REUSABLE CONTAINER

- ORORA NORTH AMERICA

A reusable container for shipping an object. The container has at least an interior and an opening. A flap portion, attached to an upper edge of a container wall, includes a body portion, and an extension portion attached to the body portion. The extension portion includes two adhesive portions. A tear strip, defined by perforations in the extension portion, is defined between the two adhesive portions. When the flap portion moves to a closed position, the body portion covers the opening, and the edge portion moves down into contact with one of the walls, being fixed to the wall by one of the adhesive portions. The tear strip can be torn away, tearing away the one of the adhesive portions fixing the extension portion to the wall, without damaging the other adhesive portion. The container can be re-used, by using the undamaged adhesive portion to fix the extending portion to the wall.

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Description

The present application claims benefit of Provisional Application No. 62/080,715, filed Nov. 17, 2014; all of which is incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to containers used for shipping objects, and more particularly, to reusable containers used for shipping objects.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are many configurations for containers used in shipping. Corrugated cardboard has been the primary material used to form boxes to enclose objects during transit. Some configurations of corrugated cardboard boxes require usage of portions of an adhesive tape to bond portions of the cardboard boxes together. The portions of the adhesive tape are used for assembly and closure of the cardboard boxes. For example, a cardboard box can include two flaps that are folded over an opening therein to facilitate closure of the box, and the portions of the adhesive tape can be used to join the two flaps of the cardboard box together to seal contents within the box. However, besides being an additional cost, adhesive tape may not be readily available for assembly and closure of the cardboard boxes, and may be restricted from being used to seal cardboard boxes during transit.

Other configurations of corrugated cardboard boxes rely on usage of adhesive materials bonded directly thereto for assembly and closure thereof. For example, a cardboard box can include a single flap that is folded over an opening therein to facilitate closure of the box. The single flap can include an extension portion that extends beyond the opening when the remainder of the single flap is covering the opening. The extension portion can be folded to contact a portion of the cardboard box adjacent the opening. The directly-bonded adhesive material provided on either the extension portion or the portion of the cardboard box adjacent the opening can be used to seal contents within the box. However, the directly-bonded adhesive materials used to join portions of cardboard boxes together have provided effectively permanent joints. Thus, given the typical configuration of such cardboard boxes, the content of the cardboard boxes cannot be retrieved without causing physical damage to the cardboard boxes that prevents reuse thereof.

Given the limitations of boxes using adhesive tape and directly-bonded adhesive materials to facilitate closure, there is a need for a box that does not require adhesive tape for closure thereof, but is configured to afford retrieval of content sealed therein without physical damage that prevents reuse thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In this application, the terms “container” and “box” are used interchangeably. According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a box for enclosing at least one object is provided.

The box includes a bottom and at least two side walls extending outwardly from the bottom. Each of the at least two side walls includes a first end, an opposite second end, a length between the first and second ends, and a width perpendicular to the length thereof. The first ends of the at least two side walls are positioned adjacent the bottom. The length of a first side wall of the at least two side walls extends in a first plane, the length of a second side wall of the at least two side walls extends in a second plane. The bottom has at least a first side and a second side in a third plane. The third plane is transverse with respect to the first and second planes, the bottom and the at least two side walls at least in part define an interior of the box, and the second ends of the at least two side walls define at least in part an opening into the interior of the box. The opening has a first cross-section in a fourth plane adjacent the second ends of the at least two side walls. The fourth plane is transverse to the first and second planes.

The box further includes a flap portion attached to one of the at least two side walls. The flap portion is moveable between an open position and a closed position. The flap portion also affords access to the interior of the box in the open position and covers the opening in the closed position. The flap portion includes a body portion and an extension portion.

The body portion is configured to cover the opening when the flap portion is in the closed position. The body portion has a first end attached to the one of the at least two side walls, an opposite second end, and two sides extending between the first and second ends thereof. The first end, the opposite second end, and the two sides of the body portion define an area greater than or equal to an area of the opening at the first cross-section thereof.

