Document Retention Device with Integral Pillow Box

Abstract

A document retention device includes a first panel and a pillow box blank coupled to the first panel. The first panel is configured to retain a first document on a first medium. The pillow box blank includes a first body portion, a second body portion, at least one top flap, and at least one bottom flap. The pillow box blank is configurable into a pillow box defining an open interior.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application relates to and claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/101,725, filed Oct. 1, 2008.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present application relates to the field of containing and carrying documents and objects. In particular, it discloses a document retention device that includes an integral pillow box. The pillow box may be used for carrying and retaining objects, such as a flash drive.

Document retention devices or products are a well known method for transporting, containing and presenting printed materials. With the advancement of digital technologies, information is now also stored on portable media, such as CDs, DVDs and flash drives. Before the present application, there was not provided an easy method for retaining flash drives or similar size objects within a document retention device. The present application provides an integral pillow box to retain flash drives, or other similar size objects. The document retention device may also comprise at least one pocket for retaining pertinent materials or documents on paper.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary document retention device in accordance with the present application;

FIG. 2 is a close up view of the integral pillow box of the exemplary document retention device of the present invention, wherein the upper and lower flaps of the pillow box are open;

FIG. 3 is a top view of an exemplary document retention device in accordance with the present application demonstrating the integral pillow box in an assembled, expanded position;

FIG. 4 is a top view of an exemplary document retention device in accordance with the present application showing the pillow box with open flaps;

FIG. 5 is a die line drawing of an exemplary document retention device in accordance with the present application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring initially to FIG. 1, an exemplary document retention device, here a folder 2, is depicted in an open position. One of skill in the art will recognize that the document retention device in the present application may include, but is not limited to the following: standard folders, reinforced folders, tab folders, capacity folders, legal folders, mini-folders, tri-panel folders, file folders, sculptured pocket folders, report covers, paper wallets, document folders, portfolios, 3-ring binders, 3-ring binders with tabs, 3-ring binders with page pockets, software boxes, tote boxes, donut type boxes, hotel key folders, door hangers, CD and DVD holders, photograph holders and photograph retention devices.

In the exemplary embodiment, folder 2 comprises a left cover 4 and a right cover 6 separated by a folding spine 8. The folder 2 opens and closes along folding spine 8. The spine may comprise one or more score lines. For example FIG. 5 demonstrates a spine 8 with three score lines 8a, 8b and 8c. The number of score lines may be increased or decreased depending on the desired capacity of the folder.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-4, the folder 2 of the present application also includes at least one pocket 10 for holding and retaining documents. The folder further comprises at least one pillow box 12. In one embodiment, the pillow box 12 is integral to the pocket 10. In another embodiment, the pillow box 12 is integral to either the left cover 4 or the right cover 6. The pillow box 12 may also be integral to other parts of the folder 2. The number of pockets and pillow boxes that may be used is limited only by the available space on and in the folder 2.

The pillow box 12 includes a main pillow box body 14. The main pillow box body 14 includes a first portion 16 and a second portion 18 separated by a center score line 34. The pillow box 12 also includes two sets of flaps 20, 22 and 24, 26. Flaps 20 and 22 comprise first and second bottom flaps, while flaps 24 and 26 comprise first and second top flaps. In one embodiment, at least one of the bottom flaps and at least one of the top flaps includes a cut out 28, 28′ for ease in opening and closing the flaps to allow access to the interior of the pillow box 12.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, when the bottom and top flaps of the pillow box 12 are open, the pillow box may be flattened such that when the folder is closed along folding spine 8, the folder remains relatively flat. As shown in FIG. 3, when one set of either the top or bottom flaps are closed, the pillow box is expanded, providing a hollow interior. The hollow interior of the pillow box 12 may be used to house a flash drive or other similarly sized objects.

Referring now to FIG. 5, therein is shown the die line for constructing one embodiment of a document retention device in accordance with the present application. Again, the exemplary embodiment is a folder 2. FIG. 5 demonstrates left cover 4 and right cover 6 as seen from the outside when folded along folding spine 8. Pocket 10 and pillow box 12 will be folded upwardly into the interior of right cover 6 when constructed, in one embodiment, to provide the features of the present application. As shown in FIG. 5, the folder 2 includes pocket sealing tab 32 for retaining the pocket 10 in place on the interior surface of right cover 6. Pillow box 12 also includes a sealing tab 30 for securing the terminal end of the second portion of the pillow box body 18 to an interior portion of pocket 10. Alternatively, the pillow box may be secured by affixing sealing tab 30 to an interior portion of the first portion of the pillow box body 16. When the sealing tab 30 is secured, the center score 34 will define an outer edge of the pillow box 12.

As mentioned, pillow box 12 may retain a flash drive (often otherwise referred to as a jump drive or USB drive). However, the pillow box 12 may be used to retain other things that one may desire to keep in a folder, such as promotional items, writing utensils or other items. Additionally, the dimensions shown in FIG. 5 are not limiting. The folder shown in the figures is an exemplary document retention device, and a document retention device in accordance with the present application may be of any size. For example, the dimensions shown in the figures are to accommodate conventional U.S. sized papers. However, European size A4 paper or other sizes of paper may be used and the dimensions of the document retention device may be adjusted accordingly. As a further example, the number of covers or panels may be increased to include three or more covers or panels as is known in the industry. As additional examples, the document retention device in accordance with the present application may retain documents in an electronic format such as CDs, DVDs, or other software. Thus, the document retention devices contemplated as being within the scope of the present application include CD holders, DVD holders and software boxes. Moreover, document retention devices in accordance with the present application may be mass storage units such as boxes, and therefore include, but are not limited to software boxes, tote boxes, donut type boxes or other types of boxes well known in the industry.

