DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] FIG. 1 is a plan view of an exemplary blank 200 used to form container 300 of FIG. 2. Blank 200 is shown with three exemplary body panels 10, 20, and 30. The blank 200 is shown with six exemplary flaps 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, and 90. In addition the blank 200 is shown with two exemplary hinge panels 100, 110 that assist with folding the blank 200 into a container 300. It is to be understood that the blank 200 could contain additional or fewer body panels, flaps, and hinge panels.

[0010] The blank 200 is shown as a single blank; however it is to be understood that blank 200 could have multiple parts that are secured to each other by any means known in the art. In an exemplary embodiment blank 200 is formed by cutting a single piece of paperboard or any other suitable substrate, such as plastic or a laminate substrate, to form the blank 200 as shown. It is to be understood that the shapes and dimensions of the panels 10, 20, 30, flaps 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, and hinge panels 100, 110 are exemplary and that the invention covers a wide range of shapes and dimensions and should not be limited by the exemplary shapes and dimensions shown. In an exemplary method a container 300 is formed by folding the various flaps 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 and panels 10, 20, 30 of the blank 200 along the fold-lines 12, 22, 32, 16, 24, 26, 32, 36, 34, 72, 74 and securing the various flaps and panels to each other as described below.

[0011] The use of a single blank 200 offers the advantage of providing ease of fabrication, eliminates the need to secure the various panels and flaps to each other and generally results in an economical use of materials. In an exemplary embodiment blank 200 has at least one coated side to enhance the appearance of graphics printed on the blank 200. It is to be understood that graphic and advertising information could be printed on at least one or both sides of the blank 200 prior to or after forming the blank 200. Blank 200 as illustrated in FIG. 1 allows efficient display on both the exterior and interior of the container 300 of information printed on one-side as will be explained later. In an exemplary embodiment the back-side of blank 200 (not visible in FIG. 1) is printed with graphics, such as product information and advertising.

[0012] Flap 40 is shown with two exemplary apertures 120, 130. In an exemplary embodiment the apertures 120, 130 retain a product, item, or product sample 420 (FIG. 3), such as product sealed in a blister container between the flap 40 and panel 10 of container 300. An exemplary product 420 could include a pharmaceutical or cosmetic product. It is to be understood that the apertures 120, 130 could be sized and located in numerous places along flap 40 based on the shape and size of the particular product 420 to be placed in the container 300.

[0013] An exemplary method of forming container 300 is by folding or manipulating the various flaps and panels of blank 200 as described below. In an exemplary method, a first section is formed by folding the top 42 of flap 40 along fold line 12 and securing it to the bottom 14 of panel 10. An exemplary method for securing the various flaps and panels of the container 300 is the use of adhesives, such as glue or hot melts, although numerous well known techniques are available to secure the various flaps and panels to each other. Flap 40 and panel 10 should be secured so that a product 420, such as a product contained within a conventional blister pack, can be easily placed between panel 10 and flap 40; yet fit securely within the exemplary apertures 120, 130.

[0014] An information booklet section can be formed by folding the top 52 of flap 50 along fold line 22 and folding flap 70 along fold line 72 and securing the two flaps 50, 70 to each other. An exemplary method for securing flap 50 and flap 70 to each other is the use of adhesives. In an exemplary method flap 50 is secured over top of flap 70 to conceal the presence of flap 70. After the two flaps 50, 70 are secured an open cavity or pocket (not shown) exists between panel 20 and flaps 50, 70. An exemplary use of the pocket formed between the panel 20 and flap 50 is to retain an information booklet 430 (FIG. 3) or pamphlet. The exemplary cavity provides a means to retain a booklet when the container 300 is closed; yet allows for easy removal of an information booklet 430 when the container 300 is open. In an exemplary method, a portion of the booklet 430 is placed behind flaps 50, 70 and a portion of the booklet is placed in front of flaps 50, 70. The booklet 430 is ideally secured along the spine of the booklet 434.

[0015] An information storage media 440 section can be formed by folding the top 62 of flap 60 along fold line 32 and securing it to panel 30. This can be dimensioned to provide a printed surface above flap 90 once it is folded over panel 30. In an exemplary method flap 90 is folded along fold line 34 and secured over flap 80 to conceal the presence of flap 80. An exemplary method for securing flap 90 and flap 80 to each other is the use of adhesives. In an exemplary container 300, flap 90 is also dimensioned to cover the top portion of flap 60. As a result of securing the two flaps 80, 90 to each other a two-sided pocket is formed. An exemplary use of the two-sided pocket is to retain an information storage media 440 (FIG. 3), such as a compact disc (CD), digital video disc (DVD), mini CD, or the like. The exemplary pocket provides a means to retain information storage media when the container 300 is closed; yet allows for generally easy removal of the information storage media when the container 300 is open.

[0016] In another exemplary embodiment, an information storage media tray (not shown), such as CD tray or holder, which is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,709,812 can be mounted to body panel 30 and or flap 60 to secure the information storage media 440 in the container 300. It is to be understood that such an embodiment might eliminate the need for flaps 80, 90 and may alter the dimensions of the container 300 as well as the hinge panels 100, 110. It is to be understood that an information storage media tray of various shapes, sizes, and dimensions could be used.

[0017] The formed container 300 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is shown in an open position. It is to be understood that the container 300 has an open and closed position (not shown). It is to be understood that an exemplary method of using the container 300 is to fold the three regions (product sample 520, information booklet 530, and information storage media 540) of the container 300 into a closed position. An exemplary method is to fold the three regions along the hinge panels 100, 110 using fold lines 16, 24, 26, 36. An exemplary method for closing the container 300 includes securing the product sample region 520 and information storage media region 540 at approximately the container perimeters 44 and 94. The two regions 520, 540 can be secured to each other by adhesives, various fasteners, or other conventional methods to close a folding container. In addition, a closed container could also be wrapped into a packaging material such as a plastic shrink wrap to close and protect the container 300 and its contents.

[0018] One advantage of the layout of the blank 200 as described above is that if information is printed on only one side of the blank 200, then the container as formed in FIGS. 2 and 3 will contain printed information on both sides. As illustrated in FIG. 2, flaps 40, 50, 60, and 90 could all potentially displayed printed information or graphics, such as advertising, on the inside of the container 300 (visible) as well as the back-side of the container 300 which is not visible in the Figures.

[0019] Once given the above disclosure, many other features, modifications or improvements of the invention will become apparent to the skilled artisan. Such features, modifications or improvements are, therefore, considered to be a part of the invention, the scope of which is to be determined by the following claims.