US3542189A - Composite package - Google Patents

Description

a "Meow United States Patent [72] Inventor Harold s-Goodmlm' 2,605,953 8/1952 Williamson 229/34 51 Marcellus Drive, Newton Centre 2,670,126 2/1954 Frankenstein..... 229/34 Massachusetts 02159 2,772,499 12/1956 Ferrucci 229/34HWUX [21] Appl. No. 691,386 2,876,899 3/1959 Maynard 206/80 [22] Filed Dec.18,1967 3,116,825 1/1964 Thomas 206/4519 [45] Patented NOV. 24, 1970 3,255,870 6/1966 Peck 206/4534 Primary Examiner-William Tl Dixson, Jr. PACKAGE Attorney-Robert G. ClOOkS 14 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

[521' U.S.Cl.. 206/4533,

' 206/80; 229/34 [51] Int. Cl. 865d 5/22, 1 ABSTRACT; This composite package includes a ki 565d 65/16, 365d 73/00 packaged article of merchandise and a carton for supporting [50] Field of Search 206/4533, d taining the skin package in position during shipping or 4 display. The carton includes an open-faced frame having a height at least as great as that of the article of merchandise so [56] nerenmeis Cned that a stack of such composite packages will be stable. Holes UNITED STATES PATENTS through the package may be provided soas to permit display 1,492,951 5/1924 Auerbach 229/34HWUX ofthe'packaged article in a hanging position.

Painted Nov. 24, 1970 3,542,189

Sheet Z of 3 INVENTOR. HAROlfi S. GOOD/VAN A TTORNE Y Patented Nov. 24, 1970 Z of 3 Shut INVENTOR. HAROLD GOODMAN A TTORNE Y Patented Nov. 24, 1970 3,542,189

Sheet Q of 3 F/& 7

J i v 67 INVENTOR. HAROLD s. aooomw flwrdafla A TTORNEY composite package v H 7 It, is still another object of the invention-to provide a comvention is especially suited to incorporate forshipping anddisplay anfarticle ofimerchandisein a skinspac'kage which'may be formed by .theprocess ,discl osedand-clairned' in'U.S. Pat.

Nd..3,261.6 33lissi1edlon .Aug. 23,1966 to the inventor of the composite package disc'losedand claimed in the present appli-,

cation.

- BAGKGROIINDQF'IHEINVENTIQN By practicing the invejntionicovered. by" the-above mentioned-patent an eitcellcntfz kinpackage" maybev produced. .As describeidiin-thatpatent,.articles ofmerchandise maybe positioned o astiff backing.boardofheavy paperboard, or ."the'n disposed for covering by a some such material, and film of clear therjrnopla '.-rnat erial-. A sheet-of the skinpackaging film of clearthermoplastiematerial is clamped in a frameand heated yuntilif softenstand' becomes easy to- I stretch or deform 'lhen the; clamped sheet of soft thermoplastic iilmf is lowered over ,the articles and thebacking board, and allowed to ,tdrape? so thatit conforms to the contours'of the artielesfandso thatfitlaminates with'the surface of 3 thebacking board around the 'articlesof merchandise. Suction is applied below-or behind the backin'g board,so that the differential air pressure forces the soft: thermoplastic film to drape closely about-the articles of merchandise and to cling tightly and smoothly to the surface; of the backing board aroui'ld the articles of merchandise".

.When the thermoplastic film'material has been allowed to cool and has been trimmed-so that it is .coexten'sive'with' the to be desired sofar as suitability-forstorage, shipment,arid display is coricernedKlhe-edges of the skinpackage show the internal structure of the backing board, whichmaybecorrugated and rather unsightly. Moreover, no satisfactory arr'ange- 2 v SUMMARYOF THE INVENTION Briefly, l have fulfilled the above-listed objects, and other objects of my invention, by using a carton blank which l cut from inexpensive sheet material such as-paper board. The blank is scored so as to define therein a substantially rectangular base panel, a pair of end flaps atthe respectiveends of the base panel, and a pair of longitudinal flaps at therespective sides of the base panel. Each of the end flaps, is subdivided by score lines into panels of which two can be erected as riser panels substantially perpendicular to the base panel, while a narrow intermediate panel takes a position substantially parallel to the base panel at the end of the carton. The longitudinal flaps are also subdivided by scorelinesinto panels, of which two panels are riser panels which have cross flaps appended at the respective ends thereof, A pair of cross flaps appended at the respective ends of one riser panel of each longitudinal flap are each long enough toextend more than half way across the carton in its erected state. Each of these long cross flaps is provided with a slit near the outer end thereof forcooperating with a slit a corresponding long cross flap extending from the opposite side of the carton, locking said long cross flaps togetherto form a transverse inner end wall of the carton. A

