WO2015140704A1

WO2015140704A1 - Reclosable box with base resistant to opening and tamper- evident portion, breakable upon first opening of box

Info

Publication number: WO2015140704A1
Application number: PCT/IB2015/051936
Authority: WO
Inventors: Carmelo Lo Duca
Original assignee: Gi.Bi.Effe S.R.L.
Priority date: 2014-03-18
Filing date: 2015-03-17
Publication date: 2015-09-24
Also published as: EP3119684B1; EP3119684A1

Abstract

A reclosable box, embodied in one paperboard piece (100), with an upper closure element (101A) and a lower closure element (102A) suitable for closing an upper opening (A) and a lower opening of said box, said closure elements being resistant to the opening and with a tamper-evident portion (103), breakable upon the first opening of the box; said box comprising: • - four side walls (1-4), • - an upper bottom wall or base (101) and a lower bottom wall or base (102) projecting from an upper end and from a lower end of one first (4) of said side walls (1-4), • -and two upper flaps and two lower flaps (16, 17); • - said upper and lower bottom walls or bases (101, 102) • - said bottom walls or bases (101, 102) comprising at least one break line (15A, 15B, 15C, 15D) suitable for allowing to at least partially separate said bottom walls or bases (101, 102) in at least one breakable portion (103), and in a box reclosure portion (104), • - said flaps (16, 17) comprising first box blocking and closure means (18, 19, 18B, 19B), • - and wherein said box comprises second blocking means (105) suitable for allowing an at least partial reclosure of the box after its first opening and after said breakable portion (103) is broken, characterized in that • - the upper and lower closure elements of the box consist each of three components only: said bottom wall or base and said two flaps, • said reclosure portion (104, 1104, 2104, 3104) presents a shaped surface suitable for overlapping above the opening (A) of the box to be reclosed, said shaped surface featuring an area smaller than that of said closure panel (10, 210, 310, 410, 1010, 2010, 3010) of the upper and lower bottom walls or bases (101, 102; 301, 302; 401, 402; 501, 502; 1101, 1102; 2101, 2102;,3101, 3012), and said breakable portion (103) comprises at least one part (115A, 115 B) of the closure panel so that said closure portion features a shape suitable for facilitating the reclosure of the box.

Description

RECLOSABLE BOX WITH BASE RESISTANT TO OPENING AND TAMPER- EVIDENT PORTION, BREAKABLE UPON FIRST OPENING OF BOX

The object of the present invention is a reclosable box according to the pre-characterizing part of the independent claim.

This type of known box is realized in one paperboard piece only, with an upper closure element and a lower closure element suitable for closing an upper opening and a lower opening of said box, wherein said lower and upper closure elements of the box consist of three components only each: one bottom wall and two flaps. In these known boxes, the flaps comprise first box blocking and closure means suitable for co-operating with blocking countermeans located in the bottom wall, said means and countermeans are suitable for holding the bottom wall and the two flaps joined to each other, thus holding the box closed, until, upon the first opening of the box, by acting onto the bottom wall, the latter breaks into two parts, one part which is removed and one part which is used to re-close the box .

Boxes of the mentioned type are known for long time and present a big advantage in that they do not require the use of an adhesive substance to close their upper and lower closure elements.

A further advantage of these known boxes is bound to the fact that, since they comprise a closure element consisting of three parts only, they can be closed in an easier and quicker manner.

Boxes are known with a tamper-evident portion that also allow to reclose the box, for instance documents US 8,408,451 and US 7,717,319 describe a box of this type.

Patent documents JP 3 185840 and JP 2006 069653 also describe reclosable boxes, however such boxes have upper and lower closure elements made up of more than three parts and wherein the box reclosure means cooperate with parts of walls that have a predetermined and prefixed shape that is not modified upon the first opening of the box.

The known boxes have a configuration that is relatively complex and makes it more difficult and slower their realization by way of automatic machines.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a box that is reclosable, also comprises a bottom wall or base resistant to opening, as well as a bottom wall or base provided with a tamper-evident portion breakable upon the first opening of the box, that is easy and quick to realize by way of automatic machines.

A further purpose is to provide a box wherein the closure element is simultaneously suitable for optimally closing the box and, after its first opening, is also capable of optimally cooperating with the box reclosure means .

These purposes and others that will be apparent to those skilled in the art are achieved by a box according to the characteristics of the characterizing part of the attached claims. For a better understanding of the present invention, drawings are attached hereto for illustrative, but not limitative purposes, in which:

figure 1 is a plan view of a paperboard sheet usable to form a box according to one first embodiment of the invention;

figure 1A is an enlargement of a part of figure 1;

figures 2-4 are perspective views of one only of the box ends in three successive steps of its forming, i.e. when this end is completely open, then in an intermediate step of the base closure, and finally in the condition wherein the upper closure element is completely closed;

figure 5 is similar to figure 4, but it shows the box in an initial step of the operation wherein the box is opened first time, when a tamper-evident portion of the base begins being damaged;

figure 6 shows the end of the box upon its first opening, the tamper-evident portion having been completely removed;

- figures 7-8 show the end of the box in three different steps of base reclosure, specifically figure 8 shows the end of the box, the closure element being reclosed;

figures 9, 10, and 11 show a plan view of a paperboard sheet usable to form a box according to a first variant (figure 9) , a second variant (figure 10) , and a third variant with respect to the first embodiment of the previous figures 1-8;

figure 12 is a plan view of a paperboard sheet usable to form a box according to a second embodiment of the invention;

figures 13 and 14 show two parts of figure 12 enlarged;

- figure 15 is an enlargement of a part of figure 1 which shows how a closure part of the box is split after the first opening of the box itself;

figures 16-20 are perspective views of one end only of the box in different successive steps of its first closure (figures 16 and 17), first opening (figure 18), and subsequent reclosure (figures 19 and 20);

figure 21 is a plan view of a paperboard sheet usable to form a box according to a third embodiment of the invention;

- figures 22-23 are perspective views of one end only of the box in different steps following its first opening (figure 22) and in a reclosure step (figure 23) ;

figure 24 is a plan view of a paperboard sheet usable to form a box according to a fourth embodiment of the invention;

figures 25-27 are perspective views of one end only of the box in different steps following its first opening (figures 25-26) and in a reclosure step (figure 27) .

With reference to figures 1-8 a box according to the invention is made in one piece only. The paperboard sheet or piece 100 comprises four side walls 1-4 and one glue tab 5, divided from each other by fold lines 6-9 suitable for forming the side walls 1-4 of a body of the box, which is of a parallelepiped shape in the example here shown, when the sheet is folded around the fold lines 6-9 and the glue tab 5 is glued internally to the wall 1, in a known way.

The box comprises an upper bottom wall or base (here after simply referred to as base) 101, projecting from an end of a first wall 4 of said side walls 1-4.

Advantageously the box also comprises a lower bottom wall (here after simply referred to as base) 102 projecting from the same wall 4 that the upper base 101 projects from, but at the opposite end. Advantageously the lower base 102 has a configuration identical to that of the upper base; only the characteristics of the upper base will be described in details below, since those of the lower base are identical (the latter will be referred to in figure 1 with the same reference numerals used for the characteristics of the upper base) .

The box also comprises two upper flaps 16, 17 and two lower flaps projecting: from the upper and lower ends of a respective second side wall 3, adjacent to the first side wall 4 that the bottom wall 101 projects from, and from the upper and lower ends of a fourth side wall 1, separated from said second side wall 3 by a third side wall, respectively .

The base 101 is constituted by: a panel 10 directly projecting from the first side wall 4 of the box, and a tab 11 which is in turn projecting from a free end of said panel 10. The panel 10 is separated from its respective first side wall 4 and from the tab 11 by fold lines 12 and 13, parallel to each other.

At the fold lines 13, more shifted toward the free end 11A of the tab 11, there are provided four cutouts 14A-D, the two most central of which 14B and 14C determine two elongated windows (figure 3) .

The base 101 comprises at least one portion 103 which is breakable (figure 6) upon the first opening of the box, and one reclosure portion 104 (figure 6) suitable for still acting as a partial closure of the box after said first opening, said reclosure portion being other that said breakable portion, and being it obtained from said base 101 when said breakable portion is broken (as it will be described in details later) , said two breakable and reclosure portions being at least partially separated by at least one break line 15A, 15B, 15C, 15D, for instance breakable knurled lines.

