Gift box having multiple compartments
A gift box with bottom, right side, left side, front end, back end, and interior walls is provided. A plurality of compartments is included. A top wall that has a frame section with a lower surface is provided. The top wall has a plurality of windows that are capable of being opened. Each one of the windows is associated with one of the compartments. A liner layer is attached to the lower surface of the frame section and directly faces the compartments and the windows when the windows are in a closed position. Opening of one of the windows presents a portion of the liner layer to the user so that the user can punch through the portion of the liner layer to access the compartment associated with the opened window.
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The present invention relates generally to gift boxes having multiple compartments. More particularly, the present application involves a reusable gift box with a plurality of windows that can be opened by a user to present a lining to the user that can then be punctured to access a gift within a compartment of the gift box.
BACKGROUNDAdvent calendars are known for use in counting down the days of Advent until Christmas. Such calendars have numbered doors that correspond to the days of December leading up to Christmas. Each day, that particular day's door is opened to reveal a poem, a portion of a story, a picture, or a gift. The door on the final day may be larger so that a bigger gift, picture, or story is provided on the last day the calendar is used.
One known Advent calendar makes use of a series of windows that are located on the front and back of the calendar. Tabs are attached to the window and the user grasps the tab and detaches the window from the front or back side of the calendar. An interior wall is located in the center of the calendar and includes slots into which teabags in their wrappers are located. Tearing off of the window reveals the teabag associated with that particular window. The teabags are fixed in the interior wall until removed by the user. Removal of the teabag from the interior wall reveals a written message on the interior wall hidden under the teabag that describes the tea. Although Advent calendars are known for use in counting down days in December, gift boxes that accomplish the same thing or allow for various individual gifts to be accessed do not exist. Further, gift boxes that include windows in which the opening of a window reveals a liner layer before accessing a gift do not exist. As such, there remains room for variation and improvement within the art.
A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth more particularly in the remainder of the specification, which makes reference to the appended Figs. in which:
Repeat use of reference characters in the present specification and drawings is intended to represent the same or analogous features or elements of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF REPRESENTATIVE EMBODIMENTSReference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, and not meant as a limitation of the invention. For example, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield still a third embodiment. It is intended that the present invention include these and other modifications and variations.
It is to be understood that the ranges mentioned herein include all ranges located within the prescribed range. As such, all ranges mentioned herein include all sub-ranges included in the mentioned ranges. For instance, a range from 100-200 also includes ranges from 110-150, 170-190, and 153-162. Further, all limits mentioned herein include all other limits included in the mentioned limits. For instance, a limit of up to 7 also includes a limit of up to 5, up to 3, and up to 4.5.
The present invention provides for a gift box 10 that can be used to hold multiple gifts 70 so that the multiple gifts 70 can be revealed and opened at the same or different times by a user. In some instances, the gift box 10 may function as an advent gift box 10. The gift box 10 includes multiple compartments 24 that house gifts 70 that are hidden from view by a plurality of windows 38 and/or a liner layer 44. The windows 38 may be opened by the user, and if present the liner layer 44 can be punched through to access the gift 70 stored within the compartment 24 associated with the opened window 38. The window 38 may be integrally formed with a lid 56 of the gift box 10 and can be hinged thereon. Once all of the compartments 24 have been accessed, the user may discard the lid 56 and obtain a new lid 56 for subsequent reuse with the body 68.
The lid 56 includes a top wall 30. The top wall 30 has a frame section 32 and a plurality of windows 38. As shown in
With reference now to
Upon use of the gift box 10, the user may desire to open the window 40. This arrangement is illustrated in
Upon opening the window 40, a liner layer 44 is presented to the user. The liner layer 44 illustrated in
Although described as being a translucent liner layer 44, the liner layer 44 may be an opaque liner layer 44 or may be only a semi-transparent liner layer 44. In accordance with the exemplary embodiment shown in
With reference now to
As shown with reference to
With reference to
An alternative exemplary embodiment of the gift box 10 is illustrated in
In accordance with other exemplary embodiments, after use of the gift box 10, the user can insert a new liner layer 44 onto the lid 56. In this regard, the user may remove the old, punched liner layer 44 and substitute a new, unpunched liner layer 44 in its place. Alternatively, the user may simply place the new, unpunched liner layer 44 on top of the punched liner layer 44. The opened windows 38 may be closed. In this regard, the user can push window 40 back into the closed position so that one of the edges 46 or 48 is located under the frame section 32 and catches against the lower surface 36 of the frame section 32 or the side of the frame section 32 that is between the lower surface 36 and the upper surface 34. When made of lighter cardboard, the top wall 30 will have some give or play so that the window 40 can be manipulated in this manner so as to be closed. Further, the hinge 54 can function to help the window 40 to spring back into its closed position. Even if the window 40 is not all the way closed, it may still be positioned close to the closed position after being opened. The presence of a new liner layer 44 will prevent the user from being able to see into the various compartments 24 even if the windows 38 are not all the way closed after being opened thus maintaining the contents of the compartments 24 in secret as desired.