pair of short cross flaps are appended at the respective ends of another riser panel of each longitudinal flap, and are folded to extend part way across the carton in its erected state, substantially-"perpendicular to the base panel. Thus the two riser panels of each end flap are spaced apart in the erected state by the cross flaps appended to the riser panels of the longitudinal flaps. This spacing apart of theriser panels of the end flaps in theiterectefd state insures that the end walls of the carton will f be characterized-by enough stiffness to bear the weight of edgesof the btckingbpard, the skin packageepersse is 3 complete. However, the skin packageas it standsleaves much other composite packages which may be stacked thereon.

r Adhesive material may be provided on longitudinal tabs of each longitudinal flap and on portions of the top surface of the base panel for helping to hold a skin package in place on the base panel and within' the frame members of the carton. Holes ment has as yet been made for hanging theskin package to display the packaged article -Qf merchandise/in a store. Still further, the skin package as it standsis' not very suitable for shipmento rfor stacking-inla neatpile because thearticle of merchandise located centrally-on the backingtboard rises far above the edges of the. backingboard. It is apparent that skinpackaged articles of. merchandise, such as kitchen. faucets or spray heads, cannot be piled in a stable-stack unlessthe outer periphery of the skinjpackagepincludes some structure characterized by at least asmucli heightas thearticle'of merchandise locatedinthe middleofthepackage.

Accordingly, it is anobject 'o f-this invention tov provide'a composite package which;= a- ;ski n-packaged. article. i of merchandise ,iszsuppor ted in a'ca rton that includes a rigid framearound the article of merchandise,*said framehaving a height above the backingboaijd of the skin package which is at 1 least as great astheheig'htof the article of merchandise above said backingboard; 1

It is another ohject of the invention to provide acomposite package including a cartonwhich may easily be erected from FIG. 1;

a blank of inexpensivessheetlmaterial and which-supports as." skin-packaged articletof merchandise in such a way thatthe cdgesoftheskin package are concealed. -i I It is a further Qbjfltoftheinvention to provide-a composite packageincluding a'carton whichprotectsa skin package contained therein vand .anfarticle ofimerchandise contained in said M skin package duringstorage; shipment, and display of said posite package that ,issuitable for supportinga skin-packaged article of merchandise .to permit attractive display of the arti' BRIEF DESCRIPTION or THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a composite package in accordance with my invention, with a skin-packaged kitchen faucet in placewithin the frame of. the carton;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the composite package taken at the plane indicated by the section line and arrows marked 2-2 in FIG. '3 is a perspective view of alplurality of composite ,packagesaccording to'the invention, said composite packages being hung on a pair of hooks for display;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a plurality of composite packages'according to the invention, said composite packages being stacked on one another, as for storage, shipment, or display in a horizontal position; I I

FIG. 5 is a fragmental transverse sectional view taken through the end wallof the carton at the plane indicated by a the section line and arrows marked 5-5 in FIG. 1. The edge of the baseboard of the skin package is shown in place resting on "the base panel of the carton, and retained in position by the erected end wall ofthe carton; FIG. 6 is a fragmental sectional view taken through the sidewall of the carton at the plane indicated by the section line and arrows marked 6-6 in FIG. I. Once again, the edge of the "baseboard of the skin package is shown in place resting on the base panel of the carton. In this view the retention of the skin package in position on the base panel of the carton by the sidewall of the erected carton is illustrated;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the blank of sheet material from which the carton is to be erected; and

FIG. 8 is a developmental view showing the way in which the flaps of the blank are folded during erection of the carton.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Turning to FIG. 1 of the drawings, we see a completed composite package 11 in accordance with my invention. Composite package 11 includes a skin package 13 and a carton 15 having a frame which encloses skin package 13 and a base panel 17 which is the portion of carton 15 that supports skin package 13 in the horizontal position of the carton and of the package. Skin package 13 embraces an article of merchandise such as the kitchen faucet 19 illustrated in FIG. 1. Of course, one or more reasonably small articles of any nature might be accommodated in the package. However, a skin package of this nature is particularly well adapted for the display of plumbing supplies which must be packaged in such a way that they can be seen but not damaged during examination by customers.

