Improved tamper proof box and blank

Abstract

A blank 10 is for forming a box. The blank 10 comprises a rectangular base panel P1, two side panels P2 connected to respective first and second opposite sides of the base P1, a front panel P3 connect

Description

This invention relates to a blank for forming a box and to the box formed from the blank. The success of ecommerce has meant that an increasing number of products that are purchased over the Internet are sent to the purchaser in a box, usually made of cardboard, which is assembled from a blank. The blank will be provided with different score lines, fold lines, cuts and so on and the blank is assembled by folding the various panels of the blank to create the finished box, which is then used to house the goods being transported to the end user. Once the box has been filled and it is usually sealed in some way to ensure that the contents of the box are not tampered with in any way. However, the box still needs to be relatively easy to open by the final end user. At present such boxes are often sealed with an adhesive and some kind of tear off strip is provided, which the end user then operates to access the contents of the box. The main problem with existing boxes is that the use of adhesives and / or the provision of an opening structure such as a tear strip reduce the ability of the end box to be entirely recycled. This is not desirable as there is a significant push in commerce and wider society to provide packaging that can be completely recycled and is manufactured from a single material. Utilising adhesive to seal the box and a tear strip to open the box also increases the cost to produce the packaging. However, it is essential to provide a box that is tamper proof and secure, since if the contents of a box used for sending goods purchased over the Internet can be accessed, then there is a significant risk that some contents will be lost and / or stolen during the process from the original supplier to the end purchaser. GB 2578137 discloses a tamper proof box which does not require any adhesives or glues to assemble and use. However, the tamper proof effectiveness and ease of assembly of this box can be improved. It is therefore an object of the invention to improve upon the known art. According to the present invention, there is provided a blank for forming a box according to the attached claims. Owing to the invention, it is possible to provide a blank that can be formed into a box, which is secure, has a tamper proof closing system and can be formed from a single material such as cardboard without the requirement to use an adhesive or any additional opening structures such as a tear strip. The provision of the tabs, one on the front panel and one on the top extension panel make the box easier and faster to assemble, as the flap is guided into the hole on the front panel by the tab on the front panel and a tighter fit is enabled, making it much more difficult to re-open the box once it has been assembled, filled and closed, without it being immediately obvious that the box has been tampered with. When the box is closed, the tab on the front panel engages behind the tab on the top extension panel making the box impossible to open without visible damage being present. The box formed from the blank has improved tamper resistance and improvde tamper evidence. The flap provided on the top extension panel can be folded and when the box is being closed, this folded flap can be located through the hole in the front panel and the fold on the flap will engage with the hole in the internal tuck-in panel. These three components together (the flap and the two holes) create a locking mechanism. This mechanism creates a form of secure lock together of the panels of the box and means that the contents of the box cannot be accessed without the box being damaged, thereby providing a tamper proof / tamper evident box. The box formed from the blank also has the advantage that the box can be closed without using the locking mechanism, which allows more than one item to be placed into the box at different times, while the box can be closed temporarily between items being placed in the box, without the need to activate the locking mechanism. This makes the box more usable by the retailer who is packaging their goods in the box. Preferably, the flap includes a line of weakness parallel to the line of weakness connecting the top extension panel to the top panel. The provision of a line of weakness on the flap facilitates the folding of this flap, when the person closing the box wishes to activate the locking mechanism. The box handler can close the box at any time without activating the locking mechanism, but when the box is full and ready to be sent to the end purchaser, the handler folds the flap along the line of weakness and inserts the flap through the hole in the front panel, activating the locking mechanism. Advantageously, the blank further comprises an openable window located on the front panel between the line of weakness connecting the front panel to the base panel and the double line of weakness, the distance of the window from the side of the front panel being the same as the distance of the hole in the internal tuck-in panel from the line of weakness connecting the internal tuck-in panel to the side panel. The provision of an openable window on the front panel provides the end user with the ability to access the locking mechanism and release the flap from its locked configuration in the hole in the tuck-in panel, allowing the user to open the box. Although the end user does not need to use the openable window, since they can simply rip open the box, the provision of the window does at least provide the user with a simple option for opening the box. Ideally, the blank further comprises two side connection panels each connected to the back panel along respective lines of weakness and to a respective side panel along respective lines of weakness and each including a respective line of weakness lying at an angle of 45 degrees relative to the two connecting lines of weakness. The side connection panels are provided to assist in the assembly of the box. The box assembler will bring in the side