Container with tabs and box blank

Abstract

A container has a folded configuration and an unfolded configuration. The container may include a top, a bottom, and a plurality of sides to form an interior when in the folded configuration. The top may be formed of one or more panels and may include one or more tabs. The tabs may be positioned on the top at a location spaced from lateral edges of the top and/or lateral edges of the sides adjacent the top. The tabs may extend from or be formed from one or more panels forming the top, may be folded over an edge connected to the top, and engaged with a panel of the top. The container may include one or more openings in and/or through the bottom of the container, where the openings may be configured to receive tabs when containers are stacked to create stability in stacks of the containers.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container having an unfolded configuration and a folded configuration, the container comprising:
 a bottom;   a first side at least partially adjacent to the bottom;   a second side at least partially adjacent to the bottom;   a third side at least partially adjacent to the bottom;   a fourth side at least partially adjacent to the bottom; and   a top at least partially extending from one of the sides, the top including one or more tabs laterally spaced from the first side, the second side, the third side, and the fourth side.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising an opening extending through the bottom. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein the opening is formed in a panel of the bottom and the opening is spaced from all exterior edges of the panel of the bottom. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein the opening extending through the bottom is laterally spaced from first side, the second side, the third side, and the fourth side. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the first side at least partially extends from the bottom and the second side at least partially extends from the bottom. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more tabs of the top include a first tab and a second tab. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the top comprises a first top panel extending from the second side and a second top panel extending from the fourth side. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein the first top panel and the second top panel have substantially the same dimensions. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein when the container is in a folded configuration, the first top panel has an exterior surface with a first surface area and the second top panel has an exterior surface with a second surface area different in size than the first surface area. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the first top panel includes a first tab of the one or more tabs; and   the second top panel includes a second tab of the one or more tabs.   
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the first top panel has a first edge at a lateral edge of the second side and a second edge non-adjacently spaced from the first edge; and   the first top panel has one or more of the tabs extending from the second edge and in a direction away from the first edge.   
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the first top panel has a first edge at a lateral edge of the second side and a second edge non-adjacently spaced from the first edge; and   the first top panel has one or more of the tabs extending from a position between the first edge and the second edge and terminating at about the second edge.   
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the first top panel has a first edge at a lateral edge of the second side and a second edge non-adjacently spaced from the first edge of the first top panel;   the second top panel has a first edge at a lateral edge of the fourth side and a second edge non-adjacently spaced from the first edge of the second top panel; and   the second edge of the first top panel and the second edge of the second top panel are spaced from one another by a gap at least substantially along an entirety thereof when the container is in a folded configuration.   
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein in an unfolded configuration:
 a panel of the second side extends from the bottom in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction a panel of the first side extends from the bottom;   a panel of the third side extends from the bottom in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction the panel of the second side extends from the bottom; and   a panel of the fourth side extends from the bottom in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction the panel of the third side extends from the bottom.   
     
     
         15 . A box blank for forming a container, comprising:
 a bottom panel having one or more openings spaced from lateral edges of the bottom panel;   a first side panel extending from a first lateral edge of the bottom panel;   a second side panel extending from a second lateral edge of the bottom panel;   a top panel extending from one of the first side panel and the second side panel; and   a tab in the top panel, the tab being spaced from all side panels of the box blank.   
     
     
         16 . The box blank of  claim 15 , wherein the top panel has a plurality of outer edges defining the top panel and the tab is spaced inward from each of the outer edges of the top panel. 
     
     
         17 . The box blank of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the top panel has a first edge at a lateral edge of one of the first side panel and the second side panel from which it extends;   the top panel has a second edge non-adjacently spaced from the first edge; and   wherein the tab extends from the second edge of the top panel and extends away from the first edge.   
     
     
         18 . The box blank of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the top panel includes a first top piece having a first edge extending along a lateral edge of the first side panel and a second edge non-adjacently spaced from the first edge; and   the top panel includes a second top piece having a first edge extending along a lateral edge of the second side panel and a second edge non-adjacently spaced from the first edge.   
     
     
         19 . The box blank of  claim 18 , wherein the tab in the top panel has a lateral edge formed from a lateral edge of the second edge of one of the first top piece and the second top piece. 
     
     
         20 . A method of using a box blank, the method comprising:
 folding each of two side panels extending from a bottom panel of the box blank, such that the two side panels are folded to a position substantially perpendicular to the bottom panel;   folding a top panel extending from one or more of the two side panels to a position substantially perpendicular to one or more side panels from which the top panel extends to form an interior space at least partially defined between the bottom panel, the two side panels, and the top panel; and   folding a tab of the top panel away from the interior space, wherein the tab of the top panel is spaced from lateral edges of the top panel.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the tab has a lateral edge formed at about a medial edge of the top panel, the medial edge of the top panel is located substantially parallel to a first lateral edge of the top panel and extends between a second lateral edge and a third lateral edge of the top panel. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the top panel includes a first tab and a second tab both spaced from lateral edges of the top panel, the method further comprising folding each of the first tab and the second tab away from the interior space.