Abstract:
A method and apparatus for packaging various products. The present invention provides a collapsible container having a plurality of side walls successively connected at fold lines there between. The side walls have a bottom end, whereby the side walls may fold into a collapsed position, wherein the side walls are substantially flat with respect to one another for ease of storage and shipping, and an erect position, wherein the side walls form an enclosure. A pair of interconnecting flaps and a bottom flap are integrally connected to the bottom end of at least one of the side walls along a fold line. The interconnecting flaps and bottom flap are foldable between the collapsed position, wherein the interconnecting flaps and bottom flap disengage one another to become substantially flat with the side walls, and the erect position, wherein the interconnecting flaps and bottom flap engage one another to form an enclosed end of the enclosure. Advertisements and promotional materials may be printed on the collapsible container for raising charitable donations.

Description:
[0001]     This application is related to, and claims the benefit of priority from, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/579,455, filed Jun. 14, 2004. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for packaging various products, and in particular, an apparatus for packing various products that folds between a collapsed position and an erect position, and a method for using the apparatus as a means for raising charitable funds.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Fragile or easily damaged goods are often damaged prior to the consumer making it home with the purchased goods. For instance, loaves of bread are often crushed when placed into a bag with other purchased products. This occurs when other goods within the bag come into contact with the bread during the consumer&#39;s trip from the store to their home. Such loaves of bread are typically packaged in a plastic bag which offers no structural protection to the loaf of bread. Rather, the loaf of bread is easily crushed upon any kind of significant force being applied to the bag.  
         [0004]     In order to protect such easily damaged goods, such as loaves of bread, manufacturers of such products would have to make a significant investment in providing different types of packaging. Not only would the packaging have to be altered, but all of the shipping containers would also have to be reconstructed. Displaying such products may also have to be changed in light of such new packaging. Supplemental or after-market packaging may also be considered, but such packaging is typically expensive and labor-intensive.  
         [0005]     It would be desirable to provide an inexpensive and simple apparatus and method that could protect easily damaged products, such as loaves of bread, from being damaged.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for packing various products. The apparatus of the present invention provides a collapsible container for storing and protecting various products, such as loaves of bread. The collapsible container of the present invention provides a plurality of sidewalls successively connected at fold lines there between. The side walls may fold between a collapsed position, wherein the side walls are substantially flat with respect to one another for ease of storage and shipping, and an erect position, wherein the side walls form an enclosure. A pair of interconnecting flaps are integrally connected along a fold line at a bottom end of at least one of the side walls. The interconnecting flaps are foldable between the collapsed position, wherein the interconnecting flaps disengage one another to become substantially flat with the side walls, and the erect position, wherein the interconnecting flaps engage one another to form a closed end of the enclosure. A bottom flap is integrally connected with the bottom end of at least one of the side walls along a fold line. The bottom flap is foldable between the collapsed position, wherein the bottom flap is substantially flat with the side walls, and an erect position, wherein the bottom flap overlies the interconnecting flaps to form the closed end of the enclosure. A side flap is integrally connected to one of the side walls along a fold line, and the side flap overlaps and connects to another of the side walls to form the enclosure.  
         [0007]     The present invention also discloses an illustrative figure, such as a doll, formed on at least one of the side walls. The side wall having the illustrative figure and/or the illustrative figure itself may be outlined by perforated lines such that the illustrative figure may be easily removed from the container. The illustrative figure may have a fold line such that the illustrative figure may be folded at an acute angle to stand the illustrative figure in an erect position. The side walls of the present invention may also provide for various forms of advertising and coupons.  
         [0008]     The method of the present invention includes steps of providing a collapsible container having a plurality of side walls connected at fold lines and a pair of interconnecting flaps and a bottom flap connected to at least one of said side walls at a fold line to form a bottom of said collapsible container, whereby said collapsible container folds between a collapsed position, wherein said collapsible container lies substantially flat for ease of storage and shipping, and an erect position, wherein said collapsible container forms an enclosure; charging advertisers an advertising fee to print advertising on said collapsible container; utilizing a portion of said advertising fee to pay for the manufacturing of the collapsible container; and donating another portion of the advertising fee to charity. The method may also include the step of paying a portion of the advertising fee to a retailer to distribute the collapsible container. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     The various other uses of the present invention will become more apparent by referring to the following detailed descriptions and drawings in which:  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is an unrolled view of the present invention showing portions of the interconnecting flaps not connected to one another.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a unrolled view of the present invention showing portions of the interconnecting flaps connected to one another.  
