EP3209572B1 - Box with a security feature - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a box according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such a box is from the EP 2 354 020 B1 known. It is provided with a lid, preferably with a Einsteckdeckel, for closing an opening, as well as with at least one hinged to a side wall of the box side flap, which is folded in the closed state of the lid in the opening and under the lid. To indicate a first opening of the box, at least one guarantee tongue is formed on the lid. The side flap is provided with a retaining opening into which the guarantee tongue in the closed state of the lid can be inserted.

However, such a box has the disadvantage that when first opening the guarantee tongue hooked in the retaining opening and ruptures a predetermined breaking point. When the box is closed again, however, the lid and the guarantee tongue come into contact again at the predetermined breaking point, so that it is not possible for an observer to distinguish at first sight whether the box has already been opened or not.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a box of the type mentioned, which does not have these disadvantages and in particular allows a fast and reliable detection of an already opened box.

This object is achieved with a box having the features of claim 1.

The guarantee tongue and the retaining opening are matched to one another in such a way that, when the cover is opened, the guarantee tongue is durable on the side flap and translationally and rotationally movable relative to the cover and at least partially unretractively movable and can be torn off the cover.

Due to the translational and rotational at least partially unrestricted movement, the guarantee tongue has a different position when reclosing the box than before opening. In particular, thus an immediate detection of an already opened box is possible because the position of the guarantee tongue after opening does not coincide with the position before opening and therefore a first opening is immediately recognizable.

The said movement includes a pure rotation of the guarantee tongue to a fixed relative to the side flap pivot point. Said movement also includes a translation of the guarantee tongue relative to the side flap, whereby their mutual orientation remains the same. According to the invention, a combination of a translational and a rotational movement takes place. It is only important that the movement is at least partially unrestricted, so that a first opening of the box can be easily determined. The translational and rotational movement leads to a tearing off of the guarantee tongue. These diverse design options allow a great deal of flexibility in adapting the box to a particular application.

The guarantee tongue is preferably cut out of the cover, in particular articulated on the cover by way of a weakening line, whereby when the cover is opened, the guarantee tongue tears at least in places on the weakening line.

This preferred embodiment allows a simple construction of a single piece of lidding material. Through the weakening line a weakening point is formed, which can favor the tearing of the guarantee tongue when opening. As a line of weakness in particular scratches, creases, pre-perforated areas and combinations thereof are in question. Particularly preferably, the guarantee tongue is hinged on a scratching on the lid, so that it is connected only via a thin layer of lid material with the rest of the lid. When opening the box so only this thin layer must be torn. This can be an opening resistance in a simple manner.

A further preferred embodiment provides that the guarantee tongue is arranged on one side of the lid such that a side edge of the guarantee tongue coincides with a side edge of the lid. Thus, the surface of the lid is slightly reduced after opening only in the edge region, whereby the stability and rigidity of the box is ensured, especially if the underlying retaining opening is also arranged in this area. An arrangement elsewhere is quite possible.

The guarantee tongue preferably has, starting from the weakening line to the side edge, mutually diverging cut-out courses. This ensures that when inserting the guarantee tongue into the retaining opening, the guarantee tongue can grip behind the side flap well and thus a good anchoring effect is achieved.

The cutouts preferably have an S-shaped profile. An S-shaped course has proven particularly useful, since in the area of the curvature change, the guarantee tongue canted when opening in the retaining opening and slide along it can, wherein due to the opening of the lid, a rotation of the guarantee tongue takes place.

The retaining opening is preferably cut out of the side flap in such a way that a hinge section hinged to the side flap remains in the retaining opening. In such an embodiment, no material waste remains when cutting or punching.

Further, the outwardly facing surface of the hinge portion (12) to achieve a contrast effect may be at least partially colored with a signal color. As a result, after a first opening of the box, the signal color is visible, whereby the detection of an already opened box is facilitated.

However, the said surface of the joint portion (12) can also be provided with a single character or a sequence of characters, in particular with letters, a pictogram, a pattern or with another symbol, which makes a first-time opening of the box particularly easily recognizable.

The retaining opening preferably has, starting from a folded edge of the side flap, initially a straight course followed by a bent portion. As a result of this embodiment of the retaining opening, an abutment edge for the guarantee tongue is created, in particular by the bent portion, so that it is rotated in the plane of the side flap when the box is opened.

