Abstract:
A gift box is described for housing a plurality of pop-up elements that are automatically presented to a user when a lid of the box is removed. The box includes an interior portion enclosed by a base and sidewalls around its outer periphery. The interior portion of the gift box contains a central tower coupled to four levers that each pivot on a respective sidewall. The central tower and/or the four levers additionally have one or more paper pop-up elements attached thereto that are presented to a user when the box is opened. A band passing through the interior portion of the box stores the mechanical energy necessary to cause the four levers to pivot on the sidewalls, thereby generating the force to move the central tower out of the box when the lid is removed.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not applicable. 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Embodiments of the invention are defined by the claims below, not this summary. A high-level overview of various aspects of the invention are provided here for that reason, to provide an overview of the disclosure, and to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described in the detailed description section below. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in isolation to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter. In brief and at a high level, this disclosure describes, among other things, a gift box with a lid, sidewalls, a base, levers, elastic bands that pull the levers, and a central tower disposed therein. When the lid is removed, tension in the elastic band is released, and the band shortens. The shortening of the band causes each of the four levers to pivot on four corresponding sidewalls of the container. The central tower, which is connected to a lower end of each lever, rises out of the interior portion of the container as the levers pivot out from the interior of the box. As the central tower rises, one or more “pop-up” elements affixed thereto partially unfold along a series of fold lines. In one embodiment, the pop-up elements are paper flowers that unfold to create a paper flower bouquet. In another embodiment, the central tower is configured to receive a gift, such as a gift card, that is automatically presented to a user when the lid is removed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]    The present invention is described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, in which like reference numerals denote like elements, wherein: 
           [0005]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a gift box in accordance with the present invention in a closed condition; 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the gift box of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a top perspective view of the gift box of  FIG. 1  in a fully opened condition after removal of a lid; 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a bottom perspective view of the gift box of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a bottom plan view of the gift box of  FIG. 4  with a portion of a base wall cutaway to reveal an interior portion; 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  a right side elevation view of the gift box of  FIG. 3  with pop-up elements removed for clarity; 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is a right side elevation view of the gift box of  FIG. 6  with levers or side panels being folded up and dashed lines illustrating the structures contained therein; 
           [0012]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of the gift box of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 9  is a top plan view of the gift box of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a gift box in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention in a fully opened condition and includes a second central tower holding a gift card; 
           [0015]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the central tower of the gift box of  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a gift box in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention in a fully opened condition; 
           [0017]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the gift box of  FIG. 12  in a partially opened condition and with pop-up elements removed for clarity; 
           [0018]      FIG. 14  illustrates a plan view of a blank of material that can be folded along the illustrated fold lines to make a first central tower of the first embodiment of the gift box illustrated in  FIGS. 1-9 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 15  illustrates a plan view of a blank of material that can be folded along the illustrated fold lines to make a third central tower of the third embodiment of the gift box illustrated in  FIGS. 12-13 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 16  illustrates a plan view of a blank of material that can be folded along the illustrated fold lines to make the second central tower of the second embodiment of the gift box illustrated in  FIGS. 10 ,  11 , and  17 ; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 17  illustrates a perspective view of the gift box of  FIG. 11  being returned to a closed position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0022]    The subject matter of select embodiments of the invention is described with specificity herein to meet statutory requirements. But the description itself is not intended to necessarily limit the scope of claims. Rather, the claimed subject matter might be embodied in other ways to include different steps, components, or combinations thereof similar to the ones described in this document, in conjunction with other present or future technologies. Terms should not be interpreted as implying any particular order among or between various steps herein disclosed unless and except when the order of individual steps is explicitly described. 
         [0023]    Embodiments of the invention are described herein with respect to a gift box. However, such is not intended to limit embodiments to any particular configuration of an input device as described herein. Further, exemplary materials, components, and methods of manufacture described herein are intended to aid in providing an understanding of embodiments of the invention. They are not intended to limit embodiments of the invention to any particular materials, components, or methods of manufacture unless explicitly stated otherwise. 
         [0024]    At a high level, embodiments of this invention relate to a pop-up gift box designed to automatically present at least one pop-up element when its lid is removed. The pop-up gift box has an interior portion formed by four sidewalls and a base. Connected to each of the four sidewalls are four flaps. Each flap is moveable and, in some embodiments, may have a shorter width and height than each of the four sidewalls. Affixed to each flap is a lever. The flap secures the lever so that it may pivot over a corresponding sidewall, which serves as a fulcrum for the lever. Each lever is connected to a lower end of a central tower that is movable in a vertical direction in and out of the box. 
