CASES AND CARD PRODUCTS

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE OF RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of JP Pat. App. 2024-116059 filed Jul. 19, 2024. The contents of the application are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a card product comprising: a rectangular parallelepiped case with a header, for housing playing cards or trading cards (hereinafter collectively referred to as “cards”) for which security is required; and a plurality of cards accommodated in the case.

BACKGROUND

Conventionally, a rectangular parallelepiped case with a header for housing cards requiring security is sealed after accommodating the cards, and is sold as a card product. A purchaser can take out the cards by opening the case. When different cards are accommodated in each card product, the case may be made non-transparent so that the contents of the cards cannot be identified at the time of purchase.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a conventional case in an opened state. The case 50 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and a header portion 51 is formed as an extension from the upper part of the rear surface. When cards are to be housed and sealed using the case 50, cards are inserted into the case 50 from the upper opening in the state shown in FIG. 7, the left and right flaps 52 and 53 are folded inward, the top surface 54 is then folded over, and a tuck flap 55, which is formed continuously with the top surface 54, is inserted between the top surface 54 and the rear surface 58 to bring the case into a closed state.

In order to ensure security by preventing the case 50 from being opened at the time of sale, the case is sealed by applying seals from both sides of the top surface 54 to the side surfaces 57. In addition to or instead of the seals, the tuck flap 55 may be adhered to the rear surface 58.

A purchaser can peel off the seals applied from both sides of the top surface 54 to the side surfaces 57, remove the tuck flap 55 as shown in FIG. 7, and open the top surface 54 to expose the upper opening, thereby allowing the cards to be taken out. After opening, the case can continue to be used by the purchaser as a storage case for the cards.

The header portion 51 is used to hang the card product on a hanging rod at the time of sale. For this purpose, a hanging hole 56 is provided in the header portion 51. By inserting the hanging hole 56 onto a hanging rod, which is fixed horizontally at the sales location, the card product is suspended from the hanging rod (For example, JP Pub. 2018-177357).

SUMMARY

In the conventional case 50, when manufacturing a card product by accommodating cards and sealing the case 50, it is necessary to perform a step of inserting the tuck flap 55 between the top surface 54 and the rear surface 58. This step is not easily automated. When performed manually, labor costs are incurred, and even when performed by a machine, the insertion may fail, resulting in poor yield. In particular, when the tuck flap 55 is adhered to the rear surface 58, the step becomes even more complex, making automation more difficult.

In addition, the step of applying seals from the top surface 54 to the side surfaces 57 is also relatively complex and not easily automated. When this step is performed manually, labor costs are incurred, and even when performed by a machine, failures may occur, resulting in a reduced yield.

Furthermore, although the case can continue to be used by the purchaser as a storage case for the cards after opening, the header portion is no longer necessary at this stage. Moreover, the presence of the header portion may interfere with the smooth insertion and removal of the tuck flap.

The present disclosure has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a novel case and card product.

• • (1) A case according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a rectangular parallelepiped case with a header for housing playing cards or trading cards requiring security, the case having a front surface, a rear surface, a right side surface, a left side surface, a top surface, and a bottom surface. The rear surface includes a tear line at an upper end thereof and an adhesive portion extending from the tear line. The top surface is formed continuously from an upper end of the front surface and includes a tab extending from an upper end of the rear surface, the tab forming the header. The adhesive portion is adhered to the top surface or the tab. When the case is sealed state, separating the rear surface from the adhesive portion along the tear line: (i) leaves evidence of opening, thereby breaking the sealed state of the case, and (ii) enables the header to function as an insertion piece and the top surface to function as an openable lid, such that the case remains usable for housing the playing cards or trading cards after opening.

With this configuration, when the case is opened, evidence of opening remains on the case, thereby preventing it from being opened before sale and ensuring security. In addition, after opening, the header functions as an insertion portion (tuck), so the header does not become an obstruction. Furthermore, in the manufacturing process, since the case can be sealed by adhesion alone without requiring a step of inserting the tuck, the sealing process can be more easily automated and the production yield can be improved.

• • (2) In the case of (1), the adhesive portion may be adhered to a rear surface of the tab, and after opening, the tab and the adhesive portion adhered to each other function as the insertion piece.
  • (3) In the case of (2), the adhesive portion may be folded back from the upper end of the tab and adhered also to the front surface of the tab.
  • (4) In the case of (1), the adhesive portion may be adhered to an inner surface of the top surface, and after opening, the top surface and the adhesive portion adhered to each other function as the openable lid.
  • (5) In the case of any one of (1) to (4), the header may include a hanging hole configured to receive a hanging rod for suspending the case.
  • (6) In the case of any one of (1) to (5), the tear line may have a strength sufficient to prevent separation due to the weight of the case, even when the playing cards or trading cards are housed in the case and the case is suspended.
  • (7) In the case of any one of (1) to (6), the tear line may include, at a central portion thereof, a convex shape projecting downward on the rear surface, to facilitate tearing by a finger and to facilitate opening and closing of the openable lid.
  • (8) In the case of (7), the convex shape projecting downward may be a rounded shape.
  • (9) A card product comprises the case of any one of (1) to (8); and a plurality of the playing cards or the trading cards housed in the case.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a case according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a developed view of a case according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of the header of the case according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating an operation of opening the case according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating an operation of closing the case after opening, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a modified example of the case according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a conventional case.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present disclosure will be described. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments, and the technical elements, functions, and other features described in the embodiments may be combined arbitrarily.