The extension portion is configured to extend beyond the opening when the flap portion is in the closed position to contact another of the at least two side walls. The extension portion has a first end and an opposite second end, the second end of the extension portion is attached to the second end of the body portion. The extension portion also has a first adhesive containing portion adjacent the first end thereof, a second adhesive containing portion adjacent the second end thereof, and a tear strip separating the first adhesive containing portion and the second adhesive containing portion from one another.

The first adhesive containing portion has a first adhesive material bonded to a surface thereof and a first removable strip removably attached to the first adhesive material. The first adhesive material is configured to fixedly attach the first adhesive containing portion to the another of the at least two side walls upon removal of the first removable strip, upon closure of flap portion, and upon physical contact of the first adhesive material with the another of the at least two side walls.

The second adhesive containing portion has a second adhesive material bonded to a surface thereof and a second removable strip removably attached to the second adhesive material. The second adhesive material is configured to fixedly attach the second adhesive containing portion to the another of the at least two side walls upon removal of the second removable strip, upon closure of the flap portion, and upon physical contact of the second adhesive material with the another of the at least two side walls.

The tear strip is configured to detach the first adhesive containing portion from the second adhesive containing portion upon removal thereof, wherein, when the first adhesive containing portion is attached to the another of the at least two side walls to facilitate attachment of the extension portion thereto. Perforations in the extension portion of the flap allow for ease of removal of the tear strip. Removal of the tear strip affords detachment of the second adhesive containing portion and movement of the flap portion from the closed position to the open position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide further understanding of the present invention disclosed in the present disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate aspects of the present invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the present invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a box in accordance with the present invention having portions that define an opening therein and a flap that can be folded over the opening to facilitate closure of the opening, where the flap includes a body portion used in covering the opening and an extension portion used in joining the flap to a portion of the box adjacent the opening.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the box of FIG. 1 showing the flap folded over the opening to close the box, where a first adhesive containing portion of the extension portion has been attached to the box.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the box of FIG. 1 showing the remainder of the flap being detached from the first adhesive containing portion attached to the box.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the box of FIG. 1 showing the flap in the open position after the tear strip has been fully removed and the flap has been detached from the first adhesive containing portion.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the box of FIG. 1 showing the flap again folded over the opening to close the box, where a second adhesive containing portion of the extension portion has been attached to the box.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of an unassembled box of FIG. 1.

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The detailed description set forth below is intended as a description of various configurations of the present invention and is not intended to represent the only configurations in which the present invention may be practiced. It will be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the specific details set forth herein but instead may be practiced without these specific details.

In accordance with the present invention, a box having portions defining an opening and a flap that can be folded over the opening to facilitate closure of the opening is provided. The flap has a body portion used to cover the opening and an extension portion used in joining the flap to portions of the box adjacent the opening. The body portion has an area greater than or equal to the opening and can be folded over the opening to close the interior of the box. The extension portion extends beyond the opening when the body portion is folded thereover, and includes a first adhesive containing portion, a second adhesive containing portion, and a tear strip positioned between the first and second adhesive containing portions. Furthermore, the first and second adhesive containing portions contain an adhesive material that is bonded to a surface of the respective adhesive containing portion. A first removable strip can be removably attached to the adhesive material bonded to the first adhesive containing portion and a second removable strip can be removably attached to the adhesive material bonded to the second adhesive containing portion. The first and second removable strips cover the adhesive material until it becomes desirable to use the adhesive material to attach the extension portion to the portions of the box adjacent the opening.

