Flat-Folding Box Covers and Method of Assembly

Abstract

A flat-folding box cover with magnets on 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 into position is provided. The flat-folding box includes a top panel with aperture and four side panels that when assembled fits over the top of a tissue or other box. The portions of the side panels that form the inside of the box are lined with material to protect the magnets.

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 flat-folding box cover for tissues and other items that provides decorative options comprising: a. a flat-sheet cardstock cutout with a top panel and four side panels of proper dimensions and of the proper location for a desired size folded box cover with an aperture in the middle of the top panel; b. the side panels on the cardstock cutout each having magnets of one polarity on one edge; c. the side panels having one set of side flaps on the opposite edge of the side panel with magnets of the opposite polarity.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the top panel and four side panels have decorative images.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the cutout is a five section flat-sheet cardstock cutout with the top panel aperture in the middle piece, and four side panels extending, one each, from the four edges of the top panel;

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said cutout has scored line between the edges of top panel and side panels;

5. The device of claim 1 with stiffening pieces attached to the side and top panels;

6. The device of claim 1 wherein magnets are positioned on one edge of the side panels, and the flaps on the edge of the side panels are folded over the magnets and fastened to side panels;

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the flap on the other side of each side panel from the edge with magnets have magnets positioned on them to align with the magnets on the edge of adjacent side panels;

8. The device of claim 1 wherein an inner lining of material is fastened to interior surface of the cardstock cutout, covering the top panel, side panels and flaps with magnets;

9. The device of claim 1 wherein an ornamental metal or plastic or other material, reinforcing ring, the same dimensions as the aperture in the top panel in the cardstock cutout, is placed around the aperture opening.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein a transparent laminate sheet is placed over the decorative images.

11. The device of claim 1 where a coating is placed over the decorative images.

12. The device of claim 1 where lamination sheets are applied by the retail purchaser or retail seller after applying their images of their choosing as the decorative image.

13. The device of claim 1 where the edges between the top and side panels are folded.

14. A method of constructing a finished box cover from cardstock cutout comprised of: a. The flat-folding box cover is positioned with the decorative surface down b. magnets of one polarity are placed onto side panels; c. magnets of the opposite polarity are placed on the side flaps on the other side of the side panels from the magnets of one polarity; d. the flaps holding magnets on the side panels are turned 90 degrees away from the decorative side of the flat-folding box cover; e. the side panels of the cardstock cutout are folded away from the top panel into a box shape; f. the magnets of opposite polarity on the side flaps are aligned with the magnets of one polarity on the edge of the side panels to create a finished box cover.

15. A method for customizing the flat-folding box cover by a seller with images furnished by an end-user comprising: a. The box of claim 1 is furnished to a flat-folding box cover seller in a state ready for customization b. The end-user furnishes the images for the top and/or side panels to the seller; c. The end-user may also select from additional design options provided by the seller; d. The seller completes the flat-folding box as specified by the end-user; e. The seller supplies the completed flat-folding box cover to the end-user.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein all of the possible design options are furnished by the seller.

17. A method for customizing the flat-folding box cover by the end-user comprising: a. The box of claim 1 is furnished to a flat-folding box cover end-user in a state ready for customization b. The end-user furnishes the design elements for the flat-folding box cover c. The end-user applies the design elements to the flat-folding box cover.

18. The method of claim 17 where in all potential design options are furnished to the end user in the kit.

Description

DRAWINGSFIGURES

[0055] 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;

[0056] FIG. 2 is a view of the decorative side of the cardstock adding stiffening panel, magnets of one polarity in the stiffening panels and tab liners over the flaps with magnets of opposite polarity;

[0057] FIG. 3 is a view of the non-decorative side of the cardstock cutout with flaps folded over;

[0058] FIG. 4 is a view of the cardstock cutout converted to a box;

[0059] FIG. 5 is a side view of how the magnets align when converted to a box;

[0060] FIG. 6 is a top view of the box with its decorative ring.

[0061] FIG. 7 is a view of a different embodiment cardstock cutout

[0062] FIG. 8 is a view of combining two pieces of the embodiment of FIG. 7 for production efficiencies;

[0063] FIG. 9 is a view of another embodiment of the cardstock cutout.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0064] 1. Side panel with decoration [0065] 1A. Stiffening pieces for side panels [0066] 2. Top panel [0067] 2A. Stiffening piece for top panel [0068] 3. Aperture [0069] 3A. Metallic Aperture Ring [0070] 4. Magnets of one polarity on one edge of side panels [0071] 4A. Magnets of opposite polarity [0072] 5. Side flaps with magnets of the opposite polarity [0073] 5A. Tab liners [0074] 6. Side flaps without magnets [0075] 7. Cutline between flaps [0076] 8. End flaps

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0077] 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 and end flaps 8 which fold over the end for a completed look. (Shown in FIG. 3) The cutline 7 separates the flaps of the side panels.

[0078] The preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 2 from the view of the inside 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 on 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 are on the inside edge of the stiffening pieces. Tab liners 5A are placed over the flaps with magnets of the opposite polarity.

[0079] FIG. 3 shows the flat-folding box cover right before it is assembled into the box. 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 on 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 with magnets 5 of the opposite polarity 4A

[0080] 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 with shown with two sets of dashes, small dashes for magnets of one polarity 4, that are on the edge of the stiffening panels 1A and longer dashes for magnets of the opposite polarity 4A that are on the flaps with magnets 5. When the box is assembled the two sets of magnets align and hold the box together.

[0081] FIG. 5. shows how magnets of one polarity 4 on 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 is assembled.

[0082] FIG. 6. shows the top panel 2, stiffening piece for top panel 2A with the aperture 3 and aperture ring 3A.

[0083] 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.

[0084] FIG. 8. shows how two of the embodiments in FIG. 7 could be produced in order to cut waste.

[0085] FIG. 9. shows a third embodiment of the cardstock cutout for the flat-folding box cover.