Box with foldable handle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11447286-B2
Application number	US-202117339278-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 4, 2021
Priority date	Jul 24, 2019
Publication date	Sep 20, 2022
Grant date	Sep 20, 2022

Abstract

A box can include a first side panel; a second side panel positioned perpendicular to the first side panel; a top panel joined to the first side panel; and a handle assembly, the handle assembly including a handle portion attached the top panel, the handle portion including a tab at a side end of the handle portion, and a locking panel attached to the second side panel, the locking panel defining a cut pattern, the cut pattern defining a space therewithin, the cut pattern defining a top edge and an inner flap, the top edge of the cut pattern being a fold line formed by folding the inner flap up above the top edge; and wherein the tab is received by the space.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1. A box comprising:
a first side panel;
a second side panel positioned perpendicular to the first side panel;
a top panel joined to the first side panel; and
a handle assembly, the handle assembly comprising:
a handle portion attached the top panel, the handle portion comprising a tab at a side end of the handle portion, and
a locking panel attached to the second side panel, the locking panel defining a cut pattern, the cut pattern defining a space therewithin, the cut pattern defining a top edge and an inner flap, the top edge of the cut pattern being a fold line formed by folding the inner flap up above the top edge; and

wherein the tab is received by the space.

2. The box of claim 1 , wherein a top hole intersects the fold line, and wherein the top hole forms a top notch when the inner flap is folded up above the top edge.

3. The box of claim 2 , wherein the handle portion defines a handle notch adjacent to the tab, and wherein the handle notch engages the top notch.

4. The box of claim 2 , wherein the cut pattern defines a bottom notch below the top notch.

5. The box of claim 1 , wherein the cut pattern defines a vertical edge configured to limit rotation of the handle portion relative to the locking panel when the tab is inserted into the space.

6. The box of claim 1 , wherein the handle portion defines a handle notch adjacent to the tab, and wherein the handle notch engages the inner flap when the inner flap is folded above the top edge and the tab is inserted into the space.

7. The box of claim 1 , wherein the top panel defines a securing cut configured to receive a corner of the locking panel.

8. The box of claim 1 , wherein the handle portion is configured to fold from an upright configuration to a folded-down configuration.

9. The box of claim 8 , wherein the handle portion defines a handle notch adjacent to the tab, and wherein the handle portion is configured to fold from the upright configuration to the folded-down configuration by sliding a handle notch along a sloping corner cut of the cut pattern to draw the locking panel toward the top panel.

10. The box of claim 9 , wherein the sloping corner cut intersects the top edge.

11. A method of assembling a box, comprising:
obtaining a box blank, the box blank comprising:
a first side panel and a second side panel;
a top panel joined to the first side panel;
a handle portion attached to the top panel, the handle portion comprising a tab at a side end of the handle portion;
a locking panel attached to the second side panel, the locking panel defining a cut pattern, the cut pattern defining a space therewithin;

folding an inner flap defined by the cut pattern up above a fold line to form a top edge of the cut pattern; and
inserting the tab of the handle portion into the space of the cut pattern of the locking panel.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising engaging a handle notch of the handle portion with a top notch, the handle notch defined by the handle portion adjacent to the tab, the top notch intersecting the top edge.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein folding the inner flap defined by the cut pattern up above the fold line to form a top edge of the cut pattern comprises folding a top hole to define a top notch in the top edge, the top hole intersecting the fold line.

14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising drawing the locking panel toward the top panel by sliding a handle notch along a sloping corner cut of the cut pattern, the handle notch defined by the handle portion adjacent to the tab, the sloping corner cut intersecting the top edge.

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising inserting a top corner of the locking panel into a securing cut of the top panel.

16. The method of claim 11 , further comprising folding the handle portion from an upright configuration to a folded-down configuration.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the handle portion contacts a vertical edge of the cut pattern in the upright configuration.

18. A blank for a box comprising:
a first side panel and a second side panel;
a top panel joined to the first side panel;
a handle portion attached to the top panel, the handle portion comprising a tab at a side end of the handle portion; and
a locking panel attached to the second side panel, the locking panel defining a cut pattern, the cut pattern defining:
a space therewithin; and
a top edge defined by a top fold line, the top fold line coupling a foldable flap to the locking panel, the foldable flap positioned within the space when the foldable flap is in an unfolded configuration, the foldable flap configured to fold upwards from the unfolded configuration to a folded configuration wherein the foldable flap is positioned above the top edge.

19. The blank of claim 18 , wherein a top hole intersects the top fold line, and wherein the top hole forms a top notch when the foldable flap is in the folded configuration.

20. The blank of claim 19 , wherein the cut pattern further defines a bottom notch positioned below the top notch.

Assignees

• Pratt Corrugated Holdings Inc

Inventors

• Sollie Greg
• Waltermire Jamie
• Chen Shifeng

Classifications

• B65D5/46112 Primary

  either the handle elements being formed with lugs which engage with the other side walls or closure flaps, or the other closure flaps folding over a part of the handle to maintain the handle in position · CPC title

• B65D5/3678

  collapsed along median lines of two opposite sides and the central panel · CPC title

• B65D5/241

  and the gussets folds connected to the inside of the container body (B65D5/247 and B65D5/248 take precedence) · CPC title

• B65D5/4266

  Folding lines, score lines, crease lines · CPC title

• B65D2525/288

  by pivoting action · CPC title