Packaging blanks and assemblies with integrated suspension sleeve

Abstract

A packaging assembly may include: a bottom portion comprising a bottom surface and a plurality of sidewalls extending upwardly from the bottom surface, wherein the plurality of sidewalls and the bottom surface define a container defining an opening; a top portion foldably connected to at least one of the plurality of sidewalls for selectively covering the opening of the container; a sleeve foldably connected to at least one of the plurality of sidewalls, the sleeve defining an interior compartment for receiving an item, and the sleeve comprising at least one suspension tab, wherein the sleeve is foldable between: a deployed position and a stowed position; and at least one support tab configured to provide additional support between the sleeve and the at least one of the plurality of sidewalls.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A packaging assembly, comprising:
 a bottom portion comprising a bottom surface and a plurality of sidewalls extending upwardly from the bottom surface, wherein the plurality of sidewalls and the bottom surface define a container defining an opening;   a top portion foldably connected to at least one of the plurality of sidewalls for selectively covering the opening of the container;   a sleeve foldably connected to at least one of the plurality of sidewalls, the sleeve defining an interior compartment for receiving an item, and the sleeve comprising at least one suspension tab, wherein the sleeve is foldable between:   a deployed position in which the sleeve is positioned at least partially outside of the container; and   a stowed position in which the at least one suspension tab contacts an inner surface of the container and is configured to provide a gap between at least a portion of the sleeve and the bottom surface of the container such that the sleeve is at least partially suspended within the container; and   at least one support tab configured to provide additional support between the sleeve and the at least one of the plurality of sidewalls.   
     
     
         2 . The packaging assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the packaging assembly is formed of a blank comprising a single sheet of material.   
     
     
         3 . The packaging assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least one suspension tab is foldable between:
 a deployed position in which the at least one suspension tab extends away from an outer surface of the sleeve; and 
 a stowed position in which the at least one suspension tab is generally flush with the sleeve. 
   
     
     
         4 . The packaging assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least one support tab is integral with the sleeve and extends at least partially along a fold line between the sleeve a sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls such that the at least one support tab extends over a portion of the sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls.   
     
     
         5 . The packaging assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the sleeve is foldably connected to a first sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls; and   the top portion is foldably connected to a second sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls, the second sidewall opposing the first sidewall.   
     
     
         6 . The packaging assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the sleeve is foldably connected to a first sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls at a first end of the sleeve, the first end defining a fold line of the sleeve;   the sleeve comprises a flap foldably connected to a second end of the sleeve, the second end opposing the first end and defining a fold line of the flap;   the flap comprises the at least one suspension tab, and the at least one suspension tab extends from the fold line of the flap in an opposing direction relative to the flap; and   the flap is foldable between:
 a deployed position in which the flap and the at least one suspension tab extend outwardly from the sleeve, the at least one suspension tab is configured to contact the bottom surface of the bottom portion and provide a gap between at least a portion of the sleeve and the bottom surface of the bottom portion, and the flap is configured to contact a second sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls, the second sidewall opposing the first sidewall; and 
 a stowed position in which the flap and the at least one suspension tab are generally flush with the sleeve. 
   
     
     
         7 . The packaging assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the sleeve comprises a first wall and a second wall arranged in an overlaid configuration;   respective first ends of the first wall and the second wall are foldably connected to a first sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls;   respective inner surfaces of the first wall and the second wall define the interior compartment; and   in the deployed position, the first wall and the second wall are separable along respective second ends of the first wall and the second wall to provide access to the interior compartment, the respective second ends opposing the respective first ends.   
     
     
         8 . The packaging assembly of  claim 7 , wherein:
 in the stowed position, the first wall is positioned more proximate to the bottom surface of the bottom portion than the second wall;   the sleeve comprises at least one support tab extending from the second end of the first wall; and   the at least one support tab is configured to provide additional support between the sleeve and the first sidewall.   
     
     
         9 . The packaging assembly of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the at least one support tab is adhesively coupled to the first sidewall.   
     
     
         10 . The packaging assembly of  claim 7 , wherein:
 a surface of at least one of the first wall or the second wall defines an opening.   
     