         [0025]    In one embodiment, a band runs through a substantially central portion of the box. Each end of the band passes through a hole in one of two opposite sidewalls and is fastened to an upper portion of one of the two levers that pivot about the two opposite sidewalls. The band provides the necessary tension to pull the levers to a generally perpendicular orientation with respect to the corresponding sidewalls, thereby causing the levers to push the central tower out of a top opening of the box. As the central tower rises out of the box, various pop-up elements affixed to the central tower may partially or wholly unfold along a series of fold lines, creating a three-dimensional paper gift (e.g., a bouquet of paper flowers). 
         [0026]    Referring now to the drawings in more detail and initially to  FIGS. 1-9  and  14 , numeral  10  generally designates a gift box constructed in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. The box  10  includes a body portion having a sidewall  12  and a base  14 . The box also includes a lid  16 . The lid  16  has four sides, a top portion, and an interior hollow space. The lid&#39;s interior space is large enough to fit around the sidewall  12 , and it may cover all or just a portion of the body portion of the box  10 . When the lid  16  covers a top portion of the box  10 , the sidewall  12  remains in a vertical orientation, with an exterior portion of the sidewall  12  abutting an interior surface of the lid  16 . In embodiments, the lid  16  and the body portion of the box  10  are made of card stock or another semi-rigid paper material. 
         [0027]    As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 5 , the sidewall  12  includes a front sidewall  24 , a right sidewall  26 , a rear sidewall  28 , and a left sidewall  30 . The sidewalls  24  and  26  are connected to the sidewalls  28  and  30  and cooperate with the base  14  to define an interior portion  32  of the body portion of the box  10 . Each sidewall  12  contains a hole that is positioned in a generally central location on the sidewall  12 . For example, holes  42  and  44  are positioned in a location that is generally equidistant from vertical edges or corners of each of sidewalls  24  and  26 , respectively. Each hole is designed so that a band, such as band  20  or band  22 , can pass through the hole. The bands  20 ,  22  may be made of elastic or another stretchable material configured to store and release mechanical energy. 
         [0028]    The box  10  has four levers  18 , namely, a front lever  34 , a right lever  36 , a rear lever  38 , and a left lever  40 . Each lever  18  pivots on each respective sidewall  12  via a flap, such as flaps  74 ,  76 ,  78 , and  80  of  FIG. 5 . An exterior surface of the flaps  74 ,  76 ,  78 , and  80  may be glued or otherwise adhered to an interior surface of the lever  18 . The flaps  74 ,  76 ,  78 , and  80  and the levers  34 ,  36 ,  38 , and  40  move in a same direction when they are connected. The lever  18  is movable by a user that pushes or pulls the lever  18 . Each lever  18  is also movable by the bands  20 ,  22 , as described in greater detail below. Each lever  18  is cut from a piece of material, such as a card stock or cardboard. 
         [0029]    The sidewall  12  touches the lever  18  at a pivot point that divides the lever  18  between an upper end and a lower end. In this way, the upper ends  34   a ,  36   a ,  38   a , and  40   a  of the lever  18  and the lower ends  34   b ,  36   b ,  38   b , and  40   b  of the lever  18  are distinguishable based on the location of the sidewall  12  beneath the lever  18 . For example, lever  34  is divided between an upper end  34   a  and a lower end  34   b  at the point where the sidewall  24  touches the lever  34 . 
         [0030]    The lower ends  34   b ,  36   b ,  38   b , and  40   b  of the lever  18  are disposed within the interior portion  32  of the box  10  when the lid  16  is covering the top opening of the body portion of the box  10 . Thus, the interior surface of the lower ends  34   b ,  36   b ,  38   b , and  40   b  of each lever  18  may abut or nearly abut the interior surface of the sidewall  12  when the lever  18  is generally in a vertical orientation, as shown in  FIG. 2 . Each of the lower ends  34   b ,  36   b ,  38   b , and  40   b  of lever  18  are configured to be disposed in the interior portion  32  of the box  10  at the same time. The lever  18  may, in some embodiments, have upper ends  34   a ,  36   a ,  38   a , and  40   a  that are shaped differently than the lower ends  34   b ,  36   b ,  38   b , and  40   b . For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the lower end  36   b  of lever  36  is trapezoidal-shaped while the upper end  36   a  of lever  36  is rectangular-shaped. In some embodiments, a distal portion of the upper ends  34   a ,  36   a ,  38   a , and  40   a  of the lever  18  may be decorative. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the upper end  36   a  of lever  36  is cut to depict a leaf or a flower. 
