Background of the Invention Field of the Invention

The present invention related to packaging boxes and more particularly to a foldable box.

Description of the Related Art

The foldable boxes of plurality of sizes and uses are available in the prior art. These boxes can be folded and/or unfolded for their use using a variety of folding and unfolding mechanisms. The prior art foldable boxes generally include multiple panels that have a plurality of folds and joints. For example, a foldable box in the art normal ly includes separate base panels, side panels, and lid panels that are inter connected to each other with a plurality of folds and attachment means such as glue and tape. However, the construction and operation of these boxes become complex and time consum ing due to these excessive panels, joints and folds. A user may appreciate a foldable box that uses the least panel components that can be effortlessly connected to each other in such a manner that the box can be unfolded from a folded condition with the least effort.

In addition, the operation of the prior art boxes is not without problems. For example, when these boxes are folded, they do not retain their flat configuration as fastening means adapted to lock the panels is normally externally ^' located. A lso, stacking of these boxes in folded condition is a tedious job due to these externally attached fastening means such as, for example, a hinge, a cover flap, a hook and loop fastener and a zip fastener. A user may appreciate a foldable box that can be folded and stacked flat along with an internally located fastening means. A user may also appreciate a foldable box that makes use of one of its panels to facilitate fastening means in the unfolded position of the box.

The prior art boxes include lid panels that are connected to side panels using an externally attached locking means. However, these locking means undergo physical deterioration in the course of time and lose their locking ability. Also these locking means are normally individually attached to the panel sections of the boxes. However, no attempt is seen in the art to make use of foldable panel sections to facilitate locking means for the box instead of using externally attached locking means.

The folding'or unfolding of these boxes is frequently a two-handed practice.

However, the prior art boxes have structural inability to be operated with a single hand, especially by a person having physical lim itations. A user may appreciate a foldable box that is light in weight and has minimum structural and operational mechanism to be comfortably used by a single hand.

There is need of a foldable box that includes minimal structural and operational components to quickly undergo folding and unfolding using a single hand. There is also a need of a foldable box that uses an inbui lt fastening means in one of the panels to hold the box in the unfolded position. There is also a need of a foldable box that uses one of the panels to have an inbuilt locking means that facilitates locking and unlocking means for the box.

Summary

A reusable foldable box is described that has a first flat configuration and a second three dimensional configuration. The foldable box in construction is an assembly of two subassemblies such that each subassembly is a combination of various panels. A first subassembly includes a combination of main panels and subpanels that are foldably coupled■ in a predefined sequence to define the first subassembly. Main panels are preferably bigger in size than the subpanels.

A second subassembly includes a pair of rectangular subpanels such that each of the panels includes a pair of opposed triangular connectors. Simi larly predefined subpanels of the first subassembly include opposed triangular connecting portions. The second subassembly is coupled with predefined subpanels of the first subassembly with the respective triangular connectors and connecting portions. The triangular connectors are coupled with the respective sub panels of the first subassembly with predefined connecting portions. The first siibpanel and second subpanels of the second subassembly are coupled along predefined edges of second main panel of first subassembly.

The second subassembly is assembled with the first subassembly to define the foldable box. A first main panel defines a top cover of the foldable box. The second main panel defines a bottom of the foldable box. The foldable box of claim 4, wherei n the first subpanel and second subpanels are coupled along predefined edges of the second main panel of the first subassembly.

The foldable box is advantageously a simple construction because the box is a combination of two subassemblies. The box includes a combination of magnets and an iron piece for locking it flat, as wel l as, in three dimensional configurations. The main advantage of the foldable box over the prior art is that the first subassembly is a single piece construction. Hence joining of the two subassemblies results in a complete foldable box. Brief description of drawings

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a foldabie box in a three dimensional configuration in accordance with a preferred embodiment of present invention;

FIG.2 is a top perspective view of a first subassembly of panels of foldabie box of FIG. 1 ;

FIG.3 is a top view of a second subassembly of panels of foldabie box of FIG. I ;

FIG.4 is a top view of a panel with opposed connecting portions of the first subassembly of foldabie box of FIG. I;

FIG.5 is a top perspective view of a preferred method of assembling of a second subassembly with the first subassembly of the foldabie box of FIG. I;

FIG.6 is a top view of the second subassembly coupled with a second main panel of the first subassembly of foldabie box of FIG. I ;

FIG.7 is a top view of a first flat configuration of the foldabie box of FIG. I ;

FIGS.8 shows a first step involved in a preferred method of changing a closed configuration of the foldabie box of FIG. 1 to a three dimensional second configuration;

FIG.9 shows a second step involved in bringing the foldabie box of FIG. 1 to the three dimensional second configuration;

FIG. 10 shows a third step involved in bringing the foldabie box of FIG. I to the three dimensional second configuration; and

FIG. 1 I shows a fourth step involved in locking the foldabie box in the closed configuration of the foldabie box of FIG. I.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Although specific terms are used in the following description for the sake of clarity, these terms are intended to refer only to a particular structure of the invention selected for illustration in the drawings, and are not intended to define or limit the scope of the invention.

