US2961144A - Pilfer-proof box - Google Patents

Description

5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

QM MM WILBUR G. ANDERSON JR.

FIGZ

W. G. ANDERSON, JR

PILFER-PROOF BOX Nov. 22, 1960 Filed July 21, 1958 ATTORNEFS Nov. 22, 1960 w. s. ANDERSON, JR 2,951,144

PILFER-PROOF BOX Filed July 21, 1958 s Sheets-Sheet 2 WILBUR G. ANDERSON JR.

ATTORNEYS I g Nov. 22, 1960 w. G. ANDERSON, JR 2,951,144

PILFER-PROOF BOX Filed July 21, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. WILBUR G. ANDERSON JR @WMM ATTORNE Uited States Patent PILFER-PROOF BOX Wiibur G. Anderson, Jr., Grand Rapids, Mich., assignor to American Box Board Company, Grand Rapids, MlClL, a corporation of Michigan Filed July 21, 1958, Ser. No. 749,781

7 Claims. (Cl. 229-45) This invention relates to pilfer-proof boxes and more particularly to a box construction having interlocking cover and container parts.

Certain goods, particularly consumable goods, are subject to pilfering in the course of their shipment from one place to another. It is highly desirable that such goods be packaged in pilfer-proof containers to both discourage persons from tampering with the goods and to eliminate the losses incident to pilfering.

A tamper-proof or pilfer-proof box must be reasonably inexpensive to provide. It must be simple to manufacture and to assemble. It is preferable that the pilfer-proof feature be included in making the box and that it is such as can he formed and handled by conventional box making and erecting equipment. It is also desirable that the locking feature be formed from the box material to avoid the cost incident to providing a different material and adding it to the box construction. It is still further advantageous to have a cover locking means which is optional; that is, which can be used or not used depending upon its need. It is also preferable to have a cover locking feature which is simple to operate and takes no particular skill or dexterity to manipulate.

it is the object of this invention to disclose a pilferproof box having each of the aforementioned advantages. The pilfer-proof feature is formed from the box materials and is provided for in the box blank forming operation. No special equipment is required and no additional steps or operations are necessary. The cover locking feature is readily available for use but need not be used unless needed. When inoperatively disposed it forms no obstruction in the normal closing of the box. As will be shown, the locking feature is extremely simple to operate and is disposed for quick and simple operation when required.

Another object of this invention is to disclose a cover locking feature for boxes which are foldable or collapsible and include manufacturers glue joints so that they can e shipped to the site of use while flat and can be quickly erected for use.

Still another object of this invention is to disclose the simplicity with which the pilfer-proof locking feature can be incorporated within box forming blanks of either the erected or self-erecting type.

A further object of this invention is to disclose box forming blanks which include this locking feature.

These and other objects and advantages in the practice of this invention will be more apparent in the illustration ice Fig. 4 is a. perspective view of the cover and container forming blanks of Figs. l-3 as erected and disposed for locking telescopic assembly.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the cover and container members as disposed together.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged front view of the corner of the cover and container members as disposed together and showing the locking feature in dotted outline.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross sectional side view through the cover and container members as disposed together, and showing the pilfer-proof locking feature in use.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged cross sectional side view through the cover and container members, as disposed together, and showing the pilfer-proof locking feature disposed for use.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of fragmentary parts of a difierent form of container and cover blank including the pilferproof feature of this invention.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the cover and container members made from the blanks of Fig. 9 and shown as erected and disposed for interlocking telescopic assembly.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the cover and container members of Fig. 10 as disposed together.

Fig. 12 is a cross sectional side view through the cover and container members of Fig. 11, and showing the pilferproof locking feature in use.

The pilfer-proof boxes of this invention are formed from separate fiat blanks. One blank forms a container member and the other blank forms a cover member. Both blanks are simple in form and are easily provided without any appreciable scrap loss. One of the blanks is formed to include locking finger tabs which later cooperate with tab receiving apertures provided in the other blank. The blanks are readily formed to provide cover and container members. The locking tabs are disposed in a locking position just prior to the assembly of the cover and container members. However, the tabs need not be activated for use unless required.

