self-locking boxes

Abstract

The Self-locking boxes patent addresses an innovative improvement to the boxes. It is designed to provide both temporary and permanent closure options, with a primary focus on avoiding tampering and guaranteeing the security of deliveries. It is easy to stack, simple to build and does not require additional materials to be closed as the cardboard itself creates a self-locking seal. This enhanced self-locking box is specifically well-suited for the transport of food, especially pizza, where ensuring the recipient's confidence in being the initial opener of the box after sealing is of utmost importance. It can be built in different shapes and sizes and could have a QR code or other reference marks imprinted to identify the relevant shipment.

Claims

1. A self-locking box comprising the following elements: a. A top panel comprises two lateral panels and a closure panel. b. A locking tab connected to the closure panel. c. A bottom panel comprises two side panels and one central panel. d. A containment room panel that creates, when articulated, a containment room having at least one slit in its upper part. e. Corner tabs connected to side panels, enabling articulation and locking the side panels to form a box configuration. f. Securing tabs connected to the containment room panel, engaging cutouts present in the bottom panel to create a containment room and capturing folding corner tabs to lock the side panels in a folded position.

2. The self-locking box according to claim 1, wherein the locking tab is foldable inward or outward, and wherein closure panel and locking tab are configured to be inserted into the slot, allowing for either temporary or permanent closure of the box.

3. The self-locking box according to claim 2, further comprising at least one semicircular hole punch on the central panel to facilitate easy opening.

4. The self-locking box according to claim 2, wherein tampering with the box when in a permanently closed state results in visible damage.

5. The self-locking box according to claim 2, wherein proportions and/or numbers and/or locations of box elements can change based on specific packaging needs.

6. The self-locking box according to claim 2, wherein said box is designed to securely package food items.

7. The self-locking box according to claim 2, further comprising graphical markings or printed instructions on the box to guide users in proper assembly, and/or close, and/or open the box.

8. The self-locking box according to claim 2, made in a different material that can be managed for building a box.

9. The self-locking box according to claim 2, further comprising a QR code printed in a part of it.

10. A method for assembling the self-locking box according to claim 2: a. fold side panels upwardly. b. fold corner tabs inwardly. c. fold the containment room panel upwardly and inwardly to create a room in which lock the corner tabs to articulate a box-base configuration, this rotation also creates cutouts in the bottom panel. d. engage the securing tabs in the cutouts to stabilize the box-base configuration. e. fold the central panel upwardly maintaining the corner tabs inside the box-base configuration. f. Fold lateral panels inwardly, the way they can slide inside the box-base and start to push down the entire top panels. g. fold closure panel downwardly. h. fold the locking tab outwardly or inwardly, deciding to close the box temporarily or permanently. i. Close the self-locking box inserting both the closure panel and locking tab into the slot present in the upper part of the containment room.

11. A self-locking box comprising the following elements: a. Atop panel comprises two lateral closure panels and an up panel. b. Locking tabs connected to the lateral closure panels. c. A bottom panel comprises one central panel and two lateral containment room panels each one comprises one central corner tabs. d. An end panel comprises two end corner tabs. e. Securing tabs connected to the containment room panels engaging cutouts present in the bottom panel to create two containment room and capturing the end corner tabs to lock the end panel in a folded position.

12. The self-locking box according to claim 11, wherein the locking tabs are foldable inward or outward and wherein closure panels and locking tabs are configured to be inserted into the related slots, allowing for either temporary or permanent closure of the box.

13. The self-locking box according to claim 12, further comprising at least one semicircular hole punch on the central panel to facilitate easy opening.

14. The self-locking box according to claim 12, wherein tampering with the box when in a permanently closed state results in visible damage.

15. The self-locking box according to claim 12, wherein proportions and/or numbers and/or locations of box elements can change based on specific packaging needs.

16. The self-locking box according to claim 12, wherein said box is designed to securely package food items.

17. The self-locking box according to claim 12, further comprising graphical markings or printed instructions on the box to guide users in proper assembly, and/or close and/or open the box.