Advantageously the break lines comprise:

- two arched break lines 15A and 15B, for instance shaped as an arch of a circle, which extend from the most external ends of the windows 14B and 14C up to the adjacent free side edge 10A and 10B of the panel 10,

- and break lines 15C1, 15C2 and 15C3 which extend from the most internal ends of the windows 14B and 14C.

Preferably the break lines 15C1-15C3 comprise two first lines 15C1 and 15C3 which converge toward the fold line 12 whose ends are connected to each other by a third line 15C2 parallel to said fold line 12. In this way, after the first opening of the base and the breakage of the breakable portion 103, the remaining reclosure portion 104 comprises (figure 6) at its front free edge two appendages 104A and 104B separated by a central empty space 104C which, as it will be explained later, makes the base reclosure operation easier.

Advantageously, in order to warrant a safe and optimal breakage of the breakable portion 103, the tab 11 also features two break lines 15D1 and 15D2 which extend, by converging to each other, from the most internal ends of the windows 14B and 14C up to close to the free edge 11A of the tab. These additional break lines 15D1 and 15D2 warrant a breakage of the tab 11 too.

The break lines provided in the base 101 advantageously are configured in such a way that upon the first opening of the box the tab 11 is completely separated from the panel 10 and in such a way that at least a portion 115A, 115B also tears off, so as to modify at least a section 10A' , 10B' of the side edges 10A, 10B of the panel 10 so that said modified section 10A', 10B' can cooperate with blocking members 105 provided in the flaps 16 (as it will be explained in details later) .

Advantageously are the break lines provided in the base configured in such a way that upon the first opening of the box, in addition to the tab 11 also angular portions 115A and 115B of the panel 10 preferably provided between the fold lines 13 between the panel 10 and the tab 11 and the side edges 10A and 10B of the panel, tear off.

The panel 10 advantageously also comprises a central fold line 106 (having the same direction as a central axis of symmetry L (figure 8) of the box) which advantageously extends centrally to the panel 10, parallel to its side edges 10A and 10B, and preferably starting from the break lines 15C1, 15C2, 15C3 which extend between the internal ends of the windows 14B, 14C.

From each end of the two side walls 1, 3, a flap 16, 17, projects, the side 16A, 17A of the flaps that is destined to be opposite to the fold lines 13 between the panel 10 and the tab 11, in the packed box, presents an irregular pattern (preferably a rectilinear broken line) so as to present a first projecting tooth 18, 19, preferably hook-shaped, or with a point 18A (figure 1A) . Preferably the side 16A, 17A of the flaps provides, besides the first tooth 18, also a second tooth 18B, 19B having smaller dimensions and provided at that section of said side which is close to the fold line 12 of the flaps.

These teeth 18, 18B, 19, 19B are suitable for cooperating with the cutouts 14A-14D provided in the base 101 whenever the latter is closed for the first time so as to constrain the base and the flaps to each other and firmly close the box, by only allowing its opening if exerting such a force onto the base as to cause the breakage of the breakable portion of the base itself, as it will be explained later. In this way, the box can be closed without using adhesive substances and simultaneously the user is always in a position to know whether the box has already been opened after its first closure. Both flaps 16, 17 comprise a blocking member 105 suitable for cooperating with a section 10A', 10B' of the portion 104 (figure 6) of the base which remains intact after the first opening of the box, to make it possible a reclosure of the box itself after its first opening and the breakage of the breakable portion 103 of the base.

Advantageously the blocking member 105 comprises a pocket 105A, 105A' (figure 6) suitable for receiving a piece 110A, HOB (figure 8) of the section 10A', 10B' of the closure portion 104 (figure 6) and thus allowing the reclosure of the box after its first opening.

The pocket 105A is provided with a pocket flap 105E delimited on three sides by cutouts 105B, 105C, 105D (figure 1A) and connected to the flap by a fold line 105E suitable for fostering the movement of said pocket flap, and ultimately the opening of the pocket and making it easier the insertion of the section 110A, B of the closure portion 104 into the pocket to make it possible to reclose the box (as it will be discussed in details later) .

Advantageously the pocket 105A comprises an opening, preferably formed of the cutouts 105B, 105C, 105D as mentioned above, and said opening, whenever said flap is set to the horizontal position, is suitable for opening toward the inside of the box (as shown in figure 2) to make it possible the insertion of the section 110A, B of the closure portion 104 into the pocket.

Thanks to the fact that into the pocket 105A it is necessary to insert a piece 110A, HOB (figure 8) of the portion 104 of the base that remains after the first opening of the box, it is possible to shape said piece 110A and B in a way that is as much convenient and easy to insert into said pocket as possible. For this purpose it is sufficient to properly design the break lines 15A and B suitable for splitting the base into a part 103 (figure 6) to be removed upon the first opening of the box and a part 104 to remain attached to the box itself.

The paperboard according to figures 1 and 1A is folded and glued as usual to form a finished box, the upper and lower bases being open (as shown in figure 2) . In order to close the box, first of all it is necessary to overturn the two flaps 16, 17 (figure 2) by making them rotate around the respective fold lines, then the tab 11 is folded with respect to the panel 10 and the latter is folded around its fold line 12 (figure 3), by subsequently making the tab 11 penetrate in depth between the inner face of side wall 2 and the flaps 16, 17 (figures 3 and 4) . Once the tab is completely penetrated into the box (figure 4), the sides of the first teeth 18 and 19 and of the second smaller teeth 19B and 18B are exactly positioned in front of the cutouts 14C and 14B and 14A and 14D of the base and penetrate therein while slightly projecting beyond the tab 11 itself, so that the hook-shaped ends of such teeth lean against the adjacent portions of the base where the fold lines 13 are obtained. The base of the box is thus firmly held in the closed position because the shaped portions of the teeth 18 and 19, and even preferably of the smaller teeth 18B and 19B, firmly hook to the adjacent portions 13 of the base and in the lower part of the box of the base, thus effectively exerting a resistance to its opening.

Thanks to the technical solution described here above it is possible to make boxes that, the strength to the stresses (weight force) exerted by the container inserted into the box being equal, can be made of a sheet of paperboard featuring a smaller thickness, which results in obvious advantages in terms of final cost of the box.

Thanks to the technical solution described here above, boxes can be made that are closed without using any adhesive substances.

Furthermore, thanks to the fact that the upper closure element 101A and the lower one 102A comprise one bottom wall 101, 102 and two flaps 16, 16', 17, 17' only each, i.e. three parts only, the operations necessary to assemble the box are extremely simplified.

Whenever one wishes to open the box (for instance by opening the upper base 101), he shall grip the front appendages 104A and 104B of the panel 10 superimposed to the teeth 18 and 19, by exerting an upward rotation (arrow F in figure 5), the grip of these appendages being fostered by the fold line 13 between the base 10 and the tab 11 being re-entrant (as shown in figure 4) . Initially the rotation in the direction of the arrows F results in breaking an extreme portion of the arched knurled lines 15A and 15B closer to the front edge of the box (as shown in figure 5), then such knurled lines break completely as well as the central knurled lines 15C1, 15C2, 15C3, which consequently results in the tab 11 and the side portions 115A, 115B and the central portion 115C (figure 6 and 1A) tearing off. Advantageously, thanks to the knurled lines 15D1 and 15D2 (figure 1A) the tab 11 can also break and split into two pieces. It is worth underlying that the breakage of the knurled lines 15A-15C takes place very easily because such breakage takes place directly upon a manual traction (not because of the teeth 18, 19, which just contribute to hold the tab 11 down in its closed position along with the portions of the panel 10 integral therewith) and because the breakage of the knurlings themselves begins at one of their ends, not from an intermediate zone thereof. Furthermore, breakage is facilitated by the fact that the knurlings extend in an arched form. The base of the box, after being opened for the first time, is lacking in two of its angular portions 115A and 115B and in the tab 11, thus making it easily visible the fact the box has already been opened. The opening of the box also creates portions 10B' , ΙΟΑ', shaped in such a way as to make the reclosure of the box itself easier .

It is also worth underlying that the reclosure portion 104 has a shaped surface having an area that is smaller than that of the panel 10 of the upper and lower bottom walls 101, 102, suitable for closing the opening of the box whenever the box is closed for the first time. In this way, whenever the box is closed for the first time the panel 10 completely closes the opening of the box, whereas, if the box has already been opened beforehand, the remaining part of the panel 10 is shaped in such a way as to make it possible for it to optimally cooperate with the pockets 105 of the flaps 16, 17.

