Dual-Product Package

Abstract

The present invention is a dual-box product packaging which comprises a first and a second box. The first and second boxes are hingedly connected along an edge of each respective boxes. In some embodiments, the first and second boxes may be glued together. In other embodiments, it is preferred that the depth of the second box is approximately one-half the depth of the first box to facilitate in stacking multiple units of the dual-box products together.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to improvements in packaging. In particular, the present invention relates to improvements in the construction and manufacture of cardboard packaging for a first product in combination with a second, smaller package for a second product.

2. Description of the Related Art

Product packaging is an important component of the marketing strategy for essentially every product on the market. One aspect of product packaging growing in importance is the cross-promotion of related products in connection with a primary product. Product manufacturers are constantly looking for ways to introduce consumers of the company's products to newly-designed or revamped product lines. Providing a free sample of a particular newly-designed or revamped product may entice the customer to come back and purchase that product at a later time.

One example of the cross-promotional strategy is frequently employed in the food industry and, more specifically, in connection with products sold at grocery stores. Many such products are frequently sold with free samples of new products made by the same manufacturer. For example, the maker of a certain pasta product may have recently introduced a line of sauces to accompany the pasta. To help promote the new sauces, the same manufacturer may include samples of the new sauces with the pasta with the hope that the consumer will enjoy the product and return to purchase the new sauce product at a later date.

One method of cross-promoting is to package a sample packet or a smaller sample box of one product in the primary product container of another. In the context of the prior pasta and sauce example, a distributor or manufacturer may include a sample packet of one new sauce with the pasta product. It is also known to put the sample product on the outside of the box of the other product, but this raises a risk that the sample will be tampered with or destroyed. Therefore, it would be desirable to provide product packaging, especially cardboard packaging, that would allow a manufacturer or distributor to include a promotional product in a separate box coupled with the primary product box. It would further be desirable if this second box could easily be separated from the primary product box and used separately with the second box serving as a useful container for the product package. The present invention addresses these needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a dual-box product packaging which comprises a first and a second box. The first and second boxes are hingedly connected along an edge of each respective box. In some embodiments, the first and second boxes may be glued together. In other embodiments, it is preferred that the depth of the second box is approximately one-half the depth of the first box to facilitate in stacking multiple units of dual box products together.

It is contemplated that the present invention may be utilized in ways that are not fully described or set forth herein. The present invention is intended to encompass these additional uses to the extent such uses are not contradicted by the appended claims. Therefore, the present invention should be given the broadest reasonable interpretation in view of the present disclosure, the accompanying figures, and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED DRAWINGS

A full and complete understanding of the present invention may be obtained by reference to the detailed description of the present invention and preferred embodiment when viewed with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings can be briefly described as follows.

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the disclosed dual-product package as contemplated by a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top elevation view of the disclosed dual-product package as contemplated by a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a bottom elevation view of the disclosed dual-product package as contemplated by a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the disclosed dual-product package as contemplated by a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the disclosed dual-product package as contemplated by a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an elevation view of a cardboard blank which may be used to manufacture a dual-product package as contemplated by a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure illustrates one or more preferred embodiments of the present invention. It is not intended to provide an illustration or encompass all embodiments contemplated by the present invention. In view of the disclosure of the present invention contained herein, a person having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that innumerable modifications and insubstantial changes may be incorporated or otherwise included within the present invention without diverging from the spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is understood that the present invention is not limited to those embodiments disclosed herein. The appended claims are intended to more fully and accurately encompass the invention to the fullest extent possible, but it is fully appreciated that certain limitations on the use of particular terms is not intended to conclusively limit the scope of protection.

Referring to FIG. 1 through FIG. 6, the structure of the two connected boxes can be described. The first box 120 is depicted as part of a larger dual-box packaging 100. The dual-box packaging 100 also includes the second box 140. The first box 120 as depicted in a preferred embodiment has a total of four sides 122, 124, 126, and 128. The first box 120 also has a top 125 and a bottom 127. The second box 140 also has four sides 142, 144, 146, and 148 as well as a top 145 and a bottom 147. In the depicted embodiments, the first box 120 and the second box 140 are hingedly connected along the edge 155 between sides 124 and 126 of the first box 120 and sides 146 and 148 of the second box 140.

As can be better seen in FIG. 5, in a preferred embodiment the first box 120 and the second box 140 may freely swing away from one another around the hingedly connected edge 155. Furthermore, in some embodiments of the present invention, the hingedly connected edge 155 is perforated. If the hingedly-connected edge 155 is perforated, it will be easy for an end purchaser to separate the first box 120 and the second box 140 from one another. In other preferred embodiments of the present invention, the width of side panel 148 is selected to be approximately one half of the width of the side panel 124 of the first box 120. If this relationship to size is selected, it provides advantages in stacking for pallet configuration, distribution, and display purposes.

Looking now at FIG. 6, a cardboard blank 200 used to construct the preferred embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. The cardboard blank comprises four side panels 122, 124, 126, 128 of the first box 120 and four side panels 142, 144, 146, 148 of the second box. An interior flap 131 is glued to the interior of side panel 126 to faun the first box 120 while an interior flap 151 is glued to the interior of side panel 146 to form the second box 140.

In the depicted embodiment, the hingedly connected edge 155 is located between side panel 126 of the first box 120 and side panel 146 of the second box 140. The top 125 and bottom 127 of the first box 120 extend from side panel 126 while the top 145 and bottom 147 of the second box 140 extend from side panel 146. Also provided are a plurality of smaller flaps 129 for the first box 120 which may be folded and glued to hold top panel 125 and bottom panel 127 in place. Similarly, a plurality of smaller flaps 149 are provided for second box 140 which may be folded and glued to hold the top panel 145 and bottom panel 147 in place.

As noted, the embodiments depicted herein are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Indeed, it is contemplated that any number of different embodiments may be utilized without diverging from the spirit of the invention. Therefore, the appended claims are intended to more fully encompass the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A dual-product package comprising:

a first box having a top panel, a bottom panel and at least a first side panel and a second side panel,

a second box having a top panel, a bottom panel and at least a first side panel and a second side panel, and

a hinged connection between the first box and the second box, the hinged connection coupling the first box to the second box where the first side panel of the first box, the second side panel of the first box, the first side panel of the second box, and the second side panel of the second box meet.

2. The dual-product package of claim 1, wherein

the first box and the second box are comprised of cardboard.

3. The dual-product package of claim 2, further comprising:

the hinged connection being perforated.

4. The dual-product package of claim 2, wherein:

a width of the first side panel of the first box is twice a width of the first side panel of the second box.

5. The dual-product package of claim 4, further comprising:

the hinged connection being perforated.

6. The dual-product package of claim 1, wherein:

a width of the first side panel of the first box is twice a width of the first side panel of the second box.

7. The dual-product package of claim 6, further comprising:

the hinged connection being perforated.

8. The dual-product package of claim 1, further comprising:

an adhesive provided to hold the first panel of the first box and the first panel of the second box in a substantially co-planar relationship.