Resealable container with magnetic closure system

Abstract

A container body with a container opening and a flap partially secured to the container body and completely covering the container opening is disclosed. The flap is secured to the container by a hinge or fold line and formed from the same substrate as the container body. The container body contains a first magnetic region adjacent to and surrounding the perimeter of the container opening. The flap contains a second magnetic region aligned with and opposite the container body's first magnetic region. The first and second magnetic regions are magnetically attracted to each other. The flap is held in a closed position by magnetic attraction between the flap's magnetic region and the container body's magnetic region.

1 . A container blank comprising: 
 a plurality of fold lines;    at least one aperture;    at least one flap aligned with a larger than said aperture;    a first magnetic region secured around the perimeter of and adjacent to said at least one aperture;    and a second magnetic region secured around the perimeter of said flap and opposite said first magnetic region, wherein said second magnetic region is aligned with and has a magnetic attraction to said first magnetic region.    
     
     
         2 . A container comprising: 
 a body a top section, and a bottom section, wherein said container at least one aperture;     wherein a first magnetic region is secured to said container adjacent to the perimeter of said at least one aperture; and    at least one flap secured to said container and covering said at least one aperture wherein the perimeter of said at least one flap has a second magnetic region opposite said first magnetic region wherein said second magnetic region is aligned with and has a magnetic attraction to said first magnetic region.    
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein the interior of said container body and said flap has a polymeric coating.  
     
     
         4 . A method of forming a container comprising the steps of: 
 providing a substrate;    cutting said substrate to form at least two side panels, two end panels; at least one glue panel extending from at least one end panel, at least two top panels, at least one bottom panel, and a plurality of dust panels secured to said plurality of top and bottom panels;    forming an aperture in on a first top panel;    forming a moveable flap on a second top panel wherein said moveable flap is aligned with and larger than said aperture;    securing a first ferrite material around the external perimeter of said aperture on the external side of said container;    securing a second ferrite material around the interior perimeter of said moveable flap and on the opposite side of the substrate from said first ferrite material;    generating a first magnetic field in said first ferrite material;    generating a second and opposite magnetic field in said second ferrite material:    forming fold line between said plurality of panels;    folding said plurality of panels to form a container wherein said moveable flap is aligned with and covers said aperture in a closed position and wherein said second ferrite material is secured to said first ferrite material by magnetic attraction.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said first and second ferrite materials are formed from non-polarized gaskets.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said first and second ferrite materials are formed from ink containing metallic particles.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said ferrite materials are formed by printing said ink and passing the printed substrate through one or more nips formed between hard rolls covered with a release coating, wherein said ink is in a plastic state when passing through the nips.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said hard rolls are constructed from a ferromagnetic material and are provided with electromagnetic coils to generate a strong magnetic field oriented normal to the plane of said substrate so as to induce a degree of magnetic anisotropy within said ferrite materials, thus enhancing their magnetic properties.  
     
     
         9 . (Cancelled in Parent  10 / 045 , 371 )  
     
     
         10 . (Cancelled in Parent  10 / 045 , 371 )  
     
     
         11 . A method of forming a container comprising the steps of: 
 providing a substrate;    cutting said substrate to form at least two side panels, two end panels; at least one glue panel extending from at least one end panel, at least two top panels, at least one bottom panel, a least one moveable flap, and a plurality of dust panels secured to said plurality of top and bottom panels;    forming an aperture on a first end panel;    forming a moveable flap from said substrate wherein said moveable flap is aligned with and larger than said aperture;    securing a first ferrite material around the external perimeter of said aperture on the external side of said container;    securing a second ferrite material around the interior perimeter of said moveable flap and on the opposite side of the substrate from said first ferrite material;    generating a first magnetic field in said first ferrite material;    generating a second and opposite magnetic field in said second ferrite material:    forming fold line between said plurality of panels;    folding said plurality of panels to form a container wherein said moveable flap is aligned with and covers said aperture in a closed position and wherein said second ferrite material is secured to said first ferrite material by magnetic attraction.    
     
     
         12 . A method of forming a magnetized article comprising the steps of: 
 providing a substrate; and    securing at least one ferrite material on at least some portion of the substrate.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said ferrite material is a non-polarized gaskets.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said ferrite material comprises an ink with at least some metallic particles.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said ferrite material comprises iron.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12  wherein a magnetic field is generated in said ferrite material after it is secured to said substrate.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12  wherein a magnetic field is generated in said ferrite material before it is secured to said substrate.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12  wherein a magnetically receptive material is secured to at least some portion of said substrate.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said substrate is formed into a container.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said ferrite material is secured to said substrate by adhesive means.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said ferrite materials are secured to said substrate by a printing means.  
     
     
         22 . A method of forming a container comprising the steps of: 
 providing a substrate;    manipulating said substrate to form at least two or more panels of a container;    securing a ferrite material on at least some portion of said substrate;    securing a magnetically receptive material on at least some portion of said substrate;    generating a magnetic field in said ferrite material;    manipulating said two or more panels to form a container wherein said ferrite material is secured to at least some portion of said magnetically receptive material by magnetic attraction.