In order to reclose the base of the box after this one has been opened and the part 103 (figure 6) has been removed, it is sufficient to centrally exert a slight pressure downward (for instance by a finger) onto the reclosure portion 104 (as shown in figure 7), also thanks to the presence of the central fold line 106 and to the empty space 104C (figure 6) at the front free edge of said reclosure portion 104, said reclosure portion will assume a slightly arched configuration (figure 7) . In such position the sections 10A' and 10B' of the side edges of the reclosure portion 104, which are properly shaped and resulted from the breakage of the panel 10 upon the first opening of the box, by sliding beyond the arched cutout 105B of the pockets 105A, 105A' of the blocking members 105 of the flaps 16, 17, open the pockets themselves (and push the pocket flap 105E of the pockets downward, figure 7) ; in this position of the reclosure portion 104, being not pushed any longer downward (i.e. because of the force F that acts onto the reclosure portion being removed) said reclosure portion automatically tends to come back to a substantially horizontal position and its portions 110A and HOB enter into the pockets 105A and 105A' thus constraining the portion itself to the flaps 16 and 17 (as shown in figure 8) . Also, by rotating the front free edge of the reclosure portion 104 upward, it is possible to make its portions 110A and HOB go out of the pockets, thus opening the box. Therefore, a very quick and simple operation makes it possible to reclose and reopen the reclosable portion 104 of the box a plurality of times.

It is worth underlying that the members 105 that make it possible a reclosure of the base, after this one has been opened for the first time and after a part of its own has been removed, can also be easily realized on boxes being already marketed by realizing in the flaps of the known boxes the pockets described above and suitably shaping the portion of the base that has been removed upon the first opening, so that a section of the remaining portion of the base can be inserted into said pockets after its first opening.

In a first variant of the embodiment according to figures 1-8 the box (as shown in figure 9) comprises one flap only along with a hooking member suitable for making the reclosure of the box possible. For the sake of brevity, this variant of the invention will not be described in details and its elements will be identified by the same reference numerals adopted for the elements shown in figures 1-8, but increased by 200.

In the variant under examination, only the break lines

215D and 215B are provided and the portion of the base 301 that breaks upon the first opening is formed of the tab 211 and the single arched portion 415B. The window 214C, cooperating with the tooth 218, is suitable for holding the base 301 and the flap 216 joined to each other until, upon the first opening of the box, acting onto said base 301, 302 results in breaking at least one break line 215B, and the breakable portion of the base 301, 302 is separated from the reclosure portion.

Figure 10 shows a second variant of the box according to figures 1-8. For the sake of brevity this variant of the invention will not be described in details and its elements will be identified by the same reference numerals adopted for the elements shown in figures 1-8 but increased by 300. The box has a shape substantially similar to that shown in figures 1-8, however in this variant the flaps 316 and 317 might partly or completely overlap, as well as their respective teeth 318 and 319. This partial or complete overlapping of the flaps depends on the widths LI and L2 of the walls 301-304 of the box.

A box in which the flaps are overlapped, of the type mentioned above, is for instance described in patent document IT 1.357.986 owned by the undersigned patent applicant .

In the variant depicted in figure 10, the two windows 14B and 14C provided in the embodiment according to figures 1-8 for the two teeth 17 and 18 are replaced by one "long" window 450 only suitable for housing both teeth 318 and 319 whenever the box is closed and the flaps 316 and 317 are completely or only partially overlapped.

In the variant under consideration only the break lines 315A and 315B are provided and the portion of the base 401 that breaks upon the first opening is formed of the tab 311 and of the arched portions 415A and 415B.

The window 450 cooperating with the teeth 318 and 319 is suitable for holding the base 401 and the flaps 316, 317 joined to each other until, upon the first opening of the box, acting onto the upper bottom 401 (or even onto the lower one 402) results in breaking the break lines 315A, 315B, and the breakable portion (i.e. the tab 311 and the portions 415A and B) of the base 401 is separated from the reclosure portion.

The box might even have other known shapes and be, for instance, of a type with partially overlapped flaps, provided they comprise base reclosure members after its first opening.

The box according to the invention is advantageously made in one properly shaped and punched paperboard piece.

Advantageously the box uses glue only to constrain the side strip 5 to the edge of the respective side wall 1.

Advantageously the box comprises three panels 10, 16,

17 only (not four) departing from the side walls 1-4 of the box, i.e. the box is of a type whereby one side wall (2) out of the side walls 1-4 is deprived of a panel that departs from the free edge of said wall (2) deprived of panel .

Figure 11 shows a third variant of a box according to figures 1-8. For the sake of brevity this variant of the invention will not be described in details and its elements will be identified by same reference numerals adopted for the elements shown in figures 1-8 but increased by 400. The part 411 that is removed upon the first opening of the box has been highlighted by a broken line. Given the reduced width L2 of the side walls 403 and 401 the shape of the pocket 505, whereby a pocket flap 405E movable toward the internal of the box whenever the flap is folded perpendicularly to the side walls 404-401 and whenever one wishes to reclose the box, has been modified. The pocket flap 405E is delimited by a cutout 405B having an arched shape. In order to facilitate the movement of said pocket flap 405E, and ultimately the opening of the pocket 505, and to facilitate the insertion of the section 410A, B, of the reclosure portion 410 into the pocket, advantageously the cutout 405B also extends for a short section 405C (having a length in the range, for instance, from 1 to 4 mm) in the side wall 403, 401 from which the flaps 418, 417 depart, and the fold line provided between the flaps 418, 417, and the side walls 403 and 401 comprises two sections 412B and 412A at different heights, so that folding the flaps 418, 417 perpendicularly to their respective side walls 403 and 401 results in slightly opening the pockets 505 and 505A and in facilitating the insertion of the portions 410A and B to make it possible to reclose the box (as it will be discussed in details later) .

With reference to figures 12-20, they show a second variant of the box according to the invention, which is made in one piece only. The paperboard sheet or piece comprises four side walls 1001-1004 and a glue tab 1005, separated from each other by fold lines 1006-1009 suitable for forming the side walls 1001-1004 of a body of the box, which is, in the example here represented, of a parallelepiped shape whenever the sheet is folded around the lines 1006-1009 and the glue tab 1005 is glued inside the wall 1001, in a known way.

The box comprises an upper bottom wall or base (here after simply referred to as base) 1101, projecting from an end of one first 1004 of said side walls 1001-1004.

Advantageously the box also comprises a lower bottom wall (here after simply referred to as base) 1102 projecting from the same wall 1004 that the upper base 1101 projects from, but at the opposite end. Advantageously the lower base 1102 presents a configuration identical to that of the upper base; only the features of the upper base will be described in details below, since those of the lower base are identical (the latter will be referred to the figures with the same reference numerals used for the features of the upper base) .

The box also comprises two upper flaps 1016, 1017 and two lower flaps projecting: from the upper and lower ends of a respective second side wall 1003, adjacent to the first side wall 1004 that the bottom wall 1101 projects from, and from the upper and lower ends of a fourth side wall 1001, separated from said second side wall 1003 by a third side wall, respectively.

The base 1101 consists in: a panel 1010 directly projecting from the first side wall 1004 of the box, and a tab 1011 which is in turn projecting from a free end of said panel 1010. The panel 1010 is separated from its respective first side wall 1004 and from the tab 1011 by fold lines 1012 and 1013, parallel to each other.

At the fold lines 1013, more shifted toward the free end of the tab 1011 there are provided four cutouts 1014A- D, the two most central of which 1014B and 1014C determine two elongated windows (figure 14) .

The base 1101 comprises at least one portion 1103 which is breakable (figure 15) upon the first opening of the box, and one reclosure portion 1104 suitable for still acting as an at least partial closure of the box after said first opening, said reclosure portion being distinct from that said breakable portion, and being it obtained from said base 1101 when said breakable portion is broken (as it will be described in details later) , said two breakable and reclosure portions being at least partially separated by at least one break line 1015A, 1015B, 1015C, 1015D, for instance breakable knurled lines.

Advantageously the break lines comprise:

- two arched break lines 1015A and 1015B, for instance shaped as an arch of a circle, which extend from the most external ends of the windows 1014B and 1014C up to the adjacent free side edge 1010A and 1010B of the panel 1010,

- and break lines 1015C, 1015D which extend, by converging to each other, from the most internal ends of the windows 1014B and 1014C up the free edge 1011A of the tab (figure 13) .

