Cardboard box with secure closure and access prevention

Abstract

The invention relates to a cardboard box with secure closure, formed from a die-cut sheet comprising: a bottom (1); two side walls (2); a front wall (3); a rear wall (4); and a cover (5) comprising an upper face (12) from which two side flaps (6), a front flap (7), an interlocking tab (13) and an assembly tab (14) project, wherein the two tabs (13, 14) extend from each side flap (6), such that, in the box, the front flap (7) comprises a coupling tongue (15), the front wall (3) comprises a fitting flap (17) with an insertion hole (18), and the flaps (6, 7) are designed to be fixed to the inside of the walls (2, 3). The box additionally comprises an interlocking side flap (9), with an interlocking hole (11) in which a locking edge (19) fixed to each side wall (2) is located.

Description

[0001] CARDBOARD BOX WITH SECURITY LOCK AND DISABLED ACCESS

[0002] OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention relates to a box formed from a die-cut cardboard sheet that incorporates a safety lock, focused among other things on childproof opening, which by pressing interlocking flaps through holes located on the sides are released so that the lid can be opened, with the particularity that access to the interior is disabled before being opened.

[0004] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Cardboard boxes formed from die-cut sheets and assembled using adhesive are already known in the state of the art.

[0006] This type of product has been developed according to the specific needs of each application. Thus, sometimes the desired feature is a closure that must be torn to access the contents, and which, afterward, does not leave the lid open, but can be closed in some way.

[0007] Sometimes a purely aesthetic closure is sought where the lid is fixed in some way, making it appear that the container is closed and the lid is not left open, even if the closure is not very secure.

[0008] Another development has focused on the use of boxes for products sold by mail. In these situations, the focus is on the security of access to the inside of the box.

[0009] Document ES1286629U discloses a cardboard container with a safety closure made from a sheet of cardboard in which a rectangular sector is defined as the bottom, from whose longer sides emerge two rectangular sectors that define the longer side walls of the container, which are linked together by tabs that emerge from their shorter side edges and are fixed together by gluing, where one of the longer side walls extends upwards into a hinged closure lid, where the opposite longer side wall in correspondence with its upper edge includes a pair of tabs that fold externally over said longer side wall, while the lid extends in correspondence with its three free edges in sectors that, in the assembly of the box, define a perimeter skirt for said lid,with the particularity that said skirt, at least in correspondence with its central sector and opposite the hinge line of the lid, presents a structure of at least a double wall, so that in the inner wall, which can be single or double, notches are defined formally and dimensionally coinciding with the tabs that are arranged on the upper edge of the larger side wall, so that in the closing maneuvers of the lid, the tabs fit into the notches preventing the opening of the lid, tabs that are digitally accessible through holes made on the face or outer wall of the intermediate section of the skirt of the lid.

[0010] However, this type of box has the drawback of incorporating flaps on the outside. This means the box can interfere with a sharp edge and open unintentionally, making it not entirely secure.

[0011] Document ES1289149U discloses a cardboard box with a security closure, where the box is configured from a flat, die-cut sheet body for subsequent assembly by folding along fold lines, comprising two opposite end sides and a gluing element between them that emerges from one of said end sides, and where the box comprises a top closure formed by at least a lid with a locking tab at one free end, which emerges from a first side, such that in a closed position, the lid can be placed on the box with the locking tab engaged inside it, adjacent to a second side opposite the first side, with a first surface of the lid facing towards said second side.further comprising a first tab extending from the free end of the closing tab, configured to fold along a crease line over the first surface of the closing tab; means for locking the first tab in the closed position comprising a second tab configured to be glued to the inner surface of the second side, wherein the second tab comprises an opening of dimensions adjusted to the dimensions of the first tab, and wherein in the closed position of the box, the first tab is retained or engaged within the opening; means for unlocking, formed by at least one release tab for the first tab, with a die-cut portion of its contour located on the second side corresponding to the opening of the second tab.

