BOX TEMPLATE FOR DISPLAY WITH PICTURE FRAME

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 USC § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/737,153 filed Dec. 20, 2024, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates generally to folding cartons and blanks therefor, and more particularly to a blank configured to form a carton for displaying an item for sale.

The present disclosure is directed more particularly to such a blank, with the blank configured to form a carton including a picture-frame portion configured to allow the picture-frame portion to be detached conveniently from the carton and used separately from the remainder of the carton. Also disclosed is a carton formed from such a carton blank. When the carton blank has been formed into a carton, the carton may be particularly well suited to the display and sale of a costume, in which the detachable picture frame is useful for displaying a photograph of the costume being worn.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly stated, in any embodiment, a carton blank may be configured to be foldable into a carton, the carton blank including: a unitary blank body including a back wall panel, a bottom panel, a front panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel, each of the back wall panel, the bottom panel, the front panel, the first side panel, and the second side panel being foldably attached at least indirectly; and a detachable picture frame portion formed as a portion of the unitary blank body and defined by perforations in the unitary blank body, wherein the perforations enable the detachable picture frame portion to be separated from the unitary blank body along the perforations.

In any embodiment, the carton blank may further include an inner panel foldably attached to the back wall panel, the inner panel being positionable against the back wall panel when the carton is assembled, wherein the detachable picture frame portion is formed in the inner panel, and wherein the detachable picture frame portion includes a removable knock-out panel configured to be separated from the detachable picture frame portion to form a frame opening for receiving a photograph or other flat article for display.

Any embodiment may comprise a carton blank wherein the detachable picture frame portion includes: a knock-out panel defined by knock-out perforations, the knock-out panel being removable to form a frame opening.

Any embodiment may comprise a carton blank wherein the detachable picture frame portion includes a support body configured to be folded and positioned to support the detachable picture frame portion free-standing in an upright display position when the detachable picture frame portion is detached from the unitary blank body.

Any embodiment may comprise a carton blank wherein the support body is defined by a fold line in the detachable picture frame portion.

Any embodiment may comprise a carton blank wherein: the front panel includes a first front-side tab and a second front-side tab; and the first side panel includes a first side-panel slot and the second side panel includes a second side-panel slot, with the first side-panel slot being configured and positioned so that the first front-side tab is insertable into the first side-panel slot to secure the front panel to the first side panel in an assembled configuration, and with the second side-panel slot being configured and positioned so that the second front-side tab is insertable into the second side-panel slot to secure the front panel to the second side panel in an assembled configuration.

Any embodiment may comprise a carton blank wherein the first side panel has a first side-panel flap extending therefrom, the first side-panel flap of the first side panel being configured to: (a) at least partially overlie an interior portion of a carton formed by an assembled configuration of the unitary blank body; and (b) engage the first side-panel slot.

Any embodiment may comprise a carton blank wherein the bottom panel includes at least one slot configured to receive a tab extending from a lower edge of the inner panel to retain the inner panel against the back wall panel during assembly.

Any embodiment may comprise a carton blank wherein the unitary blank body includes a second detachable picture frame portion.

Any embodiment may comprise a carton blank wherein at least one detachable picture frame portion is formed in the inner panel and at least one additional detachable picture frame portion is formed in the front panel or the back wall panel.

Any embodiment may comprise a carton blank wherein the perforations defining the detachable picture frame portion include curved segments, straight segments, or a combination thereof to form a closed geometric outline.

Any embodiment may comprise a carton blank wherein the perforations include at least one contoured portion shaped to provide an inwardly projecting tab for retaining a photograph within the detachable picture frame portion.

Any embodiment may comprise a carton blank wherein the unitary blank body is formed from a single sheet of paperboard, a single sheet of corrugated cardboard, or a polymeric sheet material.

In any embodiment, a carton may be formed from a unitary blank body and configured to contain an item for retail sale, the carton including: a back wall panel, a bottom panel, a front panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel, each of the back wall panel, the bottom panel, the front panel, the first side panel, and the second side panel being foldably attached at least indirectly and formed into an assembled configuration of the unitary blank body; and a detachable picture frame portion formed as a portion of the unitary blank body and defined by perforations in the unitary blank body, wherein the perforations enable the detachable picture frame portion to be separated from the unitary blank body along the perforations.

