Abstract:
A folding paperboard gift box having a generally square or rectangular cross section enclosure formed by four wall panels and closed at both ends by suitable end closures, which may constitute interconnecting end panels. Hingedly attached to one of these panels is a decorative design element. Upon the setting up or squaring or the closing of the box, this design element becomes spaced-apart from the surface of the panel from which it is attached and thus stands out prominently as a part of the completed box.

Description:
The present invention relates to foldable paperboard gift boxes, and more particularly to a gift box of this general type wherein a separate design panel stands apart from the box itself and is displayed exterior of the set-up gift box. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A variety of gift boxes are provided to customers which are used for holiday gifts, birthday gifts, anniversary gifts and the like. Decorative gift boxes obviate the need to have a box separately gift-wrapped, and thus, it may be advantageous in convincing customers to make a purchase of merchandise in a store which provides a novel gift box. Competing stores are always on the lookout for more attractive gift boxes, particularly during the holiday season when the purchase of gifts increases significantly. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention provides a folding paperboard gift box having a generally square or rectangular cross section enclosure formed of four wall panels, which is closed at both ends by suitable end closures, each of which can constitute a plurality of end panels. Hingedly attached to one of these panels is a decorative design which, upon the setting up or squaring or the closing of the box, becomes spaced-apart from the surface of the panel from which it is attached and thus stands out prominently as a part of the completed box. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a gift box embodying various features of the invention, shown in its set-up, closed condition; 
     FIG. 2 is a side sectional view, enlarged in size, taken generally along the line 2--2 of the FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view, enlarged in size, taken generally along the line 3--3 of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another gift box generally similar to that shown in FIG. 1 and having various features of the invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a side view, enlarged in size, of the box shown in FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 is a side view of the box as shown in FIG. 4, similar to FIG. 5 but showing the box in the collapsed or flat-folded condition; 
     FIG. 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken generally along the line 7--7 of FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken generally along the line 8--8 of FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 9 is an exploded, fragmentary, perspective view looking at the box of FIG. 4 from generally the same viewpoint as FIG. 8; 
     FIG. 10 is a front view of still another embodiment of a gift box embodying various features of the invention; 
     FIG. 11 is a top view of the box as shown in FIG. 10; 
     FIG. 12 is, a vertical sectional view, enlarged in size, taken along the line 12--12 of FIG. 10; 
     FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 12 showing the decorative panel portion of the box of FIG. 10 in its flat-folded or collapsed condition; 
     FIG. 14 is a top view of yet another gift box embodying various features of the invention, wherein the design panel is attached to an end or top cover panel; 
     FIG. 15 is a fragmentary rear view of the box shown in FIG. 14; 
     FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 16--16 of FIG. 14; and 
     FIG. 17 is a view similar to FIG. 16 with the box shown in its set-up condition but with the cover remaining in its flat-folded or collapsed condition. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 shows a novel gift box 11 which has a separate decorative panel 13 that is attached to one of four side panels 15 which define the rectangular enclosure section of the box. The enclosure is closed by a pair of end panels 17 which are referred to as a top cover 17a and bottom cover 17b. 
     The gift box 11 is designed to fold flat for storage and shipping with the four side panels 15 folding into a flattened condition. The design panel 13 is die-cut or otherwise suitably formed into a decorative configuration which may, for example, illustrate a holiday scene or symbolize a special occasion. In the illustrated embodiment, the right hand edge of the die panel is hinged to a spacer panel 19 which extends back to the edge of the gift box. The design panel 13 is actuated by a lever 21 which is adhesively or otherwise affixed to the interior surface of the spacer panel 19 and which terminates in a tapered tab portion that extends through a slot provided in the front panel 15a of the gift box along its right hand edge. For convenience of assembly the lever 21 is formed from the same sheet material as a three-section hinge 23 which, as seen in FIG. 3, is generally of a Z-shape. It includes a section 23a which is adhesively or otherwise suitably affixed to the rear surface of the design panel 13, a connecting section 23b and a section 23c which is glued or otherwise suitably affixed to the front panel 15a. 