In this way, after the first opening of the base (figure 18) and the breakage of the breakable portion 1103 (figure 15) the remaining reclosure portion 1104 presents, at its own front free edge, an appendage 1104A' suitable for being folded internally to the box after the first opening thereof.

The break lines provided in the base 1101 are advantageously configured in such a way that upon the first opening of the box, the tab 1011 is split into two pieces 1103A and 1103B (figure 15) and in such a way that at least a portion 1115A, 1115B of the panel 1010 also tears off, so as to modify at least a section 1010A' , 1010B' of the side edges 1010A, 1010B of the panel 1010.

From each end of two side walls 1001, 1003, or at least from one of these walls, a flap 1016, 1017 projects, and these flaps are separated from their respective side walls by crease lines 1012A and 1012B.

The side 1016A, 1017A of the flaps that is destined to be opposite to the fold line 1013 between the panel 1010 and the tab 1011, in the packed box, presents an irregular pattern (preferably a rectilinear broken line) so as to present a first projecting tooth 1018, 1019, preferably hook-shaped, or with a point 1018A (figure 13) . Preferably the side 1016A, 1017A of the flaps provides, besides the first tooth 1018, also a second tooth 1018B, 1019B having smaller dimensions and provided at that section of said side which is close to the fold line 1012 of the flaps. These teeth 1018, 1018B, 1019, 1019B are suitable for cooperating with the cutouts 1014A-1014D provided in the base 1101 whenever the latter is closed for the first time so as to constrain the base and the flaps to each other and to only allow its tear off if exerting such a force onto the base as to cause the breakage of the breakable portion of the base itself, as it will be explained later.

At least one (but preferably both) of said flaps 1016, 1017 comprises at least one blocking member 1105 suitable for cooperating with a blocking countermember 1125 provided in the closure portion 1104 (figure 15) of the base, to make it possible a reclosure of the box after its first opening and the breakage of the breakable portion 1103 of the base.

Advantageously the blocking member 1105 presents

(figure 14) a special shaping of the most internal edge 1016B, 1017B of the flaps 1016 and 1017, i.e. of the edge opposite to that comprising the teeth 1018, 1018A, 1019, 1019A. This edge 1016B, 1017B is that which, once the box is formed, is closest to the fold line 1012 between the panel 1010 and the first side wall 1004.

This particular shaping of the edge 1016B, 1017B preferably has (figure 14) a rounded head 1105A which preferably begins from the front free edge 1016C of the flap (facing the inside of the box whenever this one is closed), reaches a more re-entrant central portion 1105B of said edge 1016B, and finally radiuses with the fold line 1012' of the flap with the side walls 1003 and 1001 from which the flaps 1016 and 1017 themselves depart.

The blocking countermember 1125 provided in the reclosure portion 1104 of the base 1101 comprises (figures 14 and 15) a pocket 1125A suitable for housing a piece 1105A' (figure 20) of the rounded head 1105A of the edge 1016B of the flap 1016 thus allowing the reclosure of the box after its first opening.

The pocket 1125A comprises (figure 14) a pocket flap 1125E delimited on three sides by cutouts 1125B, 1125C, 1125D and connected to the flap by a fold line 1125F suitable for facilitating the movement of said pocket flap toward the inside of the box, and ultimately the opening of the pocket, and making it easier the insertion of the piece 1105A' (figure 20) of the rounded head 1105A of the edge 1016B of the flap 1016 into the pocket to make it possible the reclosure of the box (as it will be discussed in details later) .

Advantageously the closure portion 1104 (figure 15) comprises two blocking countermembers 1125, one each per flap, arranged symmetrically with respect to a central axis of symmetry M (figure 12) of the base 1101.

The paperboard according to figure 12 is folded and glued in a usual way to form a box with an upper opening A and a lower opening (not represented in the figure) , the bases 1101, 1102 being open (as shown in figure 16) . In order to close the box, first of all it is necessary to overturn the two flaps 1016, 1017 by making them rotate around the respective fold lines 1012A and 1012B, then the tab 1011 is folded with respect to the panel 1010 and the latter is folded around its fold line 1012, subsequently making the tab 1011 penetrate in depth between the inner face of the side wall 1002 and the flaps 1016, 1017 (figures 17) . Once the tab is completely penetrated into the box (figure 17), the sides of the first teeth 1018 and 1019 and of the second smaller teeth 1019B and 1018B are exactly positioned in front of the cutouts 1014C and 1014B and 1014A and 1014D of the base and penetrate therein while slightly projecting beyond the tab 1011 itself, so that the hook-shaped ends of such teeth lean against the adjacent portions of the base where the fold lines 1013 are derived. The base of the box is thus firmly held in the closure position because the shaped portion of the teeth 1018 and 1019, and even preferably of the smaller teeth 1018B and 1019B, firmly hook to the adjacent portions 1013 of the base 1008 and in the lower part of the box of the base, thus effectively exerting a resistance to its opening.

Thanks to the technical solution described here above it is possible to make boxes that, the strength to the stresses (weight force) exerted by the container inserted into the box being equal, can be made of a sheet of paperboard having a smaller thickness, which results in obvious advantages in terms of final cost of the box.

It is also worth underlying that the reclosure portion

1104 presents a shaped surface having an area smaller than that of the panel 1010 of the upper and lower bases 1101, 1102, suitable for closing the opening of the box when the box is closed for the first time. In this way, when the box is closed for the first time the panel 1010 completely closes the opening of the box, whereas, after the box has already been opened, the remaining part of the panel 1010 is shaped in such a way as to be able to optimally cooperate with the flaps 1016 and 1017.

Furthermore, thanks to the fact that the upper closure element 1101A and the lower one 1102A comprise one bottom wall 1101, 1102 and two flaps 1016, 1016', 1017, 1017' only each, i.e. three parts only, the operations necessary to assemble the box are extremely simplified.

Whenever one wishes to open the box (for instance by opening the upper base 1101), he shall grip the front appendages 1104A and 1104B (figure 17) of the panel 1010 superimposed to the teeth 1018 and 1019, by exerting an upward rotation (arrow F in figure 17), the grip of these appendages being fostered by the fold line 1013 between the base 1010 and the tab 1011 being re-entrant (as shown in figure 13) . Initially the rotation in the direction of the arrows F results in breaking an extreme portion of the arched knurled lines 1015A and 1015B closer to the front edge of the box, then such knurled lines break completely as well as the knurled lines 1015C and 1015D, which results in the two parts 1103A and 1103B (as shown in figure 18), the tab 1011 and the side portions 1115A, 1115B of the panel 1010 tearing off. It is worth underlying that the breakage of the knurled lines takes place very easily because such breakage takes place directly upon a manual traction (not because of the teeth 1018, 1019, which just contribute to hold the tab 1011 down in its closed position along with the portions of the panel 1010 integral therewith) and because the breakage of the knurlings themselves begins at one of their ends, not from an intermediate zone thereof. Furthermore, breakage is facilitated by the fact that the knurlings extend in an arched form. The base of the box, after being opened for the first time, is lacking in two of its angular portions 1115A and 1115B and of the two portions 1103A and B of the tab 1011, thus clearly highlighting that the box has already been opened beforehand.

In order to reclose the base of the box once the latter has been opened and the part 1103 has been removed, it is sufficient to open the reclosable portion 1104 and the flaps 1016, 1017, to re-close the box by first folding the reclosable portion 1104 (figure 19), and then to fold the flaps 1016 and 1017 above it (figure 20) . As soon as the flaps lie on the reclosure portion 1104 of the panel 1010, exert a slight pressure onto the shaped portions 1105A of the flaps toward the inside of the box (for instance by a finger) . In this way the sections 1105A of the shaped portion 1105 of the flaps open the two pockets 1125A and, by sliding beyond the arched cutout 1125B of the pockets 1125A, secure the flaps 1016 and 1017 to the reclosure portion 1104 thus closing the box.

By rotating the two flaps 1016 and 1017 upward, it is then possible to make its portions 1105A to go out from the pockets thus opening the box. Therefore, a very quick and simple operation makes it possible to reclose and reopen the box a plurality of times.

It is worth underlying that the members 1125 and the countermembers 1105 which allow a reclosure of the base, after this one has been opened for the first time and after a part thereof has been removed, can be easily made even on boxes that are currently marketed by suitably shaping the flaps of the known boxes and realizing the pockets 1125A described above in the panel 1010.

