Patent Publication Number: US-2023150714-A1

Title: Wrap around container

Description:
The present invention relates to a wrap around container for holding an electronic device such as a smart phone, a hand-held tablet, a PC, an HDD, an optical drive or an LCD screen whilst in transit, for example by mail or courier service. 
     An existing wrap around container for holding a product, such as a DVD, which is to be mailed is disclosed in GB 2441997. The container is made from corrugated cardboard and comprises a base panel separated by a lateral fold line from a wrap around panel. The end of the wrap around panel distal from the base panel is connected to a securing flap by a tear strip. Side wall flaps extend from opposite sides of the base panel, and each flap is arranged to be folded over an upper surface of a product placed on the base panel. The wrap around panel is then wrapped over the flaps and underneath the base panel, the securing flap being fixed to the underside of the base panel by adhesive. 
     A problem with this wrap around container is that a person may remove a product from the closed container without it appearing that the container has been tampered with. This may be done by cutting a side portion of a folded flap along one edge enabling the product inside to be removed and the cut side pushed back in to make it look like the container has not been tampered with. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a wrap around container that alleviates the above-mentioned problem. 
     According to the present invention there is provided a wrap around container for holding an electronic device, the container comprising: a substantially rectangular panel including a device receiving portion at one end of the panel, a fixing portion at the opposite end of the panel, and an intermediate portion in between, wherein the fixing portion has a main fixing portion body and a pair of ears which each extends from opposite sides of the main fixing portion body when the ears are in an unfolded state, each side being on a longitudinal edge of the rectangular panel, and each ear comprising an ear frame and an ear tab which is configured to fit within the ear frame wherein the ear tab has a base which is integral with the ear frame, wherein the intermediate portion is arranged to be wrapped over the device receiving portion, whereby the main fixing portion body lies over an outer surface of the intermediate portion or the device receiving portion, and each ear is arranged to be folded onto the outer surface of the intermediate portion and the ear tab fixed to the outer surface of the intermediate portion to close the container. 
     By the fixing portion of the wrap around container having ears arranged to be fixed to the outer surface of the intermediate portion, the ears form a barrier to accessing a side of the closed container. A person may try to lift an ear off the outer surface of the intermediate portion of the closed container so as to be able to access a side of the closed container and remove the product and then glue the ear back so that it does not look like the closed container has been tampered with. However, by trying to lift the ear off, the frame around the ear tab is liable to tear since the ear tab is fixed to the intermediate portion making it obvious that the closed container has been tampered with. 
     The ear tab may be fixed to the outer surface of the intermediate portion by adhesive. 
     The main fixing portion body may be arranged to be fixed to the outer surface of the intermediate portion or the device receiving portion after wrapping of the intermediate portion to close the container. The main fixing portion body may be fixed to the outer surface of the intermediate portion or the device receiving portion by adhesive. 
     The intermediate portion may be arranged to be additionally wrapped under the device receiving portion. The fixing portion may be arranged to be fixed to an outer surface of the intermediate portion. 
     A distal end of the ear tab, when in the ear frame, may be towards the distal end of the ear. 
     At least one end of the base of the ear tab may have a cut extending outwardly from the base and away from the distal end of the ear tab when the ear tab is within the ear frame. The cut causes a crease to form in the ear and helps the ear frame to rip if someone tries to lift the ear off the closed container. 
     The intermediate portion may have a main body and two tabs which are configured to fit within the main body of the intermediate portion wherein each tab has a base which is integral with the main body, and each ear tab is configured to be fixed to a respective said tab of the intermediate portion, such as by adhesive, when the ear tabs are fixed to the outer surface of the intermediate portion. By having each ear tab fixed to a respective intermediate tab, if a person tries to lift the ear off, the tab of the intermediate portion would lift off from the intermediate portion of the closed container making it even more obvious that the closed container has been tampered with. Furthermore, the tab of the intermediate portion may cause a rip to extend to a side of the closed container. 
     A distal end of each ear tab may be substantially aligned with a distal end of a respective said tab of the intermediate portion when the ear tab is fixed to the respective said tab of the intermediate portion. At least one end of the base of the tab of the intermediate portion may have a cut extending outwardly from the base and away from the distal end of the tab when the tab is within the main body of the intermediate portion. 
