Patent Abstract:
A display box that includes: a) a base having a bottom and at least one wall that terminates in an upper perimeter, b) a product display holder positioned in the base, and c) a cover for the base. The cover comprises a clear window and a frame that contains the window. The frame irreversibly engages the upper perimeter of the base wall.

Full Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
   This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 10/198,901, filed Jul. 19, 2002, now abandoned which is hereby incorporated by reference. 

   TECHNICAL FIELD 
   This invention relates to the general field of gift packaging, particularly boxes with clear tops to display higher-end products. 
   BACKGROUND 
   Certain higher-end products—such as cosmetics, perfumes, colognes, toiletries, jewelry, novelties, and pen/pencil sets—are packaged in attractive display boxes for point-of-sale display or merchandising. Often boxes for these products have a large, clear plastic window on the cover or front and appealing graphics on the sides and back. A typical package for these types of products may include either a set-up box base or paperboard tray base with a thermoformed plastic tray inside to hold the product. A clear plastic die-cut window (usually made of PVC or PET) is affixed to the package. The window panel usually covers the whole front face or cover of the box for maximum visual effect. 
   The window may include flaps extending off all four sides (connected to the main panel by living hinges). In one assembly technique, the window flaps are folded 90 degrees. Hot melt glue is then applied to the outside of flaps by hand. The window is then inserted into the tray, sealing the flaps to the inside walls of the tray. This design inhibits pilferage since the package is sealed on all four sides. While this design addresses certain merchandising needs, it is slow to assemble and a certain number of boxes will be rejected as aesthetically unacceptable due to misplacement or angel-hairing of the hot melt. 
   SUMMARY 
   Generally stated, the invention features a display box that includes: a) a base having a bottom and at least one wall that terminates in an upper perimeter, b) a product display holder positioned in the base, and c) a cover for the base. The cover comprises a clear window and a frame that contains the window. The frame irreversibly engages the upper perimeter of the base wall. We use the terms “bottom”, “sides” and “cover” to include not only a rectangular box with a top (cover), but also to boxes of less common shapes (even cylindrical, which will have a single curved wall). We also do not imply any specific orientation of the display box. While the “cover” will be the face opposite the “bottom”, the box may be displayed so that it can be viewed from the front. In that case the front would be the “cover” and the top of the box would be a side or wall of the base; the “bottom” would then be the “back” of the box. 
   The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded view of an inverted gift box cover. 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded view of a gift box cover together with a base. The plastic tray of the box has been omitted for clarity. 
       FIG. 3  is a enlarged section of an assembled gift box, with the plastic tray omitted for clarity. 
       FIG. 4  is an enlargement of an alternative locking pin. 
       FIG. 5  is an enlargement of another alternative locking pin. 
       FIG. 6  is a view of a thermoform tray. 
       FIG. 7  is a view of an alternative thermoform tray with a raised wall. 
       FIG. 8  is a partial view of an alternative gift box cover. 
       FIG. 9  is a partial view of the wall of a gift box designed for use with the cover of  FIG. 8 . 
     Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Gift box  10  of  FIG. 1  includes a rectangular base  12  that includes a bottom  14  and side walls  16 ,  18 ,  20  and  22  extending upwardly from the base. Base  12  can be any suitable container such as a standard set up box base or paperboard tray base or other container well known to those in the field. Typically base  12  is a printed paperboard base tray. 
   A thermoformed plastic tray  30  ( FIG. 6 ) fits within base  12  to contain and display a product. Tray  30  is an optional ornamental aspect of the box. 
   Cover  40  includes an injection-molded peripheral frame  42  surrounding a clear, semi-rigid plastic window  44 . In  FIG. 2 , frame  42  of cover  40  is inverted showing its underside. Frame  42  includes parallel rails  46  and  48  spaced to accommodate the upper perimeter of base side walls  16 – 22 . Frame  42  is sized so that window  44  can be snapped into frame  42 . 
