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US 11,273,950 B2Granted
Carton with locking features
AssigneeGraphic Packaging International, Inc.
InventorSteven M. Oliveira
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A carton for holding one or more articles includes a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the carton, the plurality of panels including a front panel, a back panel, and at least one side panel. The carton also includes a plurality of end flaps foldably connected to respective panels of the plurality of panels and forming a closed top portion of the carton, the closed top portion of the carton is reconfigurable between a first configuration having a substantially flat profile and a second configuration forming a handle of the carton. The carton also includes locking features for engaging at least one other carton.
Claims53
A carton for holding one or more articles, the carton comprising:
- a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the carton, the plurality of panels comprising a front panel, a back panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel;
- a plurality of end flaps foldably connected to respective panels of the plurality of panels and forming a closed top portion of the carton, the plurality of end flaps comprising a first top end flap foldably connected to the front panel, a second top end flap foldably connected to the back panel, a third top end flap foldably connected to the first side panel at a first fold line, and a fourth top end flap foldably connected to the second side panel at a second fold line, at least one of the first top end flap and the second top end flap comprising at least one handle tab and a handle portion comprising a top edge of the at least one of the first top end flap and the second top end flap, at least one of the third top end flap and the fourth top end flap comprising an aperture for at least partially receiving the at least one handle tab,
- the closed top portion of the carton is reconfigurable between a first configuration having a substantially flat profile and a second configuration wherein the handle portion forms a handle of the carton;
- and
- locking features for engaging at least one other carton, the locking features comprise a first locking tab foldably connected to the third top end flap at a third fold line and a second locking tab foldably connected to the fourth top end flap at a fourth fold line, the first locking tab is spaced away from the first side panel and the second locking tab is spaced away from the second side panel such that the third fold line is spaced away from the first fold line and such that the fourth fold line is spaced away from the second fold line, each of the first locking tab and the second locking tab has a respective pair of flange portions and a respective pair of notches between the respective flange portions and the respective third end flap and fourth top end flap, each of the first locking tab and the second locking tab extends above the top edge of the at least one of the first top end flap and the second top end flap when the closed top portion of the carton is in the second configuration.
2 more elements
The carton of 11, wherein the plurality of panels and the plurality of gussets provide a substantially continuous surface that at least partially forms a bottom receptacle of the carton.
A blank for forming a carton for holding one or more articles, the blank comprising:
- a plurality of panels for extending at least partially around an interior of the carton formed from the blank, the plurality of panels comprising a front panel, a back panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel;
- a plurality of end flaps foldably connected to respective panels of the plurality of panels, the plurality of end flaps is for forming a closed top portion of the carton that is reconfigurable between a first configuration having a substantially flat profile and a second configuration forming a handle of the carton formed from the blank, the plurality of end flaps comprising a first top end flap foldably connected to the front panel, a second top end flap foldably connected to the back panel, a third top end flap foldably connected to the first side panel at a first fold line, and a fourth top end flap foldably connected to the second side panel at a second fold line, at least one of the first top end flap and the second top end flap comprising at least one handle tab and a handle portion comprising a top edge of the at least one of the first top end flap and the second top end flap, at least one of the third top end flap and the fourth top end flap comprising an aperture for at least partially receiving the at least one handle tab when the carton is formed from the blank, the handle portion forms the handle of the carton formed from the blank;
- and
- locking features for engaging at least one other carton when the carton is formed from the blank, the locking features comprise a first locking tab foldably connected to the third top end flap at third fold line and a second locking tab foldably connected to the fourth top end flap at a fourth fold line, the first locking tab is spaced away from the first side panel and the second locking tab is spaced away from the second side panel such that the third fold line is spaced away from the first fold line and such that the fourth fold line is spaced away from the second fold line, each of the first locking tab and the second locking tab has a respective pair of flange portions and a respective pair of notches between the respective flange portions and the respective third end flap and fourth top end flap, each of the first locking tab and the second locking tab is for extending above the top edge of the at least one of the first top end flap and the second top end flap when the closed top portion of the carton formed from the blank is in the second configuration.
