U.S. patent application number 11/842288 was filed with the patent office on 2008-03-06 for packaging box assembly.
This patent application is currently assigned to AOPEN INC.. Invention is credited to Sheng-Hsiung CHENG, Chia-Chia Huang, Te-An LIN, Wu-Nan WANG.
Application Number | 20080054054 11/842288 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39150112 |
Filed Date | 2008-03-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080054054 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
CHENG; Sheng-Hsiung ; et
al. |
March 6, 2008 |
PACKAGING BOX ASSEMBLY
Abstract
A packaging box assembly includes a box body and a cover body.
The box body has a box base plate connected to four box side
plates, and extension plates that have the same with as and that
are connected respectively and foldably to the box side plates. The
box body defines a small volume space and the cover body surrounds
the box side plates when the extension plates are folded over the
box side plates. The box body defines a large volume space and the
cover body surrounds the extension plates when the extension plates
are unfolded. In a preferred embodiment, an auxiliary case is
attached to the box base plate of the box body.
Inventors: |
CHENG; Sheng-Hsiung; (Taipei
Hsien, TW) ; LIN; Te-An; (Taipei Hsien, TW) ;
WANG; Wu-Nan; (Taipei Hsien, TW) ; Huang;
Chia-Chia; (Taipei Hsien, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FOLEY AND LARDNER LLP;SUITE 500
3000 K STREET NW
WASHINGTON
DC
20007
US
|
Assignee: |
AOPEN INC.
|
Family ID: |
39150112 |
Appl. No.: |
11/842288 |
Filed: |
August 21, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
229/117.13 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 5/321 20130101;
B65D 5/0005 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
229/117.13 |
International
Class: |
B65D 5/46 20060101
B65D005/46 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 29, 2006 |
TW |
095131753 |
Claims
1. A packaging box assembly comprising: a box body including a box
base plate having four box lateral sides respectively connected to
four box side plates, said box side plates respectively having
movable lateral end disposed away from and parallel to said box
lateral sides of said box base plate, respectively, and extension
plates having the same width as said box side plates and connected
respectively and foldably to said movable lateral ends, two
opposite ones of said box side plates each having two opposite box
lateral ends connected respectively to box reinforcing plates, the
remaining two of said box side plates each having box adhesion
parts which are proximate to two opposite box lateral ends thereof
and to which said box reinforcing plates can be attached after
being folded; and a cover body including a cover base plate having
four cover lateral sides respectively connected to four cover side
plates, two opposite ones of said cover side plates each having two
opposite cover lateral ends connected respectively to cover
reinforcing plates, the remaining two of said cover side plates
each having cover adhesion parts which are proximate to two cover
lateral ends thereof and to which said cover reinforcing plates can
be attached after being folded, wherein, when said extension plates
are folded over said box side plates, said box body defines a small
volume space that can receive a small size article therein, and
said cover body surrounds said box side plates, and wherein, when
said extension plates are unfolded, said box body defines a large
volume space that can receive a large size article therein, and
said cover body surrounds said extension plates.
2. The packaging box assembly of claim 1, wherein said box body
further includes a pair of box insert slots respectively extending
through two of said box lateral sides of said box base plate where
said two of said box side plates having said box reinforcing plates
are connected to said box base plate, and locking tongue plates
associated respectively with said box insert slots, and wherein
said packaging box assembly further comprises an auxiliary case
which includes a case base plate having four case lateral sides
respectively connected to four case side plates, two opposite ones
of said case side plates each having two opposite case lateral ends
connected respectively to case reinforcing plates, the remaining
two of said case side plates each having two opposite case lateral
ends provided respectively with case adhesion parts to which said
case reinforcing plates are attached after being folded, said
auxiliary case further including case tabs projecting respectively
from distal ends of two opposite ones of said case side plates
connected to said four case lateral sides of said case base plate,
said case tabs respectively having case insert slots extending
therethrough at said distal ends, and wherein, said auxiliary case
is disposed over said box base plate of said box body, said case
tabs being inserted respectively into said box insert slots in said
box base plate, said locking tongue plates being inserted
respectively into said case insert slots so that said auxiliary
case is fixed to said box base plate.
