Collapsible dispenser box holder

Abstract

A dispenser box holder includes a base panel, a top panel, a pair of end panels, and a side panel. The side panel includes opposite first and second edge portions, and the first edge portion is movably attached to the base panel. The top panel includes an edge portion and opposite end portions. Each one of the end panels is movably attached to respective end portions of the top and base panels. The base panel, top panel, end panels and side panel move relative to one another to define a cavity that is configured to receive a dispenser box therein when the dispenser box holder is in an operative position. The base panel, top panel, end panels and side panel collapse to a generally flat configuration when the dispenser box holder is in a stored position. The side panel serves to maintain the dispenser box holder in the operative position.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to product and service promotion and, more particularly, to the promotion of healthcare-related products and services.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of promotional items has proliferated in today's increasingly competitive marketplace, where companies are constantly seeking new and more effective ways to market their products and services. In the healthcare industry, physicians and other healthcare providers often receive promotional articles from vendors of healthcare-related products, such as pharmaceutical products. These promotional articles often include “everyday” items, such as writing pads, calendars, and pens, and typically have promotional information (indicia) printed thereon. For example, pharmaceutical companies often provide physicians with writing pens and pads having the name of a particular pharmaceutical product printed thereon with the hopes that the pens and pads, when used, will help remind physicians to prescribe the pharmaceutical product.

Unfortunately, often because of lack of distinctiveness, many promotional articles provided to healthcare providers become “lost-in-the-shuffle” with other promotional articles. Thus, there is a need for distinctive, more effective promotional products directed to physicians and other healthcare providers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above discussion, a promotional apparatus for use in holding a dispenser box (e.g., a box of tissues, a box of disposable surgical gloves, etc.), according to embodiments of the present invention, includes a base panel, a top panel, a pair of end panels, and a side panel. The side panel includes opposite first and second edge portions, and the first edge portion is movably attached to an edge portion of the base panel via a hinge. The top panel includes an edge portion and opposite end portions. The top panel also includes an aperture formed therein. Each one of the end panels is movably attached to respective end portions of the top and base panels via a hinge. One or more of the base panel, top panel, end panels and side panel has promotional indicia thereon.

The base panel, top panel, end panels and side panel move relative to one another to define a cavity that is configured to receive a dispenser box therein when the dispenser box holder is in an operative position. The base panel, top panel, end panels and side panel collapse to a generally flat configuration when the dispenser box holder is in a stored position. The side panel second edge portion is configured to be removably secured to the top panel edge portion when the dispenser box holder is in the operative position so as to maintain the dispenser box holder in the operative position. The side panel also has opposite end portions that are each configured to be removably secured to a respective one of the end panels when the dispenser box holder is in the operative position so as to maintain the dispenser box holder in the operative position.

Embodiments of the present invention can serve as promotional devices directed to the marketing of various pharmaceuticals and healthcare products and services, as well as other products and services of various industries, without limitation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which form a part of the specification, illustrate key embodiments of the present invention. The drawings and description together serve to fully explain the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a collapsible dispenser box holder, according to embodiments of the present invention, wherein the dispenser box holder is in an operative position configured to receive a dispenser box.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the collapsible dispenser box holder of FIG. 1 wherein the dispenser box holder is in a stored position.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the dispenser box holder of FIG. 1 that illustrates movement of the top panel and end panels relative to the base panel as the dispenser box holder is moved between stored and operative positions.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial perspective view of a portion of the side panel and top panel of the dispenser box holder of FIG. 1 that illustrates a tongue member in the top panel that is configured to cooperate with a groove member in the side panel, according to embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention now is described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. The terminology used in the description of the invention herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

In the drawings, the thickness of lines, and elements may be exaggerated for clarity. It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “on” another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on” another element, there are no intervening elements present. It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” or “attached” to another element, it can be directly connected or attached to the other element or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly attached” to another element, there are no intervening elements present. The terms “upwardly”, “downwardly”, “vertical”, “horizontal” and the like are used herein for the purpose of explanation only.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-4, a collapsible dispenser box holder 10, according to embodiments of the present invention, includes a base panel 12, a top panel 14, a pair of end panels 16, and a side panel 18. In the illustrated embodiment, each of the various panels has a generally rectangular shape. However, embodiments of the present invention are not limited to rectangular shaped panels. The various panels may have various other shapes and configurations.

The illustrated side panel 18 includes opposite first and second edge portions 18a, 18b, and the first edge portion 18a is movably attached to an edge portion 12a of the base panel 12 via a hinge 20. The illustrated top panel 14 includes an edge portion 14a and opposite end portions 14b, 14c. The illustrated top panel 14 also includes an aperture 15 formed therein.

