Patent ID: 6209783
Filing Date: 2001-04-03
Classification: B65D

Abstract:
A reinforced cardboard box for storage and shipping of elongated items and rolled documents, comprising:a bottom panel, first and second opposed side panels, first and second abutting top panels and a reinforcing rib panel, each of said panels being substantially rectangular in shape and having opposed longitudinal and transverse edges, said longitudinal edges being of an elongated length, said side panels being foldably joined at their lower longitudinal edges to the bottom panel and foldably joined at their upper longitudinal edges to said first and second abutting top panels to the form an elongated box, said box having a substantially rectangular cross section, said rib panel being foldably joined to the second abutting top panel;a pair of abutting bottom end panels, each of said bottom end panels being joined to a transverse edge of the bottom panel;a pair of outer side end panels, each of said outer side end panels having an inner surface and an outer surface and being joined to the transverse edge of the second side panel, said side end panels having a tab opening therethrough, said opening being disposed between the outer side end panel and the second side panel;a pair of inner side end panels, each of said inner side end panels having an inner surface and an outer surface and being foldably joined to said outer side end panels, each of said inner side end panels having a bendable tab element extending from its distal end, said tab element being sized, shaped and disposed to engage the opening in the outer side end panel when the outer side panel is folded upwardly and the inner side panel is folded downwardly over the abutting bottom end panel;each of said inner side end panels having a first pair and a second pair of opposed, parallel edges, said second pair of parallel edges including a first edge and a second edge, said second edge being collinear with the juncture between the second side panel and the second top panel;a pair of receiving pockets formed between the inner surface of the outer side end panel and the inner surface of the inner side end panel;a pair of rounded closing end panels, each of said closing end panels being joined to the transverse edges of the first top panel along a score line, said score line allowing the closing end panel to be folded inwardly at a right angle to the first top panel, each of said rounded closing end panels being configured to be received in one of the receiving pockets;a closing member, said closing member being joined to a distal longitudinal edge of the first top panel;said closing member having a score line spaced from and parallel to the distal edge of the first top panel, said score line being disposed to coincide with the juncture of the second top panel and the second side panel when said panels are folded to form a box;said second top panel having a plurality of tab openings therethrough, said tab openings being disposed along the juncture of the second side panel and the second top panel;said second top panel having a closing member opening therethrough, said closing member opening being sized, shaped and disposed to accommodate the closing member, the portion of said member extending beyond the score line of the member being disposed within the box when assembled;said rib panel being joined to a longitudinal edge of the second top panel, said rib panel having a plurality of tab projections extending from its distal edge, said tab projections being sized, shaped and disposed to engage the openings in the second top panel when the rib panel is folded inwardly toward the second top panel; anda pair of top reinforcing extensions, each of said extensions having a first edge collinear with the juncture of the second side panel and the second top panel, a parallel second edge, a third edge normal to the first edge, said third edge being collinear with the distal end of the inner side end panel and a fourth edge parallel to the third edge, said extensions being joined to the second edge of the second pair of opposed, parallel edges of the inner side end panels, said extensions further being foldable inwardly from the inner side end panels to provide a means for constraining the second top panel in orthogonal orientation to the second side panel when the second top panel is folded inwardly and the rib panel is folded over the reinforcing extension.