Two different forms of pilfer-proof boxes are hereinafter described. One of the box forms is such as is made with manufacturers glue joints and may be folded flat for shipment. The other box form is of the kind which is erected at the place where it is to be used. Both box forms include the pilfer-proof locking feature of this invention.

Referring to the drawings in further detail, a pilferproof box is provided by the cover forming blank 10 and the container forming blank 50 which, when assembled and erected, provide a cover member or section and a container member or section 90, respectively. These particular box forming members, 80 and 99, are foldable or collapsible to the form shown by Fig. 3 and designated 80 and for greater ease in shipment.

The cover forming blank 10 includes a cover wall panel 11. Side wall forming panels 12, 13, 14 and 15 are connected to the cover wall panel 11 by fold or hinge lines 16, 17, 18 and 19. End flaps 20 and 21 are provided on the ends of panels 12 and 14. End flaps 22 and 23 are provided on the ends of panel 14. The end flaps 20, 21, 22 and 23 are connected to the panels 12 and 14 by fold lines 24, 25, 26 and 27 respectively. Each of the end flaps 20, 21, 22 and 23 include a finger tab 28, 29, 30 and 31 respectively. The finger tabs are formed at the corners of the end flaps and are connected to the end flaps by fold lines 33. They are separated from the end flaps by separation lines 32.

The side wall panels 13 and 15 of the cover forming blank 10 include finger recesses or cutouts. Recesses 34 and 35 are provided in the side wall flap 13 and recesses 36 and 37 are provided in the side wall panel 15. Fold lines38 and 39 are provided across the corners of the side wall panel 13. Fold lines 40 and 41 are provided across the corners of the side wall panel 15. Glue areas 42 are provided in each of the corners of the side wall flaps 13 and 15. The other side wall panels 12 and 14 include perforated separation lies '43 intermediate their ends.

The container forming blank '50 includes abottom wall panel 51. Side wall panels 52, 53, 54 and 55 are connected to the bottom wall panel 51 by .fold or hinge lines 56, 57, 8 and 59, respectively. The side wall panel 52 includes end wall flaps 60 and 61. The side wall panel 54 includes end wall flaps 62 and 63. The end wall fiaps 60, 61, 62 and 63 are connected to their respective side wall panels by hinge lines 64, .65, 66 and 67 respectively. Elongated slots or apertures 68 and 69 are provided in the side wall panel 53. Elongated slots or apertures 70 and 71 are provided in the side wall panel 55. Fold lines 72 and 73 are formed across the corners of the side wall flap 53. Fold lines 74 and 75 are formed across the corners of the side wall flap '55. Each of the corner flaps of the side wall panels 53 and 55 .include glue areas 76.

The cover member or section 80 is formed in the following manner:

Side wall panels 13 and are folded against the cover wall panel 1 1 on fold lines 17 and 19. The corner areas 81 and 82 are folded back on the side wall panel 13 on lines 38 and 39. The corner areas 83 and 84 are folded back on lines 40 and 41. Endflaps and 21 are folded on lines 24 and against panel 12. The end flaps 22 and 23 are folded against panel 14 on fold lines 26 and 27. Panel 12, with folded end flaps 20 and 21, is then folded against the cover wall 11 on fold lines 16. The panel 14, with the folded end flaps 22 and 23, is folded against the cover wall panel 11 on fold line 18. The glue areas 42 engage the corner areas 81, 82, 83 and 84 to the end flaps 20, 22, 21 and 23 respectively. The cover member is then in the form 80' shown by Fig. 3. When erected to provide the cover member 80 the end flaps 20-23 frictionally engage the cover'wall panel 11 and hold the sidewalls 12-15normal to the ,cover wall flap 11 to provide the rectangular form shown.

The container blank 50 is assembled to the form 90' shown by Fig. 3 and is erected to provide the container member or section 90 as shown by Fig. 4 in the following manner:

The side wall panels 53 and 55 arefolded against the bottom wall panelSl on fold lines 57 and 59. The corner areas 91 and 92 of the side wall panel 53 are folded back on fold lines 64 and 65. The corner areas 93 and 94 of the side wall panel '55 arefolded back on lines 66 and 67. End flaps 60 and 61-arefolded against theside wall panel 52 on fold lines 64'and 65. End flaps 62 and 63 are folded against the side wall-panels 54 on fold lines 66 and 67. Panel 52, with the folded end flaps 60 and 61, is then folded against thebottom Wall panel 51 on fold line 56. The -panel54, with the end- flaps 62 and 63 folded thereover, is'folded online- 58 against the bottom wall panel 51. The glue areas'76 causethe corner areas 91-93 to be engaged to the end' wall flaps 60-63.

