WO2025178749A1

WO2025178749A1 - Tamper-proof container and blank

Info

Publication number: WO2025178749A1
Application number: PCT/US2025/014325
Authority: WO
Inventors: Steve ARCHAMBAULT
Original assignee: Mm Packaging Us Inc
Current assignee: Mm Packaging Us Inc
Priority date: 2024-02-20
Filing date: 2025-02-03
Publication date: 2025-08-28
Anticipated expiration: 2026-08-20

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a container (10) for storing goods, comprising: a front wall (12) and a rear wall (16), at least one side wall (14, 18) connecting the front and rear walls (12, 16), wherein the front, rear and side walls (12, 16, 14, 18) form a receiving cavity (19) of the container (10); and at least one locking structure (20) for closing the receiving cavity (19). The at least one locking structure (20) comprises at least one locking flap (26) hinged to the rear wall (16) by means of a bending line (55) and at least one insertion flap element (32) connected to the locking flap (26) by means of a perforation line (34). The at least one locking structure (20) comprises a retaining tab (40) hinged to the front wall (12) by means of a bending line (56), whereby at least one further bending line (57) being is formed within the retaining tab (40) and the bending lines (56, 57) form a ridge-like element (42) in the folded state, the ridge-like element (42) spacing the retaining tab (40) and the front wall (12), wherein the retaining tab (40) has at least one receiving opening (44) for receiving the tuck-in flap element (32). The invention is further directed to a blank (52) for producing a container (10) for storing goods, in particular for producing a folding box made of cardboard, paper or the like, the blank (52) being formed in one piece.

Description

TAMPER-PROOF CONTAINER AND BLANK

SPECIFICATION:

The present invention relates to a container for storing goods, in particular a folding box made of cardboard, paper or the like, comprising a front wall and a rear wall, at least one side wall connecting the front and rear walls, wherein the front, rear and side walls form a receiving opening of the container. The container also comprises at least one locking structure for closing the receiving cavity, wherein the at least one locking structure comprises at least one locking flap hinged to the rear wall by means of a bending line and at least one tuck-in flap element connected to the locking flap by means of a perforation line. The invention also relates to a blank for producing a container for storing goods, in particular for producing a folding box from cardboard, paper or the like.

A large number of containers and blanks for producing containers of the type mentioned at the beginning are known. However, especially in the case of valuable or sensitive goods, for example pharmaceuticals, it is particularly desirable to prevent unauthorized persons from opening and thus tampering with the goods and the container. Tamper-proof packaging is used for such goods in order to protect them.

The object of the present invention is to improve the tamper resistance of a container for storing goods and thus to better prevent tampering of the packaging, and to provide a corresponding blank for manufacturing such a container.

The object is solved by a container according to claim 1 and by a blank according to claim 15. Advantageous embodiments of the container according to the invention and of the blank according to the invention are described in the respective subclaims. Advantageous embodiments of the container are to be regarded as advantageous embodiments of the blank and vice versa.

The container according to the invention for storing goods comprises a front wall and a rear wall, at least one side wall connecting the front and rear walls, wherein the front, rear and side walls form a receiving cavity of the container. In this context, the front wall and the rear wall are also side walls in the actual sense, which surround the receiving cavity. In other words, the container may, for example, be shaped as a tetrahedron, cube or cuboid when closed. In a preferred embodiment, the container may have two side walls and two lateral faces and be shaped as a cube or cuboid.

The container comprises at least one locking structure for closing the receiving cavity. The at least one locking structure has at least one locking flap hinged to the rear wall by means of a bending line and at least one tuck-in flap element connected to the locking flap by means of a perforation line.

The term "bending line" can be understood to mean all lines that allow elements of the container or the blank to be angled in relation to each other over a defined course, for example folding, scoring or creasing lines or a combination of these lines. A bending line may be created, for example, by scoring or grooving the material of the container. Grooves may be created using laser energy, for example.

The container according to the invention is characterized in that the at least one locking structure comprises a retaining tab hinged to the front wall by means of a bending line, wherein at least one further bending line is formed within the retaining tab and the bending lines form a ridge-like element in the folded state, which distances the retaining tab and the front wall. Thereby, the retaining tab has at least one receiving opening for receiving the tuck-in flap element. The tuck-in flap element is a partial area of the locking flap designed as a tab, which is inserted into the retaining tab to close the container. In other words, when closed, the tuck-in flap element protrudes through the receiving opening of the retaining tab and is stored.

