Mailer package

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to mailer packages, and more particularly to cardboard mailer packages configured for sending a gift in the form of a toy along with a greeting inscribed on the mailer package.

Mailer packages are generally known in the art, and take a variety of shapes and sizes depending on the desired package size. Mailer packages are often made from a single sheet of stock material, such as cardboard. The mailer package is formed by folding the stock material at designated points, thereby producing a simpler, stronger package since there are a minimal number of joints which need to be artificially joined. Additionally, mailer packages often include a cover portion, such that the package may be closed and subsequently opened to retrieve the contents.

However, there remains difficulty in the art in forming mailer packages which are strong enough to hold heavier, larger objects within and still function as a delivery mechanism which can easily be sealed for shipping and easily be re-opened upon receipt, while still being formed from a single sheet of foldable stock material. Additionally, those utilizing such mailer packages to ship sample or gift products often desire to include a message or greeting with the mailer package. Although mailer packages which are used as greeting cards are known in the art, there has been difficulty in finding an effective way to use the mailer package as a greeting card while still maintaining the above-identified construction and strength characteristics. Thus, the present invention is directed to a mailer package which can be used as a greeting card while simultaneously shipping a toy secured within the package.

<patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="BE549510"><text>BE 549510</text></patcit> relates to a postal package for sending small objects in an enclosed postal container, that is accompanied by a correspondence on a post card. The postal package is made by folding and cutting a single piece of card.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a mailer package formed from a single sheet of foldable stock material comprises a compartment formed by first and second parallel panels which are spaced from each other and joined together by first and second parallel sides. The first and second sides are smaller than the first and second panels and extend along opposing edges of each of the first and second panels. The compartment has opposing first and second open ends. A number of separate tabs at each of the first and second open ends each extend from a separate one of the first and second panels or first and second sides at the open end. There are a sufficient number of tabs to cover and close the first and second ends. A cover extends from an edge between one of the first and second sides and one of the first and second panels. The cover has a closure flap with a tearable pull tab and is foldable about the edge from which it extends between a closed position and an open position. In the closed position the cover overlies one of the first and second panels and the first and second sides adjacent to the edge from which it extends. The cover is releasably secured in the closed position by attachment of the closure flap to another of the first and second panels and the first and second sides. The secured cover is moveable to the open position with release of the pull tab. In the open position the cover is folded away from the compartment. The cover is formed from two mutually overlying layers of the stock material such that the two overlying layers of the stock material of the cover overlie a major portion of the one of the first and second panels and the first and second sides.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

In the drawings: <ul id="ul0001" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li><figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> is a top view of a blank of stock material used to form a mailer package according to an embodiment of the present invention;</li><li><figref idref="f0002">Fig. 2</figref> is a rear perspective view of a mailer package formed from the blank shown in <figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> in an open position;</li><li><figref idref="f0003">Fig. 3</figref> is a front perspective view of the mailer package of <figref idref="f0002">Fig. 2</figref>;</li><li><figref idref="f0004">Fig. 4</figref> is a perspective view of the mailer package of <figref idref="f0002">Fig. 2</figref> in the closed position;</li><li><figref idref="f0005">Fig. 5</figref> is a perspective view of a package containing a toy for mailing within the mailer package of <figref idref="f0002 f0003 f0004">Figs. 2-4</figref>.</li></ul>

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The words "right", "left", "lower" and "upper" designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words "inwardly" and "outwardly" refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the mailer package and designated pafts thereof. The terminology includes the words above specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar import.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals indicate like elements throughout.

Referring to <figref idref="f0001 f0002 f0003 f0004">Figs. 1-4</figref> a second preferred embodiment of a mailer package, generally designated 110 in accordance with the present invention is shown. The mailer package 110 is designed to mail a small package containing a toy or other like device, or simply a toy placed directly within the compartment 116. Some of the features of the mailer package 110 were discussed above with respect to the first embodiment and have been omitted here for convenience only and should not be considered limiting.

Referring now to <figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref>, a blank 112 constituted by a single sheet of foldable carlboard stock material which forms the mailer package 110 is shown. The blank 112 includes at least a first and preferably a second panel 118,120, respectively. The first and second panels 118, 120 are preferably approximately the same shape and size. The second panel 120 extends from the first panel 118 along a fourth fold line 125. The first and second panels 118, 120 each include a preferably generally rectangular shaped aperture 117, formed from a cut out of the stock material from the blank 112.

