Patent Publication Number: US-8528751-B2

Title: Gift box with individually rotatable compartments

Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The field of this disclosure relates to containers and, more particularly, gift boxes having multiple compartments. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Containers with multiple compartments capable of fanning out about a pivot axis are known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,090,592 of Betham describes a display box for candy having stacked trays movably connected to a base via a pivot post such that the trays can be rotated about the pivot post to give access to the trays without disturbing the contents of the other trays. All the trays can be rotated to effectively display the contents therein. Other examples of containers with pivoting compartments can be found in the prior art. 
     The present inventors have identified a need for an aesthetically pleasing and functional gift box with multiple compartments that provide multiple opportunities for discovery and surprise. Additionally, the present inventors have identified a need for such a gift box assembled using lightweight, inexpensive, and environmentally responsible materials that can be composted or recycled once the items contained in the gift box have been consumed or used. 
     The present inventors have also identified the need for such a gift box that can be readily assembled at the site of packaging from sheets of foldable material, such as cardboard, wherein the sheets can be shipped and stored in a flat configuration. The inventors have identified the need to manufacture the flat components at a location remote from the site of packaging to reduce on-site equipment costs, while the flat, unassembled components reduce shipping costs and decrease storage space requirements. 
     Additional aspects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a pictorial view of a gift box in accordance with an exemplary embodiment, shown in an open condition with a storage sleeve of the gift box housing a bottle. 
         FIG. 2  is a pictorial view of a base compartment of the gift box of  FIG. 1  in a folded configuration according to one example embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a pictorial view of a stacking compartment of the gift box of  FIG. 1  in a folded configuration according to one example embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a pictorial view of the base compartment of  FIG. 2  with the storage sleeve of  FIG. 1  engaging the opening on the pedestal of the base compartment according to one example embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of a flat, unfolded, die-cut sheet of foldable material for assembling into the base compartment of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of a flat, unfolded, die-cut sheet of foldable material for assembling into the stacking compartment of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 7  is a partially assembled view of the stacking compartment of  FIG. 3  being folded from the sheet of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8A  is a top view of a flat, unfolded, die-cut sheet for forming a storage sleeve of the gift box of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8B  is a side view of the storage sleeve of  FIGS. 1 and 4 , assembled from the flat sheet of  FIG. 8A . 
         FIG. 9  is a top view of one end of the storage sleeve of  FIG. 8B  illustrating interlocking flaps. 
         FIG. 10  is an orthogonal view of the gift box of  FIG. 1  in a closed condition. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an example embodiment of a gift box  200  in an open configuration. With reference to  FIG. 1 , gift box  200  may be used to store gift contents, such as food items, in each of a plurality of compartments  300 ,  400 ,  500 . Gift box  200  includes a base compartment  300 , at least one stacking compartment  400 , and a storage sleeve  500 . Base compartment  300  and stacking compartments  400  may each include side walls for retaining items therein and a pedestal  412  having openings sized to engage storage sleeve  500 . Base compartment  300  and stacking compartments  400  may be supported on storage sleeve  500  such that storage sleeve  500  acts as a pivot axis allowing stacking compartments  400  to be individually rotatable about the storage sleeve  500 . Rotation of the individual stacking compartments  400  about the storage sleeve  500  allows a gift recipient to open the compartments in stages to reveal the gift contents contained therein. Additionally, storage sleeve  500  may also be used as a separate storage compartment for a wine bottle  550 , another elongate container (not shown), or other items altogether, such as candy. In some embodiments, the gift items are freely removable without affecting the structural integrity of gift box  200 . The wine bottle  550  or other items stored in storage sleeve  500  may add rigidity to the pivot axis. Gift box  200  is preferably formed entirely from recyclable and/or compostable materials. 
       FIGS. 2-4  illustrate an example embodiment of basic components of gift box  200 . Base compartment  300 , stacking compartment  400 , and storage sleeve  500  are made from cardboard or another manually foldable boardlike material, such as solid or corrugated plastic sheet material, which may be made of polypropylene, polyurethane, or another resin. When the gift contents are ready for packaging, base compartment  300 , stacking compartment(s)  400 , and storage sleeve  500  can be folded from the foldable material, and gift box  200  can be readily assembled at the site of packaging. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a base compartment  300  according to an example embodiment. Base compartment  300  may be folded from a unitary sheet of foldable material, such as corrugated fiberboard, in a folding process as described below with reference to  FIG. 5 , or it may be assembled using a different process. Base compartment  300  includes a bottom wall  302  and may include side walls  304 ,  306 ,  308 , and  310 . Base compartment  300  may also include a raised pedestal  312 . Pedestal  312  may be supported on adjoining side walls  306  and  308  and may include side panels  314  and  316  and a top panel  318  spaced apart from bottom wall  302 , the top panel  318  having an opening  320  sized to engage the vertically elongate body  502  of storage sleeve  500  ( FIG. 7 ). 