We wish finally to point out that the description of the embodiment given so far has been provided for purely illustrative purposes and that numerous variants are possible, all of them falling into the same inventive concept. For instance the reclosure portion 1104 might be deprived of the tab 1104A' or have a tab with greater dimensions.

For instance, the box might comprise a panel 1010 with one pocket 1125A only and one flap 1016 only featuring a suitably shaped edge 1016B.

In a further variant, the reclosure portion 1104 might be deprived of the appendage 1104A which would in this case be part of the portion 1103 that tears off from the base 1101 upon the first opening of the box.

The box might even present other known shapes and be, for instance, of a type with partially overlapped flaps, provided they have the shaped portions 1105A suitable for penetrating into the pockets 1125A.

The box according to the invention is advantageously made in one suitably shaped and punched paperboard piece.

Advantageously the box uses glue only to constrain the side strip 1005 to the edge of its respective side wall 1001.

Advantageously the box comprises three panels 1010, 1016, 1017 only (not four) departing from the side walls 1001-1004 of the box, i.e. the box is of a type whereby one side wall 1002 out of the side walls 1001-1004 is deprived of a panel that departs from the free edge of said wall 1002 deprived of panel.

With reference to figures 21-23, they show a third variant of the box according to the invention, which is made in one piece only. The paperboard sheet or piece 2100 comprises four side walls 2001-2004 and a glue tab 2005, separated from each other by fold lines 2006-2009 suitable for forming the side walls 2001-2004 of a body of the box, which is, in the example here represented, of a parallelepiped shape whenever the sheet is folded around the lines 2006-2009 and the glue tab 2005 is glued inside the wall 2001, in a known way.

The box comprises an upper bottom wall or base (here after simply referred to as base) 2101, projecting from an end of one first wall 2004 of said side walls 2001-2004.

Advantageously the box also comprises a lower bottom wall (here after simply referred to as base) 2102 projecting from the same wall 2004 that the upper base 2101 projects from, but at the opposite end. Advantageously the lower base 2102 features a configuration identical to that of the upper base; only the features of the upper base will be described in details below, since those of the lower base are identical (the latter will be referred to the figures with the same reference numerals used for the features of the upper base) .

The box also comprises two upper flaps 2016, 2017 and two lower flaps projecting: from the upper and lower ends of a respective second side wall 2003, adjacent to the first side wall 2004 that the bottom wall 2101 projects from, and from the upper and lower ends of a fourth side wall 2001, separated from said second side wall 2003 by a third side wall, respectively.

The base 2101 consists in: a panel 2010 directly projecting from the first side wall 2004 of the box, and a tab 2011 which is in turn projecting from a free end of said panel 2010. The panel 2010 is separated from its respective first side wall 2004 and from the tab 2011 by fold lines 2012 and 2013, parallel to each other.

At the fold lines 2013, more shifted toward the free end of the tab 2011, there are provided four cutouts 2014A- D, the two most central of which 2014B and 2014C determine two elongated windows.

The base 2101 comprises at least one portion 2103 which is breakable (highlighted by a broken line in figure 21) upon the first opening of the box, and one reclosure portion 2104 (figure 22) suitable for still acting as an at least partial closure of the box after said first opening, said reclosure portion being other than said breakable portion, and being it obtained from said base when said breakable portion is broken (as it will be described in details later) , said two breakable and reclosure portions being at least partially separated by at least one break line 2015A, 2015B, 2015C, 2015D, for instance breakable knurled lines.

Advantageously the break lines comprise:

- two arched break lines 2015A and 2015B, for instance shaped as an arch of a circle, which extend from the most external ends of the windows 2014B and 2014C up to the adjacent free side edge of the panel 2010,

- and break lines 2015C, 2015D which extend, by converging to each other, from the most internal ends of the windows 2014B and 2014C up to an arched cut line 2014E provided at the free edge of the tab.

In this way, after the first opening of the base

(figure 22) and the breakage of the breakable portion 2103 the remaining reclosure portion 2104 presents at its front free edge a shaped appendage 2104A' suitable for engaging with a blocking member 2105 provided in the side wall 2002 deprived of flaps and of bottom walls at the upper free edge 2002A thereof.

From each end of the two side walls 2001 and 2003, or at least from one of said walls, a flap 2016, 2017 projects, these flaps are separated from their respective side walls by crease lines 2012A and 2012B.

One side of the flaps features an irregular pattern (preferably a rectilinear broken line) so as to present a first projecting tooth 2018, 2019, preferably hook-shaped, or with a point. Preferably the flaps comprise, besides the first tooth 2018, also a second tooth 2018B, 2019B featuring smaller dimensions and provided in correspondence with that section of said side which is close to the fold line 2012A and B of the flaps.

These teeth 2018, 2018B, 2019, 2019B are suitable for cooperating with the cutouts 2014A-2014D provided in the base 2101 whenever the latter is closed for the first time so as to constrain the base and the flaps to each other and to only allow its tear off if exerting such a force onto the base as to cause the breakage of the breakable portion of the base itself, as it will be explained later.

At the upper free edge 2002A of the side wall 2002 deprived of flaps and bottom walls there is provided a blocking member 2105 suitable for cooperating with the shaped appendage 2104A' of the reclosure portion 2104 of the base 2101, to make it possible a reclosure of the box after its first opening and the breakage of the breakable portion 2103 of the base itself.

Advantageously the blocking member 2105 comprises a pocket 2125A suitable for housing a piece 2105A' (figure 23) of the shaped appendage 2104A' of the reclosure portion 2104 of the base 2101 and thus making it possible the reclosure of the box after its first opening.

The pocket 2125A comprises (figure 22) a pocket flap 2125E delimited on three sides by cutouts 2125B, 2125C, 2125D. Advantageously above these cutouts there are provided further two cutouts arranged as a T, 2125F and G, suitable for fostering the movement of said pocket flap toward the inside of the box, and ultimately the opening of the pocket, and making it easier the insertion of the piece 2105A' (figure 23) of the shaped appendage 2104A' of the reclosure portion 2104 of the base 2101 into the pocket.

The paperboard 2100 according to figure 21 is folded and glued in a usual way to form a box with an upper opening A and a lower opening (not shown in the figure) , the bases 2101, 2102 being open. In order to close the box, first of all it is necessary to overturn the two flaps 2016, 2017 by making them rotate around the respective fold lines, then the tab 2011 is folded with respect to the panel 2010 and the latter is folded around its fold line, by subsequently making the tab 2011 penetrate between the inner face of the side wall 2002 and the flaps 2016, 2017. Once the tab is completely penetrated into the box, the sides of the first teeth 2018 and 2019 and of the second smaller teeth 2019B and 2018B are exactly positioned in front of the cutouts 2014C and 2014B and 2014A and 2014D of the base and penetrate therein while slightly projecting beyond the tab 2011 itself, so that the hook-shaped ends of such teeth lean against the adjacent portions of the base where the fold lines 2013 are derived. The base of the box is thus firmly held in the closed position because the shaped portion of the teeth 2018 and 2019, and even preferably of the smaller teeth 2018B and 2019B, firmly hook to the adjacent portions 2013 of the base 2008 and in the lower part of the box of the base, thus effectively exerting a resistance to its opening.

Thanks to the technical solution described here above it is possible to embody boxes that, the strength to the stresses (weight force) exerted by the container inserted into the box being equal, can be made of a sheet of paperboard featuring a smaller thickness, which results in obvious advantages in terms of final cost of the box.

It is also worth underlying that the reclosure portion 2104 comprises a shaped surface suitable for overlapping the opening A of the box, having an area which is smaller than that of the panel 2010 of the upper and lower bases 2101, 2102, suitable for closing the opening of the box whenever the box is closed for the first time. In this way, when the box is closed for the first time, the panel 2010 completely closes the opening of the box, whereas, when the box has already been opened beforehand, the remaining part of the panel 2010 is shaped in such a way as to only partially close the opening A and to be able to optimally cooperate with the flaps 2016 and 2017.

Furthermore, thanks to the fact that the upper closure element 2101A and the lower one 2102A comprise one bottom wall 2101, 2102 and two flaps 2016, 2016', 2017, 2017' only each, i.e. three parts only, the operations necessary to assemble the box are extremely simplified.

