PACKAGING ASSEMBLY

Abstract

The present invention provides packaging including an array of transparent containers within a box.

Description

PRIORITY CLAIM AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

This application is a continuation of pending U.S. design patent application No. 29/499,564 filed Aug. 15, 2014 which is incorporated herein in its entirety and for all purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to articles of manufacture such as structures for holding goods. More particularly, the present invention relates to a packaging assembly.

2. Description of the Related Art

Packaging for manufactured goods typically reflects a manufacturer's focus on packaging costs, package size related shipping costs, and avoidance of damage to packages during shipment. These imperatives lead to compact arrangements of the goods to reduce package size, avoidance of packaging with protruding edges prone to shipping damage, and avoidance of generally more costly nested packaging systems suited for a multitude of opening and closing cycles. In particular, commonplace packaging may be said to have utility but it rarely achieves a utilitarian design that is also elegant.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides for a packaging assembly. In an embodiment, a packaging assembly comprises: a transparent container including a cube shaped jar and a reusable container lid, the container having a footprint with dimensions c1×c2; the container lid having a rectangular sealing surface for mating with a rectangular jar mouth; a plurality N of the containers spaced apart and arranged in a rectangular array having a footprint with dimensions a1×a2; a box including a rectangular base having a footprint with dimensions b1×b2 and a rectangular wall extending from the base; the wall including first and second pairs of opposed panels joined end to end and having a footprint with dimensions w1×w2; the array enclosed by and spaced apart from the wall; the base footprint larger than the wall footprint such that box base lips are formed by plural edges of the base that project beyond the wall; a rectangular rack bearing on each of the panels of the first and second pairs of opposed panels; and, the rack having a surface about parallel to the base, the rack surface having N openings removably and irrotatably receiving the N containers; wherein the rack maintains a spaced apart relationship between the array and the wall and maintains the spaced apart relationship of the N containers.

Embodiments may include any one or more of: a container hinge that couples the jar and the lid; wall lips forming a box mouth and a box lid for closing the box when the lid mates with the wall lips; a first box lid hinge that couples the box lid to the box and a second box lid hinge that couples adjoining planar box lid sections; and, a ribbon attached near a box lid section lip for raising the lid.

Embodiments may utilize a packaging assembly wherein: the array is an N=8 container array arranged as a square 3×3 array but missing the central container; the base and the lid are joined by a connecting panel; the connecting panel is attached to a box wall panel; a single sheet forms the lid, connecting panel, and base.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is described with reference to the accompanying figures. These figures, incorporated herein and forming part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, further serve to explain its principles enabling a person skilled in the relevant art to make and use the invention.

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a packaging assembly of the present invention.

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a container array of the packaging assembly of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1C is a perspective view of a container of the packaging assembly of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1D is a coordinate system for use with the packaging assembly of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1E is a footprint diagram for use with the packaging assembly of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the packaging assembly of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the packaging assembly of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the packaging assembly of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 5 is top view of the packaging assembly of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the packaging assembly of FIG. 1A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SELECTED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The disclosure provided herein describes examples of some embodiments of the invention. The designs, figures, and descriptions are non-limiting examples of the embodiments they disclose. For example, other embodiments of the disclosed device and/or method may or may not include all of the features described herein. Moreover, disclosed advantages and benefits may apply to only certain embodiments of the invention and should not be used to limit the disclosed invention.

FIG. 1A shows a perspective view of an exemplary packaging assembly of the present invention 100A. In various embodiments, the packaging assembly includes a box for enclosing a plurality of transparent containers. As shown, the packaging includes a box 120 and an array 140 of containers 141. The packaging may also include a box lid 130.

The box 120 is arranged with respect to an orthogonal coordinate system X1, Y1, Z1 and includes a wall 121 extending from a base 122. The wall includes a first pair of opposed panels or side walls 123, 125 and a second pair of panels or side walls 124, 126. A base footprint is b1×b2 and a box elevation is b3.

The box lid 130 is for closing against a box mouth lip 127. A first box lid hinge 132 provides for lid articulation. The lid may include adjoining lid sections 133, 135 articulable via a hinge 134 such that a flap section 135 closes against a front box panel 124. The box lid and base 122 may be made from a single sheet wherein a connector section 131 joins the base 122 and one or more lid sections 133, 135. The connector section 131 may be attached to a rear wall panel 126.

As seen, the containers 141 in the array 140 are spaced apart 156, 158 and the container array 140 is spaced apart 152, 154 from the box wall 120. The array includes a plurality of containers and may include N containers where N=8 containers arranged in a square 3×3 array with a missing central container. The containers may be bottom supported.

FIG. 1B shows a container array 100B. The array 140 is arranged with respect to an orthogonal coordinate system X, Y, Z. In the embodiment shown, the array is an N=8 container array and the containers are spaced apart by similar gaps 156, 158. The array has a footprint with dimensions a1×a2 and an elevation of a3.

FIG. 1C shows a single container from an array 100C. The container 141 is arranged with respect to the orthogonal coordinate system X, Y, Z. The container 141 is transparent and includes a rectangular and reusable container lid 142 atop a cube shaped jar 144. The container lid may seal with the jar via a lid and jar overlap 143. Further, the container lid 142 may be coupled to the jar via a hinge such as a hinge provided by a label 145 affixed to the jar and the container lid.

