Side loading storage box

• US 6,234,385 B1
• Filed: 09/03/1999
• Issued: 05/22/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: R.R. Foreman and Company
• Original Assignee: R.R. Foreman and Company
• Inventors: Espinoza, Alfred D., Foreman, Robert R., Okasaki, Emily M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elkins, Gary E.
• Application Number:
  US09/389,780
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• Field of Search: 229/122, 229/149, 229/150, 229/915, 206/425, 493/56, 493/69-72, 493/73, 493/79-81
• US Class Current: 229/122
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2313/02 of hook-and-loop type
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2313/04 of magnetic type
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2577/042 Comprising several inner containers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/2038 at least two opposed folded-up portions having a non-rectangular shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/4204 Inspection openings or windows
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/427 Individual packages joined together, e.g. by means of integral tabs B65D5/5495 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/4608 Handgrip holes
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/48 Partitions
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/52 External stands or display elements for contents
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/64 Lids
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/6658 combined with flaps or tabs provided at the side edges of the lid
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/6673 the lid being held in closed position by application of separate elements, e.g. clips, hooks, cords B65D5/6647 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/6697 Separate lids attached to the container body by a hinge element
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/721 consisting of mobile elements forming part of the containers or attached to the containers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 77/042 the inner container being of polygonal cross-section formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks, e.g. carton
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 229/915 Stacking feature

Abstract

A single-piece side-loading box having triple side-wall construction and a unique latching tab. The box incorporates walls, a floor, a top, a side-opening panel and latching tab in one unitary piece. The one piece box generally includes a bottom panel, front, side and back panels attached to the bottom panel and a lid attached to the back panel. A latching tab with integral handle is incorporated into the front panel. The box is preferably assembled from a cutout made from a single piece of material. The side-walls, side wings and side reinforcements fold into each other to provide a triple-side-wall construction that allows the box to support a great weight.

Claims

1. A single-piece side-loading box, comprising:

a floor comprising a bottom panel;

two or more walls comprising two side panels and a back panel, said side and back panels being attached to said bottom panel;

a top comprising a lid attached to said back panel; and

a side-opening panel having a latching tab with a handle and comprising a front panel attached to said bottom panel;

wherein said floor, walls, top, side-opening panel and latching tab and handle are fabricated in a unitary piece.

2. The side-loading box of claim 1 having a multiple-side-wall construction.

3. The side-loading box of claim 2 wherein said multiple-side-wall construction is a triple-side-wall construction.

4. The side-loading box of claim 1 wherein said lid includes a lid flap and depending side reinforcements.

5. The side loading box of claim 4 wherein said lid flap includes a slot sized to receive said latching tab.

6. The side-loading box of claim 4 wherein said side reinforcements are configured to fit inside the box adjacent the side walls.

7. The side-loading box of claim 6 wherein said side panels include side-walls, two or more reinforcing side-wings and two or more interlocking back reinforcements.

8. The side-loading box of claim 7 wherein said side-wings fold back over the side reinforcements.

9. The side-loading box of claim 8 wherein said side walls, said side wings and said side reinforcements contain cutouts, said cutouts being configured to align with each other.

10. The side-loading box of claim 1 wherein said box is made of corrugated board.

11. The side-loading box of claim 10 wherein said corrugated board is 250 pound test corrugated cardboard.

12. The box of claim 1 further comprising one or more inserts for organizing articles stored within the box.

13. The side loading storage box of claim 1 wherein said floor includes one or more tabs configured to protrude from said floor.

14. The side loading storage box of claim 1 wherein said top includes one or more slots.

15. A single-piece side-loading box, comprising:

a bottom panel;

two side panels attached to said bottom panel;

a back panel attached to said bottom panel;

lid attached to said back panel; and

a side opening front panel attached to said bottom panel;

wherein said floor, walls, top, side-opening panel, are fabricated in a unitary piece of corrugated board that provide multiple-side-wall construction, and

wherein said side panels include side-walls, two or more reinforcing side-wings and two or more interlocking back reinforcements.

16. A single-piece cutout for a container comprising

a bottom panel portion;

two side panel portions attached to said bottom panel portion;

a back panel portion attached to said bottom panel portion;

lid portion attached to said back panel portion; and

a side opening front panel portion attached to said bottom panel portion;

wherein said side panel portions include side-walls, two or more reinforcing side-wings and two interlocking back reinforcements.

17. A method of making a box comprising:

providing a sheet of material; and

cutting said sheet into a shape that defines a bottom panel portion, two side panel portions attached to said bottom panel portion, a back panel portion, attached to said bottom panel portion, lid portion attached to said back panel portion; and

a side opening front panel portion attached to said bottom panel;

wherein said front panel portion includes a latching tab having a handle.

18. A method of making a box comprising:

providing a sheet of material; and

cutting said sheet into a shape that defines a bottom panel portion, two side panel portions attached to said bottom panel portion, a back panel portion attached to said bottom panel portion, lid portion attached to said back panel portion; and

a side opening front panel portion attached to said bottom panel;

wherein said side panel portions include two or more side-wall portions, two reinforcing side-wing portions and two interlocking back reinforcement portions and said lid portion includes two side reinforcement portions.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

folding said back reinforcement portions over each other and interlocking them;

bringing said side panel portions up to form sides of the box;

placing said depending side reinforcements inside the box; and

folding said side wings over said side reinforcements.