Whenever one wishes to open the box (for instance by opening the upper base 2101), he shall grip the front appendages 2104A and 2104B of the panel 2010 superimposed to the teeth 2018 and 2019, by exerting an upward rotation, the grip of these appendages being fostered by the fold line 2013 between the base 2010 and the tab 2011 being re^¬ entrant. Initially the rotation results in breaking an extreme portion of the arched knurled lines 2015A and 2015B closer to the front edge of the box, then such knurled lines break completely as well as the knurled lines 2015C and 2015D, with the consequent tear off of the parts identified by dashed lines in figure 21. It is worth underlying that the breakage of the knurled lines takes place very easily because such breakage takes place directly upon a manual traction (not because of the teeth 2018, 2019, which just contribute to hold the tab 2011 down in its closed position along with the portions of the panel 2010 integral therewith) and because the breakage of the knurlings themselves begins at one of its ends, not from an intermediate zone thereof. Furthermore, breakage is facilitated by the fact that the knurlings extend in an arched form. The base of the box, after being opened for the first time, is lacking in two of its angular portions 2115A and 2115B and of the two portions 2103A and B of the tab 2011 thus clearly indicating that the box has already been opened beforehand.

In order to reclose the base of the box once this has been opened and the part 2103 has been removed, it is sufficient to open the reclosable portion 2104 and the flaps 2016, 2017 (as shown in figure 22), to reclose the box by folding the flaps 2016 and 2017 first, and then folding the reclosure portion 2104 of the panel 2010 above them, and finally inserting into the pocket 2125A the shaped appendage 2104A' of the reclosure portion 2104 of the base 2101 (figure 22) .

It is worth underlying that in such reclosure situation advantageously the front appendages 2104A and 2104B of the reclosure portion 2104 abut on the upper free edge 2002A of the side wall 2002 thus fostering the reclosure operation.

By gripping these front appendages 2104A and 2104B it is then possible to rotate the reclosure portion 2104 upward and to re-open the box. Therefore, a very quick and simple operation makes it possible to reclose and reopen the box a plurality of times.

It is worth underlying that the members 2104A' and the countermembers 2105 used to reclose the base, once this has been opened a first time and a part thereof has been removed, can also be easily made on boxes that are currently marketed by suitably shaping the tab 2011 and realizing the pocket 2125A.

Let's finally point out that the embodiment described so far has been provided for purely illustrative purposes and that numerous variants are possible, all of them falling into the object of the inventive concept.

The box might even have other known shapes and be, for instance, of a type with partially overlapped flaps.

Advantageously the box uses glue only to constrain the side strip 2005 to the edge of its respective side wall 2001.

Advantageously the box comprises three panels 2010, 2016, 2017 only (not four) departing from the side walls 2001-2004 of the box, i.e. the box is of a type whereby one side wall 2002 out of the side walls 2001-2004 is deprived of a panel that departs from the free edge of said wall 2002 deprived of panel.

With reference to figures 24-27, they show a fourth variant of the box according to the invention, also made in one piece. The paperboard sheet or piece 3100 comprises four side walls 3001-3004 and a glue tab 3005, separated from each other by fold lines 3006-3009 suitable for forming the side walls 3001-3004 of a body of the box, in the example shown here having a parallelepiped shape, when the sheet is folded around lines 3006-3009 and the glue tab 3005 is glued internally to the wall 3001, in a known way.

The box comprises an upper bottom wall or base (here after simply referred to as base) 3101, projecting from an end of a wall 3004 of one first of said side walls 3001- 3004.

Advantageously the box also comprises a lower bottom wall (here after simply referred to as base) 3102 projecting from the same wall 3004 that the upper base 3101 projects from, but at the opposite end. Advantageously the lower base 3102 presents a conformation identical to that of the upper base; only the features of the upper bottom will be described in details below, since those of the lower base are identical (the latter will be referred to in the figures with the same reference numerals used for the features of the upper base) .

The box also comprises two upper flaps 3016, 3017, and two lower flaps projecting: from the upper and lower ends of a respective second side wall 3003, adjacent to the first side wall 3004 that the bottom wall 3101 projects from, and from the upper and lower ends of a fourth side wall 3001, separated from said second side wall 3003 by a third side wall, respectively.

The base 3101 consists in: a panel 3010 directly projecting from the first side wall 3004 of the box, and a tab 3011 which is in turn projecting from a free end of said panel 3010. The panel 3010 is separated from its respective first side wall 3004 and from the tab 3011 by fold lines 3012 and 3013, parallel to each other.

At the fold lines 3013, more shifted toward the free end of the tab 3011, there are provided four cutouts 3014A- D, and a central cutout 3014E the two most central of which 3014B and 3014C determine two elongated windows. The base 3101 comprises at least one portion 3103 which is breakable (highlighted by a broken line in figure 24) upon the first opening of the box, and one reclosure portion 3104 (figure 25) suitable for still acting as a partial closure of the box after said first opening, said reclosure portion being other that said breakable portion, and being it obtained from said base when said breakable portion is broken (as it will be described in details later) , said two breakable and reclosure portions being at least partially separated by at least one break line 3015A, 3015B, 3015C, 3015D, for instance breakable knurled lines, besides the cutout 3014E.

Advantageously the break lines comprise two arched break lines 3015A and 3015B, for instance shaped as an arch of a circle, which extend from the most external ends of the windows 3014B and 3014C up to the adjacent free side edge of the panel 3010, and break lines 3015C, 3015D, which extend, by converging to each other, from the most internal ends of the windows 3014B and 3014C up to the free edge of the tab 3011.

In this way, after the first opening of the base (figure 25) and the breakage of the breakable portion 3103 the remaining reclosure portion 3104 presents, in correspondence with its front free edge, two projecting teeth 3104A and 3104B, suitable for engaging with a blocking member 3105 provided in the side wall 3002 deprived of flaps and bottom walls in correspondence with the upper free edge of the wall itself. From each end of the two sides walls 3001, 3003, or at least from one of said walls, a flap 3016, 3017, projects, these flaps being separated from their respective side walls by crease lines 3012A and 3012B.

A side of the flaps features an irregular pattern

(preferably a rectilinear broken line) so as to present a first projecting tooth 3018, 3019, preferably hook-shaped, or with a point. Preferably the flaps, besides the first tooth 3018, also comprise a second tooth 3018B, 3019B featuring smaller dimensions and provided at that section of said side which is close to the fold line 3012A and B of the flaps .

These teeth 3018, 3018B, 3019, 3019B are suitable for cooperating with the cutouts 3014A-3014D provided in the base 3101 whenever the latter is closed for the first time so as to constrain the base and the flaps to each other and to only allow its opening if exerting such a force onto the base as to cause the breakage of the breakable portion of the base itself, as it will be explained later.

At the upper free edge of the side wall 3002 deprived of flaps and bottom walls, there is provided a blocking member 3105 suitable for cooperating with the two projecting teeth 3104A and 3104B of the reclosure portion 3104 to make it possible a reclosure of the box after its first opening and the breakage of the breakable portion 3103 of the bottom wall itself.

Advantageously the blocking member 3105 comprises an elongated element or wing 3105A separated from the wall 3002 by a break line 3105B (for instance a knurling) suitable for allowing and facilitating the rotation of the wing 3105 from a first position PI (figure 25) substantially coplanar with the wall 3002 to a position P2 (figure 26) whereby it is rotated by 90° toward the inside of the box. The elongated element 3105A is engineered in such a way as to possibly fit in the opening delimited by the two teeth 3018, 3018B and 3019, 3019B of the two flaps 3016 and 3017 whenever these are folded by 90° toward the inside of the box (as shown in figure 26) so that the teeth 3019B and 3018B are above the wing and the teeth 3018 and 3019 are below it (figure 26) . Thanks to this fitting of the elongated element 3105A with the teeth of the flaps, the elongated element is at least partially held in its 90°-folded position.

The paperboard 3100 according to figure 24 is folded and glued in a usual way to form a box with an upper opening A and a lower opening (not shown), the bases 3101, 3102 being open. In order to close the box, first of all it is necessary to overturn the two flaps 3016, 3017 by making them rotate around the respective fold lines, then the tab 3011 is folded with respect to the panel 3010 and the latter is folded around its fold line, by subsequently making the tab 3011 penetrate in depth between the inner face of the side wall 3002 and the flaps 3016, 3017. Once the tab is completely penetrated into the box, the sides of the first teeth 3018 and 3019 and of the second smaller teeth 3019B and 3018B are exactly positioned in front of the cutouts 3014C and 3014B and 3014A and 3014D of the base and penetrate therein while slightly projecting beyond the tab 3011 itself, so that the hook-shaped ends of such teeth lean against the adjacent portions of the base where the fold lines 3013 are derived. The base of the box is thus firmly held in the closed position because the shaped portion of the teeth 3018 and 3019, and even preferably of the smaller teeth 3018B and 3019B, firmly hook to the adjacent portions 3013 of the base 3008 and in the lower part of the box of the base, thus effectively exerting a resistance to its opening.

