Patent Publication Number: US-8522970-B2

Title: Packaging/displaying device made from foldable blanks

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a packaging device, and more particularly to a packaging device having display functions and made from foldable blanks. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Consumer products, such as lighting devices, are usually displayed in retail stores to attract buyers to make their choices. When buyers purchase the products, the products are packed by retailers using packaging boxes so that the products can be carried and transported by the buyers. While various packaging devices with display functions have existed in the prior art, improvements are still needed for convenience in packaging and transportation. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a packaging/displaying device that is made from a foldable blank and that can be packaged and carried conveniently. 
     According to the present invention, a packaging/displaying device comprises a main blank foldable into a housing. The housing includes a bottom panel, two side panels extending upwardly from two opposite sides of the bottom panel, a back panel extending upwardly from the bottom panel and connected between the side panels, and a top panel connected to a top end of the back panel and extending above the bottom panel. The top, bottom and side panels cooperatively define a housing space for an object. The top panel has a through hole extending through the top panel. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a housing of the packaging/displaying device according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the housing of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment in use; 
         FIG. 4  is an elevation view showing a main blank to form the housing according to the first preferred embodiment; 
         FIGS. 5 to 8  are perspective views illustrating how the main blank of  FIG. 4  is folded to form the houisng; 
         FIG. 9  is an elevation view showing a blank to form a first seat for the housing of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 10  is an elevation view showing a blank to form a second seat for the housing of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a fragmentary view showing a top panel of the housing: 
         FIG. 12  is a fragmentary view showing a back panel of the housing: 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view showing a housing of the packaging/displaying device according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 14  is a fragmentary view showing a back panel of the housing of  FIG. 13 ; 
         FIG. 15  is an elevation view showing a main blank to form the housing of  FIG. 13 ; and 
         FIG. 16  is an elevation view showing an auxiliary blank to form shelves on the housing of  FIG. 13 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3  and  12 , a packaging/displaying device according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a housing  1 , and a seat unit  8 . The housing  1  defines a housing space  11  for a lamp  7 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the lamp  7  has a lamp body  71 , a lamp handle  72 , and an electrical wire  73 . 
     The housing  1  includes a bottom panel  12 , two side panels  13  extending upwardly from two opposite sides of the bottom panel  12 , a back panel  14  extending upwardly from the bottom panel  12  and connected to the side panels  13 , a front panel  16 , a top panel  15  connected to a top end of the back panel  14  and extending above said bottom panel  12 , a handling hole  19  disposed in the back panel  14 , a first shelf  17  projecting forward and into the housing space  11  from the back panel  14 , and a second shelf  18  projecting forward from the back panel  14  below the first shelf  17 . 
     The top panel  12 , the bottom panel  12  and the side panels  13  cooperatively define a housing space  11  for housing the lamp  7 . The top panel  15  has a top object retaining hole  151  extending through the top panel  15  for extension of a part of the lamp  7 , and a gate passage  152  extending from the top object retaining hole  151  to a front edge of the top panel  15 . The first and second shelves  17 ,  18  are used to hold the handle  72  of the lamp  7 . The first shelf  17  is a plate that projects from the back panel  14  and has two spaced apart first object retaining holes  171  that extend rearward from a front edge of the first shelf  17  and that also extend through top and bottom sides of the first shelf  17 . The first object retaining holes  171  are used for insertion and retention of two straight sections  722  of the lamp handle  72 . The second shelf  18  defines a hollow part  182 , and has a top shelf plate  180 , which is formed with two spaced apart second object retaining holes  181  that are vertically aligned with the first object retaining holes  171 , respectively. The second object retaining holes  181  are also used for insertion and retention of the straight sections  722  of the lamp handle  72 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the housing  1  is formed by folding a main blank  4 , which includes a longitudinal plate section  41  and two transverse wing sections  42 , which forms a T-shaped configuration with the longitudinal plate section  41 . 
     The longitudinal plate section  41  includes a first region  43  between the wing sections  42 , and second and fifth regions  44 ,  45  respectively connected to two opposite ends of the first region  43 . Each wing section and the first region  43  have a fold line  431  therebetween. The first and second regions  43 ,  44  have a fold line  432  therebetween. The first and fifth regions  43 ,  45  have a fold line  433  therebetween. 
     Each wing section  42  has a first fold line  422 , a twelfth fold line  423 , and a thirteenth fold line  424 . The first fold line  422  is a dual fold line. Each wing section  42  is partitioned by the first fold line  422  to form a third region  46  connected to the first region  43 , and a fourth region  47  connected to the third region  46 . The fold line  431  and the first, twelfth and thirteenth fold lines  422 ,  423 ,  424  cooperate to form a substantially right-angled triangle for the third region  46 . The fourth region  47  also has a right-angled triangular area. Each wing section  42  further has a tenth region  48  connected to the third region  46  through the twelfth fold line  423 , and an eleventh region  49  connected to the third region  46  through the thirteenth fold line  424 . The third and fourth regions  46 ,  47  are symmetrical with respect to the first fold line  422 , which acts as a hypotenuse line for both the third and fourth regions  46 ,  47 . The tenth region  48  is adjacent to a long one of the catheti of the first region  46 . The eleventh region  49  is formed between the fourth region  47  and the fifth region  45 . 