The thermoplastic film 21 which holds kitchen faucet 19 in place in skin package 13 is laminated .intimately with the backing board 23 which constitutes the foundation" of the skin package 13. Adhesion of thermoplastic film 21 to backing board 23 around the periphery of kitchen faucet 19 is facilitated by several techniques. One such technique depends upon maximization of the air-pressure differential which is applied to the thermoplastic film during formation of the skin package and which forces the thermoplastic film to drape closely about the article of merchandise and to cling tightly and smoothly to the surface of the backing board around the article of merchandise. When suction is applied below or behind the backing board during formation of the skin package, the air-pressure differential across the thermoplastic film is maximized if the material of the backing board is very porous and easily permeable by air, On the other hand, if the material of the backing board is not in itself very porous, or if the backing board is covered with a layer of rather nonporous material such as glazed paper, it becomes advisable to perforate any such nonporous materialwith holes 25 as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings. These holes permit the air to be rapidly withdrawn from under the thermoplastic film material when the suction is applied during formation of the skin package.

Another technique which I have employed in optimizing the adhesion between the backing board and the thermoplastic film material involves preheating the backing board and the article of merchandise before the heated and softened thermoplastic film is draped over the articleof merchandise during formation of the skin package. This technique drives away any moisture which may be present on or in the article of merchandise or the backing board. By this means, diffusion of some of the plastic film material into the material of the backing board is achieved, thereby producing a strong and permanent bond between the thermoplastic film and the backing board. This method of fabricating a skin package is described and claimed in my aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 3.267.633.

In order to permit composite packages in accordance with my invention to be piled up in a stack which is stable, I prefer that the carton employed in the composite package should have end walls 27 and 29 and sidewalls 31 and 33 all of which extend at least as far above base panel 17 as does the article of merchandise such as kitchen faucet 19 in skin package 13, when skin package 13 has been locked into the carton 15. A stack of this nature is illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawings. Moreover, in order that each of the composite packages may be strong enough to support the weight of the composite packages and of the articles of merchandise above it in the stack, I make the walls of the carton very strong. End walls 27 and 29 of the carton are especially strong because they each include two panels which are substantially perpendicular to base panel 17 of the carton. Moreover, in order to permit composite packages according to the invention to be safely stacked without any necessity for alining them precisely over and under one another, I provide in each end of the carton a transverse narrow panel 35 which is substantially parallel to base panel 17, when the carton is erected, and which provides a bearing surface upon which the base panel of the composite package above it in the stack may rest.

In order to permit composite packages in accordance with my invention to be displayed in a hanging position, as illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings, I prefer to provide rack holes such as those shown at 37, 39, and 41 which can accommodate one or more of hooks 43 and 45 of a display rack. These holes penetrate both the edge of skin package 13 and the base panel 17 of carton 15. Of course, the respective holes formed in the skin package and in the carton should be capable of alinement to permit passage of the hooks of the display rack.

It has been explained that end walls 27 and 29 of the carton are especially strong because they each include two panels which are substantially perpendicular to base panel 17 of the carton. The strength of end walls 27 and 29 is also enhanced by the presence within each of those two walls of two pairs of cross flaps, one of said pairs of cross flaps being locked together to form a transverse inner end wall. A complete description of this transverse inner end wall will be presented in the paragraphs to follow. In view ofthe great strength of the end walls of the carton, the sidewalls may be more simply formed and may even have a sloping outer panel so as to permit printed material on the outer surface of the sidewalls to be more easily seen when the composite package is on display. An end view of the composite package showing the sloping sidewalls is presented in FIG. 2 of the drawings. In that FIG., the top line is an edge view transverse narrow panel 35, while the bottom line is in edge view of base panel 17. The sloping line at the left of FIG. 2 is an edge view of side wall 31, while the sloping line at the right of FIG. 2 is an edge view of sidewall 33. The outer panel of end wall 29, which appears in full view in FIG. 2 is a first transverse riser panel 47, which is coupled directly to the end of base panel 17 through a score line in the sheet material of the blank.

Having discussed the completed composite package in its erected state, I shall now describe in detail the blank of sheet material and the steps followed in erecting it into a complete composite package. A description of these steps will now be more meaningful in the light of the foregoing discussion.

