Self-locking box

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 to overlap an end of a second said body panel when the end panel closes the end of the box;
• a secondary end panel extending outwardly from the second body panel and foldable to close the end of the box in substantially parallel relation to the end panel, so as to prevent a person from seeing inside the box by pulling back the end panel from the end of the box;
• a slit located in the flap of the end panel;
• an open region in the end of the second body panel and substantially covered by the flap when overlapping the second body panel, so as to position the slit overlaying the open region;
• a locking tab connected to the second body panel adjacent the overlapping location occupied by the flap;
• said locking tab having a fold line defining a locking panel for insertion in the slit;
• the locking panel having a central portion and a fold line defining a terminal portion selectably foldable to lie alongside the central portion with the fold line thereby forming a leading edge of the folded locking panel;
• the locking panel with the terminal portion so folded being aligned for insertion by the leading edge through the slit and the open region 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;
• and
• a flange positioned on the central portion of the locking panel to engage a surface of the second body panel adjacent the open region as the locking panel is inserted through the slit and prevent withdrawing the central portion from the open region after the end panel is locked to the second body panel to close the box.

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 end panel connected to one such body panel on mutually parallel second fold lines orthogonal to the first-mentioned fold lines;
• at least one such end panel having a flap extending from an edge opposite to the connection to the one body panel and foldable relative to the one end panel along a fold line parallel to the second fold lines;
• a slit located in the flap;
• an open region in the other body panel and defined by edges on that other body panel, the open region being substantially covered by the flap of a box produced by the blank when the flap overlaps the other body panel to position the slit overlaying the open region;
• a locking tab bendably connected, by a third fold line parallel to the second fold lines, to the other body panel;
• 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;
• 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 slit of the 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 a body panel of the box 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;
• and
• a flange extending outwardly from a side of the locking tab to engage an edge of the open region as the locking panel is inserted through the slit so as to prevent withdrawing the locking tab from the open region after the end panel is locked to the second other body panel to close the box.