The disclosed technology relates to a foldable box. More particularly, to a box that is stored flat and folds into a three-dimensional box.
Boxes are used everyday for many purposes. They are used for storage, shipping and even gift-giving. Because of the variety of uses, boxes come in a variety of sizes and shapes. From boxes that hold a small piece of jewelry to ones that hold refrigerators.
But when a box is manufactured by a manufacturing company the box is usually shipped in a three-dimensional form. The manufacturing company than must pay for additional shipping cost for empty space within the box. Additionally, the boxes are also more susceptible to damage when shipped in this fashion.
To overcome these shipping problems, box designers have made collapsible boxes. These boxes are shipped flat and need to be constructed by the ultimate user of the box.
To construct these boxes, the user must unfold the box and place certain folds into certain slots, or in the alternative use glue or tape. These actions are time consuming and labor intensive. Stores must pay for this extra time to construct these boxes. The consumer at the store also has a delay because the boxes will usually be constructed in front of the consumer. This delay results in loss time for all parties involved.
Some stores in order not to delay the customer may employ extra personnel to build boxes. This, however, does not alleviate all of the stores' problems because now the store must find space to store the boxes in their three-dimensional form. This means there will be less space for the products which they stock.
The present invention overcomes the problem of the conventional art by constructing a foldable box that is stored in a flat position. In order to fold the box into a three-dimensional position, all a user must do is unfold two sides of the box which will in turn construct the foldable box.
In one implementation, a foldable box having a flat configuration and a three-dimensional configuration, comprising: a first set of panels, the first set of panels having a first main panel, a second main panel, a first sub-panel, a second sub-panel and a third sub-panel, the first sub-panel being attached to a first main panel at a first crease, the second sub-panel being attached to a first main panel at a second crease, the second sub-panel being attached to a second main panel at a third crease, the third sub-panel being attached to a second main panel at a fourth crease; a second set of panels, the second set of panels including a rear support panel having a first connecting tab foldably connected at a fifth crease and a front support panel having a second connecting tab foldably connected at a sixth crease, the rear support panel being attached to second sub-panel with the fifth crease coinciding with the second crease, the front support panel being attached to the third sub-panel with the sixth crease coinciding with an exterior edge of the third panel; and a third set of panels, the third set of panels including a right-side panel having a third connecting tab foldably connected at a seventh crease and a left-side panel having a fourth connecting tab foldably connected at an eighth crease, the right-side panel being attached to the second main panel with the seventh crease coinciding with a first exterior edge of the second main panel, the left-side panel being attached to the second main panel with the eighth crease coinciding with a second exterior edge of the second main panel.
In some implementations, attachment tape can be used, securing the first tab, the second tab, the third tab and the fourth tab to their respective panels, and also being capable of reinforcing the third crease and the fourth crease.
In some implementations, the right-side panel can include two attachment wings foldably connected to the right-side panel and the left-side panel can include two attachment wings foldably connected to the left-side panel, each attachment wing having a first triangular connector and a second triangular connector foldably connected to one another where the second triangular connector of one of the attachment wings for the right-side panel is connected to the second sub-panel and the second triangular connector of the other attachment wing for the right-side panel is connected to the third sub-panel and wherein the second triangular connector of one of the attachment wings for the left-side panel is connected to the second sub-panel and the second triangular connector of the other attachment wing for the left-side panel is connected to the third sub-panel.
In some implementations, the foldable box can include a first magnet and a second magnet for securely closing the three-dimensional configuration of the foldable box, the first and second magnet having opposite poles.
In some implementations, the foldable box can include a first cut-out, the first cut-out being formed on a top edge of the rear support panel; and a second cut-out, the second cut-out being formed on a top edge of the front support panel, wherein the first cut-out and the second cut-out can be used to disassemble the three-dimensional configuration of the foldable box.
In some implementations, reinforcement tape can be used for reinforcing the first crease and the second crease. In some implementations, protection foam may be utilized, the protection foam being secured to an underside of the first main panel.