Referring to FIG. I, a preferred embodiment of a foldable box 10 in accordance with the present invention is shown. The foldable boxlO has a first closed configuration in which box 10 is closed flat, and a second three dimensional configuration in which the box is built upright. The second configuration is transferable to the first flat configuration. The foldable box 10 includes a first subassembly of panels that is assembled with a second subassembly of panels in a predefined fashion to define the foldable box.

The assembly of first subassembly and second assembly defines the foldable box 10. Each of the panels defining the first and second subassembly includes various panels that are preferably rectangular is shape and are made of materials such as cardboard, flexible plastic, laminated plastics etc. The first subassembly of panels and the second subassembly of panels is laminated with a predefined material. In one embodiment, the size of the box 10 may be 150 X 150 X 25(h) mm.

Referring to FIG.2, a first subassembly of panels 16 is shown. The first subassembly of panels 16 includes a plurality of panels that are coupled in a predefined fashion along predefined creases/folds. The first subassembly 16 has two classes of panels such as main panels and sub panels. Main panels are preferably bigger than sub panels. In the preferred embodiment, length of main panels and sub-panels is approximately identical, whereas width of main panels is preferably three times the width of sub-panels.

A first main panel 20 has approximately identical dimensions as that of a second main panel 22. Panels 24, 26.28 and 30 define sub panels that have approximately identical dimensions. Subpanei 26 is coupled between first main panels 20 and second main panel 22. Panel 28 is coupled between second main panel 22 and sub panel 30. Subpanels 24 and 26 are foldable relative to panel 20 along creases 32 and 34 respectively. Subpanels 26 and 28 are foldable relative to second main panel 22 along creases 36 and 38 respectively. Subpanei 30 is foldable relative to panel 28 along crease 39. The panels 20-30 are preferably lam inated to define a uniform construction of the first subassembly of main panels and subpanels.

Subpanei 24 includes an iron sheet 25 that is approximately centrally positioned in the subpanei 24. Subpanels 28 and 30 preferably include magnets 29 and 3 1 . Each of the magnets 29 and 3 I is approximately central ly positioned in the respective subpanels 28 and 30 preferably below the lamination. Each of the magnets 29 and 3 1 is positioned in the respective subpanei such that the magnet is not visible with the naked eye from the subpanei. Thickness of each of the magnets 29 and 3 I is substantial ly close to the th ickness of the respective subpane ls 28, and 30. Magnet 29 has opposite polarity to that of magnet 3 1 . The subpanei 30 preferably includes a flexible hold ing means such as a ribbon or a string 33. The first subassembly : l 6 includ ing main panels and subpanels is preferably made by d ie cutting, scori ng and then fold ing to define a desi red combination of type one and type two panels i n a si ngle piece.

Referring to PIG. 3, a second subassem bly 1 8 is shown that incl udes a first subpanei 40 and a second subpanei 42. The first subpanei 40 includes a pair of opposed panels 44 and 46 that are coupled with opposite ends of first panel along respecti ve creases 48 and 50. Each of the pane ls 44 and 46 is foldably coupled with panel 40 along respective creases 48 and 50. Panel 44 includes a d iagonal fold 52 that defines triangu lar connectors 54 and 56. Panel 46 includes a d iagonal fold 58 that define triangular connectors 60 and 62. Second subpanel 42 includes a pair of opposed panels 70 and 72 that are coupled with opposite ends of second panel along respective creases 74 and 76. Each of the panels 70 and 72 is foldably coupled with panel 42 along respective crease 74 and 76. Panel 70 includes a diagonal fold 78 that defines triangular connectors 80 and 82. Panel 72 includes a diagonal fold 84 that define triangular connectors 85 and 86. The second subassembly 1 8 is preferably made by die cutting, scoring and then folding to define the configuration of panels.

As shown in FIG. 4, the subpanel 26 includes a pair of opposed triangular connecting portions 90 and 92 that are defined along a crease 36. Panel 28 includes a pair of opposed triangular connecting portions 94 and 96 along the crease 38. The second subassembly 1 8 is foldably coupled with the first subassembly 16 along edges 98 and 100, and further connectors 54, 80, 60, and 86 are coupled with respective connecting portions 90, 92, 94 and 96.

Now referring to FIG. 5, the panel 40 is foldably coupled with panel 22 such that edges 98 and 98'are collinear. A crease 52 defines two triangular connectors 54 and 56. A bottom portion of connector 54 is coupled with connecting portion 90 such that crease 52 is coincident with a line 1 10. A crease 58 defines two triangular connectors 60 and 62. A bottom portion of connector 60 is coupled with connecting portion 94 such that crease 58 is coincident with a line 1 12. Panel 42 is foldably coupled with panel 22 such that edges 1 00 and 1 OO'are collinear.

