U.S. patent application number 14/944134 was filed with the patent office on 2016-05-19 for reusable container.
This patent application is currently assigned to ORORA NORTH AMERICA. The applicant listed for this patent is ORORA NORTH AMERICA. Invention is credited to Anthony N. Mora.
Application Number | 20160137335 14/944134 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55961024 |
Filed Date | 2016-05-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160137335 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mora; Anthony N. |
May 19, 2016 |
REUSABLE CONTAINER
Abstract
A reusable container for shipping an object. The container has
at least an interior and an opening. A flap portion, attached to an
upper edge of a container wall, includes a body portion, and an
extension portion attached to the body portion. The extension
portion includes two adhesive portions. A tear strip, defined by
perforations in the extension portion, is defined between the two
adhesive portions. When the flap portion moves to a closed
position, the body portion covers the opening, and the edge portion
moves down into contact with one of the walls, being fixed to the
wall by one of the adhesive portions. The tear strip can be torn
away, tearing away the one of the adhesive portions fixing the
extension portion to the wall, without damaging the other adhesive
portion. The container can be re-used, by using the undamaged
adhesive portion to fix the extending portion to the wall.
Inventors: |
Mora; Anthony N.; (Ontario,
CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
ORORA NORTH AMERICA |
Buena Park |
CA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
ORORA NORTH AMERICA
Buena Park
CA
|
Family ID: |
55961024 |
Appl. No.: |
14/944134 |
Filed: |
November 17, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62080715 |
Nov 17, 2014 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
53/412 ; 229/107;
229/115; 229/117.09; 229/212; 29/428 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 5/546 20130101;
Y02W 30/80 20150501; B65D 5/2076 20130101; Y02W 30/807 20150501;
B65D 5/0227 20130101; B65D 5/541 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 5/02 20060101
B65D005/02; B65D 5/54 20060101 B65D005/54; B65B 61/18 20060101
B65B061/18; B65D 5/46 20060101 B65D005/46; B65B 5/02 20060101
B65B005/02; B65B 7/20 20060101 B65B007/20 |
Claims
1. A container comprising: a bottom, the bottom defining a bottom
plane, the bottom plane being substantially horizontal, the bottom
having at least a first bottom edge and an opposing second bottom
edge; at least a first wall having a first lower edge connected to
the first bottom edge, a first upper edge, and a first length
between the first lower edge and the first upper edge, the first
length extending in a first substantially vertical plane, the first
substantially vertical plane being substantially transverse to the
bottom plane; at least a second wall having a second lower edge
connected to the second bottom edge, a second upper edge, and a
second length between the second lower edge and the second upper
edge, the second length extending in a second substantially
vertical plane, the second substantially vertical plane being
substantially transverse to the bottom plane, the at least the
second wall, the at least the first wall, and the bottom being
configured to define the container, the container including at
least a container interior, and the at least the second upper edge
and the at least the first upper edge being configured to define an
opening into the container interior; a flap portion including a
body portion, the body portion being attached to one of the at
least first upper edge and the at least second upper edge, and an
extension portion, the extension portion being attached to the body
portion, the flap portion being movable between an open position
and a closed position; at least a first adhesive portion provided
on the extension portion; at least a second adhesive portion
provided on the extension portion; and a tear strip defined in the
extension portion intermediate the at least the first adhesive
portion and the at least the second adhesive portion, the tear
strip being configured to be removed from the extension portion;
wherein the body portion is configured, in the closed position, to
substantially cover the opening; and wherein the extension portion
is configured, in the closed position, to extend beyond the
opening, to be moved into contact with at least one of the at least
the first wall and the at least the second wall, with at least one
of the first adhesive portion and the second adhesive portion
adhesively contacting the at least one of the at least the first
wall and the at least the second wall.
2. The container as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the
bottom, the at least the first wall, the at least the second wall,
and the flap portion include corrugated cardboard.
3. The container as recited in claim 1, wherein the body portion
defines a first area, the first area being one of greater than,
less than, and substantially equal to an area defined by the
opening.
4. The container as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least the
first wall, and the at least the second wall define at least an
upper section of the container, a front section of the container, a
back section of the container, and at least one side section of the
container.
5. The container as recited in claim 4, wherein the opening is
defined in one of the front section of the container, the back
section of the container, at least one of the at least one side
section of the container, and the bottom of the container.
