BOX FOR THE PACKAGING AND/OR DISPENSING OF PRODUCTS

Abstract

The present invention provides a refillable box for packaging and/or distribution of one or a plurality of products, such as tissues. Said box includes: an internal space into which said product can be introduced; a lid including a fixed part and a movable part having a common edge—the fixed part is attached by its internal face to the upper face of the box whereas the movable part can swivel; and a foldable decoration including a first flat part, a second flat part. The present invention also provides a cut for the making of a box, a foldable decoration and a lid adapted to be assembled in order to form the box.

Description

The present invention relates to a box for packaging and/or distribution of one or a plurality of products, including a foldable decoration in three dimensions (3D). More precisely, the present invention relates to a refillable box in which products, such as tissues, can be stored with a view to a use by the user.

PRIOR ART

WO 2006/111232 describes a casket intended to receive an unfolding/folding structure. The casket includes a plate to which a lid is fixed so as to be able to pivot between a shut-down position and a lifted-up position practically perpendicular to the plate. Said plate is fixed to the top of a basket so as to be able to slide along with regard said basket. The casket includes a closing strip which extends so as to attach the shut-down lid to the wall of the basket. The access to the internal space of the basket is possible only when the user lifts the lid. This configuration does not give a fast and simple access to the products contained in the basket. Besides the need to open the lid of the casket, every access to the internal space of the basket and/or to its contents might damage the lid and/or the opening-closing system of the casket.

The object of the invention is to provide a refillable box, including a foldable decoration in three dimensions. Said box gives the user a simple, direct and fast access to the products contained in the box. To reach said products, the user needs by no means to open a lid at every access.

Another object of the invention is to provide a box having an opening/closing system for refilling the box with products. Said system is easy to use and ensures a perfect closing of the box so as to avoid its slackening and/or opening, apart from an opening by the user in order to refill the box.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect, the present invention provides a box for packaging and/or distribution of one or a plurality of products, such as tissues. Said box includes: (i) an internal space into which said product can be introduced, the internal space is delimited by an upper face, a lower face, a front lateral face, a rear lateral face, a right lateral face and a left lateral face, so that at least one of the lateral faces is articulated by an edge of articulation to an edge of the lower face so as to be able to pivot about a swivel axis determined by said edge of articulation, said lateral face can swivel between a closed position in which the box is closed and an open position in which a window of insertion is created in the box, enabling an introduction of said product into the internal space; (ii) a lid including a fixed part and a movable part having a common edge and having each an internal face and an external face, the fixed part is attached by its internal face to the upper face of the box, covering in this way at least partially said face and articulating the movable part of the lid to the upper face of the box so as to be able to pivot about a swivel axis determined by said common edge, the movable part can swivel between a first position in which the fixed part is covered by the movable part and a second position in which the fixed part is not covered by the movable part; and (iii) a foldable decoration including a first flat part, a second flat part and at least one slot laterally delimiting an unfolding-folding structure including elements of decoration which have folding lines extending between the aforesaid slots and can be spread out into space and form at least one plane that is parallel to at least one of the first and second flat parts of the foldable decoration. The first flat part of the foldable decoration is attached to the upper face of the box and the second flat part of the foldable decoration is attached to the external face of the movable part of the lid.

In a favourite embodiment, the box includes in the upper face at least one opening adapted to be created by the user and/or through which the product is partially visible and/or is accessible to the user.

In a favourite embodiment, the lid includes an opening adapted to be created by the user and/or through which the product is partially visible and/or is accessible to the user.

In a favourite embodiment, the opening of the lid extends at least partially over the fixed part of the lid. Said lid is attached to the upper surface of the box so that the opening of the lid coincides, at least partially, with the opening of the upper face.

In a favourite embodiment, the movable part of the lid includes at least one foldable flap articulated along an edge of the movable part which is different from the common edge, said foldable flap can swivel about a swivel axis represented by the edge of the movable part to which it is articulated.

In a favourite embodiment, said foldable flap is adapted to be attached to/detached from one of the lateral faces of the box by means of at least one means of attachment provided on said lateral face and/or on said foldable flap.

In a favourite embodiment, the foldable flap is adapted to be inserted between one of the lateral faces and the upper face of the box when the foldable flap is perpendicular to the lid and said lateral face is in a closed position.

In a favourite embodiment, the box includes at least one closing flap articulated along one of the edges of the upper face. Said edge is parallel to the edge of articulation of the pivoting lateral face and is situated on the same side as the window of insertion of the box, said closing flap can swivel about a swivel axis represented by the edge along which it is articulated.

In a favourite embodiment, the pivoting lateral face includes at least one closing means articulated along at least one edge of said lateral face. Said edge is perpendicular to the edge of articulation of the pivoting lateral face. Said closing means can swivel about a swivel axis determined by the edge along which it is articulated, said closing means is adapted to be inserted into the internal space in order to close the box.

In a favourite embodiment, the closing means includes a first edge which is in continuity with the edge of articulation of the lateral face to which the closing means is articulated; a second edge by which the closing means is articulated to the lateral face; a curve connecting said edges; and at least one closing-fixing means. In a favourite embodiment, the closing-fixing means is a flat segment which forms a straight line that is parallel to the edge of articulation of the lateral face to which the closing means is articulated.

In a favourite embodiment, the box is adapted to be folded according to the edges of the front lateral face, and/or the rear lateral face and/or the upper face and/or the lower face which are parallel to the common edge shared by the fixed part and the movable part of the lid, said box is adapted to be folded when the pivoting lateral face is in an open position and forms, in this way, a practically flat structure.

According to another aspect, the present invention provides a cut for the making of a box as described above. The cut includes a plurality of lines of connection corresponding to the various edges of the faces and/or closing flaps of the box when said box is formed.