(Structure of the Case) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a case according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 2 is a developed view of the case according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. In the following description, the surface shown in FIG. 2 is referred to as the front or outer surface, and the reverse side thereof is referred to as the rear or inner surface. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the case 10 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape composed of a front surface 11, a rear surface 12, a right side surface 13, a left side surface 14, a top surface 15, and a bottom surface 16. A header 28 is provided at the upper end of the rear surface 12 and is formed as an extension thereof. The header 28 is composed of a tab 19, an upper adhesive margin 20, and a folded portion 21, which are laminated on one another. The header 28 includes a hanging hole 29.

The rear surface of the right side surface 13 is bonded to the front surface of a side adhesive margin 17, and the rear surface of the bottom surface 16 is bonded to the front surface of a bottom adhesive margin 18.

The rear surface 12 includes a tear line 30 at its upper end and an upper adhesive margin 20 as an adhesive portion extending from the tear line. The upper adhesive margin 20 includes a folded portion 21 extending from its upper end. The top surface 15 is formed continuously from the front surface 11. The top surface 15 includes a tab 19 extending from an end on the side of the rear surface 12 (the upper end in FIG. 2). The tab 19 constitutes a part of the header 28.

The tear line 30 has sufficient strength such that it is not torn by the weight of the case 10, even when the case 10, accommodating cards, is suspended by the hanging hole 29. The tear line 30 is formed by intermittently cutting between the rear surface 12 and the upper adhesive margin 20.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of the header of the case according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The rear surface of the tab 19 is bonded to the rear surface of the upper adhesive margin 20, and the rear surface of the folded portion 21 is bonded to the front surface of the tab 19. In this manner, in the present embodiment, the header 28 has a structure in which the tab 19, the upper adhesive margin 20, and the folded portion 21 are laminated, thereby providing sufficient strength.

(Method for Manufacturing Card Product) A method for manufacturing a card product in which cards are housed in the above-described case will be described. All of the following steps are performed by a machine. The manufacturing process of the card product includes a folding step and a bonding step with respect to the integrally formed case 10, as shown in FIG. 2. A flat case as illustrated in FIG. 2 is prepared. The case is entirely made of a single material, and specifically, is made of paper.

First, mountain folds are formed along the boundaries between the right side surface 13 and the front surface 11, between the front surface 11 and the left side surface 14, between the left side surface 14 and the rear surface 12, and between the rear surface 12 and the side adhesive margin 17. The rear surface of the right side surface 13 is then bonded to the front surface of the side adhesive margin 17 using an adhesive, thereby forming a tubular shape with open top and bottom ends. Next, the right bottom flap 22, the left bottom flap 23, the bottom adhesive margin 18, and the bottom surface 16 are sequentially folded as mountain folds, and the rear surface of the bottom surface 16 is bonded to the front surface of the bottom adhesive margin 18 using an adhesive.

In this state, a bottomed box with an open top is formed. In this state, cards are accommodated in the case 10. The cards may be directly accommodated in the case 10, or may be accommodated in a plastic inner bag, which is in turn accommodated in the case 10.

After the cards are accommodated, the right top flap 24, the left top flap 25, and the top surface 15 are each folded along mountain folds, and a valley fold is formed between the top surface 15 and the tab 19. As a result, the rear surface of the tab 19 overlaps the rear surface of the upper adhesive margin 20, and the rear surface of the tab 19 is bonded to the rear surface of the upper adhesive margin 20 using an adhesive.

Furthermore, by folding the upper adhesive margin 20 and the folded portion 21 along mountain folds and turning them over, the front surface of the tab 19 comes to overlap the rear surface of the folded portion 21. The front surface of the tab 19 is then bonded to the rear surface of the folded portion 21 using an adhesive. As a result, the header 28 is formed such that the upper adhesive margin 20, the tab 19, and the folded portion 21 are laminated and bonded to one another in this order, extending from the upper end of the rear surface 12.

At this time, the hole 26 of the upper adhesive margin 20 and the hole 27 of the folded portion 21 are aligned with each other, and since the tab 19 has a notch at the overlapping portion, a hanging hole 29 is formed by the holes 26 and 27.

