Dual use box

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12351371-B2
Application number	US-202418899848-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 27, 2024
Priority date	Mar 13, 2020
Publication date	Jul 8, 2025
Grant date	Jul 8, 2025

Abstract

A dual use box includes a side panel enclosure defining a top end and a bottom end; a first primary top panel extending from the top end of the side panel enclosure and defining a primary overlapping portion and a primary delivery address label; and a second primary top panel extending from the top end of the side panel enclosure and defining a primary underlying portion; wherein: the dual use box is configurable in a primary closed configuration and a secondary closed configuration; in the primary closed configuration, the primary overlapping portion overlays the primary underlying portion, such that the primary delivery address label is visible; and in the secondary closed configuration, the primary underlying portion overlays the primary overlapping portion, such that at least a portion of the primary delivery address label is hidden by the primary underlying portion.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1. A dual use box comprising:
a side panel enclosure defining a top end and a bottom end;
a first primary top panel extending from the top end of the side panel enclosure and defining a primary overlapping portion and a primary delivery address label;
a second primary top panel extending from the top end of the side panel enclosure and defining a primary underlying portion;
a first secondary top panel extending from the top end of the side panel enclosure and defining a secondary overlapping portion and a secondary delivery address label; and
a second secondary top panel extending from the top end of the side panel enclosure and defining a secondary underlying portion;
wherein:
the dual use box is configurable in a primary closed configuration and a secondary closed configuration;
in the primary closed configuration, the primary overlapping portion overlays the primary underlying portion, such that the primary delivery address label is visible;
in the secondary closed configuration, the primary underlying portion overlays the primary overlapping portion, such that at least a portion of the primary delivery address label is hidden by the primary underlying portion;
in the secondary closed configuration, the secondary overlapping portion overlays the secondary underlying portion, such that the secondary delivery address label is visible; and
the first primary top panel comprises a primary adhesive, the primary adhesive configured to attach the first primary top panel to the second primary top panel in the primary closed configuration.

2. The dual use box of claim 1 , wherein the first secondary top panel comprises a secondary adhesive, the secondary adhesive configured to attach the first secondary top panel to the second secondary top panel in the secondary closed configuration.

3. The dual use box of claim 2 , further comprising a primary peelable backing removably covering the primary adhesive and a secondary peelable backing removably covering the secondary adhesive.

4. The dual use box of claim 1 , wherein the first primary top panel further comprises a primary return address label, and wherein the first secondary top panel further comprises a secondary return address label.

5. The dual use box of claim 1 , wherein
the first primary top panel defines an inner primary top panel flap and an outer primary top panel flap connected to the inner primary top panel flap by a primary tear strip; and
the primary overlapping portion defines the outer primary top panel flap.

6. The dual use box of claim 5 , wherein the outer primary top panel flap comprises the primary adhesive, and wherein the inner primary top panel flap comprises the primary delivery address label.

7. The dual use box of claim 1 , further comprising indicia indicating that the dual use box can be used in the secondary closed configuration after using the dual use box in the primary closed configuration.

8. The dual use box of claim 7 , wherein:
the indicia is formed on the primary underlying portion of the second primary top panel; and
the indicia is not visible in the primary closed configuration.

9. A dual use box comprising:
a side panel enclosure defining a top end and a bottom end, the side panel enclosure comprising a first side panel, a second side panel, a third side panel, and a fourth side panel;
a first primary top panel extending from the first side panel at the top end of the side panel enclosure and comprising a primary address label;
a second primary top panel extending from the third side panel at the top end of the side panel enclosure;
a first secondary top panel extending from the second side panel at the top end of the side panel enclosure and comprising a secondary address label;
a second secondary top panel extending from the fourth side panel at the top end of the side panel enclosure; and
a plurality of bottom panels extending from the bottom end of the side panel enclosure;
wherein, in a folded configuration of the dual use box:
the first side panel is folded to confront the fourth side panel and the second side panel is folded to confront the third side panel;
the first primary top panel and the first secondary top panel face outward such that the primary address label and the secondary address label are visible;
the first primary top panel confronts the second secondary top panel, and the first secondary top panel confronts the second primary top panel; and
the plurality of bottom panels are folded to lie against the side panel enclosure.

10. The dual use box of claim 9 , wherein:
the plurality of bottom panels comprise a first bottom panel extending from the first side panel, a second bottom panel extending from the second side panel, a third bottom panel extending from the third side panel, and a fourth bottom panel extending from the fourth side panel; and
in the folded configuration:
the first bottom panel is folded to lie against the first side panel;
the second bottom panel is folded to lie against the second side panel;
the third bottom panel is folded to lie against the third side panel; and
the fourth bottom panel is folded to lie against the fourth side panel.

11. The dual use box of claim 10 , wherein, in the folded configuration:
the first bottom panel and the fourth bottom panel are disposed between the first side panel and the fourth side panel; and
the second bottom panel and the third bottom panel are disposed between the second side panel and the third side panel.

12. The dual use box of claim 9 , wherein the first primary top panel further comprises a primary return address label, and wherein the first secondary top panel further comprises a secondary return address label.

13. The dual use box of claim 12 , wherein:
the first primary top panel comprises a primary adhesive configured to attach the first primary top panel to the second primary top panel in a primary closed configuration; and
the first secondary top panel comprises a secondary adhesive configured to attach the first secondary top panel to the second secondary top panel in a secondary closed configuration.

14. The dual use box of claim 13 , wherein:
the first primary top panel defines an inner primary top panel flap and an outer primary top panel flap connected to the inner primary top panel flap by a primary tear strip; and
the first secondary top panel defines an inner secondary top panel flap and an outer secondary top panel flap connected to the inner secondary top panel flap by a secondary tear strip.

15. The dual use box of claim 14 , wherein:
the primary adhesive is disposed on the outer primary top panel flap;
the secondary adhesive is disposed on the outer secondary top panel flap;
the primary address label is disposed on the inner primary top panel flap; and
the secondary address label is disposed on the inner secondary top panel flap.

16. A dual use box comprising:
a side panel enclosure defining a top end and a bottom end, the side panel enclosure comprising a first side panel, a second side panel, a third side panel, and a fourth side panel;
a first primary top panel extending from the first side panel at the top end of the side panel enclosure and comprising a primary address label;
a second primary top panel extending from the third side panel at the top end of the side panel enclosure;
a first secondary top panel extending from the second side panel at the top end of the side panel enclosure and comprising a secondary address label; and
a second secondary top panel extending from the fourth side panel at the top end

Assignees

• Pratt Corrugated Holdings Inc

Inventors

• Walters Travis
• Ball Randy
• Conrad Hannah
• Sollie Greg
• Chen Shifeng

Classifications

• B65D2401/10

  Tearable part of the container (B65D2401/60 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65D77/32

  Tearing-strings or like flexible elements · CPC title

• B65D5/0227

  with end closures formed by inward folding of flaps and securing them by heat-sealing, by applying adhesive to the flaps or by staples · CPC title

• B65D5/3621

  collapsed along two fold lines of the tubular body · CPC title

• B65D5/4216

  Cards, coupons or the like formed integrally with, or printed directly on, the container or lid · CPC title