Abstract:
A collectable box includes a front wall, at least two side walls and top and bottom closure flaps which form the gift box. A generally transparent window is mounted in the front wall, and a window covering flap is removably mounted on the box which is operative to cover the window and generally prevent viewing of the contents of the box. Finally, a guide device is mounted on the inner face of the front wall generally adjacent the window, the guide means operative to releasably secure the window covering flap adjacent said window thereby preventing viewing of the contents of the box through the window.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention relates generally to packaging for gifts and, more particularly to a collectible display box which includes a transparent window formed in one of the walls of the box to permit view of the product within the box and a window covering flap which, when in an open position, permits viewing of the goods within the box and, when in a closed position, internally covers the display window to prevent viewing of the goods within the box. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     There are presently used in the packaging industry a virtually unlimited number of cardboard box sizes and shapes which are used to package goods. One rapidly growing segment of the packaging industry is in the gift or collectible box segment in which a variety of highly attractive packaging solutions have been developed. It has long been known that to encourage the purchase of a good, the consumer must be able to see the good through the packaging of the good. Various types of boxes have been invented to fulfill this need including those disclosed in Bolding, U.S. Pat. No. 2,643,811 and Palmer, U.S. Pat. No. 3,186,622. Each of these boxes disclose a cardboard box having a transparent window surface which permits the viewing of the good held within the box, thus encouraging purchase of the good. It is well known in the prior art to provide such packaging which exhibits the contents of the packaging in a pleasing and aesthetic way. 
     However, each of the display boxes found in the prior art have one inherent defect in common, that being that the packaging itself cannot be used in the giving of the gift without first either wrapping the package to disguise the contents or somehow covering up the transparent window which permits the viewing of the good stored within the packaging. There is therefore a need for a gift packaging box which can be used “as is” to give the good held there within to the recipient, without the recipient knowing the contents of the packaging prior to opening the package. 
     Another problem encountered in using the packaging found in the prior art is that the packaging does not include a space where packaging accessories such as bows, ribbons, etc. can be stored prior to their use to enhance the packaging appearance. There is therefor a need for a gift packaging which incorporates storage space for such packaging enhancement devices. 
     The majority of boxes found in the prior art which incorporate transparent windows do not make allowances for means to cover up the window when the contents of the packaging are not to be seen. In those that do, a box section is included to be positioned over the window in order to prevent the viewing of the contents. These types of boxes are inherently defective, however, in that the flap may be easily moved from the window surface if it is not secured by additional securement means, and, therefore, the intended purpose of preventing viewing of the packaging contents is not achieved. There is therefore a need a gift display box which incorporates a covering flap which can be releasably secured adjacent the transparent window by guide means such as slots or channels which the flap can fit into. 
     Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved collectible display box. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a collectible display box which includes a transparent window and a box flap operative to cover the window from the inside of the box when in a closed position and to be folded away from the transparent window when the viewing of the contents of the box is desired. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a releasable flap securement means such as guide channels or slots into which the edges of the flap can be fit to secure the flap adjacent the transparent window to prevent accidental viewing of the packaging. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a collectible display box which incorporates an additional chamber for storage of packaging appearance enhancement devices such as ribbons, bows, and other such devices. 
     Finally, an object of the present invention is to provide a collectible display box which is relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture and is safe and effective in use. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a collectable gift box which includes a front wall, at least two side walls and top and bottom closure flaps which form the gift box. A generally transparent window is mounted in the front wall, and a window covering flap is removably mounted on an inner face of the front wall which is operative to cover the window and generally prevent viewing of the contents of the box. Finally, a guide device is mounted on the inner face of the front wall generally adjacent the window, the guide means operative to releasably secure the window covering flap adjacent said window thereby preventing viewing of the contents of the box through the window. 
     The present invention also provides a lower compartment for storage of bows, ribbons or other package appearance enhancement devices which can be opened to allow the purchaser to use the bows on the package. The lower compartment can then be reclosed to place the box in its original condition. 
     The present invention thus provides a substantial improvement over those devices found in the prior art. For example, the window covering flap can be used to prevent the viewing of the contents of the box by the person receiving the gift box. Furthermore, because the guide device releasably secures the window covering flap against the inner side of the window, accidental viewing of the contents of the gift box is prevented. Also, the inclusion of the lower compartment with bows and ribbons therein means that a purchaser of the gift box of the present invention need not purchase additional package appearance enhancement devices to “dress up” the package. Finally, because the box is integrally formed in the preferred embodiment, the use of the window covering flap is greatly facilitated. It is therefore clear that the present invention provides a gift box which represents a substantial improvement over those devices found in the prior art. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIGS. 1 and 2 are prospective views of the collectible display box of the present invention, FIG. 1 showing the window covering flap in closed position and FIG. 2 showing window covering flap in opened position; 
     FIGS. 3 and 4 are detail side elevational views of box of the present invention showing the window covering flap in open and closed position respectively; 
     FIG. 5 is a partial detail perspective view of the upper end of the collectible display box of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 6 is a partial detail prospective view of the lower end of the collectible display box of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The collectibles displace box  10  of the present invention is shown best in FIGS. 1-6 as including a front wall  12  rear wall  14 , side walls  16   a  and  16   b,  a top flap  18  and bottom flap  20 , which combine to form a generally rectangular box as shown. It is to be understood that although the present invention as shown in FIGS. 1-6 as including the four walls and top and bottom flaps, it is well within the scope of this disclosure to include additional walls to produce a box having a different shape or to modify the size of the box to package variously sized items. Therefore, the precise shape and dimensions of the collectible display box  10  of the present invention are not critical to the present invention so long as the characteristics of the invention are maintained. Also, it is preferred that the box be constructed of treated strengthened paper or cardboard for durability and ease of disposal. 