         [0012]      FIGS. 3-5  are successive perspective views of the interconnecting flaps of the present invention moving from the collapsed position to the erect position.  
         [0013]      FIG. 6A  is a perspective view of the collapsible container of the present invention in the erect position.  
         [0014]      FIG. 6B  is a perspective view of the collapsible container of the present invention in the collapsed position.  
         [0015]      FIG. 7  is a front view of the illustrative figure on the collapsible container of the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the folded illustrative figure on the collapsible container of the present invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0017]     Referring to the drawings, the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the disclosed embodiment.  
         [0018]      FIGS. 1-8  illustrate an apparatus and method of the present invention for packaging various products. The present invention provides a collapsible container  10  fabricated from a corrugated cardboard or any similar paperboard product or plastic that may be utilized to perform the same functions thereof. The corrugated cardboard of the collapsible container  10  is recyclable, thereby making the collapsible container  10  environmentally friendly. The collapsible container  10  of the present invention provides eight side walls  12  that are adjacently connected by fold lines  14 . Although the present invention is ideally suited for eight side walls  12 , the present invention is not limited to eight side walls  12 . Rather, the present invention may utilize any number of side walls  12  that provides the same advantages described in the following specification. The fold lines  14  allow the collapsible container  10  to fold in a collapsed position, wherein the side walls  12  are substantially flat with respect to one another, as seen in  FIG. 6B . By folding the side walls  12  of the collapsible container  10  into a substantially flat position, the collapsible container  10  can easily be stored and shipped by utilizing a minimum amount of space. The side walls  12  of the collapsible container  10  may also fold into an erect position, wherein the side walls  12  form an open-ended, octagonal enclosure  16 , as shown in  FIG. 6A . A pair of interconnecting flaps  18 ,  20  and a bottom flap  22  fold together to form a bottom  24  of the enclosure  16 , as will be described in detail later in this specification. An open end  25  of the enclosure  16  may receive and protect various items, such as a loaf of bread, when the collapsible container  10  is in the erect position. Although the collapsible container  10  of the present invention is ideally suited for loaves of bread, the present invention is not limited to receiving and protecting loaves of bread, but rather, other products such as cookies, eggs, small bags of chips, and any other items that might fit into the enclosure  16  may also be utilized. The octagonal shape of the collapsible container  10  provides a number of functional advantages over other geometric shapes. For instance, the octagonal shape of the collapsible container  10  allows for the reception of various shapes and styles of bread loaves, including french, round, sliced, etc. The octagonal shape of the enclosure  16  also allows the collapsible container  10  to flex and adjust to receive a variety of different shaped products. In addition, the octagonal shape of the collapsible container  10  avoids the use of sharp corners, thereby making it less likely that the corners will poke any of the products held in the enclosure  16 .  
         [0019]     To create the collapsible container  10 , a blank sheet of paperboard  26  is utilized, as seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Eight substantially rectangular side walls  20  are formed and defined by the fold lines  14 . The fold lines  14  may or may not be perforated. Four of the side walls  12  have a first width  28 , and four of the side walls  12  have a second width  30  wherein the second width side walls  30  are wider than the first width side walls  28 . The first width side walls  28  and the second width side walls  30  successively alternate along the paperboard  26 . A side flap  32  is integrally connected by a fold line  34  to a second width side wall  30  on one end of the paperboard blank  26 . The side flap  32  is substantially rectangular with tapered ends  33 . The side flap  32  overlaps and is connected to a first width side wall  20  at the opposite end of the paperboard blank  26 . Side flap  32  is connected to the first width side wall  28  through the use of a conventional adhesive. When the side flap  32  is connected to the first width side wall  28 , the side walls  12  take on the form of the enclosure  16 , as shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B .  