The blank 50 asthus asembled is-in the collapsed or folded form 90 shown by Fig. '3. When-erected, the end flaps 60-63 frictionally engage the-bottom wall 51 to hold the side wall panels 52-55 normal'to' the-bottom wall 51 and in the rectangular form-'shown by Fig. 4.

The container member or-section90 has'the end flaps 60-63 covering the inner-sidesof-the elongated slots or apertures 68-71. Further, the secured corner areas 91-94 extend diagonally 'acrossthe-ends of the-apertures 68-71, and thereover.

The finger tabs 28-31 are activated to provide a pilfer-proof locking means for cover member SIO and container member 90, when asembled together, in'the following manner:

As the cover member 8 0fis disposed over the container member 90, as shown in Fig. 4, the finger tabs 28-31 are folded back against their end flaps 20-23 on their fold lines 33. The tabs then assume the positions shown in Fig. 4 and in dotted outline by Fig. 6. The finger tabs are readily accessible through the side wall panels 13 and 15 by means of the cutouts of finger recesses 30-33. The finger tabs are displaced from the finger recesses 30-33 when they are folded back against their end fiaps on the inside of the cover member.

The cover member is telescopedover the container member to provide the closed box structure shown by Fig. 5.

When the cover member 80 is disposed on the container member 90 the locking tabs are in the position of tab 28 shown by Fig. 8. When an attempt is made to separate the cover member '80 from the container member 90 the free end of the finger tabs 28-31 catch in the apertures 68-71, as shown with the tab 28 in the aperture 70, by Fig. -7. The disposition of the fold lines 72-75 cross the ends of the-apertures 68-71 causes one end of the apertures to protrude slightly and to be in a-position where it readily catches the free ends of the locking tabs. Also, the tendency of the finger tabs to spring back to their normal position guides them into the receiving apertures. Since the apertures 68-71 are backed by the end panels 60-63 there is no chance for the finger tabs to be extended through the apertures and allowed to assume their unfolded position. Furthermore, the ends of the finger tabs are stopped by the glued corner areas extending thereover, as shown by Fig. 6.

When it is desired to gain access to the container member it is necessary to break the cover member on the separation lines 43.

It will be appreciated'that when the finger tabs are left in their normal position extending down along the side walls of the container member, they form no obstruction to the assembly or disassembly of the cover member with the container member. In such instances the cover may be assembled and disassembled from the container member with ease.

In Figs. 9 and 12 there is shown another form of box which includes the locking feature of this invention.

The cover blank and container blank are very similar to the blanks 10 and 50 previously described. Therefore only the corner areas of each of the blanks will be described in order to point out the differences.

The cover forming blank 100 includes a cover-panel '101 and has side Wall panels connected to each edge thereof. Only the side wall panels 102 and 103 are shown in Fig. 9. These panels are connected to the cover panel by fold or hinge lines such as 104 and 106. Opposite of the side wall panels 102 include end wall flaps 107. The flap 107 is connected to the side wall panel as by a fold line 108. Each flap includes a locking tab 109 connected to the end flap by a fold line 111 and separated therefrom on one side by a separation line 110.

The container blank 150 includes a bottom wall panel 151. It has side wall panelsconnected to each side edge, such as panels 152 and 153 shown by Fig. 9. These side wall panels are connected to the bottom wall panel by fold or hinge lines such as 154 and 156. End flaps, as 157, are connected to the end of each of the opposite side wall panels 152 as by a fold line 158. Apertures', as 159, are formed in opposite side wall panels, as 153, near each end thereof. 7

The cover blank 100 when erected forms the cover member shown in Fig. 10. The container blank 150 when erected forms the container member or section shown by Fig. 10. The end flaps 107 are secured to the side wall panels 103 to provide the rectangular box shape shown. The locking tabs 109 are not secured to the side wall panels 103 in order that they can be folded back as shown by Fig. 10. Although this construction does not show any finger cutouts for access to the locking tabs,

they are sufficiently accessible by curling ones fingers around the side edge of the sidewall panels.

