Storage and shipping box

Abstract

A storage and shipping box includes first closing flaps of the exterior of the box that extend from a pair of opposing sides of the upper face of the box and that are capable of being sealed, stapled or glued in order to carry out one or several shipments. The box further includes second closing flaps of the exterior of the box that extend from the other opposing sides of the upper face of the box. The second flaps include a closing element to open and close the box as many times as needed and are capable of being used for the storage of products or for preparing orders before or after carrying out a shipment.

Claims

1. A storage and shipping box, comprising: a first flap extending from a first side of an upper face of the box; a second flap extending from a second side of the upper face of the box; a third flap extending from a third side of the upper face of the box; a fourth flap extending from a fourth side of the upper face of the box, the third flap and fourth flap being configured to be removably coupled to each other via a closing element configured to allow the third flap and the fourth flap to interlock; and a tear strip disposed on the first flap, the tear strip being configured to remove a portion of the first flap, wherein the first flap and the second flap are configured to be in a non-interlocking sealable position both prior to and subsequent to removing the portion of the first flap so that the first flap and the second flap are sealable with a sealing element prior to and subsequent to removing the portion and so that the box can carry out one or more shipments prior to and subsequent to being used for storage by closing the box with the third flap and the fourth flap.

2. The storage and shipping box according to claim 1, wherein the second side of the upper face of the box is opposite the first side of the upper face of the box.

3. The storage and shipping box according to claim 1, wherein: a distal end of the first flap overlaps a distal end of the second flap a first distance when in the non-interlocking sealable position prior to removing the portion of the first flap; and the distal end of the first flap overlaps the distal end of the second flap a second distance when in the non-interlocking sealable position subsequent to removing the portion of the first flap.

4. The storage and shipping box according to claim 3, wherein the second distance is smaller than the first distance.

5. The storage and shipping box according to claim 1, wherein the tear strip overlaps the second flap when the first flap is in the non-interlocking sealable position prior to removing the portion of the first flap.

6. The storage and shipping box according to claim 5, wherein the portion of the first flap removed by the tear strip overlaps the second flap when the first flap is in the non-interlocking sealable position prior to removing the portion of the first flap.

7. The storage and shipping box according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first flap and the second flap comprises a double-sided adhesive tape.

8. The storage and shipping box according to claim 1, wherein subsequent to removing the sealing element, either the first flap and the second flap or the third flap and the fourth flap can be closed first, such that the box can be used interchangeably for shipping and storage subsequent to removing the sealing element.

9. The storage and shipping box according to claim 1, wherein the third side of the upper face of the box is opposite the fourth side of the upper face of the box.

10. The storage and shipping box according to claim 1, wherein the closing element further comprises: slots provided in opposing ends of the third flap and the fourth flap.

11. The storage and shipping box according to claim 10, wherein the closing element further comprises: a series of tabs configured to be interlocked through the slots provided in the opposing ends of the third flap and the fourth flap.

12. The storage and shipping box according to claim 11, wherein at least one tab of the series of tabs comprises a folding line.

13. The storage and shipping box according to claim 1, wherein the third flap extends from the upper face of said box at a distance that is greater than half a length of either the first side or the second side.

14. A method of using the box of claim 1, comprising the steps of: at a first time, using the box as a shipping box by sealing the first flap to the second flap with a double-sided adhesive to close an exterior of the box; at a second time, removing the tear strip to unseal the first flap from the second flap and allow access to an interior of the box; at a third time, using the box as storage box by closing the exterior of the box with the third flap and the fourth flap; and at a fourth time, using the box as a shipping box by sealing the first flap to the second flap with the sealing element to close the exterior of the box.

15. The storage and shipping box according to claim 1, wherein two or more adjacent flaps of the first flap, the second flap, the third flap, and the fourth flap are connected through one or more points.

16. The storage and shipping box according to claim 1, wherein a distal end of the first flap is separated from a distal end of the second flap by a distance equal to or less than 7.5 cm when the first flap and the second flap are in the non-interlocking sealable position.

