Buffered package

Claim 2

In combination a generally rectangular blank of stiff, foldable material having top and bottom edges and two side edges, three fold lines generally extending between the top and bottom edges so that said blank can be folded along the three fold lines and said two side edges placed adjacent one another to thereby form an open, four-sided article, two fold lines in the top and bottom portions of each of the first and third of said four sides which respectively define upper and lower inner flaps in said first and third sides; and fold lines in each of said lower inner flaps which define a fore-end in each said lower inner flap, each said fore-end being adjacent said bottom edge of the blank; and at least one buffer means so attached to a predetermined side of each of said fore-ends that said open, four-sided article can be collapsed flat to form a flat article suitable for storage, said buffer means (a) being on the outside of the flat article to facilitate said storage and (b) being adapted to protect an article placed within a package formed from said open, four-sided article.

Claim 3

The combination in claim 1 including at least one further buffer means attached to each of said upper inner flaps which are adapted to further protect said article.

Claim 4

The combination as in claim 1 including means for defining in each of said upper inner flaps a fore-end and an after-end, each said last-mentioned fore-end being adjacent said top end of the blank; and at least one further buffer means attached to each said last-mentioned fore-ends which are adapted to further protect said article.

Claim 5

The combination as in claim 3 where said buffer means and said further buffer means each comprise at least a pair of blocks respectively attached to a pair of corners of its associated flap.

Claim 6

The combination as in claim 3 where said buffer means and said further buffer means each comprise at least a unitary block extending a pair of corners of its associated flap.

Claim 7

The combination as in claim 3 including two fold lines in the top and bottom portions of each of the second and fourth of said four sides which respectively define upper and lower outer flaps in said second and fourth sides which thereby permit said package to be closed.

Claim 8

The combination as in claim 3 including bridge means comprising at least one strip for connecting the fore-end and after-end of each upper inner flap to one another to thereby facilitate the positioning of said further buffer means with respect to said article.

Claim 9

The combination as in claim 7 where said strip is defined by a first pair of substantially parallel slits in each said upper inner flap extending parallel to the sides of said blank.

Claim 10

The combination as in claim 8 where said bridge means includes a further strip for connecting the fore-end and the after-end of each upper inner flap.

Claim 11

The combination as in claim 9 where said further strip is defined by a second pair of substantially parallel slits in each said upper inner flap extending parallel to the sides of said blank.

Claim 12

The combination as in claim 10 including first, second and third slits extending substantially parallel to the top edge of said blank for separating said fore-end and said after-end in each said upper inner flap, said first slit extending between a first side of each said upper inner flap to the slit of said first pair of slits adjacent said first side of the flap, said first slit intersecting the last-mentioned slit of the first pair of slits at a point intermediate the ends of the last-mentioned slit, said second slit extending between the other side of each said upper inner flap to the slit of said second pair of slits adjacent said other side of the flap, said second slit intersecting the last-mentioned slit of the second pair of slits at a point intermediate the ends of the last-mentioned slit, said third slit extending from the slit of said first pair of slits which is removed from said first side of the flap to the slit of said second pair of slits which is removed from said other side of the flap, said third slit intersecting said last-mentioned slits at the ends thereof adjacent said top edge of the blank.

Claim 13

The combination as in claim 1 including attaching means adapted for attaching the first and fourth sides of said four sides to one another after said two side edges are placed adjacent one another.

Claim 14

The combination as in claim 12 where said attaching means includes an overlap which extends from one of said two side edges.

Claim 15

The combination as in claim 13 including a pressure sensitive adhesive coated on said overlap.

Claim 16

In combination a generally rectangular blank of stiff, foldable material having top and bottom edges and two side edges, three fold lines generally extending between the top and bottom edges which define four sides of a package to be formed from said blank, two fold lines in the top and bottom portions of each of the first and third of said four sides which respectively define upper and lower inner flaps in said first and third sides; fold lines in each of said lower inner flaps which define a fore-end in each said lower flap, each said fore-end being adjacent said bottom edge of the blank; means for defining in each of said upper flaps a fore-end and an after-end, each said last-mentioned fore-end being adjacent said top end of the blank; bridge means comprising at least one strip defined by a first pair of substantially parallel slits in each said upper inner flap extending parallel to the sides of said blank, said one strip connecting the fore-end and after-end of each upper inner flap to one another; and at least one buffer means attached to each of said fore-ends of the lower inner flaps, said one buffer means being adapted to protect an article placed within said package; and at least one further buffer means attached to each of said fore-ends of the upper inner flaps, said further buffer means being adapted to further protect said article and where said one strip facilitates the positioning of said further buffer means with respect to the article.

Claim 17

In combination a generally rectangular blank of stiff, foldable material having top and bottom edges and two side edges, three fold lines generally extending between the top and bottom edges which define four sides of a package to be formed from said blank, two fold lines in the top and bottom portions of each of the first and third of said four sides which respectively define upper and lower inner flaps in said first and third sides; fold lines in each of said lower inner flaps which define a fore-end in each said lower flap, each said fore-end being adjacent said bottom edge of the blank; means for defining in each of said upper flaps a fore-end and an after-end, each said last-mentioned fore-end being adjacent said top end of the blank; bridge means comprising at least one strip defined by a first pair of substantially parallel slits in each said upper inner flap extending parallel to the sides of said blank, said one strip connecting the fore-end and after-end of each upper inner flap to one another; and at least one buffer means attached to each of said fore-ends of the lower inner flaps, said one buffer means being adapted to protect an article placed within said package; and at least one further buffer means attached to each of said fore-ends of the upper inner flaps, said further buffer means being adapted to further protect said article and where said one strip facilitates the positioning of said further buffer means with respect to the article.

Claim 18

The combination as in claim 15 where said bridge means includes a further strip for connecting the fore-end and the after-end of each upper inner flap.

Claim 19

The combination as in claim 16 where said further strip is defined by a second pair of substantially parallel slits in each said upper inner flap extending parallel to the sides of said blank.

Claim 20

The combination as in claim 17 including first, second and third slits extending substantially parallel to the top edge of said blank for separating said fore-end and said after-end in each said upper inner flap, said first slit extending between a first side of each said upper inner flap to the slit of said first pair of slits adjacent said first side of the flap, said first slit intersecting the last-mentioned slit of the first pair of slits at a point intermediate the ends of the last-mentioned slit, said second slit extending between the other side of each said upper inner flap to the slit of said second pair of slits adjacent said other side of the flap, said second slit intersecting the last-mentioned slit of the second pair of slits at a point intermediate the ends of the last-mentioned slit, said third slit extending from the slit of said first pair of slits which is removed from said first side of the flap to the slit of said second pair of slits which is removed from said other side of the flap, said third slit intersecting said last-mentioned slits at the ends thereof adjacent said top edge of the blank.