Patent ID: 6059180
Filing Date: 2000-05-09
Classification: B65D

Abstract:
A reinforced paperboard box for storage and shipping of elongated items, comprising:a rectangular bottom panel having first and second opposed, elongated, parallel, side edges, third and fourth opposed, parallel end edges normal to the first and second edges, a first predetermined width measured between the first and second edges and a first predetermined length measured between the third and fourth edges;a first side panel having first and second opposed, elongated, parallel edges of the first predetermined length, third and fourth opposed, parallel end edges, a first predetermined height measured between the first and second edges, said first side panel foldably joined at its second edge to the first edge of the bottom panel;first and second abutting rectangular first side end panels, each of said first side end panels having first and second opposed, parallel edges of the length of the first predetermined width, and third and fourth opposed, parallel edges of the length of the first predetermined height, said first first side end panel foldably joined at its fourth edge to the third edge of the first side panel and said second first side end panel foldably joined at its third edge to the fourth edge of the first side panel;first and second tab receiving panels, each of said tab receiving panels having a distal edge and a proximate edge not greater in length than the first predetermined width and being foldably joined at said proximate edge to the second edge of one of the first and second first side end panels;each of said first and second tab receiving panels including a tab opening disposed along its proximate edge;first and second locking panels, each of said locking panels having a proximate edge not greater in length than the first predetermined width, an opposed parallel, distal edge and being foldably joined at said proximate edge to the first edge of one of the first and second first side end panels;each of said first and second locking panels including a tab member extending outwardly from its distal edge, said tab member sized, shaped and disposed to engage the tab opening in one of the first and second tab receiving panels;a second side panel having first and second opposed, elongated, parallel edges of the first predetermined length, third and fourth opposed, parallel end edges, of the first predetermined height measured between the first and second edges, said second panel foldably joined at its first edge to the second edge of the bottom panel;first and second abutting rectangular second side end panels, each of said second side end panels having first and second opposed, parallel edges of the length of the first predetermined width, and third and fourth opposed, parallel edges of the length of the first predetermined height, said first second side end panel foldably joined at its fourth edge to the third edge of the second side panel and said second second side end panel foldably joined at its third edge to the fourth edge of the second side panel;a top panel having first and second opposed, elongated, parallel edges of less than the first predetermined length spaced apart by the first predetermined width and third and fourth opposed, parallel end edges, said top panel foldably joined at its second edge to the first edge of the first side panel;a front reinforcing panel having first and second opposed, elongated, parallel edges of the first predetermined length spaced apart by no more than the first predetermined height and third and fourth opposed, parallel end edges, said front reinforcing panel foldably joined at its second edge to the first edge of the top panel;first and second front panel end extensions, each of said end extensions having a proximate edge not greater in length than the first predetermined height and being foldably joined at said proximate edge to one of the third and fourth edges of the front reinforcing panel;a dividing partition having first and second opposed, elongated, parallel edges of a second predetermined length less than the first predetermined length, spaced apart a second predetermined width equal to the sum of the first predetermined width and the first predetermined height, and third and fourth opposed end edges, said dividing partition foldably joined at its first edge to the second edge of the second side panel;said dividing partition including at least two pairs of cuts, said first cut spaced from the third edge of the dividing partition and said second cut spaced from said first cut, said third cut spaced from the fourth edge of the dividing partition and said forth cut spaced from said third cut;each of said first, second, third and fourth cuts extending from the first edge of the dividing partition to a first point spaced from the first edge by a first predetermined distance, from said first point to a second point spaced from the first edge by the first predetermined width, and from said second point to a third point, said third point spaced from the second edge of the dividing partition by a second predetermined distance;a first perforation parallel to the first edge of the dividing partition, said first perforation extending from the first point of the first cut to the first point of the second cut;a second perforation parallel to the first edge of the dividing partition, said second perforation extending from the third point of the first cut to the third point of the second cut;a third perforation parallel to the first edge of the dividing partition, said third perforation extending from the second point of the first cut to the third edge of the dividing partition;a fourth perforation parallel to the first edge of the dividing partition, said fourth perforation extending from the second point of the second cut to the second point of the third cut;a fifth perforation parallel to the first edge of the dividing partition, said fifth perforation extending from the first point of the third cut to the first point of the fourth cut;a sixth perforation parallel to the first edge of the dividing partition, said sixth perforation extending from the third point of the third cut to the third point of the fourth cut;a seventh perforation parallel to the first edge of the dividing partition, said seventh perforation extending from the second point of the fourth cut to fourth edge of the dividing partition; andwhereby, when the first and second tab receiving panels are folded inwardly from the first and second first side end panels, and the first and second first side end panels are folded inwardly from the first side panel, and the first side panel is folded inwardly from the bottom panel, and the first and second second side end panels are folded inwardly from the second side panel, and the second side panel is folded inwardly from the bottom panel, and the first and second locking panels are folded over the first and second second side end panels so that the tab members of said second side end panels engage the tab openings of the first and second tab receiving panels, and the dividing partition is folded inwardly along the first through seventh perforations and inwardly from the second side panel so that its second edge rests upon the bottom panel, an open topped container divided into a plurality of compartments may be formed; andwhereby, when the top panel is folded inwardly from the first side panel, and the first and second front panel extensions are folded inwardly from the front reinforcing panel, and the front reinforcing panel is folded inwardly from the top panel and over the second side panel, and the first front panel extension is inserted between the first first side end panel and the first second side end panel, and the second front panel extension is inserted between the second first side end panel and the second second side end panel a closed reinforced paperboard box for storage and shipping of elongated items may be formed.