JP7786393B2 - Individual packaging box - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to individual packaging boxes.

Traditionally, the affixing of stickers has been a common method of preventing tampering of individual packaging boxes placed in stores. In recent years, in consideration of environmental impact, individual packaging boxes that prevent tampering without using stickers have emerged. Patent Document 1 describes an individual packaging box in which one opening of a rectangular pillar-shaped box body is closed with an inner flap and an outer flap. An insert piece having a pair of foldable locking pieces is connected to the outer flap. The inner flap has a notch into which the insert piece with the pair of locking pieces folded can be inserted. When the insert piece with the pair of locking pieces folded is inserted into the box body through the notch, the pair of locking pieces open inside the box body, locking the box and making it impossible to open the individual packaging box.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-26146

The individual packaging box described in Patent Document 1 cannot be opened once the insert is inserted into the box body and the box is closed. If an attempt is made to remove a product (stored item) from the box for reasons such as inspection or repair, the inner and outer flaps may be damaged or the box body may be deformed, making the box unreusable.

One or more embodiments aim to provide an individual packaging box that prevents tampering without the use of an anti-tamper seal and that can be opened after the contents are stored and the individual packaging box is closed.

According to one aspect of one or more embodiments, the container comprises a main body having first and second side panels facing each other and having an opening for putting in and taking out stored items; a top panel connected to the end of the first side panel on the opening side and pivoting relative to the first side panel to open and close the opening; an inner flap connected to the top panel and pivoting relative to the top panel, and positioned on the inner surface of the second side panel when the top panel is closing the opening; and an outer flap having a base connected to the second side panel and pivoting relative to the second side panel, and a tip connected to the base and pivoting relative to the base, wherein a non-linear slit is formed in the inner flap. The individual packaging box is configured such that when the top plate closes the opening and the inner flap is positioned on the inner surface side of the second side plate and the tip portion is deformed to fit the shape of the slit and passed through the slit to enter the inside of the main body portion, the tip portion returns to its original state inside the main body portion and cannot be pulled out from the inside of the main body portion through the slit to the outside of the main body portion, and the top plate maintains the state in which the opening is closed, and the top plate has a through hole formed therein for inserting an opening tool into the inside of the main body portion to deform the tip portion that has been restored inside the main body portion to fit the shape of the slit.

The individual packaging box according to one or more embodiments prevents tampering without the use of an anti-tamper seal, and can be opened after the contents are stored inside and the individual packaging box is closed.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a packaging box according to one or more embodiments, showing the opening in an open state. FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a first member of first and second members that constitute an individual packaging box according to one or more embodiments. FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a second member of the first and second members that constitute the individual packaging box according to one or more embodiments. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a packaging box according to one or more embodiments, showing the opening being partially closed. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a packaging box according to one or more embodiments, showing the opening closed and the outer flap before being inserted into the body. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a packaging box according to one or more embodiments, with the opening closed and the outer flap inserted into the body. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of an individual box according to one or more embodiments, cut along a plane perpendicular to the X direction, in a state in which the opening is being closed, similar to FIG. 4. In FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view of an individual box according to one or more embodiments, cut along a plane perpendicular to the X direction, in a state before the opening is closed and the outer flap is inserted into the main body, similar to FIG. 5 . FIG. 9 is a partial plan view of an individual box according to one or more embodiments, as viewed in the direction of arrow A8 in FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view of an individual box according to one or more embodiments, cut along a plane perpendicular to the X direction, with the opening closed and the outer flap inserted into the main body, similar to FIG. 5 . 11 is a partial plan view of the individual packaging box shown in FIG. 10 cut along A100-A100 and viewed in the direction of arrow A10 in FIG. FIG. 12 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state in which an opening tool is brought close to the individual packaging box shown in FIG. 13 is a partial plan view of the individual packaging box shown in FIG. 12 cut along A120-A120 and viewed in the direction of arrow A12 in FIG. FIG. 14 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state in which the opening tool is inserted into the main body. 15 is a partial plan view of the individual packaging box shown in FIG. 14 cut along A140-A140 and viewed in the direction of arrow A14 in FIG.

The individual box 1 according to one or more embodiments shown in Figure 1 accommodates an electrical device such as headphones, or any other device, as an example of an item to be stored. As shown in Figure 1, the individual box 1 comprises a main body 3, a top plate 5, an inner flap 7, and an outer flap 9. The main body 3 is formed in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped box. The top plate 5 is rectangular. The longitudinal direction of the main body 3 is the X direction (left-right direction), the short side direction of the main body 3 perpendicular to the X direction is the Y direction (depth direction), and the direction perpendicular to the X and Y directions is the Z direction (height direction).

