Flap closure for containers

Claim 2

A closure device for holding a hinged flap of a container in a closed position comprising: a flexible, elongated strap having an enlarged locking head on one end thereof of greater width than said strap and extending transversely with respect thereto for insertion through a receiving aperture in a container closure flap; and a locking tongue on the opposite end portion of said strap for insertion in a receiving slot in a container, said tongue extending substantially longitudinally of said strap and comprising a length of material displaced from said strap and having a free end directed towards said enlarged locking head, and said locking tongue being attached to said strap along a juncture line extending substantially transversely of said strap at a location between said free end of said tongue and the outer edge of said opposite end portion of said strap.

Claim 3

A closure device as defined in claim 1 wherein: said locking tongue is attached to said strap at said juncture line by an interconnecting shoulder portion angularly disposed with respect to said strap, said shoulder portion serving to hold said tongue at a permanently offset position from said strap at a spaced apart location with respect thereto.

Claim 4

A closure device as defined in claim 2, and further including: a raised rib extending lengthwise on said tongue and having a base end securely joined to said opposite end portion of said strap, said rib serving to strengthen said tongue and to assist in holding said tongue in said offset position.

Claim 5

A closure device as defined in claim 1, and further including: at least one elongated, raised rib on said strap extending lengthwise on said opposite end portion thereof both forwardly and rearwardly of said juncture line and thereby serving to prevent flexing of said strap along said juncture line and the resultant displacement of said tongue when it is engaged in a slot in a container.

Claim 6

A closure device as defined in claim 1, and further including: a pair of elongated, raised ribs on said strap extending lengthwise on said opposite end portion of said strap both forwardly and rearwardly of said juncture line at laterally spaced locations on opposite sides of said juncture line.

Claim 7

A closure device as defined in claim 1 wherein: a raised detent is formed on said free end of said tongue on the side thereof facing towards said elongated strap.

Claim 8

A closure device as defined in claim 1 wherein: said enlarged locking head extends transversely of said strap on both sides thereof and defines therewith a substantially T-shaped end on said strap.

Claim 9

On a fiberboard box having a pair of opposed closure flaps hingedly attached to parallel edges of the box and foldable inwardly towards each other to a box closing position, improved closure means releasably holding said closure flaps in said box closing position comprising: there being a first slot in one of said closure flaps adjacent one end thereof and in proximity to the inner, free edge thereof; there being a second slot in one wall of said box adjacent one edge thereof which is one of the edges cooperating to define an open end of said box closed by said closure flaps, and said one wall of said box extending at substantially right angles to the plane in which said flaps are disposed in said box closing position; and a flexible, elongated closure strap having an enlarged locking head at one end thereof restrainably engaged within said first slot and extending therefrom over said one edge of said box wall in overlying relation to said wall, said strap having a locking tongue adjacent the opposite end portion thereof which is restrainably engaged in said second slot, said tongue comprising a length of material integral with said strap and attached thereto along a juncture line extending transversely of said strap, and said tongue extending from said juncture line towards said enlarged locking head and terminating at a free end inserted within said second slot.

Claim 10

On a fiberboard box having a pair of opposed closure flaps hingedly attached to parallel edges of the box and foldable inwardly towards each other to a box closing position, improved closure means releasably holding said closure flaps in said box closing position comprising: there being a first slot in one of said closure flaps adjacent one end thereof and in proximity to the inner, free edge thereof; there being a second slot in one wall of said box adjacent one edge thereof which is one of the edges cooperating to define an open end of said box closed by said closure flaps, and said one wall of said box extending at substantially right angles to the plane in which said flaps are disposed in said box closing position; and a flexible, elongated closure strap having an enlarged locking head at one end thereof restrainably engaged within said first slot and extending therefrom over said one edge of said box wall in overlying relation to said wall, said strap having a locking tongue adjacent the opposite end portion thereof which is restrainably engaged in said second slot, said tongue comprising a length of material integral with said strap and attached thereto along a juncture line extending transversely of said strap, and said tongue extending from said juncture line towards said enlarged locking head and terminating at a free end inserted within said second slot.

Claim 11

A fiberboard box and closure means as defined in claim 8 wherein: there being a third slot is located at the other one of said closure flaps adjacent the same end thereof as said first slot and in proximity to the inner free edge thereof, said third slot being closer to said one wall of said box than said first slot, and said inner edges of said closure flaps being disposed in overlapping relation to each other when said flaps are folded to said box closing position, whereby one or the other of said closure flaps may be folded on top of the other and said third slot selectively utilized to receive said enlarged locking head of said closure strap to permit a looser fit of said closure strap on said box, and thereby to accommodate the expansion of the walls of said box when it is in a fully loaded condition.

Claim 12

A fiberboard box and closure means as defined in claim 8 wherein: said second slot in said wall of said box is formed by striking a tab from said box wall and folding said tab inwardly along a hinge line where said tab joins said wall, said tab being folded inwardly to a position wherein it is in overlying relation to the inner surface of said box wall; and a raised detent on said free end of said locking tongue on the side thereof facing towards said elongated strap, said detent being restrainably engaged with the inner edge of said tab when said locking tongue is engaged within said second slot.

Claim 13

A fiberboard box and closure means as defined in claim 8 wherein: said locking tongue is attached to said strap at said juncture line by an interconnecting shoulder portion angularly disposed with respect to said strap, said shoulder serving to hold said tongue at a permanently offset position from said strap at a spaced apart location with respect thereto.

Claim 14

A fiberboard box and closure means as defined in claim 8, and further including: at least one elongated, raised rib on said strap extending lengthwise on said opposite end portion thereof both forwardly and rearwardly of said juncture line and thereby serving to prevent flexing of said strap along said juncture line and the resultant displacement of said tongue from engagement with said second slot in said box wall.

Claim 15

A fiberboard box and closure means as defined in claim 8 wherein: said enlarged locking head on said closure strap is of greater width than said strap and extends transversely thereof, whereby said locking head defines with said strap a substantially T-shaped end on said strap, said T-shaped end being oriented transversely of said first slOt.

Claim 16

A closure device for holding a hinged flap of a container in a closed position comprising: a flexible, elongated strap having an enlarged locking head at one end thereof for insertion through a receiving aperture in a container closure flap; and a locking tongue adjacent the opposite end portion of said strap for insertion in a receiving slot in a container, said tongue comprising a length of material displaced from said strap and attached thereto along a juncture line extending transversely of said strap, said tongue extending longitudinally of said strap from said juncture line towards said enlarged locking head and terminating at a free end, and said tongue being attached to said strap at said juncture line by an interconnecting shoulder portion angularly disposed with respect to said strap, said shoulder serving to hold said tongue at a permanently offset position from said strap at a spaced apart location with respect thereto.

Claim 17

A closure device for holding a hinged flap of a container in a closed position comprising: a flexible, elongated strap having an enlarged locking head at one end thereof for insertion through a receiving aperture in a container closure flap; and a locking tongue adjacent the opposite end portion of said strap for insertion in a receiving slot in a container, said tongue comprising a length of material displaced from said strap and attached thereto along a juncture line extending transversely of said strap, said tongue extending longitudinally of said strap from said juncture line towards said enlarged locking head and terminating at a free end, and said tongue being attached to said strap at said juncture line by an interconnecting shoulder portion angularly disposed with respect to said strap, said shoulder serving to hold said tongue at a permanently offset position from said strap at a spaced apart location with respect thereto.