Foldable Box

Abstract

A foldable box is provided that allows the box to be easily folded into a flat configuration having a profile the same size as the sides of the box. The box includes two main exterior panels, two side panels each having a vertical crease, a lower bottom panel having a horizontal crease and a notch adjacent to the side panels, a bottom flap attached to the lower ends of the side panels, and an upper bottom panel affixed to the lower edges of the main exterior panels and folded over the lower bottom panel and bottom flap to provide structural rigidity. The box can be easily folded by erecting the upper bottom panel and bottom flap and pressing the creases of the side panels and lower bottom panel inward. The box can optionally be formed from a single blank of cardboard or similar material and can optionally include a handle or a lid.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is related to and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 361,594, filed January 10, 2022, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. [Technical field]

[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to foldable or collapsible boxes, and more particularly to boxes that can be folded to a size equal to or smaller than the size of one panel of the box, and that can be easily reopened to a rigid pre-assembled state. [Background technology]

[0003] Boxes are ubiquitous and are used for many purposes, including storage, shipping, and packaging consumer goods. Due to their many uses, boxes come in many sizes and shapes. The most common type of box has rectangular sides with no wasted volume between them, making them easily stackable. Boxes also come in many sizes, ranging from small ones suitable for small jewelry to large ones suitable for refrigerators or larger items.

[0004] Many boxes, such as moving boxes, are sold flat and must be unfolded and assembled, often with tape, however, the box must be disassembled (e.g., by removing the tape) in order to store it flat in a less bulky configuration.

[0005] Furthermore, single-use plastic bags have a negative impact on the environment, and efforts are currently being made to reduce their use. One solution to this waste generation is the introduction of "reusable tote bags", which are usually made of cloth or soft plastic. While these reusable bags result in less waste, they provide little structural support to the items placed inside and can be unstable when placed on a surface compared to a hard-sided box.

[0006] Some boxes are designed to be folded flat when not in use without disassembling from an assembled state. One such box is presented in US Pat. No. 5,399,343, which shows a box that can be folded into a flat configuration and then folded back to form a box when desired. However, when folded flat, the box has outwardly protruding sides, resulting in a large profile that is difficult to transport and takes up space when stored. Boxes with large folded profiles (which may even include handles for use as a tote) are less desirable because they are bulky to carry when folded. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent No. 3,565,325 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] It is therefore desirable to provide a storage box or box-like tote that can be easily folded into a flat configuration having a small profile and can also be easily unfolded back into a box shape suitable for transporting or storing items.

[0009] [Summary of Exemplary Embodiments of the Disclosure] An embodiment of the present disclosure can provide a foldable box that is easily folded into a flat configuration with a profile that is the same size as the sides of the box, the box including two main exterior panels, two side pieces formed from two side panels with a vertical crease between each of the side pieces, a lower base panel with a horizontal crease and a notch adjacent to the side panels, a bottom flap attached to the bottom edges of the side panels, and an upper base panel affixed to the bottom edges of the main exterior panels and folded over the lower base panel and bottom flap to provide structural rigidity.

[0010] The box can be easily folded by standing up the top panel and bottom flap and pressing the creases between the side pieces and the bottom panel inwards. The vertical creases between the side panels extend inwards during the folding process and into the cutouts when the bottom panel is folded upwards. The result is a flat box with a profile comparable in size to the main exterior panels.

[0011] The flattened box can be opened by first pulling the main exterior panels apart so that the side pieces and lower bottom panel are substantially flat. The bottom flap can then be folded down onto the lower bottom panel, covering some or all of the side cutouts of the lower bottom panel. The upper bottom panel can then be folded over the bottom flap and the lower bottom panel so that the upper bottom panel fills the entire lower part of the box. The bottom flap not only facilitates sealing the bottom of the assembled box structure along the sides of the box, but also provides additional support to the bottom of the box.