17. A storage and shipping box, comprising: a first flap extending from a first side of an upper face of the box; a second flap extending from a second side of the upper face of the box; a third flap extending from a third side of the upper face of the box; a fourth flap extending from a fourth side of the upper face of the box, the third flap and fourth flap being configured to be removably coupled to each other via a closing element configured to allow the third flap and the fourth flap to interlock; and a tear strip disposed on the first flap, the tear strip being configured to remove a portion of the first flap, wherein the first flap and the second flap are configured to be in an overlapped position both prior to and subsequent to removing the portion of the first flap so that the first flap and the second flap are sealable with a sealing element prior to and subsequent to removing the portion and so that the box can carry out one or more shipments prior to and subsequent to being used for storage by closing the box with the third flap and the fourth flap.

18. The storage and shipping box according to claim 17, wherein: a distal end of the first flap overlaps a distal end of the second flap a first distance when in the non-interlocking sealable position prior to removing the portion of the first flap; and the distal end of the first flap overlaps the distal end of the second flap a second distance when in the non-interlocking sealable position subsequent to removing the portion of the first flap, the second distance being smaller than the first distance.

19. The storage and shipping box according to claim 17, wherein opposing ends of the first flap and the second flap are configured to overlap in a non-interlocking manner subsequent to the removal of the portion.

20. The storage and shipping box according to claim 17, wherein the second flap does not include a tear strip.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) For a better understanding of what has been disclosed some drawings are attached in which, diagrammatically and only as a non-limitative example, an embodiment is shown.

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a box of the present invention in its opened position, according to a first embodiment;

(3) FIGS. 2-4 are perspective views of the box of the present invention during its closing operation to be used as a storage box for preparing orders (picking), according to said first embodiment;

(4) FIGS. 5-6 are perspective views of the box of the present invention during its closing operation to be used as a shipping box, according to said second embodiment;

(5) FIGS. 7 and 8 are perspective views of a second alternative embodiment of the box of the present invention, during its closing and opening, respectively; and

(6) FIGS. 9 and 10 are perspective views of a third alternative embodiment of the box of the present invention, during its closing and opening, respectively.

(7) FIG. 11 is a plan view of a blank of the box of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(8) As shown in FIG. 1, the box of the present invention has a parallelepiped body made of a sheet material, such as cardboard whose upper face is provided with two sets of closing flaps of the exterior of the box: a first pair of closing flaps 1 for its use as a shipping or transportation box and a second pair of closing flaps 2 for its use as a storage box.

(9) Said second closing flaps 2 comprise a closing element that allows easily opening and closing the box as many times as needed and is suitable to allow interlocking the opposing ends of the second flaps, since this type of interlocking closing allows effectively closing the box keeping it full and with the first closing flaps intact inside the box (see FIGS. 3 and 4).

(10) In the shown embodiment, said closing element is formed, in each flap 2, by a central tab 3 and two lateral tabs 4 attachable to the tabs of the opposing flap 2 through interlocking slots 8 provided in each flap 2.

(11) One of said central tabs 3 comprises a folding line 5, which facilitates the opening and closing of the box by said second closing flaps 2.

(12) Even though in the figures an embodiment of the closing element with tabs 3, 4 has been shown, it is evident that the closing element can be different, but must be suitable to open and close the box as many times as needed.

(13) It must also be pointed out that the box of the present invention can comprise handle-like holes 5 to facilitate the shipping of the box, even though said holes 5 are not essential.

(14) In FIGS. 2-4 the closing process of the box of the present invention when used as a storage box is shown. The opening process is opposite to the closing process.

(15) As shown in FIG. 2, the first closing flaps 1 are folded inwardly first, which will serve as a reinforcement of the lid.

(16) Subsequently, said second closing flaps 2 are folded, so that tabs 3, 4 engage to each other in a complementary way (FIG. 3).

(17) FIG. 4 shows the box of the present invention in its closing position for its use as a storage box or for preparing orders (picking). For this use no additional closing element is needed, independent from the box itself, as the box can be closed by the closing element of the second closing flaps 2.

(18) Therefore, dust and dirt getting inside the box is prevented, allowing opening and closing it as many times as needed, and also saving time when opening and closing the box for preparing orders.