     The edge of the tab of the intermediate portion away from the tab base may be frangibly connected with the main body of the intermediate portion. The edge of the ear tab away from the ear tab base may be frangibly connected with the ear frame. The frangible connection may comprise perforations. 
     A base portion of each ear may taper outwardly towards the main fixing portion body on a side of the ear closest to the intermediate portion when the wrap around container is in an unfolded state. 
     The fixing portion may have a severable strip between the ear tabs and the intermediate portion when the wrap around container is in an unfolded state. The severable strip may comprise a ripper tape extending from one said ear to the other said ear of the fixing portion. At least one said ear may have a corner portion attached to one end of the ripper tape. The corner portion of the ear may have a frangible connection with the ear frame of the ear. 
     The wrap around container may include a pair of flaps extending from opposite sides of the device receiving portion of the panel, each side being on a respective said longitudinal edge of the rectangular panel, and each flap being arranged to be folded into a closed position where the flap is over at least a part of the device receiving portion and an upper surface of a device when placed on the device receiving portion, the intermediate portion being arranged to wrap at least over the flaps in the closed position and the fixing portion being arranged to be fixed to an outside of the container after wrapping of the intermediate portion to close the container; and cushioning means extending over at least part of the device receiving portion and onto the surface of each flap facing the device receiving portion when in the closed position so as to form a cushioning barrier between a device placed on the device receiving portion and the device receiving portion and the closed flaps. The cushioning means may comprise macerated paper. The cushioning means may be configured to be peelable from the container when the container is open. This enables the cushioning means to be reused. 
    
    
     
       Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which: 
         FIG.  1    is a plan view of a blank forming a wrap around container in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS.  2  and  3    are enlarged views of parts of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  4    is a perspective view of part of the wrap around container in an open state showing a cushioning member being attached; 
         FIG.  5    is a view of the wrap around container in an open state; 
         FIG.  6    is a plan view of the wrap around container with flaps of the container in a closed position; 
         FIG.  7    is an end view of  FIG.  6   ; 
         FIG.  8    is a plan view of the wrap around container in another stage of being closed; 
         FIG.  9    is a perspective view of the wrap around container in another stage of being closed; 
         FIG.  10    is a plan view of the wrap around container when the container is closed; 
         FIG.  11    is an enlarged view of part of  FIG.  10   ; 
         FIG.  12    is a perspective view of the closed wrap around container with part of the ear lifted away from the container; 
         FIG.  13    is an enlarged view of part of the closed wrap around container with part of the ear lifted away from the container; 
         FIG.  14    is a perspective view showing part of the ear lifted away from the container; 
         FIG.  15    is a plan view of a blank forming a wrap around container in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG.  16    is a side elevational view of the wrap around container of  FIG.  15    when the container has been closed. 
     
    
    
     Referring to  FIGS.  1  to  3    of the accompanying drawings, a blank  1  for forming a wrap around container  2  according to a first embodiment of the invention comprises a substantially rectangular panel  3 . The panel  3  comprises a device receiving portion  4  at one end of the panel  3 , a fixing portion  5  at the opposite end of the panel  3 , and an intermediate portion  6  in between. The device receiving portion  4  has a pair of adjacent flaps  7 ,  8  at an end distal from the intermediate portion  6 . A distal end of each flap  7 ,  8  has a bevelled corner  40  which is away from the device receiving portion  4 . An end portion of each flap  7 ,  8  adjacent each respective longitudinal edge of the rectangular panel  3  has a strip of glue or adhesive  9  and the end portion is the only part of the flap  7 ,  8  connected to the device receiving portion  4  of the rectangular panel  3 . 
     The intermediate portion  6  has a main body  10  and two tabs  11 ,  12  which fit within the main body  10  wherein each tab  11 ,  12  has a base  13  which is integral with the main body  10  and the tabs  11 ,  12  are aligned so that the distal ends  14  of the tabs  11 ,  12  face towards each other. The edge  15  of the each tab  11 ,  12  of the intermediate portion  6  away from the base  13  of the tab  11 ,  12  is adjacent to the main body  10  of the intermediate portion  6 . Each end of the base  13  of the tab  11 ,  12  of the intermediate portion has a cut  16  extending outwardly from the base  13  and away from the distal end  14  of the tab  11 ,  12 . 
