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US 9,540,132 B1Granted
Stackable receptacle for the shipment of goods
AssigneeUnited States Postal Service
InventorJim E. Lee
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments of a reusable stackable shipping box are provided herein. The reusable stackable shipping box may be reused and cleaned without causing harm to the integrity of the box. In addition, the box is slightly tapered in shape such that the box may be stacked upon and within other boxes for ease in shipping and organization.
Claims18
A receptacle for the shipment of goods, the receptacle comprising:
- a front face comprising a front handle opening;
- a front flap comprising a front support slot, the front flap attached to the front face along an edge of the front face;
- a first side face having first support slots formed therein, the first side face attached to the front face;
- a first segment attached to the first side face along an edge of the first side face;
- a first flap attached to the first segment along an edge of the first segment, the first flap comprising second support tabs formed along a first edge of the first flap, a front support tab formed along a second edge of the first flap, and a rear support tab formed along a third edge of the first flap;
- a rear face comprising a rear handle opening, the rear face attached to the first side face;
- a rear flap attached along an edge of the rear face, the rear flap having a rear support slot formed therein;
- a second side face attached to the rear face;
- a second segment attached to the second side face along an edge of the second side face;
- a second flap attached to the second segment along an edge of the second segment, wherein the second flap comprises second support slots and first support tabs;
- wherein the first support tabs are configured for insertion into the first support slots, the second support tabs are configured for insertion into the second support slots, and wherein the front support tab is configured for insertion into the front support slot, and the rear support tab is configured for insertion into the rear support slot.
8 more elements
A method for assembling a receptacle comprising:
- providing a receptacle comprising:
- a front face comprising a front handle opening;
- a front flap comprising a front support slot, the front flap attached to the front face along an edge of the front face;
- a first side face having first support slots formed therein, the first side face attached to the front face;
- a first segment attached to the first side face along an edge of the first side face;
- a first flap attached to the first segment along an edge of the first segment, the first flap comprising second support tabs formed along a first edge of the first flap, a front support tab formed along a second edge of the first flap, and a rear support tab formed along a third edge of the first flap;
- a rear face comprising a rear handle opening, the rear face attached to the first side face;
- a rear flap attached along an edge of the rear face, the rear flap having a rear support slot formed therein;
- a second side face attached to the rear face;
- a second segment attached to the second side face along an edge of the second side face;
- a second flap attached to the second segment along an edge of the second segment, wherein the second flap comprises second support slots and first support tabs;
- folding the front flap along the edge along a score line corresponding to the edge of the front face to which the front flap is attached;
- folding the second segment along a score line corresponding to the edge of the second side face to which the second segment is attached such that at least a portion of a first planar surface of the second segment contacts a second planar surface of the second side face;
- folding the second segment along a score line corresponding to the edge of the second segment which is attached to the second flap to approximately a right angle to the first planar surface of the second segment;
- inserting the first support tabs into the first support slots;
- folding the first segment along a score line corresponding to the edge of the first side face to which the first segment is attached such that at least a portion of a first planar surface of the first segment contacts a second planar surface of the first side face;
- folding the first segment along a score line corresponding to the edge of the first segment which is attached to the first flap to approximately a right angle relative to first planar surface of the first segment
- inserting the second support tabs into the second support slots;
- inserting the front support tab into the front support slot;
- and
- inserting the rear support tab into the rear support slot.
18 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.