The components of the gift box 10 may be flattened and placed into a package upon being provided to the consumer. The consumer can unfold the body 68, interior walls 22, and lid 56 and assemble these components into the gift box 10. Tissue paper may be provided in the package so that the consumer may wrap gifts therewith before placement into the individual compartments 24. After use of the gift box 10, the user may discard the lid 56. The body 68 and internal walls 22 can be broken down and flattened in a known manner. The body 68 and internal walls 22 may be saved for later use. At such time, the user can purchase a new lid 56 that includes closed windows 38 and unpunched liner layer 44 and may place this new lid 56 onto the previously purchased body 68 and internal walls 22. This arrangement removes the need to have the user purchase an entirely new gift box 10. Alternatively, the user may reuse the original lid 56 in the manners previously discussed so that a new lid 56 is not purchased and so that the gift box 10 can be reused multiple times. Further, the gift box 10 may be used as an Advent calendar or may be used as a calendar that is designed to count down the days, weeks, or months to some other special date or occurrence. However, the gift box 10 need not be used as a calendar to count down the days, weeks, months, to a special date or occurrence. The gift box 10 may be used to house multiple gifts 70 for opening without regard to time. For example, various windows 38 may be associated with one or more family members so that the gift box 10 can be passed around a room to allow the individuals associated with one or more of the windows 38 retrieve gifts 70. Further, it is to be understood that although shown as being rectangular in shape, the gift box 10 and associated windows 38 and compartments 24 can be variously shaped and that the disclosed embodiments are only exemplary.
While the present invention has been described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the subject matter encompassed by way of the present invention is not to be limited to those specific embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended for the subject matter of the invention to include all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as can be included within the spirit and scope of the following claims.
Claims
1. A gift box, comprising:
- a bottom wall;
- a right side wall;
- a left side wall;
- a front end wall;
- a back end wall;
- a plurality of interior walls, wherein the bottom wall, the right side wall, the left side wall, the front end wall, the back end wall, and the interior walls define a plurality of compartments, and wherein the bottom wall and the interior walls define a plurality of compartments;
- a top wall that has a frame section, wherein the frame section has an upper surface and a lower surface, and wherein the top wall has a plurality of windows that are capable of being opened, wherein each one of the windows is located above an associated one of the compartments; and
- a liner layer attached to the lower surface of the frame section and directly facing the windows when the windows are in a closed position, wherein the liner layer directly faces the plurality of compartments, wherein opening of one of the windows presents a portion of the liner layer to the user such that the user is capable of punching through the portion of the liner layer to access the compartment associated with the opened window.
2. The gift box as set forth in claim 1, wherein the liner layer is made of tissue paper.
3. The gift box as set forth in claim 1, wherein each one of the windows is partially defined by three edges that are separate from the frame section, and wherein each one of the windows is partially defined by perforations associated with each one of the windows that are present between the frame section and each one of the windows, wherein the perforations associated with each one of the windows forms a hinge for each one of the windows that allows each one of the windows to pivot with respect to the frame section.
4. The gift box as set forth in claim 3, wherein the perforations associated with each one of the windows are located on a side of the windows that is closer to the left side wall than the right side wall.
5. The gift box as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a lid that includes the top wall, wherein the lid has four sides that extend from the lower surface of the frame section of the top wall, wherein one of the four sides engages the right side wall, wherein another one of the four sides engages the left side wall, wherein another one of the four sides engages the front end wall, and wherein another one of the four sides engages the back end wall.
6. The gift box as set forth in claim 1, wherein the liner layer is attached to the lower surface of the frame section through adhesive applied about a perimeter extending completely around all of the windows, and wherein the liner layer is attached to the lower surface of the frame section through adhesive applied between adjacent windows of the plurality of windows.