18. The self-locking box according to claim 12, made in a different material that can be managed for building a box.

19. The self-locking box according to claim 12, further comprising a QR code printed in a part of it.

20. A method for assembling the self-locking box according to claim 12: a. Fold the end panel upwardly. b. Fold the end corner tabs inwardly. c. Fold the containment room panels upwardly and inwardly to create two lateral rooms in which lock the end corner tabs to articulate a box-base configuration, this rotation also creates cutouts in the bottom panel. d. Engage the securing tabs in the cutouts to stabilize the box-base configuration. e. Fold the central corner tabs inwardly. f. Fold the central panel upwardly maintaining the central corner tabs inside the box-base configuration. g. Fold the closure tabs inwardly. h. Fold the locking tabs outwardly or inwardly, deciding to close the box temporarily or permanently. i. Fold the top panel downwardly until the point to match the closure panels with the containment rooms. j. Start inserting both the closure panels and the locking tabs into the containment rooms, sliding into the slots present on the upper part of them. k. Fold the up panel inwardly, in the way it can go to paralleling approach the end panel. l. Push gradually down the entire top panel, until the up panel meets the end panel. m. Close the self-locking box, pushing the top panel down forcing the up panel inside the box, allowing all the lateral closure panels and locking tabs to completely slide inside the relating slots.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0061] The drawings are part of the present description and include examples of different kinds of this invention, which can be realized in several different shapes.

[0062] In some cases, various aspects of the invention may be shown to be exaggerated or not in the right proportion to facilitate understanding of the invention.

[0063] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a blank for a kind of self-locking box.

[0064] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the built self-locking box shown in FIG. 1, in an opened position.

[0065] FIG. 3 is a lateral section view showing how to temporarily close the self-locking box shown in FIG. 2.

[0066] FIG. 4 is a lateral section view showing how to permanently close the self-locking box shown in FIG. 2.

[0067] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a section of the containment room as a portion of the self-locking box shown in FIG. 2.

[0068] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a section of the top panel and containment room in the process of temporarily closing of the self-locking box shown in FIG. 2.

[0069] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a section of the top panel and containment room in the process of permanently closing of the self-locking box shown in FIG. 2.

[0070] FIG. 8 is a plan view of a blank for a kind of self-locking box in which there are two closure panels comprising two locking tabs and two slots in the containment room.

[0071] FIG. 9 is a plan view of a blank for a kind of self-locking box which has the closure panels and the corresponding containments rooms located in the lateral parts of the box.

[0072] FIG. 10 is a section's perspective view of a kind of self-locking box which has the closure panels and the corresponding containments rooms located in the lateral parts of the box.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0073] The present invention relates in general to self-locking boxes for packaging pizza or other kinds of food.

[0074] The innovation is also applicable to boxes containing other types of products.

[0075] These boxes are designed to ensure safe delivery to the recipient, excluding any tampering attempt.

[0076] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved box by adding a safety seal, which avoids any tampering with the inside contents.

[0077] Another object of the present invention is to provide a self-locking box structure which can be easily and quickly assembled by one with the skill of the art.

[0078] Another object of the present invention is to provide a self-locking box structure having a closure panel comprising a locking tab insertable through a mating containment room to lock the box closed but not reopenable without visible damage to the box.

[0079] Another object of the present invention is to provide a self-locking box that prevents attempts to tamper with the locking tab of the box.

[0080] Another object of the present invention is to provide such a box structure whereupon the assembled box cannot be opened without separating the top panel from part of the box, thereby providing visible evidence of tampering.

[0081] In addition to those set forth above, other objects of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following disclosure.

[0082] Stated in broad terms, a self-locking box according to the present invention has at least one closure panel connected to a top panel for selectively closing a corresponding end of the box that comprises a containment room panel.

[0083] That closure panel comprises an external tongue called locking tab that can be folded inward or outward of the box.

[0084] Articulating the containment room panel, a slit will be formed in the upper part of the made containment room, allowing the closure panel to enter inside it, closing the box.

[0085] The locking tab may be inserted through the slit in two different ways, allowing the box to be reopenable or closing the box in a permanent way, as better detailed below.

[0086] When the box is permanently closed, any attempt to reopen it will cause obvious tampering with the box, guaranteeing the recipient of the internal contents the certainty that no one has opened the box before him.

[0087] In more detail, the self-locking box according to the present invention has the following particularities, illustrated in the relative drawings.

