Compressible Paperboard Container

Abstract

A container including a plurality of walls assembled into a three-dimensional body that defines an internal volume, wherein at least one of the walls includes a plurality of pre-formed fold lines that facilitate controlled deformation of the wall when the container is under compression.

1 . A container comprising a plurality of walls assembled into a three-dimensional body that defines an internal volume, wherein at least one wall of said plurality of walls comprises a plurality of pre-formed fold lines. 
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1  wherein said plurality of walls comprise paperboard. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 2  wherein said paperboard is C1S paperboard. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1  wherein at least one wall of said plurality of wall is marked with indicia. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1  wherein said plurality of pre-formed fold lines are configured to facilitate controlled deformation of said wall when said body is under compression. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1  wherein said wall includes a periphery, and wherein said plurality of pre-formed fold lines define a central portion of said wall and couple said central portion with said periphery. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 6  wherein said wall is generally rectangular and includes four corners, and wherein said central portion is generally rectangular and includes four corners. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 7  wherein a first pre-formed fold line of said plurality extends from a first corner of said four corners of said wall to a first corner of said four corners of said central portion, a second pre-formed fold line of said plurality extends from a second corner of said four corners of said wall to a second corner of said four corners of said central portion, a third pre-formed fold line of said plurality extends from a third corner of said four corners of said wall to a third corner of said four corners of said central portion, and a fourth pre-formed fold line of said plurality extends from a fourth corner of said four corners of said wall to a fourth corner of said four corners of said central portion. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 6  wherein said wall defines a plane, and wherein said central portion is displaced from said plane when a compression force is applied to said body in a direction generally parallel with said plane. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 9  wherein said central portion is displaced into said internal volume. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 9  wherein said central portion is displaced away from said internal volume. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 1  wherein two opposed walls of said plurality of walls each comprise said plurality of pre-formed fold lines. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 1  wherein two opposed walls of said plurality each include a major flap extending therefrom, and wherein one wall of said plurality comprises said major flap of said first opposed wall connected to said major flap of said second opposed wall, with the proviso that said major flaps are not connected to any other flaps. 
     
     
         14 . A container comprising six generally rectangular walls assembled into a three-dimensional rectilinear body that defines an internal volume, wherein a first wall of said six walls comprises a first plurality of pre-formed fold lines, and wherein a second wall of said six walls comprises a second plurality of pre-formed fold lines, said second wall being laterally opposed from said first wall. 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 14  wherein said six walls comprise paperboard. 
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 14  wherein said first and second pluralities of pre-formed fold lines are configured to facilitate controlled deformation of said first and second walls when said body is under compression. 
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 14  wherein said first and second walls each include a periphery, and wherein said first plurality of pre-formed fold lines define a central portion of said first wall and couple said central portion of said first wall with said periphery of said first wall, and wherein said second plurality of pre-formed fold lines define a central portion of said second wall and couple said central portion of said second wall with said periphery of said second wall. 
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 17  wherein said first wall defines a first plane and said second wall defines a second plane, and wherein said central portion of said first wall is displaced from said first plane into said body and said central portion of said second wall is displaced from said second plane away from said body when a compression force is applied to said body. 
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 14  wherein said first wall includes a first flap extending therefrom and second wall includes a second flap extending therefrom, and wherein laterally opposed third and fourth walls of said six walls each include a major flap extending therefrom, and wherein a fifth wall of said six walls comprises said major flap extending from said third wall connected to said major flap extending from said fourth wall, with the proviso that said major flaps are not connected to said first and second flaps. 
     
     
         20 . A packaging system comprising:
 a first container comprising a plurality of walls assembled into a three-dimensional body that defines an internal volume, wherein at least one wall of said plurality of walls of said first container comprises a plurality of pre-formed fold lines; and   a second container stacked on top of said first container, said second container comprising a plurality of walls assembled into a three-dimensional body that defines an internal volume,   wherein said wall is creased along said plurality of pre-formed fold lines.