Abstract
Disclosed herein is a package convertible into a frame, comprising: a flat rectangular support plate, a rectangular frame element, and a rectangular lid element. The support plate, the frame element and the lid element are formed and arrangeable with respect to each other in such a way that in the package state the support plate is circumferentially grippable by at least a lower edge of an outer wall of the frame element. On an upper wall of the frame element parallel to the support plate the lid element is arranged so that a package in parallelepiped shape is created. In the frame state the frame element is arranged on a front surface of the support plate along its circumference, and the lid element is arranged either on a rear surface of the support plate or between a front surface of the support plate and the frame element.
Claims
1. A package (10) convertible into a frame, comprising: a flat rectangular support plate (11) comprising a front surface (70) and a rear surface (72), a rectangular frame element (19) comprising an outer wall (40) arranged at its outer circumference with a lower and an upper edge (43, 44) and an upper wall (42) of the frame element (19) adjoining with the upper edge (44) on the inside of the frame element (19), and a rectangular lid element (60), characterised in that the support plate (11), the frame element (19) and the lid element (60) are formed and arrangeable with respect to each other in such a way that in the package state the support plate (11) is adapted to be circumferentially grippable by at least the lower edge (43) of the outer wall (40) of the frame element (19), and on the upper wall (42) of the frame element (19) parallel to the support plate (11) the lid element (60) is arranged so that a package in parallelepiped shape is created, wherein the support plate (11) and at least the lid element (60) form the top and the bottom side of the package (10), and the outer wall (40) of the frame element (19) forms the side walls of the package, and in the frame state the frame element (19) is arranged on the front surface (70) of the support plate (11) along its circumference, the lid element (60) is arranged either on the rear surface (72) of the support plate (11) or between the front surface (70) of the support plate (11) and the frame element (19), wherein the profile of the upper wall (42) of the frame element (19) is formed with at least one step (80) with an upper (82) and a lower leg (81), which step is lowered towards the side of the opposite outer wall (40), wherein the length and width of the lid element (60) enable an arrangement of the lid element (60) on the lower leg (81) of the step (80).
2. The package according to claim 1, in which the thickness of the lid element (60) is equal to the height of the step (80).
3. The package according to claim 1, in which a continuous or discontinuous side wall (18) is formed on the lateral sides (13, 14, 15, 16) of the support plate (11) on the side of its rear surface (72), wherein the front surface (70) of the support plate (11) faces outward in the package state.
4. The package according to claim 3, in which the frame element (19) comprises at least one support element (29) on the inside of each of the four outer walls (40), with a support surface (45) protruding from the lower edge (43) of the outer wall (40) by the height of the wall (18), so that in the package state the wall (18) abuts on the support surface (45) of the support element (29) and the front surface (70) of the support plate (11) is arranged flush with the face of the lower edge (43) of the outer wall (40).
5. The package according to claim 3, in which the upper wall (42) of the frame element (19) comprises an arc-shaped portion with an edge portion (41) arranged parallel to the outer wall (40), the face (47) of which is arranged in the same plane as the support surface (45) of the support element (29).
6. The package according to claim 1, in which the support plate (11) is formed either semi-transparent, with a surface allowing a diffuse light transmission, or completely transparent.
7. The package according to claim 1, in which the support plate (11) is formed either continuously or continuously with a multitude of recesses or with a multitude of apertures or as a rigid grid with meshes of predetermined size.
8. The package according to claim 1 comprising at least one fixing element (30, 38) formed in such a way that the lid element (60), the frame element (19) and the support plate (11) are adapted to be jointly maintainable by the fixing element (30, 38) in the package state.
9. The package according to claim 8, in which the at least one fixing element (30, 38) comprises two cover portions (31, 32) arranged at a distance above each other and each having two lateral edges (33, 34) arranged at a right angle towards each other, wherein the cover portions (31, 32) are connected to each other in the area of their lateral edges (33, 34) by a side wall (35) arranged perpendicularly to them, wherein the fixing element (30, 38) in the package state surrounds at least the opposite corners of the package (10).
10. The package according to claim 8, in which the fixing element (30, 38) is formed as at least two clamps holding the lid element (60) and the support plate (11) together in the package state.