3. The packaging box assembly of claim 1, wherein each of said box
body and said cover body is made from corrugated paper.
4. The packaging box assembly of claim 1, wherein said cover body
further includes fold lines in two of said cover side plates
connected to two opposite ones of said cover lateral sides of said
cover base plates, said fold lines in each of said cover side
plates extending obliquely and convergingly from two corner points
where each of said two opposite ones of said cover lateral sides
meet said cover reinforcing plates and said cover lateral ends of
the respective one of said cover side plates.
5. The packaging box assembly of claim 1, wherein said box body is
composed of two foldable plates each having first and second plate
components, each of said first and second plate components having a
sub-base, a sub-side plate having a bottom end connected to a top
end of said sub-base, and a sub-extension plate having a bottom end
connected to a top end of said sub-side plate, said sub-side plate
of each of said first and second plate components having first and
second sides between said top and bottom ends of said sub-side
plate, said sub-side plate of said first plate component being
connected to said second side of said sub-side plate of said second
plate components, said second side of said sub-side plate of said
first plate component having a connecting plate projecting
therefrom in a direction away from said first side, said two
foldable plates being connected to each other, said connecting
plate of said first plate component of one of said foldable plates
being adhered to said first side of said second plate component of
the other one of said foldable plates, said sub-bases of said first
and second plate components are folded to overlap each other and
are adhered together.
6. The packaging box assembly of claim 5, wherein said sub-side
plate of each of said first and second plate components further has
an insert slot at said top end thereof where said sub-side plate is
connected to said sub-base of a respective one of said first and
second plate components, and a locking tongue plate associated with
said insert slot of said sub-side plate.
7. A packaging box assembly comprising: a box body including a box
base plate having a plurality of box lateral sides, a plurality of
box side plates projecting respectively from said box lateral sides
and connected to each other, a pair of box insert slots
respectively extending through said box base plate, locking tongue
plates associated respectively with said box insert slots; and an
auxiliary case which includes a case base plate having a plurality
of case lateral sides, a plurality of case side plates projecting
respectively from said case lateral sides, and two case tabs
projecting respectively from two opposite ones of said case side
plates and each having a case insert slot, said auxiliary case
being attachable to said box body, said case tabs and said case
insert slots being interlockable with said box insert slots and
said locking tongue plates to attach said auxiliary case to said
box body.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority of Taiwanese Application
No. 095131753, filed on Aug. 29, 2006.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The invention relates to a packaging box assembly, more
particularly to one including a box body that has one box base
plate with sides connected respectively to four box side plates to
define a small space that can receive a small size article. The box
base plate and the box side plates can also cooperate with
extension plates to form a large space that can receive a large
size article. The packaging box assembly thus has dual
purposes.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Conventional packaging boxes for computers generally include
boxes for packaging a folded computer case, boxes for packaging a
keyboard, and boxes for packaging a display panel. In case a fully
assembled computer is to be delivered from a factory, a larger box
for containing the assembled computer is needed. Among the
aforesaid packaging boxes, many of the boxes are used to package
the folded computer cases and the assembled computer, thereby
consuming a large amount of materials and labor. The costs for
packaging and transporting computers are therefore increased. In
view of this, how to develop an improved box that can be used for
packaging either a small volume article or a large volume article
becomes an important subject.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to
provide a dual-purpose packaging box assembly that can be assembled
to form a small volume for containing a small size article, or a
large volume for containing a large size article.
[0007] According to one aspect of the invention, a packaging box
assembly comprises a box body and a cover body. The box body
includes a box base plate having four box lateral sides
respectively connected to four box side plates. The box side plates
respectively have movable lateral ends disposed away from and
parallel to the box lateral sides of the box base plate, and
extension plates having the same width as the box side plates and
connected respectively and foldably to the movable lateral ends.
Two opposite ones of the box side plates each have two opposite box
lateral ends connected respectively to box reinforcing plates. The
remaining two of the box side plates each have two box adhesion
parts which are proximate to two box lateral ends thereof and to
which the box reinforcing plates can be attached after being
folded.
[0008] The cover body includes a cover base plate having four cover
lateral sides respectively connected to four cover side plates. Two
opposite ones of the cover side plates each have two opposite cover
lateral ends connected respectively to cover reinforcing plates.
