Container with improved locking ports

Abstract

A corrugated container having a open-ended box and lid for covering the open end, having grip openings on opposed end sides of the box, and grip openings on end panels of the lid that align with the grip openings of the box. A locking port opening disposed adjacent the grip opening of the box and the lid provides means for locking the lid to the box with a strap seal, to prevent tampering and unauthorized lifting of the lid and opening of the contents of the box.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A locking system for securing a lid to a container box, the locking, system including: a box grip opening disposed through an upper portion of an end wall of the box, and a box locking port having a perimeter, disposed proximate the box grip opening; and a lid grip opening disposed through a side panel of the lid, and a lid locking port having a perimeter, disposed proximate the lid grip opening, wherein the perimeter of the box locking port is intersected by, or is disposed above, a horizontal axis passing through a geometric center of the box grip opening, and wherein when the lid is positioned on the box, the lid grip opening registers with the box grip opening to form a grip through-opening, and the lid locking port registers with the box locking port to form a locking through-port; and a locking means configured to pass through the grip through-opening and the locking through-port to secure the lid to the box. 
     
     
         3 . A container comprising a box and a lid, the box. comprising a pair of opposed sidewalls, a first end wall comprising an upper portion having a first grip opening having a geometric center and a first locking port having a perimeter, an opposed second end wall comprising an upper portion having a second grip opening having a geometric center and a second locking port having a perimeter, the sidewalls, the first end wall and the second end wall having upper edges defining a box top opening, and a floor joined to the bottom edges of the sidewalls, the first end wall, and the second end wall, and the lid comprising a top surface that covers the box opening, a first end panel for covering the upper portion of the first end wall and having a grip opening that aligns with the first grip opening of the first end wall, and a locking port that aligns with the first locking port of the first end wall, a second end panel for covering the upper portion of the second end wall and having a grip opening that aligns with the second grip opening of the second end wall and a locking port that aligns with the second locking port of the second end wall, wherein the perimeters of the first locking port and the second locking port are intersected by, or are disposed above, a horizontal axis passing through the geometric center of the respective first grip opening and the second grip opening. 
     
     
         4 . The locking system or container according to  claim 2  wherein the locking port is disposed vertically above the horizontal axis of the geometric center of the grip opening. 
     
     
         5 . The locking system or container according to  claim 2  wherein a horizontal projection of the area of the locking port intersects at least a portion of the upper area of the grip opening. 
     
     
         6 . The locking system or container according to  claim 2  wherein a horizontal projection of the area of the locking port intersects the uppermost periphery of the grip opening. 
     
     
         7 . The locking system or container according to  claim 2  wherein a horizontal projection of the area of the locking port is disposed vertically above the uppermost periphery of the grip opening. 
     
     
         8 . The locking system or container according to  claim 2  wherein the periphery of the area of the locking port has a shape that is selected from the group consisting of circular, oval, elliptical, and polygonal. 
     
     
         9 . The locking system or container according to  claim 8  wherein a major axis of an oval, elliptical or polygonal shape can be oriented in any direction, including horizontal, vertical, or any angle therebetween. 
     
     
         10 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The locking system or container according to  claim 3  wherein the locking port is disposed vertically above the horizontal axis of the geometric center of the grip opening. 
     
     
         13 . The locking system or container according to  claim 3  wherein a horizontal projection of the area of the locking port Intersects at least a portion of the upper area of the grip opening. 
     
     
         14 . The locking system or container according to  claim 3  wherein a horizontal projection of the area of the locking port intersects the uppermost periphery of the grip opening. 
     
     
         15 . The locking system or container according to  claim 3  wherein a horizontal projection of the area of the locking port is disposed vertically above the uppermost periphery of the grip opening. 
     
     
         16 . The locking system or container according to  claim 3  wherein the periphery of the area of the locking port has a shape that is selected from the group consisting of circular, oval, elliptical, and polygonal. 
     
     
         17 . The locking system or container according to  claim 16  wherein a major axis of an oval, elliptical or polygonal shape can be oriented in any direction, including horizontal, vertical, or any angle therebetween. 
     
     
         18 . A container comprising a box and a lid, the box comprising a pair of opposed sidewalls, a first end wall comprising an upper portion having a first grip opening and a first locking port having a perimeter disposed adjacent to the first grip opening, an opposed second end wall comprising an upper portion having a second grip opening and a second locking port having a perimeter disposed adjacent to the second grip opening, wherein the sidewalls, the first end wall and the second end wall having upper edges defining a box top opening, and a floor joined to the bottom edges of the sidewalls, the first end wall, and the second end wall, and the lid comprising a top surface that covers the box opening, a first end panel for covering the upper portion of the first end wall and having a grip opening that aligns with the first, grip opening of the first end wall when the lid is secured over the top opening of the box, and a locking port that aligns with the first locking port of the first end wall when the lid is secured over the top opening of the box, a second end panel for covering the upper portion of the second end wall and having a grip opening that aligns with the second grip opening of the second end wall when the lid is secured over the top opening of the box, and a locking port that aligns with the second locking port of the second end wall when the lid is secured over the top opening of the box. 
     
     
         19 . The container according to  claim 18 , further including a plurality of locking means configured for insertion through each of the first grip opening and the adjacent first locking port of the box and lid, and the second grip opening and the adjacent second locking port of the box and lid, to secure the lid to the box. 
     
     
         20 . The container according to  claim 18 , wherein the locking means comprises a cable tie.