US 7,703,603 B1 · Expandable software packaging

Abstract

A software box or package with reduced original dimensions may be configured to be manipulated to form a box with at least one dimension that is longer than the original dimensions. For example, the box may be manipulated to form an expanded box with a longer height, depth, and/or width than the un-expanded box. In some embodiments, one or more sides of the box may be unfolded and/or one or more internal boxes may be unfolded or pulled out of the un-expanded box to form the expanded box. The expanded box may be used to store documents, back-up software copies, instructions, etc. The expanded box may have a height and width approximately the same as a file folder and may be stored in a filing cabinet. Such software boxes may include boxes for tax software, real estate software, résumés, etc.

An apparatus, comprising:

a software distribution medium;
and
an expandable package configured to store the software distribution medium and a plurality of documents,
wherein the expandable package has an unexpanded configuration with an unexpanded volume,
wherein the expandable package is configured to expand to an expanded configuration with an expanded volume,
wherein in the expanded configuration the expandable package has at least one dimension greater than in the unexpanded configuration,
wherein the expandable package is configured to enclose the plurality of documents in the expanded configuration, wherein at least one dimension of the plurality of documents exceeds at least one corresponding dimension of the expandable package in the unexpanded configuration,
wherein the expandable package comprises at least a first side, a second side, a third side, and a fourth side coupled to each other,
wherein the second side and third side are on opposing sides of the package and the first side and the fourth side are on opposing sides of the package,
wherein the first side is configured to expand into the expandable configuration to accommodate the plurality of documents by unfolding a first side flap folded into the first side, wherein the first side flap comprises a first plurality of expandable portions and a first plurality of folds,
wherein when the first side flap is unfolded, at least one of the first plurality of expandable portions of the first side flap expands the second side and at least a different one of the first plurality of expandable portions of the first side flap expands the third side,
wherein the fourth side is configured to expand into the expandable configuration to accommodate the plurality of documents by unfolding a fourth side flap folded into the fourth side, wherein the fourth side flap comprises a second plurality of expandable portions and a second plurality of folds, and
wherein when the fourth side flap is unfolded, at least one of the second plurality of expandable portions of the fourth side flap expands the second side and at least a different one of the second plurality of expandable portions of the fourth side flap expands the third side,
wherein the expandable package further comprises a communication printed on the first plurality of expandable portions and the first plurality of folds of the first side flap,
wherein the communication is not visible to a user when the first side flap is folded into the first side in the unexpanded configuration having the unexpanded volume,
wherein the communication is visible to the user when the first side flap is unfolded from the first side in the expanded configuration having the expanded volume, and
wherein the expanded volume exceeds the unexpanded volume, and
wherein the expandable package further comprises:
a first pair of fasteners affixed to two different folds of the first plurality of folds, wherein the first pair of fasteners are coupled with each other to keep the package in the unexpanded configuration, a second pair of fasteners affixed to an expandable portion that extends from the second side of the package, a third pair of fasteners affixed to two different portions of the first plurality of expandable portions, wherein the second pair of fasteners are coupled with the third pair of fasteners in the unexpanded configuration, and wherein the first pair of fasteners are coupled with the second pair of fasteners in the expanded configuration.

16 more elements

Expandable software packaging

Life of this patent

Expandable software packaging

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15