Box Closure Clip

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

thrushow, respectively, an isometric top view, an isometric bottom view and a side view of a closure clipof the invention. The closure clipcomprises two upper membersand one bottom member. The upper membersare disposed in a substantial V-shape in a common plane, and the lower memberextends therebetween from a common apex or center memberof the V-shape. Namely, the lower memberis disposed substantially bisects the V-shape.

A base portionof the lower memberextends downward from the common apex or center member, while an arm portionextends rearwardly therefrom. Each of the upper memberscomprises a top surfaceand a bottom surfacedefining a minimal planar height, and a tapered width along each planar member length. In this way, the upper memberhas an elongated shape, and the upper membersare arranged to form a substantially triangular shape.

Triangular shaped anchors or projectionsprotrude downward from the bottom surfaceof each upper membernear the front face. Anchor edgesof the anchorsare angled backward toward the common apex.

shows an isometric view of the cardboard box. The cardboard boxcomprises two box sidesand two box ends, wherein upper sides comprise four box flaps, i.e. aligned two upper lateral flapsand two upper end flaps. The cardboard boxalso has two bottom lateral flaps and two bottom end flaps (not shown) which are connected together by an adhesive tape or staples.

through FIG.show the cases where the closure clipis being installed onto the cardboard box. Before the closure clipis installed on the cardboard box, the flaps,are bent and aligned such that the upper lateral flapsare disposed over the upper end flaps.

When the cardboard boxthus bent is closed or fixed by the closure clipof the invention, the arm portionof the lower memberof the closure clipis inserted below a front faceof the aligned lateral flaps, while front facesof the upper membersare positioned along the top surfacesof the two aligned lateral flaps. The closure clipis then slid under the end flaptowards a box end.

As the front facesof the upper membersside along the top surfacesof the aligned lateral flaps, the top surfaceon the lower membercatches the bottom surfaceof the end flap. As the top surfaceof the lower memberslides along the bottom surfaceunder the end flap, the upper membersare pushed downward making the bottom surfacesof the upper memberscontact the top surfaceof the aligned lateral flaps.

At the same time, the anchor edgeson the anchorscontact the top surfaceof the aligned lateral flaps. The angular direction of the anchoracts as a spring, flexing the front end of the upper memberup from the top surfaceof the aligned lateral flap. As the closure clipcontinues to move forward until the locating surfaceof the lower membercontacts the front faceof the end flap, the upper membersand the lower membersandwich and secure the aligned lateral flapsand the end flapstogether.

With the closure cliplocated in position, the pressure is applied to the top surfaceof the upper memberswhere the anchorsare located. The applied pressure causes the anchor edgesof the anchorsto pierce into the top surfaceof the aligned lateral flaps. Pressure continues until the bottom surfacesof the upper memberssit flush with the top surfacesof the aligned lateral flaps. With the anchorsin their locked position, the aligned lateral flapscannot move in a longitudinal direction during the handling of the cardboard box.

FIG.through FIG.show cases when the closure clipis being removed from the cardboard box. To remove the closure clipfrom the cardboard box, at first, the bottom surfacesnear the front facesof the upper membersare lifted upward until the anchor edgesof the anchorshave been removed from the top surfacesof the aligned lateral flaps. With the anchorslifted, the closure clipslides towards the center of the cardboard boxuntil the top surfaceof the lower membermoves past the bottom surfaceof the end flap. Once past the end flap, the lower membercan be lifted up to remove between the front facesof the lateral flaps. Therefore, the closure clipcan be removed from the cardboard box 2.

In the present invention, the closure clipcan be easily attached to and removed from the cardboard box.

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.