         [0031]    Turning to  FIG. 3 , the bands  20 ,  22  may, after passing through the interior portion  32  of the base portion of the box  10  through the holes in opposite sidewalls (e.g.,  26  and  30 ), attach to two levers connected to the corresponding opposite sidewalls (e.g., levers  36  and  40 ). For example, band  22  is fastened to lever  36  by passing therethrough, enters the hole  44  in sidewall  26 , passes through a substantially center portion of the interior space  32 , exits the hole  48  of sidewall  30 , passes through the hole in lever  40 , and is fastened to lever  40 , as shown in  FIGS. 3-5 . A similar arrangement is envisioned for the band  20  as it attaches to levers  34  and  38  and passes through sidewalls  24  and  28 . Band  20  and band  22  may cross in the interior portion  32  at a substantially right angle  70 . In some embodiments, only a single band passes through the interior portion of the box  10 . 
         [0032]    The bands  20 ,  22  may be fastened or affixed to opposite levers (e.g., levers  36  and  40 ) via an adhesive, a slit, a brad, a knot, or the like. In one embodiment, bands  20 ,  22  are fastened with a knot at each end after passing through holes in opposite levers  34  and  38  or  36  and  40 . The holes may generally be located in the center (i.e., generally equidistant laterally or side to side) of a distal portion of the upper ends  34   a ,  36   a ,  38   a , and  40   a  of each lever  18 . It will be understood, however, that the location of the holes in the lever  18  may vary while still achieving the object of the present invention. 
         [0033]    When the lid  16  covers the top opening of the body portion of the box  10 , and when the levers  34 ,  36 ,  38 , and  40  are positioned in an upright vertical orientation, as shown in  FIG. 2 , a tension exists in the bands  20 ,  22 . It is this tension that causes the bands  20  and/or  22  to automatically pull each lever  18  (e.g., lever  26 ) outwardly and downwardly toward its corresponding sidewall  12  (e.g., sidewall  26 ). For example, when the lid  16  is removed from the box  10 , each of the levers  34 ,  36 ,  38  and  40  automatically move from the substantially vertical orientation shown in  FIG. 2  to the substantially horizontal orientation shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
         [0034]    With reference to  FIGS. 6-8 , each lever  18  is directly or indirectly connected to a central tower  82  that is configured to move in and out of the body portion of the box  10  in a vertical direction from a first position (e.g., disposed within the box) to at least a second position (e.g., out of the top opening of the box). The central tower  82  moves when the levers  18  pivot on the sidewall  12 . In particular, when the upper end of each lever  18  moves outwardly and the lower ends pivot upwardly, the central tower  82  rises in an upward vertical direction. Conversely, when the lower ends  34   b ,  36   b ,  38   b , and  40   b  of the levers  18  move downward and toward the interior surface of sidewalls  24 ,  26 ,  28 , and  30 , the central tower  82  lowers in a vertical direction. In embodiments, lower ends  84   b ,  86   b ,  88   b , and  90   b  of the central tower  82  are unconnected to each adjacent lower end so they can move toward and away from each other as the central tower  82  is raised and lowered. Thus, when partially disposed within the interior portion of the box, the lower ends  84   b ,  86   b ,  88   b , and  90   b  of the central tower  82  may be spaced apart from one another. As the central tower  82  rises upward, however, each lower end  84   b  and  88   b  may move toward its two adjacent lower ends  86   b  and  90   b  and eventually abut at generally perpendicular angles, forming a rectangular structure. At the point the lower ends  84   b ,  86   b ,  88   b , and  90   b  of the tower abut and the central tower  82  stops moving. 
