Envelope container and dispenser

Abstract

An envelope container and dispenser comprises a rectangular prism having first and second side panels, first and second end panels, a bottom panel, and a top panel. A tear guideline or strip forming a closed loop extends across the bottom panel, first side panel, top panel and second side panel, defining a retained portion and a removable portion of the prism. The removable portion, when removed, at least partially exposes three sides of the envelopes stored therein for easy access and removal. The envelopes can be retained in the container so that the container can act as a storage unit and dispenser in either a horizontal or vertical configuration.

1 . A container comprising a rectangular prism having: 
 first and second side panels;    first and second end panels;    a top panel;    a bottom panel; and    a tear guideline extending across the bottom panel, first side panel, top panel and second side panel, forming a generally closed loop and defining a retained portion and a removable portion, wherein the removable portion, when removed, removes at least a portion of the bottom panel, first side panel, top panel, second side panel and one end panel.    
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising a tear strip defined by a pair of generally parallel tear guidelines.  
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 2  wherein the tear strip further comprises a pull tab.  
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the container is an envelope container storing envelopes therein.  
   
   
       5 . The envelope container of  claim 4  wherein at least three edges of envelopes stored therein are exposed when the removable portion is removed.  
   
   
       6 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the tear guideline has a shape including a first portion extending generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the container, a second portion extending generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and a third portion extending generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the shape being located on at least one side panel.  
   
   
       7 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the tear guideline is at least one of a perforated line, a cut score line, a reverse-cut score line and a cut score line in combination with a reverse-cut score line.  
   
   
       8 . The container of  claim 7  wherein the tear guideline extends along the entire length of the closed loop.  
   
   
       9 . An envelope container comprising a rectangular prism having: 
 first and second side panels;    first and second end panels;    a top panel;    a bottom panel; and    a tear guideline extending across the first side panel, second side panel, and at least one of the top and bottom panels, forming a generally closed loop and defining a retained portion and a removable portion wherein the removable portion, when removed, removes at least a portion of the first side panel, second side panel and the at least one of the top and bottom panels, and wherein the tear guideline has a shape having a first portion extending generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the container, a second portion extending generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and a third portion extending generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the shape being located on at least one side panel.    
   
   
       10 . A method for making a container, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a generally flat blank having first and second side panels, first and second end panels, a top panel, and a bottom panel;    forming in the blank a generally closed-loop tear guideline extending across the bottom panel, first side panel, top panel and second side panel; and    folding the blank into a generally prism shape such that the tear guideline defines a retained portion of the prism and a removable portion of the prism wherein the removable portion, when removed, removes at least a portion of the bottom panel, first side panel, top panel, second side panel and one end panel.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of forming in the blank a pair of generally parallel tear guidelines defining a tear strip.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of adding a pull tab to the tear strip.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the container is an envelope container storing envelopes therein.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the steps of: 
 tearing the tear guideline;    removing the removable portion of the prism; and    exposing at least three edges of envelopes stored therein.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of forming the tear guideline with a shape having a first portion extending generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the container, a second portion extending generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and a third portion extending generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the shape being located on at least one side panel.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of forming the tear guideline with at least one of a perforated line, a cut score line, a reverse-cut score line and a cut score line in combination with a reverse cut score line.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of extending the tear guideline along the entire length of the closed loop.  
   
   
       18 . A method for manipulating an envelope container, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a rectangular prism having first and second side panels, first and second end panels, a top panel, and a bottom panel, the prism having a tear guideline extending across the first side panel, second side panel and at least one of the top and bottom panels, forming a generally closed loop and defining a retained portion of the prism and a removable portion of the prism,    tearing the container along the tear guideline; and    separating the removable portion from the retained portion such that the removable portion, when removed, removes at least a portion of the first side panel, second side panel and the at least one of the top and bottom panels.