Abstract:
An apparatus and system are provided for supporting a box. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a first portion adapted to be associated with a first side of the box. The apparatus further includes a second portion having a second attachment device that is adapted to attach to a second side of the box. The apparatus further includes a hinge portion that is adapted to correspond to a corner associated with the first side and the second side of the box, and that adjoins the first portion and the second portion.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure generally relates to a support system for a box, and more particularly relates to one or more apparatuses for supporting corner portions of a box. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Boxes have long been used for packaging and storing of certain elements. For example, a variety of sized boxes may be used to store games, crafting supplies, tools, etc. The box may be made of cardboard or other materials. Over time, a box made of such material may break down. For example, one or more corner portions of the box may break down thus, compromising the overall support of the box. 
         [0003]    Accordingly, it is desirable to provide systems for providing support to a box. It is further desirable for providing methods of manufacturing a device and system for providing support to a box. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description of the invention and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background of the invention. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    An apparatus and system are provided for supporting a box. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a first portion that is adapted to be associated with a first side of the box. The apparatus further includes a second portion having a second attachment device that is adapted to attach to a second side of the box. The apparatus further includes a hinge portion that is adapted to correspond to a corner associated with the first side and the second side of the box, and that adjoins the first portion and the second portion. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    The present disclosure will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements, and: 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a box support device in accordance with various embodiments; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a top view of the box support device of  FIG. 1  in accordance with various embodiments; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the box support device of  FIG. 1  in accordance with various embodiments; 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a back view of a first portion of the box support device of  FIG. 1  in accordance with various embodiments; 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a back view of a second portion of the box support device of  FIG. 1  in accordance with various embodiments; 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a front view of the first portion of the box support device, the front view opposing the back view of  FIG. 4  in accordance with various embodiments; 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is a front view of the second portion of the box support device, the front view opposing the back view of  FIG. 5  in accordance with various embodiments; 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  is an exploded side perspective view of an attachment device of the first portion in accordance with various embodiments; 
           [0014]      FIG. 9  is an exploded side perspective view of an attachment device of the second portion in accordance with various embodiments; 
           [0015]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the box support device of  FIG. 1 , wherein the box support device is attached to a corner portion of a box in accordance with various embodiments; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 11  is a flowchart illustrating a method of manufacturing a box support device in accordance with various embodiments. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the application and uses. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. 
         [0018]    With reference to  FIGS. 1-9 , a box support device  100  is shown in accordance with various embodiments. The box support device  100  may be used to provide support to a corner of a box in accordance with various embodiments. The box support device  100  generally includes a first portion  102  and a second portion  104 . The first portion  102  generally includes a first body  105  coupled to an attachment device  106 . As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 6 , the first body  105  includes an outer surface  107 , and an inner surface  108  that is substantially opposite and substantially similar in shape to the outer surface  107 . The shape of the surfaces  107 ,  108  can be substantially rectangular or can be another shape and is defined by a top edge  109 , a bottom edge  110 , an inner edge  112 , an outer edge  114 , and a cutout portion  116 . 
         [0019]    As shown in  FIGS. 1, 6, and 8 , the attachment device  106  is configured to attach the first portion  102  of the box support device  100  to a side of a box. For example, the attachment device  106  may include a foldover clip  117 . The foldover clip  117  is coupled to the top edge  109  of the inner surface  108  of the first body  105 . In such examples, the foldover clip  117  includes a first portion  118  and a second portion  120 . The first portion  118  generally includes an outer surface  122 , and an inner surface  124  that is substantially opposite and substantially similar in shape to the outer surface  122 . In various embodiments, the first portion  118  extends along the top edge  109 , from a position at or near the outer edge  114  to a position at or near the cutout portion  116 . The first portion  118  extends transverse or substantially outwardly a distance ‘a’ from the first body  105 . The distance ‘a’ corresponds to a general thickness of a box side and may vary in various embodiments. The outer surface  122  of the first portion  118  may be flat or planar, may be rounded, or may be a combination of flat or planar in part and rounded in part in various embodiments. 
