A New Kind Of Cardboard Box?

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With all the packaging and shipping going this time of year, I thought you guys might have an interest in this new cardboard box. I can see UPS, FedEx or one of the big shippers like Amazon having an interest in this.
 
I am not too sure about that. when assembled it didn't look like it was going to stay together to start with. Then they claim no tape, but during moving, transport... a simple bump to the top and the entire thing would open spilling your contents all over the place.

Neat idea.. but I will stick with a normal box for now thank you.
 
Yeah, that's great till the little opening bit gets smashed in by the crappy USPS/FedEx/UPS guy throwing it into the back of the truck against something else, causing the contents of my package to get dumped out now without a label. It's hard enough sometimes to have packages make it through in normal boxes, the last thing I'd want is this flimsy thing.
 
Easier for thieves to open too.

Tape is used for more than keeping the box from opening, tampered boxes are easy to identify, but this solution doesn't leave any sign of tampering.
 
ummmm

I give that thing about 40 seconds in the "Saturday pile" at the distribution facility
 
Also, this is a solution to a problem we don't have.
Do we need better materials? Yes. But we also need better security.
 
The reason why the type of cardboard is used currently is because traditional cardboard is stronger. If they are 15% - 20% less cardboard, then they are getting rid of it in the structure of the actual lattice structure of the cardboard which would make it inherently weaker, so it may not stand up to shipping. Also, if you notice they didn't show it being shipped. That's where the real test is. Also, this box design has no way to indicated whether the box was tampered with or not. I could easily open it, steal the contents and then repackage it back. Tape in this case has a dual purpose. It secures the gaps in a box, but also is an indicator of tampering.

The jig and the cut pattern of the flat is really what they are trying to sell, but if they came in front of me and asked for partnership or VC money, I'd ask them the same things I mentioned above and wait for their answers. Not a bad idea, just not really thought out overall.
 
I don't know why there are posts about not being able to tell if the box was tampered with. Opening the box tears the perforated sections apart making it completely obvious that it has been opened.

I would agree that the it is nothing more than a poor infomercial for something that is very similar to boxes like the USPS flat rate boxes that are already in use.
 
Well I bet this would not pass any kind of torture test, give it to the guys at UPS, they will throw this thing, smash it, kick it etc. And I bet it would just open up and shit out its content.
 
Less cardboard = less strength. UPS would destroy half of them. It would be like Godzilla in Tokyo.
 
The less cardboard seems to be from not having the extra large folding flap bits on the top and bottom as a regular box has. Eh, don't see it taking off.
 
I am disappoint. I expected a "smart" cardboard box that could somehow size itself to fit the item it was enclosing.

Also, awkward height difference.
 
I could see this used for product packaging, just not shipping packaging. Still, even using less cardboard I bet this box would cost quite a bit more than a traditional box.
 
Stupid. Good for them for attempting to innovate, but this falls way short.
 
Good for gifts at birthday or shower parties but bad for shipping.

Yeah, actually it is an amazing gift box.

If they can't sell that as a shipping box replacement (to which everyone here has valid points), there is certainly a market for gift boxes. It may not make them super duper rich but it still can be a very significant revenue stream.
 
Next Sunday night when the Dallas Cowgirls lose against the Eagles maybe Dallas fans have another use for this box.

41GNxhADC-L._SY300_.jpg
 
This was on Reddit a couple of days ago, the users there tore it (the concept) to pieces. AFAIK the creators don't even have a patent for it yet!
 
This was on Reddit a couple of days ago, the users there tore it (the concept) to pieces. AFAIK the creators don't even have a patent for it yet!

1) a lot of haters

2) patents are now first to file. They better be quick. But disclosing the idea no longer kills the patent.
 
The reason why the type of cardboard is used currently is because traditional cardboard is stronger. If they are 15% - 20% less cardboard, then they are getting rid of it in the structure of the actual lattice structure of the cardboard...

Hehe...

Class, instead of going to the box factory today, we'll be going to the...box factory.

I miss The Simpsons of that era.

Yea, and that box looks flimsy. I like my regular corrugated boxes. Tape secures them well enough. My knife opens them well enough.
 
Awesome little trick, however like everyone else says too easy to open. UPS fucker pops it open looks what's in it, if it's something worth stealing it goes missing, if not he simply repacks it.

However that white thing that is needed to easily pack the box up looks like a weak point too, what happens if you need a different sized box? You need one of those things for every size box?
 
Since I hate wrapping presents. This would be a perfect alternative. That is about as far as I will go with this concept.

I can just imagine Apple using this type box. All they have to do is put a big shiny Apple logo on it and every box shipped from Apple will never, ever reach their intended customer.

Since they don't have a patent yet, it's obvious they have not thought this through yet but decided to get some public feedback. If they don't get their act together fast, they're going to lose this patent to someone else.
 
This was on Reddit a couple of days ago, the users there tore it (the concept) to pieces. AFAIK the creators don't even have a patent for it yet!

Not having a patent and waiting for it to be approved could be two different things. You could file for a patent today and it not be approved for 4 years from now.

