Background Art Goods sold in a department store, a store, etc. are usually packed in order to protect the goods while being delivered. A packaging box is one of the most widely used things. In this packaging box, a corrugated cardboard is usually folded to form a square box. Since this packaging box does not have a handle therein, it is inconvenient to carry the box, to hold the box by the hand. In particular, if the volume of a box is large, it is difficult to hold the box by the hand. For this reason, in a department store, a store, etc., an additional shopping bag, a bag, etc. other than the packaging box are supplied to a customer. The customer carries the packaging box in a state where the box is contained in the additional shopping bag or bag.

If the packaging box is carried with it contained in the shopping bag or bag, however, there is a problem that economical waste is caused because the additional shopping bag or bag is necessary other than the packaging box for packaging goods.

The packaging box, the shopping bag and the bag can be recycled separately after use. In order to recycle the packaging box, the shopping bag and the bag, however,

both the packaging box and the shopping bag or bag must be recycled. The degree of recycling is thus low. Accordingly, there are problems that resources are unnecessarily consumed and environment pollution is increased.

In view of these problems, various shapes of packaging boxes have been proposed, such as a foldable paper box having a handle therein so that an additional shopping bag or a bag is not required. In such a foldable paper box, in an expanded state, i. e. , an unfolded state, a user applies an adhesive on adequate adhesive faces, assembles the faces to form a handle and a paper box that forms a containing space therein, puts goods into the containing space, and then carries the box by holding the handle by the hand.

In such a conventional packaging box, however, there is a problem that the number of a process is increased upon assembly because its structure and assembly process are complicated. In case where the packaging box is extended after use, the paper box is likely to be easily torn because the adhesive faces are firmly adhered. In the event that the packaging box is assembled again after being spread, an adhesive has to be applied again. As such, the conventional packaging box has a problem that it is difficult to be recycled. Furthermore, since most of packaging boxes are manufactured as finished products in the factory, it is thus difficult for a user to reassemble the packaging boxes after extending them. It is thus required that he box be loaded or carried in an assembly state. Accordingly, there are problems that lots of loading spaces are needed and maintenance and delivery costs are thus increased.

Furthermore, in a packaging box made from a paper, usually a corrugated cardboard, a handle is inevitably formed integrally with a body or formed using only the corrugated cardboard. If contents of the box are a little heavy or the box is carelessly treated, there are problems that the handle is broken or other portions of the box are easily torn.

Disclosure of Invention Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a bag and packaging box for dual use wherein the box is used to pack things and has a simple structure, can be conveniently carried without the need for an additional shopping bag or a bag, can be easily assembled/dissembled, increasing the degree of recycling, and can be carried or kept in an expanded state, if necessary, thus reducing the loading space and delivery or maintenance costs accordingly.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a bag and packaging box for dual use, which is hardly torn and is durable even if a little heavy thing is contained in the box.

In order to accomplish the above objects, there is provided a bag and packaging box for dual use, comprising: a bag wall member, wherein the bag wall member includes a bottom unit, a pair of first sidewall units extended from both ends of the bottom unit, curved and then positioned upright, and a first upper sheet unit and a second upper sheet unit each extended from the first sidewall units and

then curved, wherein the first and second upper sheet units cover a top opening formed by the pair of the first sidewall units ; first coupling means provided in the first upper sheet unit and the second upper sheet unit, for detachably coupling the first upper sheet unit and the second upper sheet unit; a box wall unit, wherein the box wall unit includes a pair of second sidewall units positioned approximately perpendicular to the pair of the first sidewall units, and a pair of inner sidewall units positioned on the inner side of the first sidewall units, for connecting the pair of the second sidewall units at both ends of each of the second sidewall units; and a handle unit coupled to the first sidewall units of the bag wall member so that a user can hold the handle unit by the hand.

In the above, it is preferred that the bag wall member and the box wall unit are formed by a pasteboard composed of a corrugated cardboard and a non-woven fabric that surrounds the edge portion and outer side of the corrugated cardboard so that a bag and packaging box for dual use is hardly torn and durable even if a little heavy thing is contained.

Furthermore, the first coupling means are male/female connection units.

Moreover, the box wall unit is provided by a pair of wing wall members having a body unit forming the second sidewall units, and a pair of extension- curved units extended from both ends of the body unit and then curved, wherein the wing wall members are coupled opposite to each other at both ends of the bottom unit of the bag wall member, and wherein the bag and packaging box for dual use further comprises second coupling means that are provided in the pair of the wing

wall members so that extension-curved units of one of the pair of the wing wall members and extension-curved units of the other of the pair of the wing wall members are detachably combined to form the inner sidewall units. This make advantageous keeping the bag and packaging box for dual since it is fully expanded when disassembling the bag and packaging box.

Meanwhile, it is preferred that each of the second sidewall units further comprises a sidewall curved unit inwardly curved from the top, and the bag and packaging box for dual use further comprises third coupling means provided in the sidewall curved unit and the first upper sheet unit, for detachably coupling the sidewall curved unit and the first upper sheet unit.

Also, at least one of the second coupling means and the third coupling means may be a male/female connection unit.

Meanwhile, the first upper sheet unit has a cut-off unit some regions of which are cut, wherein the cut-off unit is connected to a transparent window of a transparent synthetic resin material. It is thus possible to easily confirm contents contained in the bag and packaging box for dual use through the transparent window.

Brief Description of Drawings Further objects and advantages of the invention can be more fully understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a bag and packaging box for dual use according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a state where the bag and packaging box for dual use shown in FIG. 1 is opened; FIG. 3 is an expanded view of the bag and packaging box for dual use shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is a rear view illustrating the bag and packaging box for dual use shown in FIG. 3; FIG. 5 is an expanded view illustrating a bag and packaging box for dual use according to another embodiment of the present invention, ; and FIG. 6 is a rear view illustrating the bag and packaging box for dual use shown in FIG. 5.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention The present invention will be described in detail by way of an embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a bag and packaging box for dual use according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a state where the bag and packaging box for dual use shown in FIG. 1 is opened, FIG. 3 is an expanded view of the bag and packaging box for dual use shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a rear view illustrating the bag and packaging box for dual use shown in FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, a bag and packaging box for dual use 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a bag wall member 10 for surrounding contents contained therein, i. e. , the exterior of merchandise, a box wall unit 20 located within the bag wall member 10, wherein the box wall unit has goods located therein, a handle unit 30 coupled to the bag wall member 10 wherein a user carries the box by holding the handle unit by the hand, first male/female connection units 40 of a first coupling means that are formed in the bag wall member 10, a second male/female connection units 50 of a second coupling means that are formed in the box wall unit 20, and third male/female connection units 60 of a third coupling means, for detachably coupling the bag wall member 10 and the box wall unit 20.

The bag wall member 10 includes a bottom unit 11, a pair of first sidewall units 12 extended from both ends of the bottom unit 11 and then curved, which are positioned upright, and a first upper sheet unit 13 and a second upper sheet unit 14 extended from both ends of the first sidewall unit 12 and then curved, wherein the first and second upper sheet units serve to cover a top opening formed by the pair of the first sidewall units 12. In the above, the bottom unit 11 serves to cover a bottom opening of the box wall unit 20, thus supporting contents contained therein.

The first upper sheet unit 13 and the second upper sheet unit 14 cover the top opening of the box wall unit 20 and are attached or detached each other when things are put into the box or are drawn from it. Further, the second upper sheet unit 14 is longer a little than the first upper sheet unit 13. A cut-off unit 13a some

regions of which are cut is formed in the first upper sheet unit 13. A transparent window 13b of a transparent synthetic resin material is combined with the cut-off unit 13a. It is possible to see contents contained in the box, i. e. , things through the transparent window 13b even through the first upper plate unit 13 is not fully opened.

The first male/female connection units 40 of the first coupling means are provided in the first upper sheet unit 13 and the second upper sheet unit 14 and serve to detachably combine the first and second upper sheet units 13. In this embodiment, the first male/female connection units 40 are so called snap fasteners.

Protrusions and grooves of the first male/female connection units 40 are coupled by compressing them and are separated by applying a force to separate them apart.

In addition, the box wall unit 20 includes a pair of second sidewall units 21 positioned approximately perpendicular to the pair of the first sidewall units 12, and a pair of inner sidewall units 22 positioned on the inner side of the first sidewall unit 12, for connecting the pair of the second sidewall units 21 at both ends of the second sidewall units 21. Each of the second sidewall units 21 has a sidewall curved unit 2 1 a, which is inwardly curved from the top.

The box wall unit 20 serves to firstly cover and protect the lateral side of contents contained therein. The box wall unit 20 is provided by a pair of wing wall members 25, which are combined opposite to each other, at both sides of the bottom unit 11 in the bag wall member 10, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. The wing wall member 25 has a body unit 26 that forms the second sidewall unit 21,

and a pair of extension-curved units 27 that are extended from both ends of the body unit 26 and are then curved.

The second male/female connection units 50 of the second coupling means are provided in the extension-curved units 27 of the wing wall members 25. The inner sidewall units 22 are formed in such a way that the extension-curved units 27 of one of the pair of the wing wall members 25 and the extension-curved units 27 of the other of the pair of the wing wall members 25 are detachably combined by means of the second male/female connection units 50 of the second coupling means.

