Cardboard box with safety closure and easy opening

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cardboard box with a safety 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 lid (5) with an upper face (12) from which the following emerge: two side flaps (6) with a front edge (15) for attaching to the upper face (12), a first side edge (16) and a second side edge (17), both side edges (16, 17) emerging from the front edge (15); a front flap (7); an insertion tab (13) emerging from each side flap (6); and an assembly tab (14) emerging from the first side edge (16) of each side flap (6), so that the flaps (6, 7) in the box as per the invention are configured to be fixed on the inside of the walls (2, 3), and the second side edge (17) forms an obtuse angle with the front edge (15).

Description

[0001] CARDBOARD BOX WITH SECURITY CLOSURE AND EASY OPENING

[0002] DESCRIPTION

[0003] OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention relates to a box formed from a die-cut cardboard sheet that incorporates a safety closure, focused among other things on childproof opening, which by pressing interlocking flaps through holes located on the sides are released so that the lid opens, with the particularity that the lid opens when released by pressing the interlocking flaps.

[0005] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0006] Cardboard boxes formed from die-cut sheets and assembled using adhesive are already known in the state of the art.

[0007] 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.

[0008] 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.

[0009] 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.

[0010] 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 into 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.

[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] Existing documents describe an opening system that involves inserting fingers through two holes located on the sides and pressing upwards to lift the lid. The present invention eliminates this by means of a spring-like element that, when the tabs are pressed to open the lid, causes the lid to lift on its own.

[0013] DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] The present invention relates to a cardboard box with a safety closure, formed from a die-cut sheet, comprising a bottom, two side walls, a front wall, a back wall and a lid.

[0015] The lid, in turn, is configured by means of a top face from which two side skirts and a front skirt emerge.

[0016] The skirting boards are configured to be fixed from the inside of the walls.

[0017] Each of the side skirts comprises a front edge for joining to the top face of the lid, a first side edge and a second side edge, where both side edges come out of the front edge, and a final edge by means of which it connects to a locking flap.

[0018] Each side skirt is also attached to a mounting flap via the first side edge.

[0019] The locking flap has the function of closing the box, as will be described later.

[0020] The mounting flap serves to give structure and solidity to the lid, forming a perimeter reinforcement rim.

[0021] 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.

[0022] The lid closure is complete when the interlocking edges of the locking flaps extend beyond the closing edge of the locking holes, where they expand to create interference between the two edges, thus ending the lid's closing movement. The second side edge forms an obtuse angle with the front edge. Simultaneously, the second side edge of the locking flap makes contact with the back wall, exerting increasing pressure as the lid closes until it is fully sealed. The pressure of the side skirt against the back wall, exerted through the second side edge, then remains.

[0023] The fact that the second side edge forms an obtuse angle with the front edge is an essential feature of the invention. This means that the boxes do not need to be manipulated by hand to ensure that, when pressing the side flaps into the cutouts, they are also pushed upwards. Conversely, once the locking edge is released from the closing edge, the lid tends to pop off and remain at a specific angle to the box walls.

[0024] 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.

[0025] Finally, the box can also incorporate an internal flap attached to each side snap-on flap to improve the rigidity of the box structure.

[0026] DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] To complement the description being made and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, according to a preferred embodiment thereof, 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:

[0028] Figure 1 - Shows a perspective view of the box of the invention with the lid slightly open.

[0029] Figure 2 shows a perspective view of one side of the box where the side flap responsible for the automatic opening of the box lid is located. Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the box of the invention with the lid fully open, revealing the internal structure of the box in another embodiment where the inner flap incorporates an adjustment flap.

[0030] Figure 4.- Shows a perspective view of the box of the invention with the lid completely closed.

[0031] Figure 5.- Shows a plan view of the cardboard sheet from which the box of the invention is made in the second embodiment, as shown in Figure 3.

[0032] Below is a list of the different elements represented in the figures with their associated numerical references:

[0033] 1. Background.