Preferably, when opening the lid of the hinge portion is at least partially disassembled. This is particularly advantageous if, as already mentioned above, the joint portion with a Signal color or special characters is provided, so that, for example, information for a user only after the first opening of the box visible.

Preferably, a guarantee tongue is formed on two opposite sides of the lid and arranged on two opposite sides of the opening depending on a side flap, each with a retaining opening. Such a configuration is particularly suitable for increasing the security of the box. Since a guarantee tongue is arranged on both sides, it is not possible for such a box to reach its contents without first opening it being possible to ascertain.

The box is preferably made by punching, folding and gluing operations. This is advantageous in particular if the box is made from a single material blank. Box of several blanks are also conceivable.

The box is preferably made of cardboard or a cardboard laminate. Also possible are boxes made of a plastic material or metal. It is only important that the guarantee tongue is designed so that it can be inserted and tears when opening.

Figur 1:

Einen Zuschnitt für eine erfindungsgemässe Schachtel vor dem Aufrichten und Verkleben;

Figur 2:

Eine aus dem Zuschnitt gemäss Figur 1 hergestellte Schachtel in perspektivischer Darstellung mit geöffnetem Deckel;

Figur 3:

Die Schachtel gemäss der Figur 2 mit geschlossenem Deckel und noch nicht eingesteckten Garantiezungen;

Figur 4:

Eine Draufsicht auf die Schachtel gemäss Figur 3 mit eingesteckten Garantiezungen;

Figur 5:

Die Schachtel aus den vorherigen Figuren nach einem erstmaligen Öffnen des Deckels;

Figur 6:

Eine Draufsicht auf die Schachtel gemäss Figur 5 mit erneut geschlossenem Deckel.

Further advantages and individual features of the invention will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment in conjunction with the drawings. Show it:

FIG. 1:

A blank for a box according to the invention before erecting and gluing;

FIG. 2:

One from the blank according FIG. 1 produced box in perspective with opened lid;

FIG. 3:

The box according to the FIG. 2 with lid closed and not yet inserted guarantee tongues;

FIG. 4:

A plan view of the box according to FIG. 3 with inserted guarantee tongues;

FIG. 5:

The box from the previous figures after a first opening of the lid;

FIG. 6:

A plan view of the box according to FIG. 5 with the lid closed again.

In FIG. 1 a blank 16 is shown for a box according to the invention. Said blank has various individual sections which form the side walls, the side flaps and the lids of the box.

The individual sections are delimited by creases. These creases form the fold lines when erecting the box. The box consists of the four side walls 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d, wherein on the side wall 4d an adhesive flap 17 is arranged. The box also has two covers 2a and 2b which are arranged on the side walls 4b and 4d such that in the erected state of the box they are hinged to the opposite sides of the box. Each lid is provided with an insertion tongue 18a and 18b. On the side walls 4a and 4c, respectively, the side plates 5a, 5a 'and 5b, 5b' are arranged.

The guarantee tongues 6 on the two lids each have s-shaped cut-outs 11 and 11 ', which are designed as a cutting line and starting from a line of weakness 8 divergent from each other.

At the side flaps articulated sections 12 are cut out, which are connected via a grooving 19 with the side flap. The hinge portions 12 later form the retaining openings 7. For this reason, the joint portions of the shape of the guarantee tongues 6 are adjusted accordingly.

The blank 16 is erected in a known manner to a cuboid box 1, as in the Figures 2 . 3 and 5 you can see. The glue flap is glued to the inside of the side wall 4a. The lid 2b is already inserted and forms the bottom of the box. 1

In the FIG. 2 the lid 2a is open and the side flaps 5a and 5b folded so that the opening 3 of the box 1 is partially released. This condition can be found after filling the box 1 with a content.

The insertion cover 2a is closed as in the FIG. 3 shown. The guarantee tongues 6 have not yet been activated. It should also be noted that a side edge 9 of the guarantee tongue 6 coincides with a side edge 10 of the lid 2.

After closing the box 1, the guarantee tabs can be activated, as in the FIG. 4 shown. In this case, the guarantee tongue 6 must be inserted into the retaining opening 7. The guarantee tongue 6 is deflected by the weakening line 8, so that the underlying joint portion 12 is also deflected around the groove 19. Consequently fall the side edge 9 of the guarantee tongue 6 and the side edge 10 of the lid 2 no longer together. The guarantee tongue 6 engages behind the side flap 5 in the region of the cutouts 11 and 11 'and is in a retaining position. By deflecting the joint portion 12 and the retaining opening is at least partially exposed.

When the box 1 is opened for the first time, the guarantee tongue 6 hooks into the retention opening 7. The guarantee tongue 6 is rotated and torn off from the cover 2 by the shape of the guarantee tongue 6 and the retention opening 7 adapted to each other. For this purpose, the retaining opening 7 has a short cutting line 20 and a long cutting line, the long cutting line being composed of a straight section 14 followed by a bent section 15. Through this course of the cutting lines, the guarantee tongue 6 can be guided and rotated when opening the box 1.

Since the weakening line 8 is formed as a score, the guarantee tongue 6 is connected to the lid 2 only by a thin layer of cutout material. When opening a force is first transferred to the guarantee tongue 6 and the guarantee tongue 6 moves until it hooks in the retaining hole 7 and finally tears from the lid 2. This remain on the guarantee tongue 6, as in the FIG. 5 shown remainders 21 of the thin layer of cutting material, which originally connected the guarantee tongue 6 with the lid 2.

The dark portions 22, which correspond to the missing remnants 21, have a curved course, which is due to the rotation of the security tongue 6. In the FIG. 6 a box 1 is shown, which has been closed again after a first opening. Visible are both joint sections 12, which in the in the FIG. 4 box 1 were not yet visible. The joint portions 12 are preferably colored with a signal color, so that a recognition of an already opened box 1 at first glance is possible. Parts of the guarantee tongue 6, which remains in the retaining opening 7, are also visible.

Claims (12)

1. Box (1), in particular a folding box, having a lid (2), preferably having an insert lid, for closing an opening (3), and having at least one lateral lug (5) which is articulated on a side wall (4) of the box (1) and which in the closed state of the lid (2) is folded inward into the opening (3) and lies below the lid (2), wherein at least one guarantee tab (6) for indicating an initial opening of the box (1) is configured on the lid (2), and wherein the lateral lug (5) is provided with a retention opening (7) into which the guarantee tab (6) in the closed state of the lid (2) is insertable,
   characterized in that
   the guarantee tab (6) and the retention opening (7) are mutually adapted in such a manner that the guarantee tab (6) when opening the lid (2) is capable of being torn off from the lid so as to be capable of being held on the lateral lug (5) and movable relative to the lid (2) in a translatory and rotary manner that is at least partially non-reversible.
2. Box (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the guarantee tab (6) is cut out from the lid (2) and is articulated on the lid (2) in particular by way of a weakening line (8), wherein the guarantee tab (6) when opening the lid (2) tears the weakening line (8) at least in regions.
3. Box (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guarantee tab (6) is disposed on a side of the lid (2) in such a manner that a lateral edge (9) of the guarantee tab (6) coincides with a lateral edge (10) of the lid (2).
4. Box (1) according to Claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the guarantee tab (6) proceeding from the weakening line (8) up to the lateral edge (9) has mutually diverging cut-out profiles (11, 11').
5. Box (1) according to Claim 4, characterized in that the cut-out profiles (11, 11') have an S-shaped profile.
6. Box (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the retention opening (7) is cut out from the lateral lug (5) in such a manner that an articulated portion (12) that is articulated on the lateral lug (5) remains in the retention opening (7).
7. Box (1) according to Claim 6, characterized in that for achieving a contrasting effect the outwardly directed face of the articulated portion (12) is at least partially coloured by way of a high-visibility colour.
8. Box (1) according to Claim 7, characterized in that the retention opening (7), proceeding from a folded edge (13) of the lateral lug (5), first has a straight profile (14) followed by a curved portion (15).
9. Box (1) according to Claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the articulated portion (12) when opening the lid (2) is capable of being at least partially exposed.
10. Box (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in each case one guarantee tab (6, 6') is configured on two mutually opposite sides of the lid (2), and in that in each case one lateral lug (5, 5') having in each case one retention opening (7, 7') is disposed on two mutually opposite sides of the opening (3).
11. Box (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said box (1) is a folding box that by way of punching, folding and adhesive operations has been produced from a single material blank.
12. Box (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said box (1) is composed of cardboard or of a laminated cardboard.

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