US3901432A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Collapsible box structure
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-10-30
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Granted: 1975-08-26
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Expires: 1992-10-30
Abstract
Abstract Three-piece collapsible box structure made from sheet material such as cardboard. Sidewalls are defined by sheets foldable into flat configuration when not in use and operable to outline side peripheries of the box. The sidewalls can be held in open position by coaction with top and/or bottom closures or by a pivotable stay means carried along a fold line. Top and bottom closures can be interchangeable with various depth sidewall structure. Ribbon, stretchable cord, or other securing means can be integral with the box structure.
Inventors
- 👤 Cecilia H Lancaster
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 19:46
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D5/00; B65D5/42; B65D5/4279; B65D5/4283; B65D5/02; B65D5/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
196 words
Three-piece collapsible box structure comprising sidewall means made of sheet-like material, such as cardboard, the sidewall means being foldable into a flat configuration and expansible into an extended configuration which defines the sidewall peripheral outline of an enclosure which is open on its two remaining oppositely disposed surfaces, closure means adapted to be assembled in combination with the sidewall means when in extended configuration including a pair of closures for separately covering respectively each of the remaining open surfaces defined by sidewall means, the sidewall means including planar sidewall panels meeting along juncture lines and being foldable along at least such juncture lines, the closure means including side flaps adapted to extend in planes about the peripheral outline of the box structure, each in substantially parallel relationship to its respective adjacent sidewall panel, a portion of such side flaps fitting internally of the peripheral configuration defined by the sidewall means and a portion of such flaps fitting externally of such configuration so that the internally fitted flaps maintain the sidewall means in extended configuration, and fastening means for releasably securing the closure means in covering relationship to the remaining oppositely disposed surfaces of the sidewall means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
196 words
Three-piece collapsible box structure comprising sidewall means made of sheet-like material, such as cardboard, the sidewall means being foldable into a flat configuration and expansible into an extended configuration which defines the sidewall peripheral outline of an enclosure which is open on its two remaining oppositely disposed surfaces, closure means adapted to be assembled in combination with the sidewall means when in extended configuration including a pair of closures for separately covering respectively each of the remaining open surfaces defined by sidewall means, the sidewall means including planar sidewall panels meeting along juncture lines and being foldable along at least such juncture lines, the closure means including side flaps adapted to extend in planes about the peripheral outline of the box structure, each in substantially parallel relationship to its respective adjacent sidewall panel, a portion of such side flaps fitting internally of the peripheral configuration defined by the sidewall means and a portion of such flaps fitting externally of such configuration so that the internally fitted flaps maintain the sidewall means in extended configuration, and fastening means for releasably securing the closure means in covering relationship to the remaining oppositely disposed surfaces of the sidewall means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The structure of claim 1 in which at least one of the sidewall panels is foldable upon itself so that the overall length dimension of the sidewall means, when in collapsed configuration, is no greater than the overall length dimension of the closure means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
149 words
Three-piece collapsible box structure comprising sidewall means made of sheet-like material, such as cardboard, the sidewall means being foldable into a flat configuration and expansible into an extended configuration which defines the sidewall peripheral outline of an enclosure which is open on its two remaining surfaces, closure means adapted to be assembled in combination with the sidewall means when in extended configuration including a pair of closures for separately covering respectively each of the remaining open surfaces defined by sidewall means, the sidewall means including longitudinal sidewalls and lateral sidewalls with the sidewall means being foldable along juncture lines between the longitudinal and lateral sidewalls and along similarly oriented fold lines located centrally of each lateral sidewall, and stay means pivotally mounted along the lateral sidewall fold lines and pivotally rotatable in position to permit folding of the lateral sidewalls or to maintain the lateral sidewalls in extended configuration.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
149 words
Three-piece collapsible box structure comprising sidewall means made of sheet-like material, such as cardboard, the sidewall means being foldable into a flat configuration and expansible into an extended configuration which defines the sidewall peripheral outline of an enclosure which is open on its two remaining surfaces, closure means adapted to be assembled in combination with the sidewall means when in extended configuration including a pair of closures for separately covering respectively each of the remaining open surfaces defined by sidewall means, the sidewall means including longitudinal sidewalls and lateral sidewalls with the sidewall means being foldable along juncture lines between the longitudinal and lateral sidewalls and along similarly oriented fold lines located centrally of each lateral sidewall, and stay means pivotally mounted along the lateral sidewall fold lines and pivotally rotatable in position to permit folding of the lateral sidewalls or to maintain the lateral sidewalls in extended configuration.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
232 words
Three-piece collapsible box structure comprising sidewall means made of sheet-like material, such as cardboard, the sidewall means being foldable into a flat configuration and expansible into an extended configuration which defines the sidewall peripheral outline of an enclosure which is open on its two remaining oppositely disposed surfaces, closure means adapted to be assembled in combination with the sidewall means when in extended configuration including a pair of closures for separately covering respectively each of the remaining open surfaces defined by sidewall means, the sidewall means including planar sidewall panels meeting along juncture lines and being foldable along at least such juncture lines, the closure means including side flaps adapted to extend in planes about the peripheral outline of the box structure, each in substantially parallel relationship to its respective adjacent sidewall panel, a portion of such side flaps fitting internally of the peripheral configuration defined by the sidewall means and a portion of such flaps fitting externally of such configuration so that the internally fitted flaps maintain the sidewall means in extended configuration, and fastening means for releasably securing the closure means in covering relationship to the remaining oppositely disposed surfaces of the sidewall means, the fastening means including button means mounted on the closure means and cord means interconnecting the pair of closure means and releasably holding them in fixed position on the oppositely disposed surfaces of the sidewall means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
232 words
Three-piece collapsible box structure comprising sidewall means made of sheet-like material, such as cardboard, the sidewall means being foldable into a flat configuration and expansible into an extended configuration which defines the sidewall peripheral outline of an enclosure which is open on its two remaining oppositely disposed surfaces, closure means adapted to be assembled in combination with the sidewall means when in extended configuration including a pair of closures for separately covering respectively each of the remaining open surfaces defined by sidewall means, the sidewall means including planar sidewall panels meeting along juncture lines and being foldable along at least such juncture lines, the closure means including side flaps adapted to extend in planes about the peripheral outline of the box structure, each in substantially parallel relationship to its respective adjacent sidewall panel, a portion of such side flaps fitting internally of the peripheral configuration defined by the sidewall means and a portion of such flaps fitting externally of such configuration so that the internally fitted flaps maintain the sidewall means in extended configuration, and fastening means for releasably securing the closure means in covering relationship to the remaining oppositely disposed surfaces of the sidewall means, the fastening means including button means mounted on the closure means and cord means interconnecting the pair of closure means and releasably holding them in fixed position on the oppositely disposed surfaces of the sidewall means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-08-25 | 1979-02-24 | 1979-08-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-08-25 | 1983-02-24 | 1983-08-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-08-25 | 1987-02-24 | 1987-08-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |