FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
As amended by the Patents (Amendment) Act, 2005
& The Patents Rules, 2003 As amended by the Patents (Amendment) Rules, 2006
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (See section 10 and rule 13)
TITLE OF THE INVENTION
A packaging arrangement for pre-folded shirts and the like items
APPLICANT
Aditya Birla Nuvo Limited, Madura Fashion and Lifestyle Division, Ahura Centre, 3rd Floor, B-wing, Mahakali Caves Road, Andheri (East), Mumbai- 400093, Maharashtra, India
PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a packaging arrangement for prefolded shirts and the like items and more particularly to, a simplified packaging arrangement that provides secure packaging and enhances aesthetic features of the overall packaging.
DESCRIPTION OF THE BACKGROUND ART
[0002] It is a well-known fact that shirts and the like items are packaged in flat rectangular plastic or like bags and offered for sale. To make the packaged shirts more attractive and tidy, so as to increase its saleability, the shirts are folded into rectangular form over a sheet of lightweight flexible board. Sometimes, a tissue paper is also wrapped around the flexible board. For maintaining integrity of the folded shirt on the flexible board several individual items are fastened or supported to the folded shirt. Typically, folding of shirts, fastening of items and packaging is a complex operation having multiple steps performed in a sequentially manner by manual skilled labour. Some of the steps involve supporting a collar board between the collar and the collar band and positioning additional collar support at the front of the collar. Further, mechanical fasteners/stiffening elements such as pins or clips are also fitted inside and outside the packaged shirts. This method of packaging shirts and the like items have been practiced by various manufacturers from decades till today.
[0003] Though the objective of packaging shirts to look attractive and tidy have been met up to certain extent, there are nevertheless major issues and disadvantages with the above kind of packaging arrangement. One of the major drawbacks is that this type of packaging is expensive as there are several individual stiffening elements/mechanical fasteners involved in each of the shirts. Besides cost of these individual elements, cost of labour is also associated with the fitting of stiffening elements/mechanical fasteners within and outside the shirt. As a result, the total packaging cost of each shirt increases. Another disadvantage is that the usage of pins also causes pinpricks causing inconvenience to the operating labour. Sometimes, the metallic pins may even rust leaving an imprint of brown rusty colour on the shirts degrading quality and value of shirts.

[0004] Due to the above type of packaging arrangement there are drawbacks from the customer's perspective as well. Especially during subsequent unpackaging of the shirts, wherein the consumer faces a lot of inconvenience in removing of all the pins and/or clips. Further, the entire process of removing these items is time consuming and the pins may also cause pinpricks. Also, the pins may also cause formation of holes in the shirts and having purchased the shirts the consumers may not like it. An alternative of using the pins could be the usage of clips, however the clips they may not be as secure or as rapidly applied as pins. Further, the clips used as an alternative to the pins may not offer considerable cost advantages as well. Furthermore, regardless of whether clips or pins are used in packaging of shirts, the cost of these individual items become significant when huge volumes of packaged shirts are shipped for cross border transactions. Additionally, the time taken to package a shirt remains on the higher side.
[0005] As the competition in the garment sector is heating up, it is imperative that the garment manufactures devise packaging arrangements that address at least some of the above noted concerns.
SUMAMRY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Accordingly disclosed herein is an aspect of the present invention in which a packaging arrangement for the prefolded shirt and like items including a sheet element defined by a monolithically formed central portion, a first and second portions and a collar support portion that is extendable from a top edge of the central portion, the first and the second portions laterally extending from the central portion along a pair of opposite folding lines, respectively, and the first and the second portions having in part a locking mechanism for locking the first and second portions together, wherein the prefolded shirt when positioned on the central portion is securely packed by folding the first and second portions over the prefolded shirt along the respective folding lines through the locking mechanism and by engaging the collar support portion with a collar portion of the prefolded shirt.

[0007] According to some embodiments of the, present invention, the locking mechanism includes one or more slits formed on the first portion and a corresponding one or more lugs on the second portion, and wherein when the lugs are inserted within the corresponding slits to provide secure package to the prefolded shirt or the like items.
[0008] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the collar support portion is an elongated flap monolithically cut out from the top edge of the central portion and includes a cut formed at its opposite ends, and wherein the collar support portion is insertable under and around the collar portion of the prefolded shirt positioned on the central portion and the cuts are entangled with each other to provide a secure package to the prefolded shirt or the like items.
[0009] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the central portion of the sheet element includes a first flap formed below the top edge of the central portion by cutting out an opening in the central portion, and wherein the first flap is engaged with an upper part of the collar portion.
[0010] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the collar support portion to be formed within a first opening linearly aligned with a second opening, both the first and second openings formed in the central portion, wherein the collar support portion includes a plurality of second flaps formed monolithically on an inner cut out of the first opening and arranged in such a manner that when inserted under the collar portion of the prefolded shirt, the plurality of second flaps provide secure package to the prefolded shirt.
[0011] According to another aspect of the present invention, a packaging arrangement for the prefolded shirt and like items including a sheet element defined by a monolithically formed central portion and a first and second portions laterally extending from the central portion along a pair of opposite folding lines, respectively, the first and the second portions having a first collar support portion and a second collar support portion, respectively, extending therefrom and parallelly along a length of the central portion, both the first and second collar support portions having in part a first and a second locking mechanisms for locking the first and second collar support together, wherein the prefolded shirt when positioned on the central portion is securely packed by folding the