To facilitate closure of the box, the first adhesive containing portion of the extension portion of the flap may be attached to a first portion of the box adjacent the opening. For example, attachment can be effectuated upon removal of the first removable strip from the first adhesive containing portion and upon physical contact between the adhesive material of the first adhesive containing portion and the first portion of the box adjacent the opening. Closure of the box in this manner serves in forming an enclosed volume for storing content for shipment. Content may be retrieved from the interior of the box by removing the tear strip from the extension portion of the flap. Removal of the tear strip separates the first adhesive containing portion from the remainder of the flap. Thus, after removal of the tear strip, the first adhesive containing portion remains attached to the first portion of the box adjacent the opening, and the remaining portion of the flap above the tear strip can be moved into an open position to provide access to the interior of the box. To again facilitate closure of the box, the second adhesive containing portion of the extension portion of the flap may be attached to a second portion of the box adjacent the opening. For example, attachment can be effectuated upon removal of the second removable strip from the second adhesive containing portion and upon physical contact between the adhesive material of the second adhesive containing portion and the second portion of the box adjacent the opening. Closure of the box in this manner again serves in forming an enclosed volume for storing content for shipment. As such, use of the first adhesive containing portion and then the second adhesive containing portion affords the reuse of the box.

Construction of the container disclosed in the present invention is not limited to corrugated cardboard and may be constructed from a variety of other materials, including but not limited to paper, plastic, metallic, compound materials, etc. Furthermore, the corrugated box may be assembled to form a variety of sizes and shapes to accommodate storage of different content. Furthermore, the present invention may also include additional features such as handles, wheels, straps, etc. to facilitate transportation of the box. While the drawings illustrate an extension portion of a flap having two adhesive containing portions being separated by a tear strip, the present invention is not confined to such combination. As such, the extension portion of the flap may be constructed to include additional tear strips and adhesive containing portions located at different positions thereon to accommodate different needs of a prospective consumer.

FIGS. 1-6 are perspective views of a box 100 in accordance with the present invention. The box 100 can be made of corrugated cardboard material, and, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the box 100 can include side walls 101, 102, 103, and 104, a bottom 106, and a flap portion 110. The upper portions of the side walls 101, 102, 103, and 104 define an opening 112 into an interior 114 of the box 100 defined by the side walls 101, 102, 103, and 104, and the bottom 106. The flap portion 110 includes a body portion 117 and an extension portion 118. The body portion 117 of the flap portion 110 has one end that is attached to the side wall 101 along a fold line 116 and an opposite end that is attached to the extension portion 118 of the flap portion 110 along another fold line 126. The body portion 117 has an area that is greater than or equal to the area of the opening 112, and can be folded over the opening 112 to close the interior 114 of the box 100. Closure of the box 100 forms an enclosed volume for storing content.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the extension portion 118 has a first adhesive containing portion 120, a second adhesive containing portion 122, and a tear strip 124. The first and second adhesive containing portions 120 and 122 are separated from one another by the tear strip 124. The tear strip 124, as discussed below, also can be used to separate the remainder of the flap portion 110 from the first adhesive containing portion 120. Perforations in the extension portion 118 can be provided to afford easy removal of the tear strip 124. The perforations can be provided at the junction between the first adhesive containing portion 120 and the tear strip 124, and at the junction between the second adhesive containing portion 122 and the tear strip 124.

As discussed above, the extension portion 118 is attached to the body portion 117 along the fold line 126. When the flap portion 110 is positioned to close the opening 112 (as illustrated in FIG. 2), the body portion 117 covers the opening 112, and the extension portion 118 (including the first adhesive containing portion 120, the second adhesive containing portion 122, and the tear strip 124) extends beyond the opening 112. As such, the flap portion 110 may be folded along the fold line 126 (as illustrated in FIG. 2) to position the extension portion 118 (including the first adhesive containing portion 120, the second adhesive containing portion 122, and the tear strip 124) in physical contact with an exterior surface of the side wall 102 of the box 100.

An adhesive material is bonded to surfaces of the first and second adhesive containing portions 120 and 122. The adhesive material may be derived from any material with physical and/or chemical properties that facilitate attachment of different surfaces of the box 100. As illustrated in FIG. 1, a first removable strip 130 is removably attached to the adhesive material provided on the first adhesive containing portion 120, and a second removable strip 132 is removably attached to the adhesive material provided on the second adhesive containing portion 122. The first and second removable strips 130 and 132 may be constructed from any material with properties that allow the first and second removable strips 130 and 132 to be removably attached to the adhesive material without adversely affecting the adhesive properties thereof.