     When the gift box is squared from its flat-folded condition to form the rectangular cross-section enclosure, as a part of the set-up of the box, the movement of the side panel 15b relative to the side panel 15a causes these two panels to move from a planar configuration to a configuration where they are at 90° to each other. As a result, the lever 21, which remains parallel to the panel 15b to which it is affixed, causes the design panel 13a to assume an extended position spaced from the front surface of the front side panel 15a. This movement causes the Z-hinge 23 to open up to the position shown in FIG. 3 where the connecting portion 23b similarly spaces the design panel 13 from the front surface of the panel 15a. Once the box has been squared, it is maintained in this position by the closure of the bottom panel 17b. Although this is shown as a single panel, it could be made up of any suitable configuration, such as four interlocking panels each of which is hinged to one of the side panels 15 and which together complete the bottom closure. As best seen in FIG. 2, the cover panel 17a is hinged to the rear side panel 15c and includes a front flap 18 hinged to its front edge which is inserted just interior of the front wall 15a to maintain the cover in the closed position. Moreover, the sidewalls 15b and 15d preferably have flanges 16 hinged to their upper edges which provide support for the top end panel 17a when it is in the closed position. 
     Shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 is a generally similar gift box 31 which is formed from four side panels 35, a front panel 35a, a rear panel 35c and right and left side panels 35b, 35d. End panels are hinged as a top cover 37a to the top edge of the rear panel 35c and as a bottom cover 37b to the bottom edge of the front panel 35a. A pair of decorative panels 33 and 33&#39; are arranged to lie generally flat against the front panel 35a in the flat-folded position and to stand spaced apart from the panel in the set-up condition of the gift box 31. 
     The details of the construction are best seen in FIGS. 5 through 9 where it can be observed that the decorative panels 33, 33&#39; are mounted via a backing panel 39 which includes a pair of vertical strip portions 41, 41&#39; that are hinged at the bottom to a lever panel 43 which terminates in a tab portion 45 that is received through a slot 47 in the bottom edge of the front panel 35a. The tab portion 45 is glued to the interior surface of the bottom cover 37b by a glue pattern 49 so that the lever panel 43 then moves integrally with the bottom cover 37b. The portion of the lever panel 43 that remains exterior of the gift box is preferably made from material similar to the bottom cover or printed to match the color of the box to present a uniform appearance if desired. The support panel 39 contains, at the upper ends of the strips 41, 41&#39;, a pair of hinges 51, 51&#39; which as best seen in FIG. 5 are bent at 90° from the strips and then again at 90° to form end sections that are adhesively secured to the front surface of the front wall 35a of the gift box, thus spacing the upper portions of the decorative panels 33, 33&#39; the same distance from the front of the box as the lower portions are spaced via the hinged connection to the lever panel 43. 
     Thus, it can be seen that after the rectangular enclosure has been squared to set-up the gift box, the closing of the bottom cover 37b accomplishes the outward movement from the flat-folded condition shown in FIG. 6 to the extended condition shown in FIG. 5. Movement to the extended position occurs as a result of the pivoting of the lever arm portion 43, because of its adhesive connection to the bottom cover 37b, to a orientation perpendicular to the front side panel 35a from its flat-folded condition where it lies generally parallel to the plane of the front panel 35a. 
     Shown in FIGS. 10-13 is another type of gift box 61 which has a pair of decorative panels 63, 63&#39; spaced apart from the front panel 65a in the set-up condition. Generally, the box 61 has four side panels 65 which form a rectangular enclosure that is closed by a top cover 67a that is hinged to the rear sidewall and has a plurality of bottom cover panels 67b which are individually hinged to the lower edges of the side panels and which interconnect with one another to form the bottom closure. 
     The lever panel 69 is formed from the same relatively stiff, sheet material as the front decorative panel 63, being connected along a hinge line 70 to the lower edge thereof. The lever arm panel 69 is adhesively affixed to the exterior surface of the bottom closure panel 67b that is hinged to the bottom edge of the front panel 65a and thus moves with it and has the same spatial orientation. The upper portion of the decorative front panel 63 is spaced by hinges 71 that are also formed from the same sheet material, being hinged to the upper edge of the decorative panel and having horizontal sections extending back therefrom at right angles which terminate in short tabs bent at right angles thereto. In this embodiment, these short tabs are adhesively affixed not to the front panel of the gift box but instead to the front surface of the decorative panel 63&#39; which lies intermediate to the front panel 65a of the box and the decorative panel 63 for its entire width, as explained more fully hereinafter. 
     The intermediate decorative panel 63&#39; terminates in a lower flange 73 which is folded forward and affixed by adhesive to the upper surface of the lever arm 69, as best seen in FIG. 12. A plurality of hinges 75 are also formed from the same sheet material of the intermediate panel and are hinged to the upper edges of the decorative image, which hinges extend rearward at right angles to the panel 63&#39;, being adhesively affixed to the front surface of the front sidewall 65a of the gift box. 