As described above, the manufacturing process of the card product includes a step of forming the case 10, a step of inserting cards, and a step of sealing the case. The steps of forming and sealing the case 10 include folding and bonding steps, but do not include complicated steps such as an insertion step. Therefore, the process can be easily automated, and due to the absence of complicated steps, a high yield can be achieved.

(Post-Purchase Operation) After purchasing the card product, the purchaser can open the case 10 and take out the cards contained therein. After opening the case 10 and removing the cards for use, the case 10 can continue to be used as a case for storing the cards.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the operation of opening the case according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 4, when the rear surface 12 and the upper adhesive margin 20 are separated along the tear line 30 while the case 10 is in a sealed state, the sealed state of the case 10 is released, and the case 10 is opened. At this time, the case 10 is opened in a manner that leaves evidence of being opened.

An opening in a manner that leaves evidence of being opened refers, in the present embodiment, to an irreversible opening in which the rear surface 12 and the upper adhesive margin 20 are separated along the tear line 30, and are not reconnected at the tear line 30. With this configuration, if the case 10 is opened before purchase, the opened state is irreversibly maintained, so that once opened, the case 10 cannot be resealed as if it were unopened. Accordingly, the security of the cards is ensured.

The tear line 30 includes, at its center, a convex-shaped portion that projects downward toward the lower side of the rear surface. Specifically, the convex shape is a rounded shape, and more specifically, an arcuate shape. When opening the case, the user can press a finger against this convex portion, thereby facilitating the tearing of the tear line 30 with the finger.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the operation of closing the case after opening, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 5, after the case is opened, the top surface 15 functions as a lid, and the header 28 functions as an insertion portion (tuck). By inserting the tuck 28 into the inside of the rear surface 12, the case 10 can be closed. Furthermore, by pulling out the tuck 28, the top lid 15 can be opened, allowing the stored cards to be removed. Even in this case, since the center of the tear line 30 has a convex shape, the tuck 28 can be easily extracted by placing a finger on the convex portion and pulling it out.

In the present embodiment, as described above, the header 28 is formed by the tab 19, the upper adhesive margin 20, and the folded portion 21 being laminated and bonded together, thereby ensuring sufficient strength. This configuration is also effective when the header 28 is used as a tuck after the case 10 has been opened.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the portion that serves as the header for hanging the card product before opening can be used as a tuck after opening. Therefore, the header does not remain after opening. Accordingly, the case 10 can be used, after opening, as a case that does not include a header.

(Effects of the Embodiment) As described above, in the present embodiment, the manufacturing process of the case does not include a complicated step such as inserting a tuck. Instead, the case 10 can be formed and sealed through folding and bonding steps, which facilitates automation. Therefore, manufacturing costs can be reduced.

Further, when the case 10 is opened, the tear line 30 is separated in a manner that leaves evidence of being opened, resulting in irreversible opening. Accordingly, once the case has been opened, it cannot be restored to an unopened state, thereby ensuring the security of the cards.

Furthermore, after opening, the header 28 functions as a tuck, allowing the case to be reused for storing the cards after use. In doing so, the header 28 no longer remains as a header. Therefore, the header 28 does not obstruct handling, improving usability.

(Modifications) In the above embodiment, a folded portion 21 is provided on top of the upper adhesive margin 20. After the tab 19 and the upper adhesive margin 20 are bonded together, the folded portion 21 is further folded back and bonded to the tab 19. However, this folded portion 21 may be omitted.

However, in such a case, the bonded surface between the tab 19 and the upper adhesive margin 20 would be exposed at the upper end of the header 28, which may reduce the aesthetic appearance and make the bonded portion between the tab 19 and the upper adhesive margin 20 more susceptible to peeling from the upper end of the header 28. On the other hand, providing the folded portion 21 allows the upper end of the header 28 to form a mountain-fold between the upper adhesive margin 20 and the folded portion 21, thereby enhancing the visual appearance and reinforcing the adhesion of the header 28.

In the above embodiment, the rear surface of the tab 19 is bonded to the rear surface of the upper adhesive margin 20. However, alternatively, the folded portion 21 may be omitted, and the front surface of the upper adhesive margin 20 may be bonded to the rear surface of the top surface 15. In this case, the tab 19 alone constitutes the header 28. The hanging hole is then provided in the tab 19.

In this case, after the case is opened, the upper adhesive margin 20 remains bonded to the inner surface of the top surface 15, which functions as the upper lid, and the tab 19 alone serves as the tuck. Accordingly, a hanging hole is formed in the tab 19 instead of a notch. Even with this configuration, the case 10 can be assembled without requiring a complicated process such as insertion. The case is irreversibly opened along the tear line 30 in a manner that leaves evidence of being opened. After opening, the tab 19, which functioned as a header prior to opening, can be used as a tuck.