In order to securely close the box 100, the body portion 117 of the flap portion 110 may be folded along the fold line 116 in a direction shown by the arrow of FIG. 1 to cover the opening 112 of the box 100. Thereafter, the extension portion 118 of the flap portion 110 may be folded along the fold line 126 in the direction also shown by the arrow to align the first adhesive containing portion 120, the second adhesive containing portion 122, and the tear strip 124 with the exterior surface of the side wall 102. The flap portion 110 may be attached to the box 100 (as illustrated in FIG. 2) upon removal of the first removable strip 130 and/or the second removable strip 132 and upon physical contact with the exterior surface of the side wall 102.

The box 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 is merely one exemplary illustration of the present invention. While the opening 112 is positioned at a top section of the box 100, the opening 112 may be positioned in any other section of the box 100, such as, but not limited to, front, back, side, rear bottom sections of the box 100. Furthermore, the size of the opening 112 may vary. For example, while the opening 112 is illustrated to have an area covering the entire top section of the box 100, the opening 112 may also have an area less than the area of the top section of the box 100, thereby allowing the first adhesive containing portion 120 and/or the second adhesive containing portion 122 to be attached to a section of the box 100 located in the same plane as the opening 112 of FIG. 1.

While the box 100 illustrated in FIGS. 1-6 has a rectangular shape, the box 100 may be assembled to take on a variety of shapes such as, but not limited to, triangular, oval, and spherical shapes, etc., and may take on different sizes to provide storage of content of various shapes and sizes. Furthermore, the box 100 may also include additional features such as handles, wheels, straps, etc. to facilitate transportation of the box 100.

As discussed above, FIG. 2 illustrates the box 100 after the body portion 117 has been positioned to close the opening 112, and after the extension portion 118 has been positioned to physically contact the exterior surface of the side wall 102.

The first adhesive containing portion 120 can be attached to the exterior surface of the side wall 102, if the first removable strip 130 is removed to expose the adhesive material prior to physically contacting the first adhesive containing portion 120 with the exterior surface of the side wall 102. Contact of the adhesive material provided on the first adhesive containing portion 120 with the exterior surface of the side wall 102 securely attaches the flap portion 110 to the side wall 102, and, in doing so, securely closes the box 100 to form an enclosed volume in which content may be stored.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the second adhesive containing portion 122 is also in physical contact with the exterior surface of the side wall 102 of the box 100. However, because the second removable strip 132 remains removably attached to the adhesive material on the second adhesive containing portion 122, the adhesive material is not yet exposed to attach the second adhesive containing portion 122 to the exterior surface of the side wall 102.

After the first adhesive containing portion 120 is attached to the exterior surface of the side wall 102, the tear strip 124 can be removed to separate the remainder of the flap portion 110 including the body portion 117 and the second adhesive containing portion 122 from the first adhesive containing portion 120. FIG. 3 illustrates removal of the tear strip 124. For example, an application of force with respect to an end of the tear strip 124 in the direction of the arrow illustrated in FIG. 3 detaches the tear strip 124 along the dotted lines. The dotted lines represent perforations in the flap portion 110 that allow for ease of removal of the tear strip 124. Upon removal of the tear strip 124, the flap portion 110 is no longer attached to the box 100. As such, after removal of the tear strip 124, the flap portion 110 can be repositioned to provide access to the opening 112 (as illustrated in FIG. 4) and content stored in the interior 114 of the box 100.

