US3303603A

US3303603A - Combination package and toy

Info

Publication number: US3303603A
Application number: US296050A
Authority: US
Inventors: Abeson Marion
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1963-07-18
Filing date: 1963-07-18
Publication date: 1967-02-14
Anticipated expiration: 1984-02-14

Description

Feb. 14, 1967 ABESQN 3,303,603

COMBINATION PACKAGE AND TOY Filed July 18, 1963 FIG.1

INVENTOR. Marion Abeson ATTORNEY United States Patent This invention relates to a package for flat objects such as records, books or the like; such package being formed of a laminate which allows the package to be converted into a three dimensional toy.

While records and the like are packaged in various forms of envelopes and the like; such packages must be augmented considerably when the packaged record is to be shipped and various corrugated board fillers and stiffeners must be associated with the envelope to prevent breakage of the contents of the envelope.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide an improved package for a record or the like, which is derived from a single sheet of composite material and adapted to be folded into a compact, damage resistant container.

Normally, conventional packages or envelopes for records are usable only as containers for the records and do not have any other function. A further object of this invention is to provide an improved package for records which in addition to holding the record and protecting the same against damage; also may be used as a threedimensional toy such as a stage or the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved package of the character described which is formed of a flexible laminate of metal foil and cushioning material whereby to afford maximized protection to the contents thereof against breakage or damage due to heat, moisture or other environmental factors; such laminate further being of a character to allow the elements of the package to be manipulated into various three-dimensional relationships to form a stage or the like, and to retain such spatial relationships.

Still another objection of this invention is to provide an improved package for records or the like which comprises a blank of laminated metal foil and polyurethane foam having a series of hingedly connected panel portions which are foldable relative to a compartment portion holding the record to form a compact protective package for such record; the panel portions being unfolded to open the package and to gain access to the packaged record, the unfolded panel portions being adapted to be manipulated into selected relative spatial positions to form desired three dimensional structures simulating stages or the like.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide an improved package for childrens records or books which package includes structural details permitting a child to readily and quickly convert the same to various threedimensional forms to provide toy stages or the like.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a package of the character described, which may also be used to package fiat toy figures which may be manipulated by the child in association with the three-dimensional form of the package after the record or other contents thereof have been removed.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

In the drawing, FIG. 1 is a plan view of the flat laminar sheet blank in unfolded package form, and embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the package blank in set-up condition and simulating a stage;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the sheet in completely folded, package form.

Essentially, the combination package and toy of the instant invention comprises a fiat laminate sheet made up of metal foil adhesively secured to a synthetic, flexible cushioning material such as polyurethane foam. The laminar sheet is die cut to provide a series of panel portions integrally hinged along fold lines which permits the several panel portions to be folded about a compartment panel which in turn is adapted to receive therein a record, book or other flat object which is to be packaged.

The package is readily opened by successively unfolding the several panel portions, which 'by reasons of their laminar constructiontend to regain any given folded position until manipulated to another folded position; to allow the contents of the compartment to be removed, as well as any flat figure or toy objects which may have been initially packaged between the folded panel portions. The unfolded package is thereafter adapted to be manually manipulated to dispose the several panel portions in various selected three dimensional relationships to provide simulated stage effects or the like, in accordance with the manipulative ability of the user.

Thus, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, 10 designates the flat laminate sheet which is composed of a layer of metal foil such as aluminum foil, indicated at 11 and a layer of soft, cushioning material such as resilient synthetic polyurethane foam, indicated at 12; which layers are ad hesively secured together throughout their contacting faces.

The sheet 10 is die cut to provide a central square of rectangular shaped panel 13; a pair of

side panels

14, 15 hin edly connected to the side edges of panel 13 along fold lines as at 16, 17; an end panel 18 of square or rectangular shape which is hingedly connected to one end edge of central panel 13, along a fold line as at 19.

The end panel 18 has integrally and hingedly connected to the side edges thereof, a pair of laterally

related Wing panels

20, 21, along fold lines at as 22, 23 respectively. Thus, the end panel 18 may be folded along line 19 for movement toward and away from central panel 13;

wing panels

20, 21 may be folded along lines 22, 23 for movement toward and away from end panel 18; and

side panels

14, 15 may be folded along

lines

16, 17 for movement toward and away from central panel 13.

Extending from the other end edge of central panel 13 is a compartment panel generally designated at 24 and foldable along end edge fold line 25 toward and away from the central panel 13. The compartment panel 24 comprises superposed

similar panel portions

26, 27 folded about edge 28. The

panel portions

26, 27 are secured together along coterminous edges as at 29, 30, as by adhesive, or the like, to leave the

other side edges

31, 32 of

panel portions

26, 27 unsecured and forming an opening for a flat compartment 33 between said panel portions for receiving flat objects, not shown, such as a record, book or the like.