The main body 3 comprises a bottom plate 29 and four side plates 31a to 31d. Side plate 31a (first side plate) and side plate 31c (second side plate) face each other, and side plate 31b and side plate 31d face each other. The main body 3 has an opening 11 at its upper end (end in the Z direction) for inserting and removing stored items. The individual box 1 is formed symmetrically when viewed from the side plate 31c side. The individual box 1 is formed from a material such as paper of a predetermined thickness. The material forming the individual box 1 is assumed to be paper.

As an example, the individual packaging box 1 is constructed by folding the first member 39 shown in the expanded view of Figure 2 and the second member 41 shown in the expanded view of Figure 3 along the folding lines shown by dashed lines, and then bonding the two together at appropriate locations with adhesive to integrate them.

As shown in Figure 2, the first member 39 includes a top plate 5, an inner flap 7, side plates 31a and 31b, a bottom plate component 43, a side flap 45, a bottom flap 47, and a connecting piece 49. The first member 39 can be formed by cutting a single sheet of paper. As shown in Figure 3, the second member 41 includes an outer flap 9, side plates 31c and 31d, a top flap 51, a bottom plate component 53, a side flap 55, a bottom flap 57, and a connecting piece 59. The second member 41 can also be formed by cutting a single sheet of paper.

The connecting piece 49 of the first member 39 is attached to the inner edge of the side plate 31d of the second member 41. The connecting piece 59 of the second member 41 is attached to the inner edge of the side plate 31b of the first member 39. The bottom plate components 43 and 53 are attached to the bottom flaps 47 and 57 to form the bottom plate 29 shown in Figure 1. In this manner, the individual packaging box 1 shown in Figure 1 is formed.

Here, the individual packaging box 1 is shown to be formed from two sheets, the first member 39 and the second member 41, but it is also possible to form the individual packaging box 1 from a single sheet of paper. In this case, for example, the connecting piece 59 can be eliminated and side plate 31b and side plate 31c can be connected. Also, here, the bottom plate 29 is formed from the bottom plate components 43 and 53 and the bottom flaps 47 and 57, but the method for forming the bottom plate 29 is not limited.

The configuration of the individual packaging box 1 will be explained in more detail with reference to Figures 1 to 3. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the top plate 5 is connected to the upper end of the side plate 31a. The top plate 5 is rotatable relative to the side plate 31a, with the boundary 13 with the side plate 31a serving as the center of rotation. Rotation means bidirectional rotation within an angular range of less than 360 degrees. By rotating the top plate 5, the top plate 5 opens and closes the opening 11 in the main body 3. The inner flap 7 is connected to the end of the top plate 5 opposite the boundary 13. The inner flap 7 is rotatable relative to the top plate 5, with the boundary 15 with the top plate 5 (first boundary) serving as the center of rotation.

Four circular through holes 17 are provided in the top plate 5 near the inner flap 7. The through holes 17 include a pair of inner through holes 171 and a pair of outer through holes 172. The four through holes 17 are aligned in the X direction at a predetermined interval. The through holes 17 are large enough that a human finger cannot fit through them. A slit 23 is formed in the inner flap 7, penetrating the inner flap 7. The slit 23 is formed in a non-linear fashion, rather than in a straight line. The four through holes 17 are provided near the boundary 15 so as to be located within the range of both ends of the slit 23 in the X direction.

As shown in FIG. 2, the slit 23 includes a central portion 231, a pair of intermediate portions 232 sandwiching the central portion 231, and a pair of end portions 233 sandwiching the central portion 231 and the intermediate portion 232. The central portion 231 is arranged so as to be in contact with the boundary portion 15. The intermediate portions 232 are arranged so as to be farther away from the boundary portion 15 as they move outward on both sides in the X direction, and the end portions 233 are arranged so as to be further away from the boundary portion 15 as they move outward on both sides in the X direction.

The central portion 231 is located at the center of the boundary portion 15 in the X direction and is formed linearly over a predetermined length in the X direction. The intermediate portion 232 is formed linearly over a predetermined length, although the portion connecting to the central portion 231 is wider. The end portion 233 connecting to the intermediate portion 232 is formed linearly over a predetermined length. The angle between the boundary portion 15 and the intermediate portion 232 is angle θ1. The angle between the boundary portion 15 and the end portion 233 is angle θ2, which is larger than angle θ1. The pair of intermediate portions 232 and the pair of end portions 233 are symmetrical with respect to a line perpendicular to the boundary portion 15 at the center of the boundary portion 15 in the X direction.

