Abstract:
A package for holding and displaying items fo retail sale, comprises a central panel to which items may be affixed, left and right side panels extending from the central panel, a top panel extending from the central panel, and a bottom panel extending from the central panel. Each of the left, right, top and bottom panels are foldable over the central panel to surround an item, wherein one or more of the left, right, top and bottom panels are shaped or ornamented to present a decorative design.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to the field of packaging. In particular, the present invention relates to a novel package that is constructed in such a manner that in an unfolded, or open condition, it is an attractive or novelty display, and in a folded condition, it is a secure package.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention is, in its most basic form, a foldable envelope with very little depth. An insert may be combined with the foldable envelope to provide a package with sufficient depth for packaging a jewellery item such as a pair of ear rings, or a locket and chain.  
         [0003]     Envelopes for holding small items such as jewellery are well known in the art. Typically, the envelope will comprise a foldable blank having a central panel that is the back of the envelope. A front panel depends from the lower edge of the central panel, to be folded up onto it. Side panels depend from the side edges of the central panel, for adhesive or mechanical fixation to the front panel after it is folded over onto the central panel. A top flap depends from the top edge of the central panel, for adhesive or mechanical fixation to the front panel, to close the envelope. An example of such an envelope is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,326,390 dated Aug. 10 th , 1943 to Platt. Variants of this general design have proliferated over the years, directed primarily to structural modifications desirable for packaging specific items.  
         [0004]     For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,823,333 dated Oct. 20 th , 1998 to Mori shows a package of the sort described with bellows shaped side panels, for accommodating disk type recording media.  
         [0005]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,255,785 dated Oct. 26 th , 1993 to Mackey shows a package of the sort described with top flaps depending from the front and central panels, for added security and strength.  
         [0006]     U.S. Pat. No. 2,676,699 dated Apr. 27 th , 1954 to Friedman shows a carton with a front panel, a central panel that may be double thickness and a rear panel. The front panel is provided with apertures to view a pair of ear rings, whereby the carton is useful for display and packaging.  
         [0007]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,053,399 dated Apr. 25 th , 2000 shows a double flap pocket mailer and envelope that opens to an attractive valentine shape when it is held on the diagonal. It is not, however, designed to display an object in the open position.  
       OBJECT OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     The object of the present invention is to provide a package fabricated from a foldable blank that, in an open position presents an attractive display to catch the eye of the consumer.  
         [0009]     The package of the present invention is composed of panels that fold together in a manner similar to that know in the prior art to provide a secure container, but which present an attractive appearance in an unfolded condition. In this way, a product, such as a pair of ear rings can be displayed in its packaging, and when it is sold, the retailer need only fold the packaging inwardly to create a container. Currently, products like ear rings or jewellery are displayed on cards or holders that have to be transferred to boxes when sold. Furthermore, since the cards on which jewellery items are currently displayed are usually quite small, they tend to be easy to steal, resulting in loss to the retailer. By using the present invention, which displays the same product in a large, unfolded container that doubles as an attractive display, the retailer will also be discouraging theft, since the large unfolded container will be more difficult to steal than a small card with a pair of ear rings on it.  
         [0010]     Preferably, moreover, an appropriate jewellery mounting card is affixed to the central panel of the display and packaging device of the subject invention.  
         [0011]     In a broad aspect, then, the present invention relates to a package for holding and displaying items for retail sale, comprising a central panel to which said items are affixed, left and right side panels extending from said central panel, a top panel extending from said central panel, and a bottom panel extending from said central panel, each of said left, right, top and bottom panels being foldable over said central panel to surround said item, wherein one or more of said left, right, top and bottom panels are shaped or ornamented to present a decorative design. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]     In drawings that illustrate the present invention by way of example:  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of a package blank according to the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of the blank of  FIG. 1  with a jewellery mounting card attached thereto;  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is a front view of the blank of  FIG. 2  with the side panels folded in;  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  is a front view of the blank of  FIG. 2  with the side and bottom panels folded in;  
         [0017]      FIG. 5  is a front view of the blank of  FIG. 2  with the side, bottom and top panels folded in;  
         [0018]      FIGS. 6, 7  and  8  are plan view of package blanks similar to  FIG. 1 , but cut to different shapes;  
         [0019]      FIG. 9  is a plan view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0020]      FIG. 10  is a folded and tied view of the embodiment of  FIG. 9 ;  
         [0021]      FIG. 11  is a plan view of a further alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0022]     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a foldable blank is shown, shaped like a maple leaf. The blank includes a central panel  1  that will become the rear wall of the finished package. This central panel is rectangular, and preferably has a jewellery holding means, such as an ear ring card  11 , mounted in it. The card  11 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , may be substantially congruent to the central panel  1 , adhesively affixed to the lower are thereof. This permits the card  11  to be easily flexed outwardly away from the central panel  11 , thereby to permit access to the jewellery, in this case ear rings, mounted on the card.  