     As shown best in FIGS. 1 and 2, front wall  12  further includes a transparent window  22  which permits viewing of the collectible  100  held within the upper compartment  21  of box  10  when the window  22  is not covered. Again, the exact size and shape of the transparent display window  22  is not critical to the present invention so long as the contents of the box  10  may be viewed through the window  22 , although in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, window  22  would have dimensions of approximately 2″ to 3″ square. It is preferred that the window be constructed of plastic film, although numerous types of materials may be used as are well-known in the prior art. 
     The preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 further includes a pair of trapezoidal top flaps  24   a  and  24   b,  which are hingedly connected to the upper edges of side walls  16   a  and  16   b  respectively, a front top flap  26  hingedly connected to the upper edge of front wall  12 , and a rear top flap  28  hingedly connected to the upper edge of rear wall  14 . As shown best in FIG. 3, when the top opening  50  of box  10  is closed by the folding of trapezoidal top flaps  24   a  and  24   b,  top front flap  26  and rear top flap  28 , the collectible toy  100  within box  10  can be viewed through transparent display window  22 . This is because depending flap section  30  of rear top flap  28  is folded rearwardly and upwardly to be positioned above the collectible toy  100 , as shown in FIG. 3, thus permitting viewing of collectible toy  100  through transparent display window  22 . In the preferred embodiment, the depending flap section  30  of rear top flap  28  would include two subsections, an upper box closing tab  34  and a lower window covering subsection  32 . It is preferred that box closing tab  34  be hingedly connected to the forward edge of rear top flap  28  and that lower window covering subsection  32  be connected to box closing tab  34  along a perforation permitting window covering subsection  32  to be separated from box closing tab  34 . 
     The base of box  10  further includes a lower compartment  36  which is formed by the inclusion of dividing wall  38  which is secured between the upper compartment  21  and lower compartment  36 . Access to the lower compartment  36  is provided by the bottom flap  20  and side flaps  42   a  and  42   b  which, when folded, secure and close the lower compartment  36 . The lower compartment  36  is designed to retain and restore package appearance enhancement accessories such as bows, ribbons or other such items which may be applied by the purchaser of the collectible display box  10  and to enhance the appearance of the package as the individual sees fit. Once the bows and/or ribbons  44  are removed from the lower compartment  36 , the lower compartment  36  may be resealed thus placing box  10  in its original unopened condition. 
     The particular inventive features of the present invention may best be described in connection with the sequence involved in purchasing and preparing the collectible for distribution to a third party. After an individual has purchased the box  10  including collectible toy  100 , the individual would open the front and rear top flaps  26  and  28 , thus permitting access to the window covering section  32  of depending flap section  30 . The individual would then write the appropriate information on the “To” and “From” lines printed on the depending flap section  30  and replace the flaps in the box with one significant exception. The window covering section  32  of depending flap section  30  is designed to fit into guide slots  48   a  and  48   b  which, in the preferred embodiment, are mounted on the inner surface of front wall  12  and are positioned on opposite sides of and adjacent to transparent display window  22 . As the window covering section  32  is slid into guide slots  48   a  and  48   b,  the window covering section  32  is secured against the interior surface of the transparent display window  22  thus preventing viewing through the window and thus preventing viewing of the collectible toy  100  stored within collectible display box  10 . The size and shape of window covering section  32  is designed to completely cover the transparent display window  22  and thereby prevent viewing of the contents of the box  10 . Additionally, the guide slots  48   a  and  48   b  secure the window covering section  32  against display window  22  thus preventing shifting of window covering section  32  and permitting accidental glimpses of the contents of box  10 . Furthermore, the “To” and “From” lines on the window covering section  32  may be easily viewed through the transparent display window  22  so that the intended gift recipient will know that the gift is intended for him or her. Finally, the box closing tab subsection  34  of depending flap section  30  acts to frictionally secure the rear top flap  28  in a closed position. 
     The individual would then remove the bows/ribbons  44  from lower compartment  36  and place them in appropriate positions on the outer surface of collectible display box  10 , thus enhancing the overall appearance of the box  10  and promoting festive connotations due to the appearance of the box  10 . As it is preferred that the outer surface of the box  10  be imprinted with designs in the manner of wrapping paper, the need for the box  10  to be wrapped separately is eliminated and the gift-giving individual need not purchase additional supplies to insure that the recipient not see the gift prior to opening the package. 
     Of course, it is to be understood that numerous modifications, additions and substitutions may be made to the collectible display box  10  of the present invention which fall within the intended broad scope of the appended claims. For example, the size, shape and dimensions of the collectible display box  10  of the present invention may be modified and/or changed so long as the intended functioning of the invention is not disrupted. Furthermore, it may be advantageous to provide transparent windows in additional places on the box which would necessitate the addition of window covering sections connected to additional flaps depending from the top edges of the walls of the box. Such a modification is understood to be within the purview of this disclosure. Also, although the window covering device has been described as a flap positioned on the inside of the box, it should be noted that numerous types of window coverings could be substituted for the previously-described flap which fall within the intended broad scope of the appended claims. Finally, although the construction material of the box of the present invention has been described as being card stock or cardboard, it is to be understood that numerous other types of materials may be substituted for the described materials which fall within the intended broad scope of the appended claims. 
     There has therefore been shown and described a collectible display box which accomplishes at least all of its intended objectives.