# US 11,027,877 B2 · Locking carton

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- Number: US 11,027,877 B2
- Document ID: US11027877B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/433,580
- Filed: 2019-06-06
- Published: 2019-12-12
- Granted: 2021-06-08
- Earliest claimed: 2018-06-06
- Assignees: Diamond Packaging
- Applicants: Diamond Packaging
- Inventors: Ilce Nakovski
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11027877B2

## CPC

- B65D 5/38: Drawer-and-shell type containers
- B65B 5/04: Packaging single articles
- B65D 5/5007: {formed by inwardly protruding of folded parts of the body}
- B65B 61/184: {by applying tabs over discharge openings, e.g. over discharge openings defined by tear or score lines}
- B65D 2215/02: requiring the combination of simultaneous actions
- 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
- B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00)

## Abstract

A locking carton, locking mechanism and method includes an insert including a bridge having at least one pair of locking tabs at the ends thereof and material cutouts in the bottom panel and side walls adjacent to the bridge and an outer sleeve including at least one pair of locking notches corresponding to the at least one pair of locking tabs when in a locked position.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A locking carton comprising:
an insert comprising a top panel and a bottom panel connected by a front wall, back wall and two side walls, wherein the bottom panel is comprised of a flexible bridge having two ends and a respective tab at each; and
an outer sleeve comprising a top panel and a bottom panel, connected by a back wall and two side walls, wherein the side walls comprise at least one pair of notches corresponding to the bridge tabs when in a locked position.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The carton of claim 1, wherein the tabs and notches are configured to lock the insert in its entirety inside the outer sleeve.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The carton of claim 1, wherein the sleeve insert further comprises a second pair of notches which cooperate with the bridge tabs to restrict the complete removal of the insert from the sleeve.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The carton of claim 1, wherein the insert is configured to receive an article within the insert.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The carton of claim 1, wherein the insert and sleeve comprise paperboard or plastic.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The carton of claim 1, further comprising material cutouts in the bottom panel of the insert on each side of the bridge and in the side walls adjacent to the bridge.

### Claim 7

A locking mechanism, comprising:
a flexible bridge having two ends and a respective tab at each end in a bottom panel of an insert wherein the bridge is moveable between a relaxed position and a flexed position; and
at least one pair of notches in a sleeve corresponding to the tabs when in a locked position.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The locking mechanism of claim 7, further comprising material cutouts in the bottom panel of the insert on each side of the bridge and in side walls adjacent to the bridge.

### Claim 9

A method comprising:
sliding an end of an insert comprising a bridge having two ends and a respective tab at each end into a sleeve causing the bridge to flex from a relaxed position to a flexed position until the tabs at the ends of the bridge protrude through corresponding notches of the sleeve causing the bridge to move from the flexed position to the relaxed position, thereby locking the insert within the sleeve.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, further comprising:
unlocking the insert from the sleeve by depressing the pair of tabs protruding from the pair of notches of the sleeve thereby moving the bridge from the relaxed position to the flexed position and partially sliding the insert out of the sleeve.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, further comprising inserting an article into the insert prior to sliding the insert into the sleeve.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, further comprising:
unlocking the insert from the sleeve by depressing the pair of tabs protruding from the pair of notches of the sleeve thereby moving the bridge from the relaxed position to the flexed position and partially sliding the insert out of the sleeve to expose the article.