According to another aspect, the present invention provides a foldable decoration including a first flat part, a second flat part and at least one slot laterally delimiting an unfolding-folding structure including elements of decoration which have folding lines extending between the aforesaid slots and can be spread out into space and form at least one plane that is parallel to at least one of the first and second flat parts of the foldable decoration.

According to another aspect, the present invention provides a lid including a fixed part, a movable part and an opening adapted to be created by the user, said fixed and movable parts have each an internal face and an external face and a common edge.

The refillable box of the invention gives the user a simple, direct and fast access to the products contained in the box.

The opening-closing system for refilling the box is easy to use and ensures a perfect closing of the box so as to avoid its slackening and/or opening, apart from an opening by the user in order to refill the box.

The foldable 3D decoration of the box makes it easy for the user to take the box, for example in order to transport it from one place to another. Moreover, the foldable 3D decoration is attached to the box so that both faces of said decoration are visible.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1: perspective view of the lid.

FIG. 2: perspective view of the box without lid and foldable decoration.

FIG. 3: perspective view of the box to which the lid is attached.

FIG. 4: perspective view showing the mode of attachment of the foldable decoration to the lid that is already attached to the box.

FIG. 5: perspective view of the box according to an embodiment of the invention to which the lid and the foldable decoration are attached.

FIG. 6: perspective view of the box to which the lid is attached. The movable part of the lid is not in contact with the upper face of the box.

FIG. 7: perspective view of the box to which the lid is attached. The movable part of the lid is in contact with the upper face of the box so as to fold and hide the foldable decoration.

FIG. 8: perspective view of the box of FIG. 7 showing the means for opening the central tab which are still fixed to the box.

FIG. 9: perspective view of the box of FIG. 7 showing the means for opening the central tab which have been detached from the box.

FIG. 10: perspective view of the box of FIG. 7 showing the opening means and the central tab which have been detached from the box.

FIG. 11 to FIG. 15: perspective views of the central tab detached from the box.

FIG. 16: perspective view of the box of FIG. 7 showing the opening created further to the detachment of the opening means and the central tab.

FIG. 17: perspective view of the box, wherein the movable part of the lid is in contact with the upper face of the box so as to spread out the foldable decoration and make it visible.

FIG. 18: perspective view of the box of FIG. 17, wherein a product, i.e. a tissue, extends partially through the opening of the box.

FIG. 19: perspective view of the box of FIG. 17 where one of the lateral faces of the box is in an open position enabling the refilling of said box.

FIG. 20: perspective view of a product for refilling the box according to an embodiment of the invention, i.e. a box of tissues.

FIG. 21: perspective view of the mode of refilling of the box according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 22 to FIG. 27: perspective views showing the steps of an opening and unfolding of the foldable decoration.

FIG. 28 to FIG. 31: perspective views showing the steps of a closing of the lateral face of the box according to an embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The invention relates to a box for packaging and/or distribution of one or a plurality of products, such as tissues. The box includes a foldable decoration in three dimensions in the middle of which the user can take said product out, such as piled-up tissues. Said product can be contained in a packaging other than the box according to an embodiment of the invention or it can be introduced directly, without any preliminary packaging, into said box. The box according to an embodiment of the invention can contain products other than tissues, such as pieces of paper for taking notes, wet towelettes, chocolate, etc.

The box according to an embodiment of the invention can be closed and opened at will, and, once empty of its contents, the box can be refilled with a product, such as a pile of stacked tissues or a standard box of tissues. A refilling of the box can be done manually by the user through at least one window of insertion that the box has. The pile of tissues is preferably a pile of imbricate tissues such as imbricate towels. The pile of imbricate tissues is known by the person skilled in the art and is available on the market. The pile of tissues can be wrapped in a wrapping paper and/or in a Cellophane packaging. The pile of tissues can also have no packaging.

The box 1 according to an embodiment of the invention includes a lid 2 and a foldable decoration 15. The box is described below in connection with the appended Figures, in which a standard box of tissues is inserted in the internal space of the box. In that case, the latter is at the same time a box for packaging and distribution of tissues. The Figures and the standard box of tissues are used only by way of example and represent on no account a limitation of the invention.

The box 1 according to an embodiment of the invention includes an internal space, into which one or a plurality of products can be introduced. The internal space is delimited by an upper face 6, a lower face 7, a front lateral face 10, a rear lateral face 11, a right lateral face 8 and a left lateral face 9 (FIG. 2).

In a favourite embodiment, at least one of the lateral faces is articulated by an edge of articulation to an edge of the lower face 7 so as to be able to pivot about a swivel axis determined by said edge of articulation. Said lateral face 8, 9, 10, 11 can swivel between a closed position in which the box is closed and an open position in which a window of insertion is created in the box, enabling an introduction of said product into said internal space.

Preferably, the right 8 and left 9 lateral faces are articulated along two edges of the lower face 7 of the box 1, called edges of articulation 32. Said edges of the lower face 7 are parallel to each other. The right lateral face 8 and/or the left lateral face 9 can thus pivot between a closed position which is practically perpendicular to the lower face 7 (FIG. 31) and an open position (FIG. 19) enabling an introduction of said product into the box. The right 8 and left 9 lateral faces can also be articulated, in the same way, to an edge of the upper face 6.

Note that, in the same way, the front lateral face 10 and/or the rear lateral face 11 can be articulated along one or two edges of the lower 7 or upper 6 face of the box. The lower face 7 and/or the upper face 6 can also be articulated along one of the edges of one of the lateral faces of the box.

In a favourite embodiment, the box includes at least one closing flap articulated along one of the edges of the upper face 6. Said edge is parallel to the edge of articulation of the pivoting lateral face and is situated on the same side as the window of insertion of the box. Said closing flap can swivel about a swivel axis represented by the edge along which it is articulated.