[0012] The box may optionally be formed from a single blank of corrugated board or similar material and may optionally include a handle or lid. Flaps may be provided on the edges of the bottom flap and on either the side edges of the exterior or side panels, and these flaps may be attached to adjacent panels to form the box structure to facilitate assembly. The flaps may be attached to the panels using, for example, tape, glue, staples, an adhesive coating on the exterior of the flaps, etc.

[0013] Foldable boxes according to the present disclosure can be formed from a variety of sheet materials, such as, for example, cardboard, corrugated cardboard, poster board, plastic sheeting, etc. The material used to make the box can be any material provided in a thin sheet form that is substantially rigid but capable of holding creases between adjacent panels that can be repeatedly folded and unfolded.

[0014] In a further embodiment, a blank (e.g., a pre-cut or printed sheet) made from cardboard or similar material can be provided, the blank designed with portions configured to be assembled into a foldable box as described herein.

[0015] In some embodiments, an optional handle arrangement can be attached to the top edge of each exterior panel. The handle can include multiple folded layers to provide additional thickness for strength and comfort. In further embodiments, other handle configurations can be provided, such as a notch near the top of the side of the box. In yet other embodiments, the foldable box can have no handles.

[0016] In other embodiments, the box can be provided with a lid. Such a lid can be attached by a fold to the top edge of the exterior panel and can have edges on the other three sides, and the lid can be folded back over the top opening. In further embodiments, the box can be provided with a separate lid. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0017] Further objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings illustrating exemplary embodiments, results and / or features of exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 1] 1A-1C show the components of a foldable box shown as an exemplary single piece cut-out pattern, including an optional handle. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the collapsible box in a partially folded configuration. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the collapsible box in a fully open configuration with an optional handle for use as a tote. [Figure 4] 1 is a bottom perspective view showing the folding procedure of the foldable box. FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the collapsible box in a folded configuration with the optional handle folded inside the flat box. [Figure 6] 1A-1C are diagrams of exemplary reinforced handle arrangements that may be used on the foldable box.

[0018] The present disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings, which are made in connection with exemplary embodiments and are not limited to the specific embodiments shown in the drawings. Changes and modifications may be made to the described embodiments without departing from the true scope and spirit of the present disclosure, as defined by the appended claims. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present disclosure can provide a rigid storage box or box-like tote that can be easily folded into a flat configuration with a small profile and easily unfolded back into a box configuration suitable for transporting or storing items. An illustration of such width components according to embodiments of the present disclosure is shown in FIG. 1. In this illustration, the box is unfolded into any unassembled, single blank configuration that can be easily assembled to form a foldable box structure. In other embodiments, the box may be provided in other pre-assembled configurations, as described in more detail herein, or may be provided in two or more separate pieces prior to assembly.

[0020] Foldable boxes according to the present disclosure can be formed from a variety of sheet materials, including, but not limited to, cardboard, corrugated board, poster board, plastic sheets, and the like. Paper-based materials such as corrugated board can be used for general purpose applications, but plastic sheet panels may be desirable to form foldable boxes that are more resistant to water and the environment. The material used to make the box can be any material provided in the form of a thin sheet that is substantially rigid but capable of retaining flexible creases between adjacent panels that allow for repeated folding and unfolding.

[0021] The foldable box includes two exterior panels 100 (e.g., front and back panels) having substantially the same size and substantially rectangular shape, and two side pieces, also substantially rectangular shape, each side piece being formed by two side panels 150 and having a vertical crease or fold 175 therebetween. The foldable box further includes an upper base panel 300 attached to the lower edge of the exterior panel 100 by a crease (solid line), and a lower base including two lower base panels 200 and having a horizontal crease 225 therebetween. The lower base includes a bottom cutout 250 formed at both ends of the lower base adjacent to the side panels 150. The exterior panels 100, the side panels 150, and the upper base panel 300 are preferably substantially rectangular in shape, and the width of the exterior panel 100 is greater than the width of each side piece (i.e., the width of the two side panels 150).

