GB2529816A

GB2529816A - Box suitable for retail items

Info

Publication number: GB2529816A
Application number: GB1415476.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Bull
Original assignee: JOHN BULL DESIGN Ltd
Current assignee: JOHN BULL DESIGN Ltd
Priority date: 2014-09-02
Filing date: 2014-09-02
Publication date: 2016-03-09
Also published as: GB201415476D0

Abstract

A box 10 suitable for retail items has a slidable panel 30 which includes a sheet 19 and a tab 20, and which can be moved between an inserted configuration, in which the sheet 19 is predominantly inside the box 10 and the tab 20 is outside the box, and an extracted configuration, in which the sheet 19 is mainly outside of the box 10. The slidable panel 30 is also provided with retaining means which act to prevent complete removal of the slidable panel 30 from the box 10 when the box 10 is closed. The incorporation of a slidable panel 30 into a box 19 for retail items increases the surface area of packaging readily accessible to the consumer, on which information, branding or marketing can be provided to the consumer.

Description

Box Suitable for Retail Items The present invention relates to a box suitable for retail items.

Retail items are typically packaged in boxes which are displayed in retail outlets, and may be adapted to hang on display rails. When these items are small, such as accessories for electronic devices, the outer surface of the box may provide insufficient area to display the technical or marketing information that the prospective purchaser would find relevant in deciding whether or not to purchase the item.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a box suitable for retail items, which comprises a slidable panel, the slidable panel comprising a sheet, a tab attached to the sheet, and retention means, wherein the slidable panel can be moved between an inserted configuration and an extracted configuration, the tab being outside of the box in both the inserted configuration and the extracted configuration, and the proportion of the sheet outside the box being greater in the extracted configuration than in the inserted configuration, the retention means acting to prevent complete removal of the slidable panel from the box when the box is closed.

Preferably, the sheet is predominantly inside the box in the inserted configuration, whereas the sheet is predominantly outside the box in the extracted configuration. For example, in the inserted configuration the proportion of the surface area of the sheet inside the box may be more than 70%, or more than 80%, or more than 90% or indeed 100%; by contrast, in the extracted configuration the proportion of the surface area of the sheet outside the box may be more than 50%, or more than 60%, or more than 75%.

Without opening the box, the consumer can slide the slidable panel from the inserted configuration to the extracted configuration. Hence the incorporation of a slidable panel into a box for retail items increases the surface area of packaging readily accessible to the consumer in a retail environment. This enables the manufacturer or retailer to provide additional information relating to the product, for example regarding product specifications, special offers and the like. Such information may include branding, but also descriptions of the product, and how the product is to be used. Such information may be provided in words or images. The slidable panel may also act as a tray for the retail items within the box which may be slid out when the box is opened.

The tab extends outside the box when the panel is in the inserted configuration, and so is visible to the prospective consumer or purchaser. By pulling the tab the consumer can slide the slidable panel into the extended configuration without opening the box, and this opportunity for customer involvement may encourage the customer to pick up the product in order to find out more about it.

The slidable panel comprises retention means to prevent complete removal of the slidable panel from the box when the box is closed. This ensures that the slidable panel is not easily removed and discarded by consumers, prior to purchase of the item. In one embodiment the retention means is at least one flap defined by the slidable panel, for example positioned adjacent to an end of the slidable panel opposite to that with the tab.

This flap may be formed by folding a portion of the sheet and acts to prevent removal of the panel.

The slidable panel may also comprise a stiffening sheet portion; and this may extend along at least part of one side of the sheet. This stiffening sheet portion increases the stiffness of the slidable panel. The stiffening sheet portion may be integral with the sheet, and may be formed by folding; alternatively the stiffening sheet portion may be adhered to the sheet. Preferably, the back panel of the box has a slot for accepting the stiffening sheet portion of the slidable panel. This guides and facilitates the movement of the slidable panel as it is moved in and out of the box by the consumer. One end of the stiffening sheet portion may be shaped to facilitate insertion of the stiffening sheet portion into the slot in the back panel of the box, for example being shaped into a point.