1 more element
The blank of 25, wherein the plurality of panels and the plurality of gussets provide a substantially continuous surface that at least partially forms a bottom receptacle of the carton formed from the blank.
A method of forming a carton for holding one or more articles, the method comprising:
- obtaining a blank comprising a plurality of panels comprising a front panel, a back panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel, the blank further comprising a plurality of end flaps foldably connected to respective panels of the plurality of panels, the plurality of end flaps comprising a first top end flap foldably connected to the front panel, a second top end flap foldably connected to the back panel, a third top end flap foldably connected to the first side panel at a first fold line, and a fourth top end flap foldably connected to the second side panel at a second fold line, at least one of the first top end flap and the second top end flap comprising at least one handle tab and a handle portion comprising a top edge of the at least one of the first top end flap and the second top end flap, at least one of the third top end flap and the fourth top end flap comprising an aperture for at least partially receiving the at least one handle tab, the blank further comprising locking features for engaging at least one other carton, the locking features comprise a first locking tab foldably connected to the third top end flap at a third fold line and a fourth locking tab foldably connected to the fourth top end flap at a fourth fold line, the first locking tab is spaced away from the first side panel and the second locking tab is spaced away from the second side panel such that the third fold line is spaced away from the first fold line and such that the fourth fold line is spaced away from the second fold line, each off the first locking tab and the second locking tab has a respective pair of flange portions and a respective pair of notches between the respective flange portions and the respective third end flap and fourth top end flap;
- folding the plurality of panels at least partially around an interior of the carton;
- and
- folding the plurality of end flaps to form a closed top portion, the closed top portion of the carton is reconfigurable between a first configuration having a substantially flat profile and a second configuration in which the handle portion forms a handle of the carton, each of the first locking tab and the second locking tab extends above the top edge of the at least one of the first top end flap and the second top end flap when the closed top portion of the carton is in the second configuration.
1 more element
The method of 39, wherein the plurality of panels and the plurality of gussets provide a substantially continuous surface that at least partially forms a bottom receptacle of the carton.
A system, comprising:
- a first carton for holding one or more articles, the first carton comprising:
- a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the first carton, the plurality of panels comprising a front panel, a back panel, and at least one side panel;
- a plurality of end flaps foldably connected to respective panels of the plurality of panels and forming a closed top portion of the first carton, the closed top portion of the first carton has a substantially flat profile and defines a receiving space;
- and
- a second carton for holding one or more articles, the second carton positioned in the receiving space of the first carton and secured to the first carton, the second carton comprising:
- a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the second carton, the plurality of panels comprising a front panel, a back panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel;
- a plurality of end flaps foldably connected to respective panels of the plurality of panels and forming a closed top portion of the second carton, the plurality of end flaps of the second carton comprising a first top end flap foldably connected to the front panel, a second top end flap foldably connected to the back panel, a third top end flap foldably connected to the first side panel at a first fold line, and a fourth top end flap foldably connected to the second side panel at a second fold line, at least one of the first top end flap and the second top end flap comprising at least one handle tab and a handle portion comprising a top edge of the at least one of the first top end flap and the second top end flap, at least one of the third top end flap and the fourth top end flap comprising an aperture for at least partially receiving the at least one handle tab, the handle portion forms a handle of the second carton;
- and
- locking features for engaging at least one other carton, the locking features comprise a first locking tab foldably connected to the third top end flap at a third fold line and a second locking tab foldably connected to the fourth top end flap at a fourth fold line, the first locking tab is spaced away from the first side panel and the second locking tab is spaced away from the second side panel such that the third fold line is spaced away from the first fold line and such that the fourth fold line is spaced away from the second fold line, each of the first locking tab and the second locking tab has a respective pair of flange portions and a respective pair of notches between the respective flange portions and the respective third end flap and fourth top end flap of the second carton, each of the first locking tab and the second locking tab extends above the top edge of the at least one of the first top end flap and the second top end flap of the second carton.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.