     FIG. 13 shows the decorative images 63, 63&#39; in the flat-folded condition but with the side panels 65 squared to form a rectangular enclosure. FIG. 12 then shows the completed, set-up box with both the end closures in place and the decorative panels 63, 63&#39; in their extended positions. When the bottom panels 67b are folded closed position at right angles to the sidewalls, the lever arm panel 69 pivots to a position at right angles to the front panel 65a carrying with it the lower ends of the decorative panels 63, 63&#39;. The intermediate decorative panel 63&#39; moves away from the front surface of the panel 65a with its movement guided by the hinges 75. Simultaneously, the front decorative panel 63 moves away from the front surface of the intermediate panel 63&#39; with its movement guided by the hinges 71, thus presenting the attractive arrangement depicted in FIG. 12. 
     Depicted in FIGS. 14-17 is a gift box 81 wherein the rectangular closure is of relatively shallow construction and a decorative panel 83 is arranged to lie adjacent its cover. More specifically, the enclosure is formed by four sidewalls 85a, 85b, 85c and 85d which are interconnected to one another via short flange 85e which is glued to the interior surface of the rear panel 85c to form the usual manufacturer&#39;s joint. A full cover 87a is hinged to the upper edge of the rear sidewall 85c. At its forward edge, the full cover 87a has a hinged tongue panel 89 which extends for the full depth of the box as best seen in FIG. 16. The bottom end closure of the gift box 81 is formed by four interconnecting panels 87b which are each respectively hinged to the lower edges of one of the sidewalls 85. The four bottom closure panels 87b may be joined via the usual tab and slot connections or may be joined as a result of a glued, self-locking panel construction, all as is well known in the art. 
     The decorative panel 83 is hinged along its lower or front edge to a lever arm panel 91 which is glued, as best seen in FIGS. 16 and 17, to the exterior surface of the tongue panel 89. A plurality of hinges 93 interconnect other portions of the decorative panel 83 and the cover 87a of the box. The hinges 93 may be formed from the sheet material of the decorative panel 83, as is the case of the hinge 93a which is hinged along the upper or rear edge of the decorative figure, or they may be made separately. As best seen in FIG. 16, the hinges 93b and 93c are formed separately and are glued to the rear surface of the panel 83 and to the front surface of the cover 87a. 
     FIG. 17 shows the box after the side panels have been squared to form the rectangular enclosure and the bottom panels 87b have also been interconnected to form the bottom closure; however, the cover 87a and the decorative panel 83 are still shown in their flat-folded storage position. FIG. 16 shows the box after the front tongue panel 89 has been pivoted to a right angle orientation to the cover panel 87a and inserted into the rectangular enclosure. The 90° pivoting of the tongue 89 causes the lever arm panel 91, which is glued to it, to be similarly moved to an orientation at right angles to the cover 87a. This movement causes the lever arm panel to move the hinged decorative panel 83 away from the surface of the cover 87a with the movement of the panel 83 being guided by the hinges 93a, 93b and 93c, which form a type of parallelogram linkage, between the cover 87a and the decorative panel 83 as best seen in FIG. 16 together with the lever arm panel 91. In the extended position, the decorative panel 83 is spaced from the cover a substantially uniform distance throughout its entirety. Optionally, if desired, the hinges could be of proportionately greater or lesser lengths so as to create a nonparallel orientation where the upper edge of the decorative panel 83 is either slightly nearer or slightly further from the cover 87a relative to its lower edge. Likewise, the lever arm panel 91 could be inserted through a slot in the cover and glued to the interior surface of the sidewall 85c or alternatively to the exterior surface thereof. 
     Although the invention has been described with regard to certain preferred embodiments, it should be understood that various modifications and changes could be made as would be obvious to one having the ordinary skill in the art. Portions of the decorative panel can be fashioned from the panels of the box itself, or they can all be fabricated separately and simply glued or otherwise adhesively connected to an existing box of the type that is fabricated to fold into a flat condition for storage. Likewise, the decorative panels can be hinged to the upper edge or the lower edge of a cover or to any one of the sidewalls of such a box which forms a rectangular enclosure. Although the invention has been disclosed with regard to these preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the scope of the invention is defined solely by the appended claims. 
     Particular features of the invention are emphasized in the claims which follow.