall 20 of display case 10. Side flap 66 will preferably be about one-half the width of front wall 20 of display case 10 since the other one-half width of front wall 21 of display case 10 is adjacent to top flap 42.

[0037] FIGS. 8A to 8F illustrate in sequence, by following the arrows, the manner in which the liner 12′ is folded from blank 14′ along the various fold lines of the blank 14′ into a generally rectangular parallelepiped form with extend hanging tab 60 prior to insertion into the jewel box or display case 10.

[0038] While this invention has been described with reference to illustrative embodiments, this description is not intended to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the illustrative embodiments, as well as other embodiments of the invention, will be apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to this description. It is therefore contemplated that the appended claims will cover any such modifications.

Claims

1. A blank for forming a liner for a jewel box comprising:

front and back panels, said front and back panels being interconnected by a fold line to a spine member, a side flap connected along a fold line to each edge of said back panel, and a top wall flap connected by a fold line to the top edge of said back panel whereby said spine member and top flap when folded cause said front and back panels to lie into parallel disposition to one another to form an enclosed space with said folder flaps.

2. The blank of claim 1, further comprising a tab having one or more apertures to hang said folded blank connected by a fold line to the top flap connected to the edge of said back panel opposite to the edge connected to said spine member.

3. The blank of claim 2 including a bottom flap connected by a fold line to the edge of said front panel remote from the edge connected to said spine member.

4. The blank of claim 1 including a bottom flap connected by a fold line to the edge of said front panel remote from the edge connected to said spine member,

5. The blank of claim 1 formed from cardboard.

6. The blank of claim 2 formed from cardboard.

7. The blank of claim 3 formed from cardboard.

8. The blank of claim 4 formed from cardboard.

9. In combination with a display case having a top and bottom cover pivotably connected to each other, each cover each having a transparent wall and a plurality of interconnected side walls, said covers being pivotally connected and movable between opened and closed positions relative to one another.

a liner for said display case comprising:

front and back panels, interconnected by a fold line to a spine member, a flap connected along a fold line to each end of said back panel and to the edge of said back panel removed from the edge connected to said spine member wherein said panels will be in parallel disposition to one another when said display case covers are closed and in an open position, when the covers are generally co-planar.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein said liner is formed from paper and said display case is formed from plastic.

11. The combination of claim 10 wherein said liner has indicia imprinted on at least one of said front and bottom panels.

12. The combination of claim 9 wherein said side flaps of said liner are substantially the same dimension as said side walls of said display case.

13. The combination of claim 9 wherein said blank includes a tab having one or more apertures which is used to hang said folded blank within said display case, said tab being connected by a fold line to the top flap connected to the edge of said back panel, and extends beyond the top edge of said front and rear wall of said display case.

14. The combination of claim 13 wherein said top flap connected to said tab is about one-half the height of the side walls of said display case and a second tab is connected by a fold line to the front panel to conform to about one-half the height of the side wall of said display case to form an enclosed liner with said other liner panels and tabs in said display case

15. A method of storing items in a sanitary condition in a display comprising:

(a) providing a liner having front and back panels interconnected by a spine member, and said back panel is attached to one or more side flaps and a top flap by fold lines and said liner is movable between a closed position, wherein the panels are generally stacked in parallel disposition to one another, and an open position, wherein the panels are generally co-planar:

(b) providing a display case having a top and bottom cover pivotally connected and movable between opened and closed positions relative to one another;

(c) inserting said liner into said display case with the front and back panel in contact with the top and bottom covers of said display case, respectively, to form an interior portion between the side flaps and top of said liner when said display case is pivoted to a closed position;

(d) opening said display case; and

(e) inserting an item to be stored into said interior space.

16. The method of claim 15 including providing a tab on said liner for displaying said stored items in said case.

17. The method of claim 15 including providing a tab on said liner.