self-locking boxes

Abstract

The Self-locking boxes patent addresses an innovative improvement to the boxes. It is designed to provide both temporary and permanent closure options, with a primary focus on avoiding tampering and guaranteeing the security of deliveries. It is easy to stack, simple to build and does not require additional materials to be closed as the cardboard itself creates a self-locking seal. This enhanced self-locking box is specifically well-suited for the transport of food, especially pizza, where ensuring the recipient's confidence in being the initial opener of the box after sealing is of utmost importance. It can be built in different shapes and sizes and could have a QR code or other reference marks imprinted to identify the relevant shipment.

Description

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to boxes and specifically to boxes for delivering food.

They serve as packaging solutions for a diverse array of products, suitable for single-use scenarios without resealing or as durable storage containers for longer-term purposes.

The process involves initial printing if needed, followed by die-cutting and scoring to create a flat, unassembled template.

These templates are conveniently stored and transported before being assembled on-site when needed.

Some boxes are used to contain documents or products intended solely for the recipient, other boxes are intended for the transport of food.

The present invention improves the box concept by adding a new closure concept to it, so that the box can be closed temporarily or permanently.

Especially focusing on a called pizza box, also known as a pizza package, that is a foldable container typically crafted from corrugated cardboard, we must consider the protection of the food transported inside it.

It is designed to securely hold hot pizzas, or other kinds of food, for take-out purposes.

Moreover, the pizza box facilitates convenient home delivery and takeaway.

This packaging solution must possess notable durability, cost-effectiveness, stackability, thermal insulation to manage moisture levels, and appropriateness for transporting food.

Additionally, it also offers an area for promotional messages or instructions on how to assemble the box or other kind of information, for example but not limited to it the specification of the kind of pizza or food it contains.

The most common type of pizza box is made of corrugated cardboard, although other materials like plastic and aluminum are sometimes used.

The standard size of a pizza box is typically around 12-16 inches in diameter, although larger sizes can be found for bigger pizzas and smaller sizes for smaller pizzas.

The box is typically square or rectangular in shape, with flaps that fold over and secure the pizza inside.

The corrugated cardboard used in pizza boxes is often coated with a layer of wax or plastic to make it more resistant to grease and moisture.

This helps prevent the pizza from becoming soggy or the box from weakening and breaking during transport.

Some pizza boxes also feature vents to allow steam to escape.

Others have insulation to keep the pizza warm during transport.

Overall, pizza boxes are an important component of the pizza delivery process, helping to keep pizzas fresh and intact as they make their way from the pizzeria to the customer's doorstep.

There are several pizza box models, some of which have shown an improvement in the product in a specific aspect, such as the ventilation of the box, the possibility of better recycling of the box or its shape and structure (U.S. Pat. No. 5,423,477A by Michael Valdman and Michael Schum, U.S. Pat. No. 4,919,326A by Anthony J. Deiger, U.S. Pat. No. 4,441,626A by Robert E. Hall, U.S. Pat. No. 4,960,238A by Achim R. Lorenz, U.S. Pat. No. 5,549,241A by John D. Correll, U.S. Pat. No. 5,209,392A by Walter Anatro.)

There are also several examples of self-locking closures applied to boxes (U.S. Pat. No. 5,507,428A by H. English Robinson Jr., M. Lee Jones, U.S. Pat. No. 5,803,345A by M. Lee Jones, H. English Robinson, Jr., U.S. Pat. No. 5,350,108A by C. Edward Friar, M. Lee Jones, H. English Robinson, Jr., Douglas N. King, U.S. Pat. No. 1,108,464A by Fred W Morey, U.S. Pat. No. 4,516,718A by Hampton E. Forbes, Jr., U.S. Pat. No. 4,471,902A by Boyd T. Skaggs, U.S. Pat. No. 2,361,124A by Norbert A Ringholz, US20190100346A1 by Michel Bressan, Alessio Bressan, Alberto Gandolla, U.S. Pat. No. 3,949,931A by Richard A. Hall) and all of them are different in concept and methods.

