# US 10,118,726 B2 · Blank and methods of constructing a ventilated container from the blank > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,118,726 B2 - Document ID: US10118726B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/255,483 - Filed: 2016-09-02 - Published: 2017-03-09 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2015-09-03 - Assignees: WestRock Shared Services, LLC - Applicants: WestRock Shared Services, LLC - Inventors: Jeffrey Scott James; Kenneth John Shanton - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10118726B2 ## CPC - B65D 5/4295: {Ventilating arrangements, e.g. openings, space elements} - B65D 5/6664: {combined with flaps or tabs provided at the side edges of the lid} - B31B 2100/0024: {having all side walls attached to the bottom} - B65D 2585/366: Pizza - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES - B31B: MAKING CONTAINERS OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER (making wound articles, e.g. wound tubes, B31C; combined making and filling B65B) ## Abstract A blank of foldable sheet material for forming a container is provided. The blank includes a bottom panel, a top panel, and a set of vent panels configured to form at least one venting assembly positioned on the top panel of the container. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A blank of foldable sheet material for forming a container, said blank comprising: a top portion comprising a top panel, wherein the top panel includes a front edge, a rear edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge; and at least one venting assembly comprising a first vent panel and a second vent panel extending from the first vent panel, the first and second vent panels having at least partially free side edges, the partially free side edges at least partially defining an opening at each end of the at least one venting assembly, wherein the at least one venting assembly is positioned along one or more of the front edge, the rear edge, the first side edge, and the second side edge; wherein the first vent panel is a lower vent panel and the second vent panel is an upper vent panel, wherein the upper vent panel is configured to extend above the top panel when the container is formed. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A blank in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first vent panel is of equal or greater width than the second vent panel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A blank in accordance with claim 1, wherein each at least partially free side edge is angled outwardly to an apex. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A blank in accordance with claim 3, wherein the at least one venting assembly further comprises a fold line extending between the first vent panel and the second vent panel, and the apex is offset from the fold line. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A blank in accordance with claim 1, wherein the opening at each end of the at least one venting assembly is configured to enable airflow communication between a cavity of the container and an ambient environment. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A blank in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one venting assembly comprises a length that is equal to or less than a length of the top panel. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A blank in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a front tuck flap extending from a front edge of the top panel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A blank in accordance with claim 7, wherein an exterior surface of the front tuck flap is configured to engage in a friction fit with an interior surface of a front bottom panel when the container is formed. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A blank in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a first top side panel and a first bottom side panel, wherein an exterior surface of the first top side panel is configured to engage in a friction fit with an interior surface of the first bottom side panel when the container is formed. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A blank in accordance with claim 1, wherein the upper vent panel extends from the lower vent panel to the top panel. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A blank in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a bottom panel and one or more front panel tabs, wherein the one or more front panel tabs are configured to extend downwardly below the bottom panel when the container is formed. ### Claim 12 A blank of foldable sheet material for forming a container, said blank comprising: a top portion comprising a top panel, wherein the top panel includes a front edge, a rear edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge; and at least one venting assembly comprising a first vent panel and a second vent panel extending from the first vent panel, the first and second vent panels having at least partially free side edges, the partially free side edges at least partially defining an opening at each end of the at least one venting assembly, wherein the at least one venting assembly is positioned along one or more of the front edge, the rear edge, the first side edge, and the second side edge, wherein the at least one venting assembly comprises a length that is approximately one-half of a length of the top panel. ### Claim 13 A container formed from a blank of foldable sheet material, said container comprising: a top portion comprising a top panel, wherein the top panel includes a front edge, rear edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge; and at least one venting assembly comprising a first vent panel and a second vent panel hingedly connected to the first vent panel, the first and second vent panels having at least partially free side edges, the partially free side edges at least partially defining an opening at each end of the at least one venting assembly, wherein the at least one venting assembly is positioned along one or more of the front edge, the rear edge, the first side edge, and the second side edge, wherein the first vent panel is a lower vent panel and the second vent panel is an upper vent panel, wherein the upper vent panel is configured to extend above the top panel when the container is formed. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A container in accordance with claim 13, wherein the first vent panel is of equal or greater width than the second vent panel. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) A container in accordance with claim 13, wherein the at least one venting assembly comprises a length that is equal to or less than a length of the top panel. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) A container in accordance with claim 13, wherein each partially free side edge is angled outwardly to an apex. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A container in accordance with claim 16, wherein the at least one venting assembly further comprises a fold line extending between the first vent panel and the second vent panel, and the apex is offset from the fold line. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) A container in accordance with claim 13, wherein the at least one venting assembly comprises a length that is approximately one-half of a length of the top panel. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) A container in accordance with claim 13, the container further comprising a front tuck flap extending from a front edge of the top panel. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) A container in accordance with claim 19, wherein an exterior surface of the front tuck flap is engaged in a friction fit with an interior surface of a front panel when the container is formed. ### Claim 21 (depends on 13) A container in accordance with claim 13, wherein an exterior surface of a first top side panel is engaged in a friction fit with an interior surface of a first bottom side panel when the container is formed. ### Claim 22 (depends on 13) A container in accordance with claim 13, wherein the openings at each end of the at least one venting assembly enable airflow communication between a cavity of the container and an ambient environment. ### Claim 23 (depends on 13) A container in accordance with claim 13, the container further comprising one or more front panel tabs and a bottom panel, wherein the one or more front panel tabs are configured to extend downwardly below the bottom panel to form one or more support structures to facilitate stacking containers one on top of another. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) A container in accordance with claim 23, wherein the one or more front panel tabs are configured to function in combination with the at least one venting assembly to create space between stacked containers to facilitate airflow.