Carton closure apparatus

A carton closure apparatus for releasably and securely closing a carton having a rectangular bottom, two shorter side walls having a top edge and a bottom edge, two longer side walls having a top edge and a bottom edge, two minor top flaps connected respectively to the shorter side walls along their top edges, and two major top flaps connected respectively to the longer side walls along their top edges, the carton closure apparatus comprising:

• (a) an insert having a rigid planar surface with a straight-edged side and also having a latching member extending away from and at a right angle to the straight-edged side, the latching member having an identical front and back;
• and
• (b) a socket having a planar surface and also having a fastener for attaching one side of the planar surface flush against a side wall of a carton, the other side of the planar surface having a receiving member for releasably and securely engaging the latching member of insert;
• such that, when the socket is attached to one of the shorter side walls of a carton at a point along the top edge and equidistant from the adjoining longer side walls, and when the two major top flaps are folded over the two minor top flaps, and when the insert is latched into the socket with the insert's planar surface extending over a portion of each of the major top flaps, then the carton is releasably and securely closed:
• and such that the insert can also be latched into the socket with the insert's planar surface extending away from the major top flaps so the carton can be opened and loaded or unloaded as if the carton closure apparatus were not present.