The end flaps 157 of the container blank 15!) will be noted to close one side of the apertures 159. It will also be noted that the apertures 159 are rectangular in shape rather than elongated as in the first form disclosed. When the cover member 180 is telescoped over the container member 190, with the locking tabs 109 disposed in locking position, the tabs Will snap into the apertures 159 to provide a pilfer-proof lock which cannot be broken except by destroying the cover member.

As in the first box construction described, the cover member may be assembled and disassembled from the carton member with relative ease when the locking tabs are not folded back in their locking position. However when the four locking tabs are received within the tab receptive apertures 159 the cover and container members are securely locked together.

While a preferred embodiment of this invention has been described, it will be understood that other modifications and improvements may be made thereto. Such of these modifications and improvements as incorporate the cluded in the hereinafter appended claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.

I claim:

1. A self-locking carton comprising: a first section and side panels having a pair of end flaps foldably joined, thereto; each of said sections having end panels; said side" panels and end panels of each section together forming a rectangle with said end flaps seated against the inner surface of said end panels; spaced slots in said end panels of said first section intermediate of and elongated parallel to the edges thereof; said end flaps overlying at least a portion or" each of said slots and at least a portion of said end flaps between said slots and the open face of said first section being fixedly secured to said end panel, said end flaps of said second section being slit, said slits opening through the open face of said second section for defining fingers foldably jointed to said end flaps and normally lying in the planes of said end flaps, said fingers being inwardly foldable to lie against the inner faces of said end fiaps with their free ends extending away from the open face of said second section for entering said slots in said first section when said sections are telescopically assembled to resist separation thereof.

2. A self-locking carton comprising: a first section and a second section, each having an open face, a closed face and four sides; said first section being adapted to telescope over said second section; each of said sections having a pair of oppositely disposed side panels; each of said side panels having a pair of end flaps foldably joined thereto; each of said sections having end panels; said side panels and end panels of each section together forming a rectangle with said end flaps seated against the inner surface of said end panels; a slot in each of said end panels of said first section intermediate of and elongated parallel to the edges thereof; the adjacent of said end flaps overlying at least a portion of each of said slots and at least a portion of said end flaps between said slots and the open face of said first section being fixedly secured to said end panel, one of said end flaps at each end of said second section being slit, said slits opening through the open face of said second section for defining fingers foldably joined to said end flaps and normally lying in the planes of said end flaps; said fingers being inwardly foldable to lie against the inner faces of said end flaps with their free ends extending away from the open face of said second section for entering said slots in said first section when said sections are telescopically assembled to resist separation thereof.

3. A self-locking carton comprising: a first section and a second section each having an open face, a closed face ,20 principles of this invention are to be considered as inand four sides, said first section being adapted to telescope over said second section; each of said sections having a pair of oppositely disposed side panels; each of said side panels having a pair of end flaps foldably joined thereto; each of said sections having end panels; said side panels and end panels of each section together forming a rectangle with said end flaps seated against the inner surface of said end panels; a slot in each of said end panels of said first section intermediate of and elongated parallel to the edges thereof; said end flaps and said end panels each having an inclined fold line starting at the juncture of said end flaps and said side panels adjacent the closed face of said first section and extending to the open face of said first section whereby said sides may be joined and folded fiat for storage; said fold lines crossing said slots; the portions of said end flaps between said fold lines and the open face of said first section being firmly secured to said end panels; one of said end flaps at each end of said second section being slit, said slits opening through the open face of said second section for defining fingers foldably joined to said end flaps and normally lying in the plane of said end flaps; said fingers being inwardly foldable to lie against the inner faces of said end flaps with their free ends extending away from the open face of said second section for entering said slots in said first section when said sections are telescopically assembled and engaging the stop formed by the securement of said portions of said end flaps to said end panels to resist separation thereof.