     The second region  44  has an edge  441  distal to the first region  43 , two spaced apart second fold lines  442 , a third fold line  443  between the second fold lines  442 , a fourth fold line  444  between one of the second fold lines  442  and the edge  441 , a fifth fold line  445  between the fourth fold line  444  and the edge  441 , a sixth fold line  446  between the fourth fold line  444  and the edge  441 , two spaced apart seventh fold lines  447  between the sixth fold line  446  and the edge  441 , two spaced apart eighth fold lines  448  between the seventh fold lines  447 , a first split line  401  that extends across the fifth fold line  445  and connected to the fourth and sixth fold lines  444 ,  446 , two spaced apart second split lines  402  formed between the eighth fold line  448  and one of the seventh fold line  447  proximate to the sixth fold line  446 , a plurality of first engaging elements  449  projecting from two sides of the second region  44 , two first openings  404  respectively formed in areas between the second and third fold lines  442 ,  443 , a third split line  403  that extends across the third fold line, and two spaced apart second openings  405 . 
     The first openings  404  have equal distances from the third fold line  443 . The second openings  405  also have equal distances from the third fold line  443 . One of the second openings  405  is disposed between the fold line  432  and one of the second fold lines  442  proximate to the fold line  432 . The other second opening  405  is disposed between the other second fold line  442  and the edge  441 . Therefore, the second fold lines  442  are disposed between the second openings  405 . 
     The first engaging elements  449  are configured as tabs projecting outward from two opposite side edges of the second region  44 . Each wing section  42  further has two second engaging elements  421  disposed along the twelfth fold line  423  to interlock with the respective first engaging elements  449 . Each second engaging element  421  is formed as a slit for insertion of the tab of the first engaging element  449 . 
     The fifth region  45  is formed with a fourteenth fold line  451  parallel to the fold line  433 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , when the main blank  4  is to be formed into the housing  1 , firstly, the fourth regions  47  may be folded over the respective third regions  46  along the respective first fold lines  422  to form triangle parts. Then, the tenth and eleventh regions  48 ,  49  and the first engaging elements  449  may be folded to project from the plane of the folded third and fourth regions  46 ,  47 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6  in combination with  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the triangle parts of the wing sections  42  are folded from the main plate section  41  along the respective fold lines  431  to form the side panels  13 . Thereafter, the second region  44  is folded along the fold line  432  to extend upward from the first region  43 , and the first engaging elements  449  are inserted into the respective second engaging elements  421 . As a result, the second region  44  is connected to the triangle parts of the wing sections  42 , and the first region  43  is formed into the bottom panel  12 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 7  in combination with  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the fifth region  45  is folded in half along the fourteenth fold line  451 , and further folded along the fold line  433  to extend upright and to form the front panel  16 . When the second region  44  is folded along the fourth, fifth and sixth fold lines  444 ,  445 ,  446 , the fourth and sixth split lines  444 ,  446  are aligned with each other, areas between the fourth and fifth split lines  444 ,  446  are formed into the first shelf  17 , and the first split lines are folded to form the first object retaining holes  171 , respectively. 
     When the second region  44  is folded further along the seventh and eighth fold lines  447 ,  448 , areas between the seventh and eighth fold lines  447 ,  448  are spaced by an area between the eighth fold lines  448  and are formed into the second shelf  18 , and the second split lines  402  are formed into the second object retaining holes  181 . The top shelf plate  180  of the second shelf  18  is defined by an area between one of the seventh fold line  447  and one of the eighth fold line  448  proximate to the sixth fold line  446 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 8  in combination with  FIGS. 2 and 4 , when the second region  44  is folded along the third fold line  443  to form a two-ply structure, the second fold lines  442  are aligned with each other. When the second region  44  is further folded along the second fold lines  442  that are aligned, areas between the second and third fold lines  442 ,  443  are formed into the top panel  15 , areas between the first region  43  and the second fold lines  442  are formed into the back panel  14 , the first openings  404  are aligned and formed into the top object retaining hole  151 . The second openings  405  are aligned and formed into the handling hole  19 . The third split line  403  is folded in half to define the gate passage  152 . 
