SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING BOX SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING

Abstract

An improved single-piece shipping box system includes a lid with a lid flap forming a tab that fits into a slot on a front panel of a storage compartment, which facilitates repeatedly opening and closing without damaging the box for display before shipping. The tab and slot allow multiple users, such as the manufacturer, merchant, and e-commerce reseller, to conveniently open and close the box multiple times without damaging the box. The underside of the lid flap carries strips of covered adhesive used to seal the box closed for final shipping or in-person sale of the product. Protective film covers the adhesive strips until the user is ready to remove the protective film and tape the box closed in a permanent fixed manner for final shipping. The innovative arrangement provides a convenience of use and neatness in between pre-shipping uses with easy access and closing while simultaneously enabling secure shipping upon final designation determination.

Description

FIGURE SELECTED FOR PUBLICATION

FIG. 3

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention is directed to folding boxes, optionally constructed from cardboard and, more particularly, to an improved single-piece box including a lid flap forming a tab that fits into a slot through the front panel of the storage compartment to facilitate repeatedly opening and closing without damaging the box.

BACKGROUND

Referring now to FIG. 1, single-piece cardboard boxes have been developed for storing, selling, and shipping various products including shoes. A typical single-piece cardboard shoebox includes a folding lid with a lid flap and folding end flaps. The end flaps tuck into side pockets formed by the folded side panels of the storage compartment to close the shoebox. This conventional arrangement leaves a sloppy and difficult to re-close arrangement between uses before a final shipping. Additionally, the conventional end flaps are difficult to maneuver into and out of the side slots, which slows product handling and inevitably results in damage and bending to some portion of the boxes prior to final sale to the end purchaser. This results in waste boxes or delivery of new products in damaged boxes impairing the appearance of the packaging and the impression on the customer. A need therefore exists for an improved box that reduces the likelihood of damage prior to final sale, a pleasing pre-sale closure, and the resulting loss of material.

Aspects and Objects of the Present Invention

The proposed invention addresses at least one of the concerns noted above with an improved single-piece box system in which the lid flap forms a tab that removably fits into a slot through the front panel of the storage compartment of the box. The tab and slot allow multiple users, such as the manufacturer, brick-and-mortar merchant and e-commerce reseller, to conveniently open and close the shoebox multiple times without damaging the box. The underside of the lid flap carries one or more strips of double-sided tape used to tape the box closed for final shipping or in-person sale of the product. Protective film covers the tape strips until the user is ready to remove the protective film in order to tape the shoebox closed. The innovative design eliminates the problematic end flaps included on the lid flaps of conventional one-piece cardboard shoeboxes, and the resulting loss of materials thereby assisting sustainability.

According to one alternative aspect of the present invention, there is provided a single-piece cardboard box, comprising: a storage compartment comprising a front panel, a lid connected to the storage compartment comprising a lid flap defining an underside and a tab, double-sided tape attached to the underside of the lid flap, a slot through the front panel of the storage compartment for removably receiving the tab for repeatedly closing the box without taping the box closed, the double-sided tape carrying a protective film allowing the tab to be removably inserted into the slot without adhering the lid flap to the front panel of the storage compartment, and wherein the protective film is removable from the double-sided tape for taping the lid flap to the front panel of the storage compartment to tape the box closed.

According to another alternative aspect of the present invention, there is provided a single-piece cardboard box, comprising a storage compartment comprising a front panel, a lid connected to the storage compartment, an adhesive carried on the box for adhering the box closed, a removable engagement for removably attaching the lid to the storage compartment without utilizing the adhesive to adhere the box closed, a protective film carried by the adhesive allowing the removable engagement to repeatedly secure the lid to the storage compartment without utilizing the adhesive to adhering the box closed, and wherein the protective film is removable from the adhesive for adhering the lid flap to storage compartment to secure the box closed.

According to another alternative aspect of the present invention, there is provided a single-piece cardboard box wherein the storage compartment and lid are formed from a single piece of material foldable from a flat configuration to form the storage compartment and lid.

According to another alternative aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage box wherein the single piece of material is cardboard.

According to another alternative aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage box of wherein the adhesive comprises double-sided tape.

According to another alternative aspect of the present invention, there is provided a single-piece cardboard box wherein the lid comprises a lid flap, the lid flap defines a tab, the adhesive comprises double-sided tape carried on an underside of the tab, the storage compartment comprises a front panel, and the engagement comprises a slot through the front panel for removably receiving the tab.

According to another alternative aspect of the present invention, there is provided a single-piece cardboard box wherein the lid comprises a lid flap, the storage compartment comprises a front panel, and the engagement comprises a slot through the front panel for removably receiving the lid flap.

According to another alternative aspect of the present invention, there is provided a single-piece cardboard box wherein the lid comprises a lid flap defining a tab, the storage compartment comprises a front panel, and the engagement comprises a slot through the front panel for removably receiving the tab.

According to another alternative aspect of the present invention, there is provided a single-piece cardboard box wherein the lid comprises a lid flap, and the adhesive comprises double-sided tape carried on an underside of the lid flap.

According to another alternative aspect of the present invention, there is provided a single-piece cardboard box wherein the adhesive comprises double-sided tape carried on a front panel of the storage compartment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The numerous advantages of the embodiments of the invention may be better understood with reference to the accompanying figures.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional single-piece cardboard shoebox.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating conceptual modification of the conventional single-piece cardboard shipping box to create an improved single-piece shipping box.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the improved single-piece shipping box with its lid open.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the improved single-piece shipping box with its lid closed.

FIG. 5 is a top view of an unfolded blank for the improved single-piece shipping box.

FIGS. 6A-6D are conceptual illustrations of alternative lid flaps with differently shaped tabs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The invention may be embodied in an improved single-piece shipping box including a lid with a lid flap forming a tab that fits into a slot through the front panel of the storage compartment, which facilitates repeatedly opening and closing without damaging the shipping box. The tab and slot allow multiple users, such as the manufacturer, brick-and-mortar merchant and e-commerce reseller, to conveniently open and close the shipping box multiple times without damaging the box. The underside of the lid flap carries strips of double-sided tape used to tape the box closed for final shipping or in-person sale of the product. Protective film covers the tape strips until the user is ready to remove the protective film and tape the shipping box closed. The innovative design eliminates the problematic end flaps included on the lid flaps of conventional one-piece cardboard shipping boxes.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional single-piece cardboard shoebox 10, which includes a folding lid 11 with a lid flap 12 including end flaps 13a and 13b, which fit into side pockets 14a and 14b formed by the side panels of the storage compartment 15. To close the shoebox, the user flips the lid 11 over the storage compartment 15 and maneuvers the end flaps 13a and 13b into their respective side pockets 14a and 14b. Some people find the end flaps 13a and 13b difficult maneuver into and out of their respective side pockets 14a and 14b, which slows product handling. With multiple people often opening and closing the shoebox at various points in the fabrication, logistics, display, fitting and sale process, the problematic end flaps inevitably result in damage to some portion of the boxes prior to final shipment or in-person sale of the products. This results in waste boxes or delivery of new products in slightly damaged shoeboxes impairing the appearance of the packaging and the commercial impression on the end purchasers.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a new proposed shipping box 20, which includes a lid 21 with a lid flap 22 illustrating the differences between the improved shoebox and the conventional single-piece shoe box 10. In box 20, the fabricator removes the end flaps 23a and 23b along with corners 24a and 24b of the lid flap 12 of the conventional shoebox 10 to create the modified lid flap 22 of the shipping box 20. The fabricator also cuts a slot 26 in the front panel 27 of the storage compartment 28. These modifications form a tab 25 on the lid flap 22, which can be conveniently inserted into and removed from the slot 26 to open and close Shipping box 20 multiple times without damaging the lid flap. Unlike the conventional shoebox 10, even the most careless or hurried product handlers can easily open and close the shipping box 20 without damaging the box and without misalignment creating a neat appearance.

