Self-erecting collapsible polyhedron system
AssigneeMake It Mine LLC
InventorVincent Wang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A collapsible and self-erecting polyhedron system is provided. The system includes a collapsible and self-erecting box. The box comprises cardboard and includes outer surfaces upon which images (e.g., photographic reproductions), graphics, and text are printed to provide a three-dimensional greeting card. The three-dimensional greeting card (the box) is collapsed and placed into an envelope, and upon being removed from the envelope, automatically self-erects providing a fun and exciting experience. Confetti also is included within the box that is ejected during the box self-erecting, thereby providing even more enjoyment.
Claims20
A self-erecting box system comprising:
- a hollow cuboid adapted to transition from a collapsed configuration to an erected cuboid-shaped configuration and/or from the erected cuboid-shaped configuration to the collapsed configuration, the cuboid including a top face, a bottom face, a first side face, a second side face, a third side face, and a fourth side face defining an inner volume, a first edge formed between the first and second faces, a second edge formed between the second and third faces, a third edge formed between the third and fourth faces, and a fourth edge formed between the fourth and first faces;
- an elastic member with a first end coupled to the second edge and a second end opposite the first end coupled to the fourth edge and applying an inward force to the second edge and to the fourth edge;
- the top face including a first top portion and a second top portion adapted to physically separate from one another about a first dividing line extending across the top face from the first edge to the third edge;
- the bottom face including a first bottom portion and a second bottom portion adapted to physically separate from one another about a second dividing line extending across the bottom face from the first edge to the third edge;
- and
- the first dividing line parallel to the second dividing line when the cuboid is in the erected cuboid-shaped configuration.
A self-erecting box system comprising:
- a hollow cuboid adapted to transition from a collapsed configuration to an erected cuboid-shaped configuration and/or from the erected cuboid-shaped configuration to the collapsed configuration, the cuboid defined by a top face, a bottom face, a first side face, a second side face, a third side face, and a fourth side face defining an inner volume, a first edge formed at a first intersection between the first and second faces, a second edge formed at a second intersection between the second and third faces, a third edge formed at a third intersection between the third and fourth faces, and a fourth edge formed at a fourth intersection between the fourth and first faces;
- an elastic member including a first end coupled to the second edge and a second end coupled to the fourth edge, the elastic member extending across the inner volume between the second edge and the fourth edge and applying an inward force to the first edge and the second edge;
- wherein when the hollow cuboid is in the collapsed configuration, the inward force applied by the elastic member causes the hollow cuboid to transition from the collapsed configuration to the erected cuboid-shaped configuration;
- and
- wherein the first edge, the second edge, the third edge, and the fourth edge are all parallel with one another when the cuboid is in the erected cuboid-shaped configuration and when the cuboid is in the collapsed configuration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.