Due to the bearing of the tuck-in flap element, a tensile force is exerted on the locking flap and the tuck-in flap element when the locking structure is opened, which moves the attached tuck-in flap element in the direction of the receiving opening. The ridge-like element at the receiving opening holds the tuck-in flap element back, exerting a counterforce on the perforation line so that the tuck-in flap element tears off. The locking structure can then no longer be closed with the help of the tuck-in flap element and the torn-off tuck-in flap element indicates that the container has been opened. If the container has already been opened once, a recipient of the goods will immediately see from the torn tuck-in flap element that the original packaging may have been tampered with.

As the tuck-in flap element remains in the receiving pocket both when the container is closed and after it has been tom off, it cannot damage the goods in the container during transportation or after it has been tom off. Likewise, if the container is shaken during transportation, for example, the goods cannot unintentionally tear off or damage the tuck-in flap element.

Even if the container is opened at a length of a side wall or of the front or rear wall, tension is exerted on the locking flap and thus on the tuck-in flap element.

Optionally, the retaining tab may be attached on the inside of the front wall and form a receiving pocket with the inside of the front wall for storing the tuck-in flap element, which gives the retaining tab more stability.

The container may optionally be designed as a folding box made of cardboard or paper or the like.

In a preferred embodiment, the container has two locking structures located on opposite sides of the front and rear walls. The container may thus be designed, for example, as a cuboid whose two side surfaces are each formed by a locking structure. This means that there is a securing mechanism on each side of the container. This makes the container particularly secure and allows a greater degree of freedom in terms of the design and size of the container.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the container according to the invention, the locking flap has a folding element which is hinged by means of a bending line and which forms the tuck-in flap element in a partial area. The folding element is a section of the locking flap that is folded to form the same. As a result, the folding element aligns the tuck-in flap element towards the receiving opening when the container is closed. The perforation line delimiting the tuck-in flap element is thus even more securely positioned inside the container and cannot be accidentally damaged from the outside.

In a further embodiment, a bending line deflecting the folding element may be designed as a cutting- or perforation line in a partial area. A user can reach in through the resulting gap to open the locking structure.

Optionally, the container may be characterized in that the tuck-in flap element is designed to taper in the direction of the perforation line. An outline of the tuck-in flap element thus has a shape that allows the tuck-in flap element to be retained even more efficiently by the receiving pocket, in particular by the ridge-like element, as soon as tension is exerted on the tuck-in flap element when the container is opened. The counter pressure exerted by the ridge-like element with the receiving opening is thus increased and the tuck-in flap element is torn off even more efficiently. Such a container is therefore safer. These advantages are further enhanced if the tuck-in flap element has one or more latching lugs arranged on the taper.

According to a further embodiment of the container, the receiving opening of the retaining tab may be designed as a slot or gap, optionally as a gap with a smaller extension than a cutting- or perforation line arranged at the gap for inserting the tuck- in flap element. The tuck-in flap element may then be inserted very easily, but engages in the narrower gap when the tensile force is applied. The counter pressure on the tuck-in flap element is thus increased and the tuck-in flap element is tom off more reliably when it is opened.

In particular, a combination of a tuck-in flap element tapering in the direction of the perforation line and the design of the receiving opening as a slit or gap, especially with an additional cutting- or perforation line arranged at the gap, increases the reliability of the tuck-in flap element being tom off when the container is opened. This is further improved if the tuck-in flap element has one or two lateral latching lugs on which the tuck-in flap element is held by the ridge-like element.

The counter pressure of the retaining tab on the tuck-in flap element when the container is opened can be further increased if the retaining tab is attached to the inside of the front wall when the container is closed, for example is glued to the inside of the front wall.

Optionally, the retaining tab may have a tear-off tab formed by a cutting- or perforation line at an end facing away from the front wall, and the tear-off tab may be attached to the inside of the front wall. If a user pulls on the retaining tab to open the container, this tear-off tab is also tom off. An additional tamper protection is therefore provided.

Additional quality assurance is provided if the locking flap forms a tear-off area on one or more of its edges that is predetermined by a perforation line. When the container is opened over a length of front, rear or side wall, a pull is exerted that partially or completely tears off such a tear-off area. Such a container is therefore also particularly well secured if a person attempts to circumvent the opening of the container by means of a the locking structure. A tear-off area is understood to be a partial area of the locking flap designed as a tear-off flap.

