Flat-folding box cover

Abstract

A flat-folding box cover with magnets near one edge of the side panels that align with magnets of the opposite polarity on flaps of the adjacent side panel to hold the box cover into position is provided. The flat-folding box cover includes a top panel with aperture and four side panels that when assembled fits over the top of a tissue or other box. Advantageously, the box cover may be kept in the flat state or folded into the box shape as needed. The box covers may be sold finished from a seller. In another case, consumers may select from a set of options provided by a seller for the box cover design. In another case, the consumer may supply the seller with custom artifacts such as photos or artwork which the seller would incorporate into the finished box cover. Kits may also be sold allowing the purchaser to customize the box cover themselves.

Claims

1. A decorative container cover, comprising: a substantially planar preform having: (i) a top panel; (ii) a plurality of side panels articulated to the top panel, each side panel having a top edge connected to the top panel, and first and second side edges extending from the top edge, wherein the side panels are movable so that the first side of each side panel is adjacent to the second side edge of an adjacent one of the side panels; (iii) a side flap articulated to the first side edge of each side panel to overlap a portion of the adjacent one of the side panels when the side panels are moved so that the first side edge of each side panel is adjacent to the second side edge of the adjacent side panel; and (iv) a reusable fastener for releasably connecting said side flap to the adjacent one of the side panels.

2. A decorative container cover as in claim 1 wherein said substantially planar preform has a cruciform shape.

3. A decorative container cover as in claim 2, including four side panels each particulated to a respective hinge edge of the top panel.

4. A decorative container cover as in claim 3 wherein the first and second side edges are substantially parallel to one another.

5. A decorative container cover as in claim 1 wherein the side panels are movable at least to perpendicular with respect to said top panel.

6. A decorative container cover as in claim 5 wherein the side panels are adjacent to one another when perpendicular with respect to said top panel.

7. A decorative container cover as in claim 6 wherein the side flap overlaps the adjacent one of the side panels when perpendicular to the side panel to which the side flap is articulated.

8. A decorative container cover as in claim 7 wherein each side panel includes an inner surface and an opposed outer surface, with respective inner surfaces of adjacent ones of said side panels being mutually oriented at an angle equal to or less than 180 when the side panels are perpendicular with respect to the top panel, wherein the side flap overlaps a portion of the inner surface of the adjacent one of the side panels.

9. A decorative container cover as in claim 1 wherein the reusable fastener includes a magnetic pair.

10. A decorative container cover as in claim 9 wherein the magnetic pair includes one or more first magnetic elements at the side panel and one or more second magnetic elements at the side flap, the first and second magnetic elements being mutually attractive.

11. A decorative container cover as in claim 10 wherein the one or more first magnetic elements are disposed adjacent to the second side edge of each side panel.

12. A decorative container cover as in claim 10 wherein the one or more first magnetic elements are embedded in the respective side panel, and the one or more second magnetic elements are embedded in the respective side flap.

13. A decorative container cover as in claim 10 wherein the first and second magnetic elements operably align with one another when the side panels are arranged so that the first edge of each side panel is adjacent to the second side edge of the adjacent side panel.

14. A decorative container cover as in claim 1, including an aperture in the top panel.

15. A decorative container cover as in claim 1 wherein said side panels may be moved with respect to the top panel between a planar condition and a non-planar condition.

16. A decorative cover apparatus, comprising: a preform having a substantially planar condition and a non-planar condition, said preform including: (i) a top panel; (ii) at least two side panels articulated to said top panel along respective top edges of said side panels, wherein said side panels are movable with respect to said top panel between the planar and non-planar conditions, with the non-planar condition forming an at least partial enclosure defined by a first side panel and one or more of a second side panel and the top panel; and (iii) a reusable fastener for releasably connecting the first and second side panels to one another in the non-planar condition, said reusable fastener being secured to at least one of the first and second side panels.

17. A decorative cover apparatus as in claim 16 wherein said reusable fastener includes a magnetic pair with one or more first magnetic elements associated with said first side panel, and one or more second magnetic elements associated with said second side panel, the first and second magnetic elements being mutually attractive.

18. A decorative cover apparatus as in claim 17, including a first side flap articulated to a first side edge of said first side panel, wherein the one or more first magnetic elements are secured to said first side flap.

19. A decorative cover apparatus as in claim 16, including four side panels articulated to said top panel along respective top edges of said side panels, wherein the preform assumes a cruciform shape in the planar condition.