Today, the use of food containers has spread more and more, prompting restaurateurs and pizzerias must resort to external delivery companies or, in other cases, the restaurateur relies on an independent third party whose job is to pick up the food from the restaurant and deliver it to the customer's home or wherever the customer has requested delivery.

Therefore, the restaurateur must rely on a third party to ensure the food is untouched, undamaged, and safely delivered to its customer.

In the delivery process, the restaurateur must ensure the food arrives intact and healthy. In addition, the delivery worker, or the delivery company, who has the task of transporting the food, must be protected from any complaints relating to the integrity of the food delivered.

The U.S. FDA protects public health and education to prevent contamination due to inappropriate food transportation methods.

All food containers must be manufactured in such a way as to guarantee the integrity of the transported food to the final consumer.

The point is that most of the already known containers are designed to be opened and closed at will.

Unfortunately, this aspect of the previous inventions fails to guarantee delivery optimization because every time the container opens, the hot air comes out, making the pizza cold and soggy, plus, the most critical detail in opening and closing the containers fails to guarantee the safety and hygiene of the food inside.

It is necessary to offer the consumer the guarantee that external agents do not contaminate the food.

Yet the restaurant or pizzeria responsible for the prepared food cannot ensure that no one has opened the container during transport before the consumer.

Whenever you open the container, you expose the food to contaminants like dust, soil, sand, bacteria, viruses, insects, and other contamination agents.

In addition, if the delivery operator is ill, his breath on the food can cause contamination.

His cough can even carry particles of saliva over the food, and even touching the food inside, or only the internal walls of the box, can cause contamination.

The present invention focuses on improving specific boxes, particularly cardboard pizza boxes, to ensure food delivery is intact and free from the abovementioned contaminations.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is to maintain the quality of the old packaging boxes, particularly corrugated cardboard pizza boxes.

Another object is to provide boxes that allow the delivery of the pizzas or food in a crisp and optimal state and without contaminations hazard.

Another object is to keep the simplicity of building several boxes with a simple and quick method, not to change the habits associated with previous known construction methods already known.

Another object of the invention is to ensure the customer is the first to open the container after the sender has closed it.

Another object of the invention is to guarantee the restaurateur that the food he prepares reaches his customers intact and uncontaminated by factors he cannot control.

Another object of the invention is to protect the delivery worker from any responsibility for the box's contents.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention refers to the field of boxes, with particular attention to pizza boxes.

In explaining a preferred embodiment of the invention depicted in the drawings, precise terminology will be used to ensure clarity.

Nonetheless, it should be noted that the invention is not meant to be restricted to the specific terms employed, and it is to be understood that each specific term encompasses all technical equivalents that function in a similar manner to achieve a similar objective.

Most pizza boxes are corrugated cardboard, one of the most accessible materials to recycle.

The pizza box configuration and structure can be used for packaging other kinds of products as well.

With the present invention, the self-locking box includes a safety seal that guarantees the impossibility of opening the same box during transport from the sender to the customer.

Specifically referring to a pizza box, it is usually formed by an upper panel and a lower panel, which creates a resealable box through a series of folding lines.

The methods for building a pizza box described in the prior art all lead to a final product with similar characteristics, meaning a corrugated cardboard box containing pizza or other kinds of food.

The invention can take on different embodiments, the purpose of which is to prevent it from being reopened and reclosed after being closed by the restaurateur.

In this invention, the security seal is part of the box, also to simplify the large-scale production of these containers.

The security seal consists in two portions of the box: 1) one closure panel comprising at least one locking tab, 2) one compartment room.

Some box configurations can include more security seals, also located in different areas of the box, improving the protection.

The security seal guarantees a self-closing mechanism so that once the box is permanently closed, it will no longer be openable during delivery.

This way, only the customer can open the box, applying a force on the upper part of the container, already prepared to be torn up, thanks to the hatching holes present on the upper part.

