Sustainable packaging box system and method for sustainable packaging

Abstract

An improved single-piece shipping box system includes a lid with a lid flap forming a tab that fits into a slot on a front panel of a storage compartment, which facilitates repeatedly opening and closing without damaging the box for display before shipping. The tab and slot allow multiple users, such as the manufacturer, merchant, and e-commerce reseller, to conveniently open and close the box multiple times without damaging the box. The underside of the lid flap carries strips of covered adhesive used to seal the box closed for final shipping or in-person sale of the product. Protective film covers the adhesive strips until the user is ready to remove the protective film and tape the box closed in a permanent fixed manner for final shipping. The innovative arrangement provides a convenience of use and neatness in between pre-shipping uses with easy access and closing while simultaneously enabling secure shipping upon final designation determination.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A single-piece cardboard box, comprising:
 a storage compartment comprising a front panel;   a lid connected to the storage compartment comprising a lid flap defining an underside and a tab;   double-sided tape attached to the underside of the lid flap;   a slot through the front panel of the storage compartment for removably receiving the tab for repeatedly closing the box without taping the box closed;   the double-sided tape carrying a protective film allowing the tab to be removably inserted into the slot without adhering the lid flap to the front panel of the storage compartment; and   wherein the protective film is removable from the double-sided tape for taping the lid flap to the front panel of the storage compartment to tape the box closed.   
     
     
         2 . A storage box, comprising:
 a storage compartment comprising a front panel;   a lid connected to the storage compartment;   an adhesive carried on the box for adhering the box closed;   a removable engagement for removably attaching the lid to the storage compartment without utilizing the adhesive to adhere the box closed;   a protective film carried by the adhesive allowing the removable engagement to repeatedly secure the lid to the storage compartment without utilizing the adhesive to adhering the box closed; and   wherein the protective film is removable from the adhesive for adhering the lid flap to storage compartment to secure the box closed.   
     
     
         3 . The storage box of  claim 2 , wherein the storage compartment and lid are formed from a single piece of material foldable from a flat configuration to form the storage compartment and lid. 
     
     
         4 . The storage box of  claim 3 , wherein the single piece of material is cardboard. 
     
     
         5 . The storage box of  claim 2 , wherein the adhesive comprises double-sided tape. 
     
     
         6 . The storage box of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the lid comprises a lid flap;   the lid flap defines a tab;   the adhesive comprises double-sided tape carried on an underside of the tab;   the storage compartment comprises a front panel; and   the engagement comprises a slot through the front panel for removably receiving the tab.   
     
     
         7 . The storage box of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the lid comprises a lid flap;   the storage compartment comprises a front panel; and   the engagement comprises a slot through the front panel for removably receiving the lid flap.   
     
     
         8 . The storage box of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the lid comprises a lid flap defining a tab;   the storage compartment comprises a front panel; and   the engagement comprises a slot through the front panel for removably receiving the tab.   
     
     
         9 . The storage box of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the lid comprises a lid flap; and   the adhesive comprises double-sided tape carried on an underside of the lid flap.   
     
     
         10 . The storage box of  claim 2 , wherein the adhesive comprises double-sided tape carried on a front panel of the storage compartment.