Gift packaging and method of manufacture thereof

Abstract

A package that is movable between a collapsed position and an uncollapsed position is formed from at least three panels coupled to one another to form a panel assembly. A series of lower flaps are coupled the lower edges of the panels and interlock to form a permanent closure at a lower end of the panel assembly. A foldable flap coupled to one of the panels and interlocking with another of the panels to form an openable closure at the upper end of the panel assembly. The enclosure formed by the panels, the lower flaps and the upper flaps is foldable into a generally flat collapsed configuration in a plane containing a folding axis that is provided in the permanent closure.

What I claim is:  
     
         1 . A package that is movable between a collapsed position and an uncollapsed position, said package comprising: 
 at least three panels, each of said panels having a pair of opposing side edges, an upper edge and a lower edge, said panels being coupled to one another along said side edges in series to form a panel assembly;    a series of lower flaps coupled to at least two of said lower edges of said at least three panels, said lower flaps interlocking to form a permanent closure at a lower end of said panel assembly; said permanent closure having a folding axis;    a foldable flap coupled to at least one of said upper edges of said at least three panels, said foldable flap being interlockable with at least one of said at least three panels to form an openable closure at an upper end of said panel assembly;    an enclosure formed by said panel assembly, said series of lower flaps and said series of upper flaps, said enclosure being foldable into a generally flat collapsed configuration; and    wherein said package is collapsed into a plane containing said folding axis of said permanent closure.    
     
     
         2 . The package of  claim 1  wherein said at least three panels are comprised of a single blank that is folded at said side edges of said panels.  
     
     
         3 . The package of  claim 2  further comprising a side panel flap coupled to a first free edge of said single blank, said side panel flap being glued to a second free edge of said single blank to form said panel assembly.  
     
     
         4 . The package of  claim 1  comprising four panels.  
     
     
         5 . The package of  claim 4  wherein said four panels include a front panel, a rear panel and two opposing side panels.  
     
     
         6 . The package of  claim 5  wherein said side panels include at least one gusset, said at least one gusset being collapsible so that said enclosure is movable between a wide position and a tapered position.  
     
     
         7 . The package of  claim 6  wherein said series of lower flaps comprises an inner panel coupled to said front panel, an outer flap panel coupled to said rear panel, and side flaps coupled to said side panels, a portion of each of said side flaps being folded and glued to one of said inner panel and said outer flap so that said folding axis extends between said side panels.  
     
     
         8 . The package of  claim 6  further comprising a handle located at an upper end of said package.  
     
     
         9 . The package of  claim 8  wherein said handle comprises an aperture formed in an upper portion of said front panel and a matching aperture formed in an upper portion of said rear panel, said aperture being aligned with said matching aperture when said package is in said uncollapsed position.  
     
     
         10 . The package of  claim 9  wherein said handle further comprises said openable closure and is formed by said foldable flap being coupled to said rear panel and folding over said front panel to engage said aperture of said front panel.  
     
     
         11 . The package of  claim 10  wherein said aperture is generally trapezoidal in shape with a narrow end being located adjacent said upper edge of said front panel and said matching aperture being similarly shaped and oriented on said rear panel.  
     
     
         12 . The package of  claim 10  wherein said foldable flap further comprises a folding tongue located at a free end of said foldable flap, said foldable flap being sized for insertion into a wide end of said aperture of said front panel and said folding tongue engaging said narrow end of said aperture to lock said foldable flap in position.  
     
     
         13 . The package of  claim 12  further comprising two elongated apertures located on either sides of said matching aperture on said rear panel, two tabs extending from the free edge of said foldable flap and being located on either side of said folding tongue, wherein said tabs engage said elongated apertures to further maintain said foldable flap in position.  
     
     
         14 . A package as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising an elongated aperture formed in one of said at least three panels for receiving a gift card.  
     
     
         15 . A package as claimed in  claim 14  wherein said elongated aperture further comprises a tab, said tab partially covering a portion of said elongated aperture and securing said gift card within said elongated aperture.  
     
     
         16 . A package as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said package comprises paperboard having a decorative coating.  
     
     
         17 . A package as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said package further comprises paperboard coated with three layers of lamination.  
     
     
         18 . A package as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said package further comprises paperboard coated with reverse printed film.  
     
     
         19 . A package that is movable between a collapsed position and an uncollapsed position, said package comprising: 
 a front panel, a rear panel and two side panels, each panel having a pair of opposing side edges, an upper edge and a lower edge, said side panels being coupled between said front panel and said rear panel to form a panel assembly;    a first flap extending along said lower edges of said side panels and said front panel, said first flap comprising a central portion coupled to said lower edge of said front panel and end tabs coupled to said lower edges of said side panels;    a second flap coupled to said rear panel, said first and second flaps interlocking to form a closure at a lower end of said panel assembly;    a third flap coupled to said upper edge of said front panel, a fourth flap coupled to said rear panel, said third and fourth flaps interlocking to form a second closure at an upper end of said panel assembly;    an enclosure formed by said panel assembly, said first flap, said second flap, said third flap and said fourth flap, said enclosure being foldable into a generally flat collapsed configuration.    
     
