Transparent shirt box

Abstract

A shirt box includes a substrate having a plurality of fold lines including a first set of generally parallel fold lines and a second set of generally parallel fold lines. Notches extend through the substrate in a first direction. First and second sets of panels are separated from one another by fold lines. The panels are foldable along respective fold lines to define a hollow central cavity for the shirt box and peripheral ends of the shirt box. A bond permanently connects two non-adjacent panels in the first set while double-sided tape members are in adhesive contact with panels in the second set. Removable strips overlie a second side of the double-sided tape members while the shirt box is in a collapsible state, and are removable so as to size the hollow central cavity to receive a shirt or a shirt and tie combination.

1 . A shirt box suitable for receiving a shirt or shirt and tie combination, comprising: 
 a single sheet of substantially transparent plastic;    a plurality of fold lines in the plastic sheet including a first set of generally parallel fold lines and a second set of generally parallel fold lines;    a plurality of notches through the plastic sheet generally extending in a first direction;    a series of first panels each being separated from a next panel in the series by a respective fold line in the first set of fold lines, the first panels being foldable along said respective fold lines in the first direction to define a hollow central cavity for the shirt box;    a set of second panels each having a boundary along a respective fold line in the second set of fold lines to a respective first panel, each having a free end opposite the boundary, and each being adjacent at least one of the notches, the second panels being foldable along said respective fold lines in a second direction which is substantially perpendicular to the first direction to define first and second peripheral ends of the shirt box;    a bond permanently connecting one of the first panels to another of the first panels, wherein the another panel is after at least the next panel in the series of first panels;    a first and second double-sided tape member, each tape member having a first side in adhesive contact with a respective second panel and having a second side; and    first and second removable strips overlying the second side of the first and second double-sided tape members, respectively,    wherein the shirt box has a collapsible state in which first and second removable strips overlie the first and second tape members, and a second state in which the second side of at least one of the tape members is in adhesive contact with one of the panels and in which the hollow central cavity is sized to receive the shirt or shirt and tie combination.    
   
   
       2 . The shirt box of  claim 1 , wherein a stable second state comprises both of the first and second tape members being in contact with a respective first panel and wherein the plastic material has a stiffness to support a weight of a plurality of said short boxes containing respective shirts or shirt and tie combinations.  
   
   
       3 . The shirt box of  claim 1 , further comprising chamfered corners on at least a portion of the free ends.  
   
   
       4 . The shirt box of  claim 1 , wherein the second panels extend symmetrically from opposing margins of the first panels.  
   
   
       5 . The shirt box of  claim 1 , wherein the fold line is continuous.  
   
   
       6 . The shirt box of  claim 1 , wherein the fold line comprises a score line in the plastic sheet.  
   
   
       7 . The shirt box of  claim 1 , wherein the bond comprises an adhesive glue.  
   
   
       8 . The shirt box of  claim 1 , wherein the bond comprises a weld joining said one first panel to said another first panel  
   
   
       9 . The shirt box of  claim 1 , wherein at least one notch has a depth equal to width of at least one of said first panels.  
   
   
       10 . A shirt box suitable for receiving a shirt or shirt and tie combination, consisting of: 
 a single sheet of substantially transparent plastic;    a plurality of fold lines in the plastic sheet including a first set of generally parallel fold lines and a second set of generally parallel fold lines;    a plurality of notches through the plastic sheet generally extending in a first direction;    a series of first panels each being separated from a next panel in the series by a respective fold line in the first set of fold lines, the first panels being foldable along said respective fold lines in the first direction to define a hollow central cavity for the shirt box;    a set of second panels each having a boundary along a respective fold line in the second set of fold lines to a respective first panel, each having a free end opposite the boundary, and each being adjacent at least one of the notches, the second panels being foldable along said respective fold lines in a second direction which is substantially perpendicular to the first direction to define first and second peripheral ends of the shirt box;    a bond permanently connecting one of the first panels to another of the first panels, wherein the another panel is after at least the next panel in the series of first panels;    a first and second double-sided tape member, each tape member having a first side in adhesive contact with a respective second panel and having a second side; and    first and second removable strips overlying the second side of the first and second double-sided tape members, respectively,    wherein the shirt box has a collapsible state in which first and second removable strips overlie the first and second tape members, and a stable, second state in which the second side of at least one of the tape members is in adhesive contact with one of the panels and in which the hollow central cavity is sized to receive the shirt or shirt and tie combination.    
   
   
       11 . The shirt box of  claim 10 , wherein a stable second state comprises both of the first and second tape members being in contact with a respective first panel and wherein the plastic material has a stiffness sufficient to support a weight of a plurality of said shirt boxes containing respective shirts or shirt and tie combinations.  
   
   
       12 . The shirt box of  claim 10 , wherein the second panels extend symmetrically from opposing margins of the first panels.  
   
   
       13 . The shirt box of  claim 10 , wherein the fold line is continuous.  
   
   
       14 . The shirt box of  claim 10 , wherein the fold line comprises a score line in the plastic sheet.  
   
   
       15 . The shirt box of  claim 10 , wherein the bond comprises an adhesive glue.  
   
   
       16 . The shirt box of  claim 10 , wherein the bond comprises a weld joining said one first panel to said another first panel.  
   
   
       17 . The shirt box of  claim 10 , wherein at least one notch has a depth equal to width of at least one of said first panels.