Storage box

Abstract

A storage box includes a single sheet of material that, when folded to define the storage box comprises a bottom, side walls, and a flap hinged to one of the side walls. The flap includes a stacking tab that is movable between a use position in which the stacking tab protrudes through a mounting slot and a hidden position in which the stacking tab does not protrude from the storage box. The storage box allows the stacking tabs to be used only when necessary and not protruding from the storage box when not in use.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A storage box, comprising:
 a single sheet of material that, when folded to define the storage box comprises:
 a bottom; 
 side walls; and 
 a flap hinged to one of the side walls, the flap comprising a stacking tab that is movable between a use position in which the stacking tab protrudes through a mounting slot of the storage box and a hidden position in which the stacking tab does not protrude from the storage box. 
   
     
     
         2 . The storage box of  claim 1 , further comprising an upper part in the use position. 
     
     
         3 . The storage box of  claim 1 , wherein the flap is a first flap hinged to a first side wall of the side walls, the stacking tab is a first stacking tab, and the side walls include a second side wall opposite to the first side wall, the storage box further comprising:
 a second flap hinged to the second side wall, the second flap comprising a second stacking tab.   
     
     
         4 . The storage box of  claim 3 , wherein the first and second stacking tabs are mounted on a middle portion of the first and second flaps, respectively. 
     
     
         5 . The storage box of  claim 4 , wherein the first and second stacking tabs are mounted on one end of the first and second flaps, respectively. 
     
     
         6 . The storage box of  claim 1 , wherein the flap comprises a projection that, in the hidden position, is housed in the mounting slot. 
     
     
         7 . The storage box of  claim 6 , wherein the stacking tab comprises a cut-out area to form a protrusion. 
     
     
         8 . The storage box of  claim 1 , wherein the flap is hinged to the one of the side walls along a folding line, the folding line being inclined, perpendicular, or parallel with respect to the bottom. 
     
     
         9 . The storage box of  claim 1 , further comprising stacking slots to house stacking tabs of another storage box. 
     
     
         10 . The storage box of  claim 1 , wherein the single sheet of material comprises a corrugated material defining a plurality of channels parallel to each other. 
     
     
         11 . The storage box of  claim 10 , wherein the channels of the corrugated material are arranged vertically or inclined on the side walls in the use position. 
     
     
         12 . The storage box of  claim 1 , wherein the stacking tab extends substantially vertically in the use position. 
     
     
         13 . The storage box of  claim 1 , wherein, in the use position, the flap extends substantially parallel with respect to the one of the side walls.