The back panel of the box may have a length greater than that of the front panel or side panels of the box forming a projecting portion. This projecting portion may comprise a hole or slot for hanging the box on a display rail.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is also provided a slidable panel comprising a sheet, a tab attached to the sheet, and retention means, wherein the slidable panel may be inserted into a box for retail items and can be moved between an inserted configuration, in which the sheet is predominantly inside the box and the tab is positioned outside of the box, and an extracted configuration, in which the sheet is predominantly outside of the box, the retention means acting to prevent complete removal of the slidable panel from the box when the box is closed. This panel may be provided as a flat sheet which may be folded into the correct configuration for insertion into a box.

The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a box for retail items with the slidable panel fully inserted.

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a box for retail items with the slidable panel partially extracted from the box.

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a slidable panel.

Figure 4 shows a plan view of the back panel of an embodiment of a box.

Figures 1, 2 and 4 show a box for retail items 10 which is provided with a slidable panel 30. The box 10 is made from cardboard material and has a height of approximately 11.5 cm, a width of approximately 6 cm and a depth of approximately 1.5 cm; these dimensions are by way of example only. The box 10 may be opened and closed at each end using a standard arrangement of two side flaps (not shown) and a lid 11 consisting of a closure panel and a tuck flap. In use, stickers 12 may be used to to seal the short edges of the openings of the box so that contents (the retail item) cannot be removed without breaking these seals. The box 10 includes an opening 13 which enables the contents (i.e. the retail item) to be displayed to the consumer.

The back panel 14 of the box 10 (shown in Figure 4), which which is positioned facing away from the consumer when displayed in a retail store, has a length which is greater than that of the front panel 15 and the side panels 16, so it forms a portion 17 that projects beyond the remainder of the box 10. The width of the projecting portion 17 is slightly narrower than the reminder of the back panel 14, such as around 3 mm narrower. A hole or slot 18 is provided in the projecting portion 17 of the back panel 14 which enables the box 10 to be hung on a display rail (not shown).

The box 10 contains a slidable panel 30 (shown in particularly Figure 3) which is also made from cardboard material. The slidable panel 30 defines a sheet portion 19, and a tab 20 which extends outside of the box 10 even when the slidable panel 30 is fully inserted. The tab 20, in this embodiment, is integral with the sheet portion 19. This enables the consumer to pull the tab 20 and slide the sheet portion 19 at least partly out of the box 10. The dimensions of the sheet portion 19 are slightly smaller than the dimensions of the front face 15 of the box 10. The slidable panel 30 also defines two folded flaps 21 which are adjacent to the opposite end of the sheet portion 19 from the tab 20.

The folded flaps 21 have a width which is slightly less than the width of the side panels of the box 10 and, in use, are folded above the sheet portion 19 (as shown) to an angle of between about 40° and 900 to the sheet portion 19. The slidable panel 30 also includes a folded portion 22 extending along one side of the sheet portion 19 including the tab 20.

The folded portion 22 has a width of approximately 1.4 cm and is folded in the opposite direction to the folded flaps 21. In use it would be folded right under the sheet portion 19 so as to lie close to its underside, so it acts to stiffen the slidable panel 30 (and may therefore be referred to as a stiffening portion 22). At the opposite end to the tab section 20, the folded portion 22 is shaped to form a point 23.

Figure 4 shows the back panel 14 of the box 10 with the slidable panel 30 fully inserted. A slot 31 is provided in the back panel 14. To assemble the box 10, the folded portion 22 of the slidable panel 30 is wrapped around an edge of the projecting portion 17 of the back panel 14. As the slidable panel 30 is inserted, the point 23 at the end of the folded portion 22 is passed though the slot 31 in the back panel 14. The slidable panel 30 can then be pushed into the box 10. The retail item (not shown) may already be in the box 10, or may be put into the box 10 after insertion of the slidable panel 30. In any event the main sheet section 19 lies adjacent to the back panel 14 of the box 10, so the retail item is between the sheet portion 19 and the front panel 15, and so would be visible through the opening 13.