The following description of preferred embodiments of the present invention will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements shown.
a is a perspective view of one implementation of the disclosed technology in a flat configuration;
b is a perspective view of one implementation of the disclosed technology in a three-dimensional configuration;
Manufacturers of boxes often run into difficulty when shipping boxes because of the way in which they are shipped. To cut down on shipping cost it is more cost efficient to ship boxes in a flat position. However, flat boxes must be assembled by the party to which it is shipped. This takes time on the part of the ultimate user.
To cut down on this time, a box can be constructed in such a way as to make the assembly time to construct a box minimal. This is accomplished by having foldable connectors attached to certain parts of the box. When the box is flat the connectors are also flat. To construct a box a user must only lift the sides of the box. This triggers a chain reaction and as the user lifts the sides the connectors in turn pull other parts of the box. The box is then fully three-dimensional with minimal work on the part of the user. The user will not have to add any additional glue or tape to the box.
The boxes may be constructed out of any material that may be foldably connected such as all types of cardboard and flexible plastics. The material may also be decorated so the box is aesthetically pleasing to the eye. This is accomplished by lining the material with certain types of laminate and cloth-like materials.
The boxes have a right side 14, a front side 15, a left side 16 and a rear side 21. Right side 14 is foldably connected to front side 15 at crease 23. Front side 15 is foldably connected to left side 16 at crease 26. Left side 16 is foldably connected to rear side 21 at crease 22. Rear side 21 is foldably connected to right side 14 at crease 24.
The box also has a front connector 26 having portions 17 and 18 and rear connector having portions 19 and 20. Portion 18 of the front connector is adhered to the bottom of the box and is foldably connected to the bottom of the left side 16. Portion 17 is foldably connected to portion 18 and the bottom side of the front side 17.
The rear connector 27 is connected between the bottom of back side 21 and the bottom of right side 14. The rear connector is folded in two parts at crease 25.
The cover is connected to connector 12 at crease 13. If a user wanted to close the box 10, the user will lift the cover 11 and fold the cover over the opening created by sides 14, 15, 16 and 21. The connector 12 then rests on side 21.
One portion of the connector 18 is adhered to the bottom of the box 30 and is connected to side 15 at crease 31. A second portion of the connector 18 is connected to the bottom of side 14.
Connector 27 is connected to the bottom of side 16 and 21. The connector 27 while opening forms a triangular shape.
The bottom 30, cover 11 and connector 12 all remain flat while the sides of the box are formed.
Connectors 26 and 27 are also folded so as to form two triangular areas.
In this embodiment the box 50 has a bottom 51 and four sides 52, 53, 54 and 55. The sides 52, 53, 54 and 55 are foldably connected to the bottom by four connectors 56, 57, 58, 59 located in the corners of the box.
Also shown are the four connectors 56-59. These connectors 56-59 are foldably attached to the edge of each side. That is, side 52 is attached to side 53 by connector 56. Side 53 is attached to side 54 by connector 57. Side 54 is attached to side 55 by connector 58. Side 55 is attached to side 52 by connector 59.
Also shown on sides 52 and 54 are additional means 64 for ensuring that the sides of the box are tightly in place. This makes sure that when a user folds the box 50, the box 50 will not inadvertently collapse while in use.
The additional means 64 can be an adhesive, tape or Velcro strip. This additional means 64 is already in place when a user assembles the box. The user does not need any additional items to make the box.
A securing means (not shown) can also be attached to a side of the box as will be discussed in detail in
The sides 81-84 are constructed with a cover 89 being foldably attached to side 82 at crease 93. The cover 89 is then attached to lip 90 for securing the cover 89 to the constructed box 80 at side 84.
A securing means 91 is attached to side 84 at crease 94. This securing means 91 adds additional strength to the box when the box is constructed by a user. That is, when the sides are in their upright position, the securing means is placed between 81 and 83. This ensures the box 80 will not collapse when the box 80 is in use.