For even better closing of the container, the at least one side wall, optionally all side walls, may each have at least one dust flap hinged by means of a bending line. In particular, if the at least one dust flap has an outward-facing indicator area on the bending line when the container is closed, which is in contact with the tear-off area when the container is closed, it can be seen from the outside that the container has been opened when the tear-off area of the side panel element is torn off.

The above object is also solved by a blank for producing a container for storing goods, in particular for producing a folding box made of cardboard, paper or the like, the blank being formed in one piece. The blank comprises a front wall and a rear wall, and at least one side wall connecting the front and rear walls. This is designed in such a way that the front, rear and side walls form a receiving cavity in a folded state of the blank. The blank comprises at least one locking structure for closing the receiving cavity in the folded state, which is hinged to the rear wall by means of a bending line. The at least one locking structure has at least one locking flap hinged to the rear wall by means of a bending line and at least one tuck-in flap element connected to the locking flap by means of a perforation line. The at least one locking structure comprises a retaining tab hinged to the front wall by means of a bending line, wherein at least one further bending line is formed within the retaining tab and the bending lines form a ridge-like element in the folded state which spaces the retaining tab and the front wall, wherein the retaining tab has at least one receiving opening for receiving the tuck-in flap element.

This results in the advantages already discussed above.

In one embodiment, the retaining tab may be attached on the inside of the front wall and form a receiving pocket with the inside of the front wall for storing the tuck-in flap element. The advantages have already been discussed with regard to the container according to the invention.

Optionally, the blank may have two locking structures located on opposite sides of the front and rear walls. Additionally or alternatively, the locking flap may have a folding element which is hinged by means of a bending line and which forms the tuck-in flap element in a partial area, designed in such a way that the folding element aligns the tuck-in flap element towards the receiving opening when the blank is folded. The respective advantages have already been discussed above.

The advantages of the container according to the invention have already been discussed for an embodiment in which a bending line deflecting the folding element is designed in a partial area as a cutting- or perforation line. This design is also advantageous for the blank according to the invention.

The blank according to the invention may optionally form a tuck-in flap element which is tapered in the direction of the perforation line. Advantageously, the tuck-in flap element may have one or more latching lugs arranged at the taper. The advantages of these features have already been discussed with regard to the container according to the invention.

In a preferred embodiment of the blank according to the invention, the receiving opening of the retaining tab may be formed as a slit or gap, optionally as a gap with a smaller extension than a cutting- or perforation line arranged at the gap for inserting the tuck-in flap element.

In a further embodiment, the blank according to the invention may be characterized in that the retaining tab has a tear-off tab formed by a cutting- or perforation line at an end facing away from the front wall. Additionally or alternatively, the locking flap may form a tear-off area on one or more of its edges, which is predetermined by a perforation line.

Optionally, at least one side wall, optionally all side walls, of the blank according to the invention may also have at least one dust flap hinged by means of a bending line. In a further embodiment, the at least one dust flap may have an indicator area on the bending line.

Further advantages and further embodiments of the embodiment of the invention can be found in the description of the container according to the invention.

Further features of the invention are apparent from the claims, the embodiments and from the drawings. The features and combinations of features mentioned above in the description and the features and combinations of features mentioned below in the embodiments can be used not only in the combination indicated in each case, but also in other combinations, without departing from the scope of the invention. It shows:

Fig. 1 a schematic three-dimensional representation of an embodiment of a container according to the invention in the folded state with an open locking structure;

Fig. 2 a further schematic three-dimensional representation of the container according to the invention of Fig. 1 in the folded state with the locking structure open; Fig. 3 a schematic representation of an embodiment of the blank according to the invention; and

Fig. 4 a schematic representation of the blank according to the invention of Fig. 3 with the retaining tabs folded down.

Fig. 1 shows an example embodiment of a container 10, which in the example of Fig. 1 may optionally be designed as a folding carton. The material of the container 10 can, as an alternative to cardboard, be paper, plastic or another suitable material.

In the three-dimensional representation of Fig. 1 , a rear wall 16 is visible, as well as a side wall 14. In the example embodiment of Fig. 1 , the inner wall of the front wall 12 can also be seen, as well as the inner wall of a second side wall 18 and the receiving cavity 19. As an alternative to the design as a cuboid, the container 10 can, for example, also have only one side wall 14, so that the front and rear walls 12, 16 are directly adjacent to one side; or the container 10 may be designed as any other polyhedron.

