Sealable box assembly

Abstract

A sealable box assembly includes a box that itself includes a sidewall enclosure and a plurality of top panels extending from the sidewall enclosure at a top end of the box, the plurality of top panels including a first top panel, a second top panel, a third top panel, and a fourth top panel; wherein: the sealable box assembly is configurable in an open configuration and a closed configuration; in the open configuration, a top opening formed at the top end of the box is uncovered to allow access to an interior cavity of the box; and in the closed configuration, the top panels are folded to cover the top opening and a tape strip seals the top panels in the closed configuration.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sealable box assembly comprising:
 a box comprising a sidewall enclosure and a plurality of top panels extending from the sidewall enclosure at a top end of the box, the plurality of top panels comprising a first top panel, a second top panel, a third top panel, and a fourth top panel;   a tape strip extending across the first, second, and third top panels;   wherein:
 the sealable box assembly is configurable in an open configuration and a closed configuration; 
 in the open configuration, a top opening formed at the top end of the box is uncovered to allow access to an interior cavity of the box; and 
 in the closed configuration, the top panels are folded to cover the top opening and the tape strip seals the top panels in the closed configuration. 
   
     
     
         2 . The sealable box assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the tape strip extending across the first, second, and third top panels comprises a continuous tape strip. 
     
     
         3 . The sealable box assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the tape strip comprises an adhesive strip and a backing strip that is removably adhered to the adhesive strip. 
     
     
         4 . The sealable box assembly of  claim 2 , wherein a first slit is defined in a first bridge portion of the tape strip that extends between the first top panel and the second top panel, and a second slit is defined in a second bridge portion of the tape strip that extends between the second top panel and the third top panel. 
     
     
         5 . The sealable box assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the first slit and the second slit extend into the tape strip from an outer strip end of the tape strip. 
     
     
         6 . The sealable box assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the tape strip extends across a distal top end of each of the first, second, and third top panels. 
     
     
         7 . The sealable box assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the tape strip is displaced a given distance from the distal top end of each of the first, second, and third top panels. 
     
     
         8 . The sealable box assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the fourth top panel defines a height that is greater than a height of the first, second, and third top panels so that a distal end of the fourth top panel extends outwardly beyond a distal end of each of the first, second, and third top panels when the sealable box assembly is in the open configuration. 
     
     
         9 . The sealable box assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the sidewall enclosure further comprises a first side panel, a second side panel, a third side panel, and a fourth side panel, wherein the first side panel and the third side panel define a first length, the second side panel and the fourth side panel define a second length, and the first length is less than the second length. 
     
     
         10 . The sealable box assembly of  claim 8 , wherein a distal top end of the fourth top panel is configured to overlap the tape strip disposed on the second top panel when the sealable box assembly is in the closed configuration. 
     
     
         11 . The sealable box assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the distal top end of the fourth panel defines a recess that is configured to receive at least a portion of the distal top end of the second top panel therein when the sealable box assembly is in the closed configuration. 
     
     
         12 . A sealable box assembly comprising:
 a box comprising a sidewall enclosure and a plurality of top panels extending from the sidewall enclosure at a top end of the box, the plurality of top panels comprising a first top panel, a second top panel, a third top panel, and a fourth top panel, the fourth top panel defining a height that is greater than a height of the first, second, and third top panels;   wherein:
 the sealable box assembly is configurable in an open configuration and a closed configuration; 
 in the open configuration, a top opening formed at the top end of the box is uncovered to allow access to an interior cavity of the box; and 
 in the closed configuration, the top panels are folded to cover the top opening and a distal end of the fourth top panel overlies a distal end of the second top panel. 
   
     
     
         13 . The sealable box assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising a tape strip extending across the first, second, and third top panels. 
     
     
         14 . The sealable box assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the tape strip extends across a distal top end of each of the first, second, and third top panels. 
     
     
         15 . The sealable box assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the sidewall enclosure further comprises a first side panel, a second side panel, a third side panel, and a fourth side panel, wherein the first side panel and the third side panel define a first length, the second side panel and the fourth side panel define a second length, and the first length is less than the second length. 
     
     
         16 . A method of forming a box assembly, the method comprising:
 obtaining the sealable box assembly, the sealable box assembly comprising a box and a tape strip, the box comprising a first top panel, a second top panel, a third top panel opposite the first top panel, and a fourth top panel opposite the second top panel, the tape strip defining a first tape strip portion applied to the first top panel, a second tape strip portion applied to the second top panel, and a third tape strip portion applied to the third top panel;   folding the first top panel and the third top panel towards an interior box cavity of the box;   folding the second top panel towards the interior cavity and adhering the second top panel to the first and third tape strip portions; and   folding the fourth top panel towards the interior cavity and adhering the fourth top panel to the first, second, and third tape strip portions.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the step of obtaining the sealable box assembly further comprises obtaining a continuous tape strip assembly that comprises the first, second, and third tape strip portions. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of breaking the tape strip to detach a distal end of the second top panel from a distal end of each of the first top panel and the third top panel. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the step of providing the sealable box assembly further comprises providing the fourth top panel with a height that is greater than a height of the first, second, and third top panels. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the step of providing the sealable box assembly further comprises providing the fourth top panel with a recessed distal top portion that is configured to receive a distal top portion of the second top panel therein when the fourth top panel is adhered to the first, second, and third top panels.