At a glance
| Patent number | CN207242262U (application CN201721192845) |
| Type | China utility model (实用新型) - protects product shape and structure |
| Original title | Reusable packing box sealed without adhesive tape (一种可多次使用的免胶带封装的包装箱) |
| Patent owner | Suzhou Yungong Packaging Technology Co., Ltd. (latest transfer recorded 2023-10-24) |
| Inventors | Sun Lei |
| Filing date | 2017-09-18 |
| Grant date | 2018-04-17 |
| Status (China) | In force - no termination recorded; a China utility model lasts at most 10 years from filing (to 2027-09-18) |
| Patent family | Chinese filings only - no US, European, Japanese, PCT or other filings listed |
| Cited by | 2 later documents |
| Source | Google Patents (search for CN207242262U) |
What the claims cover, in plain language
Claim 1 - a reusable box sealed without tape, with a bottom, a lid and side walls. The lid has four inward-folding flaps: a first and second facing each other that press on a third and fourth. The edges of the first and second flaps are zigzag-shaped and mirror images, so they mesh when the flaps overlap. The first flap has a first tuck tab and the second a second tuck tab on different sides, each removably fitted to a side wall when the flaps overlap.
Claim 2 - matching holes in the flaps, tabs and side walls (for a locking clip). Claims 3-4 - laminate strips joining the first and third flaps and the second and fourth flaps, with holes. Further claims - bottom flaps with mirrored zigzag edges, grip tabs that lock together, a fold piece and stiffening pieces.
This is a simplified reading for orientation only. The legal scope is defined by the exact claim wording in the official Chinese document.
What this means for US production
This patent was filed only in China. It is still in force in China, so making or selling this design in China would need the owner’s permission while it lasts (at most until 2027-09-18). It has no US or other foreign counterpart and does not restrict the design outside China.
Two points to settle early:
- Other patents may exist. Tape-free, auto-lock and returnable e-commerce boxes are an active patent area for packaging companies and large retailers, so a freedom-to-operate (FTO) review of the flap and lock layout is advisable before die tooling.
- Board grade and cycles. How many trips a box survives depends on the board grade or plastic sheet; the target cycle count is set with the customer and proven by repeat tests.
Customization and manufacturing
What can be customized
| Area | Options |
|---|---|
| Material | Single- or double-wall corrugated, coated board, or PP corrugated sheet for many trips |
| Sizes | Standard parcel sizes or custom dimensions |
| Closure | Plastic U-clip, reusable cable tie, tamper-evident security clip |
| Flexo or digital print, return instructions, QR codes | |
| Inserts | Corrugated or molded pulp dividers and cushioning |
| Handles | Die-cut hand holes for carrying |
Things to plan for (US market)
- ISTA 3A - the parcel-delivery test series most e-commerce shippers and carriers expect.
- Carrier rules - UPS and FedEx packaging guidelines for closures, weight and box strength (edge crush or burst rating).
- FTC Green Guides - claims such as “reusable” or “recyclable” must be substantiated; PP versions and corrugated versions need different wording.
- State packaging EPR laws - several states now charge producers for packaging; material choice affects the fees.
How a project runs
- Inquiry - box sizes, contents weight, number of trips and quantity.
- Design - flap zigzag pattern, tab positions, hole layout, clip.
- Prototype - sample boxes cut on a sample table for fit and assembly speed.
- Pilot run - ISTA drop and compression tests, repeat-use trials.
- Production - corrugated or PP sheet, printing, die-cutting, clip supply.
Quantities & timeline
Each box size needs a cutting die (flatbed or rotary) and print plates; the U-clip needs a small injection mold. Sample-table prototypes are fast, and ISTA testing and repeat-use trials take most of the development time. Send us your box sizes, contents, target trips, quantity and target price and we will reply with options.
Patent drawings
Drawings reproduced from the public patent document for reference.