     Pedestal  312  may be folded from the same unitary sheet of foldable material as the base compartment  300 . Alternatively, pedestal  312  may be folded or otherwise constructed separately and then attached to base compartment  300  using any method of fastening, such as using an adhesive or staple to attach pedestal  312  to bottom wall  302  and/or side walls  306 ,  308 . In other embodiments, pedestal  312  may be supported along three side walls, such as side walls  306 ,  308 , and  310 , or supported only by one side wall, such as side wall  308 , or unsupported by any side walls and positioned in the center of bottom wall  302 . Other configurations not explicitly described herein may be possible. 
     In some embodiments (not shown), base compartment  300  can be arranged to include no side walls or any number of side walls as desired. For example, base compartment  300  can include three side walls in a triangular configuration and pedestal  312  can be positioned and supported along any one or more of the side walls. In other embodiments, the length, width, height, and overall dimension of base compartment  300  and its component parts can vary as desired. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a stacking compartment  400  according to an example embodiment. Stacking compartment  400  may be similar in design and construction to base compartment  300 , but stacking compartment  400  preferably includes an additional opening  411 , in bottom wall  402 , which is substantially aligned with opening  420  in top panel  412 . The 400-series reference numerals in  FIG. 3  identify parts of stacking compartment  400  having the same name and similar function as parts of base compartment  300  having similar 300-series reference numerals. For example, bottom walls of base compartment  300  and stacking compartment  400  are identified by reference numerals  302  and  402 , respectively. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates base compartment  300  with the storage sleeve  500  fitted and supported in opening  320  of pedestal  312  according to one example embodiment. Storage sleeve  500  includes a vertically elongate tubular body  502  dimensioned to fit opening  320 . Storage sleeve  500  may be folded from a unitary sheet of foldable material, such as corrugated fiberboard. Storage sleeve  500  is preferably attached to bottom wall  302  using glue, staples, adhesives, or other similar attachment methods. In another embodiment (not shown), base compartment  300  is eliminated, storage sleeve  500  includes a base flange, and a set of stacking compartments are slidably fitted onto storage sleeve  500  for individual rotation thereabout, such that the bottom-most stacking compartment rests on the base flange of the storage sleeve. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a flat, unfolded sheet  600  of foldable material cut to a shape from which base compartment  300  is assembled according to one example embodiment. The sheet  600  is cut by die-cutting or another method to define a base panel  6  and a series of side panels  2 ,  8 ,  20 ,  88  extending along the margins of base panel  6 . Other tabs, flaps, and panels  12 ,  16 ,  24 ,  30 ,  32 ,  36 ,  40 ,  48 ,  56 ,  60 ,  68 ,  80 ,  84 ,  92 ,  96  are arranged around side panels  2 ,  8 ,  20 ,  88 , and comprise other supporting aspects of base compartment  300 . Notably, pedestal top panel  32  and surrounding pedestal panels  36 ,  40 ,  48 ,  56  are folded over base panel  6  to form pedestal  312 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     Similarly,  FIG. 6  illustrates a flat, unfolded, die-cut sheet  700  of foldable material from which a stacking compartment  400  is assembled according to one example embodiment. The sheet  700  from which stacking compartment  400  is assembled may be substantially similar to the die-cut sheet  600  for the base compartment  300 . For example, sheet  700  may have a perimeter and layout that is identical to sheet  600 . However, the die-cut sheet  700  for stacking compartment  400  includes the additional opening  411 , cut in base panel  6 . Both die-cut sheets  600 ,  700  can be folded according to the folding process described in the following paragraphs. During manufacturing, sheets  600 ,  700  may be pre-creased and/or pre-scored between adjacent panels, flaps, and tabs to facilitate the folding and assembly of the compartments. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 5-7 , first side panel  2  is folded along crease  4  toward base panel  6  until first side panel  2  is upright and substantially perpendicular in relation to base panel  6 . Next, second side panel  8 , which is located opposite first side panel  2 , is folded along crease  10  toward base panel  6  until second side panel  8  is upright and substantially perpendicular in relation to base panel  6 . First and second side panels  2  and  8  should now face each other. First and second side panels  2  and  8  form a first layer of what will ultimately be side walls  306  and  310 , respectively ( FIG. 2 ). 