The remaining two of the cover side plates each have two cover
adhesion parts which are proximate to two cover lateral ends
thereof and to which the cover reinforcing plates can be attached
after being folded.
[0009] When the extension plates are folded over the box side
plates, the box body defines a small volume space that can receive
a small size article therein, and the cover body surrounds the box
side plates. When the extension plates are unfolded, the box body
defines a large volume space that can receive a large size article
therein, and the cover body surrounds the extension plates.
Therefore, the packaging box assembly is provided with dual
purposes.
[0010] According to another aspect of the invention, a packaging
box assembly comprises a box body and an auxiliary case. The box
body includes a box base plate having a plurality of box lateral
sides, a plurality of box side plates associated respectively with
the box lateral sides and connected to each other, a pair of box
insert slots extending through the box base plate, and locking
tongue plates associated respectively with the box insert slots.
The auxiliary case includes a case base plate having a plurality of
case lateral sides, a plurality of case side plates projecting
respectively from the case lateral sides, two case tabs projecting
respectively from two opposite ones of the case side plates and
each having a case insert slot. The auxiliary case is attachable to
the box body. The case tabs and the case insert slots are
respectively interlockable with the box insert slots and the
locking tongue plates to attach the auxiliary case to the box
body.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent in the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings,
of which:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a box body of the first
preferred embodiment of the packaging box assembly according to the
invention in an unfolded state;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a cover body of the first
preferred embodiment of the packaging box assembly according to the
invention in an unfolded state;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a schematic exploded view showing that the first
preferred embodiment according to the invention is used to package
an assembled computer module;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a schematic exploded view showing that the first
preferred embodiment according to the invention is used to package
a disassembled computer case;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of an auxiliary case of the
packaging box assembly according to the invention in an unfolded
state;
[0017] FIG. 6 is a schematic exploded view showing that the
auxiliary case is to be attached to the box body;
[0018] FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of the auxiliary case
attached to the box body;
[0019] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the auxiliary case in a
folded state;
[0020] FIG. 9 is a plan view of the auxiliary case in a folded
state;
[0021] FIG. 10 is a plan view of the box body of the second
preferred embodiment in an unfolded state;
[0022] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the box body of the second
preferred embodiment; and
[0023] FIG. 12 is the same view as FIG. 11, but showing the folded
sub-bases of the box body.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0024] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the first preferred embodiment
of a packaging box assembly according to the present invention
includes a box body 1 and a cover body 2. Both of the box body 1
and the cover body 2 are formed from a foldable packaging plate.
Each foldable packaging plate includes a base plate 10 or 20 having
four lateral sides 100 or 200 respectively connected to four side
plates 11 or 21 having the same width. The side plates 11 or 21
have the same height. The base plate 20 of the cover body 2 is
larger than the base plate 10 of the box body 1. The box body 1 is
characterized in that the side plates 11 of the base plate 10 have
movable lateral ends 110 disposed away from and parallel to the
respective lateral sides 100 of the base plate 10, and extension
plates 12 connected foldably and respectively to the movable
lateral ends 110 and having the same width as the respective side
plates 11.
[0025] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a small volume space (S1) is
formed by folding the base plate 10 and the side plates 11
connected to the four lateral sides of the base plate 10 to receive
a small size article, such as a folded computer case 3, and is
covered by the cover body 2 for packaging purposes. A large volume
space (S2) is formed by folding the base plate 10, the side plates
11 and the extension plates 12 to receive a large size article,
such as an assembled computer module 4, and is covered by the cover
body 2 for packaging purposes. A more detailed description
regarding the dual purposes of the packaging box assembly according
to the present invention is provided hereinafter.
[0026] The box body 1 is made from corrugated paper board and
includes the box base plate 10 with four box lateral sides 100,
100' connected respectively to four box side plates 11, 11' having
the same length. The four box side plates 11, 11' having the same
height/width. The box side plates 11, 11' have respective movable
lateral ends 110 disposed away from and parallel to the respective
box lateral sides 100, 100', and extension plates 12 having the
same width as the box side plates 11, 11' and foldable at the
respective movable lateral ends 110.
