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US 4,535,929 AGranted
Reusable shipping box with cam tabs for release of closure interlock
AssigneeE-Z P.A.C., Inc.
InventorsRalph A. Sherman, II, Calvin R. Watson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Reusable box apparatus includes a single blank from which a box is formed without the need for external fasteners, such as staples, adhesive, or tape, and which blank includes a plurality of interlocking tabs and slots for fastening the box together. The completed box includes two top flaps, both of which may be pre-addressed, for alternate use in two-way shipping, and which further includes cam elements for aligning tabs with slots for the easy release of the top flaps.
Claims18
Carton apparatus, comprising, in combination:
- first panel means defining one side of the carton apparatus;
- first end panel means secured to the first panel means and defining a second side of the carton apparatus;
- second panel means defining a third side of the carton apparatus and secured to the first end panel means remote from the first panel means;
- second end panel means secured to the second panel means remote from the first end panel means and defining a fourth side of the carton apparatus;
- means for securing together the first panel means and the second end panel means;
- bottom panel means defining the bottom of the carton apparatus;
- first top flap means secured to the first panel means, including first locking slot means disposed adjacent to the first panel means;
- second top flap means secured to the second panel means;
- locking tab means secured to the second top flap means remote from the second panel means apd adapted to extend through the first locking slot means to lock the second top flap means to the first top flap means;
- and
- cam means for camming the locking tab means into alignment with the first locking slot means for unlocking the second top flap means from the first top flap means.
8 more elements
Carton apparatus made from a simple blank, comprising, in combination:
- first top flap means, including a first locking slot means extending through the first top flap means;
- first locking tab means secured to the first top flap means;
- first panel means secured to the first top flap means remote from the first locking tab means and adjacent to the first locking slot means;
- first end panel means secured to the first panel means;
- second top flap means, including a locking slot means extending through the second top flap means and adapted to receive the first locking tab means when the first top flap means defines an outer flap for the carton apparatus;
- second locking tab means secured to the second top flap means and adapted to extend through the first locking slot means when the second top flap means defines an outer flap for the carton apparatus;
- second panel means secured to the second top flap means remote from the second locking tab means and adjacent to the second locking slot means and to the first end panel means;
- second end panel means secured to the second panel means remote from the first end panel means;
- means for securing the second end panel means to the first panel means;
- bottom panel means secured to the first and second panel means and to the first and second end panel means and inter-engaging with one another to define an interlocked bottom for the carton apparatus;
- and
- cam means secured to the first and second panel means for selectively biasing the locking tab means to the locking slot means for releasing the locking tab means to unlock whichever top flap means defines the outer flap for the carton apparatus.
9 more elements
In a container, locking apparatus for locking folded portions, comprising, in combination:
- first flap means, including a first flap and a first panel secured to the first flap;
- locking slot means extending through the first flap, including
- a base portion, and
- a first angled portion extending outwardly from the base portion;
- second flap means;
- locking tab means secured to the second flap means, including
- a first portion adapted to extend into and through the base portion of the locking slot means, and
- a first wing portion secured to the first portion and adapted to fold into alignment with the first angled portion of the locking slot means and to extend therethrough and then to unfold out of alignment with the first angled portion to lock the second flap means to the first flap means;
- and
- cam means secured to the first panel for bending the wing portions into alignment with the angled portion of the locking slot means for removing the locking tab means from the locking slot means.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.