The example container 10 of Fig. 1 has a locking structure 20 visible in Fig. 1 , and may optionally have a further locking structure 20 at the opposite end of the front and rear walls 12, 16, which is not visible in Fig.1 .

In the view of Fig. 1 , two dust flaps 22 can also be seen, each of which may be attached to a side wall 14, 18 by means of a bending line. In Fig. 1 , an inner side of each of the dust flaps 22 can be seen, which point inwards towards the interior of the container 10 after folding. Accordingly, an optional indicator area on an outer side of the dust flaps 22 opposite the inner side, which may optionally be located on the bending line, cannot be seen. Such an indicator area designates an area that may be highlighted, for example by color marking. Ideally, the circumference or a minimum circumference of the indicator area may be that which, in the closed state of the container 10, lies against a tear-off area 24 of the locking flap 26 of the locking structure 20. The tear-off areas 24 of the locking flap 26 shown in Fig. 1 are optional designs. The locking flap 26 of the container 10 of Fig. 1 comprises a folding element 30 and a tuck-in flap element 32. Fig. 1 also illustrates with a side panel element 28 that area of the locking flap 26 which forms a lateral surface of the container 10. As an alternative to the embodiment in Fig. 1 , the tuck-in flap element 32 may also lie directly against the side panel element 28 and be hinged to it by means of a perforation line. In the embodiment with a folding element 30, the tuck-in flap element 32 is a partial area of the folding element 30 and is delimited from the folding element 30 by a perforation line 34. The folding element 30 is then hinged to the side panel element 28 by means of a bending line 36. Fig. 1 additionally shows a cutting- or perforation line 38, which forms a partial area of the bending line 36 and can, for example, serve as an engagement for a finger of a user to open the container 10.

The locking structure 20 also includes a retaining tab 40, which is connected to the front wall 12 by means of a ridge-like element 42. In Fig. 1 it can be clearly seen that the retaining tab 40 is folded inwards in such a way that one end of the retaining tab 40 points towards the opposite side wall of the front and rear walls 12, 16 and the retaining tab 40 thus forms a receiving pocket with the inner wall of the front wall 12. Optionally, one end of the retaining tab 40 may be connected to the inner wall of the front wall 12, for example glued to the front wall 12. The ridge-like element 42 is thereby delimited by two substantially parallel or parallel bending lines. This creates a tear-off line, which is damaged when opened.

Fig. 1 also shows a receiving opening 44 in the retaining tab 40, into which the tuck- in flap element 32 is inserted for closing. The receiving opening 44 is formed as a slot or gap, optionally with a width that is suitable for storing the tuck-in flap element 32, but which is less than an expansion of the tuck-in flap element 32, so that the latching lugs 33 latching lug onto the ridge-like element 42 as soon as the tuck-in flap element 32 is pulled towards the ridge-like element 42. Thus, although the tuck-in flap element 32 can be easily inserted through the gap 36 into the receiving pocket 36, it remains caught in the gap and on the ridge-like element 42 when the container 10 is opened. This encourages the tuck-in flap element 32 to tear off. Fig. 2 shows the container 10 of Fig. 1 rotated, so that the front wall 12 can be seen from the outside in Fig. 2. In Fig. 2, two optional color indicator holes 48 can be seen in the rear wall 16. In the example of Fig. 2, the two dust flaps 22 are already folded inwards for the closure of the container 10. Of the locking structure 20, the locking flap 26 can be seen, the folding element 30 of which is folded. The cutting- or perforation line 38 can be seen as an open gap through which, for example, a user can later insert a finger to open the container 10 in order to pull the locking flap 26 out of the container 10. Also visible is the ridge-like element 42, and the closing direction 50, in which the tuck-in flap element 32 is inserted into the receiving opening 44 in order to close the container 10.

Fig. 3 shows a blank 52, which may for example be made of cardboard, paper, plastic or the like, and may for example be used to make a container 10 according to the examples of Figures 1 and 2. Optionally, the blank 52 may be made of cardboard. The blank is formed in one piece.

The front wall 12, side wall 14, rear wall 16 and side wall 18 are each hinged to one another by means of a bending line 53. The bending lines 59 may optionally be designed as perforation lines, which tear when the container 10 is opened. The blank 52 also shows an optional fastening flap 54, which can, for example, be glued or sealed to the side wall 18 to form the body of the container 10.

