Stackable receptacle for the shipment of goods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11235903-B2
Application number	US-202016855392-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 22, 2020
Priority date	Sep 18, 2015
Publication date	Feb 1, 2022
Grant date	Feb 1, 2022

Abstract

Embodiments of a reusable stackable shipping box are provided herein. The reusable stackable shipping box may be reused and cleaned without causing harm to the integrity of the box. In addition, the box is slightly tapered in shape such that the box may be stacked upon and within other boxes for ease in shipping and organization.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A receptacle for the shipment of goods, the receptacle comprising:
a first side face having a first support slot formed therein;
a first flap attached to the first side face, the first flap comprising a second support tab formed along an edge of the first flap;
a second side face disposed opposite the first side face; and
a second flap attached to the second side face, the second flap comprising a second support slot and a first support tab,
wherein the first support tab is disposed in the first support slot and the second support tab is disposed in the second support slot.

2. The receptacle according to claim 1 , further comprising a front face attached to the first side face.

3. The receptacle according to claim 2 , further comprising a rear face attached to the first side face and the second side face.

4. The receptacle according to claim 3 , wherein the front face further comprises a front handle opening and the rear face further comprises a rear handle opening.

5. The receptacle according to claim 1 , further comprising a removable divider insertable into the receptacle to divide and interior volume of the receptacle into at least two sections.

6. A system of receptacles comprising:
a plurality of receptacles, each of the plurality of receptacles comprising:
a front face having a top edge and a bottom edge;
a rear face opposite the front face, the rear face having a top edge and a bottom edge;
a first side face; and
a second side face opposite the first side; and
a platform disposed at a location between the top edge and the bottom edge of the front and rear faces;

wherein the top edge of the front face is longer than the bottom edge of the front face and the top edge of the rear face is longer than the bottom edge of the rear face such that the receptacle tapers in a first dimension.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the taper of each of the plurality of receptacles is such that a bottom portion of a first one of the plurality of receptacles is configured to be inserted into a top portion of a second one of the plurality of receptacles.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the platform is disposed above the bottom surface, and wherein the platform and the bottom surface are spaced apart and are disposed generally parallel to each other.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein when the bottom portion of the first one of the plurality of receptacles is inserted into the top portion of the second one of the plurality of receptacles, the bottom surface of the first one of the plurality of receptacles contacts the platform of the second one of the plurality of receptacles.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein a surface area of the platform of each one of the plurality of receptacles is larger than a surface area of the bottom surface of each one of the plurality of receptacles.

11. The system of claim 6 , wherein the first side face and the second side face of each of the plurality of receptacles further comprise a top edge and a bottom edge, and wherein the top edge of the first side face and the second side face is longer than the bottom edge of the second side face of each of the plurality of receptacles.

12. The system of claim 6 , wherein the difference in the length of the top edges of the first and second side faces and the bottom edges of the first and second side faces causes the receptacle to taper in a second dimension.

13. The system of claim 6 , wherein the front face of each of the plurality of receptacles comprises a front handle, and wherein the rear face of each of the plurality of receptacles comprises a rear handle, and wherein the platform is disposed below a level of the first and second handles.

14. A system of receptacles comprising:
a plurality of receptacles, each of the plurality of receptacles comprising:
a front face having a top edge and a bottom edge;
a rear face opposite the front face, the rear face having a top edge and a bottom edge;
a first side face; and
a second side face opposite the first side; and

wherein the top edge of the front face is longer than the bottom edge of the front face and the top edge of the rear face is longer than the bottom edge of the rear face such that the receptacle tapers in a first dimension, the taper of each of the plurality of receptacles being such that a bottom portion of a first one of the plurality of receptacles is configured to be inserted into a top portion of a second one of the plurality of receptacles.

Assignees

• United States Postal Service

Inventors

• Lee Sr James Edward

Classifications

• B65D5/0245

  with end closures formed by inward folding of flaps, to form a sunken or hollow end wall, e.g. for the packaging of books (internal supporting elements B65D5/50) · CPC title

• B65D5/0281

  the tubular body presenting double or multiple walls (for thermal insulating purposes B65D81/3853) · CPC title

• B65D5/4266

  Folding lines, score lines, crease lines · CPC title

• B65D5/14

  with inset end closures · CPC title

• B65D5/10

  with end closures formed by inward-folding of self-locking flaps hinged to tubular body · CPC title