panels and back panel in order to form three sides of the box and the configuration of the side connection panels means that these panels can be folded in without the need to perform any slotting and locking of panels as will be required for the front panel. This process speeds up the construction of the box from the blank. Preferably, the blank further comprises two top side extension panels connected to respective first and second opposite sides of the top panel along respective lines of weakness and further comprises two holes, one each located on respective lines of weakness connecting the base panel to a respective side panel and two corresponding tabs located on the outer edges of respective top side extension panels. The provision of tabs on the top side extension panels that will locate in holes in the boundary between the base panel and the side panels provides further tamper proofing of the box constructed from the blank. When the lid of the box is finally closed (the lid comprises the top panel, the top extension panel and the top side extension panels) the tabs on the top side extension panels engage in the holes on the lines of weakness that separate the base panel from the side panels and this makes it very difficult for any unauthorised access to be gained to the interior of the box from the sides of the lid. Ideally both internal tuck-in panels are provided with a respective hole. Having both tuck-in panels provided with a hole means that when these panels are folded in as the front panel is folded over the tuck-in panels two layers of material are present to create a locking aperture (formed from the two holes, one in each tuck-in panel). This provides a wider surface to engage the flap of the blank thereby creating a stronger lock. Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figures 1 and 2 are plan views of a blank for forming a box, Figures 3 to 6 show a series of perspective views of a box being formed from the blank of Figures 1 and 2, and Figures 7 and 8 show perspective views of the box being opened. Figure 1 shows a blank 10 for forming a cardboard box. The blank 10 is formed from a flat sheet of cardboard and is cut from the flat sheet. The blank 10 is also provided with numerous lines of weaknesses, which can take a number of different forms, such as crease lines, partial cuts, fold lines and the like. A line of weakness has the function that it either facilitates a fold along the line of weakness or the line of weakness allows a break to be made along the line. For example, a line of weakness that is formed by a crease being imprinted will later allow a fold to be made along that line whereas a line of weakness that is formed by partial cuts will later allow a tear to be made along that line. The blank 10 is formed by numerous panels P1 etc., as shown labelled in Figure 2. The blank 10 comprises a rectangular base panel P1 with two side panels P2 connected to respective first and second opposite sides of the base panel P1 along respective lines of weakness L1 and L2. A front panel P3 is connected to a third side of the base panel P1 along a line of weakness L3 and including a double line of weakness L4 parallel to the line of weakness L3 connecting the front panel P3 to the base panel P1. A back panel P4 is connected to a fourth side of the base panel P1 along a line of weakness L5. A rectangular top panel P5 is connected to the back panel P4 along a line of weakness L6 parallel to the line of weakness L5 connecting the back panel P4 to the base panel P1 and a top extension panel P6 is connected to the top panel P5 along a line of weakness L7 parallel to the line of weakness L6 connecting the top panel P5 to the back panel P4. Two internal tuck-in panels P7 are each connected to a respective side panel P2 along a respective line of weakness L8 that is an extension of the line of weakness L3 connecting the front panel P3 to the base panel P1. Both internal tuck-in panels P7 are provided with a hole H1, and a hole H2 is provided along the double line of weakness L4 present on the front panel P3, the distance of the hole H2 from the side of the front panel P3 being the same as the distance of the hole H1 in the internal tuck-in panel P7 from the line of weakness L8 connecting the internal tuck-in panel P7 to the side panel P2. At least one flap F1 is provided cut in the top extension panel P6, the distance of the flap F1 from the side of the top extension panel P6 being the same as the distance of the hole H1 in the internal tuck-in panel P7 from the line of weakness L8 connecting the internal tuck-in panel P7 to the side panel P2. The flap F1 includes a line of weakness L9 parallel to the line of weakness L7 connecting the top extension panel P6 to the top panel P5 and the flap F1 extends from the line of weakness L7 connecting the top extension panel P6 to the top panel P5. The blank 10 has an openable window W1 located on the front panel P3 between the line of weakness L3 connecting the front panel P3 to the base panel P1 and the double line of weakness L4. The distance of the window W1 from the side of the front panel P3 is the same as the distance of the hole H1 in the internal tuck-in panel P7 from the line of weakness L8 connecting the internal tuck-in panel P7 to the side panel P2. The blank 10 has two side connection panels P8 each connected to the back panel P4 along respective lines of weakness L10 and to a respective side panel P2 along respective lines of weakness L11 and each including a respective line of weakness L12 lying at an angle of 45 degrees relative to the two connecting lines of weakness L10 and L11. The blank 10 also has two top side extension panels P9 connected to respective first and second opposite sides of the top panel P5 along respective lines of weakness L13 and L14 and further comprises two holes H3, one each located on respective lines of weakness L1 and L2 connecting the base panel P1 to a respective side panel P2 and two corresponding tabs T1 located on the outer edges of respective top side extension panels P9. When the box is constructed from the blank 10, the tabs T1 on the top side extension panels P9 engage in the holes H3 on the lines of weakness L1 and L2 connecting