[0027] Referring back to FIG. 1, a pair of box insert slots 13 are
optionally provided at two connection parts of the box side plate
11', i.e., at the two opposite box lateral sides 100'. Box locking
tongue plates 14 associate with and project into the respective box
insert slots 13 from the respective box side plates 11'. The word
"optionally" indicates that the main packaging function of the
present invention will not change even in the absence of the box
insert slots 13. The two box side plates 11', which are provided
with the box insert slots 13, each have two lateral ends 111
respectively formed with box reinforcing plates 15. The remaining
two box side plates 11 each have two box adhesion parts 16
proximate to two box lateral ends 112 thereof for adhesion of the
respective box reinforcing plates 15 thereto when the latter are
folded.
[0028] Referring back to FIG. 2, the cover body 2 is made by
folding a corrugated paper board, and includes the cover base plate
20 with four cover lateral sides 200 respectively connected to the
cover side plates 21, 21' having the same length as the cover
lateral sides. The four cover side plates 21, 21' have the same
width or height. Two opposite cover side plates 21' each have two
cover lateral ends 210 which are connected respectively to cover
reinforcing plates 22. The remaining two opposite cover side plates
21 are each provided with cover adhesion parts 23 proximate two
lateral ends 211 thereof so that the respective cover reinforcing
plates 22 can be adhered thereto after bent.
[0029] Referring to FIG. 3, for packaging, the box base plate 10 of
the box body 1 is used as one side wall, the box side plates 11,
11' are folded perpendicularly along the box lateral sides 100,
100', the extension plates 12 are unfolded, and the box reinforcing
plates 15 of the box side plates 11, 11' are attached to the
corresponding box adhesion parts 16. In this embodiment, attachment
is done by gluing. A large volume space (S2) is thus defined by the
box base plate 10, the box side plates 11, 11' provided at the four
lateral sides 100, 100' of the box base plate 10, and the extension
plates 12. An opening 17 is defined by the four extension plates
12.
[0030] For packaging a large size article, e.g., an assembled
computer module 4, cushion pads 40, the so-called styrofoam pads,
are fitted to two sides of the computer module 4, the computer
module 4 together with the cushion pads 40 is placed within the
large volume space (S2), and the opening 17 is closed by the cover
body 2 in such a manner that the cover side plates 21, 21' surround
the outer sides of the four extension plates 12. Packaging of the
large size article or the entire computer module 4 is finished
after the entire packaging box is sealed.
[0031] For packaging a small size article, e.g., a disassembled
computer case 3 which has no interior computer components, the
disassembled computer case 3 is placed within the small volume
space (S1) as shown in FIG. 4. The four extension plates 12 are
then folded over the top surface 30 of the disassembled computer
case 3, and the cover body 2 is placed over the extension plates 12
such that the cover side plates 21, 21' surround the outer sides of
the four box side plates 11, 11'. Packaging of the small size
article or the disassembled computer case 3 is finished after the
entire packaging box is sealed.
[0032] The present invention further provides an auxiliary case 5
for packaging another small size article, e.g. a display panel. As
shown in FIG. 5, the auxiliary case 5 is made from a corrugated
paper board and includes a case base plate 50 having four case
lateral sides 500 connected respectively to four case side plates
51, 51' having the same length as the case lateral sides 500. The
four case side plates 51, 51' have the same width/height. Two
opposite case side plates 51' each have two opposite case lateral
ends 510 connected to case reinforcing plates 52, respectively. The
remaining two opposite case side plates 51 each have two opposite
case lateral ends 511 respectively provided with case adhesion
parts 53 to permit the respective case reinforcing plates 52 to be
attached thereto after being folded. In this embodiment, the
auxiliary case 5 further has case tabs 54 projecting respectively
from two distal ends 500' which are respectively provided on two
opposite case side plates 51. The case tabs 54 respectively have
case insert slots 55 extending therethrough at the respective
distal ends 500'.