         [0035]    The central tower may be made of card stock, paperboard or another semi-resilient material (e.g., plastic). In one embodiment, the central tower  82  has four sides. The four sides include a front side  84 , a right side  86 , a rear side  88 , and a left side  90 . The upper ends  84   a ,  86   a ,  88   a , and  90   a  of the central tower  82  are all connected to one another. The lower ends  84   b ,  86   b ,  88   b , and  90   b  of the central tower  82  are separate from one another. The lower ends  84   b ,  86   b ,  88   b , and  90   b  of the central tower  82  are connected to the respective lower ends  34   b ,  36   b ,  38   b , and  40   b  of the levers  18 . When the central tower  82  is partially or wholly disposed in the interior portion  32  of the box  10 , the lower ends  84   b ,  86   b ,  88   b , and  90   b  of the central tower  82  fold inwardly toward the respective lower ends  34   b ,  36   b ,  38   b , and  40   b  of the levers  18  and inwardly toward the upper ends  84   a ,  86   a ,  88   a , and  90   a  of the central tower  82 . As the central tower  82  moves vertically upward out of the top portion of the box  10 , the lower ends  84   b ,  86   b ,  88   b , and  90   b  of the central tower  82  fold outwardly away from the respective lower ends  34   b ,  36   b ,  38   b , and  40   b  of the levers  18  and also outwardly from the upper ends  84   a ,  86   a ,  88   a , and  90   a  of the central tower  82 . Each side  84 ,  86 ,  88 , and  90  of the central tower  82  is spaced apart and is positioned at a generally at a parallel orientation to each corresponding sidewall  24 ,  26 ,  28 , and  30 , respectively. 
         [0036]    Multiple configurations of the central tower  82  are possible. For example,  FIGS. 10 and 11  illustrate a central tower  150  of a second embodiment that is configured to receive a gift, namely a gift card  151 . In this way, the central tower  150  contains slits  160 , located at the confluence of sides  152  and  158  and the confluence of sides  154  and  156 . The slits  160  lead to an interior portion  174  where a gift card  151  may be placed by a user. The central tower  150  has sides  152 ,  154 ,  156 , and  158  that have a greater height than the sides  84 ,  86 ,  88 , and  90  of first embodiment of the central tower  82 . In embodiments, the central tower may be comparatively smaller than the central towers  82  and  150 . For example, in a third embodiment, a tower  110  of  FIG. 12 , has a shorter height, width, and length than central towers  82  and  150 . Thus, different heights, widths and lengths of the central towers  82 ,  110  and  150  are contemplated as being within the scope of the embodiments. 
         [0037]    Adhered to the central tower  82  and/or the levers  18  may be a series of pop-up elements. Exemplary pop-up elements include pop-up elements  56 ,  58 , and  60 , as shown in  FIGS. 2-4  and  FIG. 9 . Other less elaborate pop-up elements are within the scope of the embodiments described herein, including the exemplary pop-up elements shown in  FIGS. 10 and 12 . The pop-up elements may be made of the same material as the levers  18 , the sidewall  12  and/or the central tower  82 . Some of the pop-up elements may be made of a different material such as paper, a fabric, a plastic, or any other foldable material. The material used may depend on the size of the box  10 , the number of bands  20  or  22 , and the like. 
         [0038]    The pop-up elements are folded in a variety of configurations along a plurality of lines. Exemplary pop-up elements include paper flowers, paper petals, cartoons, sentiments, paper animals, and the like. When disposed in the interior portion  32  of the box  10 , the pop-up elements may be in a folded or substantially flat orientation. When the central tower  82  rises upward and the levers  18  pivot outwardly from the interior portion  32  of the box  10 , the pop-up elements unfold along each of their lines. For example,  FIGS. 3 ,  9 ,  10  and  12  illustrate a variety of pop-up elements that have partially unfolded along a series of fold lines to create a paper bouquet of flowers. 
         [0039]    In embodiments, the box  10  may come in any number of sizes, such as the different sizes of boxes shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  10 , and  12 . As well, each of the levers and central towers may be cut and folded in different manners, as described below. 
         [0040]    While the central towers  82 ,  110  and  150  were discussed above in relation to their multiple sides and generally rectangular shape, it should be noted the central towers  82 ,  110  and  150  could each be manufactured from a single piece of paper or cardstock. In that regard,  FIGS. 14-16  illustrate die cut blanks of cardstock or paperboard material which can be folded along the illustrated fold lines to make the central towers  82 ,  110 , and  150  of the present invention. 
         [0041]    With reference to  FIG. 14 , the majority of the portions of the blank  144  are readily identifiable by their numerals as discussed above with reference to  FIGS. 2-9 . However, the blank  144  also includes tabs  132  which connect at their interior surface to the levers  18  at their exterior surface. Each tab  132  is folded inwardly along fold line  142 . At the fold  142 , the angle between the exterior surface of lower end  84   b  and the exterior surface of the tab  132  may grow or shrink, respectively, as the central tower  82  moves up and down. At the fold  138 , the angle between the exterior surface of the lower end  84   b  and the exterior surface of the upper end  82   a  may grow or shrink, respectively, as the central tower  82  moves up and down. At the fold  134 , a top portion of the central tower  82  may be folded at a generally perpendicular orientation to the upper end  84   a.    
