Tamper proof return box and blank

Abstract

A blank 10 for forming a box (12, fig. 6) comprises: base panel P1; two side panels P2 connected to opposite sides of the base along lines of weakness L1, L2; front panel P3 connected to the base alon

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 and ideally provide a tamper-proof opening so that the end user can see that the box has not been interfered with. It is also the case that the rise of ecommerce and the sending of goods to end users in a cardboard box via the mail has resulted in a proportion of goods needing to be returned by the end user to the provider. The percentage of goods needing to be returned can be more than 10% of those sent out, depending upon the type of product that is being shipped. This means that there is a requirement for the end user to have a suitable container to repackage the goods and return them back to the supplier. In many cases, the end user will simply return the goods in the cardboard box that has been used to ship the goods in the first place. However, this is often less than ideal, since the original box has often been damaged in the process of being opened by the end user. 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 that can be used to send goods to an end user, while also being suitable for use as a return box, without any visible damage to the box and being able to provide the necessary tamper evident seals without the need for glue or adhesive tape. The blank can be folded into a box and filled with goods and sealed without glue or tape and with a tamper evident seal. The box can then be shipped to the end user and opened easily by them. If the user needs to return the goods that they have received, then they can reclose the box and again create a tamper evident seal without the need for glue or tape and the now re-sealed box can be returned to the original merchant. The blank provides an efficient and effective solution to the problem of providing a returnable box that can tamper evident sealed twice without the need for adhesive or tape. The blank is provided with a primary locking tab and slot that can be used by the merchant who is the original shipper of the goods in the box and also with a secondary locking tab and slot that can then be used by the end user, should they need to return the box and goods. Preferably, each slot located on a respective front tuck-in panel comprises a rectangular cut-out from the respective front tuck-in panel. Preferably, the width of each slot located on a respective front tuck-in panel is greater than the spacing of the slot from the respective line of weakness connecting the respective front tuck-in panel to the front panel. Preferably, each slot located on a respective front tuck-in panel extends from an external edge of the blank that is perpendicular to the respective line of weakness connecting the respective front tuck-in panel to the front panel. The slots that are located on the front tuck-in panels are used in the secondary locking system, which is used when the recipient wishes to return the goods that have been sent to them. The slots are preferably rectangular cut-outs that are of sufficient size to readily trap the tabs that form the other part of the secondary locking system. This ensures that when the end user reconfigures the box (formed from the blank) they can easily create and use the secondary locking system, which only requires them to fold back the secondary tabs, which will then readily engage with the slots in the front tuck-in panels. Ideally, each tab located on a respective top extension tuck-in panel is formed by a line of weakness parallel to the respective line of weakness connecting the respective top extension tuck-in panel to the top extension panel and by a full or partial cut perpendicular to the line of weakness. The formation of the tab, that is part of the secondary locking system, is best structured by two perpendicular lines on the blank, one of which is a crease line (to be folded) and the other being a full or partial cut. These two lines each start on an adjacent edge of the respective top extension tuck-in panel and travel from the edge to meet at a point. The tab is therefore rectangular, and the four sides of the tab are two of the external edges of the respective top extension tuck-in panel, the crease line and the full or partial cut. This construction makes it very easy for the end user to utilise the tab, should they need to reclose the box formed from the blank. They can simply fold the tabs back that are located on each top extension tuck-in panel and that is the only action required by the user, when they are creating and using the secondary locking system. Advantageously, the top extension panel includes a cut parallel to the line of weakness connecting the top extension panel to the top panel, the cut located adjacent to the tab which forms part of the top extension panel. Preferably, the top extension panel includes a hole located on the cut which is located adjacent to the tab which forms part of the top extension panel. The cut and hole that are located on the top extension panel, adjacent to the tab which forms part of the primary locking system, are present to facilitate the opening of the box formed from the blank, when it is first received by the end user. The end user can insert their finger into the hole in the top extension panel and break away the tab present on that panel, thereby gaining access to the interior of the box, since the top extension panel is no longer restrained by the presence of the tab in the slot on the front panel. 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 5 are perspective views of the blank being assembled into a box, Figure 6 is a perspective view of the box being opened, Figures 7 and 8 are perspective views of the box being reclosed, and Figures 9 and 10 are perspective views of the box being reopened. 