BOX CLOSURE CLIP

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for securing flaps of a cardboard box or cardboard shipping box. More specifically, the present invention relates to a specially designed closure clip that maintains the flaps of the cardboard box in a closed state without applying an adhesive tape thereto.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A cardboard box generally comprises four connected sidewalls forming sides of the cardboard box, and flaps extending from upper sides and bottom sides of the sidewalls. The flaps have sizes to partly overlap one another, and are folded to close the upper and bottom sides of the cardboard box. The flaps are secured together either by an adhesive tape or staples, or by alternately overlapping the flaps such that they remain relatively stable without the adhesive tape. The latter approach is less secure and used generally to secure the upper flaps together, while the flaps along the bottom of the box are generally taped or stapled together such that they can support the contents of the box without separating.

While this cardboard box assembly is well known and used in the art, there are several drawbacks in its construction. Namely, to assemble the cardboard box and ensure that it can support its contents, the flaps need to be taped or stapled together. This requires the use of adhesive tape or staple, which does not allow one to easily reopen the box after being secured, and further causes damage to the box when the tape is removed therefrom.

On the other hand, when overlapping the upper flaps as they are, the user is generally required to bend the flaps to secure the flaps in the correct position. This may lead to damage the box structure and can further result in tearing the flaps from the sidewalls during the act thereof.

In order to solve the above problems, box closure devices, such as USP 8,840,010, 8,998,071 and 10,526,108, were proposed and patented. However, the box closure devices proposed already are not satisfactory in securing the cardboard boxes.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

In order to solve the issues with the conventional closure devices, the present invention has been made, and an object of the invention is to provide a new and improved box closure clip that has all the advantages over the prior art.

Another object of the present invention is to provide the box closure clip that comprises a simple construction and a highly effective design for securing box flaps in a closed condition.

A further object of the present invention is to provide the box closure clip that is readily fabricated from materials that permit relative economy and are commensurate with durability.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the invention, a box closure clip for a box with flaps of the invention comprises an upper member configured to be placed on the box, and having a center member and two arm members integrally formed with the center member, each arm member extending rearwardly from each of outer ends of the center member; anchors configured to engage the box, each anchor being provided at a lower side of the upper member; and a lower member having a base portion connected to a center portion of the center member, and a tail portion spaced from the center portion and extending rearwardly from the base portion between the two arm members.

The box to be closed by the present invention has two end flaps folded first, and two upper or lateral flaps folded later over the two end flaps. The tail portion of the lower member is placed into a space between the lateral flaps and is pushed to be inserted beneath one of the end flaps. Thus, the upper member is located over the lateral flaps to thereby securely sandwich together between the lateral flaps and the one end flap.

In the invention, the upper members have downwardly projecting anchors to securely place the box closure clip over the closed box, and the lower member extends from the center to sandwich the box flaps therebetween.

In the invention, each of the anchors has a projection extending downwardly and forwardly from the arm member. Therefore, when the tail portion of the closure clip is inserted between the lateral flaps and slid beneath one of the end flaps, the projection engages the upper flap to securely attach the closure clip onto the box.

Since the projection extends downwardly and forwardly, the projection can be securely attached to the box. Also, when the closure clip is removed from the box, the closure clip is pushed in the opposite direction, i.e. forwardly, so that the closure clip can be easily removed from the box.

In the invention, each of the anchors is provided under the arm member near a distal end thereof. A plurality of anchors may be provided under the arm member.

In the invention, the center member extends substantially perpendicularly to the lower member and fixed to the base portion configured to be placed above the flaps of the box. Accordingly, the upper flaps can be securely placed over the end flap.

In the invention, the center member may not be placed substantially perpendicularly to the lower member. The center member may have a U-shape or semicircular shape, and attached to the lower member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a top isometric view of a closure clip of the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a bottom isometric view of the closure clip.

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the closure clip.

FIG. 4 shows an isometric view of a cardboard box, wherein the cardboard box is opened upwardly.

FIG. 5 shows an explanatory view of the closure clip installed on the cardboard box.

FIGS. 6-9 show explanatory views, in a cross section taken along a line 6-6 of FIG. 5, where the closure clip is being installed on the cardboard box.

FIG. 10 shows an isometric view of the installed closure clip with hidden lines.

FIG. 11 shows an isometric view of the closure clips installed in the cardboard box.

FIG. 12 shows a top view of the closure clips installed on the cardboard box.

FIGS. 13-15 show the closure clip being removed from the cardboard box, wherein FIGS. 13 and 15 are isometric views and FIG. 14 shows a cross sectional view of FIG. 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings.