In a favourite embodiment, the box 1 includes at least a left closing flap 24 articulated along at least one edge of the upper face 6. Said edge is parallel to the edge of articulation 32 of the left pivoting lateral face 9 and is situated on the same side as the window of insertion of the box 1. So, the closing flap can swivel about a swivel axis Y′-Y′ represented by the edge along which it is articulated (FIG. 19). The edge of the upper face 6 is preferably the edge that is perpendicular to the common edge 36 of the lid 2. So, said left closing flap 24 can swivel between a first position in which it is in the internal space of the box 1 and in contact with the upper face 6 and a position that is practically at 360° from said first position. Note that a closing flap is articulated according to the above described principle for each of the lateral and/or upper and/or lower pivoting faces of the box.

In a favourite embodiment, the pivoting lateral face includes at least a closing means 25 articulated along at least one edge of said pivoting lateral face, said edge being perpendicular to the edge of articulation of the lateral face. Said closing means 25 can swivel about a swivel axis determined by the edge along which it is articulated, said closing means 25 is adapted to be inserted into the internal space in order to close the box.

In a favourite embodiment, the pivoting right lateral face 8 and/or the pivoting left lateral face 9 of the box 1 include(s) at least one closing means 25 which is articulated along at least one edge of the pivoting lateral face (FIG. 19). Said edge is perpendicular to the swivel axis Y-Y represented by the edge of articulation 32 of the lateral face 8, 9. Said closing means 25 can swivel about a swivel axis Z-Z, Z′-Z′ (FIG. 19) determined by the edge along which it is articulated and can swivel by 360° between the faces of the lateral face to which it is articulated. Said closing means is adapted to be inserted into the internal space in order to close the box 1 when it is in a position which is practically perpendicular to the lateral face to which it is fixed and when said lateral face is practically perpendicular to the lower face 7 of the box 1 and/or when the left closing flap 24 is practically perpendicular to the upper face 6 of the box 1. Note that, in the same way, the pivoting front lateral face 10 and/or the pivoting rear lateral face 11 and/or the pivoting lower face 7 and/or the pivoting upper face 6 can include at least one closing means as described above.

In a favourite embodiment, the closing means 25 includes a first edge which is in continuity with the edge of articulation of the lateral face to which the closing means 25 is articulated; a second edge by which the closing means 25 is articulated to the lateral face; a curve 34 connecting said edges; and at least one closing-fixing means E. Preferably, the first edge forms a straight and continuous line with said edge of articulation. Preferably, the closing means 25 has a shape which is practically a quarter-circle.

In a favourite embodiment, the closing means 25 includes at least one closing-fixing means E. Preferably, the closing means 25 has a shape which is practically a quarter-circle including a first edge 31, a second edge 33 and a curve 34 connecting said edges. The first edge 31 of the closing means is in continuity with the edge of articulation 32 of the lateral face 8 to the lower face 7 of the box 1. Preferably, the first edge 31 forms a straight and continuous line with said edge of articulation 32. The second edge 33 of the closing means 25 is shared with one of the edges of the right lateral face 8 (FIG. 19). The second edge 33 is the edge by which the closing means 25 is articulated to the lateral face 8, 9. The curve 34 connecting the first edge 31 to the second edge 33 of the closing means 25 ends with a closing-fixing means E (FIG. 19). In a favourite embodiment, the closing-fixing means E is a flat segment which forms a straight and continuous line with the edge of the left lateral face 9 that is parallel to the edge of articulation 32 of the lateral face to the lower face 7 of the box 1. This is illustrated in FIG. 19, wherein the left lateral face 9 is provided with two closing means 25, on either side of the edge of articulation 32 of the left lateral face 9. The right lateral face 8 of the box 1 can have the same configuration as described above for the left lateral face 9.

In a favourite embodiment, the diameter D of the quarter-circle of the closing means 25 is lower than the height of the box H (FIG. 19). The diameter D increases gradually from the first edge 31 of the closing means as going towards the second edge 33 of the closing means 25. At the closing-fixing means E, the diameter D is equivalent to the height H of the box 1. This configuration makes it easy to insert the closing means 25 into the internal space of the box 1 while ensuring a stable closing of lateral faces 8 and/or 9. Indeed, when they are inserted inside the internal space of the box 1, the closing-fixing means E are in contact with the common edge shared by the upper face 6 and the front lateral face 10 of the box, thus avoiding any accidental and unwanted opening of the lateral faces 8 and/or 9.

In a favourite embodiment, the left closing flap 24 is adapted to leave a clearance, preferably narrow, with respect to the front 10 and rear 11 lateral faces when it is in a position that is perpendicular to the upper face 6 of the box 1. The clearance between the right closing flap 24 in the aforesaid position and the front 10 and/or rear 11 lateral faces is preferably lower than 2 mm, more preferably lower than 1.5 mm, even more preferably lower than 1 mm. This facilitates the insertion of the closing means 25 into the internal space when the right closing flap 24 is in a position that is practically perpendicular to the upper face 6 of the box 1. Note that, according to the same principle, a clearance, preferably narrow, exists between any closing flap of the box and the faces of the box which are adjacent to it.

In a favourite embodiment, one of the faces of the box includes at least one means of attachment such as restickable double-sided adhesive discs. The means of attachment 14 can also be in the form of a restickable double-sided adhesive tape or a double-sided adhesive strip or any other means known by the person in the trade.

In a favourite embodiment, the box 1 includes in the upper face 6 at least one opening 22 adapted to be created by the user and/or through which the product is partially visible and/or is accessible to the user. The box is adapted to hold in its internal space at least one product that is accessible through said opening 22.