Once the slidable panel 30 is fully inserted, the lid 11 may be closed, so holding the slidable panel 30 adjacent to the back panel 14. The box 10 may then be sealed, for example using stickers 12.

In use, a consumer picking up the box 10 can pull at the tab 20 and slide the slidable panel 30 out without opening the box 10. The slidable panel 30 is stopped from being completely removed from the box 10 by the folded flaps 21 coming into contact with the lid 11. Once the consumer has finished looking at the product through the opening 13, and reading the information on the panel 30, the panel 30 may easily be pushed back into the box 10 and the box 10 replaced on the retail display. The opportunity to pull out the slidable panel 30 is expected to encourage the customer to pick up the box 10 in order to find out more about the retail item or product; and having become involved with the retail item or product in this way, the customer may be more likely to purchase it.

Various modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, the box 10 and/or the slidable panel 30 may be made from other suitable materials, such as flexible plastic. In addition, as described above the slidable panel 30 may be made from a single sheet that is folded to form the configuration described above; alternatively it may be formed from several components, for example the tab 20 may be a separate component which is attached to the sheet 19. In either case the tab 20 may also be located centrally or on the opposite side of the sheet 19 to that shown in the accompanying figures. The dimensions of the tab 20 may also differ, for example the width may be greater or narrower than shown and, for example, may be approximately the same width as the sheet 19.

Similarly, the stiffening portion 22 may be a separate component from the sheet 19, and may be adhered to the underside of the sheet 19 at least along its edge.

It will also be appreciated that the box may differ in other respects, for example having different dimensions to those described above or different proportions. Furthermore there be may be no opening 13, or there may be more than one opening 13. Where such an opening 13 is provided, a transparent film may be also provided to cover the opening 13, for example being attached to the inside surface of the box 10.

Claims

Claims 1. A box suitable for retail items, which comprises a slidable panel, the slidable panel comprising a sheet, a tab attached to the sheet and retention means, wherein the slidable panel can be moved between an inserted configuration and an extracted configuration, the tab being outside of the box in both the inserted configuration and the extracted configuration, and the proportion of the sheet outside the box being greater in the extracted configuration than in the inserted configuration, the retention means acting to prevent complete removal of the slidable panel from the box when the box is closed.
2. A box as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sheet is predominantly inside the box in the inserted configuration, whereas the sheet is predominantly outside the box in the extracted configuration.
3. A box according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the retention means is at least one folded flap defined by the slidable panel.
4. A box according to any one of the preceding claims in which the slidable panel comprises a stiffening sheet portion extending along at least part of one side of the sheet.
5. A box according to claim 4 in which the back panel of the box has a slot for accepting the stiffening sheet portion of the slidable panel.
6. A box according to claim 5 in which one end of the stiffening sheet portion is shaped to facilitate insertion of the stiffening sheet portion into the slot in the back panel of the box.
7. A box as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6 wherein the stiffening sheet portion is integral with the sheet, and is formed by folding.
8. A box according to any one of the preceding claims in which the back panel of the box has a length greater than that of the front panel or side panels of the box, so forming a projecting portion.
9. A box according to claim 8 in which the projecting portion of the back panel defines a hole or slot for hanging the box on a display rail.
10. A slidable panel comprising a sheet, a tab attached to the sheet and retention means, wherein the slidable panel may be inserted into a box suitable for retail items and can be moved between an inserted configuration and an extracted configuration, with the tab being outside of the box in both the inserted configuration and the extracted configuration, and the proportion of the sheet outside the box being greater in the extracted configuration than in the inserted configuration, the retention means acting to prevent complete removal of the slidable panel from the box when the box is closed.
11. A box suitable for retail items substantially as described herein and with reference to the accompanying drawings.
12. A slidable panel substantially as described herein and with reference to Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.