Abstract:
The present invention is directed toward a blank of material configured to form a storage/display container. The blank includes fold lines at predetermined locations to provide panels selectively foldable into a predetermined configuration. Specifically, the blank forms a container having a pedestal, a tower, and a lid hinged to the tower. The container defines a cavity in which items are selectively stored and accessed. The container, moreover, may function as a component of an award given to an award recipient. In one embodiment, the container is stylized as a trophy housing items related to an accomplishment or an occasion reached by the recipient.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/979,462 filed 12 Oct. 2007 and entitled “Trophy Box and Method of Making Same”, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a single piece container blank and a container formed from the blank that is capable of holding a variety of items. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A typical foldable box is formed from a box blank with folding lines formed therein. The folding lines may include perforations, indentations, slits, scoring, cuts, or any other lines that weaken the integrity of the box blank to enable folding at the weakened lines. Such box blanks are usually cut or stamped from a flat sheet of cardboard. The die used to stamp the blank also scores the blank along selected lines to enable folding of the blank along the scores and, as such, enabling the creation of the finished container. Some examples of known foldable containers include a pizza box and a milk carton. 
     While these conventional boxes are appropriate for storing and protecting an item during transport, these boxes have limited usefulness, being discarded once the item has been removed. Thus, it would be desirable to provide a container that is aesthetically pleasing, may be customized by a user, as well as is capable of storing and displaying items. It would further be desirable to provide a single piece container blank configured to fold into such a container. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed toward a container blank configured to form a storage/display container. The blank includes a single sheet of material with fold lines disposed at selected locations, forming panels that are selectively foldable into a predetermined configuration. Specifically, the blank forms a container having a pedestal, a tower, and a lid hinged to the tower. The container defines a cavity in which items are selectively stored and accessed. The container, moreover, may resemble a trophy such that it functions as an award given to an award recipient at an award occasion. The container may further house items related to the award occasion, and may be decorated in a manner corresponding to the occasion. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a plan view of a blank for a container in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of the blank of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIGS. 3-4  illustrate perspective views of the blank shown of  FIG. 1 , showing folding of the tower section along fold lines to from the tower of the container. 
         FIGS. 5-7  illustrate perspective views of the blank shown of  FIG. 1 , showing folding of the pedestal section along fold lines to form the pedestal of the container. 
         FIGS. 8-10  illustrate perspective views of the blank shown of  FIG. 1 , showing folding of the lid section along fold lines to form the lid of the container. 
         FIGS. 11-12  illustrate perspective views of a container in accordance with the embodiment of the invention resulting from the blank shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     Like reference numerals have been used to identify like elements throughout this disclosure. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a top plan view of a blank  10  in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The one-piece blank  10  is configured to fold into a container having a lid, a tower, and a pedestal or base. In a preferred embodiment, the container is stylized as a trophy having wide base that supports the tower in a generally upright orientation. The blank  10  is preferably constructed from a single piece of formable material including, but not limited to, sheets of cardboard, fiberboard, containerboard, corrugated containerboard, and paperboard. The blank  10  is cut, scored, perforated or otherwise formed with weakened lines to define panels that fold to form the display container. In the figures, cut lines are shown as solid lines and scored/weakened lines as dashed/broken lines. 
     The blank  10  includes a lid section  100 , a tower section  200 , and a pedestal or base section  300 . The lid section  100  is hinged to the tower section  200  via fold/score line A. Similarly, the tower section  100  is hinged to the pedestal section  300  via fold/score line B. The lid section  100  forms the lid of the container and, in particular, the lid of the tower. The lid section  100  includes a central lid panel  105 , a first or left lid panel  110 A, a second or right lid panel  110 B, and a third or front lid panel  110 C. Each panel  110 A,  110 B,  110 C is formed of folding panel portions. Specifically, the left panel  110 A includes a proximal or side panel portion  120 , an intermediate panel portion  125 , and a distal or end panel portion  130 . The proximal panel portion  120  is coupled to the central panel portion  105  via fold line A 1 . The proximal panel portion  120 , in turn, is connected to the intermediate panel portion  125  via fold/score line C, and the distal panel portion  130  is connected to the intermediate panel portion  125  via fold/score line D. Similarly, the right panel  110 B includes a proximal or side panel portion  120 , an intermediate panel portion  125 , and a distal or end panel portion  130 . The panel portions  120 ,  125 ,  130  are similarly hinged via fold lines A 1 , C, and D, respectively. 