first and second portions over the prefolded shirt along the respective folding lines and by locking the first and second collar support portions through the first and second locking mechanisms after engaging the first and second collar support portions with a collar portion of the prefolded shirt.
A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of the various embodiments of the invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0013] FIG. 1 shows a packaging arrangement in an open position according to another embodiment of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 shows another packaging arrangement in an open position according to another embodiment of the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 3 shows another packaging arrangement in an open position according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0016] FIG. 4 shows a further packaging arrangement in an open position according to another embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0017] Various embodiments of the present invention discussed in the following description shows a simplified packaging arrangement for securely packaging pre-folded shirts and the like items. FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of the present invention in which a packaging arrangement 100 is illustrated in an open position. The packaging arrangement 100 includes a sheet element 102 monolithically formed to having a central portion 104 that bifurcates the sheet element 102 into a first portion 106 and a second portion 108 as shown in FIG. 1. The central portion 104 divides the first and second portions 106, 108 along a first folding line 110 and a second folding line 112 so that the first and the second portions 106,108 are folded onto the central portion 104. As shown in FIG. 1, the central portion 104 has a collar support portion 114 monolithically cut out from the sheet element 102 and extends above a top edge 116 of the central portion 104.

The collar support portion 114 has a cut 118 formed at each of its opposite ends 120 as shown in FIG. 1.
[0018] As seen in FIG. 1, the first portion 106 has a pair of slits 122 formed in linear arrangement along the length of the first portion 106 and includes a flap 124 formed monolithically on a bottom edge 126 of the first portion 106. The second portion 108 has a pair of lugs 128 formed at an outside edge 130 thereof and linearly arranged in such a manner that when the first and the second portions 106, 108 are folded onto the central portion 104 containing a pre-folded shirt (not shown), the lugs 128 are fitted within the pair of slits 122 to provide a tight fitting to the pre-folded shirt. The combination of slits 122 and lugs 128 act as a locking mechanism to provide secure packaging to the pre-folded shirt. Similar to the manner in which the flap is formed on the first portion 106, a flap 124 is also formed monolithically on a bottom edge 126 of the second portion 108.
[0019] The pre-folded shirt is positioned on the central portion 104 in such a manner that a back side thereof makes contact with the central portion 104. Thereafter, the collar support portion 114 is accommodated under a collar portion of the pre-folded shirt and locked by engaging the two cuts 118 formed at the opposite ends 120 of the collar support portion 114. Once this is done, in a sequential manner, the first portion 106 and the second portion 108 is folded over the pre-folded shirt. The flaps 124 are inserted over the pre-folded shirt and the central portion 104. As seen in FIG. 1, the locking mechanism which is formed in part in the first and second portions 106,108, includes lugs 130 that as explained above fitted in their respective slits 122 in the manner as shown in FIG. 1. This fitting provides a neat, secure and tidy packaging to the pre-folded shirt in a closed position of the packaging arrangement 100. It is to be understood that the first and second portions 106,108 of the sheet element 102 entirely covers the pre-folded shirt, except the collar area.
[0020] FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the present invention in which another packaging arrangement 200 for a pre-folded shirt (not shown) and the like items is illustrated in an open position. As seen in FIG. 2, the packaging arrangement 200 includes a sheet element 202 having a central portion 204 that includes a collar support portion (elongated top flap) 206 monolithically cut out from the sheet element 202 and formed along a top edge 208 of the central portion 204. The collar support portion 206 has a cut