7. A gift box, comprising:
- a body;
- a plurality of interior walls located within the body, wherein the body and the plurality of interior walls define a plurality of compartments; and
- a lid receivable onto the body, wherein the lid has a top wall that has a frame section that has an upper surface and a lower surface, and wherein the top wall has a plurality of windows that are capable of being opened, wherein each one of the windows is located above an associated one of the compartments, wherein the windows and the frame section are integrally formed with one another, wherein the windows have an edge that is separate from the frame section, and wherein the windows are hinged to the frame section such that the windows remain attached to the frame section when the windows are opened.
8. The gift box, as set forth in claim 7, further comprising a liner layer attached to the lower surface of the frame section and directly facing the windows when the windows are in a closed position, wherein the liner layer directly faces the plurality of compartments, wherein opening of one of the windows presents a portion of the liner layer to the user such that the user is capable of punching through the portion of the liner layer to access the compartment associated with the opened window.
9. The gift box as set forth in claim 8, wherein the liner layer is made of tissue paper.
10. The gift box as set forth in claim 8, wherein the liner layer is attached to the lower surface of the frame section through adhesive applied about a perimeter extending completely around all of the windows, and wherein the liner layer is attached to the lower surface of the frame section through adhesive applied between adjacent windows of the plurality of windows.
11. The gift box as set forth in claim 7, wherein each one of the windows is partially defined by perforations associated with each one of the windows that are present between the frame section and each one of the windows, wherein the perforations associated with each one of the windows forms a hinge for each one of the windows that allows each one of the windows to pivot with respect to the frame section and remain attached to the frame section when opened.
12. The gift box as set forth in claim 11, wherein the windows are square in shape, and wherein the perforations are located such that all of the windows pivot from the closed to the open position in the same direction with respect to the body.
13. The gift box as set forth in claim 7, wherein the windows are capable of being moved from the open position to a closed position in which the windows engage the frame section to effect holding of the windows in the closed position.
14. A gift box, comprising:
- a bottom wall;
- a right side wall;
- a left side wall;
- a front end wall;
- a back end wall;
- a plurality of interior walls, wherein the interior walls at least partially define a plurality of compartments;
- a top wall that has a frame section, wherein the frame section has an upper surface and a lower surface, and wherein the top wall has a plurality of windows that are capable of being opened, wherein each one of the windows is located above an associated one of the compartments, wherein the windows are hinged to the frame section such that the windows remain attached to the frame section when the windows are opened; and
- a liner layer that directly faces the windows when the windows are in a closed position, wherein the liner layer directly faces the plurality of compartments, wherein opening of the window presents the liner layer to the user.
15. The gift box as set forth in claim 14, wherein each one of the windows is partially defined by three edges that are separate from the frame section, and wherein each one of the windows is partially defined by perforations associated with each one of the windows that are present between the frame section and each one of the windows, wherein the perforations associated with each one of the windows forms a hinge for each one of the windows that allows each one of the windows to pivot with respect to the frame section, and wherein the perforations associated with each one of the windows are located on a side of the windows that is closer to the left side wall than the right side wall.
16. The gift box as set forth in claim 15, wherein the liner layer is attached to the lower surface of the frame section through adhesive applied about a perimeter extending completely around all of the windows, and wherein the liner layer is attached to the lower surface of the frame section through adhesive applied between adjacent windows of the plurality of windows;
- wherein the liner layer is made of tissue paper, and wherein the bottom wall, the right side wall, the left side wall, the front end wall, the back end wall, the interior walls, and the top wall are all made from cardboard; and
- wherein the bottom wall, the right side wall, the left side wall, the front end wall, the back end wall, and the interior walls define some of the plurality of compartments, and wherein the bottom wall and the interior walls define the remaining plurality of compartments.
17. The gift box as set forth in claim 14, further comprising a lid that includes the top wall, wherein the lid has four sides that extend from the lower surface of the frame section of the top wall, wherein one of the four sides engages the right side wall, wherein another one of the four sides engages the left side wall, wherein another one of the four sides engages the front end wall, and wherein another one of the four sides engages the back end wall.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 7, 2010
Publication Date: Apr 12, 2012
Applicant: YOU STUFF IT BOXES, LLC (Greenville, SC)
Inventors: Mary C. Read (Greenville, SC), Sandi Jalernpan (Flat Rock, NC), Dang Jalernpan (Flat Rock, NC)
Application Number: 12/924,893
International Classification: B65D 1/24 (20060101); B65D 51/00 (20060101);