A crease 78 defines two triangular connectors 80 and 82. A bottom portion of connector 80 is coupled with connecting portion 92 such that crease 78 is coincident with a l ine I 14. A crease 84 defines two triangular connectors 85 and 86. A bottom portion of connector 86 is coupled with connecting portion 96 such that crease 84 is coincident with a l ine I 1 6. Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, an assembly of the first subassembly 1 6 and second subassembly 1 8 in folded position is described that defines the first closed configuration of the foldable box in accordance with the present invention. In the first closed position, panel 40 is foldably rested on the panel 22 along edge 98, connector 56 is rested on a top portion of connector 54, and connector 62 is rested on a top portion of the connector 60. In a sim i lar fashion, subpanel 42 is foldably rested on the subpanel 22 along edge 1 00, connector 82 is rested on a top portion of the connector 80, and connector 85 is rested on connector 86.

Now referring to FIGS. 7 to I 1 , a preferred method of changing a closed position of the fold ing box 1 0 to a three dimensional upright position is described. In itially box 1 0 is completely folded in the first closed position. R ibbon 33 coupled with panel 30 is pulled in upward di rection to pul l the panel 30 about crease 40 (FIG . 7). I n a next step, panels 20 is opened in upward d irection about crease 34. The panel 20 along with panel 24 is preferably rested on an opposite side relative to panel 22.

I n a next step panels 40 and 42 are pul led upward to separate the panels from panel 22 as i nd icated by arrow A 1 . Pane ls 40 and 42 are folded open to ach ieve an upright position re lat ive to panel 22. Open ing of panels 40 and 42 bring panels 26 and 28 to upright posit ion ^' ; The panels 26 and 28 foldably rotate about crease 36 and 38 respectively as ind icated by arrow A2 and A3 to achieve upright positions. I n a next step panels 40 a nd 42 are gradua l ly brought to completely upright positions that bring panels 26 and 28 to approxi mately upright positions (FIG. 9).

In a next step, as shown in FIG. 10, panel 30 is folded about crease 39 as ind icated by arrow A4. In this step, panels 28 and 30 ach ieve upright position such that magnet 29 and 30 are coupled to lock panels 28 and 30 to the upright position. I n this step, panels 26, 28, 40 and 42 define sides of the foldable box 1 0 and panel 22 defines a base of the foldable box 1 0. In a next step, panel 20 is folded about crease 34 in the direction of panel 30 as indicated by arrow A5. Panel 20 defines a top of the box 10.

In a next step, panel 24 is foldably rotated about fold 32 such that panel 24 is positioned on panel 28. The panel is lockable by magnetic forces between iron piece 25 and magnet 29. Subpanels 26, 28, 40 and 42 are in upright position to define the foidable box 10. The box 10 in three dimensional configuration is folded back by following the above mentioned steps in a reverse sequence.

Now referring to FIGS.1 to 11- the foidable box 10 in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention has two configurations. In the first configuration foidable box 10 is folded to a flat configuration. The foidable box 10 disclosed in the present invention remains completely flat in the folded position. The box 10 in flat configuration is easily convertible to the three dimensional configuration by pulling the ribbon 33 to open the panel 30 followed by bringing the panels 40 and 42 to upright position and then locking the panel 30 with panel 28 to lock respective magnets 3 I and 29. Panels 26, 28, 30, 40 and 42 define the space within box 10 that can accommodate desired items to be stored. The second main panel 22 defines a bottom of the foidable box 10. Box 10 is then closed by panel 20 and then locking panels 24 and 28 with respective iron sheet 25 and magnet 29. The first main panel 20 defines a top cover of the box 10.

The foidable box 10 includes an inbuilt magnetic locking arrangement. The locking arrangement doesn't project out of respective panels which advantageously facilitates a flat configuration to box 10. The flat configuration is most suited for storing a number of foidable boxes 10 in stacks within available space. The foldability of the box 10 makes the box 10 most suitable to reuse the box 10 for a number of times. A user may carry a foidable box 10 in a container such as a purse if needed. The foldable box 10 in the present invention is a simple assembly of two

subassemblies of the first subassembly 16 and second subassembly 18. The first subassembly 16 is includes two types of rectangular panels. The first type of panels are termed as main panels that are that preferably approximately thrice in breadth than the second type of panels termed as subpanels. However, it is understood that the first subassembly 16 is a single construction with a combination foldably coupled main panels and subpanels in a predefined sequence. Thus the foldable box 10 is advantageously simple for a final assembly that defines the foldable box 10. The box 10 is made with minimal structural components. Most importantly the box 10 is locked in both flat and three dimensional configurations as well.

The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention has been presented for the purpose of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and verifications are possible in light of the above leaching. It is intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by the claims appended hereto. Since many embodiments of the present disclosure can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, the present invention resides in the claims hereafter appended.