Flat Pack Convertible Four Sided Storage Box and Eight Sided Nesting Tote Box

Abstract

A flat pack convertible stackable four sided storage box and eight sided nesting tote box comprises a base, two opposed longitudinal sides, two end sides having at least one cutline defining at least one end side opening, four triangular expansion sides with each triangular expansion side located adjacent one of the sides, and four moving conversion panels with each panel adjacent one of the expansion sides, each panel includes at least one panel opening configured to selectively align with one opening formed by at least one cutline and configured to receive a locking element there-through to be locked into one position, wherein in one position a stackable four sided storage box is formed and in another position an eight sided nesting tote box is formed and the box may be moved back and forth between the two configurations.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A flat pack convertible stackable four sided storage box and eight sided nesting tote box comprising:
 A base [ 110 ,  310 ] including two parallel base longitudinal score lines [ 112 ,  312 ] and two parallel base end score lines [ 114 ,  314 ];   two opposed longitudinal sides [ 120 ,  320 ] each longitudinal side [ 120 ,  320 ] adjacent one of the base longitudinal score lines [ 112 ,  312 ] and having opposed longitudinal side end score lines [ 122 ,  322 ];   two end sides [ 130 ,  330 ], each end side [ 130 ,  330 ] adjacent one of the base end score lines [ 114 ,  314 ] and having at least one cutline [ 136 ,  336 ] defining at least one end side opening;   four triangular expansion sides [ 140 ,  340 ] each triangular expansion side [ 140 ,  340 ] located adjacent one of the side end score lines [ 122 ,  322 ] and having an expansion side score line [ 142 ,  342 ];   four moving conversion panels [ 150 ,  350 ] each panel [ 150 ,  350 ] adjacent one of the expansion side score line [ 142 ,  342 ], each panel [ 150 ,  350 ] includes at least one panel opening [ 152 ,  352 ] configured to selectively align with one opening formed by at least one cutline [ 136 ,  336 ] and configured to receive a locking element [ 138 ,  370 ] there-through to be locked into one position, wherein in one position a stackable four sided storage box [ 100 ,  300 ] is formed as one configuration and in another position an eight sided nesting tote box [ 100 ,  300 ] is formed as a second configuration and wherein the box [ 100 ,  300 ] may be moved back and forth between the two configurations.   
     
     
         2 . The convertible box of  claim 1 , wherein the base [ 110 ] includes two openings along each base end score line [ 114 ] configured for receiving elements [ 166 ] which help secure the box [ 100 ] in both the stackable four sided storage box [ 100 ] configuration and the eight sided nesting tote box [ 100 ] configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The convertible box of  claim 2 , further including a pair of inner end sides [ 160 ], each inner end side [ 160 ] adjacent one end side [ 130 ]. 
     
     
         4 . The convertible box of  claim 3 , wherein each inner end side [ 160 ] includes a score line [ 162 ] offset from a score line [ 134 ] at the top of the end side [ 130 ] by a thickness adapted to accommodate folding the inner end sides [ 160 ] such that the inner end side [ 160 ] and the end side [ 130 ] are on opposite sides of intervening conversion panels [ 150 ]. 
     
     
         5 . The convertible box of  claim 4 , wherein each inner end side [ 160 ] includes an opening [ 164 ] that aligns with the at least one end side opening. 
     
     
         6 . The convertible box of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one end side opening in each end side [ 130 ] forms an oval handle opening for the box [ 100 ]. 
     
     
         7 . The convertible box of  claim 6 , wherein each cutline [ 136 ] in each end side defines a locking tab [ 138 ] forming the locking element. 
     
     
         8 . The convertible box of  claim 7 , wherein each panel includes a second panel opening [ 156 ] configured to selectively align with one opening formed by at least one cutline [ 136 ] and configured to receive the locking tab [ 138 ] there-through to be locked into a second position. 
     
     
         9 . The convertible box of  claim 1 , wherein the box is formed of cardboard, plastic, corrugated plastic cardboard. 
     
     
         10 . The convertible box of  claim 1 , wherein the box [ 100 ,  300 ] includes a lid [ 200 ] configured to be secured on top of the box [ 100 ,  300 ] when in the storage box configuration. 
     
     
         11 . The convertible box of  claim 10 , wherein the lid [ 200 ] is formed of cardboard, plastic, corrugated plastic cardboard. 
     
     
         12 . The convertible box of  claim 10 , wherein the lid [ 200 ] is configured to convert to an eight sided nesting tote box. 
     
     
         13 . The convertible box of  claim 1 , wherein each locking element is a one piece double headed connecting stud [ 370 ]. 
     
     
         14 . The convertible box of  claim 13 , wherein each stud [ 370 ] is received within an oval opening formed by at least one cutline in an end side and is configured to be moved between one position locking the box in a configuration and a second position allowing the box to be converted from one configuration to the second configuration. 
     
     
         15 . The convertible box of  claim 14 , wherein each panel opening [ 352 ] is formed as a slot with two detent positions. 
     
     
         16 . A flat pack convertible stackable four sided storage box and eight sided nesting tote box comprising:
 A rectangular base [ 110 ,  310 ];   two opposed longitudinal sides [ 120 ,  320 ];   two end sides [ 130 ,  330 ], each end side [ 130 ,  330 ] having at least one cutline [ 136 ,  336 ] defining at least one end side opening;   four triangular expansion sides [ 140 ,  340 ];   four moving conversion panels [ 150 ,  350 ], each panel [ 150 ,  350 ] including at least one panel opening [ 152 ,  352 ] configured to selectively align with one opening formed by at least one cutline [ 136 ,  336 ] and configured to receive a locking element [ 138 ,  370 ] there-through to be locked into one position, wherein in one position a stackable four sided storage box [ 100 ,  300 ] is formed as one configuration and in another position an eight sided nesting tote box [ 100 ,  300 ] is formed as a second configuration and wherein the box [ 100 ,  300 ] may be moved back and forth between the two configurations;   a lid [ 200 ] configured to be secured on top of the box [ 100 ,  300 ] when in the storage box configuration.   
     
     
         17 . The convertible box of  claim 16 , wherein the lid [ 200 ] is configured to convert to an eight sided nesting tote box. 
     
     
         18 . The convertible box of  claim 16 , wherein the box is formed of cardboard, plastic, corrugated plastic cardboard. 
     
     
         19 . The convertible box of  claim 16 , wherein each locking element is a one piece double headed connecting stud [ 370 ]. 
     
     
         20 . The convertible box of  claim 16 , further including a pair of inner end sides [ 160 ], each inner end side [ 160 ] adjacent one end side [ 130 ].