FIG. 1D shows the above mentioned orthogonal coordinate systems 100D. In particular, the box 120 coordinate system X1, Y1, Z1 has an origin 273 and the array 140 coordinate system X, Y, Z has an origin 275 which is inset further illustrating the spaced apart nature of the array with respect to the box wall 121 that encloses the array.

FIG. 1E shows selected footprints of packaging assembly elements 100E. In particular, a first one of plural containers 141 has footprint c1×c2 and an elevation c3. An array of the containers 140 has footprint a1×a2 that is enclosed by the box wall 121 with footprint w1×w2. Box base 122 with footprint b1×b2 projects beyond the box wall 121 along plural edges of the box base to form base lips 280.

FIG. 2 shows an exploded view 200 of the packaging assembly of FIG. 1A. Similar to FIG. 1A, the exploded view shows a box 120, a lid 130, and an array of containers 140. Unlike FIG. 1A, FIG. 2 also shows racks 220, 230 that may be used with the packaging assembly.

The first rack 220 includes a surface 222 that is about parallel to the base 122. N openings 224 in the rack are for receiving N containers 141 in a container array 140. A rack periphery 228 may bear on the walls 123-126 of the box 120. Where the array is an eight container array, the rack has eight openings. When the array is an N=8 array arranged as a 3×3 array, the array is missing the center container and the rack surface 222 may include a central platform 226.

The second rack 230 includes a surface 232 that is about parallel to the base 122. N openings 234 in the rack are for receiving N containers 141 in a container array 140. A rack periphery 238 may bear on the walls 123-126 of the box 120. Where the array is an eight container array, the rack has eight openings. When the array is an N=8 array arranged as a 3×3 array, the array is missing the center container and the rack surface 232 may include a central platform 236.

FIG. 3 shows a front view 300 of the packaging assembly of FIG. 1A. As seen, the packaging assembly includes a box 120 and a hinged 132 lid 130 including a hinged 134 flap 135 with a ribbon grip 136.

FIG. 4 shows a rear view 400 of the packaging assembly of FIG. 1A. As seen, the packaging assembly includes a box 120 and a hinged 132 lid 130 including a hinged 134 flap 135 with a ribbon grip 136.

FIG. 5 shows a top view 500 of the packaging assembly of FIG. 1A. As seen, the packaging assembly includes a box 120 hinged 132 to a lid 130 having a hinged 134 lid flap 135 with a ribbon grip 136. Within the box is a container array 140 with containers 141 received by openings 234 in a rack 230.

FIG. 6 shows a side view 600 of the packaging assembly of FIG. 1A. As seen, the packaging assembly includes a box 120 having a wall 121 extending from a box base 122 wherein plural base edges protrude from the wall to form base lips 280. Hinged 132 with the box 120 is a box lid 130 including a hinged 134 lid flap 135 with a ribbon grip 136.

While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes in the form and details can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. As such, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. A packaging assembly comprising:

a transparent container including a cube shaped jar and a reusable container lid, the container having a footprint with dimensions c1×c2 and elevation with dimension c3;

the container lid having a rectangular sealing surface for mating with a rectangular jar mouth;

a plurality N of the containers spaced apart and arranged in a rectangular array having a footprint with dimensions a1×a2 and an elevation with dimension a3,

a box including a rectangular base having a footprint with dimensions b1×b2, an elevation with dimension b3, and a rectangular wall extending from the base;

the wall including first and second pairs of opposed panels joined end to end and having a footprint with dimensions w1×w2 and an elevation with dimension w3;

the array enclosed by and spaced apart from the wall;

the base footprint larger than the wall footprint such that base lips are formed by plural edges of the base that project beyond the wall;

a rectangular rack bearing on each of the panels of the first and second pairs of opposed panels; and,

the rack having a surface about parallel to the base, the rack surface having N openings removably and irrotatably receiving the N containers;

wherein the rack maintains a spaced apart relationship between the array and the wall and maintains the spaced apart relationship among the N containers.

2. The packaging assembly of claim 1 wherein the containers are bottom supported and have substantially the same elevation as the wall.

3. The packaging assembly of claim 2 wherein a wall footprint dimension is less than four times a container footprint dimension.

4. The packaging assembly of claim 3 wherein along an array diagonal there are fewer containers than along an array row.

5. The packaging assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

a container hinge that couples the jar and the lid.

6. The packaging assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

wall lips forming a box mouth; and, a box lid for closing the box when outermost edges of lid mate with the wall lips.

7. The packaging assembly of claim 6 further comprising:

a first box lid hinge that couples the box lid to the box; and,

a second box lid hinge that couples adjoining planar box lid sections.

8. The packaging assembly of claim 7 further comprising:

a ribbon attached near a box lid section lip for raising the lid.

9. The packaging assembly of claim 8 wherein the array is an N=8 container array arranged as a square 3×3 array but missing the central container.

10. The packaging assembly of claim 9 wherein the base and the lid are joined by a connecting panel.

11. The packaging assembly of claim 10 wherein the connecting panel is attached to a box wall panel.

12. The packaging assembly of claim 11 wherein a single sheet forms the lid, connecting panel, and base.

13. The packaging assembly of claim 12 wherein each of the footprints is a square.