The example of Fig. 3 shows the blank 52 from its front side, i.e. , those sides which face outwards after the container 10 has been folded. In other words, after the blank 52 has been folded, the side of the front and rear walls 12, 16 shown in Fig. 3 can be seen, as well as the sides of the side walls 14 and the side panel elements 28 shown in Fig. 3. If the side of the tuck-in lid shown in Fig. 3, for example an indicator color area or lettering, this is visible through the color indicator hole 48 when the tuck-in flap element 32 is inserted into the receiving pocket formed by the retaining tab 40 and the inner wall of the side wall 18.

The locking flaps 26, the retaining tabs 40 and the side locking flaps 22 are each hinged to the respective wall of the blank 52 by means of a bending lines 55. In the case of the retaining tabs 40, these are the bending lines 56 and 57, which form the ridge-like elements 42.

The view of the blank 52 also shows the color indicator areas 58, which may optionally have the same outline as the tear-off areas 24.

Fig. 3 also shows the receiving opening 44, which has a smaller extent than the gap formed by a cutting- or perforation line 46. Optional adhesive surfaces 60 are also marked on the retaining tabs 40, to which the retaining tab 40 may be attached to the inside of the rear wall 16. The adhesive surfaces 60 are located on the rear side of the respective retaining tab 40, i.e. on the side not visible in Fig. 3. Both Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 show cutting- or perforation lines 62, each of which provides the outline of an additional optional tear-off tab 63, which tears off upon opening if the tear-off tab 63 is attached to the inside of the rear wall 16.

Fig. 4 shows another view of the blank 52 of Fig. 3, in which the retaining tabs 40 are already hinged to the inner wall of the front wall 12, and are optionally attached to the front wall 12. As a result, the two receiving pockets formed by the two retaining tabs 40 can also be seen.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS:

10 Container

12 front wall

14, 18 side wall

19 receiving cavity

16 rear wall

20 locking structure

22 dust flap

24 tear-off area

25 perforation line

26 locking flap

28 side panel element

30 folding element

32 tuck-in flap element

33 latching lug

34 perforation line

36 bending line

38 cutting- or perforation line

40 retaining tab

42 ridge-like element

44 receiving opening

46 cutting- or perforation line

48 color-indicator hole

50 closing direction

52 blank

53 bending line

54 fastening flap

55, 56, 57, 59 bending line

58 indicator area

60 adhesive surface

62 cutting- or perforation line

63 tear-off tab

Claims

CLAIMS:

1 . A container (10) for storing goods, comprising: a front wall (12) and a rear wall (16), at least one side wall (14, 18) connecting the front and rear walls (12, 16), wherein the front, rear and side walls (12, 16, 14, 18) form a receiving cavity (19) of the container (10); and at least one locking structure (20) for closing the receiving cavity (19); wherein the at least one locking structure (20) comprises at least one locking flap (26) hinged to the rear wall (16) by means of a bending line (55) and at least one insertion flap element (32) connected to the locking flap (26) by means of a perforation line (34), characterized in that the at least one locking structure (20) comprises a retaining tab (40) hinged to the front wall (12) by means of a bending line (56), whereby at least one further bending line (57) being is formed within the retaining tab (40) and the bending lines (56, 57) form a ridge-like element (42) in the folded state, the ridge-like element (42) spacing the retaining tab (40) and the front wall (12), wherein the retaining tab (40) has at least one receiving opening (44) for receiving the tuck-in flap element (32).

2. The container (10) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the retaining tab (40) is attached on the inside of the front wall (12) and forms with the inside of the front wall (12) a receiving pocket for attaching the tuck-in flap element (32).

3. The container (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container (10) is designed as a folding box made of cardboard or of paper or the like.

4. The container (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container (10) has two locking structures (20) located on opposite sides of the front and rear walls (12, 16).

5. The container (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking flap (26) has a folding element (30) which is hinged by means of a bending line (36) and which forms the insertion flap element (32) in a partial region, so that the folding element (30) aligns the insertion flap element (32) towards the receiving opening (44) when the container (10) is in the closed state.

6. The container (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that a bending line (36) hinging the folding element (30) is designed in a partial area as a cutting- or perforation line (38).

7. The container (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tuck-in flap element (32) is designed to taper in the direction of the perforation line (34).