Awesome little trick, however like everyone else says too easy to open. UPS fucker pops it open looks what's in it, if it's something worth stealing it goes missing, if not he simply repacks it.

However that white thing that is needed to easily pack the box up looks like a weak point too, what happens if you need a different sized box? You need one of those things for every size box?

That is a good point. unless the folding device resizes itself you would need a lot of those.
 
I can see this being a big deal for any company that ships A LOT of cardboard box packages (Amazon). In terms of scale cost and time savings I'd be surprised if they haven't already looked into something along these lines and are implementing or have already implemented into their infrastructure.

I mean if they they are seriously researching drone delivery where else is there to improve on their delivery route?
 
I don't know why there are posts about not being able to tell if the box was tampered with. Opening the box tears the perforated sections apart making it completely obvious that it has been opened.

I would agree that the it is nothing more than a poor infomercial for something that is very similar to boxes like the USPS flat rate boxes that are already in use.

It doesn't tear anything. the sizes fold up and "latch" into each other. you push on the top and it pops open. It then can be just folded back up and re latched. Video states how the wax strip can be used to reseal the box. There is no glue or tape holding anything together. Just a 2 little tabs pushed into some holes and a wax strip helping told the top down just a little bit but not preventing it from popping open in a second for you to quickly open it. So there is nothing to break or tear when opening the box.
 
My above post is wrong. I just watched the video again. I do see where the top part does actually break apart during the opening process. So there is a part that tears when opening
 
"Uses 20% less cardboard, saving millions of trees per year."

20% less strength. I don't know why someone would assume that Amazon doesn't know everything there is to know about boxing efficiency, door to door.

As for saving trees: bogus. Those trees are cultivated for paper products, they're not being "saved." And guess what, growing trees to make paper products that will be buried removes carbon from the atmosphere. Not that green anymore, is it?
 
Less material doesn't necessarily mean less strength. I think current boxes waste a lot of material in the top of them which ends up being 2 layers, if that material was redirected to the edges, I could believe you could make a box that's more resilient to impact and uses less material.

Of course, I think the lack of tape.glue/staples holding the sides together to actually maintain the structure would significantly reduce the strength, but that doesn't mean less material reduces strength, the lack of proper binding reduces strength ;)
 
Guys, these are engineering students at a prestigious school.

Your 20% less material = 20% less strength, does not hold up at all. Conventional boxes do a pretty good job of protecting the contents from impact. But the box's structure as a whole, is easily compromised and usually is, after an impact during shipping.


It shows in the video multiple times, that that box is rated for a 250 pound load. The key is that it doesn't rely on tape, to hold itself together. I just tried to sit on a typical cardboard box the other day, and it folded immediately, under my weight. and I only weigh about 154lbs. Try to put something fairly heavy in a box and the tape gives out long before the cardboard does. this design only has one spot of adhesive, relying on structure to hold itself together. That's really good.

It's true that little pop and open feature is probably an achilles heal for shipping. but they have 90 percent of a great design. All they need to do is get rid of that bit and have something like the perforated tearaway strips instead.
 
Guys, these are engineering students at a prestigious school.

That.. and the fact it looked more like a typical BS filled "here's a solution to a none existant problem" infomercial/advertisment to me. I think the media department missed their calling, mechanical and electrical engineer? pa-lease.
 
Seems like the little "push the top to open" thing would make it near useless for shipping....which is a major part of what cardboard boxes are used for.

I mean the people at ups/usps/fedex just throw packages around and drop them, it'd pop open way before it reaches your door.

They have to havea better way to keep it from opening.
 
Guys, these are engineering students at a prestigious school.

Your 20% less material = 20% less strength, does not hold up at all. Conventional boxes do a pretty good job of protecting the contents from impact. But the box's structure as a whole, is easily compromised and usually is, after an impact during shipping.


It shows in the video multiple times, that that box is rated for a 250 pound load. The key is that it doesn't rely on tape, to hold itself together. I just tried to sit on a typical cardboard box the other day, and it folded immediately, under my weight. and I only weigh about 154lbs. Try to put something fairly heavy in a box and the tape gives out long before the cardboard does. this design only has one spot of adhesive, relying on structure to hold itself together. That's really good.

It's true that little pop and open feature is probably an achilles heal for shipping. but they have 90 percent of a great design. All they need to do is get rid of that bit and have something like the perforated tearaway strips instead.

I think people are being a bit over harsh, but with the 250 lb load, it's easier to get high load ratings the smaller the box. If you could sit on the box you describe, it sounds like it is much bigger than the box they have pictured. If you get something the size of what they are showing and make it from double ply corrugated cardboard, it will hold up to quite a bit of weight regardless of how you do it.

If you made a box like they have which was, say, 2x2x2 feet LxWxH, I doubt it'd take much load unless you used heavier duty card because the sides aren't sealed in any way other than being held in by the tension supplied by the lid, that's the only thing "holding it together". That sounds fine for small boxes of only a few inches by a few inches, but once you get to any decent size, you're going to need something locking the sides together (tape, staples, etc).

Also, the "engineering students" things made me LOL, I've taught engineering students from 1st year through to final year and it scares me what the universities are unleashing on the world and calling them engineers :p
 
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