[0022] The bottom flaps 350 are attached to the lower edge of each side panel 150 by the fold lines between these components, as shown in FIG. 1. The width of each bottom flap is substantially the same as the width of the adjacent side panel 150, as shown in FIG. 1, and the end of the bottom flap 350 away from the side panel 150 can optionally be somewhat narrower, e.g., have a curved outer contour, as described in more detail below. The length of each bottom flap 350 is preferably less than half the width of the exterior panel 100, but longer than the height of the side cutout 250, i.e., longer than the distance between the end of the exterior panel 100 and the nearest end of the fold line 225 separating the two lower bottom panels 200. These size criteria are explained in more detail below in the description of the assembly / folding of the box structure.

[0023] An optional handle arrangement 400 may be attached to the top edge of each exterior panel 100. Details of such handle arrangement 400, as well as other handle and lid options, are described in further detail below.

[0024] In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, two optional assembly flaps 600, 650 are provided to facilitate assembly of the box from the single blank shown in FIG. 1. A partially folded top perspective view of the assembled box is shown in FIG. 2. To assemble the box, a right angle crease is made between the exterior panel 100 and the adjacent side panel 150. The assembly flap 650 is then creased and adhered to the cut edge of the side panel 150 (e.g., the left edge in FIG. 1) as shown in FIG. 2. In yet another embodiment, the assembly flap 650 can be provided along the leftmost side edge of the side panel 150 in FIG. 1 and folded over and adhered to the rightmost edge of the exterior panel 100 during assembly.

[0025] The lower bottom panel 200 is laid flat along the bottom of the box structure beneath the upper bottom panel 300, and the assembly flap 600 is glued to the bottom edge of the exterior panel 100 where it meets the lower bottom panel 200. In FIG. 4, it can be seen that the end of the assembly flap 600 is glued to the bottom of the exterior panel 100. In a further embodiment, the assembly flap 600 can be folded over the top of the lower bottom panel 200 and the top of the assembly flap 600 can be glued to the bottom of the upper bottom panel 300, such that the fold between the assembly flap 600 and the lower bottom panel 200 is aligned along the fold between the exterior panel 100 and the upper bottom panel 300.

[0026] The assembly flaps 600, 650 may be attached to the edges of adjacent panels using conventional adhesive techniques, such as, for example, glue, tape or staples. The assembly flaps 600, 650 may also be provided with an adhesive on at least a portion of their surface and, if desired, covered with removable plastic strips so that the box can be more easily assembled by simply removing the plastic strips and adhering the assembly flaps 600, 650 to the appropriate adjacent panels.

[0027] As shown in Fig. 2, an assembled foldable box according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes two exterior panels 100 having attached at their lateral ends two side pieces at the folds of the box material, each side piece being formed from two side panels 150 arranged in a generally rectangular shape with a vertical fold in the middle. The bottom of the lower box is formed from two lower bottom panels 200 having a horizontal bottom fold 225 between them and attached to the bottom edges of the two exterior panels 100 by flexible folds. Each lower bottom panel 200 has approximately the same width as each side panel 150, such that when the folds (e.g., sides of the box) between each pair of side panels 150 are flat, the lower bottom of the box extends flat between the exterior panels 100. The bottom flaps 350 are connected to the bottom edges of each of the four side panels 150 by folds, and the bottom flaps 350 are partially disposed over the lower bottom panel 300, at least partially covering the bottom cutouts 250. Finally, the upper bottom panel 300 is affixed to the bottom edge of one exterior panel 100 by a flexible fold and is disposed over both the bottom flaps 350 and the lower bottom panel 200. The upper bottom panel 300 is preferably sized to fill substantially the entire rectangular opening formed by the exterior panels 100 and the side panels 150 when the angle between each exterior panel 100 and the adjacent side panel 150 is approximately 90 degrees and the fold between each adjacent pair of side panels 150 is substantially flat. In FIG. 2, the optional handle arrangement 400 is shown folded downward along the exterior of the exterior panels 100 to better illustrate the interior structure of the partially folded box.