8. The container (10) according to claim 7, characterized in that the tuck-in flap element (32) has one or more latching lugs (33) arranged at the taper.

9. The container (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receiving opening (44) of the retaining tab (40) is formed as a slit or gap, optionally as a gap with a smaller extension than a cutting- or perforation line (46) arranged at the gap for insertion of the tuck-in flap element (32).

10. The container (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the retaining tab (40) is attached to the inside of the front wall (12) when the container (10) is closed.

11 . The container (10) according to claim 10, characterized in that the retaining tab (40) has, at an end facing away from the front wall (12), a tear-off tab (63) formed by a cutting- or perforation line (62), and the tear-off tab (63) is fastened to the inside of the front wall (12).

12. The container (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking flap (26) forms a tear-off area (24) on one or more of its edges, which tear-off area is predetermined by a perforation line (25).

13. The container (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one side wall (14, 18), optionally all side walls (14, 18), has at least one dust flap (22) hinged by means of a bending line (55).

14. The container (10) according to claim 12 and 13, characterized in that the at least one dust flap (22) has, on the bending line (55), an indicator area (58) which points outwards when the container (10) is closed and which bears against the tear-off area (24) when the container (10) is closed.

15. A blank (52) for producing a container (10) for storing goods, in particular for producing a folding box made of cardboard, paper or the like, the blank (52) being formed in one piece, comprising a front wall (12) and a rear wall (16), at least one side wall (14, 18) connecting the front and rear walls (12, 16), designed in such a way that the front, rear and side walls (12, 16, 14, 18) form a receiving cavity (19) in a folded state of the blank (52); and at least one locking structure (20) for locking the receiving cavity (19) in the folded state, which is hinged to the rear wall (16) by means of a bending line (55); wherein the at least one locking structure (20) has at least one locking flap (26) hinged to the rear wall (16) by means of a bending line (55) and at least one insertion flap element (32) connected to the locking flap (26) by means of a perforation line (34), characterized in that the at least one locking structure (20) comprises a retaining tab (40) hinged to the front wall (12) by means of a bending line (56), at least one further bending line (57) being formed within the retaining tab (40) and the bending lines (56, 57) form a ridge-like element (42) in the folded state, which spaces the retaining flap (40) and the front wall (12), wherein the retaining flap (40) has at least one receiving opening (44) for receiving the insertion flap element (32).

16. The blank (52) according to claim 15, characterized in that the retaining tab (40) is attached on the inside of the front wall (12) and forms with the inside of the front wall (12) a receiving pocket for attaching the tuck-in flap element (32).

17. The blank (52) according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that the blank (52) has two locking structures (20) located on opposite sides of the front and rear walls (12, 16).

18. The blank (52) according to one of claims 15 to 17, characterized in that the locking flap (26) has a folding element (30) which is hinged by means of a bending line (36) and which forms the insertion flap element (32) in a partial region, designed in such a way that the folding element (30) aligns the insertion flap element (32) towards the receiving opening (44) in the folded state of the blank (52).

19. The blank (52) according to claim 18, characterized in that a bending line (36) deflecting the folding element (30) is designed in a partial area as a cutting- or perforation line (38).

20. The blank (52) according to one of claims 15 to 19, characterized in that the tuck-in flap element (32) is designed to taper at the perforation line (34) in the direction of the perforation line (34).

21 . The blank (52) according to claim 20, characterized in that the tuck-in flap element (32) has one or more latching lugs (33) arranged at the taper.

22. The blank (52) according to one of claims 15 to 20, characterized in that the receiving opening (44) of the retaining tab (40) is formed as a slit or gap, optionally as a gap with a smaller extension than a cutting- or perforation line (46) arranged at the gap for inserting the tuck-in flap element (32).

23. The blank (52) according to one of claims 15 to 22, characterized in that the retaining tab (40) has a tear-off tab (63) formed by a cutting- or perforation line (62) at an end facing away from the front wall (12).

24. The blank (52) according to one of claims 15 to 23, characterized in that the locking flap (26) forms a tear-off area (24) predetermined by a perforation line (25) at one or more of its edges.

25. The blank (52) according to one of claims 15 to 24, characterized in that at least one side wall (14, 18), optionally all side walls (14, 18), has at least one dust flap (22) hinged by means of a bending line (55).

26. The blank (52) according to claim 24 and/or 25, characterized in that the at least one dust flap (22) has an indicator area (58) on the bending line