Reusable zipper-reconfigurable shipping box

Abstract

A reusable shipping box with a shipping container state and a compacted state is disclosed. The reusable shipping box may comprise a lid that seals the shipping box, a base, and a set of four sidewalls. The shipping box may also comprise a zipper that: (i) zips down from the lid to the base between two adjacent sidewalls in the set of four sidewalls; (ii) is closed in the shipping container state; and (iii) is open in the compacted state. The shipping box may also comprise a cavity that is: (i) surrounded by the set of four sidewalls, the lid, and the base in the shipping container state; (ii) accessible via the lid when the shipping box is open; and (iii) collapsed in the compacted state.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A reusable shipping box with a shipping container state and a compacted state, comprising:
 a lid that seals the shipping box,   a shipping label area integrated with an exterior surface of the reusable shipping box;   a base;   a set of four sidewalls;   a zipper that is: (i) closed in the shipping container state; (ii) open in the compacted state; and   (iii) allows the shipping box to be folded into the compacted state when open;   a security feature connected to the zipper to detect a breach of the cavity if it is tampered with; and   a cavity that is: (i) surrounded by the set of four sidewalls, the lid, and the base in the shipping container state; (ii) accessible via the lid when the shipping box is open; and (iii) collapsed in the compacted state.   
     
     
         2 . The reusable shipping box of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a removable dividing wall located in the cavity to partition items in the reusable shipping box;   wherein the zipper is a double pull zipper.   
     
     
         3 . The reusable shipping box of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the zipper is a double pull zipper; and   the security feature is a zip tie.   
     
     
         4 . The reusable shipping box of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the shipping label area is a pocket with a transparent cover.   
     
     
         5 . The reusable shipping box of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the zipper seals the lid to first, second and third sidewalls in the set of four sidewalls when the shipping box is sealed; and   the lid is permanently attached to a fourth sidewall in the set of four sidewalls when the shipping box is open.   
     
     
         6 . The reusable shipping box of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a set of panels;   wherein at least two sidewalls in the set of sidewalls each include at least two panels from the set of panels;   wherein each panel in the set of panels is separated from at least one other panel in the set of panels by a fold line; and   wherein a first panel of the lid is separated from a first panel of a sidewall by a fold line.   
     
     
         7 . The reusable shipping box of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a strip of zipper tape attached to the zipper;   wherein each panel in the set of panels includes a rigid member surrounded by a pliant sheathing layer; and   wherein the pliant sheathing layer of each panel in the set of panels it connected to the strip of zipper tape.   
     
     
         8 . The reusable shipping box of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a set of panels;   wherein the lid and each sidewall in the set of four sidewalls include at least one panel from the set of panels; and   wherein each panel in the set of panels is separated from at least one other panel in the set of panels by a fold line.   
     
     
         9 . The reusable shipping box of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a set of two strips of zipper tape attached to the zipper;   wherein each panel in the set of panels includes a rigid member surrounded by a pliant sheathing layer; and   wherein the pliant sheathing layer of each panel in the set of panels it connected to zipper tape from the set of two strips of zipper tape.   
     
     
         10 . The reusable shipping box of  claim 8 , wherein:
 each edge of each panel in the set of panels is one of: (i) a fold line; or (ii) a zipper tape extension connected to the pliant sheathing layer and having one set of zipper teeth; and   the lid, each sidewall in the set of four sidewalls, and the base are all connected in a single unitary piece when the zipper is open and when the zipper is closed.   
     
     
         11 . A reusable shipping box with a shipping container state and a compacted state, comprising:
 a lid that seals the shipping box,   a base;   a set of four sidewalls;   a double pull zipper that is: (i) closed in the shipping container state; (ii) open in the compacted state; and (iii) allows the shipping box to be folded into the compacted state when open;   a security feature connected to the zipper to detect a breach of the cavity if it is tampered with; and   a cavity that is: (i) surrounded by the set of four sidewalls, the lid, and the base in the shipping container state; (ii) accessible via the lid when the shipping box is open; and (iii) collapsed in the compacted state.   
     
     
         12 . The reusable shipping box of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a shipping label area integrated with an exterior surface of the reusable shipping box;   wherein the shipping label area is a pocket with a transparent cover.   
     
     
         13 . The reusable shipping box of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the zipper seals the lid to first, second and third sidewalls in the set of four sidewalls when the shipping box is sealed; and   the lid is permanently attached to a fourth sidewall in the set of four sidewalls when the shipping box is open.   
     
     
         14 . The reusable shipping box of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a set of panels;   wherein at least two sidewalls in the set of sidewalls each include at least two panels from the set of panels;   wherein each panel in the set of panels is separated from at least one other panel in the set of panels by a fold line; and   wherein a first panel of the lid is separated from a first panel of a sidewall by a fold line.   
     
     
         15 . The reusable shipping box of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a strip of zipper tape attached to the zipper;   wherein each panel in the set of panels includes a rigid member surrounded by a pliant sheathing layer; and   wherein the pliant sheathing layer of each panel in the set of panels it connected to the strip of zipper tape.   
     
     
         16 . The reusable shipping box of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a set of panels;   wherein the lid and each sidewall in the set of four sidewalls include at least one panel from the set of panels; and   wherein each panel in the set of panels is separated from at least one other panel in the set of panels by a fold line.   
     
     
         17 . The reusable shipping box of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a set of two strips of zipper tape attached to the zipper;   wherein each panel in the set of panels includes a rigid member surrounded by a pliant sheathing layer; and   wherein the pliant sheathing layer of each panel in the set of panels it connected to zipper tape from the set of two strips of zipper tape.   
     
     
         18 . The reusable shipping box of  claim 16 , wherein:
 each edge of each panel in the set of panels is one of: (i) a fold line; or (ii) a zipper tape extension connected to the pliant sheathing layer and having one set of zipper teeth; and   the lid, each sidewall in the set of four sidewalls, and the base are all connected in a single unitary piece when the zipper is open and when the zipper is closed.   
     
     
         19 . A reusable shipping box with a shipping container state and a compacted state, comprising:
 a lid that seals the shipping box,   a base;   a set of four sidewalls;   a removable dividing wall located in the cavity to partition items in the reusable shipping box;   a zipper that is: (i) closed in the shipping container state; (ii) open in the compacted state; and   (iii) allows the shipping box to be folded into the compacted state when open;   a security feature connected to the zipper to detect a breach of the cavity if it is tampered with;   a cavity that is: (i) surrounded by the set of four sidewalls, the lid, and the base in the shipping container state; (ii) accessible via the lid when the shipping box is open; and (iii) collapsed in the compacted state; and   a removable dividing wall located in the cavity.   
     
     
         20 . The reusable shipping box of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a set of panels; and   a strip of zipper tape;   wherein each sidewall in the set of four sidewalls include at least one panel from the set of panels;   wherein each panel in the set of panels is separated from at least one other panel in the set of panels by a fold line;   wherein the zipper seals the lid to first, second and third sidewalls in the set of four sidewalls when the shipping box is sealed;   wherein the lid is permanently attached to a fourth sidewall in the set of four sidewalls when the shipping box is open;   wherein each panel in the set of panels includes a rigid member surrounded by a pliant sheathing layer;   wherein the pliant sheathing layer of each panel in the set of panels it connected to the strip of zipper tape.