Once opened, the box remains visibly compromised: this aspect of the invention guarantees the impossibility of tampering during the transport process by anyone other than the final recipient of the product.

This way, the food can arrive from the sender to the receiver without contamination due to accidental or voluntary box opening.

Moreover, the customer can notice if the box has been opened before and, if so, refuse the delivery.

More importantly, no additional material is required to manufacture the self-locking box.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings are part of the present description and include examples of different kinds of this invention, which can be realized in several different shapes.

In some cases, various aspects of the invention may be shown to be exaggerated or not in the right proportion to facilitate understanding of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a blank for a kind of self-locking box.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the built self-locking box shown in FIG. 1, in an opened position.

FIG. 3 is a lateral section view showing how to temporarily close the self-locking box shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a lateral section view showing how to permanently close the self-locking box shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a section of the containment room as a portion of the self-locking box shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a section of the top panel and containment room in the process of temporarily closing of the self-locking box shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a section of the top panel and containment room in the process of permanently closing of the self-locking box shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a blank for a kind of self-locking box in which there are two closure panels comprising two locking tabs and two slots in the containment room.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a blank for a kind of self-locking box which has the closure panels and the corresponding containments rooms located in the lateral parts of the box.

FIG. 10 is a section's perspective view of a kind of self-locking box which has the closure panels and the corresponding containments rooms located in the lateral parts of the box.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates in general to self-locking boxes for packaging pizza or other kinds of food.

The innovation is also applicable to boxes containing other types of products.

These boxes are designed to ensure safe delivery to the recipient, excluding any tampering attempt.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved box by adding a safety seal, which avoids any tampering with the inside contents.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a self-locking box structure which can be easily and quickly assembled by one with the skill of the art.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a self-locking box structure having a closure panel comprising a locking tab insertable through a mating containment room to lock the box closed but not reopenable without visible damage to the box.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a self-locking box that prevents attempts to tamper with the locking tab of the box.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such a box structure whereupon the assembled box cannot be opened without separating the top panel from part of the box, thereby providing visible evidence of tampering.

In addition to those set forth above, other objects of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following disclosure.

Stated in broad terms, a self-locking box according to the present invention has at least one closure panel connected to a top panel for selectively closing a corresponding end of the box that comprises a containment room panel.

That closure panel comprises an external tongue called locking tab that can be folded inward or outward of the box.

Articulating the containment room panel, a slit will be formed in the upper part of the made containment room, allowing the closure panel to enter inside it, closing the box.

The locking tab may be inserted through the slit in two different ways, allowing the box to be reopenable or closing the box in a permanent way, as better detailed below.

When the box is permanently closed, any attempt to reopen it will cause obvious tampering with the box, guaranteeing the recipient of the internal contents the certainty that no one has opened the box before him.

In more detail, the self-locking box according to the present invention has the following particularities, illustrated in the relative drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the dashed lines (11, 12L and 12R) divide the top panel 10 from closure panel 13 and paired side panels 10L, 10R, while a semicircular cut line (70) and a punched line (14) and a cut line (70) divides the same top panel from central panel 50, and punched line 15 divides closure panel 13 into panels 13W and 13M.

Other dashed lines (23L, 23R, 21,) divide the bottom panel 20 from paired side panels 20L, 20R, and central panel 50, and one dashed line (24) and two cut lines (40L and 40R) divide the same bottom panel 20 from a containment room panel 26, in turn divided by two dashed lines (30 and 32) into three panels, 26W, 27, and 26M.

Corner tabs 50L and 26L are connected to the lateral panel 20L, and respectively foldable on the dashed lines 51L and 25L, and the corner tabs 50R and 26R are connected to the lateral panel 20R, and respectively foldable on the dashed lines 51R and 25R.

Corner tabs 50L and 50R are on the upper ends of the side panels 20L, 20R.

Corner tabs 26L, 26R are at opposite ends of the same side panels 20L, 20R.