     The proximal panel portions  120  further include a flap  140  hinged thereto via a fold/score line E. The flaps  140  are captured by portions of the front lid panel  110 C when folded, securing the left  110 A and right  110 B lid panels to the front lid panel, as well as reinforcing the front lid panel. The distal panel portions  130  may also include a pressure tab  135  that frictionally engages the center panel  105  when folded, supporting the wall of the lid when formed. As illustrated, the distal panel portions  130  of the left  110 A and right  110 B panels may be tapered along their upper edges (from the viewpoint of  FIG. 1 ). 
     The front lid panel  110 C includes a proximal panel portion  145  connected to the central panel portion  105  via fold/score line A 2 , which, in turn, is connected to an intermediate panel portion  150  along fold/score line F. An end or distal panel portion  155  is connected to the intermediate panel portion  150  via fold/score line G. The distal panel portion  155  may further include a pressure tab  160  extending distally from the panel portion similar to that described above. 
     The tower section  200  folds to define a compartment operable to receive one or more items. As shown, the tower section  200  includes a first or rear tower panel  210 , a second or left tower panel  220 , a third or front tower panel  230 , and a fourth or right tower panel  240 . The rear tower panel  210  and the left tower panel  220  are hinged along fold/score line H. The left tower panel  220  and the front tower panel  230  are connected along score line I, while the front tower panel and the right tower panel  240  are connected via score/fold line J. The fourth tower panel  240  is further hinged to a tower end flap  250  via fold line K. The tower end flap  250  may include a fastener that, when folded, engages the interior surface of the rear tower panel  210 . The fastener may include, but is not limited to, a double sided adhesive strip (seen in  FIG. 3 ). 
     The rear tower panel  210  may be a generally T-shaped structure, with the top of the “T” hinged to the pedestal section  300 . The rear tower panel  210  further includes a first slot  260 A and a second slot  260 B disposed in spaced relation along fold line B. The slots  260 A,  260 B are aligned and configured to receive tabs  385 A  385 B of the pedestal section  300  (discussed in greater detail below). 
     The shape and dimensions of the tower panels  210 ,  220 ,  230 ,  240  are not particularly limited. As illustrated, the rear tower panel  210  and the front tower  230  panels may have similar lengths, possessing a length greater than that of the left  220  and right  240  tower panels, which are also similarly sized. The bottom edge of the front panel  230 , moreover, is sized and shaped to mate with a slot  325  formed in the pedestal section  300  (discussed in greater detail below). While generally rectangular panels are shown, it should be understood other shapes (polygons, circles, etc. may form the tower panels  210 ,  220 ,  230 ,  240 . 
     The pedestal section  300  forms a base operable to support the tower section  200  in a generally upright orientation. As shown, the pedestal section  300  includes a central pedestal panel  305 , a first or left pedestal panel  310 A, a second or right pedestal panel  310 B, and a third or top pedestal panel  315 . The central pedestal panel  305  includes a first or left notch  320 A and second or right notch  320 B generally centrally situated and oriented in opposed relation. The central panel  305  further includes an elongated slot  325  having a median groove  330  and a longitudinal groove  335 . As noted above, the longitudinal groove  335  is configured to receive the bottom edge of the front tower panel  230 . 
     The left panel  310 A includes a proximal panel portion  340  hinged to the central panel  305  via fold/score line L, an intermediate panel portion  345  hinged to the proximal panel portion  340  via fold/score line M, and an end or distal panel portion  350  connected to the intermediate panel portion  345  via fold/score line N. The distal panel portion  350  may further include a left locking tab  355 A operable to mate with the first notch  320 A formed into the central panel  305 . In addition, the proximal panel portion  340  includes a flap  360  foldable along fold/score line P. 
