US3276663A

US3276663A - Container closure

Info

Publication number: US3276663A
Application number: US447665A
Authority: US
Inventors: Claude J Falconer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1965-04-13
Filing date: 1965-04-13
Publication date: 1966-10-04
Anticipated expiration: 1983-10-04

Description

4, 1966 c. J. FALCONER CONTAINER CLOSURE Filed April 13, 1965 FIGZS INVENTOR. CLAUDE J. FALCON ER 4o FiG. 8

ATTORNEYS FIG. 3

United States Patent 3,276,663 CONTAINER CLOSURE Claude J. Falconer, 401 London Way, Sonoma, Calif. Filed Apr. 13, 1965, Ser. No. 447,665 Claims. (Cl. 22947) Thisinvention relates to a carton fastening means and more particularly relates to a means for fastening a cardboard or similar carton of the conventional type wherein the top is formed by four overlapping flaps, one flap being attached to each of the side walls of the carton. In accordance with the basic embodiment of the invention a carton fastening means is provided comprising an I-shaped member having a center web with flanges on opposite sides of the web wherein the lower flange passes through a slot in one of the side walls and the web passes both through a slot in one of the end flaps and the space between opposed side flaps while the upper flange passes over the tops of the side flaps, holding the carton securely closed.

In accordance with one of the embodiments of the invention the web is at least partially cut away so that two opposed fastening elements can extend completely across the top of the closed carton yet the slots in the end flaps do not extend completely across the flap.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the fastening elements have depressions formed therein so that they can be easily grasped by the fingers.

In still another embodiment of the invention two fastener elements are attached to a handle element so that the device serves not only to securely fasten the top of the carton, but also as a handle.

In accordance with still another embodiment of the ,invention, the fastening elements are sharpened so that into the carton.

In the drawings forming part of this application:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective exploded view of a carton embodying the fastening means of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the carton shown in FIGURE 1 with the fastening means in place.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged partial section on the line 33 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged partial section on the line 44 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged section on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged plan view of one of the fastening elements.

FIGURE 7 is a side view of the fastening element shown in FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is an end view of the element shown in FIGURES 6 and 7.

FIGURE 9 is a plan view of a short fastening element having a depression in which a finger can be inserted.

FIGURE 10 is an end view of the fastening element shown in FIGURE 9.

FIGURE 11 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention incorporating a handle element.

Referring now to the drawings by reference characters, there is shown a

box having sides

12 and 14 and

ends

16 and 18, each of the sides and ends having upstanding flaps respectively, 20, 22, 24 and 26. Normally, the side flaps 20 and 22 will each be about half the width of the box so that when the top is closed they will come almost together while the end flaps 24 and 26 will each be somewhat shorter than half the length of the box so that they will not come together. However, in some boxes both pairs of flaps will be of suflicient length so that opposite flaps will meet on a center line.

Patented Oct. 4, 1966 ice At the center of the

end flaps

24 and 26,

slots

28 and 30 have been cut. These slots extend from the extreme ends of the box and terminate a short distance from the extremity of the flap so that a portion of the flap as at 32 and 34 lies between the end of the slot and the terminal end of the flap. A small slot 36 is cut at the top center of end 16 with

slots

36 and 28 being connected as shown. A similar slot is cut in end 18 but does not show in the drawing.

The fastening elements themselves have an upper flange 38 and a lower flange 40 which are connected by a web 42. The flanges may be bevelled as at 44 to avoid sharp edges on the finished closure, but this is not essential for purposes of the invention. Preferably the web 42 does not extend the complete length of the flanges. Further, the web is split in half for a portion of its length so that one portion extends as at 46 beyond the terminal edge 48 of the other half. Obviously the width of the web, i.e. the separation between the flanges, should be about twice the thickness of the stock being fastened.

In order to use the fastener, the four flaps are folded down upon each other with the slotted flaps lying under the opposite pair of flaps. The fastener is then inserted with the lower flange 40 inserted in the slot 36 with the upper flange extending over the tops of the

flaps

20 and 22. As the fastener is pushed inwardly, portion 46 enters the space between

flaps

20 and 22 and the leading edge 48 of the lower part of web 42 then enters slot 48. As the device is inserted even further, the extending portion 46 of web 42 will overlie the intact portion 32 of flap 24. The opposite fastener would be inserted from the far side of the box in exactly the same manner.

Reference to FIGURES 3, 4 and 5 shows the relationship of the parts. Thus, referring to FIGURE 3 the upper flange 38 overlies

flaps

20 and 22 with the upper portion 46 of web 42 lying in the space between the flaps. The lower flange 40 lies below the flap 24. In FIG- URE 4, the upper flange 38 again overlies the

flaps

20 and 22 with web 46 lying between these flaps. The lower flange 40 underlies flap 24 while the intact portion 32 of flap 24 which extends beyond slot 28 now occupies the slot in the web. In FIGURE 5, the upper and lower flaps are still held by the upper and lower flanges. The web 42 extends through slot 28 and also the space between

flaps

20 and 22. With the fastening members now in place, it will be seen that the box is securely fastened yet can be easily opened merely by sliding out the fastening elements.

