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US 8,567,662 B2Granted
Methods and apparatus relating to lock-top box
AssigneeThatbox Design, LLC
InventorDonn J. Costanzo, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A box having top panels that lock together to keep the box in a closed condition is disclosed. A box blank or cutout from which the box is created by folding is further disclosed.
Claims20
A box cutout, comprising:
- (a) a front panel including two attachment panels extending therefrom and connected at a respective fold line therewith;
- (b) a back panel including two attachment panels extending therefrom and connected at a respective fold line therewith;
- (c) first and second side panels;
- (d) a bottom panel to which the front panel, back panel, and each of the side panels are connected at a fold line;
- (e) a first top panel having flanges on opposite sides connecting the first top panel at fold lines to respective attachment panels of the front panel;
- and
- (f) a second top panel having flanges on opposite sides connecting the second top panel at fold lines to respective attachment panels of the back panel;
- (g) wherein one of the top panels includes a tab and the other top panel does not include a tab;
- (h) wherein the flanges of the top panel that includes the tab extend to outer edges of the attachment panels and to the outer edge of such top panel;
- (i) wherein the flanges of the top panel that does not include a tab do not extend to outer edges of the attachment panels and do not extend to the outer edge of such top panel;
- and
- (j) wherein the flanges and tab are configured for locking of the top panels when the box cutout is folded into a box with the top panels in a closed position.
9 more elements
A method of transitioning a box from a first box configuration, in which the box is open, to a second box configuration, in which the box is closed, the box comprising a front connected to two front attachment panels, a back connected to two back attachment panels, first and second sides, a bottom, a first top panel connected to the front having flanges on opposite sides, each of the flanges being respectively connected to one of the front attachment panels, and a second top panel having flanges on opposite sides, each of the flanges being respectively connected to one of the back attachment panels;
- wherein one of the top panels includes a tab and the other top panel does not include a tab;
- wherein the flanges of the top panel that includes the tab extend to the outer edge of such top panel;
- wherein the flanges of the top panel that does not include a tab do not extend to the outer edge of such top panel;
- wherein the flanges and tab are configured to allow for the locking of the top panels in a closed configuration when the top panels are folded downward to cover a top opening of the box, the top opening being defined by the front, back, and first and second sides;
- and wherein the method comprises the steps of:
- (a) folding downwardly the first top panel of the box;
- (b) folding downwardly the second top panel of the box such that flanges of the second top panel overlie the first top panel and the tab of the second top panel overlies the first top panel;
- and
- (c) securing the first and second top panels of the box in a closed position by causing the tab to extend below the first top panel such that the first top panel is disposed in-between the tab and the flanges of the second top panel, with the tab abutting an underside of the first top panel and the flanges abutting a topside of the first top panel, resulting in a binding and consequent locking of the first and second top panels together in the closed position.
6 more elements
A box, comprising:
- (a) a front connected to two front attachment panels;
- (b) a back connected to two back attachment panels;
- (c) first and second sides;
- (d) a bottom;
- (e) a first top panel connected to the front having flanges on opposite sides, each of the flanges being respectively connected to one of the front attachment panels;
- and
- (f) a second top panel having flanges on opposite sides, each of the flanges being respectively connected to one of the back attachment panels;
- (g) wherein one of the top panels includes a tab and the other top panel does not include a tab;
- (h) wherein the flanges of the top panel that includes the tab extend to the outer edge of such top panel;
- (i) wherein the flanges of the top panel that does not include a tab do not extend to the outer edge of such top panel;
- and
- (j) wherein the flanges and tab are configured to allow for the locking of the top panels in a closed configuration when the top panels are folded downward to cover a top opening of the box, the top opening being defined by the front, back, and first and second sides.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.