     Similarly, the right panel  310 B includes a proximal panel portion  340  connected to the center panel  305  via fold/score line L, an intermediate panel portion  345  connected to the side panel portion  340  via fold/score line M, and a distal or end panel portion  350  connected to the intermediate panel portion  345  via fold/score line N. The distal panel portion  350  may further include a right locking tab  355 B operable to mate with the second notch  320 B formed into the central panel  305 . In addition, the side panel portion  340  includes a flap  360  hinged along fold/score line P. 
     The top panel  315  may possess a generally U-shaped structure having a first arm, a medial portion, and a second arm. Specifically, the top wall  315  includes a proximal panel portion  365  hinged to the central panel  305  via fold/score line Q, an intermediate panel portion  370  hinged to the proximal panel portion  365  via fold/score line S, and a distal panel portion  375  hinged to the intermediate panel portion  370  via score line T. The intermediate  370  and distal  375  panel portions include a cut-out area that defines a first arm  380 A and a second arm  380 B, each having a tab  385 A,  385 B extending distally therefrom. The tabs  385 A,  385 B are aligned with and configured to be received by the first slot  260 A and the second slot  260 B of the rear tower panel  210 , respectively (discussed in greater detail below). 
     The intermediate panel portion  370  further includes a flap  390  foldable via fold/score line V (i.e., the flap  390  is disposed within the well of the “U”). The flap  390  includes a flap tab  395  aligned with and configured to be received by the elongated slot  325  formed into the center wall  305 . Specifically, the flap tab  390  is received within the median groove  330  of the elongated slot  325 . 
       FIGS. 2-6  illustrate the formation of the container from the blank  10 . It should be understood that the blank  10  may be formed utilizing manual or mechanical means such as a mechanical box erecting equipment, either wholly or partially. In a preferred embodiment, the container is formed by hand. 
       FIGS. 2-6  show perspective views of the folding blank illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the tower section  200  is formed by pivoting the left panel  220  about fold line H, orienting the end flap  250  adjacent the rear panel  210 , and folding the tower panels  210 ,  220 ,  230 ,  240  along their respective fold lines H, I, J, K. When the fastener disposed along the end flap  250  is a piece of double-sided tape  410  having a releasable liner  420 , the liner may be removed prior to connecting the end flap  250  to the rear wall  210 . Once connected, the tower defines a chamber/channel into which items may be inserted. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the blank  10  may then be folded along fold line B, rotating the tower section  200  upward. As noted above, the lower edge of the front tower panel  230  mates with the longitudinal groove  335  of the slot  325  formed into the central pedestal panel  305 , securing the tower upright. The resulting tower possesses a generally rectangular shape, with left and right side walls oriented between the notches  320 A,  320 B formed into the central panel  305  of the pedestal section  300 . 
     Next, the pedestal of the container is formed. Referring to  FIG. 5 , the left panel  310 A is folded to form a left pedestal box. Specifically, the pedestal flap  360  is folded along fold line P such that is oriented generally orthogonal to the proximal panel portion  340 . The left panel  310 A is then pivoted about fold line L, folding the intermediate panel portion  345  and the distal panel portion  350  about respective along their respective fold lines M, N. The left locking tab  355 A extending distally from the distal panel portion  350  is inserted into the first notch  320 A, securely positioning the end panel portion  350  adjacent the left panel  220  of the tower and forming a generally rectangular pedestal box. 
     Similarly, the right pedestal panel  310 B is folded to form a right pedestal box. That is, the flap  360  is folded along fold line P such that is oriented generally orthogonal to the proximal panel portion  340 . The right pedestal panel  310 B is pivoted about fold line L, folding the intermediate panel portion  345  and the distal panel portion  350  about along their respective fold lines M, N. The right locking tab  355 B extending distally from the distal panel portion  350  is inserted into the second notch  320 B, securely positioning the end panel portion  350  adjacent the right panel  240  of the tower and forming a generally rectangular pedestal box. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , the top panel  315  is then folded along fold lines Q, S, T to wrap the top panel around the top of the pedestal boxes. Specifically, the top wall  315  is rotated upward (indicated by arrow  600 ), toward the tower such that the first arm  380 A is folded over the left pedestal box and the second arm  380 B is folded over the right pedestal box. The flap  390  is folded about fold line V such that the flap tab  395  is inserted into the median groove  330  of the elongate slot  325  formed in the central panel  305 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the arms  380 A,  380 B are folded to orient the distal panel portions  375 A,  375 B adjacent the back of the pedestal boxes. The first tab  385 A is folded along fold line W and inserted into the first slot  260 A, while the second tab  385 B is folded along fold line W and inserted into the second slot  260 B. In this manner, the pedestal sufficient to support the tower upright (even when filled) is formed. 