A closure flap 156 extends from the first panel 118 along a first fold line 119. The closure flap 156 preferably includes a tearable pull tab 158, preferably in the form of a zip strip formed by lines of perforations 158a,158b, which separates the closure flap 156 into a release portion 157 and an attachment portion 159 (see <figref idref="f0002">Fig. 2</figref>).

A compartment flap indicated generally by 122 extends from the first panel 118. The compartment flap 122 includes a first compartment aide 132 which extends from the first panel 118 along a second fold line 121. A second compartment side 134 extends from the first compartment side 132 along a fifth fold line 127, and a third compartment side 136 extends from the second compartment side 134 along a sixth fold line 129. The first, second and third compartment sides 132, 134, 136 preferably have generally the same dimensions but side 134 can easily be differed in size from sides 132 and 136. An attachment tab 126 extends from the third compartment side 136 along the length of an attachment tab fold line 131. The attachment tab 126 is preferably coated with an adhesive material on a surface thereof. The adhesive material is strong enough to securely attach the attachment tab 126 to another portion of the stock material.

Flap tabs 140 extend, from each end of the first compartment side 132 along flap tab fold lines 141,142. Flap tabs 140 also extend from each end of the third compartment side 136 along flap tab fold lines 143,144. Similarly, compartment tabs 146 extend from each end of the second compartment flap 134 along compartment tab fold lines 145, 147. End tabs 148 extend from the compartment tabs 146 along end tab fold lines 149a, 149b.

The blank 112 further includes a first and preferably a second cover panel 150, 152, respectively. The first cover panel 150 extends from the first panel 118 along the length of a third fold line 123. The second cover panel 152 extends from the first cover, panel 150 along the fourth fold line 125, such that the second cover panel 152 and the second panel 120 are joined along the third fold line 123. The first and second cover panels 150, 152 have preferably approximately the same dimensions as the first and second panels 118, 120.

<figref idref="f0002 f0003 f0004">Figs. 2-4</figref> show the mailer package 110 which is formed by folding and bending the above-described portions of the blank 112. The mailer package 110 is formed by simultaneously folding the second panel 120 and the second cover panel 152 along the fourth fold line 125 such that the second panel 120 substantially overlies the first panel 118 (and the apertures 117 in each panel 118, 120 align) and the second cover panel 152 substantially overlies the first cover panel 150. The resulting fold produces common first edges 125a and 125b. The first and second mutually overlying panels 118,120 are preferably secured together by an adhesive material on one or both of the panels 118, 120. Thus, the first and second panels 118,120 essentially form one double layer panel 111 having opposing first and second major sides 118', 120'. For convenience, this description refers to the first and second panels 118, 120, which are equivalent to the first and second major sides 118', 120', respectively, of the one panel 111. Similarly, the first and second mutually overlying cover panels 150, 152 are preferably secured together by an adhesive material on one or both of the first and second cover panels 150, 52 and form a cover 114.

The first compartment side 132 is then folded along the second fold line 121 forming approximately a right angle with the first panel 118. The resulting fold produces a common second edge 121'. The second compartment side 134 is then folded along the fifth fold line 127 to form approximately a right angle with the first compartment side 132 and such that the second compartment side 134 overlies and is spaced from the first panel 118. The resulting fold produces a common fifth edge 127'. The third compartment side 136 is then folded along the sixth fold line 129 forming approximately a right angle with the second compartment side 134, resulting in a common sixth edge 129' The attachment tab 126 is folded along the attachment fold line 131 forming approximately a right angle With the third compartment side 136 such that, the attachment tab 126 is parallel with and contacts the first panel 118, such that the attachment tab 126 adheres to the first panel 118 using the adhesive material thereon.