     
         20 . A package as claimed in  claim 19  further comprising a tongue portion located at a free end of said central portion of said first flap, an elongated slot formed in said second flap and being located adjacent said upper edge of said opposing panel, wherein said elongated slot is sized to receive said tongue portion and form an openable closure therebetween.  
     
     
         21 . A package as claimed in  claim 20  wherein said first flap further comprises two triangular portions located between said central portion and said end tabs, said triangular portion being foldable to abut an inner surface of said central portion to allow said end tabs to fold toward a plane defined by said lower edges of said panels.  
     
     
         22 . A package as claimed in  claim 21  wherein said third flap is generally identical to said first flap and said fourth flap is generally identical to said second flap and wherein said second closure is generally identical to said closure.  
     
     
         23 . A package as claimed in  claim 19  further comprising an elongated aperture formed in one of said at least three panels for receiving a gift card.  
     
     
         24 . A package as claimed in  claim 23  wherein said elongated aperture further comprises a tab, said tab partially covering a portion of said elongated aperture and securing said gift card within said elongated aperture.  
     
     
         25 . A package as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein said package comprises paperboard having a decorative coating.  
     
     
         26 . A package as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein said package further comprises paperboard coated with three layers of lamination.  
     
     
         27 . A package as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein said package further comprises paperboard coated with reverse printed film.  
     
     
         28 . A package that is movable between a collapsed position and an uncollapsed position, said package comprising: 
 at least three panels, each of said panels having a pair of opposing side edges, an upper edge and a lower edge, said panels being coupled to one another along said side edges in series to form a panel assembly;    a series of lower flaps coupled to said lower edges of said at least three panels, said lower flaps interlocking to form a permanent closure at a lower end of said panel assembly; said permanent closure having at least one folding axis;    a series of upper flaps coupled to said upper edges of said at least three panels, said series of upper flaps being interlockable to form an openable closure at an upper end of said panel assembly;    an enclosure formed by said panel assembly, said series of lower flaps and said series of upper flaps, said enclosure being foldable into a generally flat collapsed configuration; and    wherein said package is collapsable into a plane containing said at least one folding axis of said permanent closure.    
     
     
         29 . A package as claimed in  claim 28  wherein said permanent closure comprises: 
 an inner flap coupled to a lower edge of a first panel;  
 an outer flap coupled to a lower edge of a second panel;  
 a first flap coupled to a first portion of a lower edge of a third panel, a first securing portion of said first flap being secured to said inner flap;  
 a second flap coupled to a second portion of said third panel, a second securing portion of said second flap being secured to said outer flap.  
 
     
     
         30 . A package as claimed in  claim 29  wherein said first flap comprises a first folding axis dividing said first flap into a first free portion and said first securing portion and said second flap comprises a second folding axis dividing said second flap into a second free portion and said second securing portion, and wherein said first folding axis and said second folding axis extend from opposing corners of said third panel generally towards a central axis of said enclosure.  
     
     
         31 . A package as claimed in  claim 30  wherein said third panel is foldable along an axis located between said first flap and said second flap and extending along the length thereof, wherein in said collapsed position, said third panel is folded along said axis.  
     
     
         32 . A package as claimed in  claim 28  wherein at least one of said side edges of said panel assembly comprise a depression.  
     
     
         33 . A package as claimed in  claim 32  wherein said depression is curved.  
     
     
         34 . A package as claimed in  claim 33  further comprising four panels including a front panel, a rear panel and two side panels, said four panels being of equal width.  
     
     
         35 . A package as claimed in  claim 34  wherein said permanent closure comprises: 
 a first flap assembly coupled to a lower edge of a front panel and a first portion of a lower edge of each of said side panels, said first flap assembly comprising a front flap and a pair of integral side tabs extending from opposite edges of said front flap;  
 a second flap assembly coupled to a lower edge of a rear panel and a second portion of said lower edge of each of said side panels, said second flap assembly comprising a rear flap and a second pair of integral side tabs extending from opposite edges of said rear flap;  
 a first folding axis dividing each of said side tabs into a free portion and a securing portion, said securing portion being foldable independently from said lower edge of said side panel and being secured to an inner surface of said side panel so that two securing portions are secured to each of side panels;  
 said front flap and said rear flap being secured to one another along a second folding axis; and  
 wherein each of said side panels is foldable in half and said enclosure collapses into a plane containing said second folding axis.  
 
     
     
         36 . A package as claimed in  claim 35  wherein said enclosure is generally cube shaped.  
     
     
         37 . A package as claimed in  claim 28  comprising six panels.  
     