[0028] In FIG. 2, the upper bottom panel 300 is shown folded upward toward the adjacent exterior panel 100. To complete the assembly of the collapsible box, the upper bottom panel 300 is folded to a horizontal position, thereby placing it over the bottom flap 350 and the lower bottom panel 200, as shown in the perspective view of FIG. 3. This final assembly step adds structural rigidity to the box assembly. For example, the edges of the upper bottom panel 300 are pressed against the bottom edges of the side panels 150, straightening both the side folds 175 and the bottom folds 225, thereby maintaining flat sides and a supported flat bottom for the assembled box. The upper bottom panel 300 also provides a uniform foundation for the interior of the assembled box, without openings or cracks through which small items may fall. The bottom flap 350 also helps fill any gaps that exist between the upper bottom panel 300 and the side panels 150 when the box is assembled and expanded.

[0029] The bottom flaps 350 also facilitate sealing the bottom of the assembled box structure. The bottom flaps 350 are attached to the bottom edges of the side panels 150, thus covering any gaps that may exist between the upper and side panels 300 and 150. These bottom flaps 350 are disposed between the lower and upper bottom panels 200 and 300, providing additional support to the bottom of the box structure and reducing the possibility of the bottom of the box tearing, warping, or collapsing when a heavy object is placed inside. As previously mentioned, the length of the bottom flaps 350 is preferably greater than the width of the bottom cutout 250, so that when assembled, the bottom flaps 350 rest partially on the lower bottom panel 200 and cover some or all of the opening of the bottom cutout 250.

[0030] The bottom flap 350 is preferably shorter than half the width of the exterior panel 100 so that it does not overlap the bottom flap 350 on the opposite side of the box when the box is folded, as shown in Figure 2. Such an overlap does not impair the functionality of the foldable box, but it may result in extra thickness where the opposite bottom flaps 350 meet in the middle, resulting in an uneven bottom surface. Additionally, the length of the bottom flap is preferably shorter than the height of the side panel 150, so that the bottom flap does not protrude above the top edge of the side panel 150 when folded upward in the folded state.

[0031] The bottom flap 350 shown in Figures 1 and 2 has a curved edge at the end adjacent to the exterior panel 100, away from the side panel 150. Such a curved contour can reduce friction against the exterior panel 100 when the bottom flap 350 is folded up and down to fold and unfold the box structure, respectively. In further embodiments, the bottom flap 350 can be rectangular in shape or other shapes as desired, so long as it substantially covers the bottom cutout 250 and partially overlaps the lower bottom panel 200 when folded down. The central edge of the bottom flap 350 is preferably formed straight to align with the adjacent bottom flap 350 when folded, thereby covering the bottom cutout 250 and forming a fully covered bottom layer under the upper bottom panel 300. However, such complete bottom coverage under the upper bottom panel is not essential to the functionality of the foldable box, and in further embodiments the bottom flap 350 may be provided in other shapes and contours. The essential structural features of the bottom flap 350 are that it is connected to the lower edge of the side panel 150 over substantially its entire width so as to avoid an opening in the bottom of the box, and that it is disposed over at least a portion of the lower bottom flap 200 so as not to fall out of the bottom of the box in the assembled state.

[0032] 3 shows a fully assembled box structure according to a particular embodiment of the present disclosure, including an optional handle arrangement 400. This embodiment provides a rigid box structure in which the top bottom panel helps maintain the rigid rectangular shape of the box, whereby each of the pair of side panels 150 forms a substantially flat side with a flat side fold 175 therebetween. The optional handle arrangement 400 is attached along the entire top edge of the exterior panel 100, providing stability and strength when carrying items inside the box.