In any embodiment, the carton may further include an inner panel foldably attached to the back wall panel, the inner panel being positioned against the back wall panel in the assembled configuration, wherein the detachable picture frame portion is formed in the inner panel, and wherein the detachable picture frame portion includes a removable knock-out panel configured to be separated from the detachable picture frame portion to form a frame opening for receiving a photograph or other flat article for display.

Any embodiment may include a carton, wherein the detachable picture frame portion includes a knock-out panel defined by knock-out perforations, the knock-out panel being removable to form a frame opening.

Any embodiment may include a carton wherein the detachable picture frame portion includes at least one support body configured to be folded and positioned to support the detachable picture frame portion free-standing in an upright display position when the detachable picture frame portion is separated from the unitary blank body.

Any embodiment may include a carton wherein the detachable picture frame portion includes at least one support body defined by a fold line in the detachable picture frame portion and configured to be folded and positioned to support the detachable picture frame portion in an upright display position when the detachable picture frame portion is separated from the unitary blank body.

Any embodiment may include a carton wherein: the front panel includes a first front-side tab and a second front-side tab; and the first side panel includes a first side-panel slot and the second side panel includes a second side-panel slot, with the first side-panel slot being configured and positioned so that the first front-side tab is insertable into the first side-panel slot to secure the front panel to the first side panel in the assembled configuration, and with the second side-panel slot being configured and positioned so that the second front-side tab is insertable into the second side-panel slot to secure the front panel to the second side panel in the assembled configuration.

Any embodiment may include a carton wherein the first side panel includes a first side-panel flap extending therefrom, the first side-panel flap being configured to: (a) at least partially overlie an interior portion of the carton in the assembled configuration; and (b) engage the first side-panel slot.

Any embodiment may include a carton wherein the bottom panel includes at least one slot configured to receive a tab extending from a lower edge of the inner panel to retain the inner panel against the back wall panel in the assembled configuration.

Any embodiment may include a carton wherein the unitary blank body includes a second detachable picture frame portion.

Any embodiment may include a carton wherein at least one detachable picture frame portion is formed in the inner panel and at least one additional detachable picture frame portion is formed in the front panel or the back wall panel.

Any embodiment may include a carton wherein the perforations defining the detachable picture frame portion include curved segments, straight segments, or a combination thereof to form a closed geometric outline.

Any embodiment may include a carton wherein the perforations defining the detachable picture frame portion include at least one contoured portion shaped to provide an inwardly projecting tab for retaining a photograph within the detachable picture frame portion.

Any embodiment may include a carton wherein the unitary blank body is formed from a single sheet of paperboard, a single sheet of corrugated cardboard, or a polymeric sheet material.

An embodiment of a method of forming a carton from a unitary blank body may be provided, wherein the unitary blank body may be configured to be foldable into a carton for containing an item for retail sale, the unitary blank body including a back wall panel, a bottom panel, a front panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel, each of the back wall panel, the bottom panel, the front panel, the first side panel, and the second side panel being foldably attached at least indirectly, and further including a detachable picture frame portion formed as a portion of the unitary blank body and defined by perforations in the unitary blank body, the perforations enabling the detachable picture frame portion to be separated from the unitary blank body along the perforations for independent use as a picture frame. The method may include: folding the bottom panel along a fold line connecting the bottom panel to the back wall panel; folding the front panel along a fold line connecting the front panel to the bottom panel; folding the first side panel and the second side panel inward toward the back wall panel; securing the front panel to the first side panel and the second side panel to enclose an interior volume of the carton; and positioning the detachable picture frame portion within the carton formed by an assembled configuration of the unitary blank body.

Any embodiment may include a method wherein securing the front panel to the first side panel and the second side panel includes inserting a first front-side tab of the front panel into a first side-panel slot of the first side panel and inserting a second front-side tab of the front panel into a second side-panel slot of the second side panel.

Any embodiment of the method may further include folding a first side-panel flap of the first side panel and a second side-panel flap of the second side panel inwardly to engage the first front-side tab and second front-side tab, respectively.

Any embodiment may include a method wherein the unitary blank body includes an inner panel foldably attached to the back wall panel, the inner panel being positionable against the back wall panel when the carton is assembled, and wherein the method further includes inserting a tab extending from a lower edge of the inner panel into a slot of the bottom panel to retain the inner panel against the back wall panel.

Any embodiment may include a method wherein the unitary blank body includes a second detachable picture frame portion, and the method further includes positioning each detachable picture frame portion within the carton formed by an assembled configuration of the unitary blank body.

