Box and slidable closure for holding box top flaps

[0002] This application claims the priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of provisional applications 60/139,490 filed Jun. 17, 1999 and 60/096,458 filed Sep. 15, 1998.

[0003] 1. Field of the Invention

[0004] This invention relates to closure of cardboard boxes that are commonly used in industry, in packaging of goods for consumers, and generally in commerce. Cardboard boxes are generally sealed with tape at the flaps to form the bottom and the top of the box. Once the box is opened by cutting or ripping of the tape, the box cannot be easily and quickly reclosed for other use or storage of the contents of the box which is partially consumed.

[0005] 2. The Prior Art

[0006] The prior art utilizes tapes, sticky binders and the like to hold the box flaps together. Tape is used on initial assembly, and later upon resealing of the box. Usually, when the box is reclosed after opening, the flaps are merely bent down in an overlapping fashion to interlink with each other in a crisscross fashion.

[0007] When a box is reused, such as for storage by consumers, the box top may also be resealed with any handy tape, string or the like. If it is necessary to utilize a label on the box, the usual procedure is to mark the box with a separate stick on label, or just to write on the box information about its contents.

[0008] A box closure for holding opposing flaps of a cardboard box top in a substantially closed position is designed for a box having at least two opposing flaps. The box closure has a first holding member which extends below at least two opposing flaps of the box when the closure is in a closing position, a second holding member which extends over the at least two flaps when the closure is in a closing position, and a means for connecting the first holding member and the second holding member which passes through a space between the opposing flaps of the box. The first holding member, the second holding member, and the means for connecting are an integral unit constructed separately from the box and the box and box closure are assembled only when the box is closed using the box closure. The box closure is formed from a single sheet of plastic or like material and folded and to form its final shape. The closure may also include a means for holding a label which can be a transparent member which extends over an upper surface of the second holding member. The means for connecting may be resilient and pull the first holding member towards the second holding member to accommodate flaps having different thicknesses. The first holding member may extend a greater distance towards the box folds where the flaps join sides of the box, and the first holding member may extend a greater distance than the second holding member in a direction parallel to folds at a point where the adjacent flaps join sides of the box. The means for connecting the first holding member and the second holding member may extend at an angle from a leading edge of the first holding means to a leading edge of the second holding member To facilitate insertion into a slot formed by opposing flaps. The means for holding the label may comprise an oval-shaped box closure top having a center which is open to receive a label for identification of the box or the box contents. The first holding member, the second holding member, the means for connecting the first and second holding members and the means for holding the label may all be preferably formed together from a single sheet of plastic. The plastic is formed into lengths which are equal to or less than a dimension across the box along edges of opposing flaps. The first holding member may be flat on its bottom surface for preventing interference upon insertion by a box flap lying under the two flaps and which is transverse to the opposing flaps. The first holding member may have edges which are curved towards the second holding member for gripping the two opposing flaps. The second holding member may have edges which are curved towards the first holding member for gripping the two opposing flaps or both the first and second members may have edges which extend towards each other.

[0009] The box closure is manufactured as a single folded plastic piece, and at least the top portion thereof must be of a clear plastic where it is necessary to view a label through the plastic. Where it is desired to have a tapered leading edge 29, the material can be cut at an angle during production or preformed prior to folding into a final shape. The length of the closure may be any length required for holding flaps of boxes down. Generally, larger boxes would include a longer length because of a need for holding additional length in the flaps.

[0010] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the box closure and a label which may be inserted into an oval space at the top of the closure.

[0011] FIG. 2 shows a top view of the closure 12.

[0012] FIG. 3 shows and end view of the closure 12.

[0013] FIG. 4A shows a cardboard box and four flaps at the top which are folded down to form the box top.

[0014] FIG. 4B shows a box where the lids are in a folded position and the closure is being inserted between two lids.

[0015] FIG. 4C shows a box where the closure is fully in place securing the lids.

[0016] FIGS. 4A and 4B generally shows a box 10 and a box closure 12 of this invention. The box 10 is sealed at the bottom with tape, staples or the like, and the closure of the bottom may be any suitable box closing method or device. The top of the box 10 has at least two opposing flaps 14 and 16 which are conventional. The flaps 14 and 16 are folded respectively at the edges 18 and 20 of the box 10. As is conventional in box construction, there is a slight space 22 between the box opposing flaps 14 and 16 when the flaps are bent in their downward position as shown in FIGS. 4B and 4C. FIGS. 4B and 4C show a first holding member 24 which extends below the flaps 14 and 16. A second holding member 26 is shown on the top surface of the box. Each first holding member 24 is connected to a second holding member 26. This connection as shown as two separate folds 28 of the plastic in FIG. 3. The second holding member 26 may have a slight downward arch for pressing down one of the flaps 16. The first holding member 24 also extends upward towards the second holding member 26, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. As generally depicted in FIG. 1, the box closure 12 is adapted to secure the opposing flaps 14 and 16 from both the bottom and the top to prevent the flaps 14 and 16 from flipping upward or opening when the closure is in place. FIG. 1 also includes a label 30 which slides into an oval space 31 formed by holding member 26 and the closure 12 top 13. The label 30 and the means for holding the label 30 can take numerous forms in accordance with this invention.

[0017] Referring now to FIG. 4B and 4C, there is illustrated the method for assembly of the box having the two opposing flaps 14 and 16 and the box closure 12. The box closure 12 slips into the slot 22 formed between the edges of opposing flaps 14 and 16 one end. Generally, boxes are also provided with another set of opposing flaps which are perpendicular to flaps 14 and 16 and fold along edges 32 and 34 shown in FIG. 4A. This folded edge 32 provides additional guidance and improves ease of insertion of the box closure 12 in between the flaps 14 and 16 as shown in FIG. 4B.

[0018] A tapered leading edge 29 is formed with the folds 28. This tapered leading edge facilitates insertion of the closure 12 into the slot 22.

[0019] The closure 12 is prepared by folding a single piece of plastic material in the shape shown in FIGS. 1 to 4. The ends were trimmed prior to folding. The folding process includes the use of heat to make the folds as shown.

[0020] The portion of the container closure 12 which slides under the container lids is longer than the portion that is on the top which contains the label. Still further, the portion on the bottom extends slightly upward, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, therefore providing a pitch for the box top flap.