4. A self-locking box, comprising: a cover member and a container member received together in telescoping relation and being selectively interlocked, said cover member including four side walls and a cover wall and having oppositely disposed of its side walls formed to include end flaps overlapping and secured at least in part to the inner sides of its other side walls, said end flaps of said cover member having finger tabs formed from the ends thereof and foldable against the sides thereof within said cover member, said container member including four side walls and a bottom wall and having oppositely disposed of its side walls formed to include tab receiving apertures therein, the other of said container side walls being formed to include end flaps overlapping and secured at least in part to the inner sides of said oppositely disposed container side walls and covering said apertures on the inner sides thereof, and said cover member being received in removable telescoping relation to said container member with said finger tabs in a non-folded condition, and in locked telescoping relation to said container member with said finger tabs folded over and received at least in part within said tab receiving apertures and prevented from extending therethrough by said operative closing end flaps.

5. The combination of a pair of box forming blanks for providing a self-locking box, and comprising: a cover forming blank including a cover wall panel having side wall panels hinged to each edge thereof, end flaps hinged to the ends of oppositely disposed of said side wall panels, and foldable finger tabs provided at the outer free ends of each of said end flaps, said end flaps being securable at least in part to the other of said side wall panels in the erection of said cover blank and said finger tabs being foldable against said end flaps within the cover member formed thereby, and a container forming blank including a bottom wall panel having side wall panels hinged to each edge thereof, finger tab receiving apertures formed within oppositely disposed of said container blank side wall panels, and end flaps hinged to the ends of said other container blank side wall panels, said container blank end wall flaps being securable at least in part to said oppositely disposed container blank side wall panels for closing the inner sides of said finger tab receiving apertures upon the erection of said container blank, and said cover and container blanks being formed of comof each of said end flaps, said other cover blank side wall panels including cutouts at the side edges thereof for exposing the unfolded free ends of said'finger tabs following the erection of said cover 'blank, said end flaps being Jsecurable at least in part to the otherof said side wall ,panelsin the erection of said cover blank and said finger tabs being-accessible through said cutouts, and fold able against said end flaps .within the cover member formed thereby, and a container forming blank including a bottom wall panel having side wall panels hinged to each edge thereOL-fingertab receiving apertures formed within oppositely disposed ofsaid container blank side wall panels, and end flapsrhinged to the endsof said, other container blank side wall panels, said container blank end wall 'fiaps being securableat least in part to said oppositely disposed container blank side wall panels for closing the inner sides of said finger tab receiving apertures upon the erection of said container blank and said covenand container blanks being formed of complementary sizes for telescoping interrelation following the erection of said blanks.

7. The combination of a pair of box forming blanks for providing a self-locking box, and comprising: a cover forming blank including va cover Wall panel having side wall panelshinged toeach edge thereof, end flaps hinged to the ends of oppositely disposed of said sidewall panels,

and foldable finger tabs provided at the outer free ends 9f a h of ai and fla s d a d fl being S am at least in part to the other of said side wall panels in the erection of said cover blank and said finger tabs being foldable against said end flaps within the cover member formed thereby, and a container forming blank including a'bottom wall panel having side wall panels hinged to each edge thereof, finger tab receiving apertures formed within oppositely disposed of said container blank side wall panels, and end flaps hinged to the ends of said other container blankside wall panels, said container .blankend wall flaps being securable at least in part to saidoppositely disposed container blank side wall panels for closing theinner sides of said finger tab receiv- "ing apertures upon the erection of said container blank, said cover and container blanks each having the free corners of theend-fiapiree side wall panels thereof including a fold linether eacross and being receptive of a glue surface on said corners for providing collapsible cover and container members upon being secured to said end flaps in the forming of such cover and container members from said'blanks, and said cover and container blanks being formed of complementary sizes for telescoping interrelation following the erection of said blanks.

'ReferencesCited inthe-file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,251,565 For-man Aug. 5, 1941 2,527,167 Wanda, Oct. 24, 1950 2,531,507 Goodyear Nov. 28, 1950 2,551,814 Rushing May 8, 1951 2,652,969 vPfaft Sept. 22,,1953 2,692,722 Johnson Oct. 26,1954 2,741,418 VanRosen Apr. 10,1956

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