Folding container with folding closure ends

Claim 2

A flat folding container, having four side panels mutually joined along first parallel score lines about which they are turnable for set-up of the container with its ends open and the side panels disposed rectangularly to each other, and opposite identical sets of end cover flaps of which each set provides four flaps continuous with said side panels, respectively, along second score lines extending along the adjacent ends of the respective side panels and normal to said fIrst score lines, with said flaps of each set being infoldable about their associated second score lines from open position, in which they are substantially coplanar with the respective side panels, into closed position in which they are in covering relation with the adjacent open end of the set-up container with a first flap innermost and the remaining flaps resting on top of said first flap, said first flap of each set providing a cover part of rectangular outline, and at least one ear part on said cover part remote from the associated second score line and coplanar with said cover part, with said cover part being dimensioned substantially to fit the adjacent open end of the set-up container in the closed position of said first flap, and the side panel next to said ear part of each of said first flaps in its closed position having a slit aligned with said ear part in the closed position of said first flap, with said ear part projecting outside the rectangular outline of said cover part to an extent such that on closure of said first flap said ear part will snap into interlock with said slit.

Claim 3

A flat folding container as in claim 1, in which said cover part of each of said first flaps has a straight end spaced from and parallel to the associated second score line, and opposite sides extending from the latter to said straight end, and said first flap has two of said ear parts on said sides, respectively, of said cover part thereof and extending to said straight end, with the ends of the side panels next to said ear parts, respectively, in the closed position of said first flap having said slits, respectively, into interlock with which said ear parts snap on closure of said first panel.

Claim 4

A flat folding container as in claim 2, in which said slits are slots.

Claim 5

A flat folding container as in claim 2, which further provides a substantially rectangular wrapping having an intermediate length secured to the outer faces of said side panels and completely enveloping the latter, and opposite endlengths extending beyond the opposite ends of the side panels and foldable against the adjacent closed flaps, so that said wrapping externally covers said slits and therewith interlocked ear parts of the respective first flaps.

Claim 6

A flat folding container as in claim 4, in which second and third ones of said flaps of each set next to said first flap thereof are, in their closed position, lying on top of said first flap in its closed position, with with said second and third flaps being of substantially identical size and trapezoidal outline, each having short and long parallel base lines of which the long base line is formed by the associated second score line, and opposite side edges of which one is inclined to said base lines and the other extends substantially normal to said long base line from the end thereof remote from the side panel with which said first flap is continuous, and the remaining fourth one of said flaps lying, in its closed position, on top of said second and third flaps in their closed position, withsaid fourth flap being of trapezoidal outline, having opposite long and short parallel base lines of which the long base line is formed by the associated second score line, and substantially equally but oppositely inclined side edges, said second, third and fourth flaps being between their respective base lines of a length less than that of said first flap between its associated second score line and its straight end so that said second and third flaps are out of overlap with each other in their closed position, and said wrapper endlengths are in the form of circumferentially continuous sheets of a cross-sectional outline in approximate continuation of that of said intermediate wrapper length on the container, with said wrapper endlengths being secured to the outer faces of the flaps of the respective sets so that on closing said flaps in the order described the associated wrapper endlengths will be folded and closed in imitation of orderly handfolding them for closure, and said wrapper endlengths being of sufficient lengthwise extent completely to cover all exposed portions of the closed flaps.

Claim 7

A flat folding container as in claim 2, in which second and third flaps of each set next to said first flap thereof are infolded into closed position in which they lie on top of said first flap in its closed position, and are dimensioned to be out of overlap with each other in their closed position, and the remaining fourth flap of each set is infolded into closed position in which it lies on top of said second and third flaps in their closed position, and said first flap of each set has at said straight end thereof a tongue foldable into and from coplanar extension with said first flap about a score line along said straight end, whereby on turning said first flap into its closed position and folding said tongue into lap with the adjacent fourth flap in its open position, the latter will, on its closure, take along said tongue and tuck it between the adjacent closed second and third flaps and said fourth flap.