6. The container as recited in claim 1, wherein the container
defines a shape, the shape being one of at least a rectangle, a
triangle, an oval, and a sphere.
7. The container as recited in claim 1, further comprising at least
one transportation facilitation structure attached to at least a
portion of the container, the at least one transportation
facilitation structure including at least one of a handle, a wheel,
and a strap.
8. The container as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least the
first adhesive portion includes a first removable strip, the first
removable strip being configured to removably cover the at least
the first adhesive portion.
9. The container as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least the
second adhesive portion includes a second removable strip, the
second removable strip being configured to removably cover the at
least the second adhesive portion.
10. The container as recited in claim 1, wherein the tear strip is
defined by at least one line of perforations defined in the
extension portion, the tear strip being removable from the
extension portion by tearing the tear strip along the at least one
line of perforations.
11. The container as recited in claim 1, wherein the tear strip is
further configured, upon removal from the extension portion in the
closed position, to remove the at least one of the first adhesive
portion and the second adhesive portion adhesively contacting the
at least one of the at least the first wall and the second
wall.
12. The container as recited in claim 1, wherein the extension
portion further includes at least a third adhesive portion.
13. A method for shipping at least a first object in a reusable
container, the method comprising: utilizing the container, the
container comprising: a bottom portion, the bottom portion defining
a bottom plane, the bottom plane being substantially horizontal,
the bottom portion having at least a first bottom edge and an
opposing second bottom edge; at least a first wall having a first
lower edge connected to the first bottom edge, a first upper edge,
and a first length between the first lower edge and the first upper
edge, the first length extending in a first substantially vertical
plane, the first substantially vertical plane being substantially
transverse to the bottom plane; at least a second wall having a
second lower edge connected to the second bottom edge, a second
upper edge, and a second length between the second lower edge and
the second upper edge, the second length extending in a second
substantially vertical plane, the second substantially vertical
plane being substantially transverse to the bottom plane, the at
least the second wall, the at least the first wall, and the bottom
being configured to define the container, the container including
at least a container interior, and the at least the second upper
edge and the at least the first upper edge being configured to
define an opening into the container interior; a flap portion
including a body portion, the body portion being attached to one of
the at least the first upper edge and the at least the second upper
edge, and an extension portion, the extension portion being
attached to the body portion, the flap portion being movable
between an open position and a closed position; at least a first
adhesive portion provided on the extension portion; at least a
first removable strip removably covering the at least the first
adhesive portion; at least a second adhesive portion provided on
the extension portion; at least a second removable strip removably
covering the at least the second adhesive portion; and a tear strip
defined in the extension portion intermediate the at least the
first adhesive portion and the at least the second adhesive
portion, the tear strip being configured to be removed from the
extension portion; wherein the body portion is configured, in the
closed position, to substantially cover the opening; and wherein
the extension portion is configured, in the closed position, to
extend beyond the opening, to be moved into contact with at least
one of the at least the first wall and the at last the second wall,
with at least one of the first adhesive portion and the second
adhesive portion adhesively contacting the at least one of the at
least the first wall and the at least the second wall; removing the
at least the first removable strip from the at least the first
adhesive portion; placing the at least the first object into the
interior of the container; moving the flap portion to the closed
position, with the body portion substantially covering the opening;
moving the extension portion beyond the opening and into contact
with a portion of at least one of the at least the first wall, and
the at least the second wall, with the at least the first adhesive
portion contacting the portion of the at least one of the first
wall and the second wall; and fixing the extension portion to the
at least one of the first wall and the second wall with the at
least the first adhesive portion adhering to the portion of the at
least one of the first wall and the second wall.
14. The method as recited in claim 13, further comprising removing
the tear strip from the extension portion, thereby removing the at
least the first adhesive portion from the portion of the at least
one of the first wall and the at least the second wall.
15. The method as recited in claim 14, further comprising moving
the flap portion to the open position, and removing the at least
the first object from the container interior.
16. The method as recited in claim 15, further comprising removing
the at least the second removable strip from the at the second
adhesive portion; inserting at least one of the at least the first
object and at least a second object into the container interior;
moving the flap portion to the closed position, with the body
portion substantially covering the opening; moving the extension
portion beyond the opening and into contact with at least one of
the at least the first wall, and the at least the second wall, the
at least the second adhesive portion adhesively contacting a
portion of the at least one of the first wall and the second wall;
and fixing the extension portion to the at least one of the first
wall and the second wall with the second adhesive portion adhering
to the portion of the at least one of the first wall and the second
wall.