The edge of panel portion 27 extends beyond the edge 31 of panel portion 26 to form a flap 34 foldable about edge 31 into contact with marginal portions of panel portion 26 to close compartment 33.

When the record, or other object to be packaged, not shown, is inserted into compartment 33 and flap 34 is folded to close said compartment, the compartment panel 24 may then be folded about line 25 toward the central panel 13 bringing the inner surface of panel 24 into contact with the inner surface of central panel 13 comprising the exposed foam material 12.

The panel portion 27 of compartment panel 24 will now be uppermost and

side panels

14, 15 are folded toward each other along

lines

16, 17 respectively to bring their uppermost foam layer portions 12 into contact with the metal foil layer portion 11 of the panel portion 27; the outer side edges of said

side panels

14, 15 respectively being disposed in closely adjacent relation, as indicated in FIG. 5.

The thus composited compartment panel 24, central panel 13 and

side panels

14, 15 are foldable as a unit toward end panel 18 along line 19, bringing the metal foil layer portions 11 of the

side panels

14, 15 into contact with the inner foam layer portion 12 of the end panel 18. The

wing panels

20, 21 may now be folded toward each other about lines 22, 23 to bring their foam layer portions 12 into contact with the metal foil layer portion 11 of central panel 13 and disposing the

outer side edges

20A and 21A of

wing panels

20, 21 in opposed adjacent relation to each other.

The completed package, wherein the compartment panel 24 is now enclosed and protected by the

several panels

13, 14, 15, 20 and 21 is shown in FIG. 5. Thus the record is well protected against damage in shipment or carriage.

While the several panel portions of the thus completed package will tend to retain their respectively folded and superposed relation, a pressure sensitive tape section, not shown, may be used to bridge the

adjacent panel edges

20A and 21A. It will be apparent that the record or other object within compartment 33 is Well protected against breakage in shipment as well as being protected against heat, moisture and other environmental conditions. Yet such package is light and compact due to the relatively light gauge of metal foil 11 which may be of the order of from 0.004" to 0.006", preferably about 0.005" and the thickness of foam layer 12 which is of the order of from 0.100" to 0.200", preferably 0.125".

The laminate of metal foil 11 and foam 12 tends to retain any shape imparted to the flat sheet 10, as by folding the

several panels

13, 14, 15, 18, 20, 21 and 24 into selected spatial relationships.

The thus described package may also be used to enclose flat figures indicated in dotted lines as at P, which may be interposed between the several overlying panel portions. Such flat figures F are formed of die cut laminar material which may also be made up of layers of metal foil 11 and foam 12 adhesively secured together.

The package described above, is opened by reversing the steps of the procedure set forth, thus allowing access to compartment 33 to permit the record or other objects disposed therein, to be removed therefrom. At this time, the opened package is in the flat form indicated in FIG. 1.

The thus opened package may now be manually manipulated to bring the

several panels

13, 14, 15, 18, 20, 21 and the compartment panel 24 into a selected threedimensional relationship; one example being shown in FIG. 4.

Thus, end panel 18 is noW in an upstanding position to form a simulated backdrop of a simulated stage with the

wing panels

20, 21 angularly related to panel 18 as desired.

Side panels

14, 15 may represent the wings of the forestage represented by central panel 13.

Compartment panel 24 provides an apron for the three dimensional structure.

The thus exposed foam layer 12 of the set up

panels

13, 14, 15, 18, 20 and 21 lend themselves to coloring and ornamentation as desired, to suit a particular theme which may be dictated by the record or book, not shown carried in the package. The figures F may also be manipulated on the resultant stage structure, as desired.

In lieu of polyurethane foam, cushioning layer 12 may be formed of felt or the like which will protect the contents of compartment 33 against breakage.

The compartment panel 24 may be separated from the remaining panels by cutting along fold line 25, thus providing a segregated protective package for a record or other flat object.

As various changes might be made in the embodiment of the invention herein disclosed'without departing from the spirit thereof, it is understood that all matter herein described shall be deemed illustrative and not limiting except as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is: i

1. A combination package and toy comprising a laminated fiat sheet comprising a flexible layer of 'metal foil and a layer of resilient, cellular cushioning material adhesively secured thereto, said sheet including a plurality of integrally hingedly connected panels comprising a central rectangular panel, a pair of side panels hingedly connected to side edges of said central panel along fold lines, an end panel hingedly connected to one end edge of said central panel along a fold line, a pair of laterally related wing panels respectively hinged to the side edges of said end panel along fold lines, and a flat compartment panel for receiving flat objects therein hingedly connected to the other end edge of said central panel along a' fold fold line, said compartment panel being foldable into contact with the inner surface of said central panel, said side panels being foldable into contact with the outer surface of said compartment panel, the composited central, compartment and side panels being foldable into contact with the inner surface of said end panel, said wing panels being foldable into contact with the outer surface of said'end panel whereby to protect the object within said compartment panel, said-end, Wing and side panels being movable along respective fold lines to selected hinged positions relative to said central panel and the said adhesively secured metal foil and cushioning material being effective to retain said panels in such selected positions.