In order to avoid redundancy and to permit drawing to a larger scale, only one-half of the blank of sheet material is shown in FIG. 7 of the drawings. It will be understood that the blank is symmetrical about the center line, and that the assembly of the end of the blank which is not shown is analogous to the assembly of the end which is shown and which will now be described in detail.

At each end of base panel 17 is an end flap which is coupled to the base panel through a score line in the sheet material and which is subdivided by further score lines into four panels which have all been denominated as transverse because, in the erected carton of the composite package, these panels all run across the end of the package. The first such panel is first transverse riser panel 47, which has already been mentioned. The ends of this panel have the shape ofa dog leg" because this panel should, in the erected carton, cover the ends of the sidewalls 31 and 33. Accordingly, a portion 49 of the ends of first transverse riser panel 47 are cut obliquely in order to conform to the slope of the sidewalls in the completed carton.

The next element of each end flap is transverse narrow panel 35, to which reference has already been made. This panel will be folded parallel to the base panel in the erected carton, and forms the load-bearing surface on which the next package in the stack may rest as shown in FIG. 4.

The next element of each end flap is a second transverse riser panel 51, which is substantially rectangular and which,

of the blank which will form the outer surface of the completed composite package. The facing paper may have any desired indi'cia printed or otherwise formed thereon, and l.may,be.fastened to the material of the blank'by means of an vadhesive. Second transverse riser panel 51 in the erected car- 1- ton occupies a position such that it is substantially perpendicu- ]lar to the basepaneLiThe lower edge of second transverse riser panel 51rests on the edge of the baseboard of the skin package a'nd'helps to hold it in place, while the upperedge of "second transverse riser panel 51 helps to support the loadbearing surfaceof transverse narrow pancl' 35.

The final element each end flap is a transverse locking panel 53, which is rathernarrow, and which, in the completed package, locks under-the transverse inner end wall to which brief reference has already been made. Two of the corners of transverse locking panel 53 may be rounded, in order to facilitate insertion of this panel 53 under the transverse inner "end wall. Transverse locking panel 53 in the completed package lies substantially parallel-to base panel 17 and restson the edge of the skin package 13 held in the carton l5.

Along the score line between second transverse riser panel 51 and transverse loekingpanel 153' may be formed a pair of locking slots 55 and57, on e ateachend of the score line. If

desiredfthe inner ends of these slots may be curved slightly towardsecond transverse riser panel 51 in order to facilitate locking action.

Now, at each side of base panel 17 is a longitudinal flap which is coupled to the base panel through a score line in: the sheet material and which is subdivided byfurther'score lines into three or four panels whichhave all been'denominated as "longitudinal" because, inthe erected carton of the composite package, thesepanels all'run lengthwise of the package.

The first such panel is a longitudinal narrow panel, which h'elpsthe sidewall of the carton to adapt to .the width and the thickness of the backing boardof the skin package accommodated'within the carton. If thebackingboard of the'skin package is slightly wider than-base panel 17 of the carton, lonlgitu'dinal narrow panel 5 9 -will assume a position in the finished carton such that'longitudinal narrow panel 59 extends the effective widthof'base panel 17. On the other hand, if the thickness of the backing board of skin package 13 is rather great, longitudinal narrow panel 59 will assume a position in the finished composite package having a substantial component perpendicular to base panel 17, thereby permitting the sloping portion of thejsidewall to. begin above the level of the top surface of the. backing board. lfthe backing. board of the skin package is very thin, or if the width of the backing board of the skin package is somewhat; less than the width of base panel 17 of the carton, it becomes possible to dispense with longitudinal narrow panel 59, orto make this panel very nar row indeed.

The next elementof each longitudinal dinal riser panel 61, w hich is coupledto longitudinal narrow panel 59 through a scorev line in the material of the blank. Of

course, for cartons'not employing a longitudinal narrow panel 59, first longitudinal riser panel 61 is coupled directly to the side edge of base panel '17-. In the finished carton 15, first longitudinal riserpan 'l 61 is folded to form the sloping outer surface of one side of -the sidewalls of the carton.