[0033] Referring to FIG. 6, a display panel (not shown) may be
packed as follows: The case base plate 50 is used as a side wall,
and the case side plates 51, 51' are folded perpendicularly along
the case lateral sides 500. The case reinforcing plates 52 of the
case side plates 51 are attached to the respective case adhesion
parts 53. In this embodiment, attachment is done by gluing. As the
case base plate 50 and the four case side plates 51 confine a
smaller receiving space, i.e. an auxiliary receiving space (S3),
the display panel may be placed in the auxiliary receiving space
(S3). The entire auxiliary case 5 may be placed against the side
wall 101 formed by the box base plate 10 of the box body 1 that
encloses either the small size article, such as the disassembled
computer case 3, or the large size article, such as the assembled
computer module 4. In this example, the auxiliary case 5 is
attached to the side wall 101 formed by the box body 1 that is
configured for packing the disassembled computer case 3. Referring
to FIG. 7 in combination with FIG. 6, the case tabs 54 are inserted
into the respective box insert slots 13 provided in the box base
plate 10, and the box locking tongue plates 14 provided in the box
base plate 10 are inserted into the respective case insert slots 55
of the auxiliary case 5. The auxiliary case 5 is thus attached to
the side wall 101 formed by the box base plate 10.
[0034] Referring back to FIG. 2, there are fold lines 24 provided
in the two cover side plates 21' connected to two opposite cover
lateral sides 200. The fold lines 24 in each of the opposite cover
side plates 21' extend obliquely and convergingly from two corner
points (p) where each of the two opposite cover lateral sides 200
meets the cover reinforcing plates 22 and the cover lateral ends
210 of the respective cover side plates 21'.
[0035] Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, during transport, the other two
opposite cover side plates 21 can be folded toward each other and
pressed against the cover base plate 20 due to the presence of the
fold lines 24. As such, the cover body 2 is placed in a flat
configuration which occupies less space. To achieve a similar
purpose, an alternative box body 1' is provided as shown in FIG. 10
according to a second preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
[0036] In particular, the box body 1' is composed of two foldable
plates each of which has first and second plate components 18, 19.
As the first and second plate components 18, 19 are substantially
identical in shape, illustration thereof will be primarily based on
the first plate components 18. Each of the first and second plate
components 18, 19 has a sub-base 180, 190, a sub-side plate 181,
191 having a bottom end connected to a top end 1800 of the sub-base
180, 190, and a sub-extension plate 182, 192 having a bottom end
connected to a top end of the sub-side plate 181, 191. Each of the
sub-side plates 181, 191 of the first and second plate components
18, 19 has a first side 1810, 1910 and a second side 1811, 1911
between top and bottom ends thereof. The first side 1810 of the
sub-side plate 181 of the first plate component 18 is connected to
the second side 1911 of the sub-side plate 191 of the second plate
component 19. The second side 1811 of the sub-side plate 181 of the
first plate component 18 has a connecting plate 183 projecting
therefrom in a direction away from the first side 1810. Each
sub-side plate 181, 191 is further provided with an insert slot 13'
similar to the box insert slot 13 described in the previous
preferred embodiment. The insert slot 13' is provided at the
junction of the sub-side plate 181 and the sub-base 180, i.e. the
top end 1800 of the sub-base 180. In each sub-side plate 181, a
locking tongue plate 14' associates with and projects into the
corresponding insert slot 13'. When the box body 1' is delivered
from a factory, the two foldable plates are connected to each other
as shown in FIG. 11, wherein the connecting plates 183 of the first
plate components 18 are adhered to the sub-side plate 191 of the
respective second plate components 19. Then, the two foldable
plates are laid one over the other. When the connection parts where
the first and second plate components 18, 19 are interconnected are
pulled away from each other, a precursor of the box body 1' is
formed. When the sub-bases 180, 190 of the first and second plate
components 18, 19 are folded to overlap each other and are adhered
together, a base plate 10' of the box body 1' is formed as shown in
FIG. 12. Dual packaging purposes provided by the second preferred
embodiment are similar to that provided by the first preferred
embodiment. The auxiliary case 5 can be attached to the box body 1'
in the same manner as described hereinbefore for attachment of the
auxiliary case 5 to the box body 1. The box body 1' and the cover
body 2 can be folded for delivery from a factory, and can be
unfolded for packaging at a packaging site. The packaging operation
for the second preferred embodiment is similar to that for the
first preferred embodiment.
[0037] While the present invention has been described in connection
with what are considered the most practical and preferred
embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to
the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various
arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest
interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and
equivalent arrangements.
* * * * *