Abstract:
The present invention relates to packaging formed of a single sheet of material and incorporating reversible panels, alternatively displaying a first surface (which could display address and postage markings to facilitate shipping), and after conversion, a second surface (which could display decorative markings for holiday or special occasion gift giving). Conversion from the first manifestation to the second is accomplished through manipulation of the reversible panels, allowing conversion without exposing the contents of the package. Construction may be of standard shipping materials such as corrugated cardboard, but due to the additional thickness and stability offered by the design, non-corrugated cardboard or fiberboard are expressly contemplated, as are synthetic sheet material and plastics where the packaging is to be reused.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     Not Applicable.  
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002]     Not Applicable.  
       REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX  
       [0003]     Not Applicable.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     The present invention relates generally to packaging and storage containers, and more specifically to packaging having a first surface containing shipping, mailing, content or other indicia, said packaging possessing additional exterior panels which are reversible for conversion into packaging displaying a second surface containing gift wrapping, decorative markings, advertising, and/or other indicia, said conversion possible without revealing the contents of the package.  
         [0005]     The internet, though e-mail, voice over internet protocol, and transmission of visual images, has diminished the perception of geographical distances, allowing for the formation and maintenance of relationships over great distances in a way that was not possible or economical previously. With this has come the need to transmit gifts over these large distances to an extent that did not exist previously.  
         [0006]     The internet has had a similarly profound effect on commerce, diversifying the nature and quality of goods available for purchase by the modern consumer. The internet has also enabled formerly regional sellers to reach markets over great distances. As such, this development in commerce has resulted in the transfer of merchandise not through personal pickup, but through mail or courier delivery.  
         [0007]     Internet commerce has not changed the peak season for shopping, in November and December, but it has changed the way people shop, and how those orders are fulfilled even enabling transactions where the buyer, seller and recipient are great distances apart.  
         [0008]     Because gifts are transported to recipients across distances, and because mail services and couriers require that shipped packages display only functional markings so as not to obscure recipient and postage information, gifts are not easily sent in decorative wrapping as is the custom for holidays, birthdays and other special occasions.  
         [0009]     There are methods for the recipient to receive a decoratively wrapped gift purchased over the internet, but none are easy or economical. One option is for the gift to be wrapped prior to insertion into a second delivery box, but many merchants do not offer this service. If they do, it often involves extra resources, materials and expense. A second option is for the gift-giver to have the gift sent to them for wrapping, and thereafter re-sent to the recipient, which again involves packaging within packaging, and diminishes one advantage of internet shopping: the economies of direct shipping.  
         [0010]     The problems outlined in the previous paragraph are not limited to internet commerce. Any gift sent by mail must be wrapped, and then inserted into additional packaging suitable for transport by mail or courier. This results in several burdensome demands on the gift-giver, who must (i) wrap the gift itself; (ii) find or purchase a box large enough to accommodate the gift; and (iii) pay any additional costs for shipment resulting from the increased mass of the packaging, and/or the increased dimensions of the outer box.  
         [0011]     Despite these additional efforts, a gift sent in such duplicative packaging may still be subjected to increased risk of damage in transport as a result of any mismatch between the gift packaging and the shipping packaging. Where the size discrepancy is large, the inner box is permitted rattle in transit, potentially causing damage to the shipped good. Where the size discrepancy is very small, the outer box may rupture in transit, again causing damage to the shipped good.  
         [0012]     As a result, there is a need for packaging that is both versatile and durable. It should be cost effective and capable of rapid assembly using a single sheet manufactured from available materials. It should support environmentalism and recycling efforts by avoiding waste, being constructed of post-consumer recycled materials, and ideally by being capable of re-use.  
         [0013]     The concept of a foldable containers is well established in the prior art. Foldable containers are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,148,219 of Cornell for a folding box, U.S. Pat. No. 1,509,383 of Walter for a box, U.S. Pat. No. 5,007,580 of Morrison for a foldable container, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,588,585 of McClure for a corner-reinforced carton.  
         [0014]     The concept of a convertible container has similarly been disclosed in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 3,357,543 issued to Taggart, discloses the use of two display boxes hinged together in book fashion, which convert to gift boxes by closing the “book” so that the window of each display box is covered by the opposing display box. U.S. Pat. No. 5,673,796 issued to Tulloch discloses packaging convertible from a box suitable for retail display of its contents to a box suitable for a gift box. Neither of these patents contemplates shipping, and neither allows for the contents of the packaging to be concealed for gift-giving purposes. Furthermore, neither is capable of manufacture from a single sheet of material, making these designs uneconomical.  
         [0015]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,344,065 issued to Moran discloses a reversible container having opposite surfaces for shipping, disassembly at its destination and reassembly for display of the everted second surface. U.S. Pat. No. 6,948,616 issued to Gillani discloses a reversible shipping container alternately folded to reveal or conceal a commercial logo or other visible marking. While both of these inventions expressly contemplate shipping, both require the contents of the packaging be exposed and expelled in order to accomplish the conversion. For gift-giving purposes, this is an undesirable requirement.  
