self-locking boxes

Abstract

The Self-locking boxes patent addresses an innovative improvement to the boxes. It is designed to provide both temporary and permanent closure options, with a primary focus on avoiding tampering and guaranteeing the security of deliveries. It is easy to stack, simple to build and does not require additional materials to be closed as the cardboard itself creates a self-locking seal. This enhanced self-locking box is specifically well-suited for the transport of food, especially pizza, where ensuring the recipient's confidence in being the initial opener of the box after sealing is of utmost importance. It can be built in different shapes and sizes and could have a QR code or other reference marks imprinted to identify the relevant shipment.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A self-locking box comprising the following elements:
 a. A top panel comprises two lateral panels and a closure panel.   b. A locking tab connected to the closure panel.   c. A bottom panel comprises two side panels and one central panel.   d. A containment room panel that creates, when articulated, a containment room having at least one slit in its upper part.   e. Corner tabs connected to side panels, enabling articulation and locking the side panels to form a box configuration.   f. Securing tabs connected to the containment room panel, engaging cutouts present in the bottom panel to create a containment room and capturing folding corner tabs to lock the side panels in a folded position.   
     
     
         2 . The self-locking box according to  claim 1 , wherein the locking tab is foldable inward or outward, and wherein closure panel and locking tab are configured to be inserted into the slot, allowing for either temporary or permanent closure of the box. 
     
     
         3 . The self-locking box according to  claim 2 , further comprising at least one semicircular hole punch on the central panel to facilitate easy opening. 
     
     
         4 . The self-locking box according to  claim 2 , wherein tampering with the box when in a permanently closed state results in visible damage. 
     
     
         5 . The self-locking box according to  claim 2 , wherein proportions and/or numbers and/or locations of box elements can change based on specific packaging needs. 
     
     
         6 . The self-locking box according to  claim 2 , wherein said box is designed to securely package food items. 
     
     
         7 . The self-locking box according to  claim 2 , further comprising graphical markings or printed instructions on the box to guide users in proper assembly, and/or close, and/or open the box. 
     
     
         8 . The self-locking box according to  claim 2 , made in a different material that can be managed for building a box. 
     
     
         9 . The self-locking box according to  claim 2 , further comprising a QR code printed in a part of it. 
     
     
         10 . A method for assembling the self-locking box according to  claim 2 :
 a. fold side panels upwardly.   b. fold corner tabs inwardly.   c. fold the containment room panel upwardly and inwardly to create a room in which lock the corner tabs to articulate a box-base configuration, this rotation also creates cutouts in the bottom panel.   d. engage the securing tabs in the cutouts to stabilize the box-base configuration.   e. fold the central panel upwardly maintaining the corner tabs inside the box-base configuration.   f. Fold lateral panels inwardly, the way they can slide inside the box-base and start to push down the entire top panels.   g. fold closure panel downwardly.   h. fold the locking tab outwardly or inwardly, deciding to close the box temporarily or permanently.   i. Close the self-locking box inserting both the closure panel and locking tab into the slot present in the upper part of the containment room.   
     
     
         11 . A self-locking box comprising the following elements:
 a. Atop panel comprises two lateral closure panels and an up panel.   b. Locking tabs connected to the lateral closure panels.   c. A bottom panel comprises one central panel and two lateral containment room panels each one comprises one central corner tabs.   d. An end panel comprises two end corner tabs.   e. Securing tabs connected to the containment room panels engaging cutouts present in the bottom panel to create two containment room and capturing the end corner tabs to lock the end panel in a folded position.   
     
     
         12 . The self-locking box according to  claim 11 , wherein the locking tabs are foldable inward or outward and wherein closure panels and locking tabs are configured to be inserted into the related slots, allowing for either temporary or permanent closure of the box. 
     
     
         13 . The self-locking box according to  claim 12 , further comprising at least one semicircular hole punch on the central panel to facilitate easy opening. 
     
     
         14 . The self-locking box according to  claim 12 , wherein tampering with the box when in a permanently closed state results in visible damage. 
     
     
         15 . The self-locking box according to  claim 12 , wherein proportions and/or numbers and/or locations of box elements can change based on specific packaging needs. 
     
     
         16 . The self-locking box according to  claim 12 , wherein said box is designed to securely package food items. 
     
     
         17 . The self-locking box according to  claim 12 , further comprising graphical markings or printed instructions on the box to guide users in proper assembly, and/or close and/or open the box. 
     
     
         18 . The self-locking box according to  claim 12 , made in a different material that can be managed for building a box. 
     
     
         19 . The self-locking box according to  claim 12 , further comprising a QR code printed in a part of it. 
     
     
         20 . A method for assembling the self-locking box according to  claim 12 :
 a. Fold the end panel upwardly.   b. Fold the end corner tabs inwardly.   c. Fold the containment room panels upwardly and inwardly to create two lateral rooms in which lock the end corner tabs to articulate a box-base configuration, this rotation also creates cutouts in the bottom panel.   d. Engage the securing tabs in the cutouts to stabilize the box-base configuration.   e. Fold the central corner tabs inwardly.   f. Fold the central panel upwardly maintaining the central corner tabs inside the box-base configuration.   g. Fold the closure tabs inwardly.   h. Fold the locking tabs outwardly or inwardly, deciding to close the box temporarily or permanently.   i. Fold the top panel downwardly until the point to match the closure panels with the containment rooms.   j. Start inserting both the closure panels and the locking tabs into the containment rooms, sliding into the slots present on the upper part of them.   k. Fold the up panel inwardly, in the way it can go to paralleling approach the end panel.   l. Push gradually down the entire top panel, until the up panel meets the end panel.   m. Close the self-locking box, pushing the top panel down forcing the up panel inside the box, allowing all the lateral closure panels and locking tabs to completely slide inside the relating slots.