Each one of the illustrated end panels 16 is movably attached to respective end portions of the top and base panels 14, 12. For example, one end panel 16 has edge portions 16a, 16b that are movably attached respectively to top panel end portion 14b and base panel end portion 12b via hinges 20. The other end panel 16 has edge portions 16a, 16b that are movably attached respectively to top panel end portion 14c and base panel end portion 12c via hinges 20.

The base panel 12, top panel 14, end panels 16 and side panel 18 move relative to one another to define a cavity 22 that is configured to receive a dispenser box 24 therein when the dispenser box holder 10 is in an operative position (FIG. 1). When the dispenser box holder 10 is in the operative position, the end panels 16 are substantially orthogonal to the base panel 12 and to the top panel 14, and the top panel 14 is in spaced-apart substantially parallel relationship with the base panel 12, as illustrated in FIG. 3. When in the operative position, a dispenser box 24 (e.g., a box of tissues, a box of disposable surgical gloves, etc.) can be inserted into (and removed from) the dispenser box holder 10 through an opening in the dispenser box holder 10 opposite from the side panel 18, as would be understood by those skilled in the art.

The base panel 12, top panel 14, end panels 16 and side panel 18 collapse to a generally flat configuration when the dispenser box holder 10 is in a stored position (FIG. 2). The side panel second edge portion 18b is configured to be removably secured to the top panel edge portion 14a when the dispenser box holder 10 is in the operative position (FIG. 1) so as to maintain the dispenser box holder 10 in the operative position. The side panel 18 also has opposite end portions 18c, 18d that are each configured to be removably secured to a respective one of the end panels 16 when the dispenser box holder 10 is in the operative position (FIG. 1) so as to maintain the dispenser box holder 10 in the operative position.

In the illustrated embodiment, the side panel second edge portion 18b has a pair of tongue members 30 that are configured to cooperate with respective groove members 32 in the top panel edge portion 14a. The side panel second edge portion 18b also includes a pair of groove members 34 that are configured to cooperate with a pair of tongue members 36 in the top panel edge portion 14a. Also in the illustrated embodiment, the side panel end portions 18c, 18d each have a tongue member 38 that is configured to cooperate with a respective groove member 40 in respective end panels 16.

Embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the illustrated arrangement of tongue and groove members. Tongue and groove members may be reversed, according to other embodiments of the present invention. For example, the side panel end portions 18c, 18d may include groove members instead of tongue members and the end panels may include tongue members instead of groove members. Moreover, there may be various numbers of corresponding tongue and groove members. For example, the side panel end portions 18c, 18d may include multiple tongue members 38 and the end panels may include multiple respective groove members 40.

According to embodiments of the present invention, one or more of the base panel 12, top panel 14, end panels 16 and side panel 18 may have promotional indicia thereon. In the illustrated embodiment, the top panel 14 includes promotional indicia 40 thereon. Various types of promotional indicia including, but not limited to, lettering, designs, characters, logos and other symbols, may be utilized in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. The term “lettering” as used herein includes, but is not limited to, alphabetical characters and alphanumeric characters. Moreover, promotional indicia may be utilized virtually anywhere on the various panels of the dispenser box holder 10. Embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the illustrated location and configuration of promotional indicia 40.

In the illustrated embodiment, the side panel 18 includes an aperture 19 formed therein. The aperture 19 allows a user to push a dispenser box 24 out of the dispenser box holder 10, for example, when the dispenser box is empty, as would be understood by those skilled in the art. The aperture 15 in the top panel 14 allows a user to pull a tissue, surgical glove, etc. from a dispenser box disposed within the dispenser box holder 10, as would be understood by those skilled in the art. Apertures 15, 19 may have any shape desired including, but not limited to, an elliptical shape (e.g., oval, etc.) or polygonal shape (e.g., triangular, square, rectangular, hexagonal, and the like). Embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the illustrated shapes of apertures 15, 19.

The foregoing is illustrative of the present invention and is not to be construed as limiting thereof. Although a few exemplary embodiments of this invention have been described, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the claims. The invention is defined by the following claims, with equivalents of the claims to be included therein.

Claims

1. A collapsible dispenser box holder, comprising:

a base panel having an edge portion and opposite end portions;

a top panel having an edge portion and opposite end portions, and wherein an aperture is formed within the top panel; and

a pair of end panels, wherein each end panel is movably attached to respective end portions of the top and base panels, wherein the base panel, top panel and end panels move relative to one another to define a cavity configured to receive a dispenser box therein when the dispenser box holder is in an operative position, and wherein the base panel, top panel and end panels collapse to a generally flat configuration when the dispenser box holder is in a stored position.

