An end closure design for a paperboard container having four or more end
panels that form the end closure hingedly joined respectively to four
side panels connected to each other by parallel, spaced apart fold lines.
Each of the hinged end panels has a straight free edge parallel the
hinged edge and each free edge has two spaced apart notches of the same
shape and size cut therein, each positioned the same distance from the
parallel, spaced apart fold lines such that when the panels are folded
over, a notch from each end panel interlocks with a notch from an
adjacent end panel. An opposing two of the hinged end panels also include
two diagonal score lines, each extending from an interior edge of the
notches to the interior corner formed by the fold lines between the end
closure panel and its respective side panel. To form the end closure, the
end closure panels without the diagonal score lines are folded inwardly,
then the end closure panels with the diagonal score lines are folded
inwardly. Pressure is applied (by pushing) to the central portion of the
two panels with score lines between the score lines to cause adjacent and
overlapping notches to interlock to form the end closure. The resulting
container has an end with a central open area and four interlocked
notches at the open area's corners.