     The end of the intermediate portion  6  adjacent the device receiving portion  4  has a first pair of lateral fold lines  17 , the end of the intermediate portion  6  adjacent the fixing portion  5  has a second pair of lateral fold lines  18 , and there is a third pair of lateral fold lines  19  in the middle of the intermediate portion  6 . The tabs  11 ,  12  are located in the part of the main body  10  of the intermediate portion  6  between the second pair of lateral fold lines  18  and the third pair of lateral fold lines  19 . 
     There is a longitudinal strip  20  on each longitudinal side of the intermediate portion  6  wherein each side is on a longitudinal edge of the rectangular panel  3 . 
     The fixing portion  5  has a main body or a main fixing portion body  21  and a pair of ears  22 ,  23  which each extends from opposite sides of the main fixing portion body  21  wherein each side is on the longitudinal edge of the rectangular panel  3 . A base portion  24  of each ear  22 ,  23  tapers outwards towards the main fixing portion body  21  on a side of the ear  22 ,  23  closest to the intermediate portion  6  and the end of the base portion  24  adjacent the main fixing portion body  21  has a pair of fold lines  25 . Each ear  22 ,  23  comprises an ear frame  26  and an ear tab  27  which is configured to fit within the ear frame  26 . The ear tab  27  has a base  28  which is integral with the ear frame  26 , and a distal end  29  of the ear tab  27  is towards a distal end of the ear  22 ,  23 . The edge  30  of the ear tab  27  away from the ear tab base  28  has a perforated join with the ear frame  26 . An end of each ear tab base  28  closest to the intermediate portion  6  has a cut  31  extending outwardly from the base  28  and away from the distal end  29  of the ear tab  27  towards the intermediate portion  6 . 
     A strip of adhesive  44  extends from one ear tab  27  across the main fixing body portion  21  to the other ear tab  27  and is covered by a self-adhesive sealing strip (not shown). 
     The fixing portion  5  has a ripper tape  32  which extends between the ears  22 ,  23 . The ripper tape  32  is to the side of the ear tabs  27  closest to the intermediate portion  6 . Each ear  22 ,  23  has a corner portion  33  attached to a respective end of the ripper tape  32 . The corner portion  33  of the ear  22 ,  23  has a perforated join  34  with the ear frame  26  of the ear  22 ,  23 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  4  to  7   , each longitudinal strip  20  is folded onto the intermediate portion  6  and the portion  35  of the longitudinal strip  20  from the end closest to the fixing portion  5  to the third pair of lateral fold lines  19  is fixed to the intermediate portion  6  as is the end  36  of the longitudinal strip  20  closest to the device receiving portion  4 . The unfixed portion  37  of the longitudinal strip  20  in between is lifted up from the rectangular panel  3  to form a locking crease. 
     One end portion of a major surface of each flap  7 ,  8  is fixed by the adhesive  9  (see  FIG.  1   ) to a major surface  38  of the device receiving portion  4  adjacent to a respective longitudinal edge of the rectangular panel  3 . 
     A cushioning member  39  extends over the device receiving portion  4  and onto the surface of each flap  7 ,  8  configured to face the device receiving portion  4  when in a closed position. The cushioning member  39  is attached to the flaps  7 ,  8  and the device receiving portion  4  by, say, double sided adhesive tape (not shown). 
     An electronic device  41  such as a smart phone is placed on the device receiving portion  4  when the flaps  7 ,  8  are in an open position (see  FIG.  5   ). The electronic device  41  rests on a portion  42  of the cushioning member  39  that covers the device receiving portion  4 . 
     The two flaps  7 ,  8  are folded towards each other over the electronic device  41  and into the closed position (see  FIGS.  6  and  7   ) wherein end portions  43  of the cushioning member  39  beneath the closed flaps  7 ,  8  cover an upper surface of the device  41 . The cushioning member  39  thus forms a cushioning barrier between the electronic device  41  placed on the device receiving portion  4  and the device receiving portion  4  and the closed flaps  7 ,  8 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  8  to  10   , the intermediate portion  6  is wrapped in a longitudinal direction. It is folded from the first pair of lateral fold lines  17  up and over the folded flaps  7 ,  8  which are in their closed position. The intermediate portion  5  is then folded about the third pair of lateral fold lines  19  and down and underneath the device receiving portion  4 . The fixing portion  5  is then folded about the second pair of lateral fold lines  18  so that the main body  21  of the fixing portion  4  is over an outer surface of the intermediate portion  6  above the folded flaps  7 ,  8 . The self-adhesive sealing strip is removed from the fixing portion  4  to expose the adhesive  44  and the main body  21  is fixed to the intermediate portion  6  by the adhesive  44 . 
