Dual use packaging

Abstract

A box blank that can be folded in order to be assembled into a complete box for the shipment of materials. The blank has indicia printed on opposite sides that identify the material to be contained within the completed, assembled box. Each indicia relates to a different material such that the box can be assembled in one orientation to have one set of indicia end up on the exterior surface or assembled in a different orientation to have the other set of indicia end up on the exterior surface. In this manner, the same box blank can be used for different materials to be shipped within the completed box. In the exemplary embodiment, the different materials relate to (1) diagnostic or clinical specimens and (2) exempt human or animal specimens.

1 . An unassembled blank for being assembled into a box for shipping materials, the blank having oppositely facing surfaces, one of the opposite facing surfaces having indicia indicative of a particular material to be shipped in the assembled box and the other of the surfaces having different indicia indicative of a different material to be shipped in the assembled box.  
   
   
       2 . The unassembled blank as defined in  claim 2  wherein the indicia is labeling indicia.  
   
   
       3 . The unassembled blank as defined in  claim 2  wherein each of the oppositely facing surfaces has different shipping labeling legal requirements  
   
   
       4 . The unassembled blank as defined in  claim 1  wherein one surface has labeling indicia indicative of shipping an exempt human or animal specimen and the other surface having labeling indicia indicative of diagnostic or clinical specimens.  
   
   
       5 . The unassembled blank defined in  claim 1  wherein the one surface has indicia that allows a user to mark whether the carton is intended to contain exempt animal specimens or exempt human specimens.  
   
   
       6 . The unassembled blank as defined in  claim 4  wherein the one surface has boxes to be selectively marked by a user depending upon whether the blank, when assembled, is intended to contain exempt animal specimens or exempt human specimens.  
   
   
       7 . The unassembled blank as defined in  claim 1  wherein each of the opposite facing surfaces includes address indicia for locating an address of at least one of the shipping party or the receiving party.  
   
   
       8 . The unassembled blank as defined in  claim 1  wherein the blank has a plurality of panels having fold lines to facilitate assembly into a completed box and wherein the address indicia and the labeling indicia are on the same box panel.  
   
   
       9 . A method of assembling a box from a box blank having oppositely facing surfaces with different labeling on the opposite surfaces indicative of different materials to be contained within the box, the method comprising folding the blank to form the box in a manner to have the desired labeling appearing on the exterior of the box.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the desired labeling related to is specimens.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the desired labeling on one surface relates to the shipment of diagnostic specimens of clinical specimens.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the desired labeling on the other surface relates to the shipment of exempt human specimens and exempt animal specimens.  
   
   
       13 . A box for use in the shipment of differing materials, the box comprised of a plurality of panels including side panels, a top panel, a bottom panel and end panels, at least one of the panels having an exterior surface having indicia identifying the material to be shipped within the box and at least on of the panels having an interior surface having indicia identifying another, different material to be shipped within the box.  
   
   
       14 . The box of  claim 13  wherein the at least one panel having an exterior surface having indicia and the at least one panel having an interior surface having indicia are the same panel.  
   
   
       15 . The box of  claim 14  wherein the at least one panel is a side panel.  
   
   
       16 . The box of  claim 13  wherein one of the panels has printed indicia for adding the addresses of the shipper and the receiver.  
   
   
       17 . The box of  claim 13  wherein the exterior surface of the at least one panel has labeling indicia identifying the material to be diagnostic or clinical specimens.  
   
   
       18 . The box of  claim 13  wherein the exterior surface of the at least one panel has labeling indicia identifying the material to be exempt human or exempt human specimens.  
   
   
       19 . The box of  claim 18  wherein the exterior surface of the at least one panel has a location for a user to mark the content to be specifically exempt human or exempt human specimens.  
   
   
       20 . The box of  claim 13  wherein the exterior surface of one panel has addressing indicia for locating the addresses of the shipping and receiving parties.