210 formed at its opposite ends 212. As seen in FIG. 2, the central portion 204 also includes a symmetrically formed a first portion 214 and a second portion 216. The first and second portions 214, 216 are formed on opposite lateral sides 218 on an upper area of the central portion 204. Further, each of the first and second portions 214, 216 have a cut 220 formed adjacent to its free end, as shown in FIG. 2. The cuts 220 serve as a locking mechanism formed in part on the first and second portions 214, 216.
[0021] In this embodiment of the present invention, instead of using the central portion 204 of the sheet element 202 to place the back side of the pre-folded shirt, the central portion 204 is inserted inside the pre-folded shirt. Further, the pre-folded shirt is inserted from a top side and within the space available just behind a collar area of the pre-folded shirt. The central portion 204 is inserted all throughout the8 length available inside the pre-folded shirt. It is therefore to be noted that the length of the central portion is pre-calculated to match the available length inside the pre-folded shirt.
[0022] Upon inserting the central portion 204 within the pre-folded shirt, the collar support portion 206 is accommodated under the collar portion of the pre-folded shirt and locked by intermingling the two cuts 210 formed at the opposite ends 212 of the collar support portion 206. Post that the first and the second portions 214, 216 are folded onto the back side of the pre-folded shirt by intermingling the two cuts 220 (locking mechanism) formed at the free ends of the first and the second portions 214, 216, respectively.
[0023] The central portion 204 of the sheet element 202 also includes a first flap 221 formed below a top edge 223 of the central portion by cutting out an opening (not shown) in the central portion 204, and wherein the first flap 221 is engaged with an upper part of the collar portion of the pre-folded shirt.
[0024] Another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 3 that shows a packaging arrangement 300 in an open position. The packaging arrangement includes a sheet element 302 having a central portion 304 that bifurcates the sheet element 300 into two portions- a first portion 306 and a second portion 308. As seen in Fig. 3 the size of the central portion 304 is larger than the first and the second portions 306, 308 as the central portion 304 contains a first opening 310 and a second opening 312 linearly arranged with

each other. The first opening 310 may be covered by a transparent sheet (not shown) either from inside or outside. The second opening 312 is formed to have a collar support portion that includes 4 second flaps 314 formed monolithically around an inner cut out 316 of the second opening 312.
[0025] The central portion 304 also has a first folding line 318, a second folding line 320 and a third folding line 322. Along the first folding 318 line an upper part 323 of the central portion 304 is folded inside and onto the remaining part of the central portion 304. Subsequently, along the second and third folding lines 320, 322, the first and second portions 306, 308 of the sheet element 302 are folded onto the central portion 304. As seen in FIG. 3, the first portion 306 has a first pair of slits 324 and a second pair of slits 326 cut out in the first portion 306. The second portion 308 has a pair of lugs 328 formed in such a manner that when the first and second portions 306, 308 are closed, each of the lugs 328 are fitted in the respective slits 324 to provide a closure of the packaging arrangement 300. The combination of slits 324, 326 and lugs 328 are considered to be a locking mechanism made in part of the first and second portions 306, 308.
[0026] A pre-folded shirt (not shown) or the like item is turned upside down and positioned on the central portion 304 of the sheet element 302 in such a manner that collar area of the shirt is inserted within the second opening 312. Three of the second flaps 314 are inserted under the collar area on the left side, right side and the top side. The fourth second flap 319 is arranged under a top side of the collar. Once the second flaps are fitted the upper part 323 of the central portion is folded over the shirt, to replace the back support which was conventionally used, to provide support to the folded shirt of the first portion 306 and the second portion 308. Thereafter, the first portion 306 and the second portion 308 are sequentially folded over the upper part 323 and the lugs 328 are fitted with the respective slits 326 to provide a neat, secure and tidy packaging arrangement 300 in a closed position of the packaging arrangement 300.
[0027] FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the present invention in which another packaging arrangement 400 for a pre-folded shirt (not shown) is illustrated in an open position. A sheet element 402 is defined by a monolithically formed central portion 404 having a top side 406 and a bottom side 408 as shown in FIG. 4. The top side 406 of the central portion 404 has a symmetrical first portion 410 and second portion 412