The flap portion 110 may be attached to the box 100 (as illustrated in FIG. 5) for a second time upon removal of the second removable strip 132 from the second adhesive containing portion 122 and upon physical contact of the second adhesive containing portion 122 with the exterior surface of the side wall 102. The body portion 117 can be folded a second time along the fold line 116 over the opening 112 to close the interior 114 of the box 100 and the extension portion 118 can be folded a second time along the fold line 126 to reposition the second adhesive containing portion 122 in physical contact with the exterior surface of the side wall 102 of the box 100. Contact of the adhesive material provided on the second adhesive containing portion 122 with the exterior surface of the side wall 102 again securely attaches the flap portion 110 to the side wall 102, and, in doing so, again securely closes the box to form an enclosed volume in which content may be stored.

While the extension portion 118 of the flap portion 110 discussed above includes one tear strip and two adhesive containing portions, other exemplary embodiments of the box 100 may include additional tear strips and adhesive containing portions. For example, the extension portion 118 of the flap portion 110 could include a second tear strip for separating the remainder of the flap portion 110 from the second adhesive containing portion 122 to allow the box 100 be reopened. Furthermore, the extension portion 118 of the flap portion 110 could include a third adhesive containing portion to further improve the reusability of the box 100.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of an unassembled box 100 in accordance with the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the box 100 includes the body portion 117 of the flap portion 110, the extension portion 118 of the flap portion 110, and sections 150-152, 160-162, 170-172, 180, and 182. The body portion 117, the extension portion 118, and sections 150-152, 160-162, 170-172, 180, and 182 may be folded along corresponding fold lines 116, 126, 190, 192, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, and 201. Furthermore, sections 160 and 161, sections 161 and 162, section 180 and body portion 117, and section 182 and body portion 117 may be separated from each other by cutting through cut lines 202-205, respectively. By making cuts at the cut lines 202-205, and by folding the sections 150-152, 160-162, 170-172, 180, and 182, the side wall 101 is formed by section 171, the side wall 102 is formed by section 151, the side wall 103 is formed by sections 150, 170, and 180, the side wall 104 is formed by sections 152, 172, and 182, and the bottom 106 is formed by sections 160-162.

Although FIG. 6 illustrates one example of a plan view of an unassembled box, the present invention is not limited to the unassembled box illustrated in FIG. 6. For example, sections, fold lines, and/or separation lines may be added, removed, repositioned, etc., to assemble boxes of different sizes and shapes. Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to assembly and use of containers constructed from corrugated cardboard boxes. The present invention may be implemented by using other materials, including, but not limited to, paper, plastic, metallic, compound materials, and the like.

While this specification contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of particular implementations of the subject matter. Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate embodiments also can be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment can also be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable subcombination.

Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only.

Claims

1. A container comprising:

a bottom, the bottom defining a bottom plane, the bottom plane being substantially horizontal, the bottom having at least a first bottom edge and an opposing second bottom edge;
at least a first wall having a first lower edge connected to the first bottom edge, a first upper edge, and a first length between the first lower edge and the first upper edge, the first length extending in a first substantially vertical plane, the first substantially vertical plane being substantially transverse to the bottom plane;
at least a second wall having a second lower edge connected to the second bottom edge, a second upper edge, and a second length between the second lower edge and the second upper edge, the second length extending in a second substantially vertical plane, the second substantially vertical plane being substantially transverse to the bottom plane, the at least the second wall, the at least the first wall, and the bottom being configured to define the container, the container including at least a container interior, and the at least the second upper edge and the at least the first upper edge being configured to define an opening into the container interior;
a flap portion including a body portion, the body portion being attached to one of the at least first upper edge and the at least second upper edge, and an extension portion, the extension portion being attached to the body portion, the flap portion being movable between an open position and a closed position;
at least a first adhesive portion provided on the extension portion;
at least a second adhesive portion provided on the extension portion; and
a tear strip defined in the extension portion intermediate the at least the first adhesive portion and the at least the second adhesive portion, the tear strip being configured to be removed from the extension portion;
wherein the body portion is configured, in the closed position, to substantially cover the opening; and
wherein the extension portion is configured, in the closed position, to extend beyond the opening, to be moved into contact with at least one of the at least the first wall and the at least the second wall, with at least one of the first adhesive portion and the second adhesive portion adhesively contacting the at least one of the at least the first wall and the at least the second wall.

