Record storage box and mailer

Abstract

The invention disclosed herein is a record storage box configured to serve as a mailer and return mailer, having an outer lid and an inner lid. The outer lid is removable upon receipt. The lids may be secured by adhesive, and removed by tearing along lines of weakness. The record storage box so configured can also serve as a tamper evident container.

1 . A box for shipping and storing items, the box made from a unitary blank of material the box including:
 A front wall, a back wall, a first sidewall, a second sidewall, and a bottom panel, the panels assembled to form a storage area there between;
 an inner top panel hingedly attached to the back wall; 
 an outer top panel hingedly attached to the front wall; 
 a first tongue connected to the outer top panel, the tongue including an adhesive strip positioned between the first tongue and the back panel wall when the outer top panel is placed across the storage area to close the box. 
   
   
   
       2 . The box of  claim 1 , where a perforation permits separation of the first tongue from the outer top panel. 
   
   
       3 . The box of  claim 1 , wherein the first tongue includes a zip strip. 
   
   
       4 . The box of  claim 1 , wherein the outer top panel and the front wall are separable along a line of weakness. 
   
   
       5 . The box of  claim 4 , wherein the line of weakness is formed by perforations. 
   
   
       6 . The box of  claim 4 , further including a second tongue on the inner top panel, the second tongue being separable from the inner top panel by a line of weakness. 
   
   
       7 . A method of using the box of  claim 1 , the method including the steps of placing indicia related to a return address on the inner top panel,
 placing indicia relating to a recipients address on the outer top panel,   placing contents to be shipped to the recipient into the storage area of the box,   sealing the box for shipment and shipping the box to the recipient,   the recipient opening the box and separating the outer top panel from the back wall,   placing an item to be shipped to the return address into the storage area of the box,   sealing the box and shipping the box to the return address.   
   
   
       8 . A box for shipping and storing items, the box made from a unitary blank of material the box including:
 A front wall, a back wall, a first inner sidewall, a second inner sidewall, and an inner bottom panel, the panels assembled to form a storage area there between;
 an inner top panel hingedly attached to the back wall; 
 an outer top panel hingedly attached to the front wall; 
 a first tongue portion connected to the outer top panel, the tongue portion including an adhesive strip positioned between the first tongue portion and the back panel when the outer top panel is placed across the storage area to close the box, and a second tongue portion connected to the inner top panel. 
   
   
   
       9 . The box of  claim 8  wherein the second tongue portion includes an adhesive strip positioned between the second tongue portion and the front panel when the inner top panel is placed across the storage area. 
   
   
       10 . The box of  claim 8 , wherein the first tongue portion includes a line of weakness to allow separation from the outer top panel. 
   
   
       11 . The box of  claim 8 , wherein the first tongue portion includes a zip strip. 
   
   
       12 . The box of  claim 8 , wherein the outer top panel and the front wall are separable along a line of weakness. 
   
   
       13 . The box of  claim 8 , wherein the line of weakness is formed by perforations. 
   
   
       14 . The box of  claim 8 , wherein the second tongue portion includes an adhesive strip, and a line of weakness to allow separation of the second tongue from the outer top panel, the line of weakness being positioned between the adhesive strip and the outer top panel. 
   
   
       15 . The box of  claim 14 , wherein the outer top panel and front wall are separable along a second line of weakness. 
   
   
       16 . The box of  claim 1 , further including a third tongue connected to the outer top panel by a third line of weakness and a fourth tongue connected to the outer top panel by a fourth line of weakness, the third and forth tongues each having adhesive. 
   
   
       17 . The box of  claim 16 , wherein the third and fourth lines of weakness are perforations. 
   
   
       18 . The box of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second side walls are each constructed of an inner side wall, intermediate side wall, and an outer side wall, the intermediate side wall being positioned between the inner and outer side walls. 
   
   
       19 . The box of  claim 1 , wherein the first side wall is formed by a first inner side wall, a first intermediate side wall, and a first outer side wall, the first inner side wall connected to the first outer sidewall, and the first intermediate side wall connected to the outer bottom wall, and positioned between the first inner side wall and first outer side wall, and the second side wall is formed by a second inner side wall, a second intermediate side wall, and a second outer side wall, the second inner side wall connected to the second outer sidewall, and the second intermediate side wall connected to the outer bottom wall, and positioned between the second inner side wall and second outer side wall. 
   
   
       20 . The box of  claim 19 , further including a third tongue connected to the outer top panel by a third line of weakness and a fourth tongue connected to the outer top panel by a fourth line of weakness, the third and forth tongues each having adhesive.