11. The package according to claim 1, in which the support plate (11) comprises several apertures (50) adjacent to the circumference, and the frame element (19) comprises pins (46) that are engageable with the apertures (50) in the frame state.
12. The package according to claim 1, in which the frame element (19) is formed in such a way that its outer wall (40) is adapted to be affixable under tension on the lateral sides (13, 14, 15, 16) of the support plate (11).
13. The package according to claim 1, in which the lid element (60) is formed in such a way that its side walls is adapted to be affixable under tension in the recess formed by the step (80).
Description
(1) Embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail based on the drawings, in which:
(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a package convertible into a frame with elements arranged at a spatial distance to each other in the package state,
(3) FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a package convertible into a frame with fixing elements arranged at a distance from the package,
(4) FIG. 3 shows the arrangement of parts in the package state in section A-A of FIG. 2,
(5) FIG. 4 shows a further possible embodiment of the support element of the package in section A-A of FIG. 2,
(6) FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the first embodiment of the package convertible into a frame in the frame state,
(7) FIG. 6a shows the arrangement of the parts in the frame state in section B-B of FIG. 5,
(8) FIG. 6b shows the arrangement of the parts in the frame state in section C-C of FIG. 5,
(9) FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of the package in the frame state with elements arranged at a spatial distance to each other,
(10) FIG. 8 shows a view of the package in the frame state according to the second embodiment in section C-C of FIG. 7 (rotated),
(11) FIG. 9 shows a third embodiment of the frame in perspective,
(12) FIG. 10 shows the arrangement of the elements in the package according to the third embodiment in the frame state in section D-D of FIG. 9 (rotated),
(13) FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the package in the frame state with elements arranged at a spatial distance to each other,
(14) FIG. 12 shows a view of the package in the frame state according to the fourth embodiment in section E-E of FIG. 11.
(15) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the package 10 with elements arranged at a spatial distance to each other. The package 10 comprises a flat rectangular support plate 11 with a side wall 18 arranged at its circumference, a frame element 19 and a rectangular lid element 60, wherein in the package state the lid element 60 and the support plate 11 are arranged at a spatial distance from each other on a frame element 19 congruently above each other and parallel to each other, wherein the frame element 19 serves as a spacer keeping the lid element 60 and the support plate 11 at a predetermined distance to one another without their abutting in the package state.
(16) The support plate 11 consists of transparent material and comprises two opposite longitudinal sides 13, 14 and two opposite transverse sides 15, 16 extending perpendicularly to them. The support plate 11 comprises a front side 70 and a rear side 72 (see FIGS. 3, 4, 6a, 6b, 8, 10, 12), wherein the front side 70 of the support plate 11 is situated at the bottom in FIG. 1 and the rear side 72 faces upwards. Alternatively the support plate 11 can be formed either continuous and non-transparent or with a multitude of apertures or as a rigid grid with meshes of predetermined size. It is important that the support plate 11 is sufficiently rigid to maintain its shape during the mounting and dismounting of the frame element 19 and not bend in the package state under the impact of stresses that are usual for functional packages. On each of the lateral sides 13, 14, 15, 16 of the support plate 11 on its rear surface 72, i.e. in FIG. 1 on the side facing the frame element 19, a continuous side wall 18 is formed, wherein in a section through a plane extending in parallel to the support plate 11 the distance between the outer edges of the opposite walls 18 is constant in its entire height.
(17) Alternatively (not shown in FIG. 1) the wall 18 can be formed discontinuously or as individual protrusions.
(18) The frame element 19 is positioned between the support plate 11 and the lid element 60 parallel to them.
(19) The frame element 19 comprises longitudinal sides 23, 24 and transverse sides 25, 26 extending at a right angle towards each other. The length of the longitudinal sides 23, 24 essentially corresponds to the length of the longitudinal sides 13 and 14, respectively, of the support plate 11, while the length of the transverse sides 25, 26 corresponds to the length of the transverse sides 15 and 16, respectively, of the support plate 11.