         [0023]     Typically, the earrings are mounted on the card with their pins extending through holes in the card, keepers affixed behind the card onto the pins, and the decorative portion of the ear rings visible on the front of the card.  
         [0024]     It will be understood, however, that the device of the present invention may be made an appropriate size to package larger items like silk scarves. In such cases, appropriate mounting devices are affixed to central panel  1 .  
         [0025]     Upper side panels  2  extend to the left and right of the central panel, joined to the central panel by fold lines  6 . Upper side panels  2  are decoratively cut, and will preferably (but not necessarily) be each at least half as wide (i.e., as wide in total) as the central panel  1 , so that when they are folded over onto the central panel, they overlap each other to securely hold the contents of the container against central panel  1 .  
         [0026]     A lower bottom panel  3  is joined to the lower edge of central panel  1 , either directly, or by lower depth panel  12 . Lower depth panel  12  is joined to the central panel  1  and upper side panels  2  along fold lines  7 . Lower depth panel  12  is, moreover, joined to bottom panel  3  by fold line  8 . Lower side panels  4  extend from the left and right of bottom panel  3 , joined thereto along fold lines  6 .  
         [0027]     Lower depth panel also separates upper  2  and lower  4  side panels, and is joined thereto by fold lines  7 , 8  respectively.  
         [0028]     Bottom panel  3  may have a slot or slots  14  or other fastening opening in it. Slot  14  is adapted to receive a tab  15  in upper panel  5 . Upper panel  5  extends upwardly from central panel  1 , and may be separated from same by upper depth panel  13 . Upper depth panel  13  is joined to the upper  5  and central  1  panels by fold lines  10 ,  9  respectively. It will be understood, moreover, that upper side panels, similar to lower side panels, may be provided, if the shape of the display requires it.  
         [0029]     Moreover, upper panel  5  may be bent back from central panel  1 , while bottom panel  3  is bent back from central panel  1 , so that tab  15  engages slot  14  behind the central panel  1 . In this way, the device may be hung over a wire rod simply and effectively, by threading the wire rod between the upper panel  5  and the central panel  1 .  
         [0030]     A hanging aperture is preferably provided at the upper end of upper panel  5  in the tab  15  portion of same.  
         [0031]     As can be seen from  FIGS. 3, 4  and  5 , the package of the present invention is used and assembled as follows: 
        i) The article for sale, e.g., ear rings, is displayed on the unfolded blank, attractively set, and provided with appropriate graphics on its face. It will be understood that the ear ring card shown may be substituted with any other appropriate, known carrier, such as a clip for holding a pendant, or chain.     ii) The selected package then has the side panels  2 / 4  folded inwardly over central and lower panels  1 , 3  along fold lines  6 , as shown in  FIG. 3 .     iii): The lower panel  3  is then folded up along fold lines  7 , 8  so that it then lies parallel to central panel  1 , separated therefrom by lower depth panel  12  ( FIG. 4 ). The reason depth panel is provided is to allow for some product depth. While there will be some bulging of side panels  2  over the product, any such bulging is covered by the bottom and top panels, which will lie fairly flat, because of depth panels  12 ,  13 .     iv) Top panel  5  is then folded down along fold lines  9 ,  10  to overlie bottom panel  3 , and tab  15  is inserted into slot  14 . It will be understood that other closure means may be provided. For instance, tab  15  may be provided with a wettable adhesive, or a pressure sensitive adhesive covered with a release sheet.        
 
         [0036]     Referring now to  FIGS. 6, 7  and  8 , other exemplary shapes are shown for the packaging and display device of the present invention.  
         [0037]     Now, it will be understood that the blanks and packages shown in  FIGS. 1-8  are preferably made from cardboard or other heavy paper, but may be made from foldable plastic, foil, or other suitable material.  
         [0038]     In  FIGS. 9, 10  and  11 , two embodiments that are preferably made from suede, leather or a heavy fabric like felt are shown. These embodiments are preferably, but not necessarily provided with slits  17  through which a cord, such as an elasticized fabric cord  18  may be looped, to extend from the back surface of the blank. When the blank is folded into a package, as shown in  FIG. 10 , the cord can be quickly looped around the package twice, as shown, to achieve a secure, attractive package.  
         [0039]     Moreover, as shown in  FIG. 11 , holes  19  may be provided on each side of slits  17 , so that a cord may be threaded through the holes and slits, and jewellery pieces, such as earrings, being on the cord.  
         [0040]     It is to be understood that the examples described above are not meant to limit the scope of the present invention. It is expected that the numerous variants will be obvious to a person skilled in the art of packaging design without any departure from the spirit of the invention. The appended claims, properly construed, form the only limitation upon the scope of the invention.