[0088] As shown in FIG. 1, the dashed lines (11, 12L and 12R) divide the top panel 10 from closure panel 13 and paired side panels 10L, 10R, while a semicircular cut line (70) and a punched line (14) and a cut line (70) divides the same top panel from central panel 50, and punched line 15 divides closure panel 13 into panels 13W and 13M.

[0089] Other dashed lines (23L, 23R, 21,) divide the bottom panel 20 from paired side panels 20L, 20R, and central panel 50, and one dashed line (24) and two cut lines (40L and 40R) divide the same bottom panel 20 from a containment room panel 26, in turn divided by two dashed lines (30 and 32) into three panels, 26W, 27, and 26M.

[0090] Corner tabs 50L and 26L are connected to the lateral panel 20L, and respectively foldable on the dashed lines 51L and 25L, and the corner tabs 50R and 26R are connected to the lateral panel 20R, and respectively foldable on the dashed lines 51R and 25R.

[0091] Corner tabs 50L and 50R are on the upper ends of the side panels 20L, 20R.

[0092] Corner tabs 26L, 26R are at opposite ends of the same side panels 20L, 20R.

[0093] All these corner tabs have the function of slotting, buttressing in, and supporting the lateral walls and corners of the self-locking box.

[0094] Corner tabs allow and cause the lateral panels 10L, 10R, 20L, 20R, to articulate with other panels and lock into a box configuration.

[0095] A pair of locking tabs, 60L and 60R, engage the cutouts at positions 40L and 40R, creating the containment room, while corner tabs 26L and 26R are captured between panels 26W and 26M, to lock the lateral panels 20L and 20R in their folded position 90 degrees up.

[0096] To fold and assemble the self-locking box use the following method: the side panels 20L and 20R are first folded upwardly and out of the plane of the paper at lines 23L and 23R, dragging with them in this shift the corner tabs 50L, 50R, 26L, 26R, that then are folded inwardly toward the center of the box.

[0097] Next, the whole containment room panel 26, divided into panels 26W, 27, and 26M, is folded in the scored line 24 upwardly out of the plane of the paper, and panels 27 and 26M together are folded 90 degrees along the scored line 30 inwardly, and where the punched line 31 is located, a linear cutout is created to provide a slot to receive the closing panel 13.

[0098] Then only panel 26M is folded downwardly along the scored line 32, blocking corner tabs 26L and 26R, rotated in the inside part of the containment room made, thanks to locking tabs 60L, 60R stuck into the cutouts 40L and 40R created in the bottom panel 20 (FIG. 5.)

[0099] Subsequently, central panel 50 is folded upwards at line 21, pushing and retaining inside the box the two corner panels 50L and 50R and forming the fourth lateral side of the self-locking box.

[0100] The two side panels 10L and 10R are folded towards the inside of the box while the entire top panel 10 is folded downwards in correspondence with line 14.

[0101] The side panels 10L, 10R begin to fit perfectly into the base of the self-locking box.

[0102] The rotation of the top panel 10 also creates a cutout, where the semicircular hole punched 70 is located, to provide a place where a person can place a fingernail for easy opening of the self-closing box.

[0103] At this point, folding the top panel 10 downwardly along line 14 makes it possible to close the self-locking box temporarily or permanently (FIG. 2.)

[0104] To close the self-locking box temporarily: it will be necessary to proceed by folding the whole closure panel 13 downwards by rotating it on line 11, then oppositely fold only panel 13M upwards and towards the outside of panel 13W.

[0105] This way, by closing the self-locking box and inserting the already folded closure panel 13 into the slit in panel 27, located in the upper part of the created containment room, panel 13M will contact panel 26W (FIGS. 3 and 6).

[0106] To close the self-locking box permanently: it will be necessary to proceed by folding the whole closure panel 13 downwards by rotating it on line 11, then by folding only panel 13M, upwards and inwards the panel 13W.

[0107] This way, by closing the self-locking box and inserting the already folded closure panel 13 in the slit present in panel 27, located in the upper part of the created containment room, panel 13W will contact panel 26W (FIGS. 4 and 7).

[0108] When the self-locking box is permanently closed, the only way to reopen it will be to insert a finger into the semicircular hole formed at point 70 and force the whole top panel 10 upwards, rotating it on line 11, to tear it away from the bottom of the box.