All these corner tabs have the function of slotting, buttressing in, and supporting the lateral walls and corners of the self-locking box.

Corner tabs allow and cause the lateral panels 10L, 10R, 20L, 20R, to articulate with other panels and lock into a box configuration.

A pair of locking tabs, 60L and 60R, engage the cutouts at positions 40L and 40R, creating the containment room, while corner tabs 26L and 26R are captured between panels 26W and 26M, to lock the lateral panels 20L and 20R in their folded position 90 degrees up.

To fold and assemble the self-locking box use the following method: the side panels 20L and 20R are first folded upwardly and out of the plane of the paper at lines 23L and 23R, dragging with them in this shift the corner tabs 50L, 50R, 26L, 26R, that then are folded inwardly toward the center of the box.

Next, the whole containment room panel 26, divided into panels 26W, 27, and 26M, is folded in the scored line 24 upwardly out of the plane of the paper, and panels 27 and 26M together are folded 90 degrees along the scored line 30 inwardly, and where the punched line 31 is located, a linear cutout is created to provide a slot to receive the closing panel 13.

Then only panel 26M is folded downwardly along the scored line 32, blocking corner tabs 26L and 26R, rotated in the inside part of the containment room made, thanks to locking tabs 60L, 60R stuck into the cutouts 40L and 40R created in the bottom panel 20 (FIG. 5.)

Subsequently, central panel 50 is folded upwards at line 21, pushing and retaining inside the box the two corner panels 50L and 50R and forming the fourth lateral side of the self-locking box.

The two side panels 10L and 10R are folded towards the inside of the box while the entire top panel 10 is folded downwards in correspondence with line 14.

The side panels 10L, 10R begin to fit perfectly into the base of the self-locking box.

The rotation of the top panel 10 also creates a cutout, where the semicircular hole punched 70 is located, to provide a place where a person can place a fingernail for easy opening of the self-closing box.

At this point, folding the top panel 10 downwardly along line 14 makes it possible to close the self-locking box temporarily or permanently (FIG. 2.)

To close the self-locking box temporarily: it will be necessary to proceed by folding the whole closure panel 13 downwards by rotating it on line 11, then oppositely fold only panel 13M upwards and towards the outside of panel 13W.

This way, by closing the self-locking box and inserting the already folded closure panel 13 into the slit in panel 27, located in the upper part of the created containment room, panel 13M will contact panel 26W (FIGS. 3 and 6).

To close the self-locking box permanently: it will be necessary to proceed by folding the whole closure panel 13 downwards by rotating it on line 11, then by folding only panel 13M, upwards and inwards the panel 13W.

This way, by closing the self-locking box and inserting the already folded closure panel 13 in the slit present in panel 27, located in the upper part of the created containment room, panel 13W will contact panel 26W (FIGS. 4 and 7).

When the self-locking box is permanently closed, the only way to reopen it will be to insert a finger into the semicircular hole formed at point 70 and force the whole top panel 10 upwards, rotating it on line 11, to tear it away from the bottom of the box.

Line 14 is the only line deeply punched to facilitate opening the self-locking box.

Given this configuration it will be possible to create a self-locking box by adding the closure panel to any identifiable top panel of any box and adding a corresponding containment room panel to any identifiable bottom panel of the same box, so that the two parties can bind themselves in the temporary or permanent closure of the box.

In general: 1) the length of the slot is optional but its width must be at least equal to double the thickness of the cardboard, 2) the width of the closure panel must be slightly less than the length of the relevant slot, 3) the height of the closure panel must be equal to double the height of the containment room minus double the thickness of the cardboard, 4) the height of the locking tab must be equal to the height of the containment room minus double the thickness of the cardboard.

In the above specifications, it is understood that the definition of height of the containment room corresponds to its height measured from its external lateral part and it is inclusive of the thickness of the cardboard that compose it, therefore not corresponding to the height of its internal space.

