US1697360A - Box closure - Google Patents

Description

S. C. HUFFMAN BOX CLOSURE Jan. 1, 1929. 1,697,360

Filed March 17, 1927 Patented Jan. 1, 1929.

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iterate at g a BOX CLOSURE.

Application filed March 17, 1927. Serial No. 176,117.

My invention relates to box closures and its object is the provision of a closure of extreme simplicity for automatically latching the lid when the lid is closed, the device being it so constructed that it entirely covers the seam in the lid to exclude dust and vermin fro-m the box and the latch being so constructed that it is easily operable when opening the box. A further object of my invention is to provide a closure which. reinforces and strengthens the box.

Having in view these objects and others which will be pointed out in the following description, I will now refer to the drawings,

in which Figure 1 is a view in perspective of the box having my closure thereon.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view in perspective showing one end of the closure and showing the latching members at one end of the box.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view through a portion of the lid of the box.

Figure 4 is a transverse. sectional view through a portion of the box showing my latching device secured thereto and showing the lid in slightly spaced relation to the box.

Figure 5 is a view in perspective of a modified form of the latching device.

The box itself is preferably made from fiber board or car-board of suitable weight slitting and by folding the various parts to gether so as to form a box having a rectangular base. The lid is preferably formed by slitting the material of the box at the corners .so as to provide two end flaps 10 and two side flaps 11 and 11". In the closing of the box the end flaps 10 are first folded down and then the side flaps 11 and 11 are folded down in succession over the end flaps 10. Thus far the box is very effective for ,the storage of papers or other articles but an open seam is left between the inner edges of the side flaps 11 and 11. \Vithout a suitable latching device the side flaps 11 and 11 would tend to be forced up toward their open position. My closure and latching device are designed for completely closing the seam between the inner edges of the flaps 11 and 11 closed positions.

The reinforcing strip at 12 for closing the and for firmly latching these flaps in their be fitted over theedge of the flap 11. It is secured tothe flap 11 by means of rivets 13 or the like and when it is thus secured, the edge portion of the flap 11 is compressed as shown in Figure '3 so as to make the upper surface of the strip 12 continuous with the upper surface of the flap 11 The strip 12 is preferably made from any suitable sheet metal such as sheet steel of lightgauge. Its free edge is offset as shown in Figure 3 so that it will fold down over the free edge of the flapl'l in'such away that its upper surface will be practically continuous with the upper surface of the flap 11 By thus folding the strip 12 at its free edge I avoid all cut and rough edges which might cause trouble in the use of the box. The only cut edges in the strip 12 are embedded in the material of the flap 11. v

The strip 12 is preferably made from a material which is more or less resilient. The end portions of the strip are bent downwardly and outwardly so as to form tongues 14 as best shown in Figure 4. These tongues have hooked ends which are directed outwardly and slightly upwardly. On the box itself and in line with the tongues 14 I secure resilient devices for engaging the hooks on the ends of the tongues 14. As best shown in Figure 4 the engaging device consists of a plate 15 of resilient metal which is dou- I,

bled upon itself at its lower edge and'which is secured to the box by means of rivets 16; the arrangement being such that the upper end portions of the engaging device are diverging. The inner member of the engaging device is slightly inturned at its upper edge so that the upper edge portion becomes embedded in the material of the box. The upper end portion of the outer member of the engaging device 15 is slitted at 16 so as to leave a catch 17 projecting inwardly and in the path of the hooked end on the tongue 14 when the flap 11 is being closed. It is evident, of course, that the engaging device may be formed from two individual sheetmetal members instead of one which is folded upon itself as shown in my drawings. The inner member of the engaging device is designed to prevent undue wear'on the end of the box and it is obvious that when the box is formed from a material which will resist wear from abrasion, the inner member of the engaging device may be omitted altogether. In fact, the parts may be so adjusted that the tongue 14 I an aperture 16f instead of a slit;

Willbe out ofall cont-act with the material at the end of the box, in which case the innermember of the engaging device may be omitted even when the box is made of cardboard.

It is obvious that the invention as described is susceptible of many variations and modifications. Merely by way of illustration I have shown oneofthesemodified forms in Figure 5. In this instance the strap 12 is provided with depending ears 14 having outwardly projecting buttons 20. Theengaging device 15 is similar to and almost identical wlth the engaging device 15, the

r :such full, clear, and exact terms thatits con- :struetiona-nd operation will be readily understoodby others skilled in the art to which it part of the lid so as to project over the other of the parts of the lid to thereby cover the narrow slit between the meeting edges of the parts of the lid, members depending from said strap at the outer extremities thereof,

said members being outturned at their lower extremities, and resilient members secured to said boxand having their upper edge portions spaced from the walls ofsaid box, said resilient members being provided with narrow inwardly projecting lips for engaging the ,outturned portions of said depending members on said strap whensaidlid is moved to closing position. i

- In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

SAMUEL "o. HUE-FMAN.

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