2. A device as in claim 1 wherein said metal foil is of a thickness of from about 0.004" to about 0.006 and provides the outer layer of said laminar sheet and said cellular layer is of a thickness of about 0.100" to about 0.200" and provides the inner layer of said laminar sheet.

3. A device as in claim 2 wherein said compartment panel comprises a pair of opposed rectangular panel elements secured together along outer and inner end edges and along one side edge thereof, the unsecured edges along the other side edge thereof providing an opening for inserting said flat object into said compartment.

4. A device as in claim 3 wherein the cushioning ma- .terial on opposed panel elements comprises inner opposed.

layers of resilient foamed material and outer layers of said metal foil, the opposed layers of foamed material being adapted to receive a fiat object in cushioning relation thereto.

5. A sheet member convertible into a package, said sheet member comprising a laminate including a layer of metal foil and a layer of flexible, resilient synthetic foam adhesively secured to said foil, said laminate comprising a rectangular shaped central panel, a pair of side panels hingedly and integrally connected to the respective sides of said central panel, an end panel hingedly and integrally connected to one end edge of said central panel, a pair of rectangular shaped wing panels hingedly and integrally connected to the respective side edges of said end panel, and a compartment panel hingedly and integrally connected to the other end edge of said central panel, said compartment panel comprising opposed panel portions secured together about coterminous edges thereof while leaving an opening for access to a compartment formed between said opposed panel portions, said compartment, end, side and wing panels being foldable into superposed relationship to said central panel and to each other to forma multipanel package, the laminate of metal foil and foam layers tending to retain the several panels in their folded condition.

6. A sheet member convertible into a package for a flat object, said sheet member comprising a laminate including a layer of metal foil and a layer of flexible, resilient synthetic foam adhesively secured thereto, said laminate including a plurality of panels integrally and rd EB hingedly connected together along fold lines, one of said panels comprising a pair of opposed panel portions secured together about a portion of the periphery thereof and unsecured about the remainder of the periphery thereof with the foam layers thereof in opposed relation to form a compartment for receiving said flat object, said panels being foldable about hinged fold line connections thereof into enclosing relation to said compartment panel.

7. A sheet member as in claim 6 wherein the foam layer is polyurethane and provides the inner surface of said laminate and the metal foil layer provides the outer surface of said laminate in the folded condition thereof, said panels being foldable about said fold lines into selected spatial relation to each other to provide a three dimensional toy, the laminate of metal foil and foam of said panels being effective to retain said panels in their selected spatial relation to each other.

8. A sheet member as in claim 6 wherein the layer of metal foil has a thickness of from .004 to .006"; and the foam layer has a thickness of from .100 to .200".

9. A one piece package for a record comprising a laminated blank comprising a layer of metal foil and a 5 forming a compartment therebetween for receiving a record therein, the remaining panels being adapted to be successively folded about their fold lines into overlying and enclosing relation to said compartment panel portions with the metal foil layer of said blank outermost.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,523,283 1/1925 Powers 46-13 2,636,312 4/1953 Martin 46-11 2,773,327 12/1956 McCormick 4611 X 2,902,396 9/ 1959 Reynold. 2,931,557 4/ 1960 Loderhouse. 3,003,977 10/1961 HurWitZ et al.

20 F. BARRY SHAY, Primary Examiner.

L. J. BOVASSO, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

9. A ONE PIECE PACKAGE FOR A RECORD COMPRISING A LAMINATED BLANK COMPRISING A LAYER OF METAL FOIL AND A LAYER OF FLEXIBLE, RESILIENT, CELLULAR CUSHIONING MATERIAL ADHERED THERETO, SAID BLANK COMPRISING A SERIES OF HINGEDLY AND INTEGRALLY RELATED PANELS DEFINED BY FOLD LINES, ONE OF SAID PANELS COMPRISING A PAIR OF OPPOSED PANEL PORTIONS FORMING A COMPARTMENT THEREBETWEEN FOR RECEIVING A RECORD THEREIN, THE REMAINING PANELS BEING ADAPTED TO BE