Shoebox

Abstract

A method of securing a shoebox in a closed and locked configuration comprising providing a shoebox in an open and unlocked configuration, the shoebox defining an interior and a shoebox opening allowing access to the interior; folding a main panel of the shoebox over the shoebox opening to prohibit access to the interior; folding an overlapping panel of the shoebox over a connecting panel of the shoebox, the connecting panel defining a locking slot; and inserting a locking tab of the shoebox into the locking slot to secure the shoebox in the closed and locked configuration, the locking tab extending from the overlapping panel.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of securing a shoebox in a closed and locked configuration comprising:
 providing a shoebox in an open and unlocked configuration, the shoebox defining an interior and a shoebox opening allowing access to the interior;   folding a main panel of the shoebox over the shoebox opening to prohibit access to the interior;   folding an overlapping panel of the shoebox over a connecting panel of the shoebox, the connecting panel defining a locking slot; and   inserting a locking tab of the shoebox into the locking slot to secure the shoebox in the closed and locked configuration, the locking tab extending from the overlapping panel.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the main panel is a first main panel, and the connecting panel is a first connecting panel;   the shoebox further comprises a second main panel opposite the first main panel and a second connecting panel opposite the first connecting panel;   the overlapping panel extends from a first end of the first main panel;   the first connecting panel extends from a first end of the second main panel; and   the second connecting panel extends from a second end of the second main panel to a second end of the first main panel.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first main panel is hingedly connected to the second connecting panel at a first bend line, and wherein folding the main panel of the shoebox comprising folding the first main panel relative to the second connecting panel at the first bend line. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the overlapping panel is hingedly connected to the first main panel at a second bend line, and wherein folding the overlapping panel of the shoebox comprises folding the overlapping panel relative to the first main panel at the second bend line. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the locking slot is defined through the first connecting panel adjacent to the second main panel. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the shoebox further comprises a side wall and a closure flap, the side wall extending between the first connecting panel and the second connecting panel, the closure flap hingedly connected to the overlapping panel at a flap bend line; and   the method further comprises:
 folding the closure flap relative to the overlapping panel at the flap bend line; and 
 inserting the closure flap into a closure slot of the side wall. 
   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the locking tab is hingedly connected to the overlapping panel at a tab bend line, and wherein inserting the locking tab of the shoebox into the locking slot comprises folding the locking tab at the locking tab bend line towards the locking slot. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the locking tab defines a locking shoulder, and wherein inserting the locking tab of the shoebox into the locking slot comprises inserting the locking shoulder through the locking slot and catching the locking tab on a slot edge of the locking slot to prohibit the locking tab from being withdrawn through the locking slot. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing a shoebox in an open and unlocked configuration comprises folding a monolithic shoebox blank to form the shoebox. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein folding the monolithic shoebox blank to form the shoebox comprises forming a first side wall of the shoebox, and wherein forming the first side wall of the shoebox comprises folding an outer side panel about 180° relative to an inner side panel to a folded position and retaining the outer side panel in the folded position. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the main panel is a first main panel, and the shoebox further comprises a second main panel; and   retaining the outer side panel in the folded position comprises engaging an engagement tab of the outer side panel with an engagement slot of the second main panel.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the connecting panel is a first connecting panel, and the shoebox further comprises a second connecting panel opposite the first connecting panel;   each of the first connecting panel and the second connecting panel extend from the second main panel;   a first connecting flap is hingedly connected to the first connecting panel and a second connecting flap is hingedly connected to the second connecting panel; and   forming the first side wall of the shoebox further comprises sandwiching the first connecting flap and the second connecting flap between the outer side panel and the inner side panel.   
     
     
         13 . A method of opening a shoebox comprising:
 obtaining the shoebox in a closed and locked configuration, wherein the shoebox comprises a shoebox body including a tearaway portion, the tearaway portion comprising a locking tab and a tear strip, the locking tab in locking engagement with a locking slot of the shoebox;   detaching the tearaway portion from the shoebox body, wherein detaching the tearaway portion from the shoebox body comprises:
 pulling the tear strip away from a surrounding panel body of the shoebox; and 
 ripping a tear line defining the tear strip; and 
   unfolding a main panel of the shoebox to uncover a shoebox opening allowing access to an interior of the shoebox.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein detaching the tearaway portion from the shoebox body further comprises manually engaging an engagement opening of the tear strip to facilitate pulling the tear strip away from the surrounding panel body. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein manually engaging the engagement opening comprises removing a punch portion of the tear strip to form the engagement opening. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising unfolding an overlapping panel of the shoebox away from a connecting panel of the shoebox after detaching the tearaway portion and before unfolding the main panel of the shoebox, the connecting panel defining the locking slot and the overlapping panel defining the tear strip and the surrounding panel body. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein unfolding the overlapping panel of the shoebox further comprises disengaging a closure flap of the shoebox from a closure slot of the shoebox, the closure flap hingedly connected to the overlapping panel, the closure slot defined in a side wall of the shoebox. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the locking tab remains in the locking engagement with the locking slot after the tearaway portion has been detached from the shoebox body. 
     
     
         19 . A shoebox comprising:
 a first main panel;   a second main panel opposite the first main panel;   a first connecting panel extending from the first main panel, the first connecting panel defining a locking slot;   a second connecting panel extending between the first main panel and the second main panel opposite the first connecting panel; and   an overlapping panel comprising a tearaway portion defining a locking tab, the overlapping panel having a front upper end and a front lower end opposite the front upper end, the front upper end of the overlapping panel being connected to the second main panel, and the overlapping panel extending from the second connecting panel and at least partially overlapping the first connecting panel;   wherein the locking tab extends from the front lower end of the overlapping panel, and the locking tab is in locking engagement with the locking slot in a closed and locked configuration of the shoebox.   
     
     
         20 . The shoebox of  claim 19 , wherein the tearaway portion further comprises a tear strip formed with the overlapping panel, the tear strip defined by a tear line formed in the overlapping panel, the locking tab hingedly connected to the tear strip.