Furthermore, the third male/female connection units 60 of the third coupling means are provided in the sidewall curved unit 21a and the first upper sheet unit 13, respectively, and serve to detachably couple each sidewall curved unit 21 a and each first upper sheet unit 13. It is thus possible to prevent goods from being gotten out of the box due to a widen gap between the second sidewall unit 21 and the first upper sheet unit 13.

In the above, the bag wall member 10 and the box wall unit 20 are formed by a pasteboard 15 composed of a corrugated cardboard 15a and a non-woven fabric 15b that surrounds the edge portion and outer side of the corrugated cardboard 15a.

Accordingly, the box is hardly torn and durable. It is also possible to minimize damage of portions curved upon assembly of the box and to allow the box to be smoothly curved. Moreover, in this embodiment, the second male/female connection units 50 of the second coupling means and the third male/female connection units 60 of the third coupling means have so-called snap fasteners like

the first male/female connection units 40 of the first coupling means. It is, however, to be noted that the second and third male/female connection units 50 and 60 may have different constructions.

The handle unit 30 includes a handle 31 outwardly protruded from the first sidewall unit 12, a fixing projection 33 formed at both ends of the handle 31, and a resin plate 35 through which the handle 31 passes, wherein the resin plate engages the fixing projection 33 and is positioned on the inner side of the first sidewall unit 12. As such, a user can carry the bag and packaging box for dual use 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention by holding the handle 31 by the hand. At this time, the fixing projection 33 engages a through hole (not shown) formed in the resin plate 35, so that damage into the inside of the first sidewall unit 12 is prevented.

A method for assembling the bag and packaging box for dual use constructed above and how to use it according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4.

The method for assembling the bag and packaging box for dual use will be first described. In a state where the bag and packaging box for dual use is expanded as in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the transparent window 13b of the transparent synthetic resin material and the handle unit 30 are combined with the bag wall member 10.

The pair of the wing wall members 25, which are combined opposite to each other at both sides of the bottom unit 11 of the bag wall member 10, are inwardly rotated into the bottom unit 11 and are then positioned upright, thus forming the second sidewall units 21. Next, the extension-curved units 27 of each of the wing wall members 25

are inwardly curved into the second sidewall unit 21 in a perpendicular manner.

The extension-curved units 27 of one of the wing wall members 25 are then detachably coupled to the extension-curved units 27 of the other of the wing wall members 25 by means of the second male/female connection units 50. Thereby, the pair of the inner sidewall units 22 are formed.

If the pair of the first sidewall units 12, the first upper sheet unit 13 and the second upper sheet unit 14, which are positioned outside the inner sidewall unit 22, by curving the bag wall member 10 in two steps, the bag and packaging box for dual use as shown in FIG. 2 is obtained. Thereafter, if the sidewall curved unit 21 a and the first upper sheet unit 13 are detachably coupled by means of the third male/female connection units 60 provided in the sidewall curved unit 21a and the first upper sheet unit 13 and the first upper sheet unit 13 and the second upper sheet unit 14 are detachably coupled by means of the first male/female connection units 40 provided in the first upper sheet unit 13 and the second upper sheet unit 149 the bag and packaging box for dual use as shown in FIG. 1 is obtained.

How to use the bag and packaging box for dual use will be then described.

In a state shown in FIG. 2, contents, i. e. , goods are put into the box wall unit 20. At this time, a cushion may be positioned within the box wall unit 20 in order to mitigate shock, and a partition member may be positioned within the box wall unit 20. Then, if the top opening of the box wall unit 20 is covered with the first upper sheet unit 13 and the second upper sheet unit 14 by using the first male/female connection units 40 and the third male/female connection units 60, the bag and

packaging box for dual use as shown in FIG. 1 is obtained. Thus, a user can easily carry the box by holding the handle 31 by the hand. In the event that goods are contained within the box and the first upper sheet unit 13 and the second upper sheet unit 14 are combined, the user can see the inside of the box through the transparent window 13b by only separating the second upper sheet unit 14 from the first upper sheet unit 13 through the first male/female connection units 40. Accordingly, the user can see the goods contained in the box even without separating the sidewall curved unit 21a and the first upper sheet unit 13 using the third male/female connection units 60 provided in the sidewall curved unit 21 a and the first upper sheet unit 13.

FIG. 5 is an expanded view illustrating a bag and packaging box for dual use according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a rear view illustrating the bag and packaging box for dual use shown in FIG. 5. As can be seen from FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the constructions of FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are the same as those shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 except for the inner sidewall unit 22, the wing wall member 25, the extension-curved unit 27 and the third male/female connection units 60. Description on the same components will be not given.