[0033] To fold the assembled box, first, the upper bottom panel 300 is folded upward against the adjacent exterior panel 100, as shown in Figure 2. Next, the four bottom flaps 350 are folded upward into perpendicular position against the adjacent side panels 150. Finally, the side folds 175 and bottom folds 225 are simultaneously pressed inward (as indicated by the hollow arrows) to bring the exterior panels 100 closer together while folding the side panels 150 and lower bottom panel 200 therebetween, as shown in the bottom perspective view of Figure 4.

[0034] 5 shows the box folded, but for clarity, it is not pressed completely flat in this view. The optional handle arrangement 400 is shown folded inwardly between the exterior panels 100. In this configuration, the folded box presents a flat profile no larger than the size of the exterior panels 100, which is advantageous for carrying and storing the box in the folded state.

[0035] To open the box from this folded state, the exterior panels 100 are pulled away from each other to form an open rectangular configuration, straightening both the lower base panel 200 and the pair of adjacent side panels 150. Next, the bottom flap 350 is folded downwardly against the top surface of the lower base panel 200. Finally, the upper base panel 300 is folded downwardly against the bottom flap 350 and the lower base panel 200 to provide structural rigidity and a continuous bottom surface inside the box.

[0036] FIG. 6 is a detailed view of an optional handle arrangement 400 that can be used with embodiments of the present disclosure. Such a handle arrangement allows the foldable box embodiments described herein to be used as a convenient tote box for carrying items placed therein. The handle arrangement 400 further includes two handle panels 450, 500, each having a central cutout, and two grip panels 550 attached to the handle panels 450, 500 by folds and separated by a handle fold 575. This configuration is shown in a flattened form in FIG. 1. The components of the handle arrangement 400 can be folded along the folds as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 6 to provide a flat, thick handle, for example, as shown in FIG. 3.

[0037] The exemplary handle arrangement 400 offers certain advantages over other types of handles, such as handles that have only a single handle panel 450 with a cutout, or handles that have two handle panels 450, 500 with cutouts but no grip panel 550 between them. For example, the grip panel 550 adds additional strength to the top of the handle above the cutout to help reduce the risk of the handle material tearing or breaking when carrying heavy items inside the box.

[0038] Additionally, the folded grip panel 550 adds some thickness to the top of the handle arrangement that would be held by fingers inserted through the cutouts, thereby providing a more comfortable grip for a user carrying the foldable tote box. Also, the width of the grip panel 550 can be selected such that when the handle is folded, the handle crease 575 between the grip panels 550 extends slightly above the cutout area of ​​the handle arrangement 400, for example, as shown in FIG. 3. In this way, the user's hand will contact the handle crease 575 when gripping the handle, rather than the raw top edge of the cutout. The top edge of the cutout will support the full weight of the box and its contents when the box is carried by the handle arrangement 400. Thus, having this smooth handle crease 575 in contact with the hand (as well as the additional thickness provided by the grip panel 550) improves both the comfort and strength of the handle arrangement 400.

[0039] The exemplary embodiment described herein includes a handle arrangement 400 attached to the exterior panel 100. In further embodiments, a foldable box can be provided without such a handle arrangement 400, with the top edge of the exterior panel 100 simply being a cut edge. Such a handle-less box may be preferred for certain storage and packaging applications of the box. In yet other embodiments, other types of box handles known in the art can be attached to or formed as part of the foldable box described herein. For example, a simple rectangular or oval cutout can be provided near the top edge of the side of the box to make it easier to grip and carry the box. Other types of handle arrangements, such as rope material, molded plastic grips, and the like, that can be attached to the body of the foldable box can also be attached or formed as part of the foldable box configuration described herein.

