Foldable cardboard container for use in modified atmosphere packaging

Abstract

A container capable of maintaining a modified atmosphere may be formed from a single piece of corrugated cardboard. For example, a container may include a single piece of corrugated cardboard having a first side and a second side that includes four walls, a bottom, a top, two bottom flaps, two wall flaps, two wall fold overs, and a closing flap, wherein each of the foregoing have a first side corresponding to the first side of the corrugated cardboard and a second side corresponding to the second side of the corrugated cardboard. The single piece of corrugated cardboard with said features is configured to be folded into a container that, in an assembled-closed configuration, is capable of maintaining a modified atmosphere.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container comprising:
 a single piece of corrugated cardboard having a first side and a second side that, in an assembled-closed configuration, comprises four walls, a bottom, a top, two bottom flaps, two wall flaps, two wall fold overs, and a closing flap, wherein each of the foregoing have a first side corresponding to the first side of the corrugated cardboard and a second side corresponding to the second side of the corrugated cardboard;   wherein:
 a fourth wall is continuous with a first wall, a bottom, a third wall, and a top, 
 in a first direction and in order the following are contiguously connected: the closing flap, the top, the fourth wall, the bottom, and a second wall, 
 in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and in order the following are contiguously connected: the third wall, the fourth wall, and the first wall, 
 the second side of each of the two bottom flaps engages the first side of the bottom, 
 the second side of a first of the two side flaps engages the first side of a first wall and the second side of a second side of the two side flaps engages the first side of a third wall, 
 the first side of a first of the two wall fold overs engages the first side of the first of the two sidewall flaps and the first side of a second of the two wall fold overs engages the first side of the second of the two sidewall flaps, and 
 the closing flap engages the second wall; and 
   wherein the container is capable of maintaining a modified atmosphere in the assembled-closed configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the single piece of corrugated cardboard further comprises two latching flaps contiguous with the closing flap in the second direction such that in the second direction and in order is a first of the two latching flaps, the closing flap, and a second of the two latching flaps are contiguous, and wherein each of the two wall fold overs have a notch therein each capable of mating with a corresponding one of the two latching flaps in the assembled-closed position. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein each of the two bottom flaps have a notch and each of the two wall fold overs have a tab configured to mate with the notch corresponding thereto. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the second side of the closing flap engages the second side of the second wall. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein one or both sides of the corrugated cardboard has one or more layers disposed thereon. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein an adhesive is present at one or more locations on the corrugated cardboard. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container is devoid of adhesive. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein at least 98 wt % of the container is paper recycle compatible. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the corrugated cardboard comprises one or more of: A flute, B flute, C flute, D flute, E flute, and F flute. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the corrugated cardboard is a single-wall corrugated cardboard or a double-wall corrugated cardboard. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the corrugated cardboard has a weight of 350 g/m 2  to 650 g/m 2 . 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the corrugated cardboard has a thickness of 1 mm to 5 mm. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  any preceding claim , wherein, in the assembled-closed configuration, the container has a height of 25 cm to 50 cm, a width of 25 cm to 75 cm, and a depth of 25 cm to 50 cm. 
     
     
         14 . A method comprising:
 transitioning a container from a single-layer configuration to an assembled-open configuration, the container comprising:
 a single piece of corrugated cardboard having a first side and a second side that, in an assembled-closed configuration, comprises four walls, a bottom, a top, two bottom flaps, two wall flaps, two wall fold overs, and a closing flap, wherein each of the foregoing have a first side corresponding to the first side of the corrugated cardboard and a second side corresponding to the second side of the corrugated cardboard; 
 wherein:
 a fourth wall is continuous with a first wall, a bottom, a third wall, and a top, 
 in a first direction and in order the following are contiguously connected: the closing flap, the top, the fourth wall, the bottom, and a second wall, 
 in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and in order the following are contiguously connected: the third wall, the fourth wall, and the first wall, 
 the second side of each of the two bottom flaps engages the first side of the bottom, 
 the second side of a first of the two side flaps engages the first side of a first wall and the second side of a second side of the two side flaps engages the first side of a third wall, and 
 the first side of a first of the two wall fold overs engages the first side of the first of the two sidewall flaps and the first side of a second of the two wall fold overs engages the first side of the second of the two sidewall flaps; and 
 
 wherein the container is capable of maintaining a modified atmosphere in the assembled-closed configuration; and 
 wherein a cavity in the container in the assembled-open configuration is defined by at least the first side of the two bottom flaps, the second side of the two fold overs, the second wall, and the fourth wall; 
   adding a product to cavity; and   transitioning the container from the assembled-open configuration to the assembled-closed configuration by engaging the closing flap and the second wall.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising:
 applying an adhesive in a location on the corrugated cardboard to accomplish the adhering of two engaged surfaces. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising:
 adding a gas to the cavity before the transitioning of the container from the assembled-open configuration to the assembled-closed configuration, wherein the gas comprises nitrogen, argon, carbon dioxide, or any combination thereof. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising:
 allowing the product in the cavity of the container in the assembled-closed configuration to respirate and passively modify a gas composition in the cavity; and 
 maintaining the modified gas composition for at least 8 hours. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein (i) the transitioning of the container from the single-layer configuration to the assembled-open configuration, (ii) the adding of the product to the cavity, and (iii) the transitioning of the container from the assembled-open configuration to the assembled-closed configuration all occur at a first site; and wherein the method further comprises transporting the container having the product therein to a second site. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the product comprises produce, a flower, a plant, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         20 . A method comprising:
 transitioning a container from a single-layer configuration to an assembled-open configuration, the container comprising:
 a single piece of corrugated cardboard having a first side and a second side that, in an assembled-closed configuration, comprises four walls, a bottom, a top, two bottom flaps, two wall flaps, two wall fold overs, and a closing flap, wherein each of the foregoing have a first side corresponding to the first side of the corrugated cardboard and a second side corresponding to the second side of the corrugated cardboard; 
 wherein:
 a fourth wall is continuous with a first wall, a bottom, a third wall, and a top, 
 in a first direction and in order the following are contiguously connected: the closing flap, the top, the fourth wall, the bottom, and a second wall, 
 in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and in order the following are contiguously connected: the third wall, the fourth wall, and the first wall, 
 the second side of each of the two bottom flaps engages the first side of the bottom, 
 the second side of a first of the two side flaps engages the first side of a first wall and the second side of a second side of the two side flaps engages the first side of a third wall, and 
 the first side of a first of the two wall fold overs engages the first side of the first of the two sidewall flaps and the first side of a second of the two wall fold overs engages the first side of the second of the two sidewall flaps; and 
 
 wherein the container is capable of maintaining a modified atmosphere in the assembled-closed configuration; and 
 wherein a cavity in the container in the assembled-open configuration is defined by at least the first side of the two bottom flaps, the second side of the two fold overs, the second wall, and the fourth wall; 
   adding a product to cavity at the first site;   transitioning the container from the assembled-open configuration to the assembled-closed configuration at the first site;   transporting the container having the product therein to a second site; and   storing the product at the second site.