Foldable Box

Abstract

A foldable box having a first, substantially flat and unfolded configuration which can be easily and conveniently transformed into a second, three-dimensional configuration capable of retaining one or more items.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A foldable box having a plurality of configurations, the box comprising:
 a first set of panels including a first panel, a second panel, and a third panel, wherein each panel of the first set of panels is irreversibly connected to one or more other panels of the first set of panels;   a second set of panels including a first panel and a second panel, wherein at least two panels of the second set of panels are connected to one or more panels of the first set of panels;   at least four foldable connectors, each connector irreversibly connecting two panels together; and   one or more releasable connection arrangements reversibly connecting two or more panels;   wherein each panel of the box is individually formed from a panel material, and the foldable box is reversibly transformable from a first flat configuration to a second three-dimensional configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The foldable box of  claim 1 , wherein the at least four foldable connectors are formed from at least a first liner layer, the first liner layer being formed from a laminate material and covering contiguous portions of at least two or more adjacent panels. 
     
     
         3 . The foldable box of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the at least four foldable connectors permit from about 1° to about 180° of relative rotation between adjacent connected panels. 
     
     
         4 . The foldable box of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the at least four foldable connectors permit from about 1° to about 360° of relative rotation between adjacent connected panels. 
     
     
         5 . The foldable box of  claim 1 , wherein the first panel of the first set of panels is connected to the second panel of the first set of panels along a first foldable connector, and the second panel of the first set of panels is connected to the third panel of the first set of panels along a second foldable connector. 
     
     
         6 . The foldable box of  claim 5 , wherein the first panel of the second set of panels is connected to the second panel of the first set of panels along a third foldable connector, and the second panel of the second set of panels is connected to the second panel of the first set of panels along a fourth foldable connector. 
     
     
         7 . The foldable box of  claim 6 , wherein the second set of panels further includes a first connection panel connected to the first panel of the second set of panels along a fifth foldable connector, a second connection panel connected to the first panel of the second set of panels along a sixth foldable connector, a third connection panel connected to the second panel of the second set of panels along a seventh foldable connector, and a fourth connection panel connected to the second panel of the second set of panels along an eighth foldable connector. 
     
     
         8 . The foldable box of  claim 7 , wherein each of the one or more releasable connection arrangements comprises:
 at least two snap sockets associated with a first panel;   at least two corresponding snap studs associated with a different second panel, the at least two snap studs corresponding to the at least two snap sockets associated with the first panel;   wherein the at least two snap sockets reversibly engage the at least two corresponding snap studs when the foldable box is in its second three-dimensional configuration.   
     
     
         10 . The foldable box of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more releasable connection arrangements includes at least four releasable connection arrangements, the first releasable connection arrangement having at least two snap sockets associated with the first connection panel connected to the first panel of the second set of panels and at least two snap studs associated with the first panel of the first set of panels, the second releasable connection arrangement having at least two snap sockets associated with the second connection panel connected to the first panel of the second set of panels and at least two snap studs associated with the third panel of the first set of panels, the third releasable connection arrangement having at least two snap sockets associated with the first connection panel connected to the second panel of the second set of panels and at least two snap studs associated with the first panel of the first set of panels, and the fourth releasable connection arrangement having at least two snap sockets associated with the second connection panel connected to the second panel of the second set of panels and at least two snap studs associated with the third panel of the first set of panels. 
     
     
         11 . The foldable box of  claim 8 , wherein the box further comprises a third set of panels that can be releasably connected to one or more of the panels of the first or second sets of panels, the third set of panels comprising:
 a first panel;   a first connection panel irreversibly connected with the first panel along a thirteenth foldable connector; and   a second connection panel irreversibly connected with the first panel along a fourteenth foldable connector;   
       wherein the first set of panels further comprises a first connection panel connected to the first panel of the first set of panels, and a second connection panel connected to the third panel of the first set of panels; 
       wherein the foldable box further comprises at least two additional releasable connection arrangements, the first additional releasable connection arrangement having at least two snap sockets associated with the first connection panel of the third set of panels and at least two corresponding snap studs associated with the first connection panel of the first set of panels, and the second additional releasable connection arrangement having at least two snap sockets associated with the second connection panel of the third set of panels and at least two corresponding snap studs associated with the second connection panel of the first set of panels. 
     
     
         12 . The foldable box of  claim 1 , wherein the box further comprises a lid portion, the lid portion having a top portion and four side portions, wherein the lid portion covers a top portion of the first and second sets of panels when the foldable box is in its second three-dimensional configuration, and wherein the first and second sets of panels can be folded into the lid portion when the foldable box is in its first flat configuration. 
     
     
         13 . The foldable box of  claim 5 , wherein the first set of panels further includes a fourth panel, the third panel of the first set of panels being connected to the fourth panel of the first set of panels along a ninth foldable connector, and the fourth panel of the first set of panels being connected to the first panel of the first set of panels along a tenth foldable connector. 
     
     
         14 . The foldable box of  claim 13 , wherein the first panel of the second set of panels is irreversibly connected to the fourth panel of the first set of panels along an eleventh foldable connector, and the second panel of the second set of panels is irreversibly connected to the second panel of the first set of panels along a twelfth foldable connector. 
     
     
         15 . The foldable box of  claim 14 , wherein the each of the one or more releasable connection arrangements comprises:
 at least two snap sockets associated with a first panel;   at least two corresponding snap studs associated with a different second panel, the at least two snap studs corresponding to the at least two snap sockets associated with the first panel;   wherein the at least two snap sockets reversibly engage the at least two corresponding snap studs when the foldable box is in its second three-dimensional configuration.   
     
     
         16 . The foldable box of  claim 15 , wherein a first releasable connection arrangement includes at least two snap sockets associated with the first panel of the second set of panels, and at least two snap studs associated with the second panel of the second set of panels.