Granted Patent B2

US 7,900,790 · App. 12/130,326 · Granted Mar 8, 2011

Abstract

Claims (36)

1. A closure device for a container having a main body with two opposing side walls, at least one opening defined by the main body to provide access to the container, and first and second flaps each operatively attached to a respective one of the side walls to transition between substantially closed positions and generally open positions, comprising:

a first closure member configured to operatively attach to the first flap, said first closure member having a male feature protruding from a first interface surface thereof; and

a second closure member configured to operatively attach to the second flap, said second closure member having a female feature defined through a second interface surface thereof, said female feature being configured to receive and mate with said male feature;

wherein said male feature includes a stem portion attached at a first end to and extending generally perpendicularly outward from said first interface surface, and at least one tab extending obliquely outward from a second end of said stem portion, said at least one tab being configured to snap fit with and releasably lock to said female feature and thereby secure the first flap to the second flap in the closed positions.

2. The closure device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a retaining ring configured to mate with and thereby attach said first closure member to the first flap.

3. The closure device of claim 2 , wherein said first closure member further includes a plurality of snap fasteners protruding generally orthogonally outward therefrom and configured to snap fit with said retaining ring.

4. The closure device of claim 3 , wherein said retaining ring has a stepped region extending inward from at least a portion of an inner peripheral edge thereof, said step region being configured to receive and mate with said plurality of snap fasteners to thereby attach said retaining ring to said first closure member.

5. The closure device of claim 1 , wherein said at least one tab includes first and second flexible tab members each extending acutely outward from said second end of said stem portion on opposing sides thereof.

6. The closure device of claim 1 , wherein said male feature further includes at least one pair of risers protruding outward from opposing sides of said stem portion, said risers being configured to limit rotational movement of said second closure member when said male feature mates with and releasably locks to said female feature.

7. The closure device of claim 1 , wherein said first interface surface includes a recessed stratum configured to abut against said second interface surface in a flush fit manner when said male feature mates with and releasably locks to said female feature.

8. The closure device of claim 1 , wherein said first closure member further includes a first key-indexing feature configured to ensure said first closure member is properly oriented when operatively attached to the first flap such that said male feature can mate with and releasably lock to said female feature when the first and second flaps are in respective closed positions.

9. The closure device of claim 8 , wherein said first key-indexing feature includes a blade wall extending generally orthogonally outward from said first closure member to mate with a complimentary hole formed in the first flap.

10. The closure device of claim 1 , wherein said second closure member further includes a second key-indexing feature configured to ensure said second closure member is properly oriented when operatively attached to the second flap such that said female feature can receive and mate with said male feature when the first and second flaps are in respective closed positions.

11. The closure device of claim 10 , wherein said second key-indexing feature includes a plurality of walls extending generally orthogonally outward from said second closure member and configured to mate with a complimentary hole formed in the second flap.

12. The closure device of claim 10 , wherein said second key-indexing feature includes a protrusion extending outward from said second closure member and configured to mate with a complimentary aperture formed in the second flap.

13. The closure device of claim 1 , wherein said second closure member further includes a cavity defined at least in part by a plurality of walls extending between said second interface surface and a fourth interface surface of said second closure member, said cavity being configured to allow for selective release of said male feature from said female feature.

14. The closure device of claim 1 , wherein said second closure member further includes a plurality of retention tangs configured to mate with and thereby attach said second closure member to the second flap.

15. The closure device of claim 1 , wherein said second closure member further includes an elevated platform protruding from a fifth interface surface and surrounding said female feature, said elevated platform configured to abut against said at least one tab when said male feature mates with and releasably locks to said female feature.

16. A container for packaging manufactured goods, comprising:

a main body portion having first and second opposing side walls, a bottom wall extending between and attached to respective first ends of said first and second side walls, and a top wall extending between and attached to respective second ends of said first and second side walls, said first and second side walls and said bottom and top walls defining at least one opening that is configured to provide access to the container;

first and second flaps operatively attached to a respective one of said first and second side walls to transition between substantially closed positions, in which said first and second flaps at least partially overlap one another and thereby obstruct said at least one opening, to generally open positions, in which said first and second flaps provide an at least partially unobstructed path through said at least one opening;

a first closure member operatively attached to said first flap, said first closure member having a male feature protruding from a first interface surface thereof; and

a second closure member operatively attached to said second flap, said second closure member having a female feature defined through a second interface surface thereof, said female feature being configured to receive and mate with said male feature;

wherein said male feature includes a stem portion attached at a first end to and extending generally perpendicularly outward from said first interface surface, and first and second flexible tab members each extending acutely outward from said second end on opposing sides of said stem portion, said first and second flexible tab members being configured to snap fit with said female feature; and

wherein said first and second closure members are respectively oriented along said first and second flaps such that said male feature mates with and releasably locks to said female feature securing said first and second flaps in respective closed positions.

17. The container of claim 16 , further comprising:

a retaining ring configured to mate with and thereby attach said first closure member to the first flap, said retaining ring having a stepped region extending inward from at least a portion of an inner peripheral edge thereof;

wherein said first closure member further includes a plurality of snap fasteners protruding generally orthogonally outward therefrom and configured to snap fit with said retaining ring and thereby attach said retaining ring to said first closure member.

18. The container of claim 16 , wherein said first closure member further includes a first key-indexing feature having a blade wall extending generally orthogonally outward from said first closure member in a continuous manner about said first interface surface and configured to mate with a complimentary first hole formed in the first flap to thereby ensure said first closure member is properly oriented when attached to said first flap.

19. The container of claim 16 , wherein said second closure member further includes a second key-indexing feature having a plurality of walls each extending generally orthogonally outward from said second closure member and spaced about said second interface surface, said plurality of walls being configured to mate with a complimentary hole formed in the second flap to thereby ensure said second closure member is properly oriented when attached to said second flap.

20. A closure device for a container having a main body with two opposing side walls, at least one opening defined by the main body, and first and second flaps each being operatively attached to a respective one of the side walls to transition between a substantially closed position and a generally open position, comprising:

a first closure member having a plurality of snap fasteners protruding generally orthogonally outward therefrom, said first closure member having a male feature protruding from a first interface surface thereof;

a retaining ring configured to mate with and thereby attach said first closure member to the first flap, said retaining ring having a stepped region extending inward from an inner peripheral edge thereof and configured to receive and mate with said plurality of snap fasteners to thereby attach said retaining ring to said first closure member; and

a second closure member having a plurality of spaced retention tangs configured to mate with and thereby attach said second closure member to the second flap, said second closure member having a female feature defined through a second interface surface thereof that is configured to receive and mate with said male feature;

wherein said male feature includes a stem portion attached at a first end to and extending generally perpendicularly outward from said first interface surface, and first and second flexible tab members each extending acutely outward from a second end of said stem portion on opposing sides thereof, said first and second flexible tab members being configured to snap fit with and releasably lock to said female feature and thereby secure the first flap to the second flap in the closed positions.

Assignments (12)