Collapsible reusable box

Abstract

A collapsible reusable box made of corrugated material with an automatically lockable bottom includes a bottom side flap, which is substantially equal in width to the width of the end walls of the box, and which has a projection on the free end thereof for extension into a slot at the bottom of the opposite side of the box to maintain the shape of the box during initial erection and filling of the box.

1 . A collapsible, reusable box including in combination: 
 first and second side walls and first and second end walls hingedly interconnected together;    first and second bottom end flaps hingedly connected to the first and second end walls, respectively;    first and second bottom side flaps hingedly connected to the first and second side walls, respectively, wherein the first bottom side flap has a width less than the width of the first and second end walls, and the second bottom side flap has a free edge and a width substantially equal to the width of the first and second end walls;    a projection on the free edge of the second bottom side flap extending outwardly therefrom; and    a slot aligned with the projection on the free edge of the second bottom slot flap and located substantially at the connection of the first side wall and the first bottom side flap, wherein with the box assembled, the second bottom side flap overlies the first bottom side flap with the projection extending into the slot.    
   
   
       2 . A collapsible reusable box according to  claim 1  wherein the box is made of corrugated material.  
   
   
       3 . A collapsible reusable box according to  claim 2  wherein the corrugated material is corrugated plastic.  
   
   
       4 . A collapsible reusable box according to  claim 3  wherein the interconnections of the first and second side walls and the first and second end walls are formed by foldable hinge lines.  
   
   
       5 . The collapsible reusable box according to  claim 4  wherein the first and second bottom end flaps are connected by a foldable hinge to the first and second end walls, respectively, and wherein the first and second bottom side flaps are connected by a foldable hinge to the first and second side walls, respectively.  
   
   
       6 . A collapsible reusable box according to  claim 5  wherein the interconnections of the first and second side walls with the first and second end walls, and the interconnections of the first and second bottom end flaps with the first and second end walls, and the interconnections of the first second bottom side flaps with the first and second side walls are score lines in the material crushed score lines, or perforated score lines.  
   
   
       7 . The collapsible reusable box according to  claim 6  wherein the score lines are either crushed score lines, or perforated score lines.  
   
   
       8 . A collapsible reusable box according to  claim 7  wherein the first and second side walls, the first and second end walls, the first and second bottom end flaps, and the first and second bottom side flaps all are fabricated from a unitary of material.  
   
   
       9 . A collapsible reusable box according to  claim 8  further including means for interconnecting the first bottom end flap with the first bottom side flap and the second bottomed flap with the second bottom side flap along diagonal hinge lines to form an automatic lock bottom to the box.  
   
   
       10 . A collapsible reusable box according to  claim 1  wherein the first and second side walls, the first and second end walls, the first and second bottom end flaps, and the first and second bottom side flaps all are fabricated from a unitary of material.  
   
   
       11 . A collapsible reusable box according to  claim 10  further including means for interconnecting the first bottom end flap with the first bottom side flap and the second bottom end flap with the second bottom side flap along diagonal hinge lines to form an automatic lock bottom to the box.  
   
   
       12 . A collapsible reusable box according to  claim 1  wherein the interconnections of the first and second side walls and the first and second end walls are-formed by foldable hinge lines.  
   
   
       13 . The collapsible reusable box according to  claim 12  wherein the first and second bottom end flaps are connected by a foldable hinge to the first and second end walls, respectively, and wherein the first and second bottom side flaps are connected by a foldable hinge to the first and second side walls respectively.  
   
   
       14 . A collapsible reusable box according to  claim 1  wherein the interconnections of the first and second side walls with the first and second end walls, and the interconnections of the first and second bottom end flaps with the first and second end walls, and the interconnections of the first and second bottom side flaps with the first and second side walls are score lines in the material.  
   
   
       15 . A collapsible reusable box according to  claim 14  wherein the first and second side walls, the first and second end walls, the first and second bottom end flaps, and the first and second bottom side flaps all are fabricated from a unitary of material.  
   
   
       16 . The collapsible reusable box according to  claim 15  wherein the score lines are either crushed score lines, or perforated score lines.  
   
   
       17 . A collapsible reusable box according to  claim 1  further including means for interconnecting the first bottom end flap with the first bottom side flap and the second bottom end flap with the second bottom side flap along diagonal hinge lines to form an automatic lock bottom to the box.  
   
   
       18 . The collapsible reusable box according to  claim 1  wherein the first and second bottom end flaps are connected by a foldable hinge to the first and second end walls, respectively, and wherein the first and second bottom side flaps are connected by a foldable hinge to the first and second side walls, respectively.