the base panel P1 to a respective side panel P2. In the preferred embodiment of the blank 10, both internal tuck-in panels P7 are provided with a hole H1, although in fact only one of the internal tuck-in panels P7 needs to be provided with a hole H1. The front panel P3 is provided with a tab T2 extending towards the base panel P1 and into the hole H2 provided along the double line of weakness L4 present on the front panel P3. The top extension panel P6 is provided with a tab T3 extending towards the base panel P1 and from the line of weakness L7 connecting the top extension panel P6 to the top panel P5. Figure 3 shows the start of the folding process that is used to create a box from the blank 10. The process starts by the box handler folding up the side panels P2 and the side connection panels P8. The box handler also folds in the tuck-in panels P7 in preparation for the formation of the front panel P3. The rectangular form of the final box is taking shape and the alignment between the holes H1 in the tuck-in panels P7 with the hole H2 in the double line of weakness L4 on the front panel P3 can also be seen. Figure 4 shows the next stage in the folding process, whereby the front panel P3 is folded back and over the internal tuck-in panels P7. The double line of weakness L4 is designed so that the front panel P3 can be folded back on itself, which results in the hole H2 being located at the top of the front panel P3. The double line of weakness L4 is created by two parallel and closely spaced lines of weakness. The spacing between the two lines that form the double line of weakness L4 needs to be slightly greater than the thickness of the sheet of cardboard to accommodate the tuck-in panels P7 that will be trapped between the two halves of the front panel P3. The front panel P3 has a tab that engages with a hole present on the line of weakness L3 that defines the connection between the base panel P1 and the front panel P3. Figure 5 shows the next stage in the forming process, after the front panel P3 has been folded over the tuck-in panels P7 and secured in place. The box lid is formed by folding in the two top side extension panels P9 and the top extension panel P6 so that they are perpendicular to the top panel P5. In Figure 5, the flap F1 has been broken at its perforations that form the lines of weakness on three sides of the flap F1, in preparation for their use. The openable window W1 can be seen on the front panel P3, which is for the end user to open the box once closed with the locking arrangement in use. The hole H2 aligns with the flap F1 and is ready to receive the flap F1 when the box is finally closed to create the tamper proof effect of the box. The flap F1 has been folded along the line of weakness L9 that divides the flap F1 into two parts. The folding of the top extension panel P6 relative to the top panel P5 causes the tab T3 to extend upwards, as can be seen in the Figure. Similarly, the folding over of the front panel P3 causes the tab T2 to extend upwards, acting as a guide for the flap F1 when pushed into the hole H2 and ultimately mating with the other tab T3 to assist in the creation of the tamper proof lock. Figure 6 shows the box 12 fully assembled and closed by the box handler. Whatever goods are to be shipped in the box 12 have now been placed in the interior of the box 12 and the locking arrangement has been activated. The flap F1 has been both folded in half along the line of weakness L9 that is present on the flap F1. In the final configuration of the box 12 the flap F1 has been inserted into the hole H2 located on the double line of weakness L4 at the top of the front panel P3. The hole H2 allows the flap F1 to move down between the two parts of the front panel P3 (which has been folded over at the line L4). The folding of the flap F1 creates a part of the flap F1 that will now be located in the holes H1 in the tuck-in panels P7. The structure of the cardboard causes the flap F1 to tend to unfold and this keeps the end of the flap F1 in the hole H1. The two tabs T2 and T3 are in alignment once the box 12 is closed. The box 12 once closed is now tamper proof, as the interior of the box 12 cannot be accessed without causing some kind of obvious visible damage to the box 12. This prevents any unauthorised access to the box 12 while the box is in transit from the retailer to the end user. The user can access the box via the openable window W1, which can be broken open to access the flap F1 from the inside in order to free the flap F1 from the holes H1. The box 12 is provide with a tamper proof closing system and can be formed from a single material such as cardboard without the need to use an adhesive or any additional opening structures such as a tear strip. The flap F1 provided on the top extension panel P6 can be folded and when the box 12 is being closed, this folded flap F1 is located through the hole H2 in the front panel P3. The fold on the flap F1 will engage with the hole H2 in the internal tuck-in panel P7. These three components together (the flap F1 and the two holes H1 and H2) create the locking mechanism. This mechanism creates a secure lock together of the panels of the box 12 and means that the contents of the box 12 cannot be accessed without the box 12 being damaged, thereby providing a 5 tamper proof / tamper evident box. The box 12 formed from the blank 10 also has the advantage that the box 12 can be closed without using the locking mechanism, which allows more than one item to be placed into the box 12 at different times. The box 12 can still be closed temporarily between items being placed in the box 12, without the need to activate the locking mechanism. This io makes the box 12 more usable by the retailer who is packaging their goods in the box 12. Figures 7 and 8 show how the box 12 can be opened by the end user once they have received the box. The window W1 which is located on the front panel P3 can be pulled up by the user, breaking the perforations around the 15 window W1, which reveals the flap F1. The user can release the flap F1, which is retaining the lid of the box 12 from being opened. The user pushes the flap F1 upwards, which allows the box lid to be opened. 02 09 25