[0034] 2. Side walls.

[0035] 3. Front wall.

[0036] 4. Back wall.

[0037] 5. Lid.

[0038] 6. Side skirt.

[0039] 7. Front skirt.

[0040] 8. Cut

[0041] 9. Snap-in side flap.

[0042] 10. Inner flap

[0043] 11. Mounting hole.

[0044] 12. Top face

[0045] 13. Recessed flap.

[0046] 14. Mounting flap.

[0047] 15. Front edge.

[0048] 16. First lateral edge.

[0049] 17. Second lateral edge.

[0050] 18. Joint edge.

[0051] 19. Closing edge.

[0052] 20. Adjustment flap. PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0053] The following describes, with the help of figures, a preferred embodiment of the box with flaps for security closure according to the present invention.

[0054] As can be seen in Figure 1, the box with flaps for security closure consists of:

[0055] - 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

[0056] - a cover (5), comprising an upper 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).

[0057] All the side panels (6, 7) fit into the corresponding walls (2, 3) on the inside of the box once it is closed. In addition, each side panel (6) incorporates a snap-on flap (13) and a mounting flap (14).

[0058] The mounting tabs (14) are intended to be glued to the front skirt (7) during box assembly in order to provide structure to the lid (5).

[0059] Each of the side walls (2) has a nearly circular cutout (8) that forms a window. In addition, each of the side walls (2) is joined to a double wall, as reinforcement on the inside, formed by means of a side interlocking flap (9) and an internal flap (10).

[0060] The side fitting flap (9) coincides with the side wall (2) once the box is assembled, so it incorporates a fitting hole (11) that allows the cutout (8) to remain unobstructed and continue communicating between the outside and inside of the box.

[0061] The inner flap (10) has the sole purpose of serving as reinforcement of the box structure.

[0062] In another embodiment, as shown in Figures 3 and 5, the inner flap (10) has an adjustment flap (20) as an extension. This adjustment flap (20) is intended to ensure the bonding of both the side skirt (6) and the interlocking flap (13) to the interlocking side flap (9).

[0063] 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).

[0064] As can be seen in Figure 1, 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 the locking edge (18) extends beyond the closing edge (19), expanding outwards again to fit into the locking hole (11).

[0065] In this way, the box is closed, with the top face (12) flush with the walls (2, 3), forming a prism without protrusions.

[0066] Each side skirt (6) has a first front edge (15) through which the upper face (12) of the lid (5) is joined, a first side edge (16) through which it is joined to the mounting flap (14) and a second side edge (17).

[0067] This second side edge (17) is configured so that it forms an obtuse angle with the first front edge (15). As can be seen in Figure 5, this results in interference of the side skirt (6) against the rear wall (4). This interference means that, whenever the lid (5) is closed, the side skirts (6) are under tension against the rear wall (4).

[0068] Figure 2 shows that the second side edge (17) will interfere with the rear wall (4) when the box is closed at a certain angle, and that this interference will create pressure on the side skirts (6).

[0069] To open the box, simply press the locking tabs (13) through the cutouts (8) to release the locking edges (18) of the locking tabs (13) from the locking edges (19). The tension exerted by the side skirts (6) against the rear wall (4) will then cause the lid (5) to spring open a certain amount, like a spring. The degree to which the lid (5) opens is proportional to the length of the interference created between the side skirts (6) and the rear wall (4).

Claims

1. Cardboard box with security 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) comprising a front edge (15) joining to the upper face (12), a first side edge (16) and a second side edge (17), both side edges (16, 17) extending from the front edge (15), - a front skirt (7), - a recessed flap (13) extending from each side skirt (6), - a mounting flap (14) extending from the first side edge (16) of each of the side skirts (6), the box being characterized in that: - the skirts (6, 7) are configured to be fixed from the inside of the walls (2, 3), - the second lateral edge (17) forms an obtuse angle with the front edge (15).

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, wherein the inner flap (10) has an adjustment flap (20) as an extension.

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