2. The container as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the bottom, the at least the first wall, the at least the second wall, and the flap portion include corrugated cardboard.

3. The container as recited in claim 1, wherein the body portion defines a first area, the first area being one of greater than, less than, and substantially equal to an area defined by the opening.

4. The container as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least the first wall, and the at least the second wall define at least an upper section of the container, a front section of the container, a back section of the container, and at least one side section of the container.

5. The container as recited in claim 4, wherein the opening is defined in one of the front section of the container, the back section of the container, at least one of the at least one side section of the container, and the bottom of the container.

6. The container as recited in claim 1, wherein the container defines a shape, the shape being one of at least a rectangle, a triangle, an oval, and a sphere.

7. The container as recited in claim 1, further comprising at least one transportation facilitation structure attached to at least a portion of the container, the at least one transportation facilitation structure including at least one of a handle, a wheel, and a strap.

8. The container as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least the first adhesive portion includes a first removable strip, the first removable strip being configured to removably cover the at least the first adhesive portion.

9. The container as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least the second adhesive portion includes a second removable strip, the second removable strip being configured to removably cover the at least the second adhesive portion.

10. The container as recited in claim 1, wherein the tear strip is defined by at least one line of perforations defined in the extension portion, the tear strip being removable from the extension portion by tearing the tear strip along the at least one line of perforations.

11. The container as recited in claim 1, wherein the tear strip is further configured, upon removal from the extension portion in the closed position, to remove the at least one of the first adhesive portion and the second adhesive portion adhesively contacting the at least one of the at least the first wall and the second wall.

12. The container as recited in claim 1, wherein the extension portion further includes at least a third adhesive portion.

13. A method for shipping at least a first object in a reusable container, the method comprising:

utilizing the container, the container comprising: a bottom portion, the bottom portion defining a bottom plane, the bottom plane being substantially horizontal, the bottom portion having at least a first bottom edge and an opposing second bottom edge; at least a first wall having a first lower edge connected to the first bottom edge, a first upper edge, and a first length between the first lower edge and the first upper edge, the first length extending in a first substantially vertical plane, the first substantially vertical plane being substantially transverse to the bottom plane; at least a second wall having a second lower edge connected to the second bottom edge, a second upper edge, and a second length between the second lower edge and the second upper edge, the second length extending in a second substantially vertical plane, the second substantially vertical plane being substantially transverse to the bottom plane, the at least the second wall, the at least the first wall, and the bottom being configured to define the container, the container including at least a container interior, and the at least the second upper edge and the at least the first upper edge being configured to define an opening into the container interior; a flap portion including a body portion, the body portion being attached to one of the at least the first upper edge and the at least the second upper edge, and an extension portion, the extension portion being attached to the body portion, the flap portion being movable between an open position and a closed position; at least a first adhesive portion provided on the extension portion; at least a first removable strip removably covering the at least the first adhesive portion; at least a second adhesive portion provided on the extension portion; at least a second removable strip removably covering the at least the second adhesive portion; and a tear strip defined in the extension portion intermediate the at least the first adhesive portion and the at least the second adhesive portion, the tear strip being configured to be removed from the extension portion; wherein the body portion is configured, in the closed position, to substantially cover the opening; and wherein the extension portion is configured, in the closed position, to extend beyond the opening, to be moved into contact with at least one of the at least the first wall and the at last the second wall, with at least one of the first adhesive portion and the second adhesive portion adhesively contacting the at least one of the at least the first wall and the at least the second wall;
removing the at least the first removable strip from the at least the first adhesive portion;
placing the at least the first object into the interior of the container;
moving the flap portion to the closed position, with the body portion substantially covering the opening;
moving the extension portion beyond the opening and into contact with a portion of at least one of the at least the first wall, and the at least the second wall, with the at least the first adhesive portion contacting the portion of the at least one of the first wall and the second wall; and
fixing the extension portion to the at least one of the first wall and the second wall with the at least the first adhesive portion adhering to the portion of the at least one of the first wall and the second wall.