(19) On the other hand, when the box is used as a shipping or transportation box, the second closing flaps 2 must be folded to their substantially horizontal position first, as shown in FIG. 5.

(20) Then, the first closing flaps 1 of shipment are folded to their substantially horizontal position (FIG. 6).

(21) FIG. 6 shows that the first closing flaps 1 of shipment must substantially cover the whole upper surface of the box in order to be able to carry out one or more shipments.

(22) Preferably, said first closing flaps 1 of shipment are identical and are in contact with each other at their opposing ends. However, it must be pointed out that between the ends of said first closing flaps 1 there should be a gap big enough to place a sealing element such as adhesive tape, which in practice means this gap must not be greater than 6 cm.

(23) Even though it is not shown in FIG. 6, on said opposing ends an adhesive tape, staples, glue or any other sealing element is applied to seal the box.

(24) To open the box from its closing position when it is used for shipping or transporting, it is necessary to prior remove the adhesive tape or any other element used to seal the box. It is possible that when the adhesive tape, staples, glue or any other sealing element is removed, the first closing flaps 1 get damaged, which with the box of the present invention it is not a problem, since to close the box when it is used as storage box or for preparing orders (picking), the second closing flaps 2 are used.

(25) If wished, said first flaps 1 of shipment can be of a size so that their ends are overlapped, such as in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 7-10.

(26) FIGS. 7 and 8 show a second embodiment of the box of the present invention. The main difference with regards to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-6 is the presence of a tear strip 6 to facilitate the opening of the box when it is used as a shipping or transportation box. The tear strip is defined by two pre-cut lines.

(27) In this case, in its closed position, said tear strip 6 is overlapping the other of said first closing flaps 1.

(28) Furthermore, in this second embodiment, one of said first closing flaps 1 comprises a double-sided adhesive tape 7 placed at the inner part of said closing flap 1. This double-sided adhesive tape 7 allows comfortably attaching said first closing flaps 1 to each other. To this end, said first closing flaps 1 must be partially or completely overlapped between each other.

(29) To remove said tear strip 6, this comprises a grip zone at one of its ends, so that by pulling it the tear strip can be removed easily.

(30) The third embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 is very similar to the second embodiment previously described. The only difference is the tear strip 6, which in this case is defined by a thread with enough strength to tear the cardboard of said first closing flap 1. Also in this case, one of the first closing flaps 1 comprises a double-sided adhesive tape 7.

(31) It must be pointed out that the edges of the box of the present invention are obtained by cutting the sheet that determines the box by means of an anti-cut strip. This way the ends have a rough profile which prevents the user from cutting himself during its manipulation.

(32) It must also be pointed out that the bottom of the box of the present invention can be any and, for this reason, it is not described in the present specification.

(33) FIG. 11 shows a plan view of a box of the present invention whose parallelepiped body has been disassembled. Said FIG. 11 shows the alignment of the indents 9 of the sides of the upper face of the parallelepiped body which include the closing flaps 1, 2. As mentioned in the description of the invention, the alignment of the indents 9 facilitates the indiscriminate use of the two pairs of flaps for the closing of the exterior of the box.

(34) In said FIG. 11, the distance 11,11 and 12 of the extension of the first 1 and second 2 closing flaps are represented, respectively, as well as the length L1 and L2 of the sides of the box from which said flaps 1, 2 extend.

(35) As mentioned in the description of the invention and as seen in FIG. 11, in order to guarantee that the flaps 1 of shipment can be at least sealed by an adhesive tape, it will be essential to make sure that the sum of the length 11, 11 of said first flaps 1 is: equal to the length L2 of the sides of the box that include the second flaps 2 or, greater than the length L2 of the sides of the box that include the second flaps 2 or, equal to the length L2 of the sides of the box that include the second flaps 2 minus a separation distance equal to or less than 7.5 cm, preferably equal to or less than 6 cm.

(36) Even though reference has been made to a specific embodiment of the invention, it is evident for a person skilled in the art that the described storage and shipping box is susceptible of variations and modifications, and that all the details cited can be substituted by other technically equivalent ones, without departing from the scope of protection defined by the attached claims.