         [0016]     The prior art fails to disclose a reversible foldable container which can be converted from a package displaying a first surface to a package displaying a second surface, without revealing the contents of the packaging to the recipient. None of the above-noted patents, taken either singly or combination, are seen to disclose the specific arrangement concepts disclosed by the present invention.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0017]     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved container capable of conversion from a container having a first surface to a container having a second surface, which conversion is possible while preserving the contents from inspection by the recipient until a time of the recipient&#39;s own choosing.  
         [0018]     Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved container which said first surface provides means for shipping, mailing and/or content information thereon, and which said second surface provides means for the placement of decorative markings, advertising, and/or other indicia thereon.  
         [0019]     Still another of the objects of the present invention is to provide an improved container which includes reversible sealing means, which sealing means may be separated to open the outer container without disturbing the contents of the inner container, and which sealing means may then be reversed to close the everted container to present a decoratively wrapped gift to the recipient.  
         [0020]     Yet another of the objects of the present invention is to provide an improved container which may be formed from a single sheet of material such as corrugated or non-corrugated fiberboard material, cardboard, synthetic materials, plastics, etc.  
         [0021]     A final object of the present invention to improve over the disadvantages of the prior art.  
         [0022]     With these and other objects in view which may more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the present invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed with reference being made to the attached drawings.  
         [0023]     By the present invention, an improved container providing for the reversibility of said container&#39;s outer surface is disclosed.  
         [0024]     The present invention in its preferred format discloses a foldable carton container which is reversible, displaying alternatively a surface suitable for post, courier or other shipment which contains markings necessary or desirable to facilitate such delivery, and on the reverse side contains decorative markings, advertising, and/or other indicia  
         [0025]     The present invention is made of any substantially flat resilient material which can cut into a pattern for creating a reversible container, including but not limited to corrugated or non-corrugated cardboard and plastic, flexible metals, alloys, synthetic and natural treated fabrics, paper or paper board stock.  
         [0026]     The present invention is made of connected panels which are either permanently affixed with adhesive, or with reversible tabs used to seal the outer surface of the container when inserted into adjacent slots in either manifestation of the packaging.  
         [0027]     Creasing is used along fold score lines so that the panels can be easily folded along the crease lines, and in either direction where reversible lines are contemplated, with ease. Decorative markings are printed only on one side, as are the shipping markings, allowing the packaging to be assembled with either set of markings visible from the exterior.  
         [0028]     To assemble the packaging, the first set of four panels are folded up to form a conventional carton. If desired, an adhesive can be used to secure the tab on the first panel to the inside of the fourth panel, to secure the inner box. Side panels are also folded in to secure the sides of the inner container, and may also be secured with adhesive means if desired.  
         [0029]     The second set of four panels, which are creased to bend in either direction, form the outer surface of the container. To assemble the packaging displaying the first surface (for example, a surface suitable for shipping), the remaining four panels are folded up in the same direction as the four panels comprising the inner container, and are secured either with adhesion or through use of tabs as illustrated. The larger side panels are then folded inward to cover the entirety of the inner container, now displaying only the first surface, and can be secured either with adhesion or by insertion of tabs as illustrated.  
         [0030]     To convert the packaging such that the second surface (for example, a surface suitable for gifting) is displayed, the outer four panels discussed in the last sentence of the preceding paragraph are detached and folded in the opposite direction so that said four panels again cover the four panels of the inner container, where they may again be secured either with adhesion or tabs, but this time in the opposite direction. Similarly, the side panels are reversed in direction in order to cover the sides, providing complete coverage of the entire inner container, this time with the second surface displayed.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING  
       [0031]     The present invention can best be understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0032]      FIG. 1  is a top plan view of the flat die cut container of the present invention, prior to assembly;  
         [0033]      FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the container at the commencement of closure;  
         [0034]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view of the package at the point where the contents of the inner container become sealed, and prior to commencement of enclosing said inner container with the outer panels that will form the outer first surface;  
         [0035]      FIG. 4  is an isometric view of the container where the outer surface of the container in its first manifestation (displaying the first surface) is near completion;  
         [0036]      FIG. 5  is an isometric view of the container where at the onset of conversion into a container having the second surface; and  
         [0037]      FIG. 6  is an isometric view of the container after completion of conversion, displaying the second surface.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0038]      FIG. 1  illustrates the present invention prior to assembly. The outer contour is die cut usually with a steel rule die. Internal features are also cut in the same pass, such as the tab holes  60 ,  62 , and  64 . The creasing is also performed by non-cutting die members in the same pass.  
         [0039]      FIG. 2  shows the container where the panels  10 ,  12 ,  14  and  16  have initiated closure, and the adhesive strip film  61  has been removed, revealing adhesive surface  60  which, when affixed to panel  16 , will seal the inner container. Side panel pairs  26  and  30 , and  34  and  38  are at this point closed, while side panel pairs  28  and  32 , and  36  and  40  remain open to reveal construction features.  
