One piece collapsible paper box

Claim 2

A collapsible paper box comprising a front and a rear panel, a bottom portion connecting said panels, said bottom portion lying in a position substantially parallel to said panels when the box is collapsed and being movable to a position which permits expansion of the box, two collapsible side elements connected along opposite sides of said panels and running the length of the box, each of said elements having a slot along the top end thereof and folds adjacent said slot, said slot being substantially on the centerline of each of said elements and the upper portions of said folds diverging downwardly from the lower end of said slot, whereby said panels can be folded on one another to close said box, and means for strengthening the sides of the box when said box is in expanded position.

Claim 3

The box according to claim 1, wherein said means comprises a plurality of wings mounted on the interior of said elements such that when said elements are expanded, the surface of wings are positioned adjacent said element and impart structural rigidity thereto.

Claim 4

A collapsible paper box comprising a front and rear panel a bottom portion connecting said panels such that said portion is substantially parallel the plane of said panels when the box is collapsed, a first and a second side element connecting said panels along the length of the box, each of said elements having a central longitudinal fold extending from the top of the element to a point at least partway down said element and two angled folds each of which extends from one corner of the bottom portion to the end of the central fold, a plurality of wings mounted on the interior of said elements along the angled folds on each of said elements such that when said element is unfolded a surface of each of said wings is positioned adjacent said element such that strength and rigidity is imparted thereto, a first and a second top member each being connected to a different one of said panels at a point diametrically opposite the point of connection of said bottom portion, each of said longitudinal folds having a slot extending from the top of said fold along said fold a distance less then the width of one of said top members and a triangular fold on each element, the base of said triangular fold being coplanar with the connection of said members to said panels and the apex of said triangular fold being the lowest point on said slot such that one of said top members can be folded on the other to facilitate closure of said box.

Claim 5

A collapsible paper box comprising a front and rear panel a bottom portion connecting said panels such that said portion is substantially parallel the plane of said panels when the box is collapsed, a first and a second side element connecting said panels along the length of the box, each of said elements having a central longitudinal fold extending from the top of the element to a point at least partway down said element and two angled folds each of which extends from one corner of the bottom portion to the end of the central fold, a plurality of wings mounted on the interior of said elements along the angled folds on each of said elements such that when said element is unfolded a surface of each of said wings is positioned adjacent said element such that strength and rigidity is imparted thereto, a first and a second top member each being connected to a different one of said panels at a point diametrically opposite the point of connection of said bottom portion, each of said longitudinal folds having a slot extending from the top of said fold along said fold a distance less then the width of one of said top members and a triangular fold on each element, the base of said triangular fold being coplanar with the connection of said members to said panels and the apex of said triangular fold being the lowest point on said slot such that one of said top members can be folded on the other to facilitate closure of said box.

Claim 6

The box according to claim 3 wherein said bottom portion comprises a first part and a second part, said first part connecting one of said panels and said second part such that when said portion is unfolded said first part is substantially perpendicular to both of said panels and said second part connecting said first part to the other panel and being in substantially the same plane as the other panel when said portion is unfolded.

Claim 7

The box according to claim 3 further comprising a plurality of rigidity panels one of which is mounted on the interior surface of the first part of said bottom portion, and of each of the top members, respectively.

Claim 8

The box according to claim 3 whrein each of said top members has an oppositely oriented U-shaped slot such that when said members are in the closed position said slots overlap and two points of intersection are present such that a handle having a flange at each end may be secured to the members at the points of intersection.