Foldable Box and Activity Mat

Abstract

A foldable box convertible between an erect, assembled configuration and an open, flattened configuration is provided. The foldable box includes a base panel having at least four edges, a plurality of side panels, a plurality of connector panels, and a plurality of releasable fastener mechanisms to securely fasten adjacent side panels together. Each of the side panels has a proximal edge, a distal edge, and a pair of opposite side edges between the proximal and distal edges. The proximal edge of each side panel is hingedly connected to a respective one of the edges of the base panel. Each of the connector panels is configured to couple adjacent side panels. In particular, each of the connector panels is configured to inwardly bias to fold toward an interior of the foldable box in response to the foldable box being converted from the open, flattened configuration toward the erect, assembled configuration.

1 . A foldable box convertible between an erect, assembled configuration and an open, flattened configuration, comprising:
 a base panel having at least four edges;   a plurality of side panels, each of the side panels having a proximal edge, a distal edge, and a pair of opposite side edges between the proximal and distal edges, the proximal edge of each side panel being hingedly connected to a respective one of the edges of the base panel, enabling each of the side panels to fold inwardly towards the base panel and outwardly away from the base panel;   a plurality of connector panels, each of the connector panels being configured to couple adjacent side panels, wherein each of the connector panels is inwardly biased to fold toward an interior of the foldable box in response to the foldable box being converted from the open, flattened configuration toward the erect, assembled configuration; and   a plurality of releasable fastener mechanisms, each of the fastener mechanisms having a first fastener component and a second fastener component, the first and second fastener components are arranged on and depend from opposite side edges of each of the side panels, the first and second fasteners are capable of detachably mating with each other to securely fasten adjacent side panels together in the erect, assembled configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The foldable box of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of side panels comprises four side panels; and
 wherein the plurality of connector panels comprises four corner panels, each of the corner panels having a first side edge, a second side edge, a distal edge, and a perpendicular bisector fold line that divides each of the corner panels into first and second congruent right triangle panels, the first triangle panel being hingedly connected along the first side edge to an adjacent first one of the four side panels, the second triangle panel being hingedly connected along the second side edge to an adjacent second one of the four side panels, the first triangle panel being hingedly connected to the second triangle panel along the fold line, and the first and second triangle panels being configured to inwardly bias to fold toward an interior of the foldable box when one or both of the adjacent first one and adjacent second one of the four side panels are folded inwardly towards the base panel.   
     
     
         3 . The foldable box of  claim 1 , wherein each of the base panel, the side panels, and the connector panels comprises a semi-rigid base material. 
     
     
         4 . The foldable box of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener mechanism comprises a hook-and-loop fastener mechanism. 
     
     
         5 . The foldable box of  claim 4 , wherein the fastener mechanism further comprises a first magnetic portion and a second magnetic portion, wherein the first magnetic portion is disposed on one side panel and magnetically mates with a second magnetic portion disposed on an adjacent side panel. 
     
     
         6 . The foldable box of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener mechanism comprises a first magnetic portion and a second magnetic portion, wherein the first magnetic portion is disposed on one side panel and magnetically mates with a second magnetic portion disposed on an adjacent side panel.