Any embodiment may include a method wherein the perforations defining the detachable picture frame portion include curved segments, straight segments, or a combination thereof.

Any embodiment may include a method wherein the perforations defining the detachable picture frame portion include at least one contoured portion shaped to provide an inwardly projecting tab for retaining a photograph.

Any embodiment may include a method wherein the unitary blank body is formed from a single sheet of paperboard, a single sheet of corrugated cardboard, or a polymeric sheet material configured to permit folding along fold lines and tearing along the perforations.

Any embodiment may further include forming a frame opening by removing a knock-out panel defined by knock-out perforations in the detachable picture frame portion.

Any embodiment may further include retaining a photograph or similar article in the frame opening using an inwardly projecting tab located along a bottom portion of the frame opening.

Any embodiment may further include folding at least one support body defined by a fold line in the detachable picture frame portion to support the detachable picture frame portion in an upright display position after detachment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The following description will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a carton blank comprising a unitary blank body for forming a carton according to the present disclosure;

FIGS. 2-5 are perspective views showing steps for forming a carton by folding the unitary blank body of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the foldable carton of the present invention in the shipping mode; and

FIG. 7 shows a picture frame and a knockout panel formed by detaching the picture frame from the unitary blank body of FIG. 1 and detaching the knockout panel from the picture frame.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. A “fold line” refers to a line along which a an object is configured to be folded. A “fold line” may be formed by scoring or by other methods as known in the art. Elements of a unitary carton blank are “foldably joined” or “foldably attached” by being adjacent one another and separated by a fold line. The words “right,” “left,” “lower,” and “upper” designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words “inner” and “outer” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of an object and designated parts thereof. Unless specifically set forth otherwise herein, the terms “a,” “an,” and “the” are not limited to one element but instead should be read as meaning “at least one.” “At least one” may occasionally be used for clarity or readability, but such use does not change the interpretation of “a,” “an,” and “the.” Moreover, the singular includes the plural, and vice versa, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. “Including” as used herein means “including but not limited to.” The word “or” is inclusive, so that “A or B” encompasses A and B, A only, and B only. The terms “about,” “approximately,” “generally,” “substantially,” and like terms used herein, when referring to a dimension or characteristic of a component, indicate that the described dimension/characteristic is not a strict boundary or parameter and does not exclude minor variations therefrom that are functionally similar. At a minimum, such references that include a numerical parameter would include variations that, using mathematical and industrial principles accepted in the art (e.g., rounding, measurement or other systematic errors, manufacturing tolerances, etc.), would not vary the least significant digit thereof. The terminology set forth in this paragraph includes the words noted above, derivatives thereof and words of similar import.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals indicate like elements throughout, there is shown in FIGS. 1-7 an embodiment of a carton blank having a unitary blank body 100 including a detachable picture frame 130, in accordance with the present disclosure. The unitary blank body 100 is shown in an un-assembled configuration in FIG. 1, is shown at various points in assembly in FIGS. 2-5, and is shown as a completed carton 101 in an assembled configuration of the unitary blank body 100, including a removable picture frame in FIG. 6. FIG. 7 shows the detachable picture frame 130 detached from the carton.

FIG. 1 illustrates a unitary blank body 100, which as shown is a unitary or one-piece blank. The unitary blank body 100 configured to be foldable into and to form a carton 101, as shown in FIG. 6, for containing an item, typically an item for sale. The carton 101 is especially well suited for transportation and sale of an item wherein a user may commonly be photographed while using the item—for example, a costume. The unitary blank body 100 may be made of a generally continuous sheet of paperboard, cardboard, plastic, polymeric sheet material, or any other suitable material.

The unitary blank body 100 includes a back wall panel 104. The back wall panel 104 is generally parallelogram-shaped, rectangular, or square having a predetermined height and width which will vary, depending upon the desired size of the carton 101. The back wall panel 104 includes a top edge defined by a fold line 126, a bottom edge defined by a fold line 128, and a pair of side edges defined by fold line 170 and a side-edge portion 206, any by fold line 172 and a side-edge portion 208. As noted above, a “fold line” refers to a line along which a carton blank is configured to be folded. A “fold line” may be formed by scoring or by other methods as known in the art. The back panel may have a hole 212 or a plurality thereof (four are shown), which may be located near the fold line 126.

Attached to and extending from the back wall panel 104 along the fold line 170 and the fold line 172 are a first side panel 114 and a second side panel 116.

