Collapsible reusable box

Abstract

A collapsible reusable box made of corrugated material with an automatically lockable bottom includes a bottom side flap, which is substantially equal in width to the width of the end walls of the box, and which has a projection on the free end thereof for extension into a slot at the bottom of the opposite side of the box to maintain the shape of the box during initial erection and filling of the box.

Description

BACKGROUND [0001] Collapsible corrugated boxes made of paperboard and corrugated plastic currently are extensively used. One form of such boxes is known as an auto-bottom box; and it is constructed by means of hinged-together bottom panels, with diagonal hinges interconnecting bottom panels from the ends of the box with bottom panels folded from the sides of the box to automatically form a strong bottom for the box when it is opened or set up. Auto-bottom boxes are particularly useful for packing and shipping goods at a central distribution warehouse for shipment to end users in the form of retail outlets and the like. After the box is unpacked at the end user, it is collapsed back to a flat configuration and shipped back to the original warehouse distribution center, whereupon it once again may be filled and returned to the end user. [0002] Auto-bottom boxes, or other types of reusable boxes, cause substantial savings in the cost of materials to be realized by the business or other...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] It is an additional object of this invention to provide an improved collapsible reusable box made of corrugated material which maintains its desired shape immediately upon set-up, without collapsing on itself.

[0010] It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved collapsible reusable box made of corrugated material which employs a locking tab end and mating slot on the bottom of the box to facilitate set-up of the box.

Problems solved by technology

Corrugated plastic boxes, however, have some disadvantages when this material is employed in auto-bottom boxes, inasmuch as the plastic has a greater memory retention or stiffness compared with corrugated paperboard.

Even so, boxes manufactured in accordance with the disclosure of this patent tend to skew toward their flattened condition when they are opened up.

This problem is exacerbated as the thickness and ply of the corrugated plastic increases, even though double score lines and / or perforated score lines are employed in an effort to reduce the memory of the plastic material.

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