First longitudinal riser panel 61 itself is essentially rectangular in Shape; However, each end of first longitudinal riser panel 61 has appended thereto a short cross flap 63 which has one inclined edge 65, ln the erected carton, each short cross flap 63 is folded so as to have a transverse position within the end wall of thecarton. In this position, each short-cross flap 63 gives support to first transverse riser panel47 of the end wall and helps to maintain its position substantially perpendicular to the base panel 17 of the carton, even when a heavy load is applied to the carton by other composite packages above it in a stack. When first longitudinal riser panel 61 assumes an inclined position in the finished carton, inclined edge 65 of shortcross flap 63 becomes substantially parallel to the surface of base panel 17.

The next element of each longitudinal flap is a second longitudinal riser panel 67, which is coupled to first longitudinal riser panel 61 through a score line, or other equivalent demarcation in the material of the blank. 1n the finished carton 15, second longitudinalriser panel 67 is folded to form an inner surface of one of the sidewalls of the carton. In the erected state of the carton, second longitudinal riser panel 67 is substantially perpendicular to base panel 17, and one edge of second longitudinal riser panel 67 bears against the top surface of the skin package, tending to hold the skin package in place in the carton.

' Second longitudinal riser panel 67 itself is essentially rectangular in shape However, each end of second longitudinal riser panel 67 has appended thereto a long cross flap 69 which may have outer corners that are rounded. The length of each long cross flap 69 is such that, when the carton is in its erected state, each long cross flap can occupy a transverse position within the end wall of the carton and can extend more than half way across the carton. I prefer to form a transverse slit 71 near the outer end of each longcross flap 69 and extending approximately one-half way across the flap. 1n the erected state of the carton, a transverse slit 71 in a long cross flap appended to a second longitudinal riser panel 67 of sidewall 31 engages and locks with a transverse slit 7] in a long cross flap appended to a second longitudinal riser panel 67 of sidewall 33. When these two long cross flaps are locked together by pairs, one pair in each end wall, they cooperate to flap is a first longituform within each end wall a transverse inner end wall which greatly strengthens the end wall and directly supports second transverse riser panels-.51 of the end walls in their respective positions substantially perpendicular to base panel 17.

The final element of eachlongitudinal flap is a longitudinal tab 73, which is coupled to second longitudinal riser panel 67 the skin package 13 accommodated within the carton. The

surface of longitudinal tab 73 which is to be in contact with skin package 13 may have applied thereto an adhesive which will help to retain the skin package in place within the carton and which will also assist in maintaining the composite package in its firmly assembled state during storage, shipment, and display. As a further aid in maintaining the composite package in its firmly assembled state, base panel 17 of the carton mayhave applied thereto a pair of strips of adhesive 75 which bear against the under surface of the backing board of the skin package in the completed composite package. If desired, two of the corners of each longitudinal tab 73 may be rounded in order to facilitate insertion of the longitudinal tabs under the sidewalls of the carton.

Having described in detail the structure of the blank from which the carton 15 of the composite package 11 is erected, 1 shall now further elaborate on the steps of erection of the carton, as illustrated in FIGS. 5, 6, and 8 ofthe drawings.

In erecting a car-ton for the composite package according to my invention, the first step is to place on a flat surface a blank as described in the foregoing paragraphs. It is assumed that the blank has already been scored or otherwise marked to define should be bent upwardly and inwardly, but the long cross flaps 69 should be bent outwardly and upwardly.

Next, the completed skin package 13 should be placed on base panel 17 of the carton in such a way that the skin package is properly centered on the base panel. Then the respective pairs of long cross flaps 69 should be moved so as to cross over the ends of the skin package and so that the outer ends of the long cross flaps of each pair approach each other. This motion of the long cross flaps will cause the longitudinal'panels of the blank to be substantially erected, forming the sidewalls of the carton. The transverse slits 71 of the respective long cross flaps of each pair should then be locked together to form the transverse inner end walls of the carton. Next, the short cross flaps 63 should be oriented in a transverse direction so as to contribute further internal structure to the end walls of the carton.

Now, the longitudinal tabs 73 should be carefully located and pressed in place atop the upper surface of the respective side edges of the skin package 13 in such a way that the second longitudinal riser panels 67 are perpendicular to base panel 17 of the carton 15. Then, the end flaps of the carton should be bent upwardly and inwardly, and the second transverse riser panels should be bent downwardly within the frame of the carton.