17. A method of assembling a reusable container, the reusable
container configured to ship at least a first object, the method
comprising: utilizing an unassembled container, the unassembled
container comprising: a bottom portion, the bottom portion defining
a bottom plane, the bottom plane being substantially horizontal,
the bottom portion having at least a first bottom edge and an
opposing second bottom edge; at least a first wall portion having a
first lower edge pivotally connected to the first bottom edge, a
first upper edge, and a first length between the first lower edge
and the first upper edge, the first length extending in a first
plane; at least a second wall portion having a second lower edge
pivotally connected to the second bottom edge, a second upper edge,
and a second length between the second lower edge and the second
upper edge, the second length extending in a second plane; a flap
portion including a body portion, the body portion being pivotally
attached to one of the at least the first upper edge and the at
least the second upper edge, and an extension portion, the
extension portion being pivotally attached to the body portion, the
flap portion being pivotal between an open position and a closed
position; at least a first adhesive portion provided on the
extension portion; at least a first removable strip removably
covering the at least the first adhesive portion; at least a second
adhesive portion provided on the extension portion; at least a
second removable strip removably covering the at least the second
adhesive portion; and a tear strip defined in the extension portion
intermediate the at least the first adhesive portion and the at
least the second adhesive portion, the tear strip being configured
to be removed from the extension portion; pivoting the at least the
first wall portion to a position defining a first wall, the first
wall extending in a first substantially vertical plane, the first
substantially vertical plane being substantially transverse to the
base portion; pivoting the at least the second wall portion to a
position defining a second wall, the second wall extending in a
second substantially vertical plane, the second substantially
vertical plane being substantially transverse to the base portion,
at least the first wall, the second wall, and the base cooperating
to define the container, the container having at least a container
interior, and the at least the first upper edge and the at least
the second upper edge cooperating to define an opening into the
container interior; inserting the at least the first object into
the container interior; removing the at least the first removable
strip from the at least the first adhesive portion; pivoting the
flap portion to the closed position with the body portion covering
the opening; moving the extension portion beyond the opening and
into contact with at least one of the at least the first wall, and
the at least the second wall, with at least the first adhesive
portion adhesively contacting a portion of the at least one of the
first wall and the second wall; and fixing the extension portion to
the at least one of the first wall and the second wall with the at
least one of the first adhesive portion adhering to the portion of
the at least the first wall and the second wall.
18. The method as recited in claim 17, further comprising removing
the tear strip from the extension portion, thereby removing the at
least one of the first adhesive portion fixing the extension
portion to the portion of the at least one of the first wall and
the second wall.
Description
[0001] The present application claims benefit of Provisional
Application No. 62/080,715, filed Nov. 17, 2014; all of which is
incorporated by reference herein.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to containers used for
shipping objects, and more particularly, to reusable containers
used for shipping objects.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] There are many configurations for containers used in
shipping. Corrugated cardboard has been the primary material used
to form boxes to enclose objects during transit. Some
configurations of corrugated cardboard boxes require usage of
portions of an adhesive tape to bond portions of the cardboard
boxes together. The portions of the adhesive tape are used for
assembly and closure of the cardboard boxes. For example, a
cardboard box can include two flaps that are folded over an opening
therein to facilitate closure of the box, and the portions of the
adhesive tape can be used to join the two flaps of the cardboard
box together to seal contents within the box. However, besides
being an additional cost, adhesive tape may not be readily
available for assembly and closure of the cardboard boxes, and may
be restricted from being used to seal cardboard boxes during
transit.
[0004] Other configurations of corrugated cardboard boxes rely on
usage of adhesive materials bonded directly thereto for assembly
and closure thereof. For example, a cardboard box can include a
single flap that is folded over an opening therein to facilitate
closure of the box. The single flap can include an extension
portion that extends beyond the opening when the remainder of the
single flap is covering the opening. The extension portion can be
folded to contact a portion of the cardboard box adjacent the
opening. The directly-bonded adhesive material provided on either
the extension portion or the portion of the cardboard box adjacent
the opening can be used to seal contents within the box. However,
the directly-bonded adhesive materials used to join portions of
cardboard boxes together have provided effectively permanent
joints. Thus, given the typical configuration of such cardboard
boxes, the content of the cardboard boxes cannot be retrieved
without causing physical damage to the cardboard boxes that
prevents reuse thereof.