In a favourite embodiment, the box 1 includes in the upper face 6 at least one detachable tab 12 containing at least one detachable opening means 13. The tab 12 is adapted to be detached from the box further to a detachment of the opening means 13, by the user, thus creating said opening 22 in the upper face 6 of the box 1 (FIG. 2). Preferably, further to the detachment of the opening means 13 by the user, a gap 13′ is created in the tab 12 (FIG. 9). Further to the detachment of the tab 12, said gap 13′ will be part of the opening 22. The tab 12 and the opening means 13 can have any shape—such as circular, rectangular, square—and can be positioned anywhere in the upper lateral face 6. Preferably, the tab 12 has an oval shape and is positioned at the centre of the upper face 6 of the box, as shown in FIG. 7.

In its closed position, each of the edges of the left lateral face 9, except for the edge of articulation, is in contact with one of the edges of the upper face 6 and/or of the front lateral face 10 and/or of the rear lateral face 11. In a favourite embodiment, at least one of the edges of the upper face 6 and/or of the front lateral face 10 and/or of the rear lateral face 11 that is in contact with the right lateral face 8 includes an irregularity which facilitates the opening of the right lateral face 8 of the box by the user in order to limit damages to the box after several openings of said face 8. The irregularity can have any shape known by the person in the trade. For example, the irregularity can be a semicircular notch. Note that this is applicable for each of the pivoting faces of the box.

In a preferred embodiment, the lid 2 includes a fixed part 37 and a movable part 38 having a common edge 36 and having each an internal face 9 and an external face 30. The fixed part 37 is attached by its internal face to the upper face 6 of the box, thus covering at least partially said face and articulating the movable part 38 of the lid to the upper face 6 of the box. In this way, the movable part is pivoting about a swivel axis X-X determined by said common edge 36 (FIG. 3 and FIG. 6). The movable part 38 can swivel between a first position in which the fixed part 37 is covered by the movable part 38 and a second position in which the fixed part 37 is not covered by the movable part 38. It is evident that the swivel limit of the movable face is reached when said movable part face is in contact with the upper face of the box, both in the first and in the second position of the movable face.

The lid 2 can be fixed to the upper face 6 of the box by positioning the fixed part 37 of said lid at any place. Preferably, the fixed part 37 of the lid is attached in a permanent way to the upper face 6 of the box. More preferably, said fixed part 37 is attached to the upper face 6 at a place where the common edge 36 divides the upper surface 6 into two parts. Preferably, said parts have surfaces that are equal to one another and are symmetric in relation to said common edge 36.

In a favourite embodiment, the lid 2 includes an opening 22′ adapted to be created by the user and/or through which the product is partially visible and/or is accessible to the user.

In a favourite embodiment, the opening 22′ of the lid extends at least partially into the fixed part 37 of the lid 2. Said lid 2 is attached to the upper surface 6 of the box so that the opening 22′ of the lid coincides, at least partially, with the opening 22 in the upper face 6. To use the box, the user has to create the opening 22 in the upper face 6 and the opening 22′ in the lid 2. Given that said openings 22 and 22′ are superimposable and coincide perfectly, their making results in an opening 22″ provided in the upper face 6 of the box 1 and through which products contained in the box are accessible.

In a favourite embodiment, the movable part 38 of the lid 2 includes at least one foldable flap articulated along an edge of the movable part 38 which is different from the common edge 36. Said foldable flap can swivel about a swivel axis represented by the edge of the movable part 38 to which it is articulated.

In a favourite embodiment, the movable part 38 of the lid 2 includes a right foldable flap 3, a left foldable flap 4 and a front foldable flap 5 (FIG. 1). Each foldable flap is articulated along an edge of the movable part 38 of the lid 2 (FIG. 1) so as to be able to pivot about a swivel axis represented by the very edge. It is evident that the edges of the lid to which the flaps are articulated do not include the common edge 36 (FIG. 1). The flaps 3, 4, 5 of the lid 2 can swivel by 360° between the internal face 29 and the external face 30 of the lid 2.

In a favourite embodiment, each foldable flap is adapted to be inserted between one of the lateral faces and the upper face of the box when the fixed part 37 of the lid is completely covered by the movable part 38. So and because the movable part of the lid can swivel as detailed above, each foldable flap is adapted to be inserted between one of the lateral faces and the upper face of the box when the fixed part 37 is not covered by the movable part 38 and when the latter covers the upper face of the box. To be inserted as described, one or several foldable flaps are returned to a position perpendicular to the lid and said lateral face is preferably in a closed position. Said flaps 3, 4, 5 of the lid 2 can also be fixed to the lateral faces 8, 9, 10 of the box 1 using means of attachment, such as restickable adhesive discs and/or double-sided adhesive strips. This bonding can be made so as to keep the foldable decoration spread out or so as to keep said foldable decoration folded.

In this way, the movable part is can swivel about a swivel axis X-X determined by said common edge 36 (FIG. 3 and FIG. 6). The movable part 38 can swivel between a first position in which the fixed part 37 is covered by the movable part 38 and a second position in which the fixed part 37 is not covered by the movable part 38.

In a favourite embodiment, the right foldable flap 3 is adapted to be inserted between the right lateral face 8 and the upper face 6 of the box 1 when the lid 2 is shut down on the upper face 6, the right foldable flap 3 is perpendicular to the lid 2 and the right lateral face is in a closed position; and/or the left foldable flap 4 is adapted to be inserted between the left lateral face 9 and the upper face 6 of the box 1 when the lid 2 is shut down on the upper face 6, the left foldable flap 3 is perpendicular to the lid 2, the left lateral face is in a closed position (FIG. 26); and/or the front foldable flap 5 is adapted to be inserted between the front lateral face 10 and the upper face 6 of the box 1 when the lid 2 is shut down on the upper face 6, the front foldable flap 5 is perpendicular to the lid 2, the front lateral face is in a closed position.