         [0020]    The second portion  120  of the foldover clip  117  extends substantially downwardly from the first portion  118  to a position  126  that is near but not at the bottom edge  110  of the first body  105 . For example, the second portion  120  extends from the top edge  109  to a position  126  that is a distance ‘y’ from the bottom edge  110 , where the distance ‘y’ is not equal to zero. The second portion  120  includes an end portion  123  that is rolled under or rolled inwards towards the inner surface  108 . The second portion  120  extends substantially downwardly from the first portion  118  at an angle ‘b’ from the inner surface  124  of the first portion  118 . The value of the angle ‘b’ corresponds to a general thickness of a box and may vary in various embodiments. In various embodiments, the value of the angle ‘b’ may vary in use of the box support device  100  as the coupling between the first portion  118  and the second portion  120  can be adapted to provide for allowable springback. 
         [0021]    As can be appreciated, the foldover clip  117  described herein is merely exemplary, as the first portion  102  of the box support device  100  may include other attachment devices  106  (not shown) in addition to or as an alternative to the foldover clip  106 . For example, the attachment device  106  can be implemented as, but not limited to, other pressure devices, an adhesive device, a tack devices, a snap device, etc. and is not limited to the present examples. 
         [0022]    Similarly, as shown in  FIGS. 1, 5, and 7 , the second portion  104  generally includes a second body  128  coupled to an attachment device  130 . The second body  128  includes an outer surface  132 , and an inner surface  134  that is substantially opposite and substantially similar in shape to the outer surface  132 . The shape of the surfaces  132 ,  134  can be substantially rectangular or can be another shape and is defined by a top edge  136 , a bottom edge  138 , an inner edge  140 , an outer edge  142 , and a cutout portion  144 . 
         [0023]    In various embodiments, the attachment device  130  is configured to attach the second portion  104  of the box support device  100  to a side of a box. For example, the attachment device  130  may include a foldover clip  145 . The foldover clip  145  is coupled to the top edge  136  of the inner surface  134  of the second body  128 . In such examples, the foldover clip  145  includes a first portion  146  and a second portion  148 . The first portion  146  generally includes an outer surface  150 , and an inner surface  152  that is substantially opposite and substantially similar in shape to the outer surface  150 . In various embodiments, the first portion  146  extends along the top edge  136 , from a position at or near the outer edge  142  to a position at or near the cutout portion  144 . The first portion  146  extends substantially outwardly or transverse a distance ‘c’ from the second body  128 . The distance ‘c’ corresponds to a general thickness of a box side and may vary in various embodiments. The outer surface  150  of the first portion  146  may be flat or planar, may be rounded, or may be a combination of flat or planar in part and rounded in part in various embodiments. 
         [0024]    The second portion  148  of the foldover clip  145  extends substantially downwardly from the first portion  146  to a position  154  that is near but not at the bottom edge  138  of the second body  128 . For example, the second portion  148  extends from the top edge  136  to a position  154  that is a distance ‘z’ from the bottom edge  138 , where the distance ‘z’ is not equal to zero. The second portion  148  includes an end portion  149  that is rolled under or rolled inwards towards the inner surface  134 . The second portion  148  extends substantially downwardly from the first portion  146  at an angle ‘d’ from the inner surface  152  of the first portion  146 . The value of the angle ‘d’ corresponds to a general thickness of a box and may vary in various embodiments. In various embodiments, the value of the angle ‘d’ may vary in use of the box support device  100  as the coupling between the first portion  146  and the second portion  148  can be adapted to provide for allowable springback. 
         [0025]    As can be appreciated, the foldover clip  145  described herein is merely exemplary, as the second portion  104  of the box support device  100  may include other attachment devices  130  in addition to or as an alternative to the foldover clip  145 . For example, the attachment device  130  can be implemented as, but not limited to, other pressure devices, an adhesive device, a tack devices, a snap device, etc. and is not limited to the present examples. 
