Collapsable and reusable shipping box and method of use

Abstract

A collapsible, reusable shipping box has an initial flat configuration, a box configuration and a mailer configuration. In the mailer configuration, the mailer can be returned.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A box, comprising:
 a bottom portion, an end portion and a back portion foldably connected to each other by a living hinge and two side portions foldably connected to each of the bottom and back portions by a living hinge, wherein each side portion is attached to the front portion by a gusset and each side portion has a first attachment device and the front portion has a second attachment device on each end of the front portion that is adjacent to each first attachment device of each side portion, each of the bottom portion, end portion, back portion and two side portions being made of fluted plastic sheeting; and   wherein the box is reusable and is foldable between a mailer configuration and a parcel box configuration, the mailer configuration having the bottom, end and two side portions lay flat with the back portion and a top portion connected to the back portion being folded over the flattened bottom, end and two side portions and the flattened bottom, end and two side portions and the back and top portions being stacked on top of each other that meets USPS limits and is capable of being sent using USPS and the parcel box configuration having the two side portions folded up from the bottom portion and approximately perpendicular to the bottom portion and to the end portion and the first and second attachment devices are connected to each other.   
     
     
         2 . The box of  claim 1  further comprising a crease in between each portion of the box that allows each portion to be moved between the mailer configuration and the parcel box configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The box of  claim 2  further comprising a lid portion foldable connected to the back portion having a lid attachment on a front of the lid portion that attaches to a second lid attachment device on the front portion to close the box when in the parcel box configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The box of  claim 3 , wherein the lip portion further comprises a locking mechanism that locks the closed box when in the parcel box configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The box of  claim 1 , wherein each of the attachment devices is a hook and loop enclosure. 
     
     
         6 . The box of  claim 1  further comprising a scannable ID mechanism connected to the box so that an identity of the box is scannable. 
     
     
         7 . The box of  claim 1  further comprising a transparent pocket affixed to an outside surface of the box. 
     
     
         8 . The box of  claim 1 , wherein the front, bottom and two side portions are each made of a durable, non-porous material and lightweight material. 
     
     
         9 . The box of  claim 8 , wherein the material for each portion further comprises polypropylene. 
     
     
         10 . The box of  claim 1 , wherein the fluted plastic sheeting has a hollow structure. 
     
     
         11 . A method, comprising:
 forming a parcel box configuration for a box having a bottom portion, an end portion and a back portion foldably connected to each other and two side portions foldably connected to the each of the bottom and back portions, wherein each side portion is attached to the front portion by a gusset and each side portion has a first attachment device and the front portion has a second attachment device on each end of the front portion that is adjacent to each first attachment device of each side portion, each of the bottom portion, end portion, back portion and two side portions being made of fluted plastic sheeting, wherein forming the parcel box configuration further comprises connecting the first and second attachment devices to each other so that the two side portions are approximately perpendicular to the bottom portion and to the front portion, wherein the parcel box configuration is capable of being sent using United States Postal Service; and   forming a mailer configuration for the box in which the bottom, end and two side portions lay flat with the back portion and a top portion connected to the back portion being folded over the flattened bottom, end and two side portions and the flattened bottom, end and two side portions and the back and top portions being stacked on top of each other so that the box in the mailer configuration meets USPS limits and is capable of being sent using USPS and is reusable.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein forming the parcel box configuration further comprising folding, at a crease at an edge of each portion, each portion to form the parcel box configuration and wherein forming the mailer configuration further comprising folding, at the crease at the edge of each portion, each portion to form the mailer configuration. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein forming the parcel box configuration further comprises closing the box using a lid portion that foldably connects to the back portion. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein closing the box further comprising locking, using a locking mechanism, the closed box when in the parcel box configuration. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein connecting the first and second attachment devices further comprises using a hook and loop enclosure. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising scanning a scannable ID mechanism connected to the box to determine an identity of the box. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising converting the box between the parcel box configuration and the mailer configuration so return to box in the mailer configuration to a shipping source so that the box is reusable.