Book-like stacked array with cover
A book-like stacked array having a spine and a cover has a stacked array of planar-like articles having a spine and a cover having a cover spine and a back cover portion hingedly adjoining said cover spine along a first hinge line and attached to an outermost one of said planar-like articles beyond a second hinge line that is offset from said first hinge line such that when said stacked array is placed in open condition tearing away of the back cover portion from said outermost one of said planar-like articles is mitigated.
(N/A)
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT(N/A)
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe invention relates to stacked arrays of article trays, and more particularly to a hinged stacked array of article trays having a cover with offset attachment to the stack.
Manufactures often desire to package articles that they sell in packages that contain multiples of the article. Often, the package for containing multiples of the article may be used as a permanent storage device for reusable articles.
Trays are often used as storage mechanisms for disc-shaped articles such as compact discs (CD's), digital versatile discs (DVD's) and similarly shaped disc-like information storage mediums. A useful configuration for packaging multiple disc-shaped articles is a stacked array of trays. In such a stacked array, the trays are often hinged to one another for ease in accessing individual trays while maintaining the ability to easily restack. A cover is frequently applied to the stacked array for informational and aesthetic purposes. The cover may be applied so that the individual trays of the array may be accessed in book-like fashion.
A problem in using a stacked array of trays with a cover is that when the trays are pivoted from a single stack configuration, stresses are often place upon the cover that cause the cover to pull away from where it is attached to the trays. This tearing away structurally damages the back portion of the cover and is also undesirable aesthetically. This problem occurs because the trays are rigid and have widths that cannot be fully accommodated by the spine portion of the cover. This problem also arises in other book-like stacked arrays. Thus, it can be appreciated that it would be useful to have a means for covering a stacked array of article trays that does not cause the cover to tear away from the region of connection to the trays.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides a stacked array of trays for articles having a cover that is placed around the stack in the manner of a book cover. The cover consists of back and front portions connected by a spine. The width of the spine corresponds to the height of the stack of trays. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the back portion of the cover is affixed to the back of the bottom, or base, tray. A narrow region on the back cover adjacent the spine is not adhered to the bottom panel. In accordance with a further preferred embodiment, the back panel is two-ply with one ply affixed to the bottom/base tray and the ply adjoining the spine containing the narrow region.
Other advantages and objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Throughout the drawings, the same reference numerals are used to denote the same or like features of the invention.
Referring first to
In the preferred embodiment, the strip 26 is defined by substantially parallel lines of demarcation, such as fold or score lines. One line of demarcation 25 creates a pivot line that separates the main portion back portion of the cover 24 from the strip 26. The second line of demarcation 27 separates the non-affixed strip 26 of the back portion of the cover 20 from the spine 26.
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring now back to
The present invention provides a stacked array of trays for articles having a cover that is placed around the stack in the manner of a book cover. The cover consists of back and front portions connected by a spine. The width of the spine corresponds to the height of the stack of trays. The back portion of the cover is affixed to the back of the bottom tray. However, a region of the back cover adjacent the spine is not adhered to the bottom panel.
Modifications may be made in the foregoing without departing from the scope and spirit of the claimed invention. For example, although the preferred embodiment illustrated and described is directed to trays in particular the invention is equally applicable to stacked arrays of other substantially planar or planar-like articles or elements.
The figures forming a part of this specification convey the best mode for carrying out the invention known to the inventor at the time of filing the patent application. The figures are further presented to enable those skilled in the art to make and use the invention. After learning of the details of the invention as presented herein, including the figures, it is likely that alternative embodiments could be devised according to the invention, which have a much different appearance than the embodiments disclosed in the accompanying figures. The figures forming a part of the specification convey utilitarian aspects of the invention and the preferred embodiments, and also include ornamental features which are not necessary to the utilization of the invention.
Claims
1. A book-like stacked array having a spine and a cover comprising:
- a stacked array of planar-like articles having a spine; and
- a cover having a cover spine and a back cover portion hingedly adjoining said cover spine along a first hinge line and attached to an outermost one of said planar-like articles beyond a second hinge line that is offset from said first hinge line such that when said stacked array is placed in open condition tearing away of the back cover portion from said outermost one of said planar-like articles is mitigated.
2. The invention of claim 1, said planar-like articles comprising trays.
Type: Application
Filed: May 13, 2004
Publication Date: Jan 4, 2007
Inventors: John Gelardi (Kennebunkport, ME), Dana Exner (Chicago, IL), David Ladwig (Chicago, IL), Andrew Prewett (Berkshire)
Application Number: 10/556,531
International Classification: B65D 73/00 (20060101); B65D 85/62 (20060101);