It is also worth underlying that the reclosure portion 3104 comprises a shaped surface suitable for overlapping the opening A of the box, having an area which is smaller than that of the panel 3010 of the upper and lower bases 3101, 3102, suitable for closing the opening of the box whenever the box is closed for the first time. In this way, when the box is closed for the first time, the panel 3010 completely closes the opening of the box, whereas, when the box has already been opened beforehand, the remaining part of the panel 3010 is shaped in such a way as to only partially close the opening A and to be able to optimally cooperate with the flaps 3016 and 3017.

Furthermore, thanks to the fact that the upper closure element 3101A and the lower one 3102A comprise one bottom wall 3101, 3102 and two flaps 3016, 3016', 3017, 3017' only each, i.e. three parts only, the operations necessary to assemble the box are extremely simplified.

Whenever one wishes to open the box (for instance by opening the upper base 3101), he shall grip the front appendages 3104A and 3104B of the panel 3010 superimposed to the teeth 3018 and 3019, by exerting an upward rotation, the grip of these appendages being fostered by the fold line 3013 between the base 3010 and the tab 3011 being re^¬ entrant. Initially the rotation results in breaking an extreme portion of the arched knurled lines 3015A and 3015B closer to the front edge of the box, then such knurled lines break completely as well the knurled lines 3015C and 3015D, with the consequent tear off of the parts shown in broken lines in figure 24. It is worth underlying that the breakage of the knurled lines takes place very easily because such breakage takes place directly upon a manual traction (not because of the teeth 3018, 3019, which just contribute to hold the tab 3011 down in its closed position along with the portions of the panel 3010 integral therewith) and because the breakage of the knurlings themselves begins at one of its ends, not from an intermediate zone thereof. Furthermore, breakage is facilitated by the fact that the knurlings extend in an arched form. The base of the box, after being opened for the first time, is lacking in two of its angular portions 3115A and 3115C and of the panel 3010 and the complete tab 3011 (which tears off into three portions 3115B, D, and E) , thus clearly indicating that the box has already been opened beforehand.

In order to re-close the base of the box once this has been opened and the part 3103 has been removed, it is sufficient to open the reclosable portion 3104 and the flaps 3016, 3017 (as shown in figure 25), to bend the elongated element 3105 of the front wall 3002 by 90° toward the inside of the box, and to fold the two flaps 3016 and 3017, making the teeth 3018, 3019 and 3018B, 3019B of the flaps fit in said elongated element and at least partially hold it (figure 26) . Then also lower the reclosure portion 3014 in such a way that at least a front section of the two projecting teeth 3104A and 3014B of the reclosure portion 3104 snaps in below the elongated element 3105A, thus blocking the reclosure portion 3014 to a box reclosure position .

In order to facilitate this insertion of the front sections of the two projecting teeth 3104A and 3104B of the reclosure portion 3104 below the elongated element 3105A, advantageously this reclosure portion comprises two fold lines 3014H suitable for fostering the curving of the portion itself whenever said portion 3014 is to be reclosed .

The two projecting teeth 3104A and 3104B of the reclosure portion 3104 are therefore suitable for operating as reclosure countermembers when cooperating with the reclosure member 3105 or with the elongated element 3105A.

Let's finally point out that the embodiment described so far has been provided for purely illustrative purposes and numerous variants are possible, all of them falling into the same inventive concept.

Advantageously the box uses glue only to constrain the side strip 3005 to the edge of its respective side wall 3001.

Advantageously the box comprises three panels 3010, 3016, 3017 only (not four) departing from three out of four of the side walls 3001-3004 of the box, i.e. the box is of a type whereby one side wall 3002 out of the side walls 3001-3004 is deprived of a panel that departs from the free edge of said wall 3002 deprived of panel.

Let's finally point out that the invention refers to a reclosable box, realized in one paperboard piece, with an upper closure element and one lower closure element (101A, 101B; 301A, 301B; 401A, 401B; 501A, 501B; 1101A, 1101B; 2101A, 2101B; 3101A, 3101B) suitable for closing an upper opening A and a lower opening of said box, said closure elements being resistant to the opening and with a tamper- evident portion, breakable upon the first opening of the box;

said box comprising:

- four side walls adjacent to and separated from each other by fold lines;

- an upper bottom wall or base and a lower bottom wall or base projecting from an upper end and a lower end of one first of said side walls;

- and two upper flaps and two lower flaps projecting: from the upper end and from the lower end of a respective second side wall, adjacent to said first side wall from which said bottom wall or base projects, and from the upper end and from the lower end of fourth side wall, separated from said second side wall by a third side wall, respectively;

- said upper and lower bottom walls or bases being formed each of: a closure panel directly projecting from the first side wall of the box and suitable for covering and completely closing said opening of the box, and a tab, which is in turn projecting from a free end of said panel,

- said panel being separated from its respective first side wall and from the tab by fold lines parallel to each other,

- said flaps being also separated from their respective side walls by a fold line,

- said bottom walls or bases comprising at least one break line suitable for allowing to at least partially separate said bottom walls or bases in at least one breakable portion upon the first opening of the box and suitable for being separated from the bottom wall or base after said first opening, and a box reclosure portion, suitable for remaining bound to the bottom wall or base even after said first opening and suitable for operating as an at least partial box reclosure element after said first opening;

- said flaps comprising first box blocking and closing means, suitable for fit-in cooperating with blocking and closure countermeans provided in the bottom walls or bases, said means and countermeans being suitable for holding said bottom walls or bases and said flaps joined to each other by thus closing the box, until, upon the first opening of the box, by acting onto said bottom walls or bases, said at least one break line breaks and said at least one breakable portion of the bottom walls or bases is separated from said reclosure portion,

- and wherein said box comprises second blocking means suitable for allowing an at least partial reclosure of the box after its first opening and after said breakable portion is broken.

The invention is characterized in that:

- the lower and upper closure elements of the box consist of three components only each:

said bottom wall or base and said two flaps,

- said reclosure portion features a shaped surface suitable for overlapping above the opening of the box to be reclosed, having an area smaller than that of said closure panel of the upper and lower bottom walls or bases.

Claims

1) A reclosable box, made in one paperboard piece (100), with an upper closure element (101A) and a lower closure element (102A) suitable for closing an upper opening (A) and a lower opening of said box, said closure elements being resistant to the opening and with a tamper-evident portion (103), breakable upon the first opening of the box; said box comprising:

- four side walls (1-4) adjacent to and separated from each other by fold lines (6-9),

- an upper bottom wall (101) and a lower bottom wall (102) projecting from an upper end and from a lower end of one of one first (4) of said side walls (1-4),

- and two upper flaps and two lower flaps (16, 17) projecting: from the upper end and from the lower end of a respective second side wall (3), adjacent to said first side wall (4) from which said bottom wall (101) projects, and from the upper end and from the lower end of a fourth side wall (1), separated from said second side wall (3) by a third side wall (2) respectively;

- said upper and lower bottom walls (101, 102) consisting each of: a closure panel (10) directly projecting from the first side wall (4) of the box and suitable for covering and completely closing said opening (A) of the box, and a tab (11) projecting in turn from a free end of said panel (10) ,

- said panel (10) being separated from its respective first side wall (4) and from the tab (11) by fold lines (12, 13) parallel to each other,

- said flaps (16, 17) being also separated from their respective side walls (3, 1) by a fold line (12'),

- said bottom walls (101, 102) comprising at least one break line (15A, 15B, 15C, 15D) suitable for allowing to at least partially separate said bottom walls (101, 102) in at least one breakable portion (103) upon the first opening of the box and suitable for being separated from the bottom wall (101, 102) after said first opening, and in a box reclosure portion (104) suitable for remaining constrained to the bottom wall (101, 102) even after said first opening and suitable for operating as an at least partial box reclosure element after said first opening,