[0005] Given the limitations of boxes using adhesive tape and
directly-bonded adhesive materials to facilitate closure, there is
a need for a box that does not require adhesive tape for closure
thereof, but is configured to afford retrieval of content sealed
therein without physical damage that prevents reuse thereof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In this application, the terms "container" and "box" are
used interchangeably. According to one aspect of the present
disclosure, a box for enclosing at least one object is
provided.
[0007] The box includes a bottom and at least two side walls
extending outwardly from the bottom. Each of the at least two side
walls includes a first end, an opposite second end, a length
between the first and second ends, and a width perpendicular to the
length thereof. The first ends of the at least two side walls are
positioned adjacent the bottom. The length of a first side wall of
the at least two side walls extends in a first plane, the length of
a second side wall of the at least two side walls extends in a
second plane. The bottom has at least a first side and a second
side in a third plane. The third plane is transverse with respect
to the first and second planes, the bottom and the at least two
side walls at least in part define an interior of the box, and the
second ends of the at least two side walls define at least in part
an opening into the interior of the box. The opening has a first
cross-section in a fourth plane adjacent the second ends of the at
least two side walls. The fourth plane is transverse to the first
and second planes.
[0008] The box further includes a flap portion attached to one of
the at least two side walls. The flap portion is moveable between
an open position and a closed position. The flap portion also
affords access to the interior of the box in the open position and
covers the opening in the closed position. The flap portion
includes a body portion and an extension portion.
[0009] The body portion is configured to cover the opening when the
flap portion is in the closed position. The body portion has a
first end attached to the one of the at least two side walls, an
opposite second end, and two sides extending between the first and
second ends thereof. The first end, the opposite second end, and
the two sides of the body portion define an area greater than or
equal to an area of the opening at the first cross-section
thereof.
[0010] The extension portion is configured to extend beyond the
opening when the flap portion is in the closed position to contact
another of the at least two side walls. The extension portion has a
first end and an opposite second end, the second end of the
extension portion is attached to the second end of the body
portion. The extension portion also has a first adhesive containing
portion adjacent the first end thereof, a second adhesive
containing portion adjacent the second end thereof, and a tear
strip separating the first adhesive containing portion and the
second adhesive containing portion from one another.
[0011] The first adhesive containing portion has a first adhesive
material bonded to a surface thereof and a first removable strip
removably attached to the first adhesive material. The first
adhesive material is configured to fixedly attach the first
adhesive containing portion to the another of the at least two side
walls upon removal of the first removable strip, upon closure of
flap portion, and upon physical contact of the first adhesive
material with the another of the at least two side walls.
[0012] The second adhesive containing portion has a second adhesive
material bonded to a surface thereof and a second removable strip
removably attached to the second adhesive material. The second
adhesive material is configured to fixedly attach the second
adhesive containing portion to the another of the at least two side
walls upon removal of the second removable strip, upon closure of
the flap portion, and upon physical contact of the second adhesive
material with the another of the at least two side walls.
[0013] The tear strip is configured to detach the first adhesive
containing portion from the second adhesive containing portion upon
removal thereof, wherein, when the first adhesive containing
portion is attached to the another of the at least two side walls
to facilitate attachment of the extension portion thereto.
Perforations in the extension portion of the flap allow for ease of
removal of the tear strip. Removal of the tear strip affords
detachment of the second adhesive containing portion and movement
of the flap portion from the closed position to the open
position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide
further understanding of the present invention disclosed in the
present disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute a part of
this specification, illustrate aspects of the present invention and
together with the description serve to explain the principles of
the present invention. In the drawings:
[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a box in accordance with the
present invention having portions that define an opening therein
and a flap that can be folded over the opening to facilitate
closure of the opening, where the flap includes a body portion used
in covering the opening and an extension portion used in joining
the flap to a portion of the box adjacent the opening.
[0016] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the box of FIG. 1 showing
the flap folded over the opening to close the box, where a first
adhesive containing portion of the extension portion has been
attached to the box.
[0017] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the box of FIG. 1 showing
the remainder of the flap being detached from the first adhesive
containing portion attached to the box.
[0018] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the box of FIG. 1 showing
the flap in the open position after the tear strip has been fully
removed and the flap has been detached from the first adhesive
containing portion.