         [0040]      FIG. 3  shows the container where the inner container is now sealed, with side panels  28  and  32  (visible) and panels  36  and  40  (not visible) now closed over side panels  26  and  30 , and panels  34  and  38 , respectively. At this point, panel  8  (and optional adhesive surface  60 ) are in contact with panel  16 , sealing the inner container. Folding continues in the same direction of the folding of the inner container (panels  10 ,  12 ,  14  and  16 ). It is to be noted that the side panels  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38  and  40  may be folded in different combinations and with different panels in said series comprising the exterior surface of the inner container, as desired. Furthermore, these same exterior side panels, when closed, may be further secured with packing tape, staples or other adhesive means at this point in the process, if desired (similarly to panel  8 ).  
         [0041]     The crease lines of the inner container, namely lines  9 ,  11 ,  13 ,  15   25 ,  27 ,  29 ,  31 ,  33 ,  35 ,  37  and  39 , employ unidirectional creasing on only the top (visible) surface. To make the outer surface of the container (panels  18 ,  20 ,  22  and  24 , and corresponding side panels  44  and  46 ) reversible, the crease lines corresponding to said outer surface panels (crease lines  17 ,  19 ,  21 , 23 ,  41 ,  43 ,  45 ,  47 ,  49 ,  51  and  53 ) denote creasing on both top and bottom surfaces such that the panel members  18 , 20 ,  22 ,  24 ,  44 ,  46 , and tab panel members  42 ,  48 ,  50 ,  51  and  52  can be easily folded 90 degrees in either direction along their respective crease fold lines with equivalent ease.  
         [0042]      FIG. 4  shows the container where the outer surface of the container in its first manifestation (displaying the first surface) is near completion. At this stage, panel  10  is in contact with panel  18 , panel  12  is in contact with panel  20 , panel  14  is in contact with panel  22 . Panel  16  is positioned to make contact with panel  24 , and side panels  44  and  46  are being folded in a 90 degree angle to make contact with panels  28  and  32  (in the case of panel  44 ) and panels  36  and  40  (in the case of panel  46 ). Tabs  50 ,  51  and  52  are positioned for insertion into slots  60 ,  62  and  64 , respectively. Tabs  42  and  48  will then be capable of being folded 90 degrees and inserted in the space between panels  12  and  20 , forming a triple-layer of coverage of the sides of the closed container, a double-layer of coverage on the remaining surfaces, and completing coverage of the inner container with the first surface.  
         [0043]      FIG. 5  shows the commencement of conversion into a container having the second surface displayed. Tabs  42  and  48  have been removed, and tabs  50 ,  51  and  52  have been removed from slots  60 ,  62  and  64 , respectively. The panels constituting the remainder of the outer surface, namely panels  24 ,  22 ,  20  and  18 , are being wrapped around the inner container in the opposite direction as in the first manifestation of the container (displaying the first surface).  
         [0044]      FIG. 6  shows the container after completion of conversion, displaying the second surface. At this stage, panel  16  is in contact with panel  18 , panel  14  is in contact with panel  20 , panel  12  is in contact with panel  22 , and panel  10  is in contact with panel  24 . Side panels  44  and  46  are again in contact with panels  28  and  32  (in the case of panel  44 ) and panels  36  and  40  (in the case of panel  46 ), this time accomplishing the coverage from the reverse direction. Tabs  50 ,  51  and  52  are again folded in a 90 degree angle and inserted into slots  60 ,  62  and  64 , respectively, also from the reverse direction as in the first manifestation illustrated in  FIG. 4 . Finally, Tabs  42  and  48  have been inserted in the space formed between panels  14  and  20  (as contrasted with panels  12  and  20  in the first manifestation), once again forming a triple-layer of coverage of the sides of the closed container, a double-layer of coverage on the remaining surfaces, and completing coverage of the inner container with the second surface.  
         [0045]     It is noted that in order to accomplish complete coverage of the inner container composed of panels  10 ,  12 ,  14  and  16 , it is necessary for the covering reversible panels  18 ,  20 ,  22  and  24  to be of a length equal to the length of the corresponding inner container panel, plus two times the thickness of said corresponding panel. To give an example, if each of panels  10 ,  12 ,  14 ,  16  were to have a width of X, a length of Y and a thickness of Z, the resultant effect would be for panels  18 ,  20 ,  22  and  24  to have a width of X+2Z, a length of Y+2Z, and a thickness of Z. The uniform thickness permits the construction of the entire container from a single sheet of material.  
         [0046]     It is further noted that other modifications may be made to the present invention, such as different configurations for the foldable panels, so long as the modifications are made within the scope of the present invention, as noted in the appended claims.  
         [0047]     Although various embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed here for purposes of illustration, it should be understood that a variety of changes, modifications and substitutions may be incorporated without departing from either the spirit or scope of the present invention. Examples include different dimensions and configurations for the foldable panels and closures, alternative forms of adhesion, and an infinite number of functional, descriptive, decorative or whimsical markings on each of the two surfaces. Thus the scope of the present invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.