Tapeless closure mechanism for shipping boxes

Abstract

Tapeless closure mechanisms are provided for fastening storage and shipping containers (boxes, cartons, etc.) to keep them closed. An exemplary tapeless closure mechanism includes a slot and a tab 16 which are provided on adjacent elements (e.g., one or more of a wall, a lid, a penal, a flap, etc.) of container and which are aligned with one another when the container is assembled. Furthermore, the tab has an arrowhead with a width which is no greater than the width of the slot, as well as one or two laterally extending hooks, each of which is foldable against the arrowhead, thereby permitted the tab to be inserted through the slot. After the tab is inserted through the slot, each of the hooks tends to unfold to a position in which withdrawal of the tab from the slot is no longer possible, consequently, keeping the container closed.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A container for holding one or more items during storage, shipping, or both, wherein the container comprises at least one tapeless closure mechanism capable of holding an assembled container in an at least partially closed configuration without tape, adhesive, staples, or other closure devices, each tapeless closure mechanism including:
 a slot having a slot width and a tab having a total tab width which is greater than the slot width, the slot and the tab being provided on adjacent elements of the container in positions which align the slot and the tab with one another when the container is assembled,   wherein the tab has an arrowhead with an arrowhead width which is no greater than the width of the slot, and either one laterally extending hook which extends from one side of the arrowhead or two laterally extending hooks which extend from opposite sides of the arrowhead, the total tab width being a total of the arrowhead width and widths of each of the one or two laterally extending hooks,   wherein each of the one or two laterally extending hooks is foldable against the arrowhead, thereby permitted the tab to be inserted through the slot, wherein after the tab is inserted through the slot, each of the one or two hooks unfolds to a position in which withdrawal of the tab from the slot is no longer possible and the at least one tapeless closure mechanism holds the container in an at least partially closed configuration.