Enclosure assembly and method

Abstract

A method and apparatus for the storage of goods within a cavity is disclosed. The unique shape and appearance of the enclosure not only allows the enclosure to protect the goods contained therein, but also is quickly and easily identifiable and allows the enclosure to function as an indicator of the source and quality of the goods contained therein. The enclosure is preferably formed from a single piece of material (preferably cardboard or the like) and is folded to form a base, left and right sides, left and right arms, and an upper region. The enclosure may also include one or more apertures that allow potential consumers to view and/or touch the goods contained within the cavity.

1 . An enclosure assembly for the storage of an object, said enclosure assembly comprising: 
 a body having a longitudinal and a transverse axis and defining an internal cavity sized and shaped to substantially contain said object, said body including: 
 a front and a rear generally parallel and planar surface disposed along said longitudinal axis of said body;  
 an upper and a base surface each disposed generally perpendicular to said front and rear surfaces and about generally opposite ends of said longitudinal axis of said body;  
 a first and a second generally parallel side section disposed along generally opposites ends of said transverse axis of said body, said first and said second side sections each disposed generally perpendicular to said front, said rear, said upper and said base surfaces; and  
 a first and a second arm section disposed about said first and second side sections, respectively, said first and said second arm sections extending generally outwardly along said transverse axis of said body from said upper section and generally towards said base section.  
   
   
   
       2 . The enclosure assembly as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said body is formed from a single, unitary piece.  
   
   
       3 . The enclosure assembly as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said body is formed from a single, unitary piece of cardboard.  
   
   
       4 . The enclosure assembly as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said body is formed from a single, unitary piece of plastic.  
   
   
       5 . The enclosure assembly as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said body is formed from a single, unitary piece of paper.  
   
   
       6 . The enclosure assembly as claimed in  claim 2  further including at least one aperture disposed in at least one of said front and rear surfaces, said at least one aperture forming a passageway to said cavity.  
   
   
       7 . The enclosure assembly as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said upper surface is generally concaved towards said base surface.  
   
   
       8 . The enclosure assembly as claimed in  claim 7  wherein said base surface is substantially planar.  
   
   
       9 . The enclosure assembly as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said first and said second arm sections include apertures forming a passageway to said cavity.  
   
   
       10 . The enclosure assembly as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said upper surface includes a plurality of fingers.  
   
   
       11 . The enclosure assembly as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said first and said second side surfaces each include a sidewall securing said first and said second side surfaces to at least one of said front and rear surfaces.  
   
   
       12 . The enclosure assembly as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said first and said second side surfaces have a generally trapezoidal shape.  
   
   
       13 . An enclosure comprising: 
 a body defining an internal cavity sized and shaped to substantially contain an object, said body including: 
 a front section,  
 a rear section adapted to be disposed substantially parallel to said front section and having substantially an identical shape as said front section;  
 at least one side section disposed generally perpendicular to said front and said rear sections about a perimeter of said front and said rear sections; and  
 a first and a second arm section extending generally outwardly from an upper region of said front and said rear sections and generally towards a lower region of said front and said rear sections.  
   
   
   
       14 . The enclosure as claimed in  claim 13  wherein said front section, said rear section, said at least one side section, and said first and said second arm sections are formed from a single, unitary piece.  
   
   
       15 . The enclosure as claimed in  claim 14  wherein said single, unitary piece includes cardboard.  
   
   
       16 . The enclosure as claimed in  claim 14  further including at least one aperture disposed in at least one of said front and rear sections, said at least one aperture forming a passageway to said cavity.  
   
   
       17 . The enclosure assembly as claimed in  claim 14  wherein said upper surface is generally concaved towards said base surface.  
   
   
       18 . The enclosure assembly as claimed in  claim 14  wherein said first and said second arm sections include apertures forming a passageway to said cavity.  
   
   
       19 . A method of forming an enclosure resembling a tee shirt, said method comprising the acts of: 
 stamping a body from a single, generally planar piece of material, said body having a longitudinal and a transverse axis and including a first and a second end region disposed about substantially opposite ends of a central region along said longitudinal axis, said first and said second end regions each including a first and a second arm section extending generally outwardly along said transverse axis and generally towards said central region;    forming a base from said body including folding a first and a second parallel, transverse line about middle section of said central region of said body, said first and said second transverse lines being generally parallel and spaced apart from each other such that said end regions and said arm sections are disposed substantially opposite and parallel to each other;    forming a first and a second side including folding a first and a second longitudinal line about a left and a right side edge of said central region, respectively, said first and said second longitudinal lines being generally parallel to each other;    forming an upper region including folding at least one finger from at least one of said first and said second end regions;    securing said first and said second sides to an adjacent portion of said central region; and    securing said at least one finger to an adjacent portion of either end regions.    
   
   
       20 . The method as claimed in  claim 19  further including the acts of: 
 forming a slot in said side regions;    forming a tab in said central region, said tab sized and shaped to be secured to said slot in said side regions during said act of securing said first and said second sides to said adjacent portion of said central region;    forming a slot in said at least one finger; and    forming a tab in at least one of said end regions, said tab sized and shaped to be secured to said slots in said at least one finger during said act of securing said at least one finger to said adjacent portion of either upper regions.