The intermediate portion 232 and the end portion 233 are inclined portions that connect to the central portion 231 on both sides of the central portion 231 and slope away from the boundary portion 15. The inclined portion may be formed by a single straight line segment with one angle, or by three or more straight line segments with three or more angles. The slit 23 is non-linear due to the central portion 231 and the inclined portions. The inclined portion of the slit 23 may be formed by a curve such as an arc, or the entire slit 23 may be formed by a curve such as an arc.

As can be seen in Figures 1 and 2, the pair of through holes 171 are formed at positions facing the pair of intermediate portions 232 across the boundary portion 15. The pair of through holes 172 are formed at positions facing the pair of end portions 233 across the boundary portion 15.

The top plate 5 has a semicircular through-hole 67 located in the center of the boundary portion 15 and connecting to the central portion 231. As will be described later, the through-hole 67 is provided to allow a finger to be placed over it when pulling out the outer flap 9 or opening the top plate 5.

1 and 3, the outer flap 9 is provided near the upper end of the side panel 31c. The outer flap 9 is formed by cutting a portion of the area spanning the side panel 31c and the top flap 51 and bending the cut area outward at the connecting portion 35 with the side panel 31c. The width of the outer flap 9 in the X direction is narrower than the width of the inner flap 7 in the X direction.

The outer flap 9 has a base 19 and a tip 21, and the tip 21 is folded at a boundary 37 (second boundary) between the base 19 and tip 21. The boundary 37 is located in the center of the width of the base 19 and tip 21. The base 19 is formed from a portion of the cut side panel 31c, and the tip 21 is formed from a portion of the cut top flap 51.

As shown in Figure 3, two notches 33 of a predetermined length are formed in the end of the side panel 31c on the top flap 51 side (the upper end of the main body 3). The connecting portion 35 is a line segment connecting the ends of the two notches 33 away from the top flap 51. The outer flap 9 is rotatable relative to the side panel 31c, with the connecting portion 35 as the center of rotation. The tip portion 21 is rotatable relative to the base portion 19, with the boundary portion 37 as the center of rotation. The connecting portion 35 and the boundary portion 37 are parallel to each other.

As shown in Figures 1 and 3, notches 71 are formed between the base 19 and the tip 21 on both outer sides of the boundary 37. The formation of the notches 71 between the base 19 and the tip 21, excluding the boundary 37, allows both widthwise ends of the tip 21 to bend in a direction intersecting the plane of the tip 21.

As shown in Figure 3, the tip portion 21 may have a fold 20 in a direction perpendicular to the boundary 37. The thickness of the paper may be thinner at the fold 20 than in other parts of the tip portion 21. By providing the fold 20 in the tip portion 21, the tip portion 21 becomes more likely to deform in a direction intersecting the surface.

In the initial state of the individual packaging box 1 configured as described above, the opening 11 is open as shown in Figure 1. When an item is placed inside the main body 3, the side flaps 45 and 55 are rotated to cover the left and right ends of the opening 11, and the top flap 51 is further rotated relative to the side plate 31c to cover the opening 11, the box assumes the state shown in Figure 4 or Figure 7. The top flap 51 mostly covers the opening 11 inside the top plate 5.

When the top plate 5 is rotated toward the top flap 51 in the state shown in Figure 4 or Figure 7 and the left and right ends of the inner flap 7 are inserted into the gaps 52 formed on both outer sides of the outer flap 9 between the side plate 31c and the top flap 51, the state shown in Figure 5 or Figure 8 is achieved. In the state shown in Figure 5 or Figure 8, the inner flap 7 is positioned on the inner side of the side plate 31c and closes the opening formed by cutting the base 19 at the upper end of the side plate 31c. The top plate 5 closes the opening formed by cutting the tip 21 of the top flap 51 and covers the entire top flap 51. The top plate 5 closes the opening 11 via the side flaps 45 and 55 and the top flap 51.

As shown in Figure 8, the inner flap 7 contacts the inner surface of the side panel 31c. In Figure 8, when the outer flap 9 is viewed in the direction of arrow A8, the inner flap 7 and the outer flap 9 are positioned relative to each other as shown in Figure 9.

