Self-locking box

A box which is tamper-evident, the box comprising:

• a plurality of body panels interconnected to form a box;
• an end panel connected to one of the body panels to form an end surface of the box, and having a flap extending from an edge opposite to the connection to the body panel;
• a slot located in the end panel flap;
• a locking tab connected to and extending from a body panel opposite to the body panel to which the end panel is connected;
• said locking tab comprising a shank portion terminating in a locking panel having a central portion and a front panel extending from a forward edge of the central portion;
• and
• a fold line between said central portion and said front panel forming a leading edge with at least a partially tapered profile when said front panel is folded upon said central portion, said locking tab when so folded being inserted through said slot whereupon said front panel elastically returns to a position inside the box to abut a surface of the end panel and the flap connected thereto,
• whereby the end panel is locked to said body panel to form a closed box which cannot thereafter be opened without severing the locking tab from the body panel or otherwise providing visible evidence of tampering.

A one-piece blank for producing a box that is tamper-evident, the blank comprising:

• two pairs of alternately disposed rectangular body and side panels connected on mutually parallel fold lines;
• a pair of end panels, each said end panel connected to a body panel on mutually parallel second fold lines orthogonal to the first-mentioned mutually parallel fold lines;
• at least one such end panel having a flap extending from an edge opposite to the connection to the body panel and foldable relative to the one end panel along a fold line parallel to the second fold lines;
• a slot located in the flap;
• and
• a locking tab bendably connected, by a third fold line parallel to the second mutually parallel fold lines, to a body panel to which the one end panel is not connected;
• the locking tab comprising a shank portion terminating in a locking panel having a central portion, and a front panel extending from a forward edge of the central portion and connected thereto by a tab fold line parallel to the third fold line;
• and
• the locking tab being located relative to the flap extending from the one end panel so that with the front panel folded upon the central portion to form a leading edge of the locking tab along the tab fold line and the folded locking tab inserted through the slot of a box produced from the blank, the front panel returns to a position inside the box such that a portion of the front panel abuts a surface of the flap and the end panel connected thereto,
• so that the one end panel of the box is locked to the body panel to which the one end panel is not connected and cannot be withdrawn without severing the locking tab or otherwise producing visible evidence of tampering.

A box which is tamper-evident, the box comprising:

• a plurality of body panels interconnected to form a box;
• an end panel connected to one of the body panels to form an end surface of the box, and having a flap extending from the edge opposite to an edge connected to the body panel;
• a slot located in the end panel flap;
• a locking tab integrally connected to and extending from a particular body panel opposite to the body panel to which the end panel is connected.
• said locking tab comprising a shank portion terminating in a locking panel having a plurality of foldable panels, a leading edge, and a trailing edge, the trailing edge having a length greater than the length of the slot when the locking panel is in the unfolded state;
• and
• the leading edge having at least a partially tapered profile when the locking panel is in the folded state so that the leading edge has a length less than the length of the slot, the locking panel when so folded being inserted through the slot whereupon the locking panel returns automatically to a position inside the box such that the trailing edge of the locking tab is greater than the length of the slot to provide an abutment surface with a region of the end panel flap surrounding the slot,
• so that the end panel is locked to the particular body panel to form a closed box which cannot be opened without severing the locking tab from the particular body panel or otherwise providing visible evidence of tampering.

A box that is lockable when closed, the box comprising:

• a plurality of body panels interconnected to form a box;
• an end panel connected to a first said body panel to selectively close an end of the box, and having a flap extending into the box to occupy a location adjacent to a second said body panel when the end panel closes the end of the box;
• a slot located in the end panel flap;
• a locking tab connected to the second body panel adjacent the location occupied by the flap;
• said locking tab having a fold line defining a locking panel for insertion in the slot;
• the locking panel having a central portion and a fold line defining a terminal portion selectably foldable to lie alongside the central portion;
• the locking panel with the terminal portion so folded being aligned for insertion through the slot into the box whereat the terminal portion partially unfolds to abut the end panel, thereby locking the end panel to the second body panel to form a closed box;
• the second body panel having an edge opposite the connection of the end panel to the first body panel;
• the fold line connecting the locking tab to the second body panel being spaced inwardly from the edge so that part of the locking tab is formed within the second body panel;
• and
• the fold line defining the locking panel being located between the edge of the second body panel and the fold line defining the locking tab, so that the locking tab with folded terminal portion is aligned for entry into the slot spaced inwardly from the edge of the second body panel.

A box that is lockable when closed, the box comprising:

• a plurality of body panels interconnected to form a box;
• an end panel connected to a first said body panel to selectively close an end of the box, and having a flap extending into the box to occupy a location adjacent to a second said body panel when the end panel closes the end of the box;
• a slot located in the end panel flap;
• a locking tab connected to the second body panel adjacent the location occupied by the flap;
• said locking tab having a fold line defining a locking panel for insertion in the slot;
• the locking panel having a central portion and a fold line defining a terminal portion selectably foldable to lie alongside the central portion;
• the locking panel with the terminal portion so folded being aligned for insertion through the slot into the box whereat the terminal portion partially unfolds to abut the end panel, thereby locking the end panel to the second body panel to form a closed box;
• the second body panel having an edge opposite the connection of the end panel to the first body panel;
• the second body panel having an edge opposite the connection of the end panel to the first body panel;
• the slot in the end panel flap being disposed behind the second body panel inwardly from the edge thereof, when the end panel closes the box;
• the fold line connecting the locking tab to the second body panel being spaced inwardly from the edge so that part of the locking tab is formed within the second body panel;
• and
• the fold line defining the locking panel being located between the edge of the second body panel and the fold line defining the locking tab for entry into the slot so that the locking panel with folded terminal portion is aligned for entry into the slot spaced inwardly from the edge of the second body panel.