20. A decorative cover apparatus as in claim 16 wherein the at least partial enclosure includes an open end.

21. A decorative cover apparatus as in claim 16 wherein said first and second side panels each have an inner surface facing the enclosure and an opposed outer surface, and wherein said reusable fastener releasably connects the outer surface of said first side panel to the inner surface of said second side panel.

22. A method for covering a container, said method comprising: (a) adjusting the preform of the decorative cover apparatus of claim 16 into the non-planar condition from the substantially planar condition to releasably connect the first and second side panels and to form the enclosure; and (b) placing the decorative cover apparatus so that the container extends into the enclosure.

Description

DRAWINGSFIGURES

(1) FIG. 1 is a view of the decorative side of the cardstock cutout with magnets of one polarity on the side panels and magnets of opposite polarity on flaps.

(2) FIG. 2 is a view of the decorative side of the cardstock adding stiffening pieces, magnets of one polarity in the stiffening pieces and tab liners over the flaps with magnets of opposite polarity.

(3) FIG. 3 is a view of the non-decorative side of the cardstock cutout with flaps folded over.

(4) FIG. 4 is a view of the cardstock cutout folded into a box shape.

(5) FIG. 5 is a side view of how the magnets align when folded into a box shape.

(6) FIG. 6 is a top view of the box cover with its decorative ring.

(7) FIG. 7 is a view of a different embodiment cardstock cutout.

(8) FIG. 8 is a view of combining two pieces of the embodiment of FIG. 7 for production efficiencies.

(9) FIG. 9 is a view of another embodiment of the cardstock cutout.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

(10) 1. Side panel with decoration 1A. Stiffening pieces for side panels 2. Top panel 2A. Stiffening piece for top panel 3. Aperture 3A. Aperture Ring 4. Magnets of one polarity on one edge of side panels 4A. Magnets of opposite polarity 5. Side flaps with magnets of the opposite polarity 5A. Tab liners 6. Side flaps without magnets 7. Cutline between flaps 8. End flaps

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(11) FIG. 1 views the basic cardstock cutout from the decorative side with magnets of one polarity on the side panels and magnets of the opposite polarity on the appropriate flaps which is the basic starting point for many of the embodiments. Four side panels 1 with magnets of one polarity 4 and a top panel 2 with aperture 3, side flaps without magnets 6 and side flaps 5 with magnets of the opposite polarity 4A. FIG. 1 also has end end flaps 8 which fold over the bottom ends of the side panels for a completed look. (Shown in FIG. 3) The cutline 7 separates the flaps of the side panels.

(12) The preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 2 from the view of the decorative surface of the cover prior to being assembled into a box cover. The top panel 2 has a stiffening piece 2A, an aperture 3 and an aperture ring 3A. The four side panels 1 have stiffening pieces 1A, have magnets of one polarity 4 embedded near one edge of the stiffening pieces. Side flaps 5 with magnets of the opposite polarity 4A are arranged at a 90 degree angle to the side panels where magnets of one polarity 4 near the edge of the stiffening pieces. Tab liners 5A are placed over the flaps with magnets of the opposite polarity.

(13) FIG. 3 shows the interior of the flat-folding box cover in the flat position. The end flap 8 has been folded over the end of each side stiffening piece 1A. Side flaps without magnets 6 have been folded over the magnets of one polarity 4 near the edge of the side stiffening pieces. The side flaps 5 with magnets of the opposite polarity 4A are turned at a right angle to the side panel. Tab liners 5A are placed over the side flaps 5 with magnets of the opposite polarity 4A.

(14) FIG. 4 shows the flat-folded box cover as assembled. Magnets with one polarity 4 and magnets with the opposite polarity 4A overlap and are shown with two sets of dashes, small dashes for magnets of one polarity 4, that are near the edge of the stiffening pieces 1A and longer dashes for magnets of the opposite polarity 4A that are on the flaps with magnets 5.

(15) When the box cover is assembled the two sets of magnets align and hold the box cover together.

(16) FIG. 5 shows how magnets of one polarity 4 near the edge of the side panels 1 align with the magnets of opposite polarity 4A on the side flaps with magnets 5 when the box cover is assembled.

(17) FIG. 6 shows the top panel 2, stiffening piece for top panel 2A with the aperture 3 and aperture ring 3A.

(18) FIG. 7 shows an alternative embodiment of the cardstock cutout for the flat-folding box cover which can also be assembled into a box cover.

(19) FIG. 8 shows how two of the embodiments in FIG. 7 could be produced in order to cut waste.

(20) FIG. 9 shows a third embodiment of the cardstock cutout for the flat-folding box cover.