Package

Abstract

A three-piece novel package structure comprises a box-shaped frame and a pair of holding elements. Each of the holding elements has a pair of flaps at its opposite ends that will be sandwiched by a pair of retaining covers between the retaining covers and the sidewalls of the frame. The retaining covers may further have tongues to engage with slots provided on the holding elements.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A package for holding an item, comprising: 
 a rectangular frame open at both top and bottom and having first and second pairs of opposite sidewalls with first and second pairs of top edges and bottom edges correspondingly;    upper and lower holding elements, each having a generally rectangular planar portion with first and second pairs of opposite edges corresponding to said pairs of opposite sidewalls of said frame, for jointly forming a holder with a cavity for keeping said item therein when said two holding elements are put together with said planar portions against each other;    wherein each holding element has a pair of flaps formed along at least one of said pairs of opposite edges and perpendicular to said planar portion, and said frame has, for each of said flaps, a retaining cover for sandwiching said each flap between said cover and corresponding one of said sidewalls, whereby said holder formed by said two holding elements is secured to said sidewalls inside said frame.    
     
     
         2 . The package of  claim 1  wherein at least one of said holding elements is provided on said planar portion with a concave portion for forming said cavity for keeping said item.  
     
     
         3 . The package of  claim 2  wherein both of said holding elements is provided with said concave portion.  
     
     
         4 . The package of  claim 1  wherein said each retaining cover is an extension from said top or bottom edges of said corresponding sidewall of said frame.  
     
     
         5 . The package of  claim 4 , wherein said lower holding element is provided with a first pair of flaps along said first pair of opposite edges, and said frame is provided with a first pair of said retaining covers folded-in from said first pair of bottom edges.  
     
     
         6 . The package of  claim 5  wherein each of said first pair of retaining covers folded-in from said bottom edges are fixed to said first pair of sidewalls at a portion close to said bottom edges such that a horizontal gap is formed between each of said first pair of covers and said sidewalls for retaining said first pair of flaps of said lower holding element therein.  
     
     
         7 . The package of  claim 6  wherein said portion of said first pair of covers of said bottom edges is fixed to said sidewalls by an adhesive.  
     
     
         8 . The package of  claim 6  wherein said upper holding element is provided with a second pair of flaps along said second pair of opposite edges, and said frame is provided with a second pair of retaining covers folded-in from said second pair of top edges.  
     
     
         9 . The package of  claim 8  wherein at least one slot is formed at a juncture where each of said second pair of flaps and said planar portion of said upper holding element meet, and a tongue is formed as an extension from a free edge of each of said second pair of covers for engaging with said slot.  
     
     
         10 . The package of  claim 9  wherein one of said first pair of sidewalls of said frame is detachably connected to one of said second pair of said sidewalls of said frame.  
     
     
         11 . The package of  claim 10  wherein said one of said second pair of sidewalls has an insert extending from a free side edge of said sidewall and foldable along said free side edge, and said one of said first pair of sidewalls has a vertical gap at a free side edge for accepting said foldable insert whereby said two sidewalls are detachably connected together.  
     
     
         12 . The package of  claim 11  wherein said vertical gap is formed between said one of said first pair of sidewalls and one of said first pair of retaining covers is folded-in on said sidewall.  
     
     
         13 . The package of  claim 10  wherein said one of said first pair of sidewalls has an insert extending from a free side edge of said sidewall and foldable along said free side edge, and said one of said second pair of sidewalls has a vertical gap at a free side edge for accepting said foldable insert whereby said two sidewalls are connected together.  
     
     
         14 . The package of  claim 5  wherein said upper holding element is provided with a first pair of flaps along said first pair of opposite edges, and said frame is provided with a first pair of said retaining covers folded-in from said first pair of said top edges.  
     
     
         15 . The package of  claim 14  wherein each of said first pair of retaining covers folded-in from said top edges are fixed to said first pair of sidewalls at a portion close to said top edges such that a horizontal gap is formed between each of said first pair of covers and said sidewalls for retaining said first pair of flaps of said upper holding element therein.  
     
     
         16 . The package of  claim 15  wherein said portion of said first pair of covers is fixed to said first pair of sidewalls by an adhesive.  
     
     
         17 . The package of  claim 15  wherein one of said first pair of sidewalls of said frame is detachably connected to one of said second pair of sidewalls of said frame.  
     
     
         18 . The package of  claim 17  wherein said one of said second pair of sidewalls has an insert extending from a free side edge of said sidewall along its height and foldable along said free side edge, and said one of said first pair of sidewalls has a vertical gap at a free side edge for accepting said foldable insert whereby said two sidewalls are connected together.  
     
     
         19 . The package of  claim 18  wherein said vertical gap is formed between said one of said first pair of sidewalls and said two of said first pair of retaining covers is folded-in on said sidewall from said top and bottom edges respectively.  
     
     
         20 . The package of  claim 5  wherein said upper holding element is provided with a second pair of flaps along said second pair of opposite edges, and said frame is provided with a second pair of retaining covers folded-in from said second pair of top edges.  
     
     
         21 . The package of  claim 20  wherein at least one slot is formed at a juncture between each of said flaps and said planar portion of said holding elements, and a tongue is formed as an extension from a free edge of each of said covers for engaging said slot.  
     
     
         22 . The package of  claim 1  wherein at least one of said holding elements is made of a transparent material.  
     
     
         23 . The package of  claim 2  wherein at least said one holding element that has said concave portion is made of a transparent material.  
     
     
         24 . The package of  claim 1  wherein each of said retaining covers has a free edge that is parallel to said top or bottom edge of said sidewall from which it is extended, and said free edge has a width wider than that of said top or bottom edge such that said retaining cover would partly press on adjacent sidewalls of said frame when said cover is folded in, whereby keeping both said flap and said cover in place within said frame.  
     
     
         25 . The package of  claim 24  wherein only one of said pairs of top edges and one of said pairs of bottom edges of said frame are provided with said retaining covers.  
     
     
         26 . A package for holding an item, comprising: 
 a pair of holding elements for jointly forming a holder having an enclosed cavity for keeping said item therein;    a tube-shaped frame having a closing wall with an open top and an open bottom;    wherein each of said holding elements has at least a flap formed along a peripheral edge, and said frame has a retaining cover to sandwich said flap between said cover and said closing wall such that said holder is secured to and inside said frame.    
     
     
         27 . The package of  claim 26 , wherein each of said holding elements is a plate-like element with a planar portion having said peripheral edge.  
     
     
         28 . The package of  claim 27  wherein at least one of said holding elements has a concave portion formed on said planar portion for forming said cavity when said two holding elements are put together with said planar portion against each other.  
     
     
         29 . The package of  claim 28  wherein said flap is substantially perpendicular to said planar portion.  
     
     
         30 . The package of  claim 28  wherein said retaining cover is a board folded-in from an open edge of said closing wall.  
     
     
         31 . The package of  claim 28  wherein at least one of said holding elements further comprises at least a slot at a junction between said flap and said planar portion, and said retaining cover further comprises a tongue extending from a free edge of said cover to engage with said slot.  
     
     
         32 . The package of  claim 26  wherein at least one of said holding elements is made of a transparent material.