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. Figure 1 is shown without any reference numerals in order to illustrate the blank 10 for ease of understanding. Figure 2 shows the identical blank 10 but with the reference numerals added. The blank 10 comprises a base panel P1, 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 connected to a third side of the base panel P1 along a line of weakness L3, and provided with a slot S1, and a back panel P4 connected to a fourth side of the base panel P1 along a line of weakness L4. Each side panel P2 includes a pair of adjacent lines of weakness L17 and L18 parallel to the lines of weakness L1 and L2 connecting each side panel P2 to the base panel P1. Two front tuck-in panels P3a and P3b are each connected to the front panel P3 along respective lines of weakness L5 and L6, each provided with a slot S2. Two back tuck-in panels P4a and P4b are each connected to the back panel P4 along respective lines of weakness L7, and L8. A top panel P5 is connected to the back panel P4 along a line of weakness L9 parallel to the line of weakness L4 connecting the back panel P4 to the base panel P1 and a top extension panel P6 is connected the top panel P5 along a line of weakness L10 parallel to the line of weakness L9 connecting the top panel P5 to the back panel P4, and is provided with a tab T1 for mating with the slot S1 of the front panel P3 when the blank 10 is formed into a box 12. The top extension panel P6 includes a cut C3 parallel to the line of weakness L10 connecting the top extension panel P6 to the top panel P5, the cut C3 located adjacent to the tab T1 which forms part of the top extension panel P6. The top extension panel P6 also includes a hole H2 located on the cut C3 which is located adjacent to the tab T1 which forms part of the top extension panel P6. Two top extension tuck-in panels P6a, P6b are each connected to the top extension panel P6 along respective lines of weakness L11 and L12 and each provided with a tab T2 along an outer edge opposite the respective lines of weakness L11 and L12 connecting the top extension tuck-in panels P6a and P6b to the top extension panel P6. The blank 10 further comprises two top tuck-in panels P5a and P5b each connected to the top panel P5 along respective lines of weakness L15 and L16. The blank 10, when formed into a box, can be used to package goods, for example in the ecommerce industry, where consumers buy goods over the Internet that are then shipped to their home address in a box of the type that can be formed from the blank of Figures 1 and 2. Each slot S2 that is located on a respective front tuck-in panel P3a and P3b comprises a rectangular cut-out S2 from the respective front tuck-in panel P3a and P3b. The width of each slot S2 that is located on a respective front tuck-in panel P3a and P3b is greater than the spacing of the slot S2 from the respective line of weakness L5 and L6 connecting the respective front tuck-in panel P3a, P3b to the front panel P3. Each slot S2 is located on a respective front tuck-in panel P3a and P3b extends from an external edge of the blank 10 that is perpendicular to the respective line of weakness L5 and L6 connecting the respective front tuck-in panel P3a and P3b to the front panel P3. Each tab T2 is located on a respective top extension tuck-in panel P6a and P6b is formed by a line of weakness L13 and L14 parallel to the respective line of weakness L11 and L12 connecting the respective top extension tuck-in panel P6a and P6b to the top extension panel P6 and by a full or partial cut C1 and C2 perpendicular to the line of weakness L13 and L14. The blank 10 can be folded into a box. This box can then be used to ship goods from a retailer to a consumer. The design of the blank 10 is such that the box that is formed from the blank 10 can be used firstly by the retailer to send their goods to the customer and secondly can also be used by the consumer to return the goods in question to the retailer. In both of these operations, the box formed from the blank 10 can be securely closed in a tamper evident manner, while not requiring the user of any adhesive or tape to close and seal the box. This is true of both transactions. The retailer can assemble the box, place the required goods inside and then close the box securely and in a tamper evident manner. The consumer can open the box and, if they need to return the goods that have been shipped to them via the box, they can close the box and again securely close the box in a tamper evident manner. This secure and tamper evident transmission and return is effectively achieved since the blank 10 is provided with two separate closing systems. The first (used by the retailer) is provided by the tab T1 on the top extension panel P6, which mates with the slot S1 on the front panel P3. The second (used by the consumer when returning their goods) is provided by the two tabs T2 on the top extension tuck-in panels P6a and P6b which mate with the slots S2 on the front tuck-in panels P3a and P3b. Generally speaking, the panels that form the blank 10 and are used in the construction of the box from the blank 10 provide the same function regardless of whether the box is being first transmitted from the retailer to the consumer or being returned by the consumer to the retailer. Figures 3 to 5 show perspective views of the blank 10 of Figures 1 and 2 being first assembled into a box. The first stage of the box assembly is to fold the two side panels P2 in half along the adjacent lines of weakness L17 and L18 that lie approximately halfway between the respective line of weakness L1 and L2 that connect each side panel P2 to the base panel P1 and the outer edge of the side panels. While this is being done, the front panel P3 and the back panel P4 are folded upwards such that the tuck-in panels of each of these panels P3 and P4 are trapped between the folded-in-half side panels P2. A tab T3 on the outer edge of each of the side panels P2 is located in a respective hole H1 that lies on each line of weakness L1 and L2 (see Figure 2). The tab T1 will ultimately engage with the slot S1, in the primary locking system. This configuration is shown in Figure 3. The partially formed box of Figure 3 is now ready to receive the goods to be shipped. The next stage of the box assembly is shown in Figure 4, where the top panel P5 is folded down into a shut configuration. The top tuck-in panels P5a and P5b are folded inwardly to lie within the box and are adjacent to and in contact with the side panels P2. The final stage of the construction of the box 12 is shown in Figure 5, where the tab T1 that is present on the top extension panel P6 is folded and inserted into the slot S1 that lies on the front panel P3. As this is being carried out, the top extension tuck-in panels P6a and P6b are folded inwards and engage in the gap between the two halves of the folded side panels P2. Once the tab T1 has been located within the slot S1, the tab T1 cannot be removed from the slot S1 without damage to the