         [0020]     To form the bottom  24  of the enclosure  16 , the interconnecting flaps  18 ,  20  and the bottom flap  22  are integrally connected to a bottom end  36  of the side walls  12  at a fold line  38 . Interconnecting flap  18  has a substantially rectangular first portion  18   a  which extends from one of the second width side walls  30  and a second hook-shaped portion  18   b  which extends from one of the first width side walls  28 , as seen in  FIG. 1 . Interconnecting flap  20  is similar in that it has a substantially rectangular first portion  20   a  which extends from one of the second width side walls  30  and a second hook-shaped portion  20   b  which extends from one of the first width side walls  28 . Prior to assembling the enclosure  16 , the first and second portions  18   a - b,    20   a - b  of interconnecting flaps  18 ,  20  are adhesively connected, as seen in  FIG. 2 . The bottom flap  22  extends from one of the second width side walls  30 , as seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 .  
         [0021]     When moving from the collapsed position to the erect position, the interconnecting flaps  18 ,  20  and the bottom flap  22  fold inside the enclosure  16  and lay in a substantially flat position, as shown in  FIG. 6B . Upon applying pressure to the sides of the collapsible container  12 , interconnecting flaps  18 ,  20  begin to move outwardly and downwardly toward the bottom  24  of the enclosure  16 , as seen in  FIGS. 3-5 . The user reaches down through the open end of the enclosure  16  and applies downward pressure to the bottom flap  22 . The interconnecting flaps  18 ,  20  have their hook-shaped portions  18   b,    20   b  engage one another in an overlapping, interlocking fashion so as to interconnect with one another, as seen in  FIG. 5 . A first portion  22   a  of the bottom flap  22  overlies the interconnecting flaps  18 ,  20  to form the bottom  24  of the enclosure  16 . A second portion  22   b  of the bottom flap  22  folds upwardly adjacent one of the second width side walls  30  to stabilize the bottom flap  22  in the erect position of the collapsible container  10 .  
         [0022]     Lastly, an aperture  50  may extend through one of the first width side walls  28  of the collapsible container  10 . Although the present invention only illustrates one aperture  50  extending through the first width side wall  28 , any number of apertures  50  may be utilized through any of the side walls  12 . The aperture  50  may be utilized for grasping the collapsible container  10  by placing a user&#39;s finger through the aperture  50 . In addition, the collapsible container  10  may be supported or hung by placing a hook or hanger through the aperture  50  in the first width side wall  28 .  
         [0023]     The outside surface of the collapsible container  10  may have various illustrative  FIGS. 40 , such as dolls  42 , formed on the first width side walls  28  of the collapsible container  10 . Although the present invention is ideally suited for the use of dolls  42  as illustrative  FIGS. 40 , the present invention is not limited to dolls  42  as illustrative  FIGS. 40 , but rather, the present invention may include any type of illustrative FIGS.  40  that may be considered educational, informative, entertaining, or collectible. As in the case of dolls  42  as illustrative  FIGS. 40 , dolls  42  from various countries may be dressed in full color costume representing an individual country or culture. The dolls  42  may also be illustrated with their country flag  44  and various country facts  46  related to the particular country for which the flag  44  and doll  42  represent, as seen in  FIGS. 7-8 . As previously noted, perforations may be provided along the fold lines defined in the first width side walls  28  such that the dolls  42 , flag  44 , and country facts  46  may be easily removed from the collapsible container  10 . Perforations may also be provided around the upper portion of the doll  42  to further make removal of the doll  42  from the collapsible container  10  easier. The perforations may also extend just below the country facts  46  so as to maintain the integrity of the collapsible container  10  upon the removal of the dolls  42 . A fold line  48  is also provided on the first width side walls  28  such that when the dolls  42  are removed from the collapsible container  10 , the first width side wall  28  may be folded along the fold line  48  to position the dolls  42  in an erect position, as seen in  FIG. 8 . The dolls  42  may also be left unfolded, as seen in  FIG. 7 , to act as a bookmarker, a trading card, or as an arts and craft item for use in a mobile, school fund raiser, etc.  
         [0024]     The collapsible container  10  may also be utilized to present various forms of advertisement. The size of the collapsible container  10  is proportionally adjustable to make advertising billboard space larger. Various advertisements for various products may be printed on the second width side walls  30  of the collapsible container  10 . In addition, coupons, game pieces, or giveaways may be printed on either of the first or second width side walls  28 ,  30  of the collapsible container  10 . Perforated lines may be utilized to outline the coupons, game pieces, or giveaways in order to make removal of the coupons, game pieces, or giveaways easier from the side walls  12 . The collapsible container  10  may also contain health and nutritional information, public service announcements, and healthy living promotions.  