Likewise, the dimensions of the pillow box 12 may be adjusted and modified to fit the particular needs of the user. For example, the pillow box may be extended lengthwise to retain writing utensils or other objects having a longer length. Additionally, the pillow box may be increased in width to hold larger items. Also, the pillow box may be attached with perforations to the document retention device for easy removal. Perforated, removable pillow boxes are advantageous when used with smaller document retention devices such as hotel key folders, mini-folders, paper wallets, door hangers and photo holders. However, the size of the document retention device does not dictate whether a perforation may be used or not. As a further example, a door hanger, which is a die-cut card that retains document information (e.g. a “do not disturb” door hanger) may include a pillow box attached by perforations on the bottom or sides of the hanger.

While there have been described what are believed to be the preferred embodiments of the present application, those skilled in the art will recognize that other and further changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intended to claim all such changes and modifications that fall within the true scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A document retention device comprising:

a first panel configured to retain a first document on a first medium;

a pillow box blank coupled to the first panel, the pillow box blank having a first body portion, a second body portion, at least one top flap, and at least one bottom flap coupled together and configurable into a pillow box defining an open interior.

2. The document retention device of claim 1, further comprising a second panel integral with the first panel such that the document retention device is a folder, the folder configured to retain a second document on a second medium.

3. The document retention device of claim 2, further comprising a third panel integral with the second panel, such that the second and third panels define a folder and the first and second panels define a pocket within the folder.

4. The document retention device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of panels integral with the first panel such that the first panel and the plurality of panels form a box.

5. The document retention device of claim 1, wherein the pillow box blank is perforatedly coupled to the first panel, such that the pillow box blank is removable from the first panel.

6. The document retention device of claim 1 wherein the first body portion is integral with the second body portion and the first body portion and the second body portion are separated by a score line.

7. The document retention device of claim 6 wherein the pillow box blank further comprises first and second top flaps and first and second bottom flaps, the first and second top flaps being configurable to form a top end of the pillow box and the first and second bottom flaps being configurable to form a bottom end of the pillow box.

8. The document retention device of claim 7 wherein the first top flap and the first bottom flap further comprises a cut-out that is usable as a grip such as to assist a user in assembling or disassembling the pillow box.

9. A document retention device configured for retaining a plurality of documents on diverse media, the document retention device comprising:

a first panel;

a second panel integral with the first panel, the first and second panels being configured to retain a first document of a first media; and

a pillow box coupled to the first panel, the pillow box having integral first and second portions separated by a score line, at least one top flap coupled to the first portion, and at least one bottom flap coupled to the first portion, the first portion, the second portion, the at least one top flap, and the at least one bottom flap defining the pillow box with an open interior configured for retaining a second document of the first media or a second media.

10. The document retention device of claim 9 further comprising a third panel hingedly coupled to the second panel to define a spine such that the second and third panels define a folder.

11. The document retention device of claim 10 wherein the first panel and the second panel are coupled together to define a pocket in the folder.

12. The document retention device of claim 9 wherein the first panel and the second panel define a folder, an interface of the first panel and the second panel defining a spine, the pillow box being coupled to the first panel at the spine.

13. The document retention device of claim 13 wherein the first panel is further configured to retain a third document of a third media.

14. A document retention device configured for retaining a plurality of diverse articles, the document retention device comprising:

a first panel configured to retain a first article;

a pillow box coupled to the first panel, the pillow box having first and second portions coupled at a score line, a first top flap coupled to the first portion and a second top flap coupled to the second portion, the first top flap engaging the second top flap to form a closed top of the pillow box, the pillow box further having a first bottom flap coupled to the first portion and a second bottom flap coupled to the second portion, the first bottom flap engaging the second bottom flap to form a closed bottom of the pillow box;

wherein the first portion, second portion, closed top, and closed bottom define an open interior of the pillow box which is configured to retain a second article.

15. The document retention device of claim 14, further comprising a second panel coupled to the first panel, the first and second panels forming a pocket configured to retain a third article.

16. The document retention device of claim 15 further comprising a third panel coupled to the second panel at a spine, the second panel and the third panel defining a folder which contains the pocket and the pillow box.

17. The document retention device of claim 14, further comprising a plurality of panels coupled to the first panel, the plurality of panels being configurable with the first panel to form a box.

18. A document retention device die line, configurable to form a document retention device, the document retention device die line comprising:

a first cover hingedly coupled at a lateral side to a lateral side of a second cover at a spine defined by at least one score line;

a pocket flap coupled to the second cover at a bottom edge of the second cover;

a first sealing tab coupled to the second cover at a side opposite the spine, the first sealing tab engageable with the pocket flap to retain the pocket flap in a configuration in which the pocket flap overlays the second cover to form a pocket;

a first portion coupled to the pocket flap, the first portion having a first top flap and a first bottom flap;

a second portion hingedly coupled to the first portion at a score line, the second portion having a second top flap and a second bottom flap; and

a second sealing tab coupled to the second portion, the second sealing tab engageable with the first portion to retain the first portion and the second portion in a configuration in which the first portion overlays the second portion.

19. The document retention device blank of claim 18, wherein the first cover, the second cover, the pocket flap, the first sealing tab, the second sealing tab, the first portion, and the second portion are integrally formed from a single piece of material.

20. The document retention device blank of claim 19, wherein the first portion is perforatedly coupled to the pocket flap.

21. The document retention device blank wherein the blank is configured to form the document retention device by folding the first cover and the second cover along the spine to form a folder, folding the pocket flap to overlay the second cover to form a pocket, the pocket flap being retained by the first sealing tab, and folding the second portion to overlay the first portion to form a pillow box, the first portion and second portion being retained in the pillow box configuration by the second sealing tab.