[0012] However, this box does not completely close off access to the interior, allowing access simply by pressing on the sides to create a concavity on the side face to gain entry.

[0013] The present invention goes a step further and presents a box where access to the interior is completely inaccessible.

[0014] DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] The present invention relates to a cardboard box with a tamper-evident closure, formed from a die-cut sheet. The box consists of a bottom, two side walls, a front wall, a back wall, and a lid.

[0016] The lid, in turn, is configured with a top surface from which two side skirts and a front skirt emerge.

[0017] Each side skirt has a pair of flaps: one for fitting and one for mounting.

[0018] The locking flap has the function of closing the box, as will be described later.

[0019] The mounting flap has the function of giving structure and solidity to the lid, forming a perimeter reinforcement rim.

[0020] The front skirt comprises a coupling tab and, optionally, a reinforcing front flap.

[0021] On the other hand, the front wall comprises an adjustment flap, which incorporates a fitting hole.

[0022] On the other hand, the box also includes a side flap with a recessed opening where a locking edge is located, fixed to each side wall. The skirts are designed to be fixed from the inside of the walls.

[0023] In this way, during the folding movement of the lid to be closed, the interlocking flaps come into contact with the side interlocking flaps, attached to the inside of the side walls, over which they are dragged under flexion.

[0024] The closing of the lid ends when the interlocking edges of the interlocking flaps extend beyond the closing edge of the interlocking holes, where they expand to create an interference between the two edges and thus end the closing movement of the lid.

[0025] At the same time, the coupling tab is dragged along the adjustment flap until it is inserted into the fitting hole.

[0026] In this way, once the box is closed, access to the interior is blocked. The adjustment flap is located on the front wall, and the locking tabs are located on the side walls.

[0027] The box can also incorporate an internal flap attached to each side snap-on flap which, like the front reinforcement flap of the front skirt, adds rigidity to the box structure.

[0028] In addition, the box may also incorporate an adjustment flap, as an extension of the inner flap. This adjustment flap is not glued to the side snap-on flap, like the inner flap, but remains loose, so that the side skirt and snap-on flap fit snugly against the side snap-on flap, thus creating a better seal.

[0029] DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] To complement the description being made and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, according to a preferred example of its practical embodiment, a set of drawings is included as an integral part of said description, in which, for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, the following has been represented: Figure 1.- Shows a perspective view of the box of the invention with the lid slightly open and showing the side and front flaps responsible for preventing access to the interior when the box is closed.

[0031] Figure 2.- Shows a perspective view of the box of the invention with the lid fully open and showing the structure of the box inside, so that the reinforcements and coupling areas can be seen.

[0032] Figure 3.- Shows a perspective view of the box of the invention with the lid completely closed.

[0033] Figure 4.- Shows a plan view of the cardboard sheet from which the box of the invention is made.

[0034] The following is a list of the different elements represented in the figures with their associated numerical references:

[0035] 1. Background.

[0036] 2. Side walls.

[0037] 3. Front wall.

[0038] 4. Back wall.

[0039] 5. Lid.

[0040] 6. Side skirt.

[0041] 7. Front skirt.

[0042] 8. Cut

[0043] 9. Snap-in side flap.

[0044] 10. Inner flap

[0045] 11. Mounting hole.

[0046] 12. Top face

[0047] 13. Recessed flap.

[0048] 14. Mounting flap.

[0049] 15. Coupling tongue.

[0050] 16. Reinforcing front flap.

[0051] 17. Adjustment flap

[0052] 18. Lace hole.

[0053] 19. Closing edge.

[0054] 20. Adjustment flap. PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0055] The following describes, with the help of figures, a preferred embodiment of the cardboard box with a safety lock and disabled access according to the present invention.