Finally, the transverse locking panels 53 should be inserted under the transverse inner end walls and in contact with the upper surface of the respective ends of the skin package in the carton. The composite package is then complete when the transverse locking panels have been locked in place by means of locking slots 55 and 57, and when the first transverse riser panels 47 and the second transverse riser panels 51 have been adjusted so as to be perpendicular to the base panel 17.

There is great latitude in choice of a material for the blank from which carton is to be erected. inasmuch as the backing board of the skin package 13 is usually quite stiff, the carton need not necessarily be formed from such stiff material. I prefer to employ in my cartons ordinary paper board faced on its outer surface with semi glossy paper that has been printed in color to describe the contents of the composite package. However, l recognize that various other sheet materials might be employed in the blanks from which cartons in accordance with my invention are to be erected. I also recognize that various other changes might be made in the configuration of the package and in the steps of erection without departing from the principles of my invention. Accordingly, l do not wish to be limited to the precise details of the disclosure which 1 have set forth in the foregoing paragraphs.

lclaim: v

1. A composite package comprising a skin package and a carton for supporting and retaining said skin package, said carton being formed from a blank including a substantially rectangular base panel, a first end flap at one end of said base panel, a second end flap at the other end of said base panel, a first longitudinal flap at one side of said base panel, and a second longitudinal flap at the other side of said base panel, each of said end flaps including in-sequential arrangement coupled to an end of said base panel a first transverse riser panel, a transverse narrow panel, a second transverse riser panel, and a transverse locking panel, each of said longitudinal flaps including in sequential arrangement coupled to a side of said base panel at least a first longitudinal riser panel, a second longitudinal riser panel, and a longitudinal tab, said second longitudinal riser panel carrying at each end thereof a long cross flap, a free end of each said long cross flap carried by said second longitudinal riser panel of said first longitudinal flap being coupled during erection of said carton to a free end of a long cross flap carried by said second longitudinal riser panel of said second longitudinal flap forming a transverse inner end wall of said carton, an end flap at each end of said base panel being folded during erection of said carton, said first and second transverse riser panels being perpendicular to said base panel while said transverse narrow panel overlies said transverse inner end wall, and said transverse locking panel of each end flap being inserted under one of said transverse inner end walls locking said carton in its erected state.

2. A composite package in accordance with claim 1 in which each of said first longitudinal riser panels of said carton carries at each end thereof a short cross flap, each such short cross flap being contiguous to a first transverse riser panel of one of said end flaps, and said short cross flap being perpendicular to said base panel.

3. A composite package in accordance with claim 1 in which locking slits are formed between said second transverse riser panel and said transverse locking panel near the respective ends thereof.

4. A composite package in accordance with claim 1 in which each of said first longitudinal riser panels is coupled to a side ofsaid base panel through a longitudinal narrow panel.

5. A composite package in accordance with claim 1 in which adhesive material is applied to one surface of said longitudinal tab for causing said surface of said longitudinal tab to adhere to said skin package when said skin package is supported by said carton and when said carton is in its erected state.

6. A composite package in accordance with claim 1 in which adhesive material is applied to portions of the surface of said base panel to facilitate adhesion between said portions of said base panel and said skin package.

7. A composite package in accordance with claim 1 in which said long cross flaps have transverse slits formed near the ends-thereof to permit coupling between respective long cross flaps carried by said second longitudinal riser panel of said first longitudinal flap and respective long cross flaps carried by said second longitudinal riser panel of said second longitudinal flap.

8. A composite package'in accordance with claim 1 in which respective opposite edges of said skin package are embraced between said base panel and respective longitudinal tabs of said carton in theirerected positions.

9. A composite package in accordance with claim 1 in which at least one hole is formed through an edge of said skin package and through said base panel of said carton to permit said composite package to be supported by a body that passes through said holes.

10. A composite package in accordance with claim 1 in which adjacent panels of said blank are delineated by score lines formed in the material of said blank.

11. A composite package in accordance with claim 1 in which each of said first longitudinal riser panels in its erected position forms an angle other than with said base panel, while each of said second longitudinal riser panels in its erected position is substantially perpendicular to said base panel.

12. A composite package in accordance with claim 1 in which said blank is formed from paper board material.

13. A composite package in accordance with claim 1 in which said blank is formed from paper board material faced with a layer of paper.

14. A composite package in accordance with claim 1 in which said skin package includes an article of merchandise supported by a backing board and held in place by a layer of plastic film bonded to the edges of said backing board around as said article of merchandise.

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