[0040] In other embodiments, the collapsible box may be provided with a lid or cover. For example, a conventional separate lid may be provided that fits snugly over the box. The lid may be formed of the same material as the collapsible box or a different material. Such removable box lids typically include a rectangular exterior with short vertical edges and may be sized to fit snugly over the top edge of the collapsible box, which may be desirable, for example, when the collapsible box is used to transport or store items.

[0041] In yet another embodiment, one of the handle arrangements 400 of the blank shown in FIG. 1 can be omitted and a second handle arrangement can be replaced by a rectangular lid assembly attached by creases to the top edge of the exterior panel 100. This rectangular lid (not shown) may have a border panel on the three free edges of the lid and attached thereto by creases with suitable tabs, said borders being able to be folded and locked together to form a cover for the box. This type of lid is attached by a border along one side of the top of the box, which borders are on the remaining three sides of the lid and which fit over the top edge of the box when the lid is folded back. Such attached lids are known in the art, for example in certain cardboard "banker's boxes", and are convenient when collapsible boxes are used to store items within the box.

[0042] The foregoing merely illustrates the principles of the present disclosure. In light of the teachings herein, various modifications and changes to the described embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art can devise numerous techniques that, although not explicitly described herein, embody the principles of the present disclosure and are therefore within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A foldable box, Front and rear panels, a first side piece joined to a left end of the front panel and a left end of the rear panel by flexible folds; a second side piece joined to the right end of the front panel and the right end of the back panel by flexible folds; a lower base panel joined to the lower end of the front panel and the lower end of the rear panel by flexible folds; two bottom flaps joined to the lower edges of each side panel by flexible folds; a top bottom panel joined to a bottom edge of the front panel by a flexible fold, the front panel and the back panel each have a flat bottom edge and the same width; the first side piece and the second side piece each have a width equal to the flat bottom edge, the width being no wider than the width of the front panel; each of the first side piece and the second side piece comprises two side panels joined by a flexible vertical fold line intermediate an adjacent front panel and an adjacent rear panel; the midsole panel has flexible horizontal folds parallel to the front and rear panels; the lower base panel further includes a notch provided at each end of the lower base panel adjacent to the side panel, Each notch extends along the entire width of an edge of the mid-base panel adjacent the side panel; the cutouts have a length between the vertical fold lines joining adjacent side panels and an end of the cutout that is located at the horizontal fold line that is at least as long as the width of each side panel; the width of each bottom flap joined to an adjacent side panel is the same as the width of the adjacent side panel; each bottom flap has a length at least as long as the length of said notch; Each bottom flap is disposed over a portion of the lower base panel and configured to cover at least a portion of an adjacent cutout; A foldable box, wherein the upper bottom panel is configured to be placed over the bottom flap and the lower bottom panel, the length of the upper bottom panel being the same as the width of the front panel, and the width of the upper bottom panel being the same as the width of the side pieces.

2. 10. The foldable box of claim 1, wherein the box is made from a cardboard material.

3. 10. The collapsible box of claim 1, wherein the box is made from a thin sheet that is rigid and capable of holding flexible folds between adjacent panels.

4. 10. The foldable box of claim 1, wherein the foldable box is formed from a single blank of thin sheet material.

5. 5. The foldable box of claim 4, further comprising at least one assembly flap along at least one of the vertical edges of the side panels, the vertical edges of the front panel, the vertical edges of the back panel, or an edge of the lower base panel to facilitate assembling the foldable box from the single blank.

6. The at least one assembly flap is configured to be affixed to an adjacent panel by at least one of tape, glue, an adhesive material, or staples. A foldable box according to claim 5.

7. 2. The foldable box of claim 1, wherein each bottom flap is rectangular.

8. 2. The foldable box of claim 1, wherein each bottom flap includes a curved edge along at least a portion of its lateral side that is proximate at least one of the adjacent front panel or the adjacent back panel.

9. The foldable box of claim 1 further comprising a handle arrangement.

10. 10. The foldable box of claim 9, wherein the handle arrangement comprises a further cut-out provided through a top central portion of each of the first and second side panels.

