Expandable accessory box and packaging system for packaging electronic systems

• US 6,604,631 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2001
• Issued: 08/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Combs, David M., Evans, Timothy M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Luong, Shian
• Application Number:
  US09/900,998
• Publication Number:
  US 20030006165A1
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: 206/320, 206/223, 206/576, 206/774, 206/525, 206/591, 206/45.25, 206/45.26, 206/45.27, 206/767, 229/124, 229/126, 229/128, 229/131, 229/131.1, 229/160.2, 229/163, 229/149, 229/153, 229/154
• US Class Current: 206/320
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/0254 with end closures formed by inward folding of flaps and securing them by means of a tongue integral with one of the flaps
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/42 Details of containers or of foldable or erectable container blanks

Abstract

An expandable accessory box (10) may be configured in either a retracted configuration or an expanded configuration. In the retracted configuration, the expandable accessory box (10) may be used in connection with a first primary box (51) to accommodate both the base piece of equipment or base component, such as a portable computer for example, and a first volume (A) of accessories to be shipped together with the base component. The first primary box (51) snugly receives both the base component and the accessory box (10) in the retracted configuration. However, the accessory box (10) may be placed in the expanded configuration and used with a second, larger primary box (61) to contain both the base component, the first volume (A) of accessories, and an additional volume (E) of accessories. The second primary box (61) is sized to snugly receive the base component and the accessory box (10) in its expanded configuration.

Claims

1. A packaging system for electronic equipment and related accessories to be shipped together, the packaging system including:

(a) an expandable accessory box positionable alternatively in a retracted configuration or an expanded configuration;

(b) a first primary box having a product space sufficient for snugly receiving a system component assembly and the accessory box in the retracted configuration;

(c) a second primary box having a product space sufficient for snugly receiving the system component assembly and the accessory box in the expanded configuration;

(d) first retainer devices included on the expandable accessory box; and

(e) second retainer devices included in the second primary box at an end of the second primary box adapted to receive the accessory box in the expanded configuration, the second retainer devices for cooperating with the first retainer devices to hold the accessory box in the expanded configuration in the second primary box.

2. The packaging system of claim 1 wherein the expandable accessory box includes:

(a) a first side and an extension side spaced apart from each other to define a first accessory box volume; and

(b) a number of extension members connected to the accessory box and positionable alternatively in an extended position which corresponds to the expanded configuration and a retracted position which corresponds to the retracted configuration, the extension members extending outwardly from the extension side when in the extended position.

3. The packaging system of claim 2 wherein the first retainer devices each include a tab extending from a distal end of a respective of the extension members.

4. The packaging system of claim 3 wherein the second retainer devices each include a slot located on a side of the second primary box and having a size and shape sufficient for operably receiving a respective one of the tabs.

5. The packaging system of claim 2 wherein the extension members are made from corrugated board material in which the flutes of the corrugated material extend generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the respective extension member.

6. The packaging system of claim 5 wherein the extension members are cut from material making up the extension side of the expandable accessory box.

7. The packaging system of claim 6 wherein at least one extension member includes a score line at a proximal end thereof.

8. An accessory box for use in packaging accessories together in a primary box with an electronic system component, the accessory box including:

(a) a first side and an extension side spaced apart from each other to define a first accessory box volume, with an access opening extending between the first side and the extension side on a top side of the accessory box

(b) a number of extension members connected to the accessory box and positionable alternatively in an extended position or a retracted position, the extension members extending outwardly from the extension side when in the extended position; and

(c) a first retainer device connected to at lease one of the extension members at a distal end of the respective extension member, the retainer device including a tab extending from the distal end of the respective extension member, the respective tab having a length along the distal end of the respective extension member less than the length of the distal end of the respective extension member and being adapted to cooperate with a second retainer device on the primary box to hold the respective extension member in the extended position.

9. The accessory box of claim 8 wherein the extension members are each made from corrugated board material in which the flutes of the corrugated material extend generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the respective extension member.

10. The accessory box of claim 9 wherein the extension members are cut from material making up the extension side of the accessory box.

11. The accessory box of claim 10 wherein at least one extension member includes a score line at a proximal end thereof.

12. The accessory box of claim 8 further including:

(a) a first extension member have a proximal end connected to a first end of the accessory box; and

(b) a second extension member having a proximal end connected to a second end of the accessory box opposite the first end of the accessory box; and

(c) wherein the first extension member and the second extension member each include a respective first retainer device including a tab extending from the distal end of the respective extension member, the respective tab having a length along the distal end of the respective extension member less than the length of the distal end of the respective extension member and being adapted to cooperate with a respective second retainer device on the primary box to hold the respective extension member in the extended position.

13. The accessory box of claim 12 further including a third extension member connected to the accessory box at a location between the first and second ends of the accessory box, and wherein the third extension member includes a respective first retainer device including a tab extending from the distal end of the respective extension member, the tab having a length along the distal end of the respective extension member less than the length of the distal end of the respective extension member and being adapted to cooperate with a respective second retainer device on the primary box to hold the respective extension member in the extended position.