Shipping container provided with external locking clip

A shipping container including a container body having at least one open end and at least one mounting opening formed therein adjacent to the open end, an end cap having a sidewall provided with a projection that extends away from the sidewall and a slot; and an external locking clip comprising an elongate member having a first end provided with a protruding portion and a second end provided with a receiving portion for receiving an end portion of the protruding portion. The end cap is received in the open end of the container body such that the container body surrounds the sidewall, the projection extends into the mounting opening, and the mounting opening is aligned with the slot in the sidewall. The protruding portion extends through the mounting opening and the aligned slot, and end portion of the protruding portion is received within the receiving portion.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a shipping container provided with an external locking clip.

2. Description of Related Art

Erdie, U.S. Pub. Pat. App. No. 2005/0205649 A1, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, discloses a locking mechanism for a shipping container comprising a paper tube and an end cap that is adapted to be received in an open end of the paper tube. The locking mechanism is integrally formed with the end cap and is configured to break when disengaged from a locking position so as to make it evident that the security of the shipping container has been compromised. For this reason, an end cap provided with an integral locking mechanism is single-use device.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, the present invention is directed toward a shipping container provided with an external locking clip. The locking clip, which is separate and distinct from an end cap, prevents removal of the end cap from a container body unless and until the locking clip is broken thereby making it evident that the security of the shipping container has been compromised. The use of an external locking clip allows the end cap to be reused.

The foregoing and other features of the invention are hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the present invention may be employed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the accompanying drawing figures, and particularlyFIGS. 1 and 2, a shipping container20according to the invention comprises a container body30, at least one end cap40and an external locking clip10for securing the end cap40to the container body30. The word “external” means that the locking clip10is separate and distinct from the container body30and the end cap40and is not integrally formed as part of either.

In accordance with the invention, the container body30is provided with at least one mounting opening50proximal to an open end60. The end cap40is provided with at least one projection70that extends from a sidewall80of the end cap40. The projection70is adapted to extend into the mounting opening50formed in the container body30when the end cap40is received within the open end60of the container body30and the sidewall80of the end cap40is surrounded thereby. Preferably, a plurality of mounting openings50are spaced an equal distance apart about the container body30adjacent to the open end60, and a corresponding plurality of projections70extend from the sidewall80of the end cap40.

In the embodiment of the invention shown inFIG. 2, each projection70is formed on a deflectable tab portion90of the sidewall80of the end cap40. The deflectable tab portion90is defined by a slot100provided in the sidewall80of the end cap40. In this embodiment of the invention, the slot100is aligned with the mounting opening50in the container body30when the end cap40is received within the open end60of the container body30. It will be appreciated that the projections70do not necessarily need to be formed on a deflectable tab portion90of the sidewall80, provided a slot or opening is provided through the sidewall80of the end cap40that aligns with an opening provided in the container body30proximal to the open end60when the end cap40is received within the open end60of the container body30.

The projections70preferably have the features as described in Erdie, U.S. Pub. Pat. App. No. 2004/0205648 A1, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. In particular, the projections70preferably include a top edge portion adapted to contact an edge portion of the mounting opening50to prevent withdrawal of the end cap40from the container body30unless and until the projection70is deflected inwardly such that the projection70is no longer disposed within the mounting opening50of the container body30. The projections70further preferably include a bottom ramp portion arranged on a side opposite the top edge portion, which provides a gradual or angled approach from the sidewall80to a tip or farthest point of the projection70. The bottom ramp portion promotes inward deflection of the projection70(particularly when the projection70is formed on a deflectable tab portion90) when the end cap40is pressed into the open end40of the container body30. Furthermore, the projections70preferably further include a side ramp portion that is arranged on either or both sides of the projection70between the top edge portion and the bottom ramp portion. Like the bottom ramp portion, the side ramp portion provides a gradual or angled approach from the sidewall80to a tip or farthest point of the projection70.

It will be appreciated that the shape of the projection70is not per se critical, and that rounded “bumps” with a generally flat top edge portion or other shapes could be used. It will also be appreciated that the deflectable tab portion90and the projection70can be coextensive. It is important, however, that the top edge portion of the projection70be able to contact the top peripheral edge of the mounting opening50to prevent the removal of the end cap40from the container body30, and that the projection70be able to be positioned such that it no longer projects into the mounting opening50.

The end cap40also preferably comprises a peripheral rim portion110that extends beyond the sidewall80and an end wall120that extends between the sidewall80. The end wall120can extend between the sidewall80at any point (i.e., at the bottom or at the top or at any point in between). InFIG. 2, the end wall120extends from a lower or bottom portion of the sidewall80. Preferably, the end wall120further comprises a handle portion130for facilitating the insertion of and removal of the end cap40from the container body30. The shape and configuration of the handle portion130is not critical, but should provide a comfortable gripping surface for one's fingers.

The end cap40is preferably formed of a plastic material such as polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon and/or one or more other thermoplastic or thermosetting polymers. The end cap can be formed using conventional molding or fabricating processes and equipment.

With particular reference toFIGS. 1 and 3, the locking clip10is an elongate member having a first end140provided with a protruding portion150and a second end160provided with a receiving portion170. Preferably, at least one and more preferably two living hinges180are disposed intermediate the two ends140,160such that the locking clip10can be folded back on itself to allow the end portion190of the protruding portion150to be received within the receiving portion170. The end portion190is preferably pointed, and includes at least one and more preferably a plurality of barbs200inward of the end portion190.

The receiving portion170, which is best viewed inFIG. 5, includes an opening through which the end portion190of the protruding portion150can pass. The receiving portion also includes members210, which are biased so as to allow the end portion190of the protruding portion150to pass through the opening, but not to allow the barbs200to be withdrawn back through the opening without breaking either the receiving portion170or the protruding portion150(or both) of the locking clip10.

In use, protruding portion150of the locking clip10is pushed through the aligned mounting opening50of the container body30and the slot100in the end cap40, then into the receiving portion170of the locking clip10until the barbs200have passed the members210. When the locking clip10is secured in this manner, the protruding portion150of the locking clip10maintains the alignment of the mounting opening50and the slot100, and thereby inhibits disengagement of the end cap40from the container body30. The only way the end cap40can be removed from the container body30is if the locking clip10is broken apart. Thus, if anyone other the intended recipient attempts to tamper with the shipping container, the damaged locking clip10will readily shows evidence of tampering, thereby providing assurance to the recipient that the package has arrived safely, without theft, vandalism or other loss. To enhance security, the locking clip10can be provided with a unique identification and/or tracking number when originally sealed. This unique identification and/or tracking number can further ensure that the shipping container has not been tampered with during transit to the intended recipient.

It will be appreciated that any desired number of locking clips equal to or greater than one can be used to secure the end cap to the container body. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that the aligned slot(s) and the mounting opening(s) need not be located near the projection(s), but could be intermediate thereof. It will further be appreciated that while a rotatable end cap and a circular paper tube such as described in Erdie, U.S. Pub. Pat. App. No. 2004/0205648 A1, are presently most preferred, the external locking clip could be utilized with container bodies and end caps having a different shape in cross-section (e.g., triangles, squares, ovals etc.).

The present invention also provides methods of securing an end cap to a container body. In a first embodiment, the method comprises: (1) providing a container body having at least one open end and at least one mounting opening formed therein adjacent to the open end; (2) providing an end cap having a sidewall provided with at least one projection that extends away from the sidewall and at least one slot; (3) pressing the end cap into the open end of the container body until the container body surrounds the sidewall, the projection extends into the mounting opening and the mounting opening is aligned with the slot in the sidewall; (4) providing an external locking clip comprising an elongate member having a first end provided with a protruding portion and a second end provided with a receiving portion; and (5) extending the protruding portion through the mounting opening and the aligned slot until an end portion of the protruding portion is received within an opening in the receiving portion. Material to be shipped can be placed within the container body before the end cap is secured thereto.

A second embodiment of a method of the invention comprises: (1) providing a shipping container comprising a container body containing shipped matter, an end cap secured to an open end of the container body and an external locking clip securing the end cap to the container body, wherein (a) the end cap includes a sidewall provided with at least one projection that extends away from the sidewall and at least one slot, (b) the end cap is received within the open end of the container body such that the container body surrounds the sidewall, the projection extends into the mounting opening and the mounting opening is aligned with the slot in the sidewall, and (c) the external locking clip comprises an elongate member having a first end provided with a protruding portion and a second end provided with a receiving portion and the protruding portion extends through the mounting opening and the aligned slot with an end portion of the protruding portion being received within an opening in the receiving portion; (2) breaking the locking clip; (3) removing the protruding portion from the mounting opening and aligned slot; (4) removing the end cap from open end of the container body; and (5) removing the shipped matter from the container body. Preferably, the method further comprises reusing the container body and end cap as described in the first embodiment of a method of the invention, utilizing a new locking clip.

The present invention is particularly useful for forming reusable shipping containers. The end caps can be securely attached to the paper tubes quickly and without the need for special tooling, and can be removed with relative ease. The end caps of shipping tubes formed in accordance with the invention are significantly more difficult to unintentionally dislodge from an open end of a paper tube than conventional plastic plugs or other end closures. The locking clip can be attached quickly and easily, and provides a tamper-evident structure for maintaining the security of matter stored within the shipping container during transit. The end cap can be reused. Only the damaged once-used locking clip needs to be replaced.

Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and illustrative examples shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.