Abstract:
The invention discloses a container formed from a blank that can retain a product, an information booklet, and an information storage media. In an exemplary embodiment the container is formed from a single blank than contains a plurality of body panels and flaps. The flaps are folded along fold lines and secured to various panel locations or to opposing flaps to form at least three regions. A first region is suitable for retaining a product. A second region is suitable for retaining a product information booklet. A third region is suitable for retaining an information storage media.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates to a container for holding product samples, information booklets and information storage media.  
           [0002]    In general there exist a wide range of conventional containers for holding product samples with an information booklet or pamphlet. An exemplary conventional container is described in U.S. Pat No. 5,820,165. There are also conventional containers for holding an information booklet and an information storage media device, such as a compact disc (CD), digital video disc (DVD), a 3.5 inch computer disk, and the like. An exemplary conventional container is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,092,650. However these conventional containers are designed for a limited function and are not designed or able to store a product, information booklet, and an information storage media device at the same time.  
           [0003]    It is often desirable to include additional information, such as product information, advertising, and the like, along with a product or product sample to the end user of the product, such as a consumer or potential customer. One potential means of sharing additional information such as sound, video, pictures, etc. is the placement of an information storage media device along with a product or product sample and an information booklet. However there is a need for a suitable container that can adequately retain a product or product sample, information booklet or sales literature, and an information storage media device. What is needed is a single container that can retain a product, information booklet, and information storage media device at the same time.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    The invention discloses a container formed from a blank that can retain a product, information booklet, and an information storage media device at the same time. In an exemplary embodiment the container is formed from a single blank than contains a plurality of body panels and flaps secured to the body panels. The body panels and flaps are exemplary formed from the blank by a series of cut and folded lines. The flaps and panels are hinge secured to each other at the fold lines to form at least three regions. A first region is suitable for retaining a product. A second region is suitable for retaining a product information booklet. A third region is suitable for retaining an information storage media device. In an exemplary embodiment the blank has one side that is printed while the other side is not. By folding the blank in the manner described in the specification, both the interior and exterior of the container will have printed surfaces. In addition, the container can be folded between the three regions via the use of hinge panels to provide a compact container in the closed position. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0005]    The features of the invention will become more apparent in the description below in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein like characters represent like parts through out the figures:  
         [0006]    [0006]FIG. 1 is a plan view of a blank for a container according to the invention;  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 2 is a plan view of a container formed from the blank of FIG. 1; and  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 3 is a plan view of a container holding a product sample, an information booklet, and information storage media. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 is a plan view of an exemplary blank  200  used to form container  300  of FIG. 2. Blank  200  is shown with three exemplary body panels  10 ,  20 , and  30 . The blank  200  is shown with six exemplary flaps  40 ,  50 ,  60 ,  70 ,  80 , and  90 . In addition the blank  200  is shown with two exemplary hinge panels  100 ,  110  that assist with folding the blank  200  into a container  300 . It is to be understood that the blank  200  could contain additional or fewer body panels, flaps, and hinge panels.  
         [0010]    The blank  200  is shown as a single blank; however it is to be understood that blank  200  could have multiple parts that are secured to each other by any means known in the art. In an exemplary embodiment blank  200  is formed by cutting a single piece of paperboard or any other suitable substrate, such as plastic or a laminate substrate, to form the blank  200  as shown. It is to be understood that the shapes and dimensions of the panels  10 ,  20 ,  30 , flaps  40 ,  50 ,  60 ,  70 ,  80 ,  90 , and hinge panels  100 ,  110  are exemplary and that the invention covers a wide range of shapes and dimensions and should not be limited by the exemplary shapes and dimensions shown. In an exemplary method a container  300  is formed by folding the various flaps  40 ,  50 ,  60 ,  70 ,  80 ,  90  and panels  10 ,  20 ,  30  of the blank  200  along the fold-lines  12 ,  22 ,  32 ,  16 ,  24 ,  26 ,  32 ,  36 ,  34 ,  72 ,  74  and securing the various flaps and panels to each other as described below.  
         [0011]    The use of a single blank  200  offers the advantage of providing ease of fabrication, eliminates the need to secure the various panels and flaps to each other and generally results in an economical use of materials. In an exemplary embodiment blank  200  has at least one coated side to enhance the appearance of graphics printed on the blank  200 . It is to be understood that graphic and advertising information could be printed on at least one or both sides of the blank  200  prior to or after forming the blank  200 . Blank  200  as illustrated in FIG. 1 allows efficient display on both the exterior and interior of the container  300  of information printed on one-side as will be explained later. In an exemplary embodiment the back-side of blank  200  (not visible in FIG. 1) is printed with graphics, such as product information and advertising.  