It is also possible to have configurations with more than one locking tab (200 and 300) and more than one slot (220 and 320) in the same containment room (FIG. 8).

It is also possible to configure the self-locking box in such a way that the closure panels (401 plus 400 and 501 plus 500) are applied to the two lateral sides of the top panel (710) and the containment room panels (430 and 530) are applied to the two lateral sides of the bottom panel (FIG. 9), so that when the box is closed the corresponding two elements (closure panel and containment room panel) are coupled in the respective two sides of the box, allowing the box to close temporarily or permanently (FIG. 10 show how to close permanently.)

In this configuration (FIG. 9), the self-locking box construction method is different, following this process: first fold the end panel 800 upwardly and fold the end corner tabs 800L and 800R inwardly, then fold the containment room panels 430 and 530 upwardly and inwardly to create two lateral rooms in which lock the corner tabs 800L and 800R to articulate a box-base configuration (the same way as described in the aforesaid method but applied to the lateral parts of the self-locking box), this rotation also creates cutouts in the bottom panel for engaging the securing tabs into them to stabilize the box-base configuration, then fold the central corner tabs 900L and 900R inwardly and fold the central panel 750 upwardly, maintaining the corner tabs 900L and 900R inside the box-base configuration, proceed folding the closure panels 401 and 501 inwardly and fold the related locking tabs 400 and 500 outwardly or inwardly deciding to close the box temporarily or permanently, then fold the top panel 710 downwardly until the point to match the closure panels 401 and 501 and the related locking tabs 400 and 500 with the created containment rooms 430 and 530 and start inserting both the closure panels and the locking tabs in a V shape configuration into the slots present on the upper part of the containment rooms, fold the up panel 700 inwardly, the way it can gradually approach the end panel 800 and push down the entire top panel 710, until the up panel 700 meets the end panel 800, proceed to close the self-locking box, pushing the top panel 710 down and forcing the up panel 700 inside the box, allowing all the lateral closure tabs and locking tabs to completely slide inside the relating slots (FIG. 10.)

It is also possible to configure a self-locking box in such a way that there are more closure panels and more containment room panels, adaptable to the different shapes of the box and therefore applicable in different parts of it, always in such a way that the two elements are coupled, ensuring the temporary or permanent closure of the box.

For example, but not limited to it, in some models of self-locking box, it may be necessary to provide more than one closure panel (200 and 300) connected to the top panel and equivalent number of slots (220 and 320) on the containment rooms panel (FIG. 8).

The size and/or shape of the self-locking box may vary depending on the type of product that it contains inside.

The numbers and/or the location and/or the proportions of all the elements shown in the relative figures are only indicative and can vary according to specific needs.

For example, but not limited to, in another kind of self-locking box configuration could be present more than one semicircular hole 70 in the central panel and/or the same could be in a lateral part of the structure, and/or the same could be bigger or smaller than the visual description of the drawing.

Each self-locking box could have a unique QR code imprinted to identify the product contained and be tracked during the delivery process, especially if it contains products that require this additional service.

All these descriptions must be understood as descriptive of this idea of a self-locking box concept and not limited to the single images shown.

SEQUENCE LISTENING

Not applicable

Claims

1. A self-locking box comprising the following elements: a. A top panel comprises two lateral panels and a closure panel.b. A locking tab connected to the closure panel.c. A bottom panel comprises two side panels and one central panel.d. A containment room panel that creates, when articulated, a containment room having at least one slit in its upper part.e. Corner tabs connected to side panels, enabling articulation and locking the side panels to form a box configuration.f. Securing tabs connected to the containment room panel, engaging cutouts present in the bottom panel to create a containment room and capturing folding corner tabs to lock the side panels in a folded position.

2. The self-locking box according to claim 1, wherein the locking tab is foldable inward or outward, and wherein closure panel and locking tab are configured to be inserted into the slot, allowing for either temporary or permanent closure of the box.