[0109] Line 14 is the only line deeply punched to facilitate opening the self-locking box.

[0110] Given this configuration it will be possible to create a self-locking box by adding the closure panel to any identifiable top panel of any box and adding a corresponding containment room panel to any identifiable bottom panel of the same box, so that the two parties can bind themselves in the temporary or permanent closure of the box.

[0111] In general: 1) the length of the slot is optional but its width must be at least equal to double the thickness of the cardboard, 2) the width of the closure panel must be slightly less than the length of the relevant slot, 3) the height of the closure panel must be equal to double the height of the containment room minus double the thickness of the cardboard, 4) the height of the locking tab must be equal to the height of the containment room minus double the thickness of the cardboard.

[0112] In the above specifications, it is understood that the definition of height of the containment room corresponds to its height measured from its external lateral part and it is inclusive of the thickness of the cardboard that compose it, therefore not corresponding to the height of its internal space.

[0113] It is also possible to have configurations with more than one locking tab (200 and 300) and more than one slot (220 and 320) in the same containment room (FIG. 8).

[0114] It is also possible to configure the self-locking box in such a way that the closure panels (401 plus 400 and 501 plus 500) are applied to the two lateral sides of the top panel (710) and the containment room panels (430 and 530) are applied to the two lateral sides of the bottom panel (FIG. 9), so that when the box is closed the corresponding two elements (closure panel and containment room panel) are coupled in the respective two sides of the box, allowing the box to close temporarily or permanently (FIG. 10 show how to close permanently.)

[0115] In this configuration (FIG. 9), the self-locking box construction method is different, following this process: first fold the end panel 800 upwardly and fold the end corner tabs 800L and 800R inwardly, then fold the containment room panels 430 and 530 upwardly and inwardly to create two lateral rooms in which lock the corner tabs 800L and 800R to articulate a box-base configuration (the same way as described in the aforesaid method but applied to the lateral parts of the self-locking box), this rotation also creates cutouts in the bottom panel for engaging the securing tabs into them to stabilize the box-base configuration, then fold the central corner tabs 900L and 900R inwardly and fold the central panel 750 upwardly, maintaining the corner tabs 900L and 900R inside the box-base configuration, proceed folding the closure panels 401 and 501 inwardly and fold the related locking tabs 400 and 500 outwardly or inwardly deciding to close the box temporarily or permanently, then fold the top panel 710 downwardly until the point to match the closure panels 401 and 501 and the related locking tabs 400 and 500 with the created containment rooms 430 and 530 and start inserting both the closure panels and the locking tabs in a V shape configuration into the slots present on the upper part of the containment rooms, fold the up panel 700 inwardly, the way it can gradually approach the end panel 800 and push down the entire top panel 710, until the up panel 700 meets the end panel 800, proceed to close the self-locking box, pushing the top panel 710 down and forcing the up panel 700 inside the box, allowing all the lateral closure tabs and locking tabs to completely slide inside the relating slots (FIG. 10.)

[0116] It is also possible to configure a self-locking box in such a way that there are more closure panels and more containment room panels, adaptable to the different shapes of the box and therefore applicable in different parts of it, always in such a way that the two elements are coupled, ensuring the temporary or permanent closure of the box.

[0117] For example, but not limited to it, in some models of self-locking box, it may be necessary to provide more than one closure panel (200 and 300) connected to the top panel and equivalent number of slots (220 and 320) on the containment rooms panel (FIG. 8).

[0118] The size and/or shape of the self-locking box may vary depending on the type of product that it contains inside.

[0119] The numbers and/or the location and/or the proportions of all the elements shown in the relative figures are only indicative and can vary according to specific needs.

[0120] For example, but not limited to, in another kind of self-locking box configuration could be present more than one semicircular hole 70 in the central panel and/or the same could be in a lateral part of the structure, and/or the same could be bigger or smaller than the visual description of the drawing.

[0121] Each self-locking box could have a unique QR code imprinted to identify the product contained and be tracked during the delivery process, especially if it contains products that require this additional service.

[0122] All these descriptions must be understood as descriptive of this idea of a self-locking box concept and not limited to the single images shown.

SEQUENCE LISTENING

[0123] Not applicable