Claims

1. A blank (10) for forming a box (12), the blank (10) comprising:• a rectangular base panel (P1),5 • two side panels (P2) connected to respective first and secondopposite sides of the base panel (P1) along respective lines of weakness (L1, L2),• a front panel (P3) connected to a third side of the base panel (P1) along a line of weakness (L3) and including a double line ofio weakness (L4) parallel to the line of weakness (L3) connectingthe front panel (P3) to the base panel (P1),• a back panel (P4) connected to a fourth side of the base panel (P1) along a line of weakness (L5),• a rectangular top panel (P5) connected to the back panel (P4) 15 along a line of weakness (L6) parallel to the line of weakness(L5) connecting the back panel (P4) to the base panel (P1),• a top extension panel (P6) connected to the top panel (P5) along a line of weakness (L7) parallel to the line of weakness (L6) connecting the top panel (P5) to the back panel (P4),20 • two internal tuck-in panels (P7) each connected to a respectiveside panel (P2) along a respective line of weakness (L8) that is an extension of the line of weakness (L3) connecting the front panel (P3) to the base panel (P1), at least one internal tuck-in panel (P7) is provided with a hole (H1),25 • at least one hole (H2) provided along the double line ofweakness (L4) present on the front panel (P3), the distance of the hole (H2) from the side of the front panel (P3) perpendicular to the line of weakness (L3) connecting the front panel (P3) to the base panel (P1) being the same as the distance of the hole30 (H1) in the internal tuck-in panel (P7) from the line of weakness02 09 25(L8) connecting the internal tuck-in panel (P7) to the side panel (P2), and• at least one flap (F1) is provided cut in the top extension panel (P6), the distance of the flap (F1) from the side of the top5 extension panel (P6) perpendicular to the line of weakness (L7)connecting the top extension panel (P6) to the top panel (P5) being the same as the distance of the hole (H1) in the internal tuck-in panel (P7) from the line of weakness (L8) connecting the internal tuck-in panel (P7) to the side panel (P2),io wherein the front panel (P3) is provided with a tab (T2) extendingtowards the base panel (P1) and into the hole (H2) provided along the double line of weakness (L4) present on the front panel (P3), and the top extension panel (P6) is provided with a tab (T3) extending towards the base panel (P1) and from the line of weakness (L7) connecting the top15 extension panel (P6) to the top panel (P5).

2. A blank according to claim 1, wherein the flap (F1) includes a line of weakness (L9) parallel to the line of weakness (L7) connecting the top extension panel (P6) to the top panel (P5).

203. A blank according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the flap (F1) extends from the line of weakness (L7) connecting the top extension panel (P6) to the top panel (P5).25 4. A blank according to claim 1, 2 or 3, and further comprising anopenable window (W1) located on the front panel (P3) between the line of weakness (L3) connecting the front panel (P3) to the base panel (P1) and the double line of weakness (L4), the distance of the window (W1) from the side of the front panel (P3) being the same as the distance of the hole (H1) in the30 internal tuck-in panel (P7) from the line of weakness (L8) connecting the internal tuck-in panel (P7) to the side panel (P2).02 09 255. A blank according to any preceding claim, and further comprising two side connection panels (P8) each connected to the back panel (P4) along respective lines of weakness (L10) and to a respective side panel (P2) along respective lines of weakness (L11) and each including a respective line of 5 weakness (L12) lying at an angle of 45 degrees relative to the two connecting lines of weakness (L10, L11).

6. A blank according to any preceding claim, and further comprising two top side extension panels (P9) connected to respective first and second io opposite sides of the top panel (P5) along respective lines of weakness (L13, L14).

7. A blank according to claim 6, and further comprising two holes (H3), one each located on respective lines of weakness (L1, L2) connecting 15 the base panel (P1) to a respective side panel (P2) and two corresponding tabs (T1) located on the outer edges of respective top side extension panels (P9).

8. A blank according to any preceding claim, wherein both internal 20 tuck-in panels (P7) are provided with a respective hole (H1).

9. A blank according to claim 2, wherein the flap (F1) along its line of weakness (L9) parallel to the line of weakness (L7) connecting the top extension panel (P6) to the top panel (P5) has a narrower width.2510. A box formed from the blank of any one of claims 1 to 10.

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