   Window  44  has flaps  45  extending off four sides, connected to the main panel  47  via living hinges  49 . The flaps  45  are bent 90 degrees and the window is inserted inside the frame. The flaps have some “fight-back” to them (i.e., the hinges  49  are somewhat resilient) so they press out against the inner walls of outer frame rails  48 . Tabs  41  ( FIG. 1 ) along the inside walls of the rails  48  engage the edges of the flaps  45  to keep the window in place. Since the main window panel  47  and window flaps  45  are flush against the inner walls of outer rail  48 , both components overlap the base tray walls upon attachment. Having the window flaps wrap over the base walls prevents someone from pressing into the box via the window to access the product. 
   Once cover  40  (i.e., the combined components frame  42  and window  44 ) is assembled, the assembly is placed onto the base tray and locked in position by way of four locking tabs, each numbered  50 . When tabs  50  are in the locked position they cannot be re-opened; the package must be destroyed to access the product. Specifically, one of the tabs  50  is located in each corner on opposing sidewalls. Each tab  50  is connected to the frame via a living hinge  51 . Each tab  50  includes a pin  53  extending from the inner wall of tab  50 . As best shown in  FIG. 3 , when the frame is placed onto the base tray and each tab  50  is pressed inward, pin  53  passes through a hole  43  in window flap  45 , a hole  21  in side wall  20 , and U-shaped slot  59  on inner rail  46 . Alternatively, the window shown in  FIG. 1  has corners cut away so that pin  53  does not engage window  44 . 
   Pin  53  is a locking pin so that it cannot be removed after insertion. In one embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , pin  53  has flared ends with a split configuration to allow the pin to flex past the U-shaped slot  59 . The pin  53  then expands back to its original width, creating a permanent lock. Since the pin travels through the base sidewall  20  via a hole  21 , the cover  40  becomes inter-locked with the frame  42 . The package must be destroyed to access the product. This design offers fast assembly of the cover to the base without the problems associated with adhesives. 
   A number of embodiments of the invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, various types of locking pins can be used as illustrated in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 5 . In  FIG. 4 , pin  153  has a “Christmas tree” shape that inhibits or prevents removal. In  FIG. 5 , pin  253  has a barbed hooks  260  on each end of the split. 
     FIG. 7  shows an alternative thermoform tray  30  that is generally like the tray shown in  FIG. 6 , but that includes a raised wall  31  extending around the perimeter. The raised wall tends to keep the window panel film  47  of window  44  from being pushed down toward the merchandise in tray  30 , thus providing added protection for the merchandise. The raised wall should be designed keeping in mind the extent to which product in the tray will extend above the surface of the tray. Typically the raised wall will be relatively narrow (e.g., about 0.187″ wide). 
     FIG. 8  shows a portion of an alternative frame  42  for cover  40 . In place of the lock mechanism shown in  FIG. 3 , the alternative frame includes two ribs  143  attached to the inside of outer rail  148 . Two containment members  145  are spaced from outer rail  148  a distance selected to form a friction fit with board wall  122 . For example, the ribs extend about 0.060″ from the inner wall of rail  148 . The gap between the inner wall of rail  148  and the outer wall of containment members  145  is about 0.085″, which will accommodate the side wall  22  in a snug fit. Board wall  122  ( FIG. 9 ) has a slot  124  positioned and sized to receive ribs  143 . Ribs  143  have are beveled at the ends. As the cover is forced over the box during assembly, ribs  143  force frame wall  42  outwardly until the ribs encounter slot  124 . Containment members  145  prevent a shoplifter from pushing board wall  122  inwardly to slide ribs  143  out of slots  124 , a process that is necessary to remove cover  40  from the base  12 . The locking mechanism is strategically placed near the corners of th frame where the framesidewalls are less flexible, thus preventing a shoplifter from pulling the wall outward todisengage the ribs. For example, the slot is close enough to a corner of the base wall that the corner provides the region with strength resisting lateral wall movement that would disengage the slot and the elongated member. For example the slot can be positioned from 0.01″ To 3.0″ from the corner. 
   Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1