Variable Internal Volume Container And Associated Container Blank

Abstract

The embodiments of the present invention provide a blank of foldable material that is configurable to form a container. When formed, the container includes air cell structures that allow for the container with a constant outside volume to have a variable inside volume. The air cell structure of this container functions to prevent telescoping of vertically stacked containers for strength and stability. The relative size of the panels used in forming the air cell portion from one container to the next is variable to allow for a single outside volume, but differing inside volumes.

1 . A container, comprising:
 an outer bottom panel;   an inner bottom panel juxtaposed a portion of the outer bottom panel;   an outer back panel connected with the outer bottom panel, said outer back panel lying in a first plane;   a first air cell side panel connected with the outer back panel, said first air cell side panel lying in a second plane, substantially normal to the first plane;   a second air cell side panel connected with the first air cell side panel, said second air cell side panel lying in a third plane, said third plane being substantially parallel to the first plane;   a third air cell side panel connected with the second air cell side panel, said third air cell side panel lying in a fourth plane, said fourth plane being substantially parallel to the second plane; and   a fourth air cell side panel connected with the third air cell side panel, said fourth air cell side panel lying juxtaposed the outer back panel and below the third air cell side panel,   the container being formed of a single sheet of material.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the single sheet of foldable material is formed from a cellulose-based material. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein the cellulose based material is formed from at least one of a wood pulp, straw, cotton, and bagasse. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein the cellulose based material is in the form of at least one of a fiberboard, containerboard, corrugated containerboard and paperboard. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1  further comprising
 an outer side wall connected to the outer back wall, the outer side wall lying in a fifth plane substantially normal to the first plane and the second plane,   a fifth air cell side panel connected with the outer side panel, said fifth air cell side panel lying in the second plane,   a sixth air cell side panel connected with the fifth air cell side panel, said sixth air cell side panel lying in a sixth plane, said sixth plane being substantially parallel to the fifth plane;   a seventh air cell side panel connected with the sixth air cell side panel, said seventh air cell side panel lying in the fourth plane, and   an eighth air cell side panel connected with the seventh air cell side panel, said eighth air cell side panel lying juxtaposed the outer side panel and below the seventh air cell side panel.