Packaging container and footrest apparatus

Abstract

A combined packaging container and footrest apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a body comprising a plurality of fold lines defining a front panel, a rear panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, a bottom, and a top. The front panel and the rear panel being permanently attached via one of the first side panel and the second side panel, and the bottom. The top is openable and includes a first top panel and a second top panel, the second top panel including a top attachment tab that engages into a top attachment slit in the first top panel to releasably close the top.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A combined packaging container and footrest apparatus, comprising:
 a body comprising a plurality of fold lines defining a front panel, a rear panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, a bottom, and a top;   the front panel and the rear panel being adhesively attached via one of the first side panel and the second side panel, and the bottom;   the top being openable and including a first top panel and a second top panel, the second top panel including a top attachment tab that engages into a top attachment slit in the first top panel to releasably close the top.   
     
     
         2 . The combined packaging container and footrest apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fold lines includes:
 a first vertical fold line extending between the first side panel and the rear panel;   a second vertical fold line extending between the rear panel and the second side panel;   a third vertical fold line extending between the second side panel and the front panel;   wherein the front panel and the rear panel are folded relative to the second side panel via the second and third vertical fold lines, and attached via the first side panel.   
     
     
         3 . The combined packaging container and footrest apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the front panel includes a side attachment tab foldable along a fourth vertical fold line of the plurality of fold lines, and wherein the side attachment tab is bonded via an adhesive attachment to the first side panel. 
     
     
         4 . The combined packaging container and footrest apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom includes a first bottom panel, a second bottom panel, a first bottom corner, and a second bottom corner, each of the first bottom panel, the second bottom panel, the first bottom corner, and the second bottom corner being foldable along a common bottom fold line of the plurality of fold lines. 
     
     
         5 . The combined packaging container and footrest apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the first bottom panel has a first bottom notch and a first bottom corner overlap foldable along a first corner fold line;   the second bottom panel has a second bottom notch and a second bottom corner overlap foldable along a second corner fold line;   wherein the bottom comprises an adhesive attachment between the second bottom corner overlap and the second bottom corner, and another adhesive attachment between the first bottom corner overlap and the first bottom corner.   
     
     
         6 . The combined packaging container and footrest apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the first bottom panel is tucked underneath the second bottom notch, so that an exterior side of the first bottom panel lies on an interior side of the second bottom panel and a corner region of the first bottom panel on an exterior side lies on an interior side of the second bottom corner; and   the second bottom panel is tucked underneath the first bottom notch, so that an exterior side of the second bottom panel lies on an interior side of the first bottom panel and a corner region of the second bottom panel on an exterior side lies on an interior side of the first bottom corner.   
     
     
         7 . The combined packaging container and footrest apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the first corner fold line and the second corner fold line each run diagonally relative to the common bottom fold line. 
     
     
         8 . The combined packaging container and footrest apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein at least one of:
 the first bottom corner and the second bottom corner have a shorter height than the first bottom panel and the second bottom panel; and   the first bottom corner and the second bottom corner have a trapezoidal shape.   
     
     
         9 . The combined packaging container and footrest apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a securement tab cut into the rear panel and the first top panel, and a securement slot disposed between the second top panel and the top attachment tab, wherein the securement tab locks into the securement slot to secure the top. 
     
     
         10 . The combined packaging container and footrest apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the top further includes a first top corner and a second top corner, wherein each of the first top corner, the first top panel, the second top corner, and the second top panel are foldable along a common top fold line of the plurality of fold lines. 
     
     
         11 . The combined packaging container and footrest apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the first top corner and the second top corner have a height shorter than the first top panel and the second top panel, respectively. 
     
     
         12 . The combined packaging container and footrest apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the top attachment tab is foldable relative to the second top panel via a tab fold line, the tab fold line running parallel to the common top fold line. 
     
     
         13 . The combined packaging container and footrest apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the body is composed of a corrugated cardboard material. 
     
     
         14 . A method for forming a combined packaging container and footrest apparatus, comprising:
 providing a body comprising a plurality of fold lines defining a front panel, a rear panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, a first bottom panel extended from the rear panel, a second bottom panel extended from the front panel, a first bottom corner extended from the first side panel, a second bottom corner extended from the second side panel, and a top;   forming a first adhesive attachment between a second bottom corner overlap of the second bottom panel and the second bottom corner after folding the second side panel relative to the front panel;   forming a second adhesive attachment between a side attachment tab extended from the front panel and the second side panel after the rear panel is folded relative to the second side panel and the first side panel is folded relative to the rear panel;   forming a third adhesive attachment between the first bottom corner overlap and the first bottom corner after the first bottom corner is folded relative to the first side panel to lie against the second bottom panel; and   wherein the top is openable.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising releasably closing the top by folding a first top panel relative to the rear panel, folding a second top panel relative to the front panel so that the second top panel overlays the first top panel, and inserting a top attachment tab extended from the second top panel into a top attachment slot disposed between the first top panel and the rear panel. 
     
     
         16 . A cardboard die cut for assembly into a combined packaging container and footrest apparatus, comprising:
 a top fold line and a bottom fold line that run in parallel from a first longitudinal side to a second longitudinal side;   a plurality of vertical fold lines extending parallel to one another and transversely to the top fold line and the bottom fold line;   a first top panel foldable relative to a rear panel via the top fold line;   a second top panel foldable relative to a front panel via the top fold line;   a first bottom panel foldable relative to the rear panel via the bottom fold line;   a second bottom panel foldable relative to the front panel via the bottom fold line;   a first side panel foldable relative to the rear panel via a first vertical fold line of the plurality of vertical fold lines;   the rear panel foldable relative to a second side panel via a second vertical fold line of the plurality of vertical fold lines;   the second side panel foldable relative to the front panel via a third vertical fold line of the plurality of vertical fold lines;   a top attachment tab extended from the second top panel and foldable along a tab fold line; and   a top attachment slot disposed between the first top panel and the rear panel, wherein the top attachment tab is structured and arranged to engage into the top attachment slot.   
     
     
         17 . The cardboard die cut of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a first top corner and a first bottom corner extended from the first side panel, the first top corner foldable relative to the first side panel via the top fold line, and the first bottom corner foldable relative to the first side panel via the bottom fold line; and   a second top corner and a second bottom corner extended from the second side panel, the second top corner foldable relative to the second side panel via the top fold line, and the second bottom corner foldable relative to the second side panel via the bottom fold line.   
     
     
         18 . The cardboard die cut of  claim 16 , further comprising a side attachment tab foldable relative to the front panel via a fourth vertical fold line of the plurality of vertical fold lines. 
     
     
         19 . The cardboard die cut of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the first bottom panel has a first bottom corner overlap that is foldable relative to the first bottom panel via a first corner fold line, the first corner fold line extending diagonally relative to the bottom fold line; and   the second bottom panel has a second bottom corner overlap that is foldable relative to the second bottom panel via a second corner fold line, the second corner fold line extending diagonally relative to the bottom fold line.   
     
     
         20 . The cardboard die cut of  claim 16 , further comprising a securement tab cut into the rear panel and the first top panel, and a securement slot disposed between the top attachment tab and the second top panel, wherein the securement tab is configured to engage into the securement slot to lock the first top panel and the second top panel.