IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,643,708
Granted Patent B2
US 12,643,708 · App. 18/779,318 · Granted Jun 2, 2026

Packing box, toner container, and method of assembling packing box

Inventor: Teruo Shibata (Kanagawa, JP)
Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
B65D5/5007B31B50/262B31B50/81B65D5/0245G03G15/0867B31B2100/002B31B2110/35
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,643,708
App. No.
18/779,318
Granted
Jun 2, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A packing box of a polygonal tube shape to pack an object includes a plurality of corners and a plurality of holding portions. The plurality of corners are creases along which a flat plate is folded. The plurality of holding portions protrude inward of the packing box, hold the object, and are disposed at positions corresponding to at least two corners of the plurality of corners on one end in a longitudinal direction of the packing box and at positions corresponding to at least two corners of the plurality of corners on the other end in the longitudinal direction of the packing box that is a direction in which the polygonal tube shape extends. The at least two corners on the one end are different from the at least two corners on the other end.

Claims (70)

1 . A packing box of a polygonal tube shape to pack an object, the packing box comprising:

a plurality of corners that are creases along which a flat plate is folded; and

a plurality of holding portions to protrude inward of the packing box and hold the object, the plurality of holding portions disposed at positions corresponding to at least two corners of the plurality of corners on one end in a longitudinal direction of the packing box and at positions corresponding to at least two corners of the plurality of corners on another end in the longitudinal direction of the packing box that is a direction in which the polygonal tube shape extends,

wherein:

the at least two corners on the one end are different from the at least two corners on said another end,

the plurality of holding portions are a plurality of inter-slit portions to protrude inward of the packing box, and each of the plurality of inter-slit portions is interposed between two slits in parallel with each other in a direction intersecting the creases when the packing box is in a state of the flat plate, and

the two slits are inclined with respect to a direction perpendicular to the creases.

2 . The packing box according to claim 1 , wherein:

the object is held inside the packing box without contacting a portion other than the plurality of holding portions.

3 . The packing box according to claim 1 , wherein;

the plurality of holding portions restrict the object from moving in the longitudinal direction, and

at least two holding portions on the one end or the said another end in the longitudinal direction are drawable toward an outside of the polygonal tube shape to allow the object to be taken out.

4 . The packing box according to claim 1 , wherein:

the packing box has a square tube shape, and

the plurality of holding portions includes:

two holding portions on the one end in the longitudinal direction at positions corresponding to two corners on a diagonal line among the plurality of corners; and

two holding portions on the other end in the longitudinal direction at positions corresponding to two corners on a diagonal line among the plurality of corners, which are different from the two corners corresponding to the two holding portions on the one end.

5 . The packing box according to claim 1 , wherein:

each of the plurality of holding portions is at a position shifted from an edge on the one end or the other end in the longitudinal direction to a center of the packing box in the longitudinal direction, and

the plurality of holding portions holds the object within a range between both edges of the packing box in the longitudinal direction.

6 . The packing box according to claim 5 , wherein;

peripheral portions on the one end and the other end in the longitudinal direction are folded or crushed toward the center of the packing box in the longitudinal direction.

7 . The packing box according to claim 1 , wherein:

the object is a toner container in which toner is stored.

8 . A toner container stored as the object in the packing box according to claim 1 , the toner container comprising:

a plurality of held portions held by the plurality of holding portions; and

a substantially cylindrical portion closer to a center in a longitudinal direction of the toner container than the plurality of held portions,

wherein the plurality of held portions are recessed from an outer circumference of the substantially cylindrical portion.

9 . A packing box of a polygonal tube shape to pack an object, the packing box comprising:

a plurality of corners that are creases along which a flat plate is folded; and

a plurality of holding portions to protrude inward of the packing box and hold the object, the plurality of holding portions disposed at positions corresponding to at least two corners of the plurality of corners on one end in a longitudinal direction of the packing box and at positions corresponding to at least two corners of the plurality of corners on another end in the longitudinal direction of the packing box that is a direction in which the polygonal tube shape extends,

wherein:

the at least two corners on the one end are different from the at least two corners on said another end,

the packing box has a square tube shape, and

the plurality of holding portions includes:

two holding portions on the one end in the longitudinal direction at positions corresponding to two corners on a diagonal line among the plurality of corners; and

two holding portions on the other end in the longitudinal direction at positions corresponding to two corners on a diagonal line among the plurality of corners, which are different from the two corners corresponding to the two holding portions on the one end.

