3m Innovative Properties Company

Gerald J Niles

John M Darst

Paul A Connors

Reusable container half

Disclosed is a container having top, bottom, and side walls that comprises first and second substantially identical halves, each of which has a major surface that has a polygonal shape defined by at least six sides and at least one substantially vertical side wall, substantially orthogonal to the major surface, that forms a portion of the side walls of the container when the halves are assembled, an at least double wall construction, the two substantially identical halves matingly engage when the halves are assembled to form the container, and means integral to each half for securing the two halves together. In another aspect, the container of the invention comprises a major surface having a curved periphery and is otherwise as summarized above.

Reusable container

A storage container for storing and shipping items is foldable between a flat unformed condition and a second folded formed condition. The container includes a base section, and first and second end sections hinged to respective first and second ends of the base section. First and second cover sections are hinged to respective second ends of the end sections. The container includes a structure to secure differently sized and shaped articles in the same location of the inner surface of the base section. The securing structure includes slots, retention columns, ridges, troughs having various walls forming a trough for securing these articles using a friction fit. The container also includes a device for indicating whether the container has been opened.

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Oakdale, MN, United States of America

Gerald J Niles