Envelope or package including a presentation style slider/drawer

Abstract

A package comprising a back panel, a front panel coupled to said front panel in a manner forming an inside, a lid coupled to said back panel at a pivot edge, an insert tucked into said inside and coupled to said lid away from said pivot edge such that said lid acts as a lever to draw said insert about said pivot edge. The package provides presentation quality while remaining price competitive with a basic folder.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to packaging and specifically to an envelope or package including a presentation style slider/drawer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Storage media are well known in the art. Such media are for storing and conveying information such as data, computer program instructions, music, and video. Examples of such media are CDs and DVDs.

It is also common to package such media. The purpose of the packaging may be protective i.e. covering may protect a sensitive data surface. In addition, packaging may be used in order to identify the contents, or provide further details regarding the contents. The packaging may also serve an advertising or decorative function. The packaging may serve to provide a means to organize and store many instances of the media. Finally, packaging may serve to perform any combination of the aforementioned functions.

In particular, existing CD and DVD packaging offers two extreme options:

The traditional jewel case is a package offering display quality storage for CDs or DVDs. However, the price per empty case may significantly effect the cost to produce a packaged CD.

Alternatively, a simple cardboard folder may be employed. Such a folder is relatively inexpensive. However, such folders are not suitable for display.

There exists a need for an inexpensive, but display quality package.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a blank for a package, said blank comprising: a back panel, a front panel coupled to said front panel, a lid coupled to said back panel at a pivot edge, an insert coupled to said lid away from said pivot edge, such that when said blank is assembled into said package with said insert folded inside said package said lid acts as a lever to draw said insert about said pivot edge.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a package comprising a back panel, a front panel coupled to said front panel in a manner forming a package interior, a lid coupled to said back panel at a pivot edge, an insert tucked into said interior and coupled to said lid away from said pivot edge such that said lid acts as a lever to draw said insert about said pivot edge.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached Figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a package blank according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of a package blank according to a second embodiment;

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of a package blank according to a third embodiment;

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of an assembled package according to a first embodiment and having a predominantly closed lid;

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of an assembled package according to a first embodiment and having a predominantly open lid;

FIG. 6 shows a side view cross section of an assembled package according to a first embodiment and having a predominantly open lid; and

FIG. 7 shows a side view cross section of an assembled package according to a first embodiment and having a predominantly closed lid.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a blank 100 for a package according to a first embodiment. That blank 100 includes a back panel 110, a front panel 120 coupled to said back panel 110, a lid 130 coupled to said back panel 110 at a pivot edge 140, and an insert 150 coupled to said lid 130 away from said pivot edge 140.

The blank 100 is assembled into a package (shown assembled in FIGS. 4 through 7) by (a) folding the front panel 120 at fold edge 142 to connect to the back panel such that the panels are connected at join edges 112 and 122; (b) folding the lid at fold edge 132; and (c) tucking the insert 150 into the inside (between) the front 120 and back 110 panels.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, when the blank 100 is assembled into a package with the insert 150 folded inside the package the lid 130 acts as a lever (motion A) to draw said insert 150 about said pivot edge 140.

Preferably, the lid 130 is comprised of an inner panel 134 and a relatively longer outer panel 136. When the lid is folded in step (b), these panels 134 and 136 adjacent along their planes. The outer panel 136 is coupled to said back panel 110 at pivot edge 140. It is also coupled to the inner panel at fold edge 132. The aforementioned (b) folding of the lid results in these inner 134 and outer 136 panels being coincident i.e. adjacent and coplaner. They are joined in this position along their contacting surface by, for example, adhesive. The inner panel 134 is coupled to the insert 150 at joint 138. Since the outer panel 136 is long relative to the inner panel 134, the joint 138 is not coincident with the pivot edge 140. This displacement is significant to the leverage action of the lid 130.

Preferably, the back panel 110 and/or insert 150 are flexible in order to provide slack to said lid when operating as a lever. Further, in a preferred embodiment, a cradle panel 160 is further coupled to the insert 150 such that when the blank is assembled, the cradle panel 160 may be folded between the insert 150 and the front panel 120 such that the insert 150 and cradle panel 160 form a cradle. Such a cradle provides a means, superior to simple friction, for ensuring that any contents placed in the package will be retracted along with the insert 150, when the insert 150 is drawn out about the pivot edge 140.

Preferably, the blank 100 also comprises extensions 170 on either the front panel 120 or back panel 110. The extensions 170 may be adhered to the other of the front panel 120 or back panel 110 in order to define the inside of the package during the aforementioned step (a).

In any of the aforementioned embodiments, the resulting package may be sealed by glue, tape, or label. A person skilled in the art would understand the many options for sealing the lid in this manner. Further, the fold joints may be augmented in function by way of perforation.

In FIG. 2, however, there is shown another embodiment of a blank 200, in all ways commensurate with blank 100, except insofar as to incorporate an integral mechanism i.e. a link for securing the lid 230 in a closed position. The link comprises a slit 280 in either the front panel 220 and a flap in the lid 230. The flap 282 may be inserted in the slit 280 to secure the lid in the closed position. The flap 282 is constructed in two parts in the same manner as the lid i.e. one portion of the flap 284 extends from the inner panel 234 the other flap portion 286 from the outer panel 236. When the blank 200 is assembled into a package, the lid and flap are folded about fold 232 in the same manner as aforementioned with respect to blank 100. The flap 282 is joined in the same manner as the lid. A person skilled in the art will understand that variations can be envisioned where the slit and flap are reversed in location, but essentially provide the same result.