11. 10. The foldable box of claim 9, wherein the handle arrangement comprises a handle panel joined to each of the front and back panels by flexible handle creases, each handle panel including at least one notch extending therethrough in a distal portion thereof.

12. 12. The foldable box of claim 11, wherein each handle panel includes two cutouts with flexible folds between the handle panels, the two cutouts overlapping when the folds are folded back to form thickened portions of the handle panels around the cutouts.

13. each handle panel further comprising two grip panels having substantially the same width and positioned between the two cutouts, the two grip panels being joined to each other and to the portion of the handle panel including the two cutouts by flexible folds; the grip panel is configured to be folded in an M-shape and disposed between the portions of the handle panel that include the two notches; 13. The foldable box of claim 12, wherein the flexible fold between the two grip panels is configured to extend below an upper edge of each of the two cutouts when folded into an M-shape to provide a smooth creased surface within and adjacent to the upper edges of the two cutouts.

14. 10. The foldable box of claim 1, further comprising a lid arrangement configured to fit at least partially over a top opening of the foldable box, the lid arrangement being affixed to the foldable box.

15. 10. The foldable box of claim 1, wherein the box is configured to fold into a substantially flat configuration having a profile coextensive with the front panel.

16. 2. A foldable box according to claim 1, comprising: a) folding the top panel upwardly so that the top panel lies flat against the front panel; b) folding each of the bottom flaps upwardly so that each of the bottom flaps lies flat against an adjacent side panel; c) folding inwardly the vertical creases of the side panels and upwardly the horizontal creases of the lower base panel, thereby folding the side panels and the lower base panel in half between the front and rear panels, with the folded side panels extending into the cut-outs of the lower base panel; a folding box configured to be folded by performing each of the steps of

17. A blank configured to be assembled into a foldable box, the assembled foldable box comprising: Front and rear panels, a first side piece joined to a left end of the front panel and a left end of the rear panel by flexible folds; a second side piece joined to the right end of the front panel and the right end of the back panel by flexible folds; a lower base panel joined to the lower end of the front panel and the lower end of the rear panel by flexible folds; two bottom flaps joined to the lower edges of each side panel by flexible folds; a top panel joined to the bottom edge of the front panel by a flexible fold; the front panel and the back panel each have a flat bottom edge and are the same width; each of the first and second side pieces has a flat bottom edge and a width equal to or less than the width of the front panel; each of the first side piece and the second side piece includes two side panels joined by a flexible vertical fold intermediate an adjacent front panel and an adjacent rear panel; the midsole panel has flexible horizontal folds parallel to the front and rear panels; the midsole panel further includes a notch at each end adjacent the side panel; Each notch extends along the entire width of an edge of the mid-base panel adjacent the side panel; the length of the cutout between the vertical fold line joining the adjacent side panels and the end of the cutout located at the horizontal fold line is at least as long as the width of each side panel; the width of each bottom flap joined to an adjacent side panel is the same as the width of the adjacent side panel; each bottom flap has a length at least as long as the length of said notch; Each bottom flap is configured to overlie a portion of the lower base panel and cover at least a portion of an adjacent cutout; A blank, wherein the upper panel is configured to be positioned over the bottom flap and the lower panel, the upper panel having a length equal to the width of the front panel and a width equal to the width of the side pieces.

18. 20. The blank of claim 17, wherein the box is made from at least one of a cardboard material or a thin sheet that is rigid yet capable of holding flexible folds between adjacent panels.

19. 20. The blank of claim 17, further comprising a handle arrangement joined to or formed as part of at least one of the front panel, the back panel, the left side piece, or the right side piece.

20. 18. The blank of claim 17, further comprising at least one assembly flap along at least one of a vertical edge of the side panel, a vertical edge of the front panel, a vertical edge of the back panel, or an edge of the lower base panel to facilitate assembly of the foldable box from the blank.

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