[0056] As can be seen in figures 1 and 2, the box with flaps for security closure consists of:

[0057] - a box consisting of a bottom (1), two side walls (2) and two larger walls, a front wall (3) and a back wall (4), and

[0058] - a lid (5), comprising a top face (12) joined by an edge to the rear wall (4), two side skirts (6), each intended to fit into the corresponding side wall (2), and a front skirt (7), intended to fit into the front wall (3). All skirts (6, 7) fit into the corresponding walls (2, 3) from the inside of the box once it is closed. In addition, each side skirt (6) incorporates a locking tab (13) and a mounting tab (14), while the front skirt (7) incorporates a coupling tab (15) and a reinforcing front flap (16).

[0059] The mounting flaps (14) are intended to be glued to the front skirt (7) during case assembly, as is the reinforcing front flap (16).

[0060] On one side, the front wall (3) is attached to an adjustment flap (17) which incorporates a fitting hole (18).

[0061] The locking hole (18) is designed to accommodate the coupling tab (15) when the box is closed. Therefore, the adjustment flap (17) does not press against the front wall (3) but remains loose, forming an angle. Thus, when the lid (5) is closed, the coupling tab (15) slides along the surface of the adjustment flap (17) until it engages in the locking hole (18).

[0062] The locking hole (18) is longer than the coupling tab (15). This configuration has an important effect: when the lid (5) is closed, the coupling tab enters the locking hole (18), and the adjacent edge of the front skirt (7) interferes with the edge of the locking hole (18). This limits the closing movement of the lid (5) to its final position. Furthermore, each of the side walls (2) has a nearly circular cutout (8) that forms a window. Each side wall (2) is also joined to a double wall for internal reinforcement, formed by a side locking flap (9) and an internal flap (10).

[0063] The side fitting flap (9) aligns with the side wall (2) once the box is assembled, and therefore incorporates a fitting hole (11) that allows the cutout (8) to remain unobstructed and continue communicating between the outside and inside of the box.

[0064] The inner flap (10) serves solely to reinforce the box structure. However, it features an adjustment flap (20) as an extension. This adjustment flap (20) ensures the bonding of both the side skirt (6) and the interlocking flap (13) to the interlocking side flap (9).

[0065] Regarding the safety closure of the box, each of the side skirts (6) incorporates the locking flap (13) which, once the box is assembled, is located in correspondence with the corresponding locking holes (11).

[0066] As can be seen in Figures 1 and 2, the locking flap (13) is folded outwards from the side skirt (6), so it has a natural tendency to remain open outwards. This causes the locking flap (13) to drag when the lid (5) is closed, making contact with the side locking flap (9) until it extends beyond the closing edge (19), expanding outwards again to fit into the locking hole (11).

[0067] Thus, as can be seen in figure 3, the box is closed, with the top face (12) flush with the walls (2, 3), forming a prism without protrusions.

[0068] For its part, the fixing of the coupling tongue (15) in the fitting hole (18) does not cause any closing interference and is only to prevent access to the inside of the box from the front area, while the locking flaps (13) prevent access to the inside of the box due to their longitudinal dimension.

[0069] To open the box, simply press the locking tabs (13) through the cutouts (8) to release the locking tab (13) from the locking edge (19).

Claims

1. Cardboard box with tamper-evident closure formed from a die-cut sheet comprising: - a fund (1), - two side walls (2), - a front wall (3), - a back wall (4), - a cover (5) comprising an upper face (12) from which the following extend: - two side skirts (6), - a front skirt (7), - a mortise flap (13), and - a mounting flap (14), where both flaps (13, 14) extend from each side skirt (6), the box being characterized in that: - the front skirt (7) comprises a coupling tab (15), - the front wall (3) comprises an adjustment flap (17) with a fitting hole (18), and - the skirts (6, 7) are configured to be fixed inside the walls (2, 3), and additionally comprise: a side insert flap (9), with an insert hole (11) where a closing edge (19) is located, fixed to each side wall (2).

2. The box of claim 1, further comprising an internal flap (10) fixed to each side snap-on flap (9).

3. The box of claim 1, further comprising a reinforcing front flap (16).

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