Secure packaging and mailing container

Abstract

A mailing or shipping container, made of corrugated cardboard, is formed from a single scored piece of corrugated cardboard that when folded provides multiple layers of support at the corners of the box providing extra strength for protection against crushing. The container is constructed so as to permit folding in such a way as to be self locking and has pressure sensitive adhesive means applied to interior surfaces for sealing the container when folded. The mailing or shipping container has added layers of cardboard at the rear corners and added layers of cardboard at the front corners to provided increased protection from crushing, depending on the aspect ratio of the final assembled container. All layers are foldably deployed and implemented from a single sheet blank of substantially rectangular corrugated cardboard, by defining suitable scores and cuts in the blank material.

1 . A robust and secure shipping container formed from a single piece of foldable corrugated cardboard comprising: 
 a main bottom segment, said main bottom segment having side walls and a front panel foldable over itself to form front walls, said folded front walls defining a recess between said front walls;    a main top segment, connected to said main bottom segment, said main top segment having side walls, said side walls having projecting tab portions extending from the end of said side walls, said projecting tab portions capable of fitting within said recess between said folded front panels of said main bottom segment, said side walls having a diagonal slit score whereby said projecting tab portions are capable of moving upwardly and away from said side walls for facilitating insertion of said projecting tab portions into said space.    
     
     
         2 . The foldable container of  claim 1 , wherein said front panel of said main bottom panel further comprises: 
 projections extending from said front panel for fitting within corresponding slots in said main bottom segment.    
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an adhesive material for substantially permanently fixing at least two of said walls together in order to define a tamper-proof or tamper-evident closure.    
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 3  in which said adhesive material comprises a pressure sensitive adhesive tape including a rubberized adhesive, the adhesive tape disposed on an interior surface of two side walls forming opposite sides of the container.  
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1 , said container further comprising: 
 at least two layers of corrugated cardboard at two corners of said container and at least four layers of corrugated cardboard at two others corners of said container.    
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising at least an exterior kraft liner, the kraft liner including decorative graphic indicia printed on its surface, and further including shipment data graphic indicia fields printed at a conventional location on its surface.  
     
     
         7 . A foldable container formed from a single piece of folded corrugated cardboard comprising: 
 a main bottom segment, said main bottom segment having side walls and a front panel foldable over itself to form front walls, said folded front walls defining a space between said front walls;    a main top segment, connected to said main bottom segment, said main top segment having side walls, said side walls having projecting tab portions extending from the end of said side walls, said projecting tab portions capable of fitting within said space between said folded front panels of said main bottom segment;    at least two layers of corrugated cardboard at two corners of said container and at least four layers of corrugated cardboard at two other corners of said container; and    said side walls having a diagonal slit score whereby said projecting tab portions are capable of moving upwardly and and away from said side walls for facilitating insertion of said projecting tab portions into said space.    
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 an adhesive material for substantially permanently fixing at least two of said walls together in order to define a tamper-proof or tamper-evident closure.    
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 8  in which said adhesive material comprises a pressure sensitive adhesive tape including a rubberized adhesive, the adhesive tape disposed on an interior surface of two side walls forming opposite sides of the container.  
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 7 , further comprising at least an exterior kraft liner, the kraft liner including decorative graphic indicia printed on its surface, and further including shipment data graphic indicia fields printed at a conventional location on its surface.