In a favourite embodiment, the foldable flap is adapted to be attached to/detached from one of the lateral faces of the box by means of at least one means of attachment 14 provided on said lateral face and/or on said foldable flap. In a favourite embodiment, the front foldable flap 5 of the lid 2 is adapted to be attached to the front lateral face 10 of the box by means of the means of attachment 14 placed on the front lateral face 10 of the box 1 and/or on said foldable flap.

The insertion and/or attachment of the flaps 3, 4, 5 of the lid 2 as described above makes it possible to fix the lid 2 to the box 1. The movable part of the lid can thus be fixed to the box in its first position, i.e. the fixed part 37 being covered by the movable part 38 of the lid, or in its second position, i.e. the fixed part 37 being not covered by the movable part 38 of the lid.

As shown in FIG. 4, the front foldable flap 5 can have a rectangular shape having the same length as the length of the edge of the movable part of the lid to which said flap is fixed. Said foldable flap can have a rectangular shape, the length of which is lower or higher than that of the edge of the movable part of the lid to which the flap is fixed. The front foldable flap 5 can also have another shape, such as a triangular, square, circular, half-circular shape, a shape of a part of a circle, etc. In a favourite embodiment, the front foldable flap 5 is intended to be introduced into a slot situated in the front lateral face 10 or into a slot situated in the rear lateral face 11 of the box 1. Of course, the slot of the lateral face is provided at a place and has a size that enable the closing of the lid of the box by means of the front foldable flap.

In another favourite embodiment, the front foldable flap 5 includes a closing strip which is intended to be introduced into a slot situated in the front lateral face 10 or into a slot situated in the rear lateral face 11 of the box 1. Said strip can have any shape, for example: rectangular, triangular, circular. Of course, the slot of the lateral face is provided at a place and has a size that enable the closing of the lid of the box by means of the closing strip.

In another favourite embodiment, the edge of the movable part of the lid 2 has no front foldable flap 5 and a closing strip is articulated to said edge. Said strip is intended to be introduced into a slot situated in the front lateral face 10 or into a slot situated in the rear lateral face 11 of the box 1. Said strip can have any shape, for example rectangular, triangular, circular. Of course, the slot of the lateral face is provided at a place and has a size that enable the closing of the lid of the box by means of the closing strip.

In a favourite embodiment, the box 1 includes a foldable decoration 15 including a first flat part 18, a second flat part 19 and at least one slot 28 laterally delimiting an unfolding-folding structure 16 including elements of decoration 16′ which have folding lines 17 extending between the aforesaid slots 28. The elements of decoration 16′ can be spread out into space and form at least one plane that is parallel to at least one of the first and second flat parts 18, 19 of the foldable decoration 15. The spread-out elements of decoration 16′ can also include planes which are perpendicular or practically perpendicular to the first and second flat parts of the foldable decoration when said flat parts are contained in the same plane. The first flat part 18 of the foldable decoration 15 is attached to the upper surface 6 of the box 1 and the second flat part 19 of the foldable decoration 15 is attached to the external face 30 of the movable part 38 of the lid 2.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a foldable decoration including spread-out elements of decoration and forming planes 21 that are parallel to the first flat part 18, planes 20 that are parallel to the second flat part 19 of the foldable decoration 15 and planes 39 that are perpendicular to said flat parts 18, 19. Said foldable decoration can be a cardboard sheet including coloured or non-coloured drawings. FIG. 4 also shows that the foldable decoration is adapted to be superposed on the upper face and/or the lid of the box being manufactured.

In a favourite embodiment, the first flat part 18 and/or the second flat part 19 of the foldable decoration are attached, as described above, in a permanent way to the box 1. This can be ensured by gluing, for example.

In a favourite embodiment, the first flat part 18 of the foldable decoration 15 covers at least partially the upper face 6 of the box 1 and the second flat part 19 of the foldable decoration 15 covers at least partially the external face 30 of the movable part 38 of the lid 2.

When a foldable decoration 15 is attached in this way to the external face 30 of the movable part 38 of the lid 2 and to the upper face 6 of the box 1, it folds back automatically on itself when the movable part 38 of the lid 2 is shut down onto the top of the upper face 6 so as to cover the fixed part 37 of the lid, thus folding up automatically the unfolding-folding structures 16 forming the decoration which were spread out into space. Again the foldable decoration 15 spreads out automatically into space when the movable part 38 of the lid 2 is brought in its second position, i.e. the fixed part 37 is not covered by the movable part 38. The foldable decoration is visible to the user for decoration and/or amusement reasons. The foldable decoration can also serve as a means that makes it easier for the user to the box, in order to transport the box from a place to another, for example.

The foldable decoration 15 can be made in different ways and with presentations which can vary. It can be made of some or other unfolding structure. The elements of decoration 16′ can unfold into space and can have many configurations and be freely decorated so as to make some desired decoration.

In a favourite embodiment, the unfolding-folding structure 16 of the foldable decoration 15 is adapted to keep the tab 12 of the upper face and/or its opening means 13 and/or the tab 40 of the lid and/or its opening means 41 and/or the opening 22 of the upper face and/or the opening 22′ of the lid accessible to the user when it is unfolded. Thus the products contained in the box 1, are accessible to the user when the unfolding-folding structure 16 of the foldable decoration 15 is unfolded.

In a favourite embodiment, the box 1 is adapted to take into its internal space at least one consumable product accessible through the opening 22 of the upper face and/or the opening 22′ of the lid adapted to be created by the user.

In a favourite embodiment of the invention, the box 1, the lid 2 and the foldable decoration 15 are made of cardboard or any other material including plastic, thermoplastic materials, metal materials, etc.