     
         38 . A package as claimed in  claim 37  wherein said permanent closure comprises: 
 two pairs of tabs coupled to lower edges of two pairs of adjacent panels, said pairs of adjacent panels being located on opposite sides of said panel assembly, each of said two pairs of tabs being secured together to form first and second generally flat lower surfaces;  
 a pair of flaps extending from lower edges of opposing panels, said opposing panels being located between said two pairs of adjacent panels, said pair of flaps being secured together to form a third generally flat lower surface;  
 a common folding axis extending through each of first and second generally flat lower surfaces and said third generally flat lower surface.  
 
     
     
         39 . A package as claimed in  claim 28  further comprising an elongated aperture formed in one of said at least three panels for receiving a gift card.  
     
     
         40 . A package as claimed in  claim 39  wherein said elongated aperture further comprises a tab, said tab partially covering a portion of said elongated aperture and securing said gift card within said elongated aperture.  
     
     
         41 . A package as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein said package comprises paperboard having a decorative coating.  
     
     
         42 . A package as claimed in  claim 41 , wherein said package further comprises paperboard coated with three layers of lamination.  
     
     
         43 . A package as claimed in  claim 42 , wherein said package further comprises paperboard coated with reverse printed film.  
     
     
         44 . A package that is movable between a collapsed position and an uncollapsed position, said package comprising: 
 at least three panels, each of said panels having a pair of opposing side edges, a first edge and an opposing second edge, said panels being coupled to one another along said side edges in series to form a panel assembly;    a first series of flaps coupled to said first edges of said at least three panels, said first series of flaps interlocking to form a first openable closure at a first end of said panel assembly;    a second series of flaps coupled to said second edges of said at least three panels, said second series of flaps being interlockable to form a second openable closure at a second end of said panel assembly;    an enclosure formed by said panel assembly, said first series of flaps and said second series of flaps, said enclosure being foldable into a generally flat collapsed configuration; and    wherein when said package is in said uncollapsed position said side edges of said panels are maintained in a generally horizontal orientation.    
     
     
         45 . A package as claimed in  claim 44 , wherein said package comprises paperboard having a decorative coating.  
     
     
         46 . A package as claimed in  claim 45 , wherein said package further comprises paperboard coated with three layers of lamination.  
     
     
         47 . A package as claimed in  claim 45 , wherein said package further comprises paperboard coated with reverse printed film.  
     
     
         48 . A card for attaching to a panel of a package, said card comprising: 
 a card panel having a first edge;    a flap being coupled to said first edge of said card panel;    said flap being rotatable about said first edge;    said flap having locking portions sized to overhang both ends of said first edge;    wherein said flap is insertable into a slot formed in said panel of said package with said locking portions of said flap abut an opposing side of said panel to secure said card to said package.    
     
     
         49 . A card as claimed in  claim 48 , wherein said card comprises paperboard having a decorative coating.  
     
     
         50 . A card as claimed in  claim 49 , wherein said card further comprises paperboard coated with three layers of lamination.  
     
     
         51 . A card as claimed in  claim 49 , wherein said card further comprises paperboard coated with reverse printed film.  
     
     
         52 . A card as claimed in  claim 48  further comprising: 
 a tab extending from said first edge of said card panel, said tab being generally coplanar with said card panel; and  
 wherein said tab of said card panel abuts said panel of said package to prevent said card panel from rotating in a manner that lifts said card panel from said package.  
 
     
     
         53 . A securing closure for a box having at least four side panels, said securing closure comprising: 
 a first flap coupled to a first upper edge of a first of said at least four side panels, said first flap tapering between said first upper edge and a free end;    an enlarged portion located at said free end of said first flap;    an aperture formed in said flap adjacent said first upper edge, said first flap being split into two individual flaps between said aperture and said free end; said two individual flaps being movable to partially overlap one another to form a reduced enlarged portion having a maximum width;    a second flap coupled to a second upper edge of a second side panel, said second panel being located on an opposite side of said box from said first of said at least four side panels;    a slot formed in said second flap, said slot being located adjacent said second upper edge; said slot being sized to receive said reduced enlarged portion;    wherein to secure said securing closure said two individual flaps are overlapped and said reduced enlarged portion is inserted through said slot, once through said slot, said two individual flaps return to an non-overlapping configuration and said enlarged portion secures said first flap in a closed position.    
     
     
         54 . A securing closure for a box having at least four side panels, said securing closure comprising: 
 a locking flap coupled to a first upper edge of a first of said at least four side panels and foldable relative thereto;    a tab located at a free end of said locking flap, said width of said tab being adjustable between a minimum width and a maximum width;    a second flap coupled to a second upper edge of a second of said at least four side panels and foldable relative thereto;    a slot formed in said second flap and located adjacent said second upper edge; said slot being sized to receive said minimum width of said tab;    wherein to secure said securing closure said width of said tab is adjusted to said minimum width and is inserted through said slot, once through said slot, said width of said tab returns to said maximum width said tab secures said locking flap in a closed position.