Variable volume box

• US 5,251,808 A
• Filed: 12/29/1992
• Issued: 10/12/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Darryl J. Rudd
• Original Assignee: Darryl J. Rudd
• Inventors: Rudd, Darryl J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elkins, Gary E.
• Application Number:
  US07/997,936
• Time in Patent Office: 287 Days
• Field of Search: 229/101, 229/101.1, 229/101.2, 229/222, 229/235, 220/416, 220/418, 220/461, 220/462, 220/463
• US Class Current: 229/101.2
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/0005 of variable capacity
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/5445 for dividing a tubular body into separate parts

Abstract

A variable volume carton box has a top a lid with flaps which are secured in the conventional manner for cereal boxes or other boxes used to contain like commodities sold in grocery stores and supermarkets. At least one intermediate circumferential perforation is located around the box so as to allow the box to be reduced in size. Once the box is reduced in size by tearing or cutting along the perforation, another set of intermediate flaps are attached circumferentially around an interior section of the carton box to form the new lid used when the box is reduced in size. If a flexible airtight lining is used within the box, a circumferential perforation or mark line is located thereon just above the circumferential perforation of the variable volume carton box to allow the lining to be folded, thereby forming an airtight lining within the reduced volume carton box.

Claims

1. A variable volume carton box having a front side, a back side, a right side, a left side, a top portion, and a bottom portion, said variable volume carton box comprising an upper closable lid located at the top portion thereof and at least one intermediate closable lid located within the box intermediate the top portion and the bottom portion;

wherein said at least one intermediate closable lid comprises;

a first intermediate elongated flap with a second slot located thereon;

a second intermediate elongated flap with a second tab located thereon, wherein said second tab cooperates with said second slot so as to securely close said intermediate closable lid; and

third and fourth intermediate side flaps located between said first and said second intermediate elongated flaps;

whereby, said first and said second intermediate elongated flaps and said third and said fourth intermediate side flaps each have lower portions attached thereto circumferentially securing said first and said second intermediate elongated flaps and said third and said fourth intermediate side flaps to an interior portion of said variable volume carton box.

2. The variable volume carton box as claimed in claim 1, wherein said upper lid comprises:

a first top elongated flap with a first slot located thereon;

a second top elongated flap with a first tab located thereon; and

third and fourth top side flaps located between said first and second top elongated flaps;

wherein said first tab and said first slot cooperate in such a manner as to securely close said upper closable lid.

3. The variable volume carton box as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one circumferential box perforation located intermediate said top and bottom portions.

4. The variable volume carton box as claimed in claim 2, further comprising at least one circumferential box perforation located intermediate said top and bottom portions.

5. The variable volume carton box as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one circumferential box perforation located intermediate said top and bottom portions.

6. The variable volume carton box as claimed in claim 2, further comprising at least one circumferential box perforation located intermediate said top and bottom portions.

7. The variable volume carton box as claimed in claim 2, further comprising flexible airtight lining located therein, wherein said flexible airtight lining comprises at least one intermediate circumferential line perforation thereon.

8. The variable volume carton box as claimed in claim 7, wherein said variable volume carton box further includes at least one strip of tape, wherein each of said at least one strip of tape is located over each of said at least one intermediate circumferential line perforation.

9. The variable volume carton box as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a flexible airtight lining located therein, wherein said flexible airtight lining comprises at least one intermediate circumferential line perforation thereon.

10. The variable volume carton box as claimed in claim 9, wherein said variable volume carton box further includes at least one strip of tape, wherein each of said at least one strip of tape is located over each of said at least one intermediate circumferential line perforation.

11. The variable volume carton box as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a flexible airtight lining located therein, wherein said flexible airtight lining comprises at least one intermediate circumferential markline thereon.

12. The variable volume carton box as claimed in claim 6, further comprising flexible airtight lining located therein, wherein said flexible airtight lining comprises at least one intermediate circumferential line perforation thereon.

13. The variable volume carton box as claimed in claim 12, wherein said variable volume carton box further includes at least one strip of tape, wherein each of said at least one strip of tape is located over each of said at least one intermediate circumferential line perforation.

14. The variable volume carton box as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a flexible airtight lining located therein, wherein said flexible airtight lining comprises at least one intermediate circumferential markline thereon.

15. The variable volume carton box as claimed in claim 9, wherein said at least one intermediate circumferential line perforation is located sufficiently above said at least one intermediate circumferential box perforation so as to allow said flexible airtight lining to be secured in an airtight fashion when said variable volume carton box is reduced in size.

16. The variable volume carton box as claimed in claim 10, wherein said at least one intermediate circumferential line perforation is located a predetermined distance above said at least one intermediate circumferential box perforation so as to allow said flexible airtight lining to be secured in an airtight fashion when said variable volume carton box is reduced in size.

17. A variable volume carton box having a front side, a back side, a right side, a left side, a top portion, and a bottom portion, said variable volume carton box comprising an upper closable lid located at the top potion thereof and at least one intermediate closable lid located within the box intermediate the top portion and the bottom portion;

and

further comprising a flexible airtight lining located therein, wherein said flexible airtight lining comprises at least one intermediate circumferential line perforation thereon.

18. A variable volume carton box having a front side, a back side, a right side, a left side, a top portion, and a bottom portion, said variable volume carton box comprising an upper closable lid located at the top portion thereof and at least one intermediate closable lid located within the box intermediate the top portion and the bottom portion;

and

further comprising a flexible airtight lining located therein, wherein said flexible airtight lining comprises at least one intermediate circumferential markline thereon.