In FIG. 3, there is shown again another embodiment of a blank 300, in all ways commensurate with blanks 100 and 200, except insofar as to incorporate a different integral mechanism i.e. a link for securing the lid 330 in a closed position. The link comprises a flap 390 coupled to the lid 330. Preferably the flap is formed interrupting fold edge 332 and substituting instead a cut line 392 which joins any segments of the fold edge 332, but diverges from the axis of that fold edge 332. Thus when folding occurs about fold edge 332, the flap 390 extends from the lid 330 beyond the fold edge 332. The flap 390 comprises perforations 394 for detaching an end 396 of the flap 390. Thus, the lid 330 of the assembled package may be secured in a closed position by adhering the end 396 to the front panel 320. The lid 330 may be subsequently unsecured by tearing the perforations 394 to detach the end 396. Again, a person skilled in the art will understand that variations may be made to the particulars without departing from the essence of the invention.

The blank may be further augmented with printing on any visible surface. Such printing may contain product identification, advertising, product details or decoration. The package may be sized for many contents. In the preferred embodiment shown, the package is sized for DVDs or CDs.

The above-described embodiments of the invention are intended to be examples of the present invention and alterations and modifications may be effected thereto, by those of skill in the art, without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined solely by the claims appended hereto.

Claims

1. A blank for a package, said blank comprising:

a back panel,

a front panel coupled to said front panel,

a lid coupled to said back panel at a pivot edge,

an insert coupled to said lid away from said pivot edge,

such that when said blank is assembled into said package with said insert folded inside said package said lid acts as a lever to draw said insert about said pivot edge.

2. The blank of claim 1 wherein said lid comprises an inner panel and a relatively longer outer panel, said outer panel being coupled to said back panel and said inner panel, said inner panel being coupled to said insert, and said inner and outer panels being adjacent along their planes and joined together.

3. The blank of claim 1 wherein at least one of said back panel and said insert is flexible in order to provide slack to said lid when operating as a lever.

4. The blank of claim 1 further comprising a cradle panel further coupled to said insert such that when said blank is assembled, said cradle panel is folded between said insert and said front panel such that said insert and cradle panel form a cradle.

5. The blank of claim 1 wherein said blank further comprises a link for securing said lid when said lid is closed.

6. The blank of claim 5 wherein said link comprises a slit in one of said front panel and said lid and a flap in the other of said front panel and said lid such that said flap may be inserted in said slit to secure the lid in the closed position.

7. The blank of claim 5 wherein said link comprises a flap coupled to said lid and said flap comprises perforations for detaching an end of said flap, wherein said flap is for securing said lid in a closed position by adhering said end to said front panel, and for subsequently unsecuring said lid by tearing said perforations to detach said end.

8. The blank of claim 1 further comprising printing on a visible surface thereof.

9. The blank of claim 8 wherein said printing contains at least one of product identification, advertising, product details and decoration.

10. The blank of claim 2 further comprising a fold joint in at least one of the following locations:

where said front panel is coupled to said back panel,

where said back panel is coupled to said lid,

where said outer panel is coupled to said inner panel, and

where said lid is coupled to said insert.

11. The blank of claim 10 wherein said fold joint is perforated.

12. The blank of claim 1 further comprising extentions on at least one of said front panel or said back panel, such that when said blank is assembled into said package, said extentions adhere to the other of said front panel or back panel in order to define an inside of the package.

13. A package comprising:

a back panel,

a front panel coupled to said front panel in a manner forming a package interior,

a lid coupled to said back panel at a pivot edge,

an insert tucked into said interior and coupled to said lid away from said pivot edge such that said lid acts as a lever to draw said insert about said pivot edge.

14. The package of claim 13 wherein said lid comprises an inner panel and a relatively longer outer panel, said outer panel being coupled to said back panel and said inner panel, said inner panel being coupled to said insert, and said inner and outer panels being adjacent along their planes and joined together.

15. The package of claim 13 wherein at least one of said back panel and said insert is flexible in order to provide slack to said lid when operating as a lever.

16. The package of claim 13 further comprising a cradle panel coupled to said insert such that said cradle panel is folded between said insert and said front panel such that said insert and cradle panel form a cradle.

17. The package of claim 13 further comprising a link for securing said lid when said lid is closed.

18. The package of claim 17 wherein said link comprises a slit in one of said front panel and said lid and a flap in the other of said front panel and said lid such that said flap may be inserted in said slit to secure the lid in the closed position.

19. The package of claim 17 wherein said link comprises a flap coupled to said lid and said flap comprises perforations for detaching an end of said flap, wherein said flap is for securing said lid in a closed position by adhering said end to said front panel, and for subsequently unsecuring said lid by tearing said perforations to detach said end.

20. The package of claim 17 further comprising printing on a visible surface thereof.

21. The package of claim 17 wherein said printing contains in least one of product identification, advertising, product details and decoration.

22. The package of claim 14 further comprising a fold joint at at least one of the following locations:

where said front panel is coupled to said back panel,

where said back panel is coupled to said lid,

where said outer panel is coupled to said inner panel, and

where said lid is coupled to said insert.

23. The package of claim 22 wherein said fold joint is perforated.

24. The package of claim 23 further comprising extentions on at least one of said front panel or said back panel, such that said extentions adhere to the other of said front panel or back panel in order to define said package interior.