PAPER BOX

Abstract

A paper box includes a box, a cover and two buckles. The box includes two lateral edges. The cover is linked to the box and formed with two lateral edges. Each buckle connects a corresponding lateral edge of the cover to a corresponding one of the lateral edges of the box. Each buckle includes a flexible tongue and a slit for receiving the flexible tongue.

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a lunch box and, more particularly, to a paper box for containing food.

2. Related Prior Art

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a conventional paper box includes a bowl 1 connected to a cover 2. The bowl 1 includes a front wall 11 made with two cutouts 12 so that a flexible tongue 13 is formed between the cutouts 12. The cover 2 includes a front fin 21 cut with a C-shaped slit 22 so that a flexible tab 23 is formed by the slit 22. In use, the cover 2 is laid down on the bowl 1, the front fin 21 is bent relative to the remaining portion of the cover 2, and the front fin 21 is inserted into the bowl 1, behind the front wall 11. The flexible tongue 13 is pressed on the flexible tab 23 to enlarge the slit 22, and the flexible tongue 13 is inserted into the slit 22, behind the front fin 21.

However, a problem is often encountered during the use of the paper box. Referring to FIG. 2, two lateral edges of the cover 2 often bulge. The bulging of the lateral edges of the cover 2 can be attributed to an excessive amount of food contained in the bowl 1 or an external object pressed against the paper box during transportation. Either way, a large gap 3 appears between the bowl 1 and each of the lateral edges of the cover 2. Some of the food can be leaked from the interior of the paper box or contaminated by impurities from the exterior of the paper box.

To solve the above-mentioned problem, a rubber band 6 can be used to press the lateral edges of the cover 2 on the bowl 1. However, the closing of the paper box with the rubber band 6 is ineffective. The binding of the paper box with the rubber band 6 is troublesome. The use of the rubber band 6 adds to the cost of packing the food.

The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is the primary objective of the present invention to provide a reliable paper box for containing food.

To achieve the foregoing objective, the paper box includes a box, a cover and two buckles. The box includes two lateral edges. The cover is linked to the box and formed with two lateral edges. Each buckle connects a corresponding lateral edge of the cover to a corresponding one of the lateral edges of the box. Each buckle includes a flexible tongue and a slit for receiving the flexible tongue.

Other objectives, advantages and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following description referring to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described via detailed illustration of two embodiments versus a conventional paper box referring to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional paper box;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the conventional paper box in another position than shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a paper box according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the paper box in another position than shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the paper box in another position than shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a paper box according to the second embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the paper box in another position than shown in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 3 through 5, a paper box includes a bowl 30 connected to a cover 40 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The bowl 30 includes a front wall 31 and two lateral walls 34. The front wall 31 is made with two cutouts 32 so that a flexible tongue 33 is formed between the cutouts 32. A lateral fin 35 extends from an upper edge of each one of the lateral walls 34. Each of the lateral fins 35 is made with a C-shaped slit 36 so that a flexible tab 37 is formed by the slit 36.

The cover 40 includes a front fin 41 and two lateral edges (not numbered). The front fin 41 is made with a C-shaped slit 42 so that a flexible tab 43 is formed by the slit 42. The flexible tab 43 is substantially identical to the flexible tabs 37. Each of the lateral edges of the cover 40 is made with two cutouts 45 so that a flexible tongue 46 is formed between the cutouts 45. The flexible tongues 46 are substantially identical to the flexible tongue 33.

Referring to FIG. 3, food (not shown) is contained in the bowl 30 in use. The lateral fins 35 are bent relative to the lateral walls 34.

Referring to FIG. 4, the cover 40 is laid down on the bowl 30. Then, the front fin 41 is bent relative to the remaining portion of the cover 40 and inserted into the bowl 30, behind the front wall 31. The flexible tongue 33 is pressed against the flexible tab 43 to enlarge the slit 42, and the flexible tongue 33 is inserted into the slit 42, behind the front fin 41.

Referring to FIG. 5, each of the flexible tongues 46 is pressed on a corresponding one of the flexible tabs 37 to enlarge a corresponding one of the slits 36. Each flexible tongue 46 is inserted into the corresponding slit 46, on a corresponding lateral fin 35.

The lateral edges of the cover 40 do not bulge since the flexible tongues 46 are inserted in the slits 36 and restrained by the lateral fins 35 and the flexible tabs 36. That is, each slit 36 and the corresponding flexible tab 46 together constitute a buckle 50. Each buckle 50 is used to connect the corresponding lateral edge of the cover 40 to the corresponding lateral edge of the bowl 30. Hence, there is no large gap between each lateral fin 35 and the corresponding lateral edge of the cover 40. The food is kept in the paper box and contaminants are kept out of the paper box.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, there is a paper box according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment is like the first embodiment except for several features. Firstly, the cover 40 includes two lateral fins 47 substantially identical to the lateral fins 35. Secondly, each lateral wall 34 does not include any fin. Each lateral wall 34 includes two cutouts 45 so that a flexible tongue 46 is formed between the cutouts 45.

The lateral edges of the cover 40 do not bulge since the lateral fins 47 are restrained by the flexible tongues 46, which are inserted in the slits 36 and restrained by the lateral fins 47 and the flexible tabs 36. Hence, there is no large gap between each lateral fin 47 and the corresponding lateral edge of the bowl 30. The food is kept in the paper box and contaminants are kept out of the paper box.

The present invention has been described via the detailed illustration of the embodiments. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims.

Claims

1. A paper box including:

a box 30 including two lateral walls 34;

a cover 40 linked to the box 30 and formed with two lateral edges; and

two buckles 50 each for buckling up a corresponding one of the lateral edges of the cover 40 to a corresponding one of the lateral walls 34 of the box 30, wherein each of the buckles 50 includes a flexible tongue 46 and a slit 36 for receiving the flexible tongue.

2. The paper box according to claim 1, wherein each lateral wall 34 of the box 30 has a lateral fin 35 extending from an upper edge thereof, the flexible tongue 46 extends from the corresponding lateral edge of the cover 40, and the slit 36 is made in the lateral fin of the corresponding lateral wall of the box 30.

3. The paper box according to claim 1, wherein the flexible tongue 46 extends from an upper edge of the corresponding lateral wall 34 of the box 30, and the slit 36 is made in a lateral fin 47 extending from the corresponding lateral edge of the cover 40.

4. The paper box according to claim 2, wherein the flexible tongue 46 is formed between two cutouts 45 made on the corresponding lateral edge of the cover 40.

5. The paper box according to claim 3, wherein the flexible tongue 46 is formed between two cutouts 45 made on the upper edge of the corresponding lateral wall 34 of the box 30