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US 11,440,696 B2Granted
Fastener-free packaging
AssigneePratt Corrugated Holdings, Inc.
InventorsJohn Richard Muse, Shifeng Chen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Fastener-free packaging includes a plurality of main panels, each main panel comprising an upper panel, a central panel, and a lower panel; at least one attaching connection feature located on at least one lower panel; and at least one receiving connection feature located on at least one lower panel, wherein each lower panel is connected to at least two other lower panels by an attaching connection feature connecting to a receiving connection feature such that all lower panels are connected together thereby forming a bottom.
Claims20
A blank for forming packaging, the blank comprising:
- a first main panel;
- a second main panel connected to the first main panel;
- a third main panel connected to the second main panel;
- a fourth main panel connected to the third main panel;
- and
- a connection panel connected to the fourth main panel,
- each main panel further comprising at least one upper panel, at least one central panel, and at least one lower panel,
- wherein at least one upper panel comprises an attaching connection feature,
- wherein at least one lower panel comprises an attaching connection feature,
- wherein at least one upper panel comprises a receiving connection feature,
- wherein at least one lower panel comprises a receiving connection feature,
- wherein at least one attaching connection feature comprises a connecting tab and wherein at least one receiving connection feature comprises a connection aperture, wherein the connection aperture is defined in the panel containing the receiving connection feature, wherein each connection aperture comprises a slim portion and an expanded portion, wherein the connection aperture defines a first lateral end, a second lateral end, a first vertical end, and a second vertical end, wherein the slim portion defines a width, and wherein the expanded portion defines a width larger than the width of the slim portion,
- wherein one upper panel comprises two connecting tabs and a support tab located between the connecting tabs, and
- wherein a recess is defined between each of the connecting tabs and the support tab.
11 more elements
A fastener-free box formed from a blank, the box comprising:
- a plurality of main panels, each main panel comprising an upper panel, a central panel, and a lower panel;
- at least one attaching connection feature located on at least one lower panel;
- and
- at least one receiving connection feature located on at least one lower panel,
- wherein each lower panel is connected to at least two other lower panels by an attaching connection feature connecting to a receiving connection feature such that all lower panels are connected together thereby forming a bottom,
- wherein each attaching connection feature comprises a connecting tab and wherein each receiving connection feature comprises a connection aperture,
- wherein the connection aperture is defined in the panel containing the receiving connection feature, wherein the connection aperture defines a first lateral end, a second lateral end, wherein each connection aperture comprises a slim portion and an expanded portion, wherein the expanded portion is defined by an angled portion of one of the first lateral end and the second lateral end, wherein the slim portion defines a width, and wherein the expanded portion defines a width larger than the width of the slim portion,
- wherein each connecting tab is inserted into one connection aperture,
- wherein one upper panel comprises two connecting tabs and a support tab located between the connecting tabs, and
- wherein a recess is defined between each of the connecting tabs and the support tab.
7 more elements
A method of forming a box from a blank, the method comprising the steps of:
- obtaining a pre-assembled, flattened blank, the pre-assembled blank comprising:
- a first main panel;
- a second main panel connected to the first main panel;
- a third main panel connected to the second main panel;
- a fourth main panel connected to the third main panel;
- and
- a connection panel connected to the fourth main panel, the connection panel being adhered to the first main panel;
- each main panel further comprising at least one upper panel, at least one central panel, and at least one lower panel,
- wherein at least one upper panel comprises an attaching connection feature,
- wherein at least one lower panel comprises an attaching connection feature,
- wherein at least one upper panel comprises a receiving connection feature,
- wherein at least one lower panel comprises a receiving connection feature,
- wherein at least one attaching connection feature comprises a connecting tab and
- wherein at least one receiving connection feature comprises a connection aperture, wherein the connection aperture is defined in the panel containing the receiving connection feature, wherein the connection aperture defines a first lateral end, a second lateral end, wherein each connection aperture comprises a slim portion and an expanded portion, wherein the expanded portion is defined by an angled portion of one of the first lateral end and the second lateral end, wherein the slim portion defines a width, and wherein the expanded portion defines a width larger than the width of the slim portion,
- wherein one upper panel comprises two connecting tabs and a support tab located between the connecting tabs, and
- wherein a recess is defined between each of the connecting tabs and the support tab;
- expanding the pre-assembled blank to form an expanded structure;
- forming a bottom of the box, the step of forming the bottom of the box comprising the steps of:
- arranging each lower panel comprising the receiving connection feature in arrangement covering a bottom end of the expanded structure,
- arranging each lower panel comprising the attaching connection feature to connect to one receiving connection feature of each of the lower panels comprising the receiving connection feature, and
- connecting each attaching connection feature to at least one receiving connection feature;
- and
- forming a top of the box, the step of forming the top of the box comprising the steps of:
- arranging each upper panel comprising the receiving connection feature in arrangement covering a top end of the expanded structure,
- arranging each upper panel comprising the attaching connection feature to connect to one receiving connection feature of each of the upper panels comprising the receiving connection feature, and
- connecting each attaching connection feature to at least one receiving connection feature.
23 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.