(20) The frame element 19 comprises a surrounding outer wall 40 forming the outside of the frame element 19. The outer wall 40 comprises a lower edge 43 and an upper edge 44, wherein in the package state the support plate 11 is arranged in the frame element 19 on the side of the lower edge 43, while the lid element 60 is arranged on the side of the upper edge 44 of the upper wall 40 of the frame element 19. At the upper edge 44 on the inside of the frame element 19 the upper wall 42 of the frame element 19 abuts, the outer circumference of which is formed identically along each of the longitudinal and transverse sides 23, 24, 25 and 26 of the frame element 19. The cross profile of the upper wall 42 of the frame element 19 is formed with a step 80 with an upper leg 82 and a lower leg 81 (see FIG. 3 and FIG. 4). The step 80 is formed with uniform height and at a uniform distance from the outer wall 40 along the entire length of the longitudinal and transverse sides 23, 24, 25, 26 of the frame element 19. Starting at the lower leg 81 the upper wall 42 extends in an arc shape downwards, that is, in the direction from the upper edge to the lower edge of the outer wall 40 of the frame element 19 to the inside, with an edge portion 41 extending parallel to the outer wall 40, the lower edge of which extends parallel to the lower edge of the outer wall 40 and ends above it relative to the plane of the frame element 19, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. Thus on the bottom side of the frame element 19 a tub-shaped recess is formed. Support elements 29 are attached at the bottom of this tub-shaped recess at regular intervals along each of the sides 23, 24, 25, 26 as separating walls in the tub-shaped recesses, their support surface 45 extending perpendicularly to the outer wall 40. The support surface 45 of the support elements 29 serves for the arrangement of the face of the side wall 18 of the support plate 11 thereon in the package state. The support surface 45 protrudes from the lower edge 43 of the outer wall 40 by the height of the wall 18 so that when the wall 18 abuts on the support surface 45 of the support element 29 in the package state the front surface 70 of the support plate 11 is arranged flush with the face of the lower edge 43 of the outer wall 40. Thus it is possible to form one of the surfaces of the package formed by the support plate 11 and the face of the lower edge 43 of the outer wall 40 of the frame element 19 as a plane surface without steps.
(21) Instead of the embodiment of the support element 29 as a continuous separating wall in a tub-shaped recess as shown in FIG. 3, the support element 29 can be formed on the rear side of the outer wall 40 as a protrusion with a section plane that is triangular in longitudinal section, the support surface 45 of which lies in the same plane as the face 47 of the inner edge portion 41 of the upper wall 42, as shown in FIG. 4. The support surface 45 extends from the inner surface of the outer wall 40 of the frame element 19 into the inside of the frame element 19 at a distance corresponding to the thickness of the side wall 18 of the support plate 11. This embodiment of the support element 29 facilitates a further saving in the material of which the frame element 19 consists.
(22) As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, in the package state the outside of the side wall 18 of the support plate 11 abuts tightly on the lower part of the inside of the outer wall 40 of the frame element 19, while the lower part is adjacent to the lower edge 43 of the outer wall 40. This makes it possible to fasten the outer wall 40 of the frame element 19 under tension on the lateral sides 13, 14, 15, 16, respectively on the side wall 18 of the support plate 11.
(23) The rectangular lid element 60 is formed continuously and non-transparent with a sufficient degree of rigidity to withstand bending deformation when used as one of the sides of the package as shown in FIG. 1. Typical forces in the field of use of the package are, for instance, forces caused by gripping movements of the fingers of the hand when the package is gripped with the fingers from two sides. The length of the lid element 60 corresponds to the length of the step 80 of the profile of the upper wall 42 of the frame element 19 on its longitudinal sides 23, 24; correspondingly, its width corresponds to the length of the step 80 on its transverse sides 25, 26. This makes it possible to arrange the lid element 60 on the lower leg 81 of the step 80. As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the thickness of the lid element 60 equals the height of the step 80, which facilitates a stepless formation of the side of the package formed by the lid element 60 and the upper leg of the step 80, wherein the surface of the lid element 60 that faces outwards is arranged flush with the upper leg 82 of the step 80. Alternatively the thickness of the lid element 60 can differ from the height of the step 80. Preferably that difference is not more than 30% of the height of the step 80 (not shown). If necessary, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention the lid element 60 is formed in such a way that it can be fastened in the recess formed by the step 80 of the profile of the outside of the upper wall 42 of the frame element 19, by fastening its lateral sides under tension, to avoid the use of additional elements for fastening the lid element 60 on the frame element 19. According to a further embodiment of the package shown in FIG. 1, the dimension of the lid element 60 corresponds to the outer dimension of the outer wall 40 of the frame element 19. According to this embodiment of the package, however, the use of at least one of the embodiments of the fixing elements listed below is required.