         [0012]    Flap  40  is shown with two exemplary apertures  120 ,  130 . In an exemplary embodiment the apertures  120 ,  130  retain a product, item, or product sample  420  (FIG. 3), such as product sealed in a blister container between the flap  40  and panel  10  of container  300 . An exemplary product  420  could include a pharmaceutical or cosmetic product. It is to be understood that the apertures  120 ,  130  could be sized and located in numerous places along flap  40  based on the shape and size of the particular product  420  to be placed in the container  300 .  
         [0013]    An exemplary method of forming container  300  is by folding or manipulating the various flaps and panels of blank  200  as described below. In an exemplary method, a first section is formed by folding the top  42  of flap  40  along fold line  12  and securing it to the bottom  14  of panel  10 . An exemplary method for securing the various flaps and panels of the container  300  is the use of adhesives, such as glue or hot melts, although numerous well known techniques are available to secure the various flaps and panels to each other. Flap  40  and panel  10  should be secured so that a product  420 , such as a product contained within a conventional blister pack, can be easily placed between panel  10  and flap  40 ; yet fit securely within the exemplary apertures  120 ,  130 .  
         [0014]    An information booklet section can be formed by folding the top  52  of flap  50  along fold line  22  and folding flap  70  along fold line  72  and securing the two flaps  50 ,  70  to each other. An exemplary method for securing flap  50  and flap  70  to each other is the use of adhesives. In an exemplary method flap  50  is secured over top of flap  70  to conceal the presence of flap  70 . After the two flaps  50 ,  70  are secured an open cavity or pocket (not shown) exists between panel  20  and flaps  50 ,  70 . An exemplary use of the pocket formed between the panel  20  and flap  50  is to retain an information booklet  430  (FIG. 3) or pamphlet. The exemplary cavity provides a means to retain a booklet when the container  300  is closed; yet allows for easy removal of an information booklet  430  when the container  300  is open. In an exemplary method, a portion of the booklet  430  is placed behind flaps  50 ,  70  and a portion of the booklet is placed in front of flaps  50 ,  70 . The booklet  430  is ideally secured along the spine of the booklet  434 .  
         [0015]    An information storage media  440  section can be formed by folding the top  62  of flap  60  along fold line  32  and securing it to panel  30 . This can be dimensioned to provide a printed surface above flap  90  once it is folded over panel  30 . In an exemplary method flap  90  is folded along fold line  34  and secured over flap  80  to conceal the presence of flap  80 . An exemplary method for securing flap  90  and flap  80  to each other is the use of adhesives. In an exemplary container  300 , flap  90  is also dimensioned to cover the top portion of flap  60 . As a result of securing the two flaps  80 ,  90  to each other a two-sided pocket is formed. An exemplary use of the two-sided pocket is to retain an information storage media  440  (FIG. 3), such as a compact disc (CD), digital video disc (DVD), mini CD, or the like. The exemplary pocket provides a means to retain information storage media when the container  300  is closed; yet allows for generally easy removal of the information storage media when the container  300  is open.  
         [0016]    In another exemplary embodiment, an information storage media tray (not shown), such as CD tray or holder, which is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,709,812 can be mounted to body panel  30  and or flap  60  to secure the information storage media  440  in the container  300 . It is to be understood that such an embodiment might eliminate the need for flaps  80 ,  90  and may alter the dimensions of the container  300  as well as the hinge panels  100 ,  110 . It is to be understood that an information storage media tray of various shapes, sizes, and dimensions could be used.  
         [0017]    The formed container  300  as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is shown in an open position. It is to be understood that the container  300  has an open and closed position (not shown). It is to be understood that an exemplary method of using the container  300  is to fold the three regions (product sample  520 , information booklet  530 , and information storage media  540 ) of the container  300  into a closed position. An exemplary method is to fold the three regions along the hinge panels  100 ,  110  using fold lines  16 ,  24 ,  26 ,  36 . An exemplary method for closing the container  300  includes securing the product sample region  520  and information storage media region  540  at approximately the container perimeters  44  and  94 . The two regions  520 ,  540  can be secured to each other by adhesives, various fasteners, or other conventional methods to close a folding container. In addition, a closed container could also be wrapped into a packaging material such as a plastic shrink wrap to close and protect the container  300  and its contents.  
         [0018]    One advantage of the layout of the blank  200  as described above is that if information is printed on only one side of the blank  200 , then the container as formed in FIGS. 2 and 3 will contain printed information on both sides. As illustrated in FIG. 2, flaps  40 ,  50 ,  60 , and  90  could all potentially displayed printed information or graphics, such as advertising, on the inside of the container  300  (visible) as well as the back-side of the container  300  which is not visible in the Figures.  
         [0019]    Once given the above disclosure, many other features, modifications or improvements of the invention will become apparent to the skilled artisan. Such features, modifications or improvements are, therefore, considered to be a part of the invention, the scope of which is to be determined by the following claims.