Partitioned container with self-locking access portion

Abstract

A partitioned container having a self-locking access portion and further having a plurality of individual compartments formed from mated slotted interior panels. One or more exterior panels surround the mated interior panels to form the outside of the partitioned container. The interior panels may include folding tab sections and partitioning sections, and the panels may be mated with one another. The exterior panel(s) may comprise a plurality of sub-panels configured to reinforce the container and interlock with one another. The various panels may be folded about fold lines to permit the assembly to be folded into a substantially flat state.

1 . A partitioned container comprising:
 one or more interior partitions configured to define a plurality of storage cells;   a plurality of adjoining exterior wall panels, configurable to form a structure to receive said one or more interior partitions-therein;   wherein a first panel of said exterior wall panels includes one or more apertures; and   wherein the first panel is adapted to receive one or more portions of a second exterior wall panel within said one or more apertures, to form a locking portion of said structure.   
     
     
         2 . The partitioned container of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the partitioned container comprises corrugated paperboard.   
     
     
         3 . The partitioned container of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more interior partitions comprise:
 a first number of interior partitions extending alongside one another and spanning the interior compartment in a first direction;   a second number of interior partitions extending alongside one another and spanning the interior compartment in a second direction intersecting the first direction; and   wherein each of the first number of interior partitions are mated with each of the second number of interior partitions to define the plurality of storage cells.   
     
     
         4 . The partitioned container of  claim 3 , wherein:
 each interior partition further comprises a number of slots, each slot extending from either a top or bottom edge of the interior partition, wherein each slot is adapted to receive a portion of another interior partition to mate the other interior partition thereto.   
     
     
         5 . The partitioned container of  claim 3 , wherein:
 at least one of said one or more interior partitions comprises at least one folding tab.   
     
     
         6 . The partitioned container of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the number of slots of at least one interior partition partially define a plurality of panel tabs, each comprising non-right-angle corners along an open edge.   
     
     
         7 . The partitioned container of  claim 1  wherein:
 the second exterior wall panel further comprises a fold line positioned between an edge fold line and an opposing open edge. 
 
     
     
         8 . The partition container of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a support panel of said exterior wall panels, adapted to be positioned between the one or more interior partitions and the first panel. 
 
     
     
         9 . The partitioned container of  claim 1  wherein:
 the first panel is further adapted to receive one or more portions of a third exterior wall panel within said one or more apertures, to form a locking portion of said structure. 
 
     
     
         10 . The partitioned container of  claim 9  wherein:
 each of the second exterior wall panel and third exterior wall panel comprise at least one insert panel tab. 
 
     
     
         11 . The partitioned container of  claim 1 , wherein:
 at least one exterior wall panel of said plurality of exterior wall panels comprises a mating tab.   
     
     
         12 . The partitioned container of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a handle positioned at an exterior wall panel of said plurality of exterior wall panels. 
 
     
     
         13 . The partition container of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the second panel is adapted to contact the first panel in a position substantially parallel thereto.   
     
     
         14 . A partitioned container comprising:
 a first number of interior partitions;   a second number of interior partitions adapted to mate with the first number of interior partitions to define a plurality of storage cells; and   at least one exterior panel adapted to close around the interior partitions, the at least one exterior panel comprising:
 a first number of exterior wall panels; and 
 a second number of exterior wall panels adapted to be positioned substantially perpendicular to the first number of exterior wall panels,
 wherein the second number of exterior wall panels comprise:
 a first panel including one or more apertures; and 
 a second panel including one or more portions adapted to be received by the one or more apertures of the first panel to form a locking region of the at least one exterior panel; and 
 
 
   
     
     
         15 . The partition container of  claim 14  further comprising:
 a third panel of the second number of exterior wall panels, wherein the third panel is adapted to be positioned between the interior partitions and the first panel. 
 
     
     
         16 . The partition container of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the third panel comprises a substantially continuous surface.   
     
     
         17 . The partition container of  claim 15  further comprising:
 a fourth panel of the second number of exterior wall panels, wherein the fourth panel includes one or more portions adapted to be received by the one or more apertures of the first panel to form a locking region of the exterior panel. 
 
     
     
         18 . The partition container of  claim 14 , wherein:
 each of the first number of interior partitions comprises a number of slots, each slot extending from either a top or bottom edge of the interior partition, and wherein each slot is adapted to receive a portion of one of the second number of interior partitions to mate the one of the second number of interior partitions thereto.   
     
     
         19 . The partition container of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the second panel of the second number of exterior wall panels comprises at least one insert panel tab.   
     
     
         20 . A partitioned container comprising:
 one or more interior partitions configured to define a crate having a plurality of cells of an interior compartment;   at least one exterior structure adapted to define the interior compartment, the exterior structure comprising:
 a plurality of walls; 
 a first panel, adapted to contact the one or more interior partitions in a position substantially perpendicular thereto; 
 a second panel, having an aperture; and 
 a third panel, wherein the third panel includes an edge fold line located at an intersection of the third panel and the top or bottom edge of a wall adjacent thereto, and the third panel is configured to rotate about the edge fold line; 
   wherein the first panel of the exterior structure is adapted to be secured between the one or more interior partitions and the second panel of the exterior structure;   wherein the aperture of the second panel of the exterior structure is adapted to receive a portion of the third panel of the exterior structure, and is further adapted to maintain the portion of the third panel to restrict movement of each of the first, second and third panels of the exterior structure; and   wherein the partitioned container is adapted to be folded substantially flat.