2. The dispenser box holder of claim 1, further comprising a side panel having opposite first and second edge portions, wherein the first edge portion is movably attached to the base panel edge portion, and wherein the second edge portion is configured to be removably secured to the top panel edge portion when the dispenser box holder is in the operative position so as to maintain the dispenser box holder in the operative position.

3. The dispenser box holder of claim 2, wherein the side panel second edge portion comprises a tongue member that is configured to cooperate with a groove member in the top panel edge portion.

4. The dispenser box holder of claim 2, wherein the side panel second edge portion comprises a groove member that is configured to cooperate with a tongue member in the top panel edge portion.

5. The dispenser box holder of claim 2, wherein the side panel has opposite end portions and wherein each end portion is configured to be removably secured to a respective one of the end panels when the dispenser box holder is in the operative position so as to maintain the dispenser box holder in the operative position.

6. The dispenser box holder of claim 2, wherein at least one of the side panel end portions comprises a tongue member that is configured to cooperate with a groove member in a respective one of the end panels.

7. The dispenser box holder of claim 2, wherein at least one of the side panel end portions comprises a groove member that is configured to cooperate with a tongue member in a respective one of the end panels.

8. The dispenser box holder of claim 1, wherein the end panels are substantially orthogonal to the base panel and the top panel is in spaced-apart substantially parallel relationship with the base panel when the dispenser box holder is in the operative position.

9. The dispenser box holder of claim 1, wherein at least one of the base panel, top panel or end panels comprises promotional indicia thereon.

10. The dispenser box holder of claim 2, wherein the side panel comprises promotional indicia thereon.

11. The dispenser box holder of claim 2, wherein the side panel comprises an aperture formed therein.

12. The dispenser box holder of claim 1, wherein each end panel is movably attached to respective end portions of the top and base panels via respective hinges.

13. The dispenser box holder of claim 2, wherein the side panel is movably attached to the base panel edge portion via a hinge.

14. A collapsible dispenser box holder, comprising:

a base panel having an edge portion and opposite end portions;

a side panel having opposite first and second edge portions, wherein the first edge portion is movably attached to the base panel edge portion; and

a top panel having an edge portion and opposite end portions, and wherein an aperture is formed within the top panel;

a pair of end panels, wherein each end panel is movably attached to respective end portions of the top and base panels, wherein the base panel, top panel, side panel and end panels move relative to one another to define a cavity configured to receive a dispenser box therein when the dispenser box holder is in an operative position, wherein the base panel, top panel, side panel and end panels collapse to a generally flat configuration when the dispenser box holder is in a stored position, and wherein the side panel second edge portion is configured to be removably secured to the top panel edge portion when the dispenser box holder is in the operative position so as to maintain the dispenser box holder in the operative position;

wherein at least one of the base panel, top panel or end panels comprises promotional indicia thereon.

15. The dispenser box holder of claim 14, wherein the side panel second edge portion comprises a tongue member that is configured to cooperate with a groove member in the top panel edge portion.

16. The dispenser box holder of claim 14, wherein the side panel second edge portion comprises a groove member that is configured to cooperate with a tongue member in the top panel edge portion.

17. The dispenser box holder of claim 14, wherein the side panel has opposite end portions and wherein each end portion is configured to be removably secured to a respective one of the end panels when the dispenser box holder is in the operative position so as to maintain the dispenser box holder in the operative position.

18. The dispenser box holder of claim 14, wherein at least one of the side panel end portions comprises a tongue member that is configured to cooperate with a groove member in a respective one of the end panels.

19. The dispenser box holder of claim 14, wherein at least one of the side panel end portions comprises a groove member that is configured to cooperate with a tongue member in a respective one of the end panels.

20. The dispenser box holder of claim 14, wherein the end panels are substantially orthogonal to the base panel and the top panel is in spaced-apart substantially parallel relationship with the base panel when the dispenser box holder is in the operative position.

21. The dispenser box holder of claim 14, wherein the side panel comprises promotional indicia thereon.

22. The dispenser box holder of claim 14, wherein the side panel comprises an aperture formed therein.

23. The dispenser box holder of claim 14, wherein each end panel is movably attached to respective end portions of the top and base panels via respective hinges.

24. The dispenser box holder of claim 14, wherein the side panel is movably attached to the base panel edge portion via a hinge.