The first side panel 114 has an inner edge defined by the fold line 170 and an outer edge defined by a fold line 174. A first side-panel flap 118 is attached to and extends from the first side panel 114 along the fold line 174. The first side-panel flap 118 has a first side-panel slot 178. The first side panel 114 has a lower edge defined by a fold line 182. A first lower-side tab 122 extends from the first side panel 114 and has an upper edge defined by the fold line 182. The first lower-side tab 122 has an inner edge defined by a cut line 186; the inner edge may be spaced from the bottom panel 102 to form a gap in the unitary blank body 100.

The second side panel 116 has an inner edge defined by the score line 172 and an outer edge defined by a score line 176. A second side-panel flap 120 is attached to and extends from the second side panel 116 along the score line 176. The second side-panel flap 120 has a second side-panel slot 180. The second side panel 116 has a lower edge defined by a score line 184. A second lower-side tab 124 extends downwardly from the second side panel 116 and has an upper edge defined by the fold line 184. The second lower-side tab 124 has an inner edge defined by a cut 188; the cut line 188 may be spaced from the bottom panel 102 to form a gap in the unitary blank body 100.

Attached to and extending from the back wall panel 104 along a fold line 128 is a bottom panel 102. The bottom panel 102 is generally parallelogram-shaped, rectangular, or square having a predetermined length and width which will vary, depending upon the desired size of the carton 101. A slot 190 (two are shown) may be disposed along a border between the back wall panel 104 and the bottom panel 102 along the fold line 188. The bottom panel 102 has a forward edge defined by a fold line 192.

Attached to and extending from the bottom panel 102 along the fold line 192 is a front panel 108. The front panel 108 is generally parallelogram-shaped, rectangular, or square having a predetermined height and width which will vary, depending upon the desired size of the carton 101. The front panel 108 has an edge defined by a cut line 194 and a fold line 196, and an edge defined by a cut line 198 and a fold line 200. A first front-side tab 110 extends from the front panel 108 and has an inner edge defined by the fold line 196. A second front-side tab 112 extends from the front panel 108 and has an inner edge defined by the fold line 200. The first front-side tab 110 and the second front-side tab 112 are mutually engageable with the first side-panel slot 178 and second side-panel slot 180, respectively. The front panel 108 has a top edge defined by a cut line 202; the cut line 202 may be straight or may may be contoured to form a protrusion 204 or other shape as desired. Each of the back wall panel 104, the bottom panel 102, the front panel 108, the first side panel 114, and the second side panel 116 is foldably attached at least indirectly to the remaining panels to form the unitary blank body 100.

Attached to and extending from the back wall panel 104 along a fold line 126 is an inner panel 106, which may at least partially overlie an interior portion of the carton 101 to form a visible inner back portion of the carton 101, under conditions where the unitary blank body 100 is folded into an assembled configuration to form the carton 101 and the carton 101 is viewed from the front. The inner panel 106 is generally parallelogram-shaped, rectangular, or square having a predetermined height and width which will vary, depending upon the desired size of the carton 101. The back panel 106 may have a hole 210 or a plurality thereof (four are shown), which may be located near the fold line 126 and may be aligned with one or more holes 212 of the back wall panel 104 when the unitary blank body 100 has been placed in an assembled configuration to form the carton 101. The back panel 106 has an upper edge in the assembled configuration formed by the fold line 126 and a lower edge in the assembled configuration formed by a cut line 154. The cut line 154 may be contoured to form a tab 156 (two are shown) configured to engage the slots 190 in the assembled configuration. The inner panel 106 is hingedly connected to the back wall panel 104 along the fold line 126.