In the state shown in Figure 5 or Figure 8, when the base 19 and the tip portion 21 are rotated, the left and right ends of the tip portion 21 are deformed to fit the shape of the slit 23, and the tip portion 21 is passed through the slit 23 and inserted into the inside of the main body portion 3, resulting in the state shown in Figure 6. As shown by the two-dot chain line in Figure 11, when the tip portion 21 is inserted into the slit 23, the tip portion 21 deforms to follow the shape of the slit 23 and passes through the slit 23.

When the entire tip 21 passes through the slit 23 and enters the inside of the main body 3, the deformed tip 21 returns to its original state before passing through the slit 23. Therefore, as shown in Figure 10, the tip 21 comes into contact with the inner surface of the top plate 5. In Figure 11, the tip 21 coming into contact with the inner surface of the top plate 5 is shown by a dashed line.

When the tip portion 21 returns to its pre-deformation state inside the main body 3, even if an attempt is made to rotate the outer flap 9 outward by pressing the tip portion 21 with a finger through the through-hole 67, the tip portion 21 cannot pass through the slit 23 from inside the main body 3, and therefore the outer flap 9 cannot be pulled out of the main body 3. As a result, the top plate 5 maintains a state in which the opening 11 of the main body 3 is closed via the side flaps 45 and 55 and the top flap 51. In Figure 10, even if an attempt is made to rotate the top plate 5 in the direction indicated by arrow A1, the outer flap 9 is caught on the inner flap 7, and therefore the top plate 5 cannot be rotated.

When the tip portion 21 passes through the slit 23 and enters the inside of the main body portion 3, the inner flap 7 and the outer flap 9 act as a closed state maintaining portion that keeps the top plate 5 closing the opening 11.

As described above, when the contents are stored in the main body 3 and the individual packaging box 1 is closed as shown in Figure 6, the outer flap 9 cannot be pulled out and the top panel 5 cannot be opened. The individual packaging box 1 can be prevented from being tampered with without using an anti-tamper seal.

After storing an item in the main body 3 and closing the individual box 1, it may be necessary to remove the item from the individual box 1 for reasons such as inspection or repair. The individual box 1 is configured so that it can be opened using a dedicated opening tool after it is closed. Opening the individual box 1 with the opening tool does not damage the inner flap 7 or outer flap 9 or deform the main body 3, so there is no need to replace the individual box 1.

Using Figures 12 to 15, we will explain an opening tool for opening the individual box 1 and how to open the individual box 1 using the opening tool. As shown in Figures 12 and 13, the opening tool 25 has a rectangular pillar-shaped tool body 250 and two pairs of cylindrical protrusions 251 and 252 protruding from the tool body 250. The pair of cylindrical protrusions 251 has a first length, and the pair of cylindrical protrusions 252 has a second length that is longer than the first length. The opening tool 25, which has the tool body 250 and the two pairs of protrusions 251 and 252, can be formed, for example, by integrally molding synthetic resin.

The spacing between the pair of cylindrical protrusions 251 is the same as the spacing between the inner pair of through holes 171 of the four through holes 17, and the spacing between the pair of cylindrical protrusions 252 is the same as the spacing between the outer pair of through holes 172 of the four through holes 17. The diameter of the protrusions 251 and 252 is slightly smaller than the diameter of the through holes 17. Therefore, two pairs of protrusions 251 and 252 can be inserted into the four through holes 17.

14 and 15, when the opening tool 25 is pushed in, the pair of protrusions 251 deform the portions of the tip portion 21 on both sides outside the boundary portion 37, and the pair of protrusions 252 deform both ends of the tip portion 21. As shown in FIG. 15, the pair of protrusions 251 deform the portions of the tip portion 21 on both sides outside the boundary portion 37 so that they face the pair of middle portions 232 of the slit 23. The pair of protrusions 252 deform both ends of the tip portion 21 so that they face the pair of end portions 233 of the slit 23.

In other words, the first length of the pair of protrusions 251 is the length that deforms the portions of the tip portion 21 on both sides outside the boundary portion 37 to match the position and shape of the pair of intermediate portions 232 of the slit 23. The second length of the pair of protrusions 252 is the length that deforms both end portions of the tip portion 21 to match the position and shape of the pair of end portions 233 of the slit 23.