10 . The packing box according to claim 9 , wherein:

the plurality of holding portions are a plurality of inter-slit portions to protrude inward of the packing box, and each of the plurality of inter-slit portions is interposed between two slits in parallel with each other in a direction intersecting the creases when the packing box is in a state of the flat plate.

11 . The packing box according to claim 10 , wherein:

the two slits are inclined with respect to a direction perpendicular to the creases.

12 . The packing box according to claim 9 , wherein:

the plurality of holding portions restrict the object from moving in the longitudinal direction, and

at least two holding portions on the one end or the other end in the longitudinal direction are drawable toward an outside of the polygonal tube shape to allow the object to be taken out.

13 . The packing box according to claim 9 , wherein:

the object is a toner container in which toner is stored.

14 . A toner container stored as the object in the packing box according to claim 12 , the toner container comprising:

a plurality of held portions held by the plurality of holding portions; and

a substantially cylindrical portion closer to a center in a longitudinal direction of the toner container than the plurality of held portions,

wherein the plurality of held portions are recessed from an outer circumference of the substantially cylindrical portion.

15 . A packing box of a polygonal tube shape to pack an object, the packing box comprising:

a plurality of corners that are creases along which a flat plate is folded; and

a plurality of holding portions to protrude inward of the packing box and hold the object, the plurality of holding portions disposed at positions corresponding to at least two corners of the plurality of corners on one end in a longitudinal direction of the packing box and at positions corresponding to at least two corners of the plurality of corners on another end in the longitudinal direction of the packing box that is a direction in which the polygonal tube shape extends,

wherein:

the at least two corners on the one end are different from the at least two corners on said another end,

each of the plurality of holding portions is at a position shifted from an edge on the one end or the other end in the longitudinal direction to a center of the packing box in the longitudinal direction, and

the plurality of holding portions holds the object within a range between both edges of the packing box in the longitudinal direction.

16 . The packing box according to claim 15 , wherein:

the plurality of holding portions are a plurality of inter-slit portions to protrude inward of the packing box, and each of the plurality of inter-slit portions is interposed between two slits in parallel with each other in a direction intersecting the creases when the packing box is in a state of the flat plate.

17 . The packing box according to claim 16 , wherein:

the two slits are inclined with respect to a direction perpendicular to the creases.

18 . The packing box according to claim 15 , wherein:

the packing box has a square tube shape, and

the plurality of holding portions includes:

two holding portions on the one end in the longitudinal direction at positions corresponding to two corners on a diagonal line among the plurality of corners; and

two holding portions on the other end in the longitudinal direction at positions corresponding to two corners on a diagonal line among the plurality of corners, which are different from the two corners corresponding to the two holding portions on the one end.

19 . The packing box according to claim 15 , wherein:

peripheral portions on the one end and the other end in the longitudinal direction are folded or crushed toward the center of the packing box in the longitudinal direction.

20 . The packing box according to claim 15 , wherein:

the object is a toner container in which toner is stored.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 22, 2024
From: SHIBATA, TERUO
To: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
Reel/Frame 068042/0967 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2023-122914 · Jul 28, 2023 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250033828A1 · Jan 30, 2025
References Cited (22)
US 2723795A · Douglas · 1955 [cited by examiner]
US 5299734A · Lane · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5378096A · Keenan · 1995 [cited by examiner]
US 5730289A · Cappels · 1998 [cited by examiner]
US 10894646B2 · Simpkins · 2021 [cited by examiner]
US 11492170B2 · Mellecker · 2022 [cited by examiner]
US 20090173659A1 · Li · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20120144783A1 · Nakamura · 2012 [cited by examiner]
US 20210325800A1 · Shibata et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20240140642A1 · Tamaki et al. · 2024 [cited by applicant]
CH 360646A · 1962 [cited by applicant]
CN 201472749U · 2010 [cited by applicant]
DE 932899C · 1955 [cited by examiner]
FR 2598385A3 · 1987 [cited by applicant]
JP S61161289U · 1986 [cited by applicant]
JP H11349053A · 1999 [cited by applicant]
JP 2006321530A · 2006 [cited by applicant]
JP 3172544U · 2011 [cited by applicant]
JP 2012081976A · 2012 [cited by applicant]
JP 2012121604A · 2012 [cited by applicant]
JP 2024065480A · 2024 [cited by applicant]
Office Action issued Apr. 13, 2026 in Chinese Patent Application No. 202410920933.6, 9 pages. [cited by applicant]