In accordance with the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGURES 9 and 10, a depression 50 may be formed in the fastening element which is in the form of a fingerprint. This enables one to more easily slide the fasteners in and out.

Although the fastening device is preferably used with a box wherein the

slots

28 and 36 are previously formed as by die cutting, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the ends of the fasteners are sharpened so that it is not necessary to use preformed slots. Thus the end of flange 40 may be sharpened as at 52 and the end 48 of web 42 sharpened as at 54. With the ends thus sharpened it is only necessary to force the fastener into the closed box and it will cut its own slots.

Still another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGURE 11. Here fastening elements 56 and 58- are provided with a flexible handle member 60. In this embodiment, the handle is held to the fastening elements by rivets as at 62, although it will be obvious that other fastening means might be employed. Further, by employing a relatively soft plastic for the fastening elements,

tegral casting.

Although it is preferred to employ two fastening elements which extend substantially the length of the box, meeting in the center, this is not necessary and it is feasible to employ short fastening elements as shown in FIG- URE 9 such as those described which extend into the box only a short distance from each end. In this embodiunent, it is not necessary that a portion of the web be cut away but the web can extend the complete length of the shortened fastening element as is shown at 52A in FIG- URE 9.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many variations can be made in the exact structure shown Without departing from the spirit of this invention.

The inner end of the fastener must, of course, be open, but the outer end may be closed with an end member as at 51 or may be open as in FIGURES 6-8.

I claim: 7

1. In a box or the like having opposed end walls and opposed side wallswith side and end flaps, respectively, extending upwardly from said walls whereby said flaps form a closure for the box upon being folded upon each other, a fastening means for said flaps comprising in combination:

(a) a horizontal slot at the top of each of said end walls,

(b) a slot extending a substantial length in the center of each of the end flaps and connected to the horizontal slots,

(c) a fastening element in the form of an I-shaped member having an upper flange and a lower flange separated by a web, said web being of about the height of a thickness of an end flap and the thickness of a side flap combined,

(d) the lower flange of said fastening element fitting into said horizontal slot and underlying the end flap,

(e) a portion of the web extending through the slot in the end flap, and

(f) the upper flange extending over the tops of the two side flaps with a portion of said web lying between said flaps.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein the slots in the end flaps terminate short of the end of the flaps and wherein a portion of the web is cut away, whereby a portion of the web overlies the end of the end flap.

3. The structure of claim 1 wherein the fastening ele ments have depressions therein for the insertion of a finger.

4. The structure of claim 1 wherein a handle element is attached to the ends of the fastening elements.

5. The structure of claim 1 wherein at least one end of each fastening element is sharpened whereby the fastening element will cut slots in the box upon being pressed against the box.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 933,454 9/1909 Hudson 229-47 X 1,076,897 10/1913 Lettre 229-47 1,423,936 7/1922 Huffman 229-47 2,645,408 7/ 1953 Eckles 229-47 X 2,828,905 4/1958 Frizzell 229- 2,977,037 3/1961 Fellowes 229-47 FOREIGN PATENTS 436,079 3/ 1912 France.

GEORGE O. RALSTON, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. IN A BOX OR THE LIKE HAVING OPPOSED END WALLS AND OPPOSED SIDE WALLS WITH SIDE AND ENDS FLAPS, RESPECTIVELY, EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAID WALLS WHEREBY SAID FLAPS FORM A CLOSURE FOR THE BOX UPON BEING FOLDED UPON EACH OTHER, A FASTENING MEAN FOR SAID FLAPS COMRPRISING IN COMBINATION: (A) A HORIZONTAL SLOT AT THE TOP OF EACH OF SAID END WALLS, (B) A SLOT EXTENDING A SUBSTANTIAL LENGTH IN THE CENTER OF EACH OF THE END FLAPS AND CONNECTED TO THE HORIZONTAL SLOTS, (C) A FASTENING ELEMENT IN THE FORM OF AN I-SHAPED MEMBER HAVING AN UPPER FLANGE AND A LOWER FLANGE SEPARATED BY A WEB, SAID WEB BEING OF ABOUT THE HEIGHT OF A THICKNESS OF AN END FLAP AND THE THICKNESS OF A SIDE FLAP COMBINED, (D) THE LOWER FLANGE OF SAID FASTENING ELEMENT FITTING INTO SAID HORIZONTAL SLOT AND UNDERLYING THE END FLAP, (E) A PORTION OF THE WEB EXTENDING THROUGH THE SLOT IN THE END FLAP, AND (F) THE UPPER FLANGE EXTENDING OVER THE TOPS OF THE TWO SIDE FLAPS WITH A PORTION OF SAID WEB LYING BETWEEN SAID FLAPS.