The inner panel inner panel 106 includes a detachable picture frame 130. The detachable picture frame 130 is formed by perforations. As noted above, any perforation disclosed herein may comprise a plurality of perforated segments that collectively define the perforation. A perimeter of the detachable picture frame 130 is formed by a perforation 132, a perforation 148, a perforation 150, a perforation 152, a perforation 140, a perforation 142, perforation 144, and a perforation 146. The perforation 146 forms an upper edge of the detachable picture frame 130. The perforation forms a lower edge of the detachable picture frame 130. The perforation 132, the perforation 148, and the perforation 150 together form a continuous perforation extending from the perforation 146 to the cut line 154 and together define a side of the detachable picture frame 130. The perforation 140, the perforation 142, and the perforation 144 together form a continuous perforation extending from the perforation 146 to the cut line 154 and together define a side of the detachable picture frame 130. A fold line 158 defines a first support body 162 of the detachable picture frame 130. A fold line 160 defines a second support body 164 of the detachable picture frame 130. A perforation 148 forms a closed shape defining a knock-out panel 166 of the detachable picture frame 130. The knock-out panel 166 may be detached and removed by tearing or cutting or pressing along the perforation 148 to form a frame opening 214. A bottom-frame portion 216 of the frame opening is oriented downwardly when the unitary blank body 100 is an assembled configuration forming the carton 101, with the carton 101 being in an upright position for display. The perforation 148 may include at least one contoured portion configured to define a protrusion such as a tab 168 extending inwardly with respect to the frame opening 214 so that a photograph or other paper or a card-like body may be tucked under the tab 168 and the remainder of the detachable picture frame 130 to secure the photograph or other card-like body. The tab 168 may preferably be positioned at a bottom portion 216 of the opening defined by the perforation 148. The opening 214 defined by the perforation 148 may be generally parallelogram-shaped, rectangular, or square but may alternatively be any closed shape.

Referring to FIGS. 2-6, steps in forming the carton 101 are disclosed, To form the carton 101, the unitary blank body 100 may be initially positioned as shown in FIG. 2. The unitary blank body 100 may then be folded along the fold lines 182, 184, 188 into the configuration shown in FIG. 3. The inner panel 106 may then be folded downwardly along the fold line 126 into alignment with the back wall panel 104, as shown in FIG. 4. The first side panel 114 and the second side panel 116 may then be folded inwardly toward the center of the unitary blank body 100, with the first lower-side tab 122 and the second lower-side tab 124 positioned toward an interior portion or toward the center of the unitary blank body 100, as shown in FIG. 5. Also as shown in FIG. 5, the first side-panel flap 118 may be folded transversely with respect to the first lower-side tab 122, and the second side-panel flap 120 may be folded transversely with respect to the second lower-side tab 124. The first front-side tab 110 may be folded toward the center of the unitary blank body 100, and the second front-side tab 112 may be folded toward the center of the unitary blank body 100; and the first front-side tab 110 and the second front-side tab 112 may be inserted and are configured to be insertable into the first side-panel slot 178 and the second side-panel slot 180 respectively to form the completed carton 101, as shown in FIG. 6. Once assembled, the carton 101 may optionally be further secured with securing elements such as adhesive, tape, staples, or the like or may be fitted sufficiently closely to maintain the shape of the carton 101 without securing elements.

Referring to FIG. 7, to use the detachable picture frame 130, the detachable picture frame 130 is detached from the inner panel 106 along the perforations 132, 148, 150, 152, 140, 142, 144, and 146. The knock-out panel 166 is detached from the detachable picture frame 130 along the perforation 148. The first support body 162 is folded transversely with respect to the detachable picture frame 130 along the fold line 158, and the 164 is folded transversely with respect to the detachable picture frame 130 along the fold line 160. After being so folded, the first support body 162 and the second support body 164 are configured to support the detachable picture frame 130 is a freestanding element in a vertical position or in an angled, but often generally vertical position, during use.

In use, the unitary blank body 100 may be folded into the carton 101 as described above. The picture frame detachable picture frame 130 may be detached from the carton 101, and the knock-out panel 166 may be detached from the 130. A photograph or other flat item, preferably on stiff paper or thin cardstock or the like, may be folded transversely into the frame opening 214. Such molding may be that The support bodies 162, 164 may be folded as described above and may be used to support the detachable picture frame 130 in a generally upright position for display.

A method of forming a carton 101 may comprise assembling the unitary blank body 100 disclosed above into a carton 101. A method of forming a picture frame may include detaching and deploying the detachable picture frame 130 by the steps described above.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alterations could be made to the disclosure above without departing from the broad inventive concepts thereof. While the perforations of the illustrated embodiment have been shown and described in detail, it is recognized that it is within the spirit and scope of the invention to use perforations of different geometrical configurations, as noted above, such as curved configurations or configurations with additional contours, tabs, or the like. As shown, the perforations forming the detachable picture frame 130 define a closed geometric outline, which may include straight segments, curved segments, or combinations thereof. Moreover, the detachable picture frame 130 may be incorporated into other portions of the carton 101 or the unitary blank body 100, or into variations of the unitary blank body 100 ((such as the front panel 108 or the back wall panel 104) forming cartons of different configurations. More than one detachable picture frame 130 may be incorporated into a unitary blank body 100 or carton 101. Some of these have been discussed above and others will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.