Back to results
US 12,264,000 B2Granted
Carton with tamper-evident feature and method of using same
AssigneeInno-Pak, LLC
InventorSteven A. Mayer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tamper-evident carton and method of using same. The tamper evident carton may include a floor panel; side panels extending about a periphery of the floor panel; corner gussets extending between adjacent side panels, wherein the floor panel, side panels, and corner gussets may be configurable to form a compartment region; a lid flap extending from an uppermost edge of one of the side panels forming a moveable hinge joint therebetween, the lid flap may include a front edge flap extending from a front edge of the lid flap opposite that of the moveable hinge joint; and a tear strip disposed in the front edge flap.
Claims26
A tamper evident carton, comprising:
- a. a floor panel;
- b. side panels extending about a periphery of the floor panel, wherein the side panels comprise a front side panel, an opposing rear side panel, a first end panel, and an opposing second end panel, and wherein the front side panel comprises a front side top edge flap and the opposing first and second end panels comprise a first end top edge flap and a second end top edge flap, respectively, wherein the front side top edge flap, the first end top edge flap, and the second end top edge flap are hingedly connected to a top edge of their respective panel, and wherein one or more of the front side top edge flap, first end top edge flap, and second end top edge flap comprise a receiving tab formed therein;
- c. corner gussets extending between adjacent side panels, wherein the floor panel, side panels, and corner gussets are configurable to form a compartment region;
- d. a lid flap extending from an uppermost edge of the rear side panel forming a moveable hinge joint therebetween, the lid flap comprising a front edge flap extending from a front edge of the lid flap opposite that of the moveable hinge joint;
- e. a tear strip disposed in the front edge flap;
- and
- wherein the front edge flap further comprises a coupling portion, wherein the coupling portion is configured to affix to at least a portion of an outer facing surface of the front side panel, and wherein the tear strip extends a length of the front edge flap and is disposed between the coupling portion and the front edge of the lid flap.
4 more elements
A method of securing contents in a tamper evident carton, comprising:
- a. providing a tamper evident carton, comprising:
- i. a floor panel;
- ii. side panels extending about a periphery of the floor panel, wherein the side panels comprise a front side panel, an opposing rear side panel, a first end panel, and an opposing second end panel, and wherein the front side panel comprises a front side top edge flap and the opposing first and second end panels comprise a first end top edge flap and a second end top edge flap, respectively, wherein the front side top edge flap, the first end top edge flap, and the second end top edge flap are hingedly connected to a top edge of their respective panel, and wherein one or more of the front side top edge flap, first end top edge flap, and second end top edge flap comprise a receiving tab formed therein;
- iii. corner gussets extending between adjacent side panels, wherein the floor panel, side panels, and corner gussets are configurable to form a compartment region;
- iv. a lid flap extending from an uppermost edge of the rear side panel forming a moveable hinge joint therebetween, the lid flap comprising a front edge flap extending from a front edge of the lid flap opposite that of the moveable hinge joint;
- v. a tear strip disposed in the front edge flap;
- and
- wherein the front edge flap further comprises a coupling portion, wherein the coupling portion is configured to affix to at least a portion of an outer facing surface of the front side panel, and wherein the tear strip extends a length of the front edge flap and is disposed between the coupling portion and the front edge of the lid flap;
- b. inserting contents into the compartment region;
- c. folding the lid flap to a closed position;
- and
- d. securing the front edge flap to a side panel opposite that of the side panel from which the front edge flap extends from.
9 more elements
A method of providing access to contents in a secured tamper evident carton, comprising:
- a. providing a secured tamper evident carton with contents therein, the tamper evident carton comprising:
- i. a floor panel;
- ii. side panels extending about a periphery of the floor panel, wherein the side panels comprise a front side panel, an opposing rear side panel, a first end panel, and an opposing second end panel, and wherein the front side panel comprises a front side top edge flap and the opposing first and second end panels comprise a first end top edge flap and a second end top edge flap, respectively, wherein the front side top edge flap, the first end top edge flap, and the second end top edge flap are hingedly connected to a top edge of their respective panel, and wherein one or more of the front side top edge flap, first end top edge flap, and second end top edge flap comprise a receiving tab formed therein;
- iii. corner gussets extending between adjacent side panels, wherein the floor panel, side panels, and corner gussets are configurable to form a compartment region;
- iv. a lid flap extending from an uppermost edge of the rear side panel forming a moveable hinge joint therebetween, the lid flap comprising a front edge flap extending from a front edge of the lid flap opposite that of the moveable hinge joint;
- V. a tear strip disposed along a length of the front edge flap;
- and
- wherein the front edge flap further comprises a coupling portion, wherein the coupling portion is configured to affix to at least a portion of an outer facing surface of the front side panel, and wherein the tear strip extends a length of the front edge flap and is disposed between the coupling portion and the front edge of the lid flap;
- b. removing the tear strip;
- and
- c. folding open the lid flap.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.