[0019] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the box of FIG. 1 showing
the flap again folded over the opening to close the box, where a
second adhesive containing portion of the extension portion has
been attached to the box.
[0020] FIG. 6 is a plan view of an unassembled box of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0021] The detailed description set forth below is intended as a
description of various configurations of the present invention and
is not intended to represent the only configurations in which the
present invention may be practiced. It will be apparent, however,
to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not
limited to the specific details set forth herein but instead may be
practiced without these specific details.
[0022] In accordance with the present invention, a box having
portions defining an opening and a flap that can be folded over the
opening to facilitate closure of the opening is provided. The flap
has a body portion used to cover the opening and an extension
portion used in joining the flap to portions of the box adjacent
the opening. The body portion has an area greater than or equal to
the opening and can be folded over the opening to close the
interior of the box. The extension portion extends beyond the
opening when the body portion is folded thereover, and includes a
first adhesive containing portion, a second adhesive containing
portion, and a tear strip positioned between the first and second
adhesive containing portions. Furthermore, the first and second
adhesive containing portions contain an adhesive material that is
bonded to a surface of the respective adhesive containing portion.
A first removable strip can be removably attached to the adhesive
material bonded to the first adhesive containing portion and a
second removable strip can be removably attached to the adhesive
material bonded to the second adhesive containing portion. The
first and second removable strips cover the adhesive material until
it becomes desirable to use the adhesive material to attach the
extension portion to the portions of the box adjacent the
opening.
[0023] To facilitate closure of the box, the first adhesive
containing portion of the extension portion of the flap may be
attached to a first portion of the box adjacent the opening. For
example, attachment can be effectuated upon removal of the first
removable strip from the first adhesive containing portion and upon
physical contact between the adhesive material of the first
adhesive containing portion and the first portion of the box
adjacent the opening. Closure of the box in this manner serves in
forming an enclosed volume for storing content for shipment.
Content may be retrieved from the interior of the box by removing
the tear strip from the extension portion of the flap. Removal of
the tear strip separates the first adhesive containing portion from
the remainder of the flap. Thus, after removal of the tear strip,
the first adhesive containing portion remains attached to the first
portion of the box adjacent the opening, and the remaining portion
of the flap above the tear strip can be moved into an open position
to provide access to the interior of the box. To again facilitate
closure of the box, the second adhesive containing portion of the
extension portion of the flap may be attached to a second portion
of the box adjacent the opening. For example, attachment can be
effectuated upon removal of the second removable strip from the
second adhesive containing portion and upon physical contact
between the adhesive material of the second adhesive containing
portion and the second portion of the box adjacent the opening.
Closure of the box in this manner again serves in forming an
enclosed volume for storing content for shipment. As such, use of
the first adhesive containing portion and then the second adhesive
containing portion affords the reuse of the box.
[0024] Construction of the container disclosed in the present
invention is not limited to corrugated cardboard and may be
constructed from a variety of other materials, including but not
limited to paper, plastic, metallic, compound materials, etc.
Furthermore, the corrugated box may be assembled to form a variety
of sizes and shapes to accommodate storage of different content.
Furthermore, the present invention may also include additional
features such as handles, wheels, straps, etc. to facilitate
transportation of the box. While the drawings illustrate an
extension portion of a flap having two adhesive containing portions
being separated by a tear strip, the present invention is not
confined to such combination. As such, the extension portion of the
flap may be constructed to include additional tear strips and
adhesive containing portions located at different positions thereon
to accommodate different needs of a prospective consumer.
[0025] FIGS. 1-6 are perspective views of a box 100 in accordance
with the present invention. The box 100 can be made of corrugated
cardboard material, and, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the box 100 can
include side walls 101, 102, 103, and 104, a bottom 106, and a flap
portion 110. The upper portions of the side walls 101, 102, 103,
and 104 define an opening 112 into an interior 114 of the box 100
defined by the side walls 101, 102, 103, and 104, and the bottom
106. The flap portion 110 includes a body portion 117 and an
extension portion 118. The body portion 117 of the flap portion 110
has one end that is attached to the side wall 101 along a fold line
116 and an opposite end that is attached to the extension portion
118 of the flap portion 110 along another fold line 126. The body
portion 117 has an area that is greater than or equal to the area
of the opening 112, and can be folded over the opening 112 to close
the interior 114 of the box 100. Closure of the box 100 forms an
enclosed volume for storing content.