(24) FIG. 2 shows the package 10 in reverse view with respect to FIG. 1, so that the support plate 11 is positioned at the top while the lid element 60 (not shown in FIG. 2) is at the bottom. One of the possible versions of holding the support plate 11, the frame element 19 and the lid element 60 together is shown in FIG. 2, in which the package elements are held together by two fixing elements 30, 38, shown in FIG. 2 in a position before being put on the corresponding opposite corners of the package 10.
(25) Each fixing element 30, 38 comprises two equally sized cover portions 31, 32 arranged congruently above each other and shaped as a rectangular triangle with an apex 36, from which two lateral edges 33, 34 extend at a right angle towards each other. The lateral edges 33, 34 of the upper cover portion 33 and the lower cover portion 32 are connected by a side wall 35 extending perpendicularly to the cover portions 31, 32. In the area of the hypotenuse of the cover portions 31, 32 there is no side wall. The distance between the cover portions 31, 32 corresponds to the distance between the lid element 60 and the support plate 11 in the package state shown in FIG. 2. The fixing elements 30, 38 are put on opposite corners of the package 10.
(26) Alongside the use of the fixing elements 30, 38 shown in FIG. 2, other embodiments of the fixing elements are also possible. For instance, the fixing elements can be formed as two clamps (not shown) holding the lid element 60, the frame element 19 and the support plate 11 in the package state. Alternatively the above-mentioned package elements can be held together by gluing on flat self-adhesive elements on adjacent portions of the support plate and the frame element, respectively of the lid element and the frame element (not shown). Alternatively the fixing element can be formed as a turnbuckle extending through the cavity of the package in the package state, connecting the support plate and the lid element in at least one point (not shown). Moreover, as stated above, instead of the use of the fixing elements the support plate and the lid element can be held together by the frame element by keeping them under tension in the frame element.
(27) To convert the package 10 shown in FIG. 2 into a frame 100, the first embodiment of which is shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6a, FIG. 6b, the lid element 60 is taken out of the recess formed in the frame element 19 by the step 80, and is placed on the face 47 of the edge portion 41 of the upper wall 42 of the frame element 19 on the side of the lower edge 43 of the outer wall 40 of the frame element 19; subsequently the support plate 11 is placed onto the lid element 60 on the side of the lower edge 43 of the outer wall 40, wherein the front surface 70 of the support plate 11 abuts on the lid element 60. The fastening of the support plate 11 in the frame element 19 is achieved by bracing engagement of the outside of the side wall 18 of the support plate 11 with the inside of the outer wall 40 of the frame element 19 under tension, as shown in the section in FIG. 6a and FIG. 6b. To fix the position of the lid element 60 between the inner edge portion 41 of the upper wall 42 and the support plate 11, protrusions (not shown) can be formed on the inside of the upper wall 42 or the outer wall 40 in the plane in which the lid element 60 is arranged, preventing a sideways shift of the lid element 60.
(28) FIG. 6a schematically shows a cross-section of the package converted into a frame on a portion of the frame element 19, wherein the inner surface of the upper wall 42 of the frame element 19 is formed as a recess not containing a support element. In FIG. 6b a cross-section is shown on a portion of the frame element 19 comprising a support element 29 formed as a continuous separating wall in the above-mentioned recess formed on the inside of the outer wall 42. On this portion of the frame element 19 the contact area between the frame element 19 and the lid element 60 is enlarged compared to the portion of FIG. 6a.
(29) FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 show a second embodiment of the package converted into a frame, whose difference to the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6a, 6b is that pin-shaped protrusions 46 are formed on the support elements 29 extending in parallel to the outer wall 40, wherein the lower end of the pins 46 is situated at the level of the lower edge 43 of the outer wall 40 of the frame element 19, that is, in the plane extending through the lower edge 43 of the outer wall 40 parallel to the plane of the frame element 19. Preferably the pins 46 protrude from the inner surface of the outer wall 40 of the frame element 19 by the thickness of the side wall 18 of the support plate 11.