The box also may have additional means 95 for ensuring that the sides of the box are tightly in place. The additional means 95 can be an adhesive, tape or Velcro strip. This additional means 95 is already in place when a user assembles the box. The user does not need any additional items to make the box.
In another implementation of a foldable box in accordance with the disclosed technology, a foldable box is interchangeable from a flat configuration to a three-dimensional configuration. The foldable box can include a first set of panels, a second set of panels and a third set of panels, the second set of panels and the third set of panels being adhesively and foldably connected to the first set of panels to form the foldable box.
Referring to
Each set of the panels 110, 150, 180 can include panels that are preferably rectangular in shape and can be made from a substrate such as paperboard, cardboard, flexible plastic, or any other suitable substrate. In some implementations, the substrate can be laminated with a predefined material. In some implementations, the laminate can be decorated so the box is aesthetically pleasing to the eye. This is accomplished by lining the substrate with certain types of decorative laminate and cloth-like materials.
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A first main panel 112 has approximately identical dimensions as that of a second main panel 114. Panels 120, 122 and 124 define sub-panels that have approximately identical dimensions. Sub-panel panel 120 is coupled to first main panel 112. Sub-panel 122 is coupled between first main panel 112 and second main panel 114. Sub-panel panel 124 is coupled to second main panel 114. Sub-panels 120 and 122 are foldable relative to panel 112 along creases 130 and 132, respectively. Sub-panels 122 and 124 are foldable relative to second main panel 114 along creases 134 and 136, respectively. The main panels and sub-panels are preferably laminated to define a uniform construction of the first set of panels 110. The first set of panels 110 including main panels and sub-panels can be made by die cutting, scoring and then folding to define a desired combination of main panels and sub-panels in a single piece.
The first set of panels 110 can also include an inbuilt magnetic locking arrangement 140, 142, 144, 146. That is, sub-panels 120 and 124 can include magnets 140, 142, 144, 146. The magnets 140, 142, 144, 146 can be positioned within the sub-panels 120 and 124 preferably below the lamination. The magnets 140, 142, 144, 146 can be positioned in the respective sub-panel such that the magnets are not visible with the naked eye from the sub-panel. Thickness of each of the magnets 140, 142, 144, 146 can be substantially close to the thickness of the respective sub-panels 120, 124. Magnets 140, 142 have opposite polarity to that of magnets 144, 146. The magnets 140, 142, 144, 146 can be positioned in the respective sub-panels 28 and 30 so that the magnets can be mated when the box 100 is in a closed position. In some implementations, one set of magnets can be replaced with a magnetically attractive material, e.g. a ferric metal.
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The foldable box 100 is advantageously designed to provide a simple assembly method that allows a box to be easily folded from a flat state into a three-dimensional state. More importantly, once the box is in its three-dimensional state, the front support panel 170 and the rear support panel 160 securely lock the box in its three-dimensional state until the user manually unlocks the front support panel and the rear support panel from their locked positions and returns the box to its flat, folded state.
While this specification contains many specific implementation details, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the disclosed technology or of what can be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features specific to particular implementations of the disclosed technology. Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate implementations can also be implemented in combination in a single implementation. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single implementation can also be implemented in multiple implementations separately or in any suitable subcombination. Moreover, although features can be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination can be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.
The foregoing Detailed Description is to be understood as being in every respect illustrative, but not restrictive, and the scope of the disclosed technology disclosed herein is not to be determined from the Detailed Description, but rather from the claims as interpreted according to the full breadth permitted by the patent laws. It is to be understood that the implementations shown and described herein are only illustrative of the principles of the disclosed technology and that various modifications can be implemented without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosed technology.
This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 11/113,437, filed Apr. 22, 2005, now pending. The patent application identified above is incorporated here by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20140231495 A1 | Aug 2014 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 11113437 | Apr 2005 | US |
Child | 14266363 | US |