Claim 8

A flat folding container as in claim 6, in which said tongue on said first flap of each set is initially coplanar with said first flap and non-folded, so that on initial closure of said first flap said tongue will contact the adjacent fourth flap in its open position and thereby be folded into lap with the latter, and said fourth flap will on its subsequent closure take along said tongue and tuck it between the adjacent closed second and third flaps and said fourth flap.

Claim 9

A flat folding container as in claim 5, in which said first flap of each set has at said straight end thereof a tongue foldable into and from coplanar extension with said first flap about a score line along said straight end, whereby on turning said first flap into its closed position and folding said tongue into lap with the adjacent fourth flap in its open position, the latter will, on its closure, take along said tongue and tuck it between the adjacent closed second and third flaps and said fourth flap, with said tongue being dimensioned to be completely covered by said fourth closed flap when tucked in.

Claim 10

A flat folding container as in claim 8, in which said tongue on said first flap of each set is initially coplanar with said first flap and non-folded, so that on initial closure of said first flap said tongue will contact the adjacent fourth flap in its open position and thereby be folded into lap with the latter, and said fourth flap will on its subsequent closure take along said tongue and tuck it between the adjacent closed second and third flaps and said fourth flap.

Claim 11

A flat folding container having four side panels mutually joined along first parallel score lines about which they are turnable for set-up of the container with its ends open and the side panels disposed rectangularly to each other, and opposite identical sets of end cover flaps of which each set provides four flaps continuous with said side panels, respectively, along second score lines extending along the adjacent ends of the respective side panels and normal to said first score lines, with said flaps of each set being infoldable about their associated second score lines from open position, in which they are substantially coplanar with the respective side panels, into closed position in which they are in covering relation with the adjacent open end of the set-up container, the flaps of each set being designated first, second, third and fourth flaps, of which said first flap is to be closed first and is dimensioned substantially to fit the adjacent open container end when in its closed position, with said first flap having a straight end spaced from and parallel to the associated second score line, said second and third flaps are next to said first flap and are to be closed next and in their closed position lie on top of said first closed flap, with said second and third flaps being dimensioned to be out of overlap with each other in their closed position, and said fourth fLap is to be closed last and in its closed position lies on top of said second and third closed flaps, and said first flap of each set has at said straight end thereof a tongue foldable into and out of coplanar extension with said first flap about a score line along said straight end, whereby on turning said first flap into its closed position and folding said tongue into lap with the adjacent fourth open flap, said fourth flap will on its subsequent closure take along said tongue and tuck it between the adjacent closed second and third flaps and said fourth flap.

Claim 12

A flat folding container having four side panels mutually joined along first parallel score lines about which they are turnable for set-up of the container with its ends open and the side panels disposed rectangularly to each other, and opposite identical sets of end cover flaps of which each set provides four flaps continuous with said side panels, respectively, along second score lines extending along the adjacent ends of the respective side panels and normal to said first score lines, with said flaps of each set being infoldable about their associated second score lines from open position, in which they are substantially coplanar with the respective side panels, into closed position in which they are in covering relation with the adjacent open end of the set-up container, the flaps of each set being designated first, second, third and fourth flaps, of which said first flap is to be closed first and is dimensioned substantially to fit the adjacent open container end when in its closed position, with said first flap having a straight end spaced from and parallel to the associated second score line, said second and third flaps are next to said first flap and are to be closed next and in their closed position lie on top of said first closed flap, with said second and third flaps being dimensioned to be out of overlap with each other in their closed position, and said fourth fLap is to be closed last and in its closed position lies on top of said second and third closed flaps, and said first flap of each set has at said straight end thereof a tongue foldable into and out of coplanar extension with said first flap about a score line along said straight end, whereby on turning said first flap into its closed position and folding said tongue into lap with the adjacent fourth open flap, said fourth flap will on its subsequent closure take along said tongue and tuck it between the adjacent closed second and third flaps and said fourth flap.

Claim 13

A flat folding container as in claim 10, in which said tongue on said first flap of each set is initially coplanar with said first flap and non-folded, so that on initial closure of said first flap said tongue will contact the adjacent fourth flap in its open position and thereby be folded into lap with the latter, and said fourth flap will on its subsequent closure take along said tongue and tuck it between the adjacent closed second and third flaps and said fourth flap.