Box Construction

This invention relates in general to containers and, more particularly, to a box construction as formed through appropriate folding from a die cut blank.

Heretofore, containers as formed of cardboard, paperboard and the like for the safe transport of particularly comestibles having a delicate character, such as, for instance, pizza, pies, cakes and the like, have been of two general types. One such type comprises cooperating open top boxes and independent closures therefor, thus requiring a two part construction, and necessitating close tolerance between such components to assure of a relatively snug fit for the closure. However, in actual usage, unless extreme care is exercised, the top closure may become displaced with undesired results for the retention of the contents in original state. The other generally utilized type of container is the well known bakery box having a foldable top closure with a tongue or extension at the forward end thereof, but these boxes are of relatively fragile character and necessitate the individual maintaining close care as to the handling of such box or container while carrying the same. Furthermore, these bakery containers have little or no reliability for inherent maintenance of closed condition and, therefore, have consistently necessitated resort to string, scotch tape, or other extrinsic securing means.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a box which may be readily formed from a single die cut bland and which is peculiarly adapted for protected transport of pizza, cakes, pies and the like so as to retain same against crushing or like damage materially affecting the expected appealing appearance thereof.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a box of the character stated which integrally incorporates unique latching means so as to prevent accidental, premature opening of the box and thereby assure proper retention of the contents during transport.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a box of the character stated which incorporates novel components for guarding delicate contents against any damage through downward, crushing movement of the top closure.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a box of the character stated which may be most economically manufactured; which does not require resort to any extrinsic elements or accessories for maintaining same in closed condition, or for construction of the same; which is so designed as to assure of structural integrity; and which is most reliable and durable in usage.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a box constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention, illustrating same in open condition.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a blank for forming the box of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front end view of the box in closed condition.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the box in closed condition.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the box in closed condition.

Referring now by reference characters to the drawings which illustrate the preferred embodiment of the present invention, A designates a box formed from a single blank 1 of cardboard, paperboard, fiberboard or other similar material which is adaptable for facile folding or bending into box A. Box A comprises a top wall or closure 2, a bottom wall 3, and preferably relatively shallow side walls 4,4' and front and back walls 5,6, respectively. At their upper edges each side wall 4,4' is continuous with a coextensive inturned flange 7,7', respectively, which latter are in planar parallel relationship to bottom wall 3; while front wall 5 is similarly continuous along the upper edge thereof with a rearwardly directed flange 8. Said flange 8 is supported by the underlying, forward portions of flanges 7,7', and in the rearward end portion thereof is provided with laterally outwardly extending stops 9,9' which project beyond the adjacent side walls 4,4' and present forwardly directed shoulders 10,10'. Each side wall 4,4' between the forward ends thereof and the proximate stop 9,9', is provided adjacent its bottom edge with an opening 11,11', respectively, as developed by a cut-away portion through the provision of complementarily dimensioned lateral projections 12, 12', respectively, from the proximate side of bottom wall 3.

Each flange 7,7' in its central portion is cut-away, as at 13,13', respectively, providing an abutment 14,14', respectively, extending upwardly from the related side wall 4,4', respectively, for purposes presently appearing.

Top wall 2 integrally contains a pair of locking tabs 15,15' which are formed at the forward ends of the lateral edges s,s', respectively, thereof, and are turned downwardly about a fold line 16,16', respectively, coincident with the edges s,s', into substantially planar perpendicular relationship with respect to top wall 2 and with the respective lower or distal end portions thereof being bent inwardly, as along fold lines 17, 17', respectively, toward each other to provide tongues 18,18', respectively, for reception within openings 11,11', respectively; with the same thus extending inwardly beyond the proximate side wall 4,4' for locking box A in closed condition. It will be observed that in such state tongues 18,18' will be fully supported on their under surface by bottom wall 3 and projections 12,12'.

As is evident from the drawings, locking tabs 15,15', which may be of greater transverse extent than the associated tongues 18,18' for strength enhancement, are of such width as to be presented forwardly of the adjacent shoulder 10,10' of stops 9,9', respectively, when box A is closed (FIG. 5).

With box A in closed condition it will be observed that closure 2 will be supported upon flanges 7,7' and 8, and be thereby inhibited against an inadvertent accidental downward movement which might assert a crushing force upon the box contents, such as, for example, pizza, as well as other comestibles of broadly similar character, as pies, cakes, and the like. With locking tabs 15,15' in latched condition, shoulders 10,10' serve to prevent premature opening of closure 2 since the rearward edges of locking tabs 15,15' abut thereagainst and thus retain the interengagement between tongues 18,18' and the associated openings 11,11', respectively. Accordingly, the user to gain access to the box interior must necessarily withdraw tongues 18,18' as well as pull tabs 15,15' outwardly to clear stops 9,9' in order to bring about opening action. Furthermore, in addition to the restraint provided by the engagement of tongues 18,18' any tendency of closure 2 to swing into box-open condition is inhibited by the abutment between tabs 15,15' and shoulders 10,10' since the rearward component of such movement is blocked.

Abutments 14,14' are disposed outwardly of, but in immediate adjacency to, side margins s,s', respectively, of closure 2 when box A is in closed condition and thereby obstructs any lateral shifting of closure 2 that might tend to develop during transport of box A, providing further integrity to box A when closed with increased protection to the contents thereof.

Thus, box A incorporates unique structural features which cooperate to provide a sturdiness and stability reliably protective of the contents against undesired displacement or appeal-destroying damage. Furthermore, box A in addition to providing a novel arrangement of components for rendering the same secure in closed condition also embodies contentguarding components constituted of flanges 7,7' with overlapping flange 8 located between the box contents and top wall 2. It must be observed that stops 9,9' also serve to limit flange 8 against any inadvertent downward swinging.

As may best be seen in FIG. 2, box A is easily formed from a single die cut blank 1. It will be seen that the portion of blank 1 constituting top closure 2 is separated from the portion defining bottom wall 3 by a pair of transversely extending parallel fold lines 19,20 which define the normally upper and lower limits of back wall 6. Lateral sections 21,21' project from each side of the portion of blank 1 constituting bottom wall 3 and each of which, substantially centrally thereof, is provided with a coextensive line of bending 22,22' forming the demarcation between the associated flanges 7,7', respectively, and side walls 4,4', respectively; the inner or normally lower edges of said side walls 4,4' being defined by fold lines 23,23' parallel with lines of bending 22,22', respectively, and constituting as well the lower side edges of bottom wall 3 when box A is assembled. An extension 24 is provided at the end of blank 1 remote from the portion constituting top wall 2 and incorporates a pair of parallel bend lines 25,26 which extend transversely of such extension 24 and provide the normal upper and lower edges of front wall 5. The portion of extension 24 between bend line 25 and the outer edge of extension 24 composes flange 8.

It is believed that from the mere description of blank 1 the requisite steps for manipulating same as to develop box A is quite obvious.

By reason of its novel construction box A obviates resort to any independent expedients for securing same in closed condition such as string, tape, adhesives and the like.