     Next, a side tab  12  extending from a first end of first side panel  2  is folded inwardly along crease  14  until side tab  12  is upright and substantially perpendicular in relation to first side panel  2  and bottom base panel  6 . Similarly, a side tab  16  extending from a first end of second side panel  8  is folded inwardly along crease  18  until substantially perpendicular to second side panel  8  and base panel  6 . Next, a third side panel  20  is folded along crease  22  toward base panel  6  until third side panel  20  rests against side tabs  12  and  16 . A first flap  24  extending from third side panel  20  is then folded along crease  26 , over side tab  12 , and a tab  25  located on first flap  24  is inserted into a slot  28  located on base panel  6  adjacent crease  22 . Side tab  12  now rests between third side panel  20  and first flap  24 , forming a first layer that will ultimately be part of side wall  308  ( FIG. 2 ). At this stage, a second flap  30  extending from third side panel  20  adjacent first flap  24  should be unfolded and upright. 
     Next, the pedestal  312  ( FIG. 2 ) is assembled and supported at its base by base panel  6  and along one side by third side panel  20 . First, a pedestal top panel  32  extending from first side panel  2  is folded along crease  34  and a pedestal back wall  36  extending from pedestal top panel  32  is folded along crease  38 , as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , so that pedestal top panel  32  and pedestal back wall  36  are substantially perpendicular in relation to each other. Pedestal top panel  32  should be folded until it is substantially perpendicular with side panel  2  and in parallel spaced-apart relation with base panel  6  such that pedestal back wall  36  rests flush against first flap  24 . Next, a first pedestal tab  44  extending from pedestal side wall  40  is folded along crease  46  so that pedestal side wall  40  and first pedestal tab  44  form an L-shape with respect to each other. Next, a second pedestal tab  48  extending from pedestal side wall  40  is folded along crease  50  as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . Pedestal side wall  40  is then folded along crease  42  until pedestal side wall  40  sits substantially perpendicular to base panel  6 , first pedestal tab  44  points toward second side panel  8 , and second pedestal tab  48  rests against third side panel  20  and points toward second side panel  8 . Next, second flap  30  is folded along crease  52 , over second pedestal tab  48  and side tab  16 , and a tab  31  on second flap  30  is inserted into a slot  54  in base panel  6  to secure second flap  30  and to anchor second pedestal tab  48  and side tab  16  between third side panel  20  and second flap  30 , thereby completing side wall  308 . Thereafter, a pedestal front wall  56  is folded along crease  58  toward base panel  6  and a tab  57  extending from pedestal front wall  56  is folded along crease  59  and rests along base panel  6 . At this stage, tab  57  faces outward in relation to a pedestal opening  320  and points toward a fourth side panel  88 . Next, a third flap  60  extending from first side panel  2  is folded along crease  62  and a tab  64  on third flap  60  is inserted into a slot  66  on base panel  6  located adjacent crease  4 . 
     Finally, with reference to  FIGS. 2 ,  5  and  7 , bottom wall  302  and side walls  304 ,  306 , and  310  are assembled. Side wall  310  is assembled by folding a side flap  68  extending from second side panel  8  along crease  70 , and inserting a tab  72  and a tab  76  extending from side flap  68  into a slot  74  and a slot  78 , respectively, in base panel  6  located adjacent crease  10 . Next, side wall  304  is assembled by folding a side tab  80  extending from a second end of first side panel  2  along crease  82  and folding a side tab  84  extending from a second end of second side panel  8  along crease  86  until side tabs  80  and  84  are upright and substantially perpendicular in relation to base panel  6  and respective first and second side panels  2  and  8 . Similarly, second side panel  8  and side tab  84  should be substantially perpendicular to each other and adjoin along crease  86 . Next, a fourth side panel  88  is folded along crease  90  toward base panel  6  until fourth side panel  88  rests against tabs  80  and  84 . Afterward, a flap  92  extending from fourth side panel  88  is folded along crease  94  and over tabs  80  and  84 . Next, flap  96  is folded at crease  98 , which will expose a tab  100  and a tab  102  along crease  98 . Tabs  100  and  102  are then inserted into a slot  104  and a slot  106 , respectively, in base panel  6  located adjacent crease  90 . Next, bottom wall  302  is assembled by laying a flap  96  extending from a flap  92  flat across base panel  6 . Flap  96  lays over first pedestal tab  44  and pedestal front wall tab  57  and helps anchor pedestal side wall  40  and pedestal front wall  56  of pedestal  312 . To complete pedestal  312 , pedestal front wall edge  118  located on pedestal front wall  56  is interlocked with first triangular flap edge  116  located on first triangular flap  108 . Finally, to complete side wall  306 , second triangular flap edge  114  located on second triangular flap  110  is interlocked with side panel edge  112  located on side panel  60 . 
