Patent US3645382A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3645382A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Box structure convertible into an easel
Assignee: Union Camp Corp
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Filing: 1970-10-08
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Granted: 1972-02-29
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Expires: 1990-10-08
Abstract
Abstract The invention comprises a box in which educational blocks, puzzles, artist material or the like, may be packaged. The box is formed of two nearly symmetrical open halves folded along a center score line in the flat blank from which the box halves are formed. Additional score lines parallel to the fold score line provide hinge lines whereby the two open halves may telescope, to thereby utilize one half as a cover for the other half, or both halves may abut at their open faces to provide a box of maximum volume. The halves may be folded back to a position, wherein an easel or display structure is formed. Securing means are provided to secure the two halves in the easel-forming position. A preferred form of securing means comprises slots in the easel surfaces of the box and a plastic flexible member having rigid transverse rod members at the ends, the rods being dimensioned to fit through the slots, and upon a 90* rotation to engage the easel surfaces and prevent collapse of the same.
Inventors
- 👤 Andrew M Abrams
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 09:42
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D5/00; B65D5/18; B65D85/00; B65D85/07; B65D85/08; B65D85/10; B65D85/1036; B65D85/1063
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
A convertible box comprising two open box formations secured to each other along a fold line, each box formation comprising a panel and two sides and an end secured thereto, said end being remote from the fold line, each panel having score lines parallel to said fold line, said score lines defining a connecting portion opposite the end and a handle portion between said fold line and said connecting portion, a handhold opening formed in each handle portion, said handhold openings being aligned for coincidence when the handle portions are folded along said fold line and secured to form a common handhold, said box formations being foldable along the score lines between the connecting and handle portions in a first direction to positions wherein one box formation variably telescopes within the other box formation, and foldable in an opposite direction wherein the panels are brought back-to-back to form an easEl structure in which a panel forms a work surface and the end forms the support surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
166 words
A convertible box comprising two open box formations secured to each other along a fold line, each box formation comprising a panel and two sides and an end secured thereto, said end being remote from the fold line, each panel having score lines parallel to said fold line, said score lines defining a connecting portion opposite the end and a handle portion between said fold line and said connecting portion, a handhold opening formed in each handle portion, said handhold openings being aligned for coincidence when the handle portions are folded along said fold line and secured to form a common handhold, said box formations being foldable along the score lines between the connecting and handle portions in a first direction to positions wherein one box formation variably telescopes within the other box formation, and foldable in an opposite direction wherein the panels are brought back-to-back to form an easEl structure in which a panel forms a work surface and the end forms the support surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A convertible box as claimed in claim 1, wherein the box formations are formed from a single flat sheet with the fold line being in the center of the sheet and the box formations being substantially identical.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
A convertible box as claimed in claim 2, wherein the sheet is formed with score lines to provide folding portions, each portion connecting the inner edge of a side to the adjacent edge of a connecting portion in all positions of the connecting means relative to the sides.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
70 words
A convertible box as claimed in claim 3, wherein each folding portion is formed by a score line transverse a side and a score line extending across the connecting portion adjacent said side, each folding portion having a diagonal score line to permit the infolding of the folding portion to thereby form a movable closure means between an end of a side and the end of its adjacent connecting means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A convertible box as claimed in claim 1, wherein securing means are provided to maintain the box formations in their easel position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
A convertible box as claimed in claim 5, wherein said securing means comprise a slot formation in each panel and a flexible member having rigid elements at each end, each element dimensioned to pass through its slot formation in one position and be held in the slot by rotation to another position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
A convertible box as claimed in claim 5, wherein one slot formation is of cruciform shape.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
191 words
A flat blank to be erected into a box which can be converted into an easel comprising a flat sheet having: a first horizontal score line intermediate the horizontal edges of said blank to act as a fold line; spaced second, third and fourth horizontal score lines above and parallel to said first score line; spaced fifth, sixth and seventh horizontal score lines below and parallel to said first score line; and vertical score lines extending from said second and fifth score lines to the horizontal edges of the sheet, said sheet having cutouts extending from the vertical score lines between the second and fifth horizontal score lines to the corresponding vertical edges of the sheet; said sheet being further provided with slots in alignment with the ends of the fourth and seventh score lines and extending from the vertical score lines to the vertical edges, and with diagonal score lines extending from the intersections of the vertical score lines with the third and sixth horizontal score lines toward the cutouts; said sheet further having aligned handhold openings intersecting the second and fifth horizontal score lines substantially at their center portions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
191 words
A flat blank to be erected into a box which can be converted into an easel comprising a flat sheet having: a first horizontal score line intermediate the horizontal edges of said blank to act as a fold line; spaced second, third and fourth horizontal score lines above and parallel to said first score line; spaced fifth, sixth and seventh horizontal score lines below and parallel to said first score line; and vertical score lines extending from said second and fifth score lines to the horizontal edges of the sheet, said sheet having cutouts extending from the vertical score lines between the second and fifth horizontal score lines to the corresponding vertical edges of the sheet; said sheet being further provided with slots in alignment with the ends of the fourth and seventh score lines and extending from the vertical score lines to the vertical edges, and with diagonal score lines extending from the intersections of the vertical score lines with the third and sixth horizontal score lines toward the cutouts; said sheet further having aligned handhold openings intersecting the second and fifth horizontal score lines substantially at their center portions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
A flat blank as claimed in claim 8, wherein said first score line is substantially at the center of the sheet and the score lines are substantially symmetrically located relatively thereto.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
A flat blank as claimed in claim 8, wherein a slot is formed in the sheet between the third and the fourth and between the sixth and seventh horizontal score lines and within the vertical score lines.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
A flat blank as claimed in claim 8, wherein a flap supported by a double score line is formed in the sheet within a handhold opening.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-02-28 | 1975-08-30 | 1976-02-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-02-28 | 1979-08-30 | 1980-02-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-02-28 | 1983-08-30 | 1984-02-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |