Box closure system, device and method with means to be attached and integrated into boxes

Providing a box closure system, device and method for closing of boxes preferably cardboard boxes having different sizes such as typical ready to eat cereal boxes and other boxes. The device preferably having a longitudinal structure A and B. Said structure, system can have a gripping section that can press the box and liner that can sit inside the box between said structure. Said structure, system constructed and arranged so it can be installed onto a box or implemented with the box. System whereby a triangular box opening can be created in the top of the box when the box is opened and a pouring mouth can be created. Furthermore providing a closure system and method whereby said invention is integrated into the boxes themselves.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the invention

The present invention relates generally to box and containers comprising a liner and more specifically it relates to a box closure system for providing a construction, system and method that allows the user to easily open and close a box with bag inside whereby the system can be detachable installed or integrated into the box/container and can also seal of the bag/liner that can sit inside a box. Providing a system, construction and method to close of boxes of different sizes with or without a bag inside such as typical ready to eat cereal or other boxes of different sizes. Allowing the user to close of a box with or without a bag inside so he can keep and preserve the content in the original package.

2. Description of the Prior Art

It can be appreciated that box closure devices like lids, clips, containers and the likes have been in use for years. The main problem with them is that they all have their limitations and drawbacks such as not fully user friendly and fun to use, production cost, size. The main problem with boxes and their configuration is that once the box and bag/liner containing the content is opened, it is very laborious and almost impossible to adequately close them of again in a fun and user friendly manner. They all have a number of drawbacks and finally are laborious and not fully user friendly. A problem with conventional boxes when using an other container is that you first have to pour the content from the original package into a container, this leaves you with an empty box and liner.

While these devices may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they address, they are not as suitable for providing a special device that allows the user to close of boxes having a liner inside of different sizes such as cereal—and other boxes. Allowing the user to close of a box with a bag inside so he can keep and preserve the content in the original package in a fun and user friendly manner. Providing a box closure system and method that can easily be used, installed/integrated and/or permanently or detachably fastened onto boxes of various different sizes. Providing a box closure system that can move the air out of a liner that sit inside a box.

The main problem with conventional box and container sealing devices are: cardboard boxes with a bag/liner inside containing a content are very unpractical to open and close. Once the box and bag containing the content is opened, it is very laborious to adequately close them off. When using a container, the content of the original bag has to be poured into a container, this leaves you with an empty box that you now have to throw away.

Furthermore containers don't display the name and brand name of the product. And the best possible way to preserve your product such as cereals is in the original liner and accompanied box. In these respects the box closure system according to the present invention substantially provides a box closure system, device and method primarily developed for the purpose of providing a small compact system that can be distributed together with the boxes or integrated into the boxes themselves and whereby the user can easily use his box so that he can quickly open, close and seal of the box and bag/liner.

Allowing the user to easily close off a box with bag inside so he can keep and preserve the content in the original package.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of box and container closures now present in the prior art such as lids, clips the present invention according to the various embodiments described below provides a new system, construction and method wherein the same can be utilized for providing a device that allows the user to close of boxes of different sizes having a liner inside and easily open and close said box, whereby said system can be installed or integrated with the various boxes.

The general purpose of the present invention which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new kind of box closure system, device and method that has many novel features that result in a new device, system and method.

To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a formation having a structure preferably running parallel with the top longitudinal configuration of the boxes for pressing the two sides of the box and bag/liner together.

Bringing them together so that the opening of the box and the liner in the box can be closed in a user friendly and fun manner whereby the sort sides of the box can be bended. Said two formations can comprise a channel section in the direction of the longitudinal configuration so said structure can firmly be attached and snapped onto the sides of a plurality of boxes having different sizes. The sides of the box can be urged and snapped between said channel sections. System and formation/structure that also can rather be integrated into the boxes themselves directly. A means for connecting said formation/structure, preferably by means of an interconnected closure means.

Additionally a tubing construction could be incorporated into the system/structure that can run inside the liner for guiding the excess air out of the liner. This tube construction preferably comprising a valve so that the air inside the liner can be pulled out but outside air can't get in. Another object of the invention is to provide a device that is small and rather inexpensive to produce so it could easily be distributed together with and/or along the boxes and also even fit inside a box and therefore could if wanted be used as a premium item inside or along the boxes.

There has thus been outlined rather broadly the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter. In this respect before explaining the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, the following discussion begins with a description of the common components. (It is important to note and a very important part of the invention that any such components/formations and methods can also be directely fully integrated into the respective boxes themselves)

The device comprising two main pieces A and B, both pieces A and B preferably having a rectangular longitudinal member2, preferably comprising a channel section25created by protrusions22and24(SeeFIG. 4) running parallel with the longitudinal direction of the member2and protruding downwardly from the bottom surface of said member. This for installing pieces A and B onto the longitudinal sides of the boxes, snapping and detachably fixing the sides of the boxes between said protrusions22and24. The short end sections of said members can be left open or be capped21and can also have a channel sections for gripping the short sides of the boxes. (SeeFIGS. 2 and 5) at least one gripping protrusion7depending inwardly from member2, preferably also running parallel with the longitudinal configuration of said member2for firmly pressing the sides of the liner/bag between those gripping sections7of pieces A and B. (SeeFIGS. 1-6) A tubing construction10preferably is pivotally attached onto one longitudinal member of at least one piece A or B and can preferably run trough A foramen9(SeeFIG. 6) in the longitudinal grip protrusion/sections7for guiding said tubing construction10trough the device inside the liner. When the device both pieces A and B is closed, the liner is pressed between sections7and tubing construction10thereby allowing the tube to run inside the liner and when the device is closed is fully pressing the sides of the liner closed so that when the air is pulled outside the liner trough the tubing10, a vacuum in the liner can be achieved. A valve11inside or on top of the tube can be implemented so that when the air is pulled out of the liner that sits inside the box, it can't get in again once the air has been removed. This can be done by a manual or electrical or other vacuum pump. A detachable closure means for closing both pieces A and B firmly together, preferably by means of an interconnecting snapping construction5and6. In a second embodiment SeeFIGS. 11-15a hinge means201and202is constructed and arranged on the back of both parts A and B. When said parts A and B are installed onto the long top box sides and said hinge constructions201and202are brought together a locking pin200can be inserted and thereby pivotally constrain said parts A and B.

In this second embodiment the snapper fit/click construction can be constructed and arrange onto the short front sides21of parts A and B. When the box1with the parts A and B installed on said box1is opened a triangular top box configuration is created and when the front short box top leads d1and d2are pulled somewhat outward (SeeFIG. 15) a very important and convenient triangular pouring mouth250is created.

In a third and again improved embodiment of the invention SeeFIGS. 16-21The hinge constructions201,202and200are arranged and constructed at a different angle in relation to the other construction and in particular to protrusions22and24. This so that the sides22and24can sit at an angle and better align with the angled, slanted sides C1of the box when the device is closed, thereby also making it much easier and more user friendly to close, press the snap fit engagements6and5together. This because the upper section of the long cardboard sides don't have to be pulled together parallel SeeFIG. 7like it is the case in the previous first and second embodiment but rather follow the natural angled shape of the long cardboard box sides C1when the box is closed SeeFIG. 16. The angle between the hinge construction and the other body and in particular protrusions22and24creating the channel25that grip over the box sides preferably having an angle between 5° and 50° Degrees. Children friendly figures/creatures such as animals, cartoon and television figures see protrusion-formation40and features42,44,46like eyes, mouth, nose, feet etc can be modeled and or printed and integrated in the device as seen in an example inFIGS. 20 and 21. This is also a very important feature and specific subject matter of the invention.

The invention preferably can be manufactured out a polymer, elastomer or combination thereof or any other materials such as but not limited to aluminum, iron. The precise distribution of functionality preferably is made according to known engineering tradeoffs, with reference to the specific embodiment of the invention, as will be understood by those skilled in the art.

OPERATION OF THE INVENTION

The user opens the box1and the bag3containing the content inside the box. The user folds the flaps of the box towards the inside or outside of the box1. The short cardboard flaps can be separated by cutting them of with a scissor or other cutting tool or teared so that said short upper box sides are thinner and therefor easier to bend. The user now places the two structures A and B over the longest top sides of the box, by pressing them with their channel sections25created by protrusions22and24over said box sides making sure that the bag/liner3sits intermediate the gripping members7of both pieces A and B, and that the tube10is guided inside the liner. This is facilitated due to the pivot ting function of said tube10onto at least one of structures A and B. Now both structures A and B are installed onto the upper longitudinal sides of the box and can be closed by compressing them inwardly towards each other and interlocking them together with the snappers. The longitudinal upper sides c of the box will now bends inwardly c1(SeeFIG. 8illustration of upper box configuration when presses inwardly). The short sides d of the box will bend in or outwardly into two sections d1. This bending can be done by pressing the two parts A and B together and pushing the middle of the short box sides100somewhat in or outwards, or by first making a folding line into the two short box sides. This can be achieved by making a vertical incision100with a scissor or knife of approximately 20-40 mm in the approximate middle of the two short box sides (SeeFIGS. 6-8dotted line100) This line can also be made with the jaws function of the invention when the device is assembled with pin200inserted so that the device can be used as a clamping means for making a line. For instance by integrating a protrusion depending from section7where the two pieces A and B can be placed over the short sides of the box, then presses together with the cardboard between said two parts A and B and then pulled upward to make a vertical line100. Alternatively a little device can be attached with the product for making said folding lines, whereby a protrusion is carving said folding line in the cardboard box. However it is important to highlight that it is not necessarily needed to make any folding line since when the two parts A and B are brought together by forcing some pressure on them the short sides naturally will also just automatically bend.

The upper side of the liner is now being pressed and sealed between the two gripping members7with tubing structure10also pressed between said gripping/sealing members7and with the bag/liner3pressed around tube10. The bag is now firmly sealed of from the outside air environment and the box is closed. The upper box configuration now preferably look like a closed purse. A manual, electrical or any other vacuum pump device can now be installed onto tube10and or valve11to start pumping out the excess air in the liner, thus creating a vacuum in the liner. When the user wants to open his box and bag again he simply unleashes the snapper closures5and6and pulls both longitudinal pieces A and B back outwards. He can now start pouring and accessing the content that sits in the liner such as a typical ready to eat cereal or other food product.

In a second embodiment of the device SeeFIGS. 11-15the box is opened and the box flaps/leads are folded inwards, then Parts A and B are installed by pressing them over the longitudinal sides of the box, thereby snapping them onto said long box sides. Now preferably but not necessarily a folding line100is made in the approximate middle of both short upper sides. Next the liner3is opened and the back of parts A and B having the hinge engagements201and202are pressed and brought together in place so that locking pin200can be inserted so said parts A and B are pivotally constrained, whereby the back short box sides d running into the two upper leads d1and d2are directed and folded inwardly. The invention in the second embodiment is now installed. To close, the front section with the snapper means on parts A and B are closed by clicking them together. To open the box and liner, snapper6is released and very important the front short top box leads d1and d2can be pushed outwards so that a convenient poring mouth250is created SeeFIGS. 14-15.

This is a very important method and subject matter of this specific invention. In a third and yet improved embodiment of the device SeeFIGS. 16-21.

The hinge construction is arranged and constructed to have a different angle in relation to the other body so that the sides22and24can sit more aligned with the long sides of the box when closed. A child friendly figure is modeled and integrated in the device.

In a fourth embodiment of the device SeeFIGS. 25-30. The shape of the device is improved as it has a somewhat bended form along its longitudinal sides2and griping members7improving the strength of the product as well as the camping power. Furthermore little protrusions400for creating a tighter clamping fit onto the boxes are constructed alongside channel25.

Very important is that the invention rather than being a separate device can certainly also be applied, constructed and arranged directly into the boxes themselves in any form, material and method and thus being implemented directly with the box construction itself.

Additional Embodiments

Fastener means5and6can be installed and positioned onto both the short sides also. The locking means for when the box is closed by bringing the front or back or both front and back of the two longitudinal sides together can also be integrated both into the short box sides as well as into the long box sides of the box or in both sides of the boxes;A elastomer section can be implemented anywhere in onto the device, for instance onto the gripping members7as to create a better sealing result, or more ergonomic soft touch user experience;A vacuum pump separately from the invention can be used but certainly also a more permanently build in pump mechanism can also be constructed and arranged onto/into the invention;The hinge construction can also be a living hinge whereby parts A and B are one molded part rather than two separate parts pivotally connected by locking pin200.