- said flaps (16, 17) comprising first box blocking and closure means (18, 19, 18B, 19B), suitable for fit-in cooperating with blocking and closure countermeans (14A, 14B, 14C, 14D) provided in the bottom walls (101, 102), said means and countermeans being suitable for holding said bottom walls (101) and said flaps (16, 17) joined to each other thus closing the box, until, upon the first opening of the box, by acting onto said bottom walls (101, 102), said at least one break line (15A, 15B, 15C, 15D) breaks and said at least one breakable portion (103) of the bottom walls (101, 102) is separated from said reclosure portion (104),

- and wherein said box comprises second blocking means (105) suitable for allowing an at least partial reclosure of the box after its first opening and after said breakable portion (103) is broken,

characterized in that

- the upper and lower closure elements of the box consist each of three components only: said bottom wall (101, 102; 301, 302; 401, 402; 501, 502; 1101, 1102; 2101, 2102; 3101, 3012) and said two flaps (16, 17; 316, 317; 416, 417; 516; 517; 1016, 1017; 2016, 2017; 3016, 3017),

— said reclosure portion (104, 1104, 2104, 3104) presents a shaped surface suitable for overlapping above the opening (A) of the box to be reclosed, said shaped surface featuring an area smaller than that of said closure panel (10, 210, 310, 410, 1010, 2010, 3010) of the upper and lower bottom walls (101, 102; 301, 302; 401, 402; 501, 502; 1101, 1102; 2101, 2102; 3101, 3012), and said breakable portion (103) comprises at least one part (115A, 115B) of the closure panel so that said closure portion has a shape suitable for facilitating the reclosure of the box.

2) A box according to claim 1, characterized in that the second blocking means (1125) are provided on said reclosure portion (1104) and are suitable for cooperating with at least one shaped section (1105A) of said two flaps (1016, 1017) whenever said two flaps lean above said reclosure portion (1104), to make it possible an at least partial reclosure of the box after its first opening and after the breakage of said breakable portion.

3) A box according to claim 1, characterized in that the second blocking means (105, 305, 405, 505) are provided on said flaps (16, 17, 216, 217; 316, 317, 416, 417) and are suitable for cooperating with at least one shaped section (110A, HOB; 410A, 410B) of said reclosure portion (104, 404), to make it possible an at least partial reclosure of the box after its first opening and after the breakage of said breakable portion (103) .

4) A box according to claim 1, characterized in that the second blocking means (2105, 3105) are provided on an end portion of said third side wall (2002, 3002) provided between said second side walls (2003, 3003) and fourth side walls (2001, 3001) from which said flaps (2016, 2017; 3016, 3017) depart and are suitable for cooperating with at least one shaped section (2105A, 3104A, 3104B) of said tab (2011) reclosure portion (104, 404, 2104, 3104), to make it possible an at least partial reclosure of the box after its first opening and after the breakage of said breakable portion .

5) A box according to claim 1, characterized in that the second blocking means (3105) are provided on an end portion of said third side wall (3002) provided between said second side wall (3003) and fourth side wall (3001) from which said flaps (3016) depart and comprise a foldable elongated element (3105A) departing from the upper edge of said third wall (3302) and suitable for cooperating with at least one section (3104A and 3104B) of the reclosure portion (3014) so as to allow the reclosure of the box after its first opening .

6) A box according to claim 2, characterized in that the second blocking means (1125) provided in the reclosure portion (1104) comprise a pocket (1125A) suitable for housing internally thereto a piece (1105A') of the at least one flap (1016) so as to allow the reclosure of the box after its first opening and when said at least one flap leans above said reclosure portion (1104) .

7) A box according to claim 3, characterized in that the second blocking means (105, 305, 405, 505) provided on said flaps (16, 17, 216, 217; 316, 317, 416, 417) comprise a pocket (105A, 105A'; 305, 405, 505) suitable for housing internally thereto a piece (110A, HOB) of the reclosure portion (104) so as to allow the reclosure of the box after its first opening.

8) A box according to any of the previous claims 6 and 7, characterized in that the pocket comprises a pocket flap delimited on three sides by cutouts suitable for fostering the movement of said pocket flap toward the inside of the box, i.e. the opening of the pocket, and to make it easier the insertion into the pocket of the piece suitable for being inserted into said pocket, to make it possible the reclosure of the box.

9) A box according to claim 6, characterized in that the pocket (105A) comprises an opening (105B, 105C, 105D) and said opening, when the reclosure portion (104) is set to its horizontal position, is suitable for opening toward the outside of the box to make it possible the insertion into said opening of the piece (105A') of the at least one flap (16, 17) whenever this leans above said reclosure portion (104) . 10) A box according to any of the previous claims 1 to 4 and 6 to 9, characterized in that it comprises one bottom wall and two flaps only, departing from said at least four side walls, and at an upper end and a lower end of said walls, and in that one of said side walls is deprived of elements or walls departing from its upper free edge or from its lower free edge.

11) A box according to one or several of the previous claims, characterized in that it comprises an upper bottom wall and a lower bottom wall and said two bottom walls are identical to each other and depart from the upper and lower edges of one and the same side wall of the box.

12) A box according to one or several of the previous claims, characterized in that the reclosure portion comprises at least one cutout in the central position and at its front free edge, so as to create at least one small grip flap in the central position and at said edge.

13) A box according to one or several of the previous claims, characterized in that each of the bottom walls or bases consists of: a panel directly projecting from the first side wall of the box and a tab which is in turn projecting from a free end of said panel,

wherein the panel is separated from its respective first side wall and from the tab by fold lines, parallel to each other,

wherein at the fold lines, shifted more toward the free end of the tab, there are provided a plurality of cutout lines, and at least one of said cutouts determines an elongated window .

14) A box according to claim 13, characterized in that the breakable portion and the reclosure portion are at least partially separated by at least one break line, comprising: two arched break lines extending from the most external ends of the elongated windows up to the adjacent free side edge of the panel.

15) A box according to one or several of the previous claims, characterized in that the first blocking means are such that the side of the at least one flap that is destined to be opposite to the fold line between the panel and its respective tab, in the packed box, features an irregular pattern so as to form at least one projecting tooth, suitable for cooperating with cutouts provided in the panel when it is closed for the first time, so as to fit-in constrain the base and the flaps to each other and allow their separation by only exerting onto the panel such a force as to cause the breakable portion of the base to break .

16) A box according to claim 6, characterized in that the at least one flap is separated from its respective side wall which it departs from by a crease line, and the section of said at least one flap that cooperates with the second blocking means is a portion of the edge of the taps opposite to that presenting the first blocking means.

17) A box according to claim 7, characterized in that the reclosure portion comprises a central fold line, having the same direction as a central axis of symmetry of said reclosure portion, suitable for facilitating the curving of said reclosure portion toward the inside of the box, when said portion is to be reclosed and the at least one section of said reclosure portion cooperates with the second blocking means.

18) A box according to claim 7, characterized in that the reclosure portion comprises a section of the edge that is hollow in the central position and at its front free edge, so as to create a central empty space in the central position and at said edge, suitable for facilitating the curving of said reclosure portion toward the inside of the box, whenever said portion is to be reclosed and the at least one section of said reclosure portion cooperates with the second blocking means.

19) A box according to claim 4, characterized in that the second blocking means (2105) provided on an end portion of the third side wall (2002, 3002) deprived of flaps and bottom walls comprise a pocket (2125A) suitable for housing a piece (2105A') of a shaped appendage (2104A') of the reclosure portion (2104) of the upper bottom wall (2101), so as to allow the reclosure of the box after its first opening, and said shaped appendage is a part of the tab (2011) that is obtained after the first opening of the bottom wall and the breakage of the breakable portion (2103) .

20) A box according to claim 5, characterized in that the foldable elongated element (3105A) is suitable for cooperating with at least one tooth (3104A, 3104B) projecting from a front free edge of the reclosure portion (3104) and in that said tooth is obtained after the first opening of the bottom wall and the breakage of the breakable portion (2103) .

21) A box according to claim 5, characterized in that the foldable elongated element (3105A) is separated from the wall (3002) which it departs from by a break line (3105B) suitable for allowing and facilitating the rotation of said elongated element (3105) from a first position (PI) substantially coplanar with the wall (3002) to a position (P2) wherein it is rotated by 90° toward the inside of the box .

22) A box according to claim 5, characterized in that the foldable elongated element (3105A) is engineered in such a way as to possibly fit-in insert in an opening delimited by two teeth (3018, 3018B, 3019, 3019B) provided in the two flaps (3016, 3017) when both said flaps and said elongated element are folded by 90° toward the inside of the box, so that the elongated element is at least partially held in the 90° folded position.