Perforated collapsible box

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11618608-B2
Application number	US-202117493449-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 4, 2021
Priority date	Nov 26, 2019
Publication date	Apr 4, 2023
Grant date	Apr 4, 2023

Abstract

A collapsible box can include a top panel; a front panel hingedly attached to the top panel; a first side panel hingedly attached to the top panel and the front panel; a second side panel hingedly attached to the top panel and the front panel; a rear panel hingedly attached to the top panel, the first side panel, and the second side panel; and a bottom panel hingedly attached to the front panel, the rear panel, the first side panel, and the second side panel; and wherein the front panel defines a frame portion and a lower flap portion connected together by a front line of weakness; wherein the frame portion is coupled to the first side panel, the second side panel, and the bottom panel; and wherein the lower flap portion is coupled to the top panel.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1. A collapsible box defining an inner cavity and comprising:
a top panel;
a front panel hingedly attached to the top panel;
a first side panel hingedly attached to the top panel and the front panel;
a second side panel hingedly attached to the top panel and the front panel;
a rear panel hingedly attached to the top panel, the first side panel, and the second side panel;
a bottom panel hingedly attached to the front panel, the rear panel, the first side panel, and the second side panel; and
an access flap configured to provide access to the inner cavity through the front panel and the top panel when the access flap is folded back about a top hinge defined by the top panel; wherein:
the front panel defines a frame portion and a lower flap portion connected together by a front line of weakness;
the frame portion is coupled to the first side panel, the second side panel, and the bottom panel; and
the lower flap portion is coupled to the top panel.

2. The collapsible box of claim 1 , wherein:
the top panel comprises a first top subpanel secured to a second top subpanel by a top tape strip;
the first top subpanel is hingedly attached to the top panel by a front hinge;
the first top subpanel defines the top hinge between the top tape strip and the front hinge;
a portion of the first top subpanel positioned between the front hinge and the top hinge defines an upper flap portion; and
the upper flap portion and the lower flap portion together define the access flap of the collapsible box.

3. The collapsible box of claim 1 , wherein the rear panel is configured to fold from a planar shape to a truncated pyramidal shape when the collapsible box is collapsed.

4. The collapsible box of claim 3 , wherein the rear panel defines a plurality of V-shaped fold lines.

5. The collapsible box of claim 1 , wherein a lateral hinge is defined extending at least partially across the front panel, the first side panel, the second side panel, and the rear panel, and wherein the lateral hinge is configured to collapse the collapsible box when a user presses inwards on the first side panel and the second side panel along the lateral hinge.

6. The collapsible box of claim 5 , wherein:
the top panel comprises a first top subpanel coupled to a second top subpanel;
the lower flap portion is coupled to the first top subpanel by a front hinge;
the first top subpanel defines the top hinge between the front hinge and the second top subpanel;
a portion of the first top subpanel positioned between the top hinge and the front hinge defines an upper flap portion; and
the access flap of the collapsible box comprises the upper flap portion and the lower flap portion.

7. The collapsible box of claim 1 , wherein the front line of weakness is at least partially defined by a plurality of perforations.

8. A blank comprising:
a front panel defining a lower flap portion and a frame portion coupled together by a front line of weakness;
a first top subpanel coupled to the lower flap portion by a front hinge;
a second top subpanel that tapers away from the first top subpanel;
a side panel coupled to the second top subpanel and defining a first side and a second side opposite from the first side, the first side coupled to the frame portion by a first side hinge; and
a rear panel coupled to the second side by a second side hinge, the second side hinge being parallel to the first side hinge and perpendicular to the front hinge;
wherein:
a lateral hinge extends at least partially across the front panel, the side panel, and the rear panel; and
the lateral hinge is parallel to the front hinge.

9. The blank of claim 8 wherein:
the lateral hinge is a first lateral hinge;
a second lateral hinge extends at least partially across the front panel, the side panel, and the rear panel; and
the second lateral hinge is parallel to the first lateral hinge.

10. The blank of claim 8 wherein:
a first bottom subpanel is hingedly coupled to the frame portion by a bottom hinge; and
the lateral hinge extends across the frame portion between the front hinge and the bottom hinge.

11. The blank of claim 8 wherein the lateral hinge is a linear hinge.

12. The blank of claim 8 wherein the rear panel is configured to fold from a planar shape to a truncated pyramidal shape.

13. The blank of claim 12 wherein the rear panel defines a plurality of V-shaped fold lines, and wherein the plurality of V-shaped fold lines intersect the lateral hinge.

14. The blank of claim 8 wherein the lateral hinge extends across the frame portion.

15. The blank of claim 8 wherein the front line of weakness is at least partially defined by a plurality of perforations.

16. The blank of claim 8 wherein one of the first top subpanel and the second top subpanel defines a top hinge.

17. A blank comprising:
a front panel defining a lower flap portion and a frame portion coupled together by a front line of weakness;
a top subpanel coupled to the lower flap portion by a front hinge;
a side panel coupled to the frame portion; and
a rear panel coupled to the side panel;
wherein a first lateral hinge and a second lateral hinge both extend at least partially across the front panel, the side panel, and the rear panel, and the first lateral hinge is parallel to the second lateral hinge;
wherein the rear panel:
defines a plurality of V-shaped fold lines configured to fold from a planar shape to a truncated pyramidal shape; and
the plurality of V-shaped fold lines of the rear panel intersect at least one of the first lateral hinge and the second lateral hinge.

18. The blank of claim 17 , wherein the front line of weakness defined on the front panel further comprises a plurality of perforations.

19. The blank of claim 17 , wherein at least one of the first lateral hinge and the second lateral hinge extends entirely across the frame portion.

20. The blank of claim 17 , wherein:
the blank is constructed from corrugated cardboard;
the first lateral hinge and the second lateral hinge are creased; and
the front line of weakness is perforated.

21. A collapsible box and comprising:
a top panel;
a front panel hingedly attached to the top panel;
a first side panel hingedly attached to the top panel and the front panel;
a second side panel hingedly attached to the top panel and the front panel;
a rear panel hingedly attached to the top panel, the first side panel, and the second side panel, the rear panel being configured to fold from a planar shape to a truncated pyramidal shape when the collapsible box is collapsed; and
a bottom panel hingedly attached to the front panel, the rear panel, the first side panel, and the second side panel; wherein:
the front panel defines a frame portion and a lower flap portion connected together by a front line of weakness;
the rear panel defines a plurality of V-shaped fold lines;
the frame portion is coupled to the first side panel, the second side panel, and the bottom panel; and
the lower flap portion is coupled to the top panel.

22. A collapsible box and comprising:
a top panel comprising a first top subpanel coupled to a second top subpanel;
a front panel hingedly attached to the top panel;
a first side panel hingedly attached to the top panel and the front panel;
a second side panel hingedly attached to the top panel and the front panel;
a rear panel hingedly attached to the top panel, the first side panel, and the second side panel; and
a

Assignees

• Pratt Corrugated Holdings Inc

Inventors

• Sollie Greg
• Chen Shifeng

Classifications

• B65D5/3614 Primary

  to form a tubular body, at least one of the ends of the body remaining connected · CPC title

• B65D5/544 Primary

  and defining after rupture a lid hinged about a line located in the top surface of the container · CPC title

• B65D5/5415

  the lines of weakness being provided in one or more closure flaps and in the container body so as to form after rupture a lid hinged to a side edge of the container body · CPC title

• B65D5/4266

  Folding lines, score lines, crease lines · CPC title