In FIG. 1, FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, a box wall unit includes a pair of second sidewall units 126 positioned approximately perpendicular to a pair of first sidewall units 112, and a pair of inner sidewall units 127 positioned on the inner side of the first sidewall units 112, for connecting one of the second sidewall units 126 at one end of the second sidewall unit 126. Each of the second sidewall units 126 further

includes a sidewall curved unit 121 a inwardly curved from the top. The box wall unit serves to firstly cover and protect the sides of contents contained therein. Such a box wall unit is provided by a pair of wing wall members 125 opposite to each other at both sides of a bottom unit 111 of a bag wall member 100, as shown in FIG.

5 and FIG. 6. The wing wall members 125 include a pair of extension-curved units 128, which are extended from one end of each of the second sidewall units 126 over the inner sidewall unit 127 and are then curved. Second male/female connection units 150 of a second coupling means are provided in the extension-curved units 128 of the wing wall members 125. The inner sidewall unit 127 is formed in such a manner that the extension-curved units 128 of one of the pair of the wing wall members 125 are detachably coupled to the second sidewall units 126 of the other of the pair of the wing wall members 125 by means of the second male/female connection units 150 of the second coupling means. A first upper sheet unit 113 further includes a third sidewall unit 162 extended and curved at the opposite side of the bottom unit 111. The third sidewall unit 162 has third male/female connection units 160 of a third coupling means so that they are detachably coupled to the second sidewall unit 126 of the first sidewall unit 112, which is extended and curved.

Finally, a case where the bag and packaging box for dual use is kept and carried after goods are taken out from the box according to the present invention will be described. In this case, the box can be kept and carried like the bag shown in FIG. 1, but can be carried or kept in an expanded state, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG.

5 because anyone can easily assembly the bag and packaging box for dual use like

FIG. 1 in an expanded state. It is thus possible to reduce the loading space. As a result, a delivery or maintenance cost can be reduced and recycling is facilitated.

As described above, the bag and packaging box for dual use 1,100 includes the bottom units 11, 111 ; the pair of the first sidewall units 12,112 extended from both ends of the bottom units 11,111 and then curved; the bag wall members 10,110 having the first upper sheet units 13,113 and the second upper sheet units 14,114, which are extended from the first sidewall units 12,112 and are then curved, for precluding the top opening formed by the pair of the first sidewall units 12,112 ; the first male/female connection units 40,140 for detachably coupling the first upper sheet unit 13,113 and the second upper sheet units 14, 114 ; the second sidewall units 21,126 that is positioned approximately perpendicular to the first sidewall units 12, 112 ; the box wall unit 20, which is extended from the second sidewall units 21,126 and is then curved and has the inner sidewall units 22,127 positioned on the inner side of the first sidewall units 12 ;, 112 ; and the handle units 30, 130 coupled to the first sidewall units 12, 112 of the bag wall members 10,110. As such, not only the bag and packaging box for dual use can be used to pack things but also can be used to easily carry the things without the need for an additional shopping bag or a bag.

Further, the bag and packaging box for dual use has a simple structure and can be easily assembled or disassembled by a user. Therefore, the degree of recycling is high. The bag and packaging box for dual use can be carried or kept in an expanded state, if necessary. It is thus possible to reduce the loading space and thus to reduce a delivery cost or maintenance cost.

Furthermore, if the bag wall members 10,110 and the box wall units 20,120 are formed using the pasteboard 15 composed of the corrugated cardboard 15a and the non-woven fabric 15b, the bag and packaging box for dual use is hardly torn and durable even if a little heavy thing is contained.

It has been described, in the aforementioned embodiments, that the male/female connection units 40,50, 60,140, 150 and 160 are so called snap fasteners. It is, however, to be understood that the connection unit may be a Velcro tape, etc.

It has been described, in the aforementioned embodiments, that the bag wall members 10,110 and the box wall units 20, 120 are the pasteboard 15 having the corrugated cardboard 15a and the non-woven fabric 15b. However, it is evident that the bag wall members 10,110 and the box wall units 20,120 may be formed using a paper, a woven material, a flexible plastic material or a thick paper.

Moreover, it has been described, in the aforementioned embodiments, that the box wall units 20,120 are provided by the pair of the wing wall members 25, 125 that are coupled opposite to each other at both sides of the bottom unit 11,111 of the bag wall members 10,110. It is, however, to be noted that the box wall unit 20, 120 can be formed integrally with the bag wall member 10.

Industrial Applicability According to the present invention described above, not only a bag and packaging box for dual use can be used to pack things but also can be used to easily

carry the things without the need for an additional shopping bag or a bag. Further, the bag and packaging box for dual use has a simple structure and can be easily assembled or disassembled by a user. Therefore, the degree of recycling is high. The bag and packaging box for dual use can be carried or kept in an expanded state, if necessary. It is thus possible to reduce the loading space and thus to reduce a delivery cost or maintenance cost.

Furthermore, a bag and packaging box for dual use according to the present invention is hardly torn and durable even if a little heavy thing is contained.