FIGS. 1-5 show how to assemble the various parts of the box according to an embodiment of the invention. FIGS. 1 and 2 show how to assemble the lid 2 (FIG. 1) onto the upper face 6 of the box 1 (FIG. 2). Said lid 2 has a detachable tab 40, at least 50% of the surface of which is positioned on the fixed part 37 of the lid. The rest of the surface of the tab 40 is positioned on the movable part 38 of the lid 2. The tab 40 of the lid thus includes a fixed part and a movable part. The tab 40 of the lid includes two opening means 41 placed in opposition to one another. The movable part 38 of the lid 2 has a right foldable flap 3, a left foldable flap 4 and a front foldable flap 5. Two means of attachment 14, i.e. restickable adhesive discs, are positioned on the external face of the front foldable flap 5 (FIG. 2). Another means of attachment 14, i.e. a double-face self-adhesive strip, is affixed on the internal face of the front flap 5 (FIG. 6). The external face of the foldable flaps is that in continuity with the external face 30 of the movable part 38 of the lid 2. The internal face of the foldable flaps is that in continuity with the internal face 29 of the movable part 38 of the lid 2.

The assembling can be made by gluing the internal face of the fixed part 37 of the lid on the box. The lid 2 is affixed on the box 1 so that half of its tab 40 sticks to the tab 12 of the box 1 so as to make them coincide perfectly (FIG. 3). Also the opening means of the various tabs coincide perfectly with one another. The fixed part 37 is attached to the upper face 6 at a place where the common edge 36 divides the upper surface 6 into two parts. Said parts have surfaces that are equal to one another and symmetric in relation to said common edge 36 (FIG. 3).

The foldable decoration 15 (FIG. 4) is then affixed on the set made of the box to which the lid 2 is attached. The foldable decoration is attached to the set by attaching the first flat part 18 of the foldable decoration 15 to the upper face 6 of the box 1 and the second flat part 19 of the foldable decoration 15 to the external face 30 of the movable part 38 of the lid 2 (FIG. 5).

To close the box, in order to prepare it for sale for instance, the movable part 38 of the lid 2 is completely shut down onto the upper face 6 of the box 1 so as to cover the fixed part 37 of the lid and to be in contact with said upper face. It is evident that the movable half of the detachable tab 40 of the lid 2 and an opening means 41 of said tab accompany the movable part 38 when closing the box (FIG. 6).

Simultaneously, the flaps of the movable part 38 of the lid are folded so as to insert (i) the right flap 3 between the upper surface 6 and the right lateral face 8 and (ii) the left flap 4 between the upper surface 6 and the left lateral face 9. The front foldable flap 5 of the movable part 38 of the lid 2 is fixed to the rear lateral face 11 of the box by means of the means of attachment 14 fixed on its external face. So, the box 1 is closed and the foldable decoration 15 is invisible because it is folded up and completely covered by the movable part 38 of the lid (FIG. 7). Note that the double-face self-adhesive strip provided on the internal face of the front foldable flap includes a film of protection covering its face that is not stuck on said flap (FIG. 6).

To take tissues, the private individual will have to remove the tab 40 of the lid and the tab 12 of the upper face 6 of the box 1. Both tabs can be simultaneously detached given that said tabs as well as their respective opening means are superposed and coincide with one another. To this end, the opening means 13, 41 of the tabs 12, 40 of the lid and the box 1 can be detached, according to preference, with a simple touch of the finger, thus creating two openings 13′ and 13″ (FIG. 9). Once detached, one of the opening means consists of three layers of cardboard corresponding to the means of opening of the fixed part of the lid, to the means of opening of the movable part of the lid and to the means of opening of the upper face 6 of the box. Then the tabs 12, 40 of the lid and of the upper face of the box can be detached using the openings 13′et and 13″, thus creating an opening 22″ which is quite simply the opening 22 of the upper face coinciding with the opening 22′ of the lid (FIG. 10). The user thinks he removes a single tab, but in fact he removes two tabs.

Once the opening 22″ has been created, the box 1 is open, thus making the products contained inside the box, such as tissues 23 (FIG. 18), accessible to the user through the same opening 22″. The above described steps of creation of the opening 22″ are illustrated in FIGS. 8-11. FIG. 11 also shows the parts, i.e. opening means and tabs, detached from the box 1.

The detached tabs include the tab 40 of the lid (FIG. 11) and the tab 12 of the upper surface of the box (FIG. 12). These tabs are stuck together by at least half of their respective surface corresponding to half of the tab 40, belonging to the fixed part 37 of the lid, which is stuck to half of the tab 12 of the upper face 6 of the box 1. Of course, the half of the tab 40, belonging to the movable part 38 of the lid, that is not stuck to the half of the tab 12 of the upper face 6 of the box 1 is movable and can pivot according to the common edge 36 as shown in FIGS. 13, 14 and 15. FIG. 13 shows the tab 12 of the upper face half to which the movable half of the tab 40 of the lid is at right angles. FIG. 14 shows the tab 12 of the upper face being half covered by the tab 40 of the lid. FIG. 15 shows the tab 12 of the upper face completely covered by the tab 40 of the lid.

FIG. 16 shows the box 1 according to an embodiment of the invention with the opening 22″ which has been created and the foldable decoration which has not been unfolded. FIG. 17 shows the box 1 with the opening 22″ which has been created and the foldable decoration which has been unfolded. To obtain the box as illustrated in FIG. 17, the user has to detach the front foldable flap 5 from the rear lateral face of the box. Then the user has to pivot the movable part 38 of the lid so as to discover the fixed part 37 of said lid and unfold the foldable decoration 15. The user can then fix the front foldable flap 5 of the movable part 38 of the lid 2 to the front face 10 of the box. This can be made using the means of attachment 14 provided on said face, i.e. the self-adhesive strip after the film of protection covering its unstuck face on the flap 5 has been peeled away. FIG. 18 shows the box containing tissues and in use, i.e. a tissue 23 can be easily removed from the box through the opening 22″.