     
         11 . A blank for forming a packaging assembly, the blank comprising:
 a bottom panel for forming a bottom surface of the packaging assembly;   a plurality of sidewall panels foldably connected to the bottom panel for forming a plurality of sidewalls of the packaging assembly;   a top panel foldably connected to at least one of the plurality of sidewall panels for forming a top portion of the packaging assembly;   a sleeve panel foldably connected to a first sidewall panel of the plurality of sidewall panels;   at least one sleeve panel flap foldably connected to the sleeve panel, the at least one sleeve panel flap being foldable relative to the sleeve panel for forming an interior compartment for receiving an item;   a suspension tab, wherein the suspension tab is foldable between:
 an unfolded position in which the suspension tab is generally flush with the sleeve panel; and 
 a folded position in which the suspension tab extends outwardly from the sleeve panel; and 
   a support tab extending from the at least one sleeve panel.   
     
     
         12 . The blank of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the sleeve panel is foldably connected to the first sidewall panel at a first end of the sleeve panel, the first end defining a fold line of the sleeve panel;   the blank further comprises a suspension flap foldably connected to a second end of the sleeve panel, the second end opposing the first end and defining a fold line of the suspension flap;   the suspension flap comprises the suspension tab;   the suspension tab is defined by a cut line formed in at least one of the sleeve panel or the sleeve panel flap; and   the suspension flap is foldable between:
 an unfolded position in which the suspension flap and the suspension tab are generally flush with the sleeve panel; and 
 a folded position in which the suspension flap and the suspension tab extend outwardly from the sleeve panel. 
   
     
     
         13 . The blank of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the at least one sleeve panel flap comprises a first sleeve panel flap and a second sleeve panel flap, wherein:
 the first sleeve panel flap is foldably connected to a third end of the sleeve panel, the third end defining a fold line of the first sleeve panel flap; 
 the second sleeve panel flap is foldably connected to a fourth end of the sleeve panel, the fourth end opposing the third end and defining a fold line of the second sleeve panel flap; and 
 the first sleeve panel flap and the second sleeve panel flap are foldable relative to the sleeve panel for forming the interior compartment. 
   
     
     
         14 . The blank of  claim 13 , wherein:
 at least a portion of at least one of the first sleeve panel flap or the second sleeve panel flap comprises an adhesive layer for adhesively coupling the first sleeve panel flap with the second sleeve panel flap and forming the interior compartment.   
     
     
         15 . The blank of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the support tab is integral with the at least one sleeve panel and at least a portion of the support tab comprises an adhesive layer.   
     
     
         16 . The blank of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the sleeve panel is foldably connected to the first sidewall panel at a first end of the sleeve panel, the first end defining a fold line of the sleeve panel;   the blank further comprises a suspension flap foldably connected to a second end of the sleeve panel, the second end opposing the first end and defining a fold line of the suspension flap;   the suspension flap comprises the suspension tab;   the at least one sleeve panel flap comprises a first sleeve panel flap and a second sleeve panel flap, wherein:
 the first sleeve panel flap is foldably connected to a third end of the sleeve panel, the third end defining a fold line of the first sleeve panel flap; and 
 the second sleeve panel flap is foldably connected to a fourth end of the sleeve panel, the fourth end opposing the third end and defining a fold line of the second sleeve panel flap; 
   the first sleeve panel flap and the second sleeve panel flap each comprise a support tab extending outwardly therefrom; and   at least a portion of the support tab of the first sleeve panel flap and the second sleeve panel flap comprises an adhesive layer for adhesively coupling each support tab to the first sidewall panel.   
     
     
         17 . The blank of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the sleeve panel comprises an opening defined by at least one cut line formed in the sleeve panel.   
     
     
         18 . The blank of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the blank comprises a length of between about 30 inches and about 60 inches, a width of between about 20 inches and about 40 inches, and a thickness of about 0.05 inches to about 0.15 inches.   
     
     
         19 . The blank of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the sleeve panel comprises a length of between about 5 inches and about 15 inches, and a width of between about 5 inches and about 20 inches.   
     
     
         20 . The blank of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the blank comprises a sheet of cardboard.