The detailed description is exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the invention and uses. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented by the following detail.

FIG. 1 thru FIG. 3 show, respectively, an isometric top view, an isometric bottom view and a side view of a closure clip 1 of the invention. The closure clip 1 comprises two upper members 3 and one bottom member 4. The upper members 3 are disposed in a substantial V-shape in a common plane, and the lower member 4 extends therebetween from a common apex or center member 9 of the V-shape. Namely, the lower member 4 is disposed substantially bisects the V-shape.

A base portion 21 of the lower member 4 extends downward from the common apex or center member 9, while an arm portion 23 extends rearwardly therefrom. Each of the upper members 3 comprises a top surface 22 and a bottom surface 12 defining a minimal planar height, and a tapered width along each planar member length. In this way, the upper member 3 has an elongated shape, and the upper members 3 are arranged to form a substantially triangular shape.

Triangular shaped anchors or projections 13 protrude downward from the bottom surface 12 of each upper member 3 near the front face 14. Anchor edges 11 of the anchors 13 are angled backward toward the common apex 9.

FIG. 4 shows an isometric view of the cardboard box 2. The cardboard box 2 comprises two box sides 10 and two box ends 17, wherein upper sides comprise four box flaps, i.e. aligned two upper lateral flaps 15 and two upper end flaps 16. The cardboard box 2 also has two bottom lateral flaps and two bottom end flaps (not shown) which are connected together by an adhesive tape or staples.

FIG. 5 through FIG.12 show the cases where the closure clip 1 is being installed onto the cardboard box 2. Before the closure clip 1 is installed on the cardboard box, the flaps 15, 16 are bent and aligned such that the upper lateral flaps 15 are disposed over the upper end flaps 16.

When the cardboard box 2 thus bent is closed or fixed by the closure clip 1 of the invention, the arm portion 6 of the lower member 4 of the closure clip 1 is inserted below a front face 18 of the aligned lateral flaps 15, while front faces 14 of the upper members 3 are positioned along the top surfaces 18 of the two aligned lateral flaps 15. The closure clip 1 is then slid under the end flap 16 towards a box end.

As the front faces 14 of the upper members 3 side along the top surfaces 18 of the aligned lateral flaps 15, the top surface 6 on the lower member 4 catches the bottom surface 19 of the end flap 16. As the top surface 6 of the lower member 4 slides along the bottom surface 19 under the end flap 16, the upper members 3 are pushed downward making the bottom surfaces 12 of the upper members 3 contact the top surface 18 of the aligned lateral flaps 15.

At the same time, the anchor edges 11 on the anchors 13 contact the top surface 18 of the aligned lateral flaps 15. The angular direction of the anchor 13 acts as a spring, flexing the front end of the upper member 3 up from the top surface 18 of the aligned lateral flap 15. As the closure clip 1 continues to move forward until the locating surface 5 of the lower member 4 contacts the front face 20 of the end flap 16, the upper members 3 and the lower member 4 sandwich and secure the aligned lateral flaps 15 and the end flaps 16 together.

With the closure clip 1 located in position, the pressure is applied to the top surface 22 of the upper members 3 where the anchors 13 are located. The applied pressure causes the anchor edges 11 of the anchors 13 to pierce into the top surface 18 of the aligned lateral flaps 15. Pressure continues until the bottom surfaces 12 of the upper members 3 sit flush with the top surfaces 18 of the aligned lateral flaps 15. With the anchors 13 in their locked position, the aligned lateral flaps 15 cannot move in a longitudinal direction during the handling of the cardboard box 2.

FIG.13 through FIG.15 show cases when the closure clip 1 is being removed from the cardboard box 2. To remove the closure clip 1 from the cardboard box 2, at first, the bottom surfaces 12 near the front faces 14 of the upper members 3 are lifted upward until the anchor edges 11 of the anchors 13 have been removed from the top surfaces 18 of the aligned lateral flaps 15. With the anchors 13 lifted, the closure clip 1 slides towards the center of the cardboard box 2 until the top surface 6 of the lower member 4 moves past the bottom surface 19 of the end flap 16. Once past the end flap 16, the lower member 4 can be lifted up to remove between the front faces 21 of the lateral flaps 15. Therefore, the closure clip 1 can be removed from the cardboard box 2.

In the present invention, the closure clip 1 can be easily attached to and removed from the cardboard box 2.

While the invention has been explained with reference to the specific embodiment of the invention, the invention is not limited by the embodiment, and the invention is limited by the appended claims.