monolithically formed from the sheet element 402 and foldable along folding lines 414. Both the first and the second portions 410, 412 are formed to have a horizontal planar surface 416. Each of the first and second portions 410, 412 have a collar support portion 418, 419 extending from the first and second portions 410, 412, respectively in a manner shown in FIG. 4. Both the collar support portions 418, 419 extend parallelly along a length of the central portion 404. Each of the collar support portions 418, 419 include a top cut 420 (a first locking mechanism) and a bottom cut 422 (a second locking mechanism). The bottom side 408 of the central portion 404 also has a symmetrically formed first elongated flap 424 and a second elongated flap 426 monolithically formed on opposite lateral edges 428 and extending in a direction perpendicular to the length of the central portion 404. As seen in FIG. 4, both the first and the second elongated flaps 424, 426 has a cut 430 (a third locking mechanism) on its free ends.
[0028] The pre-folded shirt or the like item is positioned in the central portion 404 in such a manner that a back side of the pre-folded shirt makes contact with the central portion 404. Thereafter, the first and the second portions 410,412 are accommodated under and around the collar area of the pre-folded shirt and locked by intermingling the top and bottom cuts 420,422. Once the first and the second portions 410, 412 are locked, the first elongated flap 424 and the second elongated flap 426 are folded over the positioned pre-folded shirt and locked through the cuts 430 formed thereof thereby providing a neat, secure and tidy packaging arrangement in a closed position of the packaging arrangement 400.
[0029] The above noted embodiments offers a several advantages over the prior art. One of the prominent advantage being that the above discussed packaging arrangements do not contain any extra stiffening elements/mechanical fasteners and therefore offer considerable cost advantage over prior art packaging arrangements. Further, cost of labour associated with the fitting of stiffening elements/rihechanical fasteners within and outside the shirt is also significantly reduced. As a result, the total packaging cost of each shirt significantly decreases. The above solution also considerably reduces the total packaging weight of a packed shirt. It is also a compact packaging that needs lesser space. As the above eliminates the use of paper based items like product box, tissue paper, extra back supports and collar interlay it helps in reducing paper consumption. Besides these,

inconvenience of pinpricks and issues of holes in shirts due to pins is also avoided. From the consumer's perspective also the above noted packaging arrangements offer the convenience of unpackaging the shirts.
[0030] The sheet element used are generally made from any flexible material such as plastic, cardboard or cellophane and all these variations should be considered to be within the scope of the present invention.
[0031] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

We Claim:
1. A packaging arrangement for a prefolded shirt and like items comprising:
a sheet element defined by a monolithically formed central portion, a first and second portions and a collar support portion that is extendable from a top edge of the central portion, the first and the second portions laterally extending from the central portion along a pair of opposite folding lines, respectively, and the first and the second portions having in part a locking mechanism for locking the first and second portions together,
wherein the prefolded shirt when positioned on the central portion is securely packed by folding the first and second portions over the prefolded shirt along the respective folding lines through the locking mechanism and by engaging the collar support portion with a collar portion of the prefolded shirt.
2. The packaging arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism includes one or more slits formed on the first portion and a corresponding one or more lugs on the second portion, and wherein the lugs are inserted within the corresponding slits to provide secure package to the prefolded shirt or the like items.
3. The packaging arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the collar support portion is an elongated flap monolithically cut out from the top edge of the central portion and includes a cut formed at its opposite ends, and wherein the collar support portion is insertable under and around the collar portion of the prefolded shirt positioned on the central portion and the cuts are entangled with each other to provide a secure package to the prefolded shirt or the like items.
4. The packaging arrangement according to claim 1, wherein a bottom edge of both the first and second portions include a flap extending therefrom, and wherein the flap is inserted over the prefolded shirt when positioned on the central portion.

5. The packaging arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the central portion of the sheet element includes a first flap formed below the top edge of the central portion by cutting out an opening in the central portion, and wherein the first flap is engaged with an upper part of the collar portion.
6. The packaging arrangement according to claim 1, further including the collar support portion to be formed within a first opening linearly aligned with a second opening, both the first and second openings formed in the central portion, wherein the collar support portion includes a plurality of second flaps formed monolithically on an inner cut out of the first opening and arranged in such a manner that when inserted under the collar portion of the prefolded shirt, the plurality of second flaps provide secure package to the prefolded shirt.
7. The packaging arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the second opening is coverable with a transparent material in such a manner that when the prefolded shirt or the like items is positioned on the central portion, a part of the prefolded shirt or the like elements is visible to provide an aesthetic look.
8. The packaging arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the sheet element is made from a flexible material such as plastic, cardboard, cellophane and the like items.
9. A packaging arrangement for the prefolded shirt and like items comprising:
a sheet element defined by a monolithically formed central portion and a first and second portions laterally extending from the central portion along a pair of opposite folding lines, respectively, the first and the second portions having a first collar support portion and a second collar support portion, respectively, extending therefrom and parallelly along a length of the central portion, both the first and second collar support portions having in part a first and a second locking mechanisms for locking the first and second collar support together,
wherein the prefolded shirt when positioned on the central portion is securely packed by folding the first and second portions over the prefolded shirt along the respective folding lines and by locking the first and second collar support portions

through the first and second locking mechanisms after engaging the first and second collar support portions with a collar portion of the prefolded shirt.
10. The packaging arrangement according to claim 9, wherein a bottom side of the central portion includes a first elongated flap and a second elongated flap extending a direction perpendicular to the length of the central portion, each of the first and second elongated flaps including in part a third locking mechanism, and wherein the prefolded shirt is additionally secure packaged by folding the first and second flaps over the prefolded shirt and locking thereof through the locking mechanism.