Therefore, with the protrusions 251 and 252 of the opening tool 25 pressed into the through-hole 17, if an attempt is made to rotate the outer flap 9 outward by pressing the tip 21 with a finger through the through-hole 67, the tip 21 will pass through the slit 23 from inside the main body 3, allowing the outer flap 9 to be pulled out. Pulling out the outer flap 9 returns the individual box 1 to the state shown in Figure 5 or Figure 8. In Figure 5, if a finger is placed through the through-hole 67 and the top plate 5 is lifted, the top plate 5 can be rotated in the direction indicated by arrow A1 in Figure 8. Rotating the top plate 5 in the direction indicated by arrow A1 returns the individual box 1 to the state shown in Figure 4 or Figure 7, and further to the state shown in Figure 1.

As described above, when it is necessary to remove an item from the individual packaging box 1 for reasons such as inspection or repair of the item, the individual packaging box 1 can be opened and the item can be removed using the dedicated opening tool 25. In this process, the inner flap 7 and outer flap 9 are not damaged and the main body 3 is not deformed. After inspection or repair of the item is complete, the item can be placed back into the main body 3 and the individual packaging box 1 can be closed. If it becomes necessary to remove an item from the individual packaging box 1 before shipping the product, the item can be removed using the opening tool 25. This prevents tampering at stores after the product has been shipped.

In one or more embodiments, the individual packaging box 1 is formed symmetrically, but it may also be formed asymmetrically. The slits 23 may be formed asymmetrically. Accordingly, the outer flap 9 may be formed asymmetrically. The inclined portion of the slit 23 may be formed in only one of the left and right directions. Accordingly, the tip 21 of the outer flap 9 may be configured to deform in only one of the left and right directions. The through holes 17 formed in the top plate 5 are positioned and numbered to correspond to the changes in the slits 23 and tip 21. The opening tool 25 has a shape that corresponds to the changes in the through holes 17, slits 23, and tip 21.

The present invention is not limited to one or more of the embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

This application claims priority to Patent Application No. 2020-203966, filed with the Japan Patent Office on December 9, 2020, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Claims (5)

a main body having first and second side plates facing each other and an opening for inserting and removing stored items;
a top plate connected to an end of the first side plate on the opening side and pivoting relative to the first side plate to open and close the opening;
an inner flap connected to the top plate, pivoting relative to the top plate, and positioned on the inner surface side of the second side plate when the top plate is closing the opening;
an outer flap having a base portion connected to the second side panel and pivotable relative to the second side panel, and a tip portion connected to the base portion and pivotable relative to the base portion;
Equipped with
The inner flap has a non-linear slit formed therein,
When the top plate closes the opening and the inner flap is positioned on the inner surface side of the second side plate, if the tip portion is deformed to fit the shape of the slit and passes through the slit to enter the inside of the main body portion, the tip portion will return to its original shape inside the main body portion and will not be able to pass through the slit from the inside of the main body portion to the outside of the main body portion, and the top plate will maintain the state in which the opening is closed,
The slit includes a central portion provided so as to contact a first boundary portion between the top plate and the inner flap, and inclined portions connected to the central portion on both outer sides of the central portion and inclined so as to move away from the first boundary portion,
the inclined portion is formed by a plurality of pairs of straight line segments provided on both outer sides so as to sandwich the central portion, and an angle of each pair of straight line segments with respect to the first boundary portion increases as the line segment is positioned further outward;
The top plate has a plurality of pairs of through holes formed therein, facing each pair of line segments across the first boundary, for inserting an opening tool into the inside of the main body portion to deform the tip portion restored inside the main body portion so as to match the shape of the slit. (delete) the base portion and the tip portion are connected at a second boundary portion located at the center in the width direction of the base portion and the tip portion,
The individual packaging box according to claim 1, wherein notches are formed between the base and the tip on both outer sides of the second boundary, allowing both widthwise ends of the tip to bend in a direction intersecting the surface of the tip. a top flap connected to an end of the second side plate on the opening side and pivoting relative to the second side plate to close the opening on the inner side of the top plate;
The outer flap is formed by cutting a region spanning the second side panel and the top flap,
The packaging box according to claim 1 or 3, wherein the cut portion of the second side panel is the base portion, and the cut portion of the top flap is the tip portion. The opening tool has a tool body and a plurality of pairs of protrusions protruding from the tool body and inserted into the plurality of pairs of through holes,
5. The individual packaging box according to claim 1, wherein a length of each of the pairs of protrusions is such that, when the pairs of protrusions are inserted into the pairs of through holes, the tip portions are deformed to match the positions and shapes of the line segments of each pair in the inclined portion.