     Referring back to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the seat unit  8  is disposed on the bottom panel  12 , and includes first and second seats  2  and  3 . The first seat  2  has a first hollow space  21  defined by an upper wall  23  and multiple sidewalls  22  that extend laterally downward from the upper wall  23 . A seat hole  231  is formed in the upper wall  23  and communicated with the first hollow space  21 . A bottom part of the lamp body  71  may be inserted into and retained by the seat hole  231 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 9  in combination with  FIG. 2 , the first seat  2  is made by folding a blank  5  that includes a central region  51  formed with an opening  511 , and four flange plates  52  extending from four sides of the central region  51 . When the blank  5  is folded, the central region  51  becomes the upper wall  23 , the flange plates  52  project from the central region  51  to form the sidewalls  22 , and the opening  511  forms the seat hole  231 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 10  in combination with  FIG. 2 , the second seat  3  has a second hollow space  31  to receive an electric wire  73  of the lamp  7 . The second seat  3  is disposed in the first hollow space  21  below the upper wall  23  of the first seat  2 . The second seat  3  has a bottom wall  32 , two sidewalls  33  extending upward from the bottom wall  32 , and a top wall  34 . The second seat is formed by folding a blank  6 , which has two ninth fold lines  61 , two tenth fold lines  62 , a sixth region  64 , a seventh region  65 , two eighth regions  66 , and a ninth region  63 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  11  and  12 , when the packaging/displaying device is in use, the first and the second seats  2 ,  3  are disposed on the bottom panel  12 . The electrical wire  73  is placed within the second seat  3 . The handle  72  is inserted into the first and second object retaining holes  171 ,  181  and is therefore retained by the shelves  17  and  18 . The bottom part of the lamp body  71  is seated in the seat hole  231  of the first seat  2  above the top wall  34  of the second seat  3 . The top part of the lamp body  71  is inserted into the top object retaining hole  151  of the top panel  15  through the gate passage  152 . The user may carry the displaying/packaging device with the lamp  7  by holding the back panel  14  at the handling hole  19 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 13 and 14 , the housing  1 ′ according to a second preferred embodiment of the pre sent invention is substantially similar to that of the first preferred embodiment. However, to hold the lamp handle  72 , the second embodiment additionally has a third shelf  183 , and the second shelf  18  is disposed above the first shelf  17 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 15 and 16 , the housing  1 ′ is formed from a main blank  4 ′ and a longitudinal auxiliary blank  9  attached to the main blank  4 ′. The longitudinal auxiliary blank  9  includes two longitudinally opposed first and second edges  91 ,  92 , three spaced apart auxiliary blank first fold lines  93  between the first and second edges  91 ,  92 , three spaced apart auxiliary blank second fold lines  94  between the first edge and the group of the auxiliary blank first fold lines  93 , three spaced apart auxiliary blank third fold lines  95  between the second edge  92  and the group of the auxiliary blank third fold lines  95 , two auxiliary blank first split lines  401  each extending across a mid one of the auxiliary blank first fold lines  93  and connected to the remaining auxiliary blank first fold lines  93 , and two auxiliary blank second split lines  402  disposed between two auxiliary blank second fold lines  95 . 
     When the auxiliary blank  9  is folded along the auxiliary blank first, second and third fold lines  93 ,  94 ,  95 , areas between the auxiliary blank first fold lines  93  are superimposed on one another and formed into the first shelf  17 , the auxiliary blank first split lines  401  are folded to form the first object retaining holes  171 , respectively, areas between the auxiliary blank second fold lines  94  are superimposed on one another and formed into the second shelf  18 , the auxiliary blank second split lines  402  are folded to form the second object retaining holes  181 , respectively, and areas between the auxiliary blank third fold lines  95  are superimposed on one another and formed into the third shelf  183 . 
     The housing  1 ′ further has a partition  10  disposed inside the housing space  11  to confine a receiving space  110  to receive and shield the first, second and third shelves  17 ,  18 ,  183 . The partition  10  is formed from the second region  44  of the main blank  4 . In particular, the second region  44  has two spaced apart eighteenth fold lines  440  between the edge  441  and the group of the second fold lines  442 . The second region  44  is folded along the aligned second fold lines  442 , and the eighteenth fold lines  440  so that an area between the edge  441  and the group of the second fold lines  442  is formed into the partition  10 . The receiving space  110  is formed behind the area between the edge  441  and the group of the second fold lines  442 . The auxiliary blank  9  is disposed in the receiving space  110 , and the first edge  91  of the auxiliary blank  9  is glued to the second region  44  of the main blank  4 ′ along the second fold lines  442 . 
     The second embodiment is not provided with the first and second engaging elements  421 ,  449 . The tenth regions  48  are glued to the second region  44  so that the side panels  13  of the housing  1 ′ are connected to back panel  14 . The seat hole  231  in the second embodiment is rectangular. 
     As described hereinbefore, the packaging/displaying device of the invention can be used to display the lamp  7  because the housing  1  or  1 ′ is opened at its front side to display the lamp  7 . When a buyer buys the lamp  7 , the lamp  7  together with the housing  1  or  1 ′ may be carried easily by inserting his or her hand into the handling hole  19  to hold the housing  1  of  1 ′. The lamp  7  need not be re-packaged using another packaging device. According to the second preferred embodiment, the packaging/displaying device may be made without using adhesive to facilitate assembly of the packaging/displaying device. 
     While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.