         [0026]    In various embodiments, as shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the inner edges  112 ,  140  of the first portion  102  and the second portion  104 , respectively are adjoined at a hinge portion  160 . The hinge portion  160  adjoins the first portion  102  and the second portion  104  such that the first portion  102  and the second portion  104  are substantially perpendicular or at an angle ‘x’ that is approximately ninety degrees. In various embodiments, the hinge portion  160  includes a flexible hinge (e.g., a living hinge, or other flexible hinge) that allows the first portion  102  and the second portion  104  to bend at an intersection line such that the angle ‘x’ is formed. For example, the first portion  102  and the second portion  104  can be preformed as a relatively flat or planar part and subsequently bent to the desired angle ‘x’ via the flexible hinge, thus the hinge portion allows a larger amount of flexibility (e.g., within 90 degrees). In another example, the first portion  102  and the second portion  104  can be preformed according to the angle ‘x’ and the hinge portion allows small amount of flexibility (e.g., within 20 degrees, or so) to accommodate variations in a box corner (e.g., when a box corner is not exactly 90 degrees, etc.) In various other embodiments, the hinge portion  160  is a rigid hinge that is preformed according to the angle ‘x’. As can be appreciated, the hinge portion  160  of the box support device  100  may include other hinge devices known in the art and is not limited to the present examples. 
         [0027]    In operation, as shown in  FIG. 10 , the first portion  102  and the second portion  104  of the box support device  100  attach to a corner corresponding to a first side and a second side of a box  170 . In the example shown, the hinge portion  160  corresponds to a box corner and the attachment devices  106  and  130  attach to the first side and the second side of the box  170 . In particular, the foldover clips  117 ,  145  slide over top edges of the first side and the second side of the box  170 . When in place, the first body  105  and the second body  128  and the second portions  120 ,  148  respectively provide pressure against the box sides to hold the box support device  100  in place. The cutout portions  116 ,  144  provide a window for the top corner of the box  170  to be exposed. The first portions  118 ,  146  provide a lip for stacking additional boxes on top of the box  170 . The end portions  123 ,  149  prevent any conflict between a box support device  100  on a top of a box and a box support device  100  on a bottom of the box in a same corner when the top of the box  170  and the bottom of the box  170  are assembled. 
         [0028]    In various embodiments, a box support system may be provided that includes at least two box support devices  100 . The at least two box support devices  100  attach to at least two corners of the box  170 . A first corner corresponds to first and second sides and a second corner corresponds to third and fourth sides. As can be appreciated, a box support system of the present disclosure can include more than two box support devices  100 , for example, four box support devices  100 , one for each corner of a box, or eight box support devices  100 , one for each corner of the top and bottom of the boxes, and is not limited to the present examples. 
         [0029]    With reference now to  FIG. 11 , a flowchart of a method  200  for manufacturing a box support device  100  is shown in accordance with exemplary embodiments. As can be appreciated in light of the disclosure, the order of operation within the method is not limited to the sequential execution as illustrated in  FIG. 11 , but may be performed in one or more varying orders as applicable and in accordance with the present disclosure. 
         [0030]    As can be appreciated, the method of manufacture may vary depending on the materials used to manufacture the box support device  100 . Materials such as, but not limited to, metals, synthetic polymers (such as plastics or nylon), or any combination thereof may be used to manufacture the box support device  100 . As depicted in  FIG. 11 , the method may begin at  210 , where part dimensions are provided for producing the box support device  100  as described above. At  220 , the part is produced by way of a stamping process, an injection molding process, a 3D printing process, or other process depending on the material or materials used. In various embodiments, the box support device  100  is produced in the bent position. In which case, the method may end at  190 . In various other embodiments, the part is produced substantially flat and at  200  the part is bent at the hinge portion. Thereafter, the method may end. As can be appreciated step  200  may be performed at the time manufacture, or later upon application to a box. 
         [0031]    While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing detailed description, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments. It should be understood that various changes can be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims and the legal equivalents thereof.