FIGS. 22-27 show the different steps of an opening of the lid of the box together with the spreading-out of the foldable decoration. FIG. 22 shows the box still closed and the detachment of the film of protection covering the face of the self-adhesive strip that is not stuck on the rear flap 5. FIG. 23 shows the beginning of the opening of the movable part 38 of the lid. We can see the left and right foldable flaps 3, 4 of the movable part of the lid gradually coming out of the box. FIG. 24 shows the box 1 which is half open and the foldable decoration 15 which is at least partially unfolded. FIG. 25 shows the left 4, right 3 and front 5 foldable flaps folded in the opposite direction with regard to their initial opening. FIG. 26 shows the continuation of the opening of the movable face 38 of the lid at 180° to the fixed part 37 of the same lid. The right and left foldable flaps 3, 4 of the lid come to insert gradually into the box. The right foldable flap 3 is inserted between the right lateral face 8 and the upper face 6 of the box 1 and the left foldable flap 4 is inserted between the left lateral face 9 and the upper face 6 of the box 1. The front foldable flap 5 is attached to the front lateral face 10 by means of the self-adhesive strip (FIG. 27).

FIG. 19 shows the box according to an embodiment of the invention, wherein the left lateral face 9 is open to enable the user to resupply the box with products, such as tissues, when the box 1 is empty. Two closing means 25 are articulated to the left lateral face 9. Said closing means 25 are articulated along the edges of the left lateral face 9 which are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the swivel axis Y-Y of the left lateral face 9. Said closing means 25 are as described above, i.e. have a shape which is practically a quarter-circle including a first edge 31, a second edge 33, a curve 34 connecting said edges and closing-fixing means E (FIG. 19).

FIG. 20 shows a standard box of tissues 26, well known on the market, which can serve as a refill for the box 1. The box of tissues 26 includes on one of its faces a removable part 27 and a narrow notch 35 through which the tissues are removed one by one after detachment of the removable part 27 from the surface of the box of tissues 26. FIG. 21 shows the method for refilling the box 1 using the box of tissues 26 of FIG. 20. It is very evident that the opening 22″ of the box 1 is adapted to be superposed, at least partially, on the notch 35 of the box tissues 26.

After the box was refilled with products via one or two lateral faces, the one or both lateral faces 8, 9 of the box must be closed again. FIG. 28 shows a box according to the invention with its left lateral face 9 open. To close said left lateral face 9, it is first of all necessary to return the right closing flap 24 and both closing means 25 into a practically perpendicular position to the upper face 6 of the box 1, as shown in FIG. 29. Then, said left lateral face 9 is lifted up to bring it into its closed position, i.e. a practically perpendicular position to the lower face 7 (FIG. 30). By returning the left lateral face 9 to its closed position, the closing means 25 are gradually inserted into the internal space of the box 1, between the front lateral face 10 and the right closing flap 24 of the box 1 (FIG. 30). Towards the end of the closing of the left lateral face 9, the closing-fixing means E get also inserted into the internal space of the box 1. The closing-fixing means E maintain the closing of the left lateral face 9 and avoid any accidental and unwanted opening of the left lateral face 9, i.e. not carried out by the user. This is due to the fact that the closing-fixing means are straight lines which are in contact with the upper face 6 of the box in the internal space of the latter. So, the left lateral face 9 of the box is completely closed by means of the right closing flap 24 and the means of fixation 25 (FIG. 31).

All these steps described to close the left lateral face 9 are also applicable for the right lateral face 8 and/or any other pivoting face of the box. To open the left lateral face 9 of the box, the user has to reverse the sequence of the steps described for closing said faces.

In a favourite embodiment, the box 1 is adapted to be folded according to the edges of the front lateral face 10, and/or the rear lateral face 11 and/or the upper face 6 and/or the lower face 7 that are parallel to the common edge 36 shared by the fixed part 37 and the movable part 38 of the lid 2, said box 1 is adapted to be folded when the pivoting lateral face is in an open position, thus forming a practically flat structure. This enables an optimized transport of boxes according to the invention, thus making it possible to transport, easily and in a same volume of transport, many more folded boxes than formed boxes.

In case the right and left lateral faces 8, 9 can swivel, the box is adapted to be folded according to the edges of the front lateral face 10, and/or the rear lateral face 11 and/or the upper face 6 and/or the lower face 7 that are parallel to the common edge 36 shared by the fixed part 37 and the movable part 38 of the lid 2. Said box 1 is adapted to be folded when the right and left lateral faces 8, 9 are in continuity with the lower surface 7 of the box 1, thus forming a practically flat structure, preferably a flat structure. Preferably, the box is foldable when the right 8 and left 9 lateral faces are contained in the same plane as the lower face 7 of the box 1.

According to another aspect, the present invention provides a foldable decoration 15 including a first flat part 18, a second flat part 19 and at least one slot 28 laterally delimiting an unfolding-folding structure 16 including elements of decoration 16′ which have folding lines 17 extending between the aforesaid slots 28 and can be spread out into space and form at least one plane that is parallel to at least one of the first and second flat parts 18, 19 of the foldable decoration 15. The elements of decoration 16′ of the foldable decoration 15 can also include planes which are perpendicular or practically perpendicular to the first and second flat parts of the foldable decoration when said flat parts are contained in the same plane. Said decoration can be in the form of cardboard paper including a first part, a second part, the aforesaid slots and folding lines, coloured or non-coloured drawings. The foldable decoration is adapted to be attached to the box as described above. It is evident that the dimensions of the decoration must be adapted to said attachment and thus to the dimensions of the box and, more precisely, of the upper face and/or of the movable part of the lid of the box.