[0026] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the extension portion 118 has a
first adhesive containing portion 120, a second adhesive containing
portion 122, and a tear strip 124. The first and second adhesive
containing portions 120 and 122 are separated from one another by
the tear strip 124. The tear strip 124, as discussed below, also
can be used to separate the remainder of the flap portion 110 from
the first adhesive containing portion 120. Perforations in the
extension portion 118 can be provided to afford easy removal of the
tear strip 124. The perforations can be provided at the junction
between the first adhesive containing portion 120 and the tear
strip 124, and at the junction between the second adhesive
containing portion 122 and the tear strip 124.
[0027] As discussed above, the extension portion 118 is attached to
the body portion 117 along the fold line 126. When the flap portion
110 is positioned to close the opening 112 (as illustrated in FIG.
2), the body portion 117 covers the opening 112, and the extension
portion 118 (including the first adhesive containing portion 120,
the second adhesive containing portion 122, and the tear strip 124)
extends beyond the opening 112. As such, the flap portion 110 may
be folded along the fold line 126 (as illustrated in FIG. 2) to
position the extension portion 118 (including the first adhesive
containing portion 120, the second adhesive containing portion 122,
and the tear strip 124) in physical contact with an exterior
surface of the side wall 102 of the box 100.
[0028] An adhesive material is bonded to surfaces of the first and
second adhesive containing portions 120 and 122. The adhesive
material may be derived from any material with physical and/or
chemical properties that facilitate attachment of different
surfaces of the box 100. As illustrated in FIG. 1, a first
removable strip 130 is removably attached to the adhesive material
provided on the first adhesive containing portion 120, and a second
removable strip 132 is removably attached to the adhesive material
provided on the second adhesive containing portion 122. The first
and second removable strips 130 and 132 may be constructed from any
material with properties that allow the first and second removable
strips 130 and 132 to be removably attached to the adhesive
material without adversely affecting the adhesive properties
thereof.
[0029] In order to securely close the box 100, the body portion 117
of the flap portion 110 may be folded along the fold line 116 in a
direction shown by the arrow of FIG. 1 to cover the opening 112 of
the box 100. Thereafter, the extension portion 118 of the flap
portion 110 may be folded along the fold line 126 in the direction
also shown by the arrow to align the first adhesive containing
portion 120, the second adhesive containing portion 122, and the
tear strip 124 with the exterior surface of the side wall 102. The
flap portion 110 may be attached to the box 100 (as illustrated in
FIG. 2) upon removal of the first removable strip 130 and/or the
second removable strip 132 and upon physical contact with the
exterior surface of the side wall 102.
[0030] The box 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 is merely one exemplary
illustration of the present invention. While the opening 112 is
positioned at a top section of the box 100, the opening 112 may be
positioned in any other section of the box 100, such as, but not
limited to, front, back, side, rear bottom sections of the box 100.
Furthermore, the size of the opening 112 may vary. For example,
while the opening 112 is illustrated to have an area covering the
entire top section of the box 100, the opening 112 may also have an
area less than the area of the top section of the box 100, thereby
allowing the first adhesive containing portion 120 and/or the
second adhesive containing portion 122 to be attached to a section
of the box 100 located in the same plane as the opening 112 of FIG.
1.
[0031] While the box 100 illustrated in FIGS. 1-6 has a rectangular
shape, the box 100 may be assembled to take on a variety of shapes
such as, but not limited to, triangular, oval, and spherical
shapes, etc., and may take on different sizes to provide storage of
content of various shapes and sizes. Furthermore, the box 100 may
also include additional features such as handles, wheels, straps,
etc. to facilitate transportation of the box 100.
[0032] As discussed above, FIG. 2 illustrates the box 100 after the
body portion 117 has been positioned to close the opening 112, and
after the extension portion 118 has been positioned to physically
contact the exterior surface of the side wall 102.
[0033] The first adhesive containing portion 120 can be attached to
the exterior surface of the side wall 102, if the first removable
strip 130 is removed to expose the adhesive material prior to
physically contacting the first adhesive containing portion 120
with the exterior surface of the side wall 102. Contact of the
adhesive material provided on the first adhesive containing portion
120 with the exterior surface of the side wall 102 securely
attaches the flap portion 110 to the side wall 102, and, in doing
so, securely closes the box 100 to form an enclosed volume in which
content may be stored.