         [0042]    The blank  144  also includes a right wing section  139 . The upper ends  84   a  and  88   a  may be folded inwardly along folds  136  to abut at generally perpendicular angles to the upper ends  86   a  and  90   a . At this point, the right wing  139  may be folded along fold  136  to arrive at the orientation illustrated in  FIG. 5 . The right wing  139  can be glued to an interior surface of the upper end  84   a  of the central tower  82 . 
         [0043]    Similarly, turning to  FIG. 15 , the majority of the portions of the blank  146  are readily identifiable by their numerals as discussed above with reference to  FIGS. 12-13 . As with blanks  144  and  148 , the blank  146  may be made from cardstock or paperboard material which can be folded along the illustrated fold lines to make the central tower  110  of  FIGS. 12-13 . The blank  146  can be stamped or die cut from a single sheet of material. 
         [0044]    For simplicity sake, the discussion provided herein for  FIG. 15  will be limited to side  112 , but it applies equally to the other four sides of the central tower  110 . The blank  146  includes a fold  140  that causes the exterior surface of the side  112  to fold inwardly toward the exterior surface of the lever  102  when the central tower  110  is partially disposed within the box. The fold  140  also allows the exterior surface of side  112  to move outwardly from the exterior surface lever  102  when the central tower  110  moves in a vertical direction out of the interior portion  130  of the box, as shown in  FIGS. 12-13 . The blank  146  also includes a fold  141  that causes an interior surface of the side  112  to fold inwardly toward an interior surface of the top portion  120  of the central tower  110  when the central tower  110  moves in an upward direction, as shown in  FIGS. 12-13 . Conversely, the interior surface of the side  112  folds outwardly from the interior surface of top portion  120  along fold  141  when the central tower  110  moves into the interior portion  130  of the box, as shown in  FIG. 13 . Accordingly, the levers may be formed as part of the central tower, as illustrated in the third embodiment, or as part of the body portion, as illustrated in the first and second embodiments, or as individual pieces. 
         [0045]    In the same regard,  FIG. 16  illustrates a blank of cardstock or paperboard material which can be folded along the illustrated fold lines to make the central tower  150  of the present invention. The blank  148  can be stamped or die cut from a sheet of material. 
         [0046]    The majority of the portions of the blank  148  are readily identifiable by their numerals as discussed above. However, the blank  148  also includes tabs  152   c ,  154   c ,  156   c , and  158   c , which are connected, via an adhesive, to levers  92 ,  94 ,  96 , and  98 , respectively. For simplicity sake, the discussion provided herein for  FIG. 16  will be limited to side  154 , but it applies equally to the other four sides of the central tower  150 . The side  154   c  may move inwardly and outwardly at fold  176  with respect to side  154   b . The side  154   b  may additionally move inwardly and outwardly at fold  168  with respect to side  154   a . Side  154   b  is cut along fold  172 . And side  154   a  is separated from the adjacent tab  152   a  along fold  160  so that a user may insert a gift card  151  into the central tower  150 , as shown in  FIG. 10 . At fold  164 , the upper end  154   a  of the side  154  folds at a generally perpendicular angle to form a top portion of the central tower  150 . Upper ends  154   a  and  156   a  fold at fold  170  a generally perpendicular angle to each of upper ends  152   a  and  158   a  to form a rectangular structure. 
         [0047]    After the box is opened, it may be returned to its closed position for reuse when a user  178  pushes the levers upward (or the central tower  150  downward), as shown in  FIG. 17 , and places the lid back on. Accordingly, the present invention discloses a gift box that quickly and unexpectedly pops open upon removal of the lid to present a display substantially larger in volume than the space it occupied when closed, much to the delight of the recipient. 
         [0048]    Many variations can be made to the illustrated embodiment of the present invention without departing from the scope of the present invention. Such modifications are within the scope of the present invention. For example, instead of using bands  20 ,  22  in combination, a single band  20  or band  22  could be used and accomplish generally the same objects. Such modification would be within the scope of the present invention. As well, blanks  144  and  148  may have tabs that form the top portion of the central towers  82  and  150  that are of many different sizes. Additionally, the box  10  could be configured to be various different sizes to hold multiple combinations and sizes of pop-up elements. 
         [0049]    From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with the other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure. It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the invention. 
         [0050]    Since many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative of applications of the principles of this invention, and not in a limiting sense.