slot S1 and / or the tab T1. This creates a tamper evident seal. The box 12 is now closed and sealed and can be shipped to the end user. Figure 5 shows the box 12 from the underside and the holes H1 in the base panel P1 are visible in this Figure. When the end user receives the box 12, they can open the box by breaking away the tab T1, as shown in Figure 6. As discussed above, the top extension panel P6 includes a cut C3 which is parallel to the line of weakness L10 connecting the top extension panel P6 to the top panel P5 and the cut C3 is located adjacent to the tab T1 which forms part of the top extension panel P6. The top extension panel P6 also includes a hole H2 located on the cut C3 which is located adjacent to the tab T1 which forms part of the top extension panel P6. The cut C3 and the hole H2 are used by the end user to break off the tab T1, thereby opening the box 12. The user, when opening the box 12, as shown in Figure 6, can place their finger in the hole H2 and pull downwards breaking away the tab T1 from the remainder of the top extension panel P6. As can be seen in Figure 6, the tab T1 has been completely separated from the top extension panel P6 along the line of the cut C3. To access the interior of the box 12, the user can now lift up the top panel P5 and the top extension panel P6, as there is now no longer anything preventing the free movement of these panels relative to the rest of the box 12. The user can now freely open and close the box 12 with the top panel P5 hinging relative to the back panel P4 along the line of weakness L4 which connects these two panels together. However, if the end user wishes to return the goods that have been shipped to them in the box 12, they must reclose the box 12 in a manner that allows the box to be shipped back to the original retailer in a secure and tamper evident fashion. To achieve this, the end user must close the box according to a specific process described below. The end user will be provided with instructions on how to securely close the box 12 for the return process. These instructions can be provided as an insert in the box 12 or could be shown on the underside of the top panel P5, which allows the user to follow a step-by-step process to reclose the box 12 in a secure and tamper evident manner. Figures 7 and 8 illustrate the main steps that the end user has to take in order to reclose the box 12. As was discussed above, the blank 10 is provided with a primary locking system (the tab T1 and the slot S1) and with a secondary locking system (the tabs T2 and the slots S2). The reclosing of the box 12 that is carried out by the end user utilising the secondary locking system. The main body of the box 12 is unaffected by the reclosing of the box 12, the end user does not have to reform any of the existing panels or adjust the configuration of the main panels. As described above, the top extension panel P6 has two top extension tuck-in panels P6a and P6b, which lie on opposite sides of the top extension panel P6 and are joined to the top extension panel P6 by respective lines of weakness L11 and L12 that are perpendicular to the line of weakness L10 that connects the top panel P5 to the top extension panel P6. Each of the top extension tuck-in panels P6a and P6b are provided with a respective tab T2 that is defined by a respective single full or partial cut C1 and C2 and a respective single crease line L13 and L14. The full or partial cuts C1 and C2 are perpendicular to the crease lines L13 and L14. As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the end user must fold in these two tabs T2, so that the tabs T2 are folded along their respective crease lines L13 and L14. The tabs T2 will now be folded back so that they are in contact with their respective top extension tuck-in panel P6a and P6b. The user then closes the box 12 so that the top panel P5 returns to the position on top of the box 12 and the top extension tuck-in panels P6a and P6b are tucked back into the gap formed between the two halves of the respective side panels P2. This completes the reclosing of the box 12. The tamper evident seal that is created when the box 12 is closed in this manner occurs as the folded tabs T2 will tend towards being unfolded and this will cause the tabs T2 to engage and lock into the slots S2 that are present in the front tuck-in panels P3a and P3b. The configuration of this engagement is based on the fact that when the front panel P3 is folded along the line of weakness L3 that connects the front panel P3 to the base panel P1, the front tuck-in panels P3a and P3b end up sandwiched between the two halves of the side panels P2 that have been folded in half to create the box 12. The effect of this folding and forming of the box 12 is that the slots S2 in the respective front tuck-in panels P3a and P3b are now located in position where they are close to the front of the box 12 and in a position between the two halves of the side panels P2. During the normal operation of the box 12, when the retailer send their goods to the end user in the box 12, the slots S2 have no function and do not interact with the top extension tuck-in panels P6a and P6b, when those panels are pushed into the space between the two halves of the side panels P2. However, once the tabs T2 on the top extension tuck-in panels P6a and P6b have been folded inwards, those tabs T2 will engage with the respective slots S2 and will prevent the top extension tuck-in panels P6a and P6b from being taken back out of the space between the two 5 halves of the respective side panels P2. Figures 9 and 10 show how the retailer can reopen the box 12 that has been reclosed by the end user according to the steps described above with respect to Figures 7 and 8. The retailer pulls up the top extension panel P6. Since the two top extension tuck-in panels P6a and P6b are trapped in the io space between the folded-down side panels P2 by the engagement of the tabs T2 with the slots S2, the top extension panel P6 will separate from the two top extension tuck-in panels P6a and P6b, as shown in Figure 10. The top panel P5 is therefore lifted up to access the interior of the box 12. This shows how the secondary locking arrangement is also tamper evident, since the box 12 15 can only be reopened by the separation of the top extension panel P6 from the two top extension tuck-in panels P6a and P6b. The box 12 is now open again and the retailer can access the contents in the interior of the box 12.