[0034] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the second adhesive containing
portion 122 is also in physical contact with the exterior surface
of the side wall 102 of the box 100. However, because the second
removable strip 132 remains removably attached to the adhesive
material on the second adhesive containing portion 122, the
adhesive material is not yet exposed to attach the second adhesive
containing portion 122 to the exterior surface of the side wall
102.
[0035] After the first adhesive containing portion 120 is attached
to the exterior surface of the side wall 102, the tear strip 124
can be removed to separate the remainder of the flap portion 110
including the body portion 117 and the second adhesive containing
portion 122 from the first adhesive containing portion 120. FIG. 3
illustrates removal of the tear strip 124. For example, an
application of force with respect to an end of the tear strip 124
in the direction of the arrow illustrated in FIG. 3 detaches the
tear strip 124 along the dotted lines. The dotted lines represent
perforations in the flap portion 110 that allow for ease of removal
of the tear strip 124. Upon removal of the tear strip 124, the flap
portion 110 is no longer attached to the box 100. As such, after
removal of the tear strip 124, the flap portion 110 can be
repositioned to provide access to the opening 112 (as illustrated
in FIG. 4) and content stored in the interior 114 of the box
100.
[0036] The flap portion 110 may be attached to the box 100 (as
illustrated in FIG. 5) for a second time upon removal of the second
removable strip 132 from the second adhesive containing portion 122
and upon physical contact of the second adhesive containing portion
122 with the exterior surface of the side wall 102. The body
portion 117 can be folded a second time along the fold line 116
over the opening 112 to close the interior 114 of the box 100 and
the extension portion 118 can be folded a second time along the
fold line 126 to reposition the second adhesive containing portion
122 in physical contact with the exterior surface of the side wall
102 of the box 100. Contact of the adhesive material provided on
the second adhesive containing portion 122 with the exterior
surface of the side wall 102 again securely attaches the flap
portion 110 to the side wall 102, and, in doing so, again securely
closes the box to form an enclosed volume in which content may be
stored.
[0037] While the extension portion 118 of the flap portion 110
discussed above includes one tear strip and two adhesive containing
portions, other exemplary embodiments of the box 100 may include
additional tear strips and adhesive containing portions. For
example, the extension portion 118 of the flap portion 110 could
include a second tear strip for separating the remainder of the
flap portion 110 from the second adhesive containing portion 122 to
allow the box 100 be reopened. Furthermore, the extension portion
118 of the flap portion 110 could include a third adhesive
containing portion to further improve the reusability of the box
100.
[0038] FIG. 6 is a plan view of an unassembled box 100 in
accordance with the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 6,
the box 100 includes the body portion 117 of the flap portion 110,
the extension portion 118 of the flap portion 110, and sections
150-152, 160-162, 170-172, 180, and 182. The body portion 117, the
extension portion 118, and sections 150-152, 160-162, 170-172, 180,
and 182 may be folded along corresponding fold lines 116, 126, 190,
192, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, and 201. Furthermore,
sections 160 and 161, sections 161 and 162, section 180 and body
portion 117, and section 182 and body portion 117 may be separated
from each other by cutting through cut lines 202-205, respectively.
By making cuts at the cut lines 202-205, and by folding the
sections 150-152, 160-162, 170-172, 180, and 182, the side wall 101
is formed by section 171, the side wall 102 is formed by section
151, the side wall 103 is formed by sections 150, 170, and 180, the
side wall 104 is formed by sections 152, 172, and 182, and the
bottom 106 is formed by sections 160-162.
[0039] Although FIG. 6 illustrates one example of a plan view of an
unassembled box, the present invention is not limited to the
unassembled box illustrated in FIG. 6. For example, sections, fold
lines, and/or separation lines may be added, removed, repositioned,
etc., to assemble boxes of different sizes and shapes. Furthermore,
the present invention is not limited to assembly and use of
containers constructed from corrugated cardboard boxes. The present
invention may be implemented by using other materials, including,
but not limited to, paper, plastic, metallic, compound materials,
and the like.
[0040] While this specification contains many specifics, these
should not be construed as limitations on the scope of what may be
claimed, but rather as descriptions of particular implementations
of the subject matter. Certain features that are described in this
specification in the context of separate embodiments also can be
implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely,
various features that are described in the context of a single
embodiment can also be implemented in multiple embodiments
separately or in any suitable subcombination.
[0041] Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those
skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and
practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the
specification and examples be considered as exemplary only.
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