3. The self-locking box according to claim 2, further comprising at least one semicircular hole punch on the central panel to facilitate easy opening.

4. The self-locking box according to claim 2, wherein tampering with the box when in a permanently closed state results in visible damage.

5. The self-locking box according to claim 2, wherein proportions and/or numbers and/or locations of box elements can change based on specific packaging needs.

6. The self-locking box according to claim 2, wherein said box is designed to securely package food items.

7. The self-locking box according to claim 2, further comprising graphical markings or printed instructions on the box to guide users in proper assembly, and/or close, and/or open the box.

8. The self-locking box according to claim 2, made in a different material that can be managed for building a box.

9. The self-locking box according to claim 2, further comprising a QR code printed in a part of it.

10. A method for assembling the self-locking box according to claim 2: a. fold side panels upwardly.b. fold corner tabs inwardly.c. fold the containment room panel upwardly and inwardly to create a room in which lock the corner tabs to articulate a box-base configuration, this rotation also creates cutouts in the bottom panel.d. engage the securing tabs in the cutouts to stabilize the box-base configuration.e. fold the central panel upwardly maintaining the corner tabs inside the box-base configuration.f. Fold lateral panels inwardly, the way they can slide inside the box-base and start to push down the entire top panels.g. fold closure panel downwardly.h. fold the locking tab outwardly or inwardly, deciding to close the box temporarily or permanently.i. Close the self-locking box inserting both the closure panel and locking tab into the slot present in the upper part of the containment room.

11. A self-locking box comprising the following elements: a. Atop panel comprises two lateral closure panels and an up panel.b. Locking tabs connected to the lateral closure panels.c. A bottom panel comprises one central panel and two lateral containment room panels each one comprises one central corner tabs.d. An end panel comprises two end corner tabs.e. Securing tabs connected to the containment room panels engaging cutouts present in the bottom panel to create two containment room and capturing the end corner tabs to lock the end panel in a folded position.

12. The self-locking box according to claim 11, wherein the locking tabs are foldable inward or outward and wherein closure panels and locking tabs are configured to be inserted into the related slots, allowing for either temporary or permanent closure of the box.

13. The self-locking box according to claim 12, further comprising at least one semicircular hole punch on the central panel to facilitate easy opening.

14. The self-locking box according to claim 12, wherein tampering with the box when in a permanently closed state results in visible damage.

15. The self-locking box according to claim 12, wherein proportions and/or numbers and/or locations of box elements can change based on specific packaging needs.

16. The self-locking box according to claim 12, wherein said box is designed to securely package food items.

17. The self-locking box according to claim 12, further comprising graphical markings or printed instructions on the box to guide users in proper assembly, and/or close and/or open the box.

18. The self-locking box according to claim 12, made in a different material that can be managed for building a box.

19. The self-locking box according to claim 12, further comprising a QR code printed in a part of it.

20. A method for assembling the self-locking box according to claim 12: a. Fold the end panel upwardly.b. Fold the end corner tabs inwardly.c. Fold the containment room panels upwardly and inwardly to create two lateral rooms in which lock the end corner tabs to articulate a box-base configuration, this rotation also creates cutouts in the bottom panel.d. Engage the securing tabs in the cutouts to stabilize the box-base configuration.e. Fold the central corner tabs inwardly.f. Fold the central panel upwardly maintaining the central corner tabs inside the box-base configuration.g. Fold the closure tabs inwardly.h. Fold the locking tabs outwardly or inwardly, deciding to close the box temporarily or permanently.i. Fold the top panel downwardly until the point to match the closure panels with the containment rooms.j. Start inserting both the closure panels and the locking tabs into the containment rooms, sliding into the slots present on the upper part of them.k. Fold the up panel inwardly, in the way it can go to paralleling approach the end panel.l. Push gradually down the entire top panel, until the up panel meets the end panel.m. Close the self-locking box, pushing the top panel down forcing the up panel inside the box, allowing all the lateral closure panels and locking tabs to completely slide inside the relating slots.