Patent ID: 7625047

Claim:
A kit for use in forming a three-dimensional article from flat cardboard sheets, comprising: an assembly of flat cardboard sheets, each cut according to a predetermined configuration and formed with a predetermined arrangement of fold lines such as to permit the cardboard assembly to be expanded from a flat condition to a three-dimensional condition defining a three-dimensional article; wherein said predetermined arrangement of fold lines includes: (a) first fold lines permitting the cardboard assembly to be folded from said flat condition to a three-dimensional condition to define a peripheral side wall of the three-dimensional article; and (b) second fold lines spaced inwardly of viewable edges of said peripheral side wall, defining flaps to be bent inwardly and adhesively joined to the inner surface of said peripheral side wall, to present fold lines, rather than cut edges, at the viewable edges of said peripheral side wall; and (c) at least two separate thin flexible connector strips of smaller thickness than that of the cardboard sheets in the cardboard assembly; wherein said cardboard assembly includes two cardboard sheets joined together at their opposite ends by said thin flexible connector strips, permitting the cardboard assembly to be folded to a flat condition without unduly stressing the fold lines at said opposite ends.