         [0025]     The collapsible container  10  is designed to create a greater cultural awareness and understanding in children by using international costumes on the dolls  42  appearing on the collapsible container  10 . The present invention is designed as an apparatus and method for promoting and generating charitable contributions for children&#39;s causes. The method to achieve this goal includes soliciting advertisers/sponsors and/or solicit supermarkets or retailers as advertisers and distributors of the collapsible container  10 . The advertisers/sponsors pay an advertising fee and a portion of the advertising fee is applied to the manufacture and/or distribution of the collapsible containers  10 . Another portion of the advertising fee is directed to charity programs that benefit children. In return, the advertisers/sponsors receive printed advertisements on the collapsible container  10 , or the advertisers/sponsors may receive printed recognition on the outside of the collapsible container  10 . By doing so, the advertisers/sponsors and supermarkets/retailers benefit from being associated with a “good cause.” Supermarkets are solicited for distribution and for use to package their purchased bread products, as well as other various products. Supermarkets may be paid to use and/or distribute the collapsible containers  10  from the advertising fees derived from the advertisers/sponsors. The collapsible containers  10  are manufactured and printed with paid advertisements, illustrative figures, and other promotional and educational information printed on the side walls  12 .  
         [0026]     The collapsible containers  10  are distributed to supermarkets for distribution to the public with every purchase of bread, or other various products, either at the cashier, in a display near the cashier, and/or near the various products packaged in the collapsible container  10  at the discretion of the supermarket. The public is enticed to purchase additional products with the collapsible containers  10  and increase awareness of advertisers/sponsors and supermarkets/retailers through free distribution of the collapsible container  10  having collectable items (illustrative figures); advertised giveaways; promotions; incentives to visit web sites of advertisers/sponsors, supermarkets, and charity institutions; information about poverty, world hunger, and the ongoing needs of children around the world printed on the collapsible container  10 . The present invention is not limited to supermarkets distributing the collapsible container  10 , but rather, any entity, organization, or retailer that is in a position to distribute the collapsible container  10 , such as department stores, newspapers, fund raisers, etc., may do so.  
         [0027]     The apparatus and method of the present invention is aimed at helping achieve peace and prosperity for people worldwide by helping to solve problems of children and their families, including hunger, poverty, disease, lack of clean water, lack of education, and the absence of sustainable programs that would promote independence and freedom. Profits will be advocated to children&#39;s causes, education, increased public awareness, and programs for children to connect with each other in order to work on solutions to the world&#39;s problems and become positive citizens of the world. The present invention is not limited to children&#39;s causes, but rather, the apparatus and method of the present invention may be utilized to raise funds for variable charitable causes having similar objectives, as noted above.  
         [0028]     In operation, the collapsible container  10  is typically stored in the collapsed position, as seen in  FIG. 6B . When the collapsible container  10  is to be used, pressure is applied to the outer surfaces of the side walls  12  of the collapsible container  10  in order to form the side walls  12  into the enclosure  16 . The interconnecting flaps  18 ,  20  and the bottom flap  22  begin moving inwardly and downwardly toward the bottom  24  of the enclosure  16 . A user inserts his hand through the open end of the enclosure  16  and pushes the bottom flap  22  downward toward the interconnecting flaps  18 ,  20  such that the interconnecting flaps  18 ,  20  engage one another in an overlapping and interlocking fashion. The collapsible container  10  is then ready for use, and any of the previously mentioned products may then be inserted into the enclosure  16  for their containment and protection. The collapsible container  10  may be utilized in a horizontal position whereby the collapsible container  10  lies on one of the side walls  12 , or the collapsible container  10  may be utilized in a vertical position whereby the collapsible container  10  stands on its bottom  24 . In addition, pressure may be applied to the side walls  12  of the container  12  to have the container  12  flex and adjust to the side of the product being held by the container  10 .  
         [0029]     While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but to the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications or equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. The scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures as is permitted under the law.