Container Blank

Abstract

A container blank can be utilized to form a container capable of packaging, transporting, and/or storing any type of article of manufacture placed within the container. Furthermore, following removal of the article of manufacture from the container, the container can be disassembled from the container configuration and back into the planar container blank configuration. The planar container blank configuration can then be assembled into a folded configuration that is different from the container configuration and which is smaller and generally flat to allow for either storage or disposable of the container blank.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container blank comprising:
 a. foldable sheet material;   b. a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction;   c. a first major panel hingedly connected in the longitudinal direction to each of a first end wall and an opposing second end wall and hingedly connected in the transverse direction to each of a first side wall and an opposing second side wall;   d. the first end wall is hingedly connected in the longitudinal direction to a first end reinforcing wall and the second end wall is hingedly connected in the longitudinal direction to a second end reinforcing wall;   e. the first side wall is hingedly connected in the transverse direction to a first side reinforcing wall and the second side wall is hingedly connected in the transverse direction to a second major panel;   f. the second major panel is hingedly connected in the transverse direction to a closure panel; and   g. a folded configuration wherein a first portion of the first side reinforcing wall is in an overlapping configuration with a first portion of the second side wall and a second portion of the first side reinforcing wall is in an overlapping configuration with a portion of the first major panel; the closure panel is in an overlapping configuration with the first sidewall; and a first portion of the second major panel is in an overlapping configuration with a second portion of the second side wall and a second portion of the second major panel is in an overlapping configuration with the first reinforcing wall.   
     
     
         2 . The container blank of  claim 1  wherein in the folded configuration, the first end reinforcing wall is in an overlapping configuration with the first end wall and the second end reinforcing wall is in an overlapping configuration with the second end wall. 
     
     
         3 . The container blank of  claim 2  wherein in the folded configuration, the first side wall is hingedly connected in the longitudinal direction to each of a first end tab of the first side wall and an opposing second end tab of the first side wall wherein the first end tab of the first side wall is in an overlapping configuration with a portion of the first end reinforcing wall and the second end tab of the first side wall is in an overlapping configuration with a portion of the second end reinforcing wall. 
     
     
         4 . The container blank of  claim 3  wherein the second major panel is hingedly connected in the longitudinal direction to a first end tab of the second major panel and an opposing second end tab of the second major panel. 
     
     
         5 . The container blank of  claim 4  wherein in the folded configuration a portion of the first end tab of the second major panel is located between a portion of the first end wall and a portion of the first end reinforcing wall and wherein in the folded configuration a portion of the second end tab of the second major panel is located between a portion of the second end wall and a portion of the second end reinforcing wall. 
     
     
         6 . The container blank of  claim 5  wherein the first end reinforcing wall has an edge extending in the longitudinal direction and aligned with the hinge connecting the first major panel to the second side wall wherein the edge of the first end reinforcing wall has a notch. 
     
     
         7 . The container blank of  claim 5  wherein the second end reinforcing wall has an edge extending in the longitudinal direction and aligned with the hinge connecting the first major panel to the second side wall wherein the edge of the second end reinforcing wall has a notch. 
     
     
         8 . The container blank of  claim 4  wherein at least one of the first end tab of the second major panel or the second end tab of the second major panel defines an opening. 
     
     
         9 . The container blank of  claim 1  wherein the first major panel has a first width dimension in the transverse direction, the second major panel has a second width dimension in the transverse direction, the first side wall has a third width dimension in the transverse direction, the first reinforcing side wall has a fourth width dimension in the transverse direction, and the second side wall has a fifth width dimension in the transverse direction, wherein the first width dimension and the second with dimension are the same, and wherein the third width dimension, the fourth width dimension, and the fifth width dimension are the same as each other, but wherein the third width dimension, fourth width dimension, and fifth width dimension are less than the first width dimension and the second width dimension. 
     
     
         10 . The container blank of  claim 9  wherein the third width dimension, the fourth width dimension, and the fifth width dimension are each two-thirds of the first width dimension and the second width dimension.