A method of using a box can include obtaining the box, the box comprising a box top and a box bottom, the box top comprising a first main panel and a first end panel, at least one of the first main panel and the first end panel defining a locking tab separable from the box top; the box bottom comprising a second main panel and a second end panel, the second end panel defining a locking opening, a lateral width of the locking tab at an ear thereof being greater than-and at a neck thereof being less than-a lateral width of the locking opening; inserting the locking tab into a gap defined at least in part by the second end panel, thereby hiding a portion of the locking tab behind the second end panel; and engaging the locking tab with the locking opening.

A box can include a box top including a first panel and a locking tab separably joined to the first panel, the locking tab comprising first and second tab subpanels; and a box bottom including a second panel defining a locking opening, a lateral width of the locking tab at an ear thereof being greater than-and at a neck thereof being less than-a lateral width of the locking opening, the locking opening sized to receive and capture the locking tab, the locking tab configured to engage an edge of the locking opening and thereby configured to prevent movement of the locking tab with respect to the locking opening in an opening direction of the locking tab; wherein engaged portions of the locking tab and the locking opening are hidden to an observer outside of the box when the box is in an assembled position.

The invention is a food box container and a method for operating same, the food box container comprises an open top box body pivotally connected to double-hinged top, the open top box body further defining a hollow interior configured to receive and hold food; the double-hinged top has a first hinge and second hinge that have a spaced-apart and parallel orientation to one another, the first hinge pivotally sections the double-hinged lid into a support panel and a top lid, the second hinge pivotally connects the support panel to the open top box body; the support panel further defines one or more removable caps which when opened from the support panel reveal support apertures to receive other containers of drinks, condiments and the like; and the top lid controls a second access to the hollow interior that is smaller than an access as provided by the double-hinged top.

A blank can include a main panel and a locking tab extending from and separable from the main panel and including a first tab subpanel, a second tab subpanel, and a third tab subpanel; the first tab subpanel extending from the main panel, the second tab subpanel extending from the first tab subpanel and joined to the first tab subpanel at a first bend line, and the third tab subpanel extending from the second tab subpanel and joined to the second tab subpanel at a second bend line.

Various embodiments include apparatus, systems, and methods relating to protective packaging for shipping items. In some embodiments, a protective packaging system may include a shipping container and a foam insert assembly. The shipping container may encase an interior portion. The foam insert assembly may be configured to conformally encapsulate one or more shipping items within the interior portion of the shipping container, e.g., so as to protect the one or more shipping items from mechanical impact damage (e.g., bending) and/or environmental damage (e.g., exposure to moisture) during shipping.

A method comprising obtaining a box comprising a box top defining a locking tab separable from the box top and comprising first, second, and third tab subpanels; the locking tab and the first tab subpanel thereof extending from at least one of a first main panel and a first end panel of the box, the second tab subpanel extending from and joined to the first tab subpanel, and the third tab subpanel extending from and joined to the second tab subpanel; and a box bottom comprising a second main panel; a second end panel joined thereto; and a tab connected to the second main panel and defining a locking opening; bending the third tab subpanel with respect to the second tab subpanel; inserting the locking tab into a gap defined at least in part by the second end panel; and engaging the locking tab with the locking opening.

A bakery box having panels, flaps, tabs and slits. One each side of the box, a pair of the tabs are inserted into a pair of the slits in a corresponding side panel of the box. One tab of the pair of tabs on each side of the box has a curved slit into which is inserted a curved edge of a corresponding side flap to retain the side flap adjacent the corresponding side panel of the box.

A rectangular blank has sides X and Y, where a and b are side dimensions, h is height, and r is width, or width reduced by height h, of the periphery region R of the finished packaging. The method includes: producing folding lines B in the blank parallel to side Y at these distances from the latter: B.sub.1: a.sub.1=h; B.sub.2: a.sub.2=h+a; B.sub.3: a.sub.3=2h+a; severing of two severing lines T, each starting from opposite sides X, along one of the folding lines B, or the extension thereof; selecting the distance between two end points E.sub.T of the severing lines T which are closer to an axis of symmetry S.sub.1 parallel to the side X, such that the distance corresponds to a side B″ of the finished packaging or length of a side M of a packaging insert.

The invention relates to packaging (10) for the cooled storage of at least one product (12), with (a) an outer casing (14) that comprises (i) a base (22) and (ii) at least three walls (24), (b) an inner compartment (16) for accommodating the product (12) and (c) a coolant compartment (18) that (i) surrounds the inner compartment (16) on at least three sides and (ii) is water-tight, wherein (d) the outer casing (14) surrounds the coolant compartment (18) and wherein (e) the outer casing (14) and the inner compartment (16) are designed in such a way that the coolant compartment (18) is watertight and can be filled with water such that, after the water freezes, the water cools the products (12) in the inner compartment (16).

A material storage and transport system is disclosed. The material storage and transport system can include a material storage tray forming a storage volume defined by a bottom and walls extending up from the bottom along a perimeter of the bottom. The material storage and transport system can also include a releasable strap adapted to extend across the bottom when in a securing configuration and a sample carrier, including at least one sample secured to a sample support substrate by a molded sheet. The material storage and transport system can include a hinged lid that is integrally connected to a wall of the material storage tray, and configured to convert between a folded-in position, an opened position, and a closed position.