     Each ear  22 ,  23  is folded about the fold lines  25  onto the outer surface of the intermediate portion  6  and the distal end  29  of each ear tab  27  is substantially aligned with the distal end  14  of a respective said tab  11 ,  12  of the intermediate portion  6 . Each ear tab  27  is then fixed by the adhesive  44  to the respective tab  11 ,  12  of the main body  10  of the intermediate portion  6  to close the container  2 . The container  2  is thus secured tightly around the electronic device  41  and is closed. 
     Each ear  22 ,  23  forms a barrier to accessing a respective side of the closed container  2 . A person may try to lift an ear  22 ,  23  off the outer surface of the intermediate portion  6  of the closed container  2  so as to be able to access a side of the closed container  2 , remove the electronic device  41  and then glue the ear  22 ,  23  back so that it does not look like the closed container  2  has been tampered with. However, by trying to lift the ear  22 ,  23  off (see  FIGS.  11  to  14   ), the frame  26  around the ear tab  27  is liable to tear since the ear tab  27  is fixed to the intermediate portion  6  making it obvious that the closed container  2  has been tampered with. The cut  31  at one end of the base  28  of each ear tab  27  causes a crease  45  to form in the ear  22 ,  23  and helps the ear frame  26  to rip if someone tries to lift the ear  22 ,  23  off the closed container  2 . The tab  11 ,  12  of the intermediate portion  6  to which the ear tab  27  is fixed would also be liable to lift off from the intermediate portion  6  of the closed container  2  making it even more obvious that the closed container  2  has been tampered with, and the tab  11 ,  12  of the intermediate portion  6  may cause a rip to extend to a side of the closed container  2 . 
     To remove the electronic device  41  from the closed wrap around container  2 , one of the corner portions  33  is ripped away from the ear frame  26  of the respective ear  22 ,  23  and the corner portion  33  is pulled so that the ripper tape  32  rips through the main body  21  of the fixing portion  5  so that the wrap around container  2  can be unwrapped. 
     The cushioning member  39  is configured to be peelable from the container  2  when the container  2  has been opened so that the cushioning member  39  can be reused in another wrap around container. 
     The substantially rectangular panel  3  and the flaps  7 ,  8  comprise corrugated cardboard, the flutes of the corrugated cardboard of the panel  3  and the flaps  7 ,  8  running laterally as indicated by arrows  46  on  FIG.  1   . The cushioning member  39  comprises macerated paper. 
     A blank  50  for a modified wrap around container  51  is illustrated in  FIG.  15    wherein the intermediate portion  52  is of a shorter length than the intermediate portion  6  of the wrap around container  2  of the first embodiment, and does not have a pair of lateral fold lines in the middle of the intermediate portion  52 . 
     One end portion of a major surface of each flap  53 ,  54  is fixed to a major surface of the device receiving portion  55  adjacent to a respective longitudinal edge of the rectangular panel  56  of the blank  50 . When the flaps  53 ,  54  have been fixed in this way, they can be folded so as to be over the device receiving portion  55  when they are in their closed position. 
     When the modified wrap around container  51  is being closed, the intermediate portion  52  is folded from the first pair of fold lines  57  at one end of the intermediate portion  52  up and over the folded flaps  53 ,  54  which are now in their closed position. The main body  58  of the fixing portion  59  is folded about the pair of fold lines  60  at the other end of the intermediate portion  52  so that the main body  58  is underneath the device receiving portion  55  and the main body  58  is fixed by adhesive to the outer surface of the device receiving portion  55 . Each ear  61 ,  62  of the fixing portion  59  is then folded onto the outer surface of the intermediate portion  52  and the ear tabs  63  are attached by adhesive to the respective tabs  64 ,  65  of the main body of the intermediate portion  52  to close the container  51  (see  FIG.  16   ). 
     Whilst particular embodiments have been described, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.