(30) As can be seen in FIG. 7, apertures 50 are formed adjacent to the outer circumference of the support plate 11 on the inside from the side wall 18. The apertures 50 are arranged so that the pins 46 on the frame element 19 engage with these apertures when the frame element 19 is put on in such a way that the inside of its outer wall 40 abuts on the outside of the side wall 18, as can be seen from FIG. 8.
(31) The frame element 19 can be slid onto the circumferential portions of the support plate 11 until the face 47 of the edge portions 41 rests on the front side 70 of the support plate 11. However, they can also be shifted upwards by a certain amount, so that the lid element 60 and a sheet of paper, cardboard or the like can be pushed under the face 47 of the edge portion 41.
(32) The apertures 50 in the support plate 11 are arranged so that the pins 46 of the frame element 19 extend through it in the position shown in FIG. 8, that is, when the front surface 70 of the support plate 11 faces the side of the upper wall 42 of the frame element 19, as well as in the reverse position, as shown, for instance, in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 (without the pins 46), that is, in a position where the rear surface 72 of the support plate 11 faces the side of the upper wall 42 of the frame element 19. This facilitates a secure fastening of the support plate 11 in the frame element 19 in the frame position as well as in the package position.
(33) FIGS. 9 and 10 show a third embodiment of the package convertible into a frame 100 in analogy to the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6a, 6b, but differing in that the lid element 60 is arranged at the rear surface of the support plate 11 in the frame state. In this embodiment the longitudinal and transverse dimensions of the lid element 60 correspond to the distances between the inner surfaces of the corresponding side walls 18 of the support plate 11. Thus the lid element 60 can be arranged between the side walls 18 of the support plate 11 and be laterally fixed in its position; or alternatively can be fastened under tension between the side walls 18. If the support plate 11 is transparent, this embodiment facilitates the creation of an effective mechanical protection of the image attached to the surface of the lid element 60 abutting on the rear surface 72 of the support plate 11. Alternatively the lid element 60 can be fixed in its position shown in FIG. 10 by any known method, for instance by gluing, by gluing adhesive elements on the edge portions and the like.
(34) FIG. 10 shows the cross-section of a portion of the frame element 19 without a support element. At the portion of the frame element with the support element 29 the cross-section of the frame element 19 looks the same as in FIG. 6b.
(35) In FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 a fourth embodiment of the package converted into a frame is shown, which differs from the second embodiment shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 only by the sequence of arrangement of the elements with regard to one another, namely, in accordance with the fourth embodiment (FIG. 11, FIG. 12) the front surface 70 of the support plate 11 abuts on the inner edge portion 41 of the upper wall 42 of the frame element 19, while the lid element 60 is arranged abutting on the rear surface 72 of the support plate 11. The transverse dimensions of the lid elements 60 in this embodiment are such that the lid element 60 is fastened under tension between the pins 46 of the frame element 19 on the rear surface 72 of the support plate 11.
(36) Preferably all parts are injection-moulded plastic parts that can be manufactured in large amounts at low costs.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS
(37) 10package 11support plate 13, 14longitudinal sides of the support plate 11 15, 16transverse sides of the support plate 11 18side wall of the support plate 11 19frame element 23, 24longitudinal sides of the frame element 19 25, 26transverse sides of the frame element 19 29support elements 30, 38fixing element 31, 32cover portion of the fixing element 30, 38 33, 34lateral edges of the fixing element 30, 38 35side wall of the fixing element 30, 38 40outer wall of the frame element 19 41inner edge portion of the upper wall 42 of the frame element 19 42upper wall of the frame element 19 43lower edge of the outer wall 40 of the frame element 19 44upper edge of the outer wall 40 of the frame element 19 45support surface of the protrusion 29 46pins of the frame element 19 47face of the edge portion 41 50apertures at the circumference of the support plate 11 60lid element 70front surface of the support plate 11 72rear surface of the support plate 11 80step of the profile of the upper wall 42 of the frame element 19 82upper leg of the step 80 84lower leg of the step 80 100package 10 converted into frame