By folding the blank 112 along the fold lines as described, a generally rectangular-shaped (parallelepiped) compartment 116 is thus formed by the first, second and third sequentially joined compartment sides 132, 134, 136 and a fourth sequential side formed by the first panel 118. Alternatively, the first panel 118 and the second compartment side 134 can be characterized as a first pair of parallel compartment panels (of different size) connected by the sides 132, 136 characterized as a first pair of parallel compartment sides to parallel the language of the first embodiment 10. The compartment 116 is sized to accommodate a second package 160 containing, for example, a toy 162 for mailing within the mailer package 110 (see <figref idref="f0005">Fig. 5</figref>). The second package 160 is preferably formed from a generally L-shaped plastic casing 164 having a recessed portion (shown in phantom in <figref idref="f0005">Fig. 5</figref>) shaped to hold a toy car therein. Alternatively, the loose toy 162 could be directly inserted into the compartment 116 without the second package 160. The compartment is preferable formed over and aligned with the apertures 117 in the first and second panels 118,120, so that the contents of the compartment 116 may be seen through both panels 118, 120 from the apposite side.

The compartment 116 includes first and second open ends 128, 130, respectively (shown in <figref idref="f0002">Figs. 2</figref> and <figref idref="f0004">4</figref> as closed ends), at opposing ends of the compartment 116. The first and second open ends 128,130 are closed by folding the flap tabs 140 extending from each end 128,130 of the first compartment side 132 inward toward the compartment 116 along the flap tab fold lines 141, 142, respectively, and from each end 128,130 of the third compartment side 136 along flap tab fold lines 143,144, respectively. Each flap tab 140 overlies at least a portion of first and second open ends 128,130. The end tabs 148 are then folded along their respective end tab fold lines 149a, 149b forming an approximate right angle with the compartment tabs 146 on the second compartment side 134. The compartment tabs 146 are then each folded toward the compartment 116 along their respective compartment tab fold lines 145, 147 to cover and close the first and second ends 128, 130. The end tabs 148 are releasably locked into place with the first sides 132,136 and the folded flap tabs 140 at each respective open end 128, 130. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the number and configuration of the tabs 140, 146, 148 at each open end 128, 130 may vary, so long as there is a sufficient number of tabs (from one to four or more) at each open end 128, 130 to cover and close each open end 128, 130. Additionally, adhesive material may be used to securely close the first and second ends 128,130.

The cover 114, formed from the mutually overlying first and second cover panels 150, 152 is foldable about the third fold line 123, resulting in a common third edge 123' between the cover 114 and the mutually overlying first and second panels 118, 120. The cover 114 is foldable between an open position (see <figref idref="f0002">Figs. 2</figref> and <figref idref="f0003">3</figref>) and a closed position (see <figref idref="f0004">Fig. 4</figref>). When the cover 114 is in the open position folded away from the compartment 116, the second panel 120 is exposed, such that the apertures 117 are visible, and, thus a substantial portion of the contents within the compartment 116 is visible. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the apertures 117 may be formed as a different size or in different portions of the first and second panels 118, 120. When the cover 114 is in the closed position, the first and second cover panels 150, 152 overlie a major portion of the second panel 120.

The closure flap 156 is foldable along the first fold line 119, resulting in a first common edge 119' between the first and second panels 118, 120 and the closure flap 156. When the cover 114 is folded to the closed position, the closure flap 156 is folded along the first fold line 119 such that the closure flap 156 contacts and overlies the second panel 120. The cover 114 is releasably secured in the closed position by adhering the attachment portion 159 of the closure flap 156 to the cover panel 150 using an adhesive material on the attachment portion 159 and/or the cover panel 150. The cover 114 is releasable to the open position (from the closed position) by tearing the release tab 158 along the perforations 158a, 158b, thereby separating the release portion 157 from the attachment portion 159. The attachment portion 159 remains adhered to the cover panel 150, while the cover 114 is then freely rotatable about the first fold line 119. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the closure flap could be formed to attach to another portion of the mailer package 110 to secure the cover 114 in the closed position.

The use of the mailer package 110 is similar to that described above with respect to the mailer package 10. The compartment 116 is loaded with the loose toy 162 or second package 160 containing the toy 162 and any of the first and second ends 128,130 which are open are then closed. The cover 114 is then folded into the closed position, and the closure flap 156 is attached to the cover panel 150. A message or greeting may be preprinted and/or hand written on the second panel 120 and/or the second cover panel 152 so that the recipient of the mailer package 110 sees the message upon opening the cover 114. The mailer package 110 is opened by tearing the pull tab 158 to release the cover 114 from the attachment portion 159. The cover 114 is moved into the open position where the contents of the second package 160 within the compartment 116 are visible through the apertures 117. The compartment 116 is then opened and the second package 160 or toy 162 removed.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications with the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.