According to another aspect, the present invention provides a cut for the making of a box as described above, including a plurality of lines of connection corresponding to the various edges of the faces and/or of the closing flaps and/or of the flaps of the lid and/or of the very lid of the box when said box is formed. Said lines of connection delimit the various faces and the various flaps of the box. Said cut includes at least one surface adapted to be attached to at least one second surface of the same cut, thus forming a box without any lid and foldable decoration, as shown in FIG. 2.

According to another aspect, the present invention provides a lid including a fixed part 37 and a movable part 38 having a common edge 36. Each part has an internal face 29 and an external face 30. Said lid also includes at least one opening 22′ adapted to be created by the user.

According to another aspect, the present invention provides a lid as described above adapted to be attached to a box formed from the cut that is also described above. Besides, the invention provides a foldable decoration as described above adapted to be superposed on the set made of the box formed from the cut, to which the above described lid is attached.

The embodiment described above and illustrated in the appended drawings is an example given by way of illustration and the present invention is by no means limited to this example. Any modification, any variant and any equivalent arrangement must be considered as included within the scope of said invention.

Claims

1. Box for packaging and/or distribution of one or a plurality of products, such as tissues, said box comprising:

an internal space into which said product can be introduced, wherein the internal space is delimited by an upper face, a lower face, a front lateral face, a rear lateral face, a right lateral face and a left lateral face, so that at least one of the lateral faces is articulated by an edge of articulation to an edge of the lower face so as to be able to pivot about a swivel axis determined by said edge of articulation, wherein said lateral face can swivel between a closed position in which the box is closed and an open position in which a window of insertion is created in the box, enabling an introduction of said product into the internal space,

a lid comprising a fixed part and a movable part having a common edge and wherein the lid comprises each of an internal face and an external face, and wherein the fixed part is attached by its internal face to the upper face of the box, thereby covering at least partially said face and articulating the movable part of the lid to the upper face of the box so as to be able to pivot about a swivel axis determined by said common edge, wherein the movable part can swivel between a first position in which the fixed part is covered by the movable part and a second position in which the fixed part is not covered by the movable part, and

a foldable decoration comprising a first flat part, a second flat part and at least one slot laterally delimiting an unfolding-folding structure comprising elements of decoration comprising folding lines extending between the aforesaid slots which can be spread out into space and form at least one plane that is parallel to at least one of the first and second flat parts of the foldable decoration,

wherein,

the first flat part of the foldable decoration is attached to the upper face of the box and the second flat part of the foldable decoration is attached to the external face of the movable part of the lid.

2. Box according to claim 1, comprising, in the upper face, at least one opening adapted to be created by the user and/or through which the product is partially visible and/or is accessible to the user.

3. Box according to claim 1,

wherein the lid comprises an opening adapted to be created by the user and/or through which the product is partially visible and/or is accessible to the user.

4. Box according to claim 3, wherein the opening of the lid extends at least partially over the fixed part of the lid, wherein said lid is attached to the upper surface of the box so that the opening of the lid coincides at least partially with the opening of the upper face.

5. Box according to claim 1, wherein the movable part of the lid comprises at least one foldable flap articulated along an edge of the movable part which is different from the common edge, wherein said foldable flap can swivel about a swivel axis represented by the edge of the movable part to which it is articulated.

6. Box according to claim 5, wherein said foldable flap is adapted to be attached to/detached from one of the lateral faces of the box by at least one means of attachment provided on said lateral face and/or on said foldable flap.

7. Box according to claim 5, wherein the foldable flap is adapted to be inserted between one of the lateral faces and the upper face of the box when the foldable flap is perpendicular to the lid and said lateral face is in a closed position.

8. Box according to claim 1, comprising at least one closing flap articulated along one of the edges of the upper face, wherein said edge is parallel to the edge of articulation of the pivoting lateral face and is situated on the same side as the window of insertion of the box, and wherein said closing flap can swivel about a swivel axis represented by the edge along which it is articulated.

9. Box according to claim 1, wherein the pivoting lateral face comprises at least one closing means articulated along at least one edge of said lateral face, said edge being perpendicular to the edge of articulation of the pivoting lateral face, wherein said closing means can swivel about a swivel axis determined by the edge along which it is articulated, and wherein said closing means is adapted to be inserted into the internal space in order to close the box.

10. Box according to claim 1, wherein the closing means comprises:

a first edge which is in continuity with the edge of articulation of the lateral face to which the closing means is articulated;

a second edge by which the closing means is articulated to the lateral face;

a curve connecting said edges; and

at least one closing fixing means.

11. Box according to claim 1, wherein the closing fixing means is a flat segment which forms a straight line that is parallel to the edge of articulation of the lateral face to which the closing means is articulated.

12. Box according to claim 10, adapted to be folded according to the edges of the front lateral face, and/or the rear lateral face and/or the upper face and/or the lower face which are parallel to the common edge shared by the fixed part and the movable part of the lid, wherein said box is adapted to be folded when the pivoting lateral face is in an open position and forms, in this way, a practically flat structure.

13. Cut for the making of a box as described in claim 1, comprising a plurality of lines of connection corresponding to the various edges of the faces and/or closing flaps of the box when said box is formed.

14. Foldable decoration comprising a first flat part, a second flat part and at least one slot laterally delimiting an unfolding-folding structure comprising elements of decoration which have folding lines extending between the aforesaid slots and can be spread out into space and form at least one plane that is parallel to at least one of the first and second flat parts of the foldable decoration.

15. Lid comprising a fixed part, a movable part and an opening adapted to be created by the user, wherein said fixed and movable parts have each an internal face and an external face and a common edge.