FR2696420A1 - Fastening system for telescopic container - has external cut out tongue that locates in window provided in internal container - Google Patents

Abstract

The system fastens together two containers (12, 14) which are able to fit one inside the other. Each has a base and sidewall. A concave cut out (22) is formed in at least one sidewall (16) of the external container (12). This forms a fastening tongue (24) which can be folded inwards along a fold line (34) which joins the extremities of the cut out. The tongue has a lower portion (26) which is generally wide, and an upper portion (28) which is narrow in comparison. The corresponding sidewall (18) of the internal container has a window (38) with a wide portion (44) a little wider than that of the tongue and a narrow portion (42) which is also a little wider than the narrow portion of the tongue. ADVANTAGE - Provides tamperproof fastening with clear evidence of unauthorised opening.

Description

 LOCKING SYSTEM FOR TELESCOPIC PACKAGING.

 The present invention relates to a locking system intended to guarantee the inviolability of a telescopic package before its first opening.

 A telescopic package comprises two cardboard boxes, of generally rectangular shape, each provided with a bottom, and fitting one into the other.

 It is known to secure the two boxes together, in order to prevent the external box from separating from the internal box during transport. The joining is generally carried out by means of glue dots deposited on the walls in contact with the two boxes, or even by means of adhesive strips or twines.

 All these means of attachment are effective, but they can be destroyed fraudulently, then replaced without leaving a trace.

 The object of the present invention is to provide a locking system for telescopic packaging which guarantees the inviolability of the packaging until its first opening.

The locking system according to 1 invention is characterized in that it comprises
- On at least one of the side walls of the outer case, a concave cutout which defines a locking tab, which can be folded towards the inside of the outer case around a fold line joining the ends of the cut, said tongue comprising a relatively wide lower portion and a relatively narrow upper portion, and
- On the adjoining side wall of the inner box a window comprising a wide slot slightly larger than the wide portion of the tongue, and a narrow slot slightly larger than the narrow portion of the tongue.

 When placing the outer case on the inner case, push the tab inward into the wide window slot, then lift it up to pass it through the narrow slot.

 Therefore, the tab can no longer be removed from the window, since it is practically impossible to grasp it through the narrow slot, and rotate it down until it returns to the wide slot. The tab is therefore permanently blocked in the window and any attempt to open the packaging will cause its destruction and / or the deterioration of the edges of the window.

 The tongue is attached to the side wall of the outer case by a tab which can be torn along lines of low resistance. Thus, at the first opening, the user tears off the tearable tab and can thus remove the locking tab.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of nonlimiting example, with reference to the appended drawings in which
- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a telescopic package according to the invention, before the assembly of the two boxes
- Figure 2 is an elevational view showing on a larger scale a detail of Figure 1
- Figure 3 is a sectional view of the package showing the tab in position in the narrow slot
- Figure 4 is an elevational view of the package showing the tongue in the locked state; and
- Figure 5 is a sectional view along the line
VV of figure 4.

 With reference to FIG. 1, the telescopic package 10 comprises two rectangular boxes 12, 14 made of cardboard or corrugated cardboard, provided with peripheral side walls of the same height 16, 18 and a bottom 20. One of the boxes, 12, has a section slightly larger than that of the other box, 14, so that it can be fitted from above on the latter and be pressed in the direction of the arrow.

 As shown in more detail in Figure 2, the outer box 12 has on one of its side walls a concave cutout 22 which internally defines a locking tab 24. This comprises a relatively large portion 26 close to the lower edge 28 side wall 16, and a narrow portion located above the wide portion relative to said edge. These two portions are connected by shoulders 29.

 The tongue 24 is attached to the wall 16 by a tab 30 which can be torn along lines of low resistance 32. A fold line 34 is marked between the tongue 24 and the tab 30. Above the tab is provided a recess 36 through which the tab can be grasped and torn.

 The inner box has on its side wall 18, contiguous to that which carries the tongue 24 and at the same height as the latter, a window 38 substantially in the shape of an inverted T, comprising an elongated slot 40 of low height and slightly width greater than that of the wide portion 26 of the tongue, and a narrower slot 42 of width substantially greater than that of the narrow portion of the tongue. These two slots are connected by two shoulders 44.

 The packaging is assembled as follows: the outer case 12 is fitted, bottom 20 faces upwards, around the inner case 14, and it is lowered by applying pressure on the tab 24 inward from the outer case. When the tongue reaches the level of the elongated slot 40, it penetrates there completely at the same time as it bends around the fold line 34. The tongue is then in the position of FIG. 3 where its shoulders 29 are located externally with respect to those, 44, of the window 38. The external box can also be separated from the internal box.

 Locking is carried out by exerting pressure on the tongue upwards so as to force the shoulders 29 to pass behind the shoulders 44 of the window 38. The tongue 24 is then in the position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. It does not can no longer be released from the window, since it is practically impossible to grasp it through the narrow slot 40 and pull it in the opposite direction so that its shoulders are released from the shoulders 44 of the window.

 If an unauthorized person forcibly attempts to open the package, they will destroy the tab or damage it in such a way that it becomes apparent immediately.

 On the other hand, the true recipient of the packaging can remove the tongue by inserting a finger into the recess 36 and then tearing off the tab 30 along the lines of least resistance 32.

 It goes without saying that locking systems similar to the one just described can be provided on several side walls of the two boxes.

Claims (3)

 1. Locking system for telescopic packaging comprising two cardboard or corrugated boxes (12, 14) nestable one inside the other and each provided with a side wall and a bottom, characterized in that it comprises  - On at least one of the side walls (16) of the outer box (12), a concave cutout (22) which defines a locking tab (24) which can be folded towards the inside of the outer box around a fold line (34) joining the ends of the cut, said tongue comprising a relatively wide lower portion (26) and a relatively narrower upper portion (28), and  - On the adjoining side wall (18) of the interior box (14), a window (38) comprising a wide slot (44) slightly larger than the wide portion (26) of the tongue, and a narrow slot (42) slightly larger than the narrow portion (28) of the tongue.  2. Locking system according to claim 1, characterized in that the tongue is attached to the side wall of the outer case by a tab (30) which can be torn along lines of low resistance (32).  3. Locking system according to claim 2, characterized in that above the tab (30) is pierced a recess (36) for gripping the tab and tearing it off with the tongue.