14. The method as recited in claim 13, further comprising removing the tear strip from the extension portion, thereby removing the at least the first adhesive portion from the portion of the at least one of the first wall and the at least the second wall.

15. The method as recited in claim 14, further comprising moving the flap portion to the open position, and removing the at least the first object from the container interior.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, further comprising removing the at least the second removable strip from the at the second adhesive portion;

inserting at least one of the at least the first object and at least a second object into the container interior;
moving the flap portion to the closed position, with the body portion substantially covering the opening;
moving the extension portion beyond the opening and into contact with at least one of the at least the first wall, and the at least the second wall, the at least the second adhesive portion adhesively contacting a portion of the at least one of the first wall and the second wall; and
fixing the extension portion to the at least one of the first wall and the second wall with the second adhesive portion adhering to the portion of the at least one of the first wall and the second wall.

17. A method of assembling a reusable container, the reusable container configured to ship at least a first object, the method comprising:

utilizing an unassembled container, the unassembled container comprising: a bottom portion, the bottom portion defining a bottom plane, the bottom plane being substantially horizontal, the bottom portion having at least a first bottom edge and an opposing second bottom edge; at least a first wall portion having a first lower edge pivotally connected to the first bottom edge, a first upper edge, and a first length between the first lower edge and the first upper edge, the first length extending in a first plane; at least a second wall portion having a second lower edge pivotally connected to the second bottom edge, a second upper edge, and a second length between the second lower edge and the second upper edge, the second length extending in a second plane; a flap portion including a body portion, the body portion being pivotally attached to one of the at least the first upper edge and the at least the second upper edge, and an extension portion, the extension portion being pivotally attached to the body portion, the flap portion being pivotal between an open position and a closed position; at least a first adhesive portion provided on the extension portion; at least a first removable strip removably covering the at least the first adhesive portion; at least a second adhesive portion provided on the extension portion; at least a second removable strip removably covering the at least the second adhesive portion; and a tear strip defined in the extension portion intermediate the at least the first adhesive portion and the at least the second adhesive portion, the tear strip being configured to be removed from the extension portion;
pivoting the at least the first wall portion to a position defining a first wall, the first wall extending in a first substantially vertical plane, the first substantially vertical plane being substantially transverse to the base portion;
pivoting the at least the second wall portion to a position defining a second wall, the second wall extending in a second substantially vertical plane, the second substantially vertical plane being substantially transverse to the base portion, at least the first wall, the second wall, and the base cooperating to define the container, the container having at least a container interior, and the at least the first upper edge and the at least the second upper edge cooperating to define an opening into the container interior;
inserting the at least the first object into the container interior;
removing the at least the first removable strip from the at least the first adhesive portion;
pivoting the flap portion to the closed position with the body portion covering the opening;
moving the extension portion beyond the opening and into contact with at least one of the at least the first wall, and the at least the second wall, with at least the first adhesive portion adhesively contacting a portion of the at least one of the first wall and the second wall; and
fixing the extension portion to the at least one of the first wall and the second wall with the at least one of the first adhesive portion adhering to the portion of the at least the first wall and the second wall.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, further comprising removing the tear strip from the extension portion, thereby removing the at least one of the first adhesive portion fixing the extension portion to the portion of the at least one of the first wall and the second wall.

Patent History
Publication number: 20160137335
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 17, 2015
Publication Date: May 19, 2016
Applicant: ORORA NORTH AMERICA (Buena Park, CA)
Inventor: Anthony N. Mora (Ontario)
Application Number: 14/944,134
Classifications
International Classification: B65D 5/02 (20060101); B65D 5/54 (20060101); B65B 61/18 (20060101); B65D 5/46 (20060101); B65B 5/02 (20060101); B65B 7/20 (20060101);