       FIGS. 8A and 8B  illustrate a flat, unfolded sheet  800  of foldable material cut to a shape from which storage sleeve  500  is assembled according to one example embodiment. The sheet  800  is cut by die-cutting or another method to define a vertically elongate body  502 , a cover  514 , cover tabs  516 ,  518 ,  520 , and a series of flaps  504 ,  506 ,  508 . Die-cut sheet  800  can be folded according to the folding process described in the following paragraph. During manufacturing, sheet  800  may be pre-creased and/or pre-scored between adjacent tabs and flaps to facilitate the folding and assembly process. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 8A ,  8 B and  9 , the opposing edges of vertically-elongate body  502  are folded toward each other until the edges meet and a cavity is formed within storage sleeve  500 . An adhesive or other fastening method can be used to adhere the edges of vertically-elongate body  502  to one another. Next, a first flap  504  and a second flap  506  extending from vertically-elongate body  502  are folded inwardly toward one another. A third flap  508  extending from vertically-elongate body  502  is folded over first and second flaps  504  and  506 . Third flap  508  is folded until a first protrusion  510  and a second protrusion  512  on third flap  508  rest against the interior of vertically-elongate body  502 . First and second flaps  504  and  506  rest against third flap  508  and third flap  508  is anchored within the vertically-elongate body  502 . Next, a cover  514  extending from vertically-elongate body  502  is folded over flap  508 . At this stage, cover tabs  516 ,  518 , and  520  protrude outwardly as in  FIG. 4 , but once gift box  200  is fully assembled ( FIGS. 9 and 10 ) cover tabs  516 ,  518 , and  520  will be inserted into slots  522 ,  524 , and  526  formed between pedestal  412  of the uppermost stacking compartment  400  and the exterior wall of vertically-elongate body  502 . The same process as described above can be repeated for closing the opposite end of storage sleeve  500 . 
       FIGS. 9 and 10  illustrate an assembled gift box  200  in a closed condition having a base compartment  300  and a plurality of stacking compartments  400 . Additional stacking compartments  400  may be added to gift box  200  by sliding the vertically-elongate body  502  of storage sleeve  500  through the openings  411  and  420  of stacking compartment  400 . Once gift box  200  is assembled, base compartment  300  and the plurality of stacking compartments  400  may be decorated and filled with food or other items as desired. The uppermost stacking compartment  400  may be used as a display for decorative features, such as bows, ribbons, confetti, and the like, or it may be used for storing food or other items. The uppermost stacking compartment  400  may also be used as a place for a greeting card, a message to the recipient of the gift box, or a message identifying the person giving the gift box. Other embodiments may use the uppermost stacking compartment for purposes other than those described herein. 
     Storage sleeve  500  may be used as an additional storage compartment for a gift item, such as a wine bottle  550  ( FIG. 1 ) or similar container, which may add rigidity to the pivot axis. In another embodiment, if no food items are stored in storage sleeve  500 , protective material, such as cardboard, polystyrene foam, or the like, may be stored therein to provide additional support for gift box  200 . If a wine bottle  550  or other container is stored in storage sleeve  500 , the gift recipient can open storage sleeve  500  and remove the contents stored therein. Removal of these contents should preferably not affect the structural integrity of gift box  200 . If a recipient so desires, the recipient can also remove each of the stacking compartments  400  from the gift box  200  by opening the top end of the storage sleeve  500  and sliding the stacking compartments  400  off the storage sleeve  500 . 
     In other embodiments, the dimensions of vertically-elongate body  502  of storage sleeve  500  and corresponding openings  320 ,  411 , and  420  of base compartment  300  and stacking compartment  400  may vary to accommodate different sizes and shapes of containers stored therein. In yet another embodiment, storage sleeve  500  may be a pre-formed tube or other vertically elongate vessel, such as one made of cardboard or plastic, dimensioned to engage openings  320 ,  411 , and  420 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 10 , gift box  200  may include a cover  900  to provide additional protection, such as during shipping from the packing facility to the desired destination. Cover  900  may be made of cardboard, corrugated fiberboard, or another manually foldable boardlike material, such as solid or corrugated plastic sheet material. When a recipient of gift box  200  removes cover  900 , the recipient will first experience the decoration and gifts found on the uppermost stacking compartment  400 . The recipient can then continue individually fanning out each stacking compartment  400  to reveal the contents therein. Preferably, each stacking compartment  400  can be rotated about the storage sleeve  500  independent of the other compartments, and all compartments can be concurrently open and accessible while remaining supported by base compartment  300  and storage sleeve  500 , as is shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     It will be obvious to those having skill in the art that many changes may be made to the details of the above-described embodiments without departing from the underlying principles of the invention. The scope of the present invention should, therefore, be determined only by the following claims.