Self-unlocking container closure

Claim 1

A blank for a container closure comprising a central panel, side panels connected to opposite sides of said central panels by first score lines, locking panels connected to each side of each side panel by second score lines, outer end panels connected to opposite ends of said central panel by third score lines, said second score lines being inset from said third score lines a distance substantially equal to the thickness of said locking panels, connecting panels connected to the outer ends of said outer end panels by fourth score lines, inner end panels connected to the outer ends of said connecting panels by fifth score lines, said connecting panels having a width substantially equal to the thickness of said locking panels, said outer end panel, said connecting panel and said inner end panel being wrapped around said locking panels when said side and end walls are held upright with respect to said central panel, means for temporarily locking said end walls in wrapped position around said locking panels, said locking means being formed in and hingedly joined to said central and said side panels and having a free edge adjacent to a plane passing through said third score line, said plane being perpendicular to said central panel, said adjacent free edge having at least one first point spaced from said plane a distance such that said first point will bear against an inner face of said inner end panel when said end panels are wrapped around said locking panels, said temporary locking means being formed in said central and side panels by a pair of slits extending transversely of said first score lines, and hinged to said central and side panels by sixth and seventh score lines, said sixth score line being in said side panel and said seventh score line being in said central panel, any second point on said seventh score line being a greater perpendicular distance from said first score line than a corresponding third point on said sixth score line, said temporary locking means being divided into a first locking means section in said side panel and a second locking means section in said central panel by an eighth score line, said eighth score line being aligned with said first score line, said sixth, seventh and eighth score lines if extended meeting in a common fourth point, said locking means being moveable back into the planes of the panels from which it is formed when said closure is telescoped on a container.