The underside of the lid flap 21 carries double-sided tape strips 29a and 29b (i.e., tape strips with adhesive on both sides). The exposed sides of these tape strips remain covered by protective film until the user is ready to tape the Shipping box 20 closed, typically for shipping or in-purchase delivery to the end purchaser. At that time, the user removes the protective film from the tape strips 29a and 29b, flips the lid 22 over the storage compartment 28, and secures the tape strips against the front panel 27 of the storage compartment. The Shipping box 20 may be taped shut with the tab 25 inserted into the slot 26, or not, as desired. Any suitable number, size and position of the double-sided tape may be utilized as a matter of design choice. For example, a single wider tape strip taking up most of the area of the underside of the lid flap may be utilized, if desired. As another example, three or four shorter tape strips transverse to the depicted tape strips 29a and 29b may be utilized, if desired.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the Shipping box 20 with the lid 21 in the open position showing the interior of the storage compartment 28. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the Shipping box 20 in the closed position with the lid 21 secured over the storage compartment 28. FIG. 5 shows a single-piece unfolded blank 50, which is folded to create the Shipping box 20 identifying the tab 25 and slot 26 features of this embodiment of the invention. In this particular embodiment, the tab 25 has tapered corners forming a generally trapezoidal shape. It will be understood, however, that the tab may have any other shape suitable for easy insertion and removal from a slot through the front panel of the shipping box. For example, FIGS. 6A-6D are conceptual illustrations of alternative lid flaps forming tabs with different shapes.

It is noted that while the present utility functional aspects of the invention are shown, the same slit and tab concepts may be practice with a diversity of shapes, sizes, and dimensions without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. For example, the front slot 26 could be non-linear (in an arc-shape either convex or concave and still function as intended. Similarly, the lid flap 22 may be provided in an alternative shape (single flap, divided flap, smooth curved sides vs. angular sides etc. (e.g., as seen in FIGS. 6A-6D or in any other shape or form sufficient to achieve the present function). Similarly, the box may have alternative dimensions (long/small, tall/long, flat/wide etc. so that the functions herein may be achieved by different shapes.

Although particular embodiments of this disclosure have been illustrated, it is apparent that various modifications and embodiments of the disclosure may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure. It will therefore be appreciated that the present invention provides significant improvements. The foregoing relates only to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and that numerous changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. A single-piece cardboard box, comprising: a storage compartment comprising a front panel;a lid connected to the storage compartment comprising a lid flap defining an underside and a tab;double-sided tape attached to the underside of the lid flap;a slot through the front panel of the storage compartment for removably receiving the tab for repeatedly closing the box without taping the box closed;the double-sided tape carrying a protective film allowing the tab to be removably inserted into the slot without adhering the lid flap to the front panel of the storage compartment; andwherein the protective film is removable from the double-sided tape for taping the lid flap to the front panel of the storage compartment to tape the box closed.

2. A storage box, comprising: a storage compartment comprising a front panel;a lid connected to the storage compartment;an adhesive carried on the box for adhering the box closed;a removable engagement for removably attaching the lid to the storage compartment without utilizing the adhesive to adhere the box closed;a protective film carried by the adhesive allowing the removable engagement to repeatedly secure the lid to the storage compartment without utilizing the adhesive to adhering the box closed; andwherein the protective film is removable from the adhesive for adhering the lid flap to storage compartment to secure the box closed.

3. The storage box of claim 2, wherein the storage compartment and lid are formed from a single piece of material foldable from a flat configuration to form the storage compartment and lid.

4. The storage box of claim 3, wherein the single piece of material is cardboard.

5. The storage box of claim 2, wherein the adhesive comprises double-sided tape.

6. The storage box of claim 2, wherein: the lid comprises a lid flap;the lid flap defines a tab;the adhesive comprises double-sided tape carried on an underside of the tab;the storage compartment comprises a front panel; andthe engagement comprises a slot through the front panel for removably receiving the tab.

7. The storage box of claim 2, wherein: the lid comprises a lid flap;the storage compartment comprises a front panel; andthe engagement comprises a slot through the front panel for removably receiving the lid flap.

8. The storage box of claim 2, wherein: the lid comprises a lid flap defining a tab;the storage compartment comprises a front panel; andthe engagement comprises a slot through the front panel for removably receiving the tab.

9. The storage box of claim 2, wherein: the lid comprises a lid flap; andthe adhesive comprises double-sided tape carried on an underside of the lid flap.

10. The storage box of claim 2, wherein the adhesive comprises double-sided tape carried on a front panel of the storage compartment.