초록 ▼

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-

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.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. 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 expanda

What is claimed is: 1. 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. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the expandable package is operable in the expanded configuration to enclose a document with approximate dimensions of 8.5 inches by 11 inches. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the expandable package comprises a folded portion that is operable to unfold to expand the expandable package into the expanded configuration. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one partition internal to the expandable package. 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the expandable package comprises a first portion with an opening on at least one side and a second portion, at least partially inside the first portion opening, wherein the second portion is configured to be moved out of the opening on the at least one side of the first portion to expand the expandable package, and wherein the first portion and second portion are configured to interlock to form the expanded configuration. 6. An apparatus, comprising: an expandable software package configured to expand from a first configuration with a first volume to a second configuration with a second volume, wherein the first configuration is operable to enclose a software medium, wherein the second configuration has at least one dimension larger than a corresponding dimension of the first configuration, and wherein the second configuration is operable to enclose a plurality of documents, wherein the expandable software 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 expandable software package and the first side and the fourth side are on opposing sides of the expandable software package, wherein the first side is configured to expand into the second 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 second 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 software 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 first configuration having the first volume, wherein the communication is visible to the user when the first side flap is unfolded from the first side in the second configuration having the second volume, and wherein the second volume exceeds the first volume, and wherein the expandable software 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. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the expandable software package further comprises a folded section that is unfolded to expand the expandable software package into the second configuration. 8. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising at least one partition internal to the expandable software package. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the partition includes at least one tab configured to fold out. 10. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a lid along a top side of the expandable software package, wherein the lid is configured to be expanded by unfolding a top side flap coupled to the lid, wherein the expanded lid covers an opening created by expanding the second side and the third side. 11. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first configuration comprises a first portion with an opening on at least one side and a second portion, at least partially inside the first portion opening, wherein the first portion and the second portion are operable to enclose the software medium, wherein the second portion is configured to be moved out of the open side of the first portion to expand the expandable package into the second configuration, and wherein the first portion and the second portion are configured to interlock in the second configuration. 12. A method, comprising: acquiring a software product in a package having an unexpanded volume; expanding the package into an expanded volume, wherein at least one dimension of the expanded volume is greater than a corresponding dimension of the unexpanded volume; and storing a plurality of documents related to use of the software product in the package after expanding the package, wherein at least one dimension of the plurality of documents exceeds at least one corresponding dimension of the unexpanded volume, wherein the 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 to the expanded volume 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 to the expanded volume 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 first side comprises a printed communication 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 of the package having the unexpanded volume, wherein the communication is visible to the user when the first side flap is unfolded from the first side of the package having the expanded volume, and wherein the expanded volume exceeds the unexpanded volume, and wherein the 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. 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising storing the package in a conventional file cabinet after expanding the package. 14. The method of claim 12, wherein the software product is financial software. 15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first plurality of expandable portions and at least one of the second plurality of expandable portions are affixed with a hanging extension.