Claims

1. A blank (10) for forming a box (12), the blank (10) comprising:• a base panel (P1),• two side panels (P2) connected to respective first and second opposite 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 provided with a slot (S1),• a back panel (P4) connected to a fourth side of the base panel (P1) along a line of weakness (L4),• two front tuck-in panels (P3a, P3b) each connected to the front panel (P3) along respective lines of weakness (L5, L6), each provided with a slot (S2),• two back tuck-in panels (P4a, P4b) each connected to the back panel (P4) along respective lines of weakness (L7, L8),• a top panel (P5) connected to the back panel (P4) along a line of weakness (L9) parallel to the line of weakness (L4) connecting the back panel (P4) to the base panel (P1),• a top extension panel (P6) connected the top panel (P5) along a line of weakness (L10) parallel to the line of weakness (L9) connecting the top panel (P5) to the back panel (P4), and provided with a tab (T1) for mating with the slot (S1) of the front panel (P3) when the blank (10) is formed into a box (12), and• two top extension tuck-in panels (P6a, P6b) each connected to the top extension panel (P6) along respective lines of weakness (L11, L12) and each provided with a tab (T2) along an outer edge opposite the respective lines of weakness (L11, L12) connecting the top extension tuck-in panels (P6a, P6b) to the top extension panel (P6).

2. A blank according to claim 1, wherein each slot (S2) located on a respective front tuck-in panel (P3a, P3b) comprises a rectangular cut-out (S2) from the respective front tuck-in panel (P3a, P3b).

3. A blank according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the width of each slot (S2) located on a respective front tuck-in panel (P3a, P3b) is greater than the spacing of the slot (S2) from the respective line of weakness (L5, L6) connecting the respective front tuck-in panel (P3a, P3b) to the front panel (P3).

4. A blank according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein each slot (S2)located on a respective front tuck-in panel (P3a, P3b) extends from an external edge of the blank (10) that is perpendicular to the respective line of weakness (L5, L6) connecting the respective front tuck-in panel (P3a, P3b) to the front panel (P3).

5. A blank according to any preceding claim, wherein each tab (T2) located on a respective top extension tuck-in panel (P6a, P6b) is formed by a line of weakness (L13, L14) parallel to the respective line of weakness (L11, L12) connecting the respective top extension tuck-in panel (P6a, P6b) to the top extension panel (P6) and by a full or partial cut (C1, C2) perpendicular to the line of weakness (L13, L14).

6. A blank according to any preceding claim, and further comprising two top tuck-in panels (P5a, P5b) each connected to the top panel (P5) along respective lines of weakness (L15, L16).

7. A blank according to any preceding claim, wherein each side panel (P2) includes a pair of adjacent lines of weakness (L17, L18) parallel to the lines of weakness (L1, L2) connecting each side panel (P2) to the base panel (P1).

8. A blank according to any preceding claim, wherein the top extension panel (P6) includes a cut (C3) parallel to the line of weakness (L10) connecting the top extension panel (P6) to the top panel (P5), the cut (C3) located adjacent to the tab (T1) which forms part of the top extension panel5 (P6).

9. A blank according claim 8, wherein the top extension panel (P6) includes a hole (H2) located on the cut (C3) which is located adjacent to the tab (T1) which forms part of the top extension panel (P6).io10. A box (12) formed from the blank (10) of any one of claims 1 to 9.

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