     Next, the lid of the container may be formed. Referring to  FIG. 8 , the lid section  100  is folded along fold line A. The lid flaps  140  are folded along fold line E such that the flaps are oriented generally orthogonal to their respective proximal panel portions  120  (indicated by arrow  800 ). Each proximal panel portion  120  is then folded along fold line A 1  to orient the left and right lid panels  110 A,  110 B generally transverse to the central panel  105  (indicated by arrow  810 ). 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , the front panel  110 C is then folded along fold line A 2  such that it is generally transverse to central panel  105  (indicated by arrow  900 ). The distal panel portion  155  and the intermediate panel portion  150  are folded along fold lines F and G, respectively, wrapping the panel portions around the lid flaps  140 . Similarly, as shown in  FIG. 10 , the distal panel portions  130  of the left lid panel  110 A and the right lid panel  110 B are folded along fold lines C, D (indicated by arrow  1000 ). In this manner, the lid is formed. As noted above, the pressure tabs  135 ,  160  extending distally from the distal portion  130 ,  155  of the lid panels  110 A,  100 B,  110 C frictionally engage the surface of the central panel  105 , securing the lid walls in place. Alternatively notches, grooves or slots may be formed into the surface of the central panel  105  that are configured to receive the pressure tabs  135 ,  160 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the blank  10  is shown in its folded form, providing a container  1100  having a lid hinged along fold line A 2  (indicated by arrow  1110 ) such that it may selectively cover the chamber of the tower. 
     The resulting container  1100  may be utilized to store/display items. In a particular embodiment, the container may be stylized as a trophy presented in honor of an accomplishment or an occasion reached by the recipient. For example, the exterior surface of the container may be coated with metallic paint or ink. The exterior surfaces of the container may be personalized by having photographs, designs, or holograms relevant to the recipient, imprinted or otherwise placed thereon. 
     The trophy may serve as a container for items to be given to the trophy recipient. The items in the container typically pertain to the recipient&#39;s interests or to an accomplishment achieved by the recipient. For example, for a golfer on the occasion of his/her birthday, or in recognition of a tournament win, the container may be filled with golf balls, tees, golf shoes, gift certificates, etc. By way of further example, for a child&#39;s birthday party, the items in the container may be toys, games, candy, clothes, etc. 
     A conventional type of award symbol, such as a cup, figurine, or plaque, with a theme personalized for the user, may be secured at the top of the container (i.e., to the lid) to signify the occasion and serve as a keepsake for the recipient. The symbol would range in size and height as determined by the occasion. 
     The blank  10  may be a component of a kit including the blank and a set of instructions that instruct a user on how to form the container from the blank. The kit may further include items suitable to decorate the container/blank, including (but not limited to) markers, glitter, paint, crayons, pencils, inkjet printing, decorative paper, wrapping paper, etc. 
     While the invention has been described in detail and with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. For example, the blank  10  may possess any number of panels having any shape and dimensions suitable for its described purpose. The blank  10  may be formed of any suitable material, and the container may be printed or decorated utilizing conventional mechanisms. Similarly, the lid section  100 , the tower section  200 , the pedestal section  300  may possess any suitable shape or dimensions. Each section  100 ,  200 ,  300 , moreover, may possess any number of panel portions, slots, grooves, and tabs. For example, while the entire front panel  230  of the tower section is shown to extend into longitudinal groove of the elongated slot  325 , the front panel may be include a tab extending distally from the panel, with the longitudinal groove being sized accordingly (e.g., shortened in length to be comparable to the size of the tab). The container  1100  may store/display any number and/or type of items. 
     Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. It is to be understood that terms such as “top”, “bottom”, “front”, “rear”, “side”, “height”, “length”, “width”, “upper”, “lower”, “interior”, “exterior”, and the like as may be used herein, merely describe points of reference and do not limit the present invention to any particular orientation or configuration.