US 2006/0032900 A1Published application

Universal carton blank and method of manufacturing a carton therefrom

OwnerJill Pratt, Curtis Deering +1inventors

InventorsJill Pratt, Curtis Deering, Chris Reed

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A universal blank adapted for assembly as a carton by either a top/end load cartoner or locking tab cartoner, and related method of assembly. The universal blank includes one or more minor flaps forming locking tabs and one or more major flaps forming locking slots. The locking tab/slots facilitate assembly with a locking tab cartoner. Alternatively, the universal blank can be processed by a top/end load cartoner by first bonding two of the outer minor panels. Graphics formed on the universal blank present a desired, aesthetically pleasing appearance upon assembly by either cartoning technique. Further, preferred gluing techniques can be employed to promote consistent assembly by a top/end load cartoner.

Claims36

Dependent claims

A method of assembling a carton comprising:

a) providing a blank including:
a first minor panel,
a first major panel connected to the first minor panel,
a second minor panel connected to the first major panel opposite the first minor panel,
a second major panel connected to the second minor panel opposite the first major panel,
a third minor panel connected to the second major panel opposite the second minor panel,
first and second major flaps extending from opposite ends of the first major panel, respectively,
third and fourth major flaps extending from opposite ends of the second major panel, respectively,
wherein at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth major flaps forms a cut, locking slot,
first and second minor flaps extending from opposite ends of the second minor panel, respectively,
third and fourth minor flaps extending from opposite ends of the third minor panel, respectively,
wherein at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth minor flaps forms a locking tab;
b) applying glue to one of the first and third minor panels;
c) folding the blank such that the first and third minor panels are aligned, and the glue applied at step b) adheres the first and third minor panels;
d) unfolding the major panels relative to the minor panels to define a carton shell having first and second open ends;
e) folding the first and third minor flaps inwardly relative to the second and third minor panels, respectively, to encompass a portion of the first open end;
f) folding one of the first and third major flaps inwardly over the first and third minor flaps;
g) applying glue to the first or third major flap folded at step f);
h) folding an other of the first and third major flaps inwardly onto the major flap folded at step f), wherein the glue applied at step g) adheres the first and third major flaps;
i) folding the second and fourth minor flaps inwardly relative to the second and third minor panels, respectively, to encompass a portion of the second open end;
j) folding one of the second and fourth major flaps inwardly over the second and fourth minor flaps;
k) applying glue to the second or fourth major flap folded at step j);
and
l) folding an other of the second and fourth major flaps inwardly onto the major flap folded at step j), wherein the glue applied at step k) adheres the second and fourth major flaps, resulting in a completed carton;
wherein the completed carton is characterized by the at least one locking tab not being engaged within the at least one locking slot.

22 more elements

A method of assembling a carton comprising:

a) providing a blank including:
a first minor panel,
a first major panel connected to the first minor panel,
a second minor panel connected to the first major panel opposite the first minor panel,
a second major panel connected to the second minor panel opposite the first major panel,
a third minor panel connected to the second major panel opposite the second minor panel,
first and second major flaps extending from opposite ends of the first major panel, respectively,
third and fourth major flaps extending from opposite ends of the second major panel, respectively,
wherein at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth major flaps forms a cut, locking slot,
first and second minor flaps extending from opposite ends of the second minor panel, respectively,
third and fourth minor flaps extending from opposite ends of the third minor panel, respectively,
wherein at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth minor flaps forms a locking tab;
b) determining an availability of a locking tab cartoner or a top/end load cartoner at a cartoning resource;
c) providing the blank to the cartoning resource based upon the determination at step b);
and
d) forming a carton from the blank;
wherein an entirety of the carton has a uniform exterior graphics appearance whether formed by a locking tab cartoner or a top/end load cartoner.

14 more elements

A universal blank for assembly as a carton, the blank comprising:

a first minor panel;
a first major panel connected to the first minor panel;
a second minor panel connected to the first major panel opposite the first minor panel;
a second major panel connected to the second minor panel opposite the first major panel;
a third minor panel connected to the second major panel opposite the second minor panel;
first and second major flaps extending from opposite ends of the first major panel, respectively;
third and fourth major flaps extending from opposite ends of the second major panel, respectively;
wherein at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth major flaps forms a cut, locking slot;
first and second minor flaps extending from opposite ends of the second minor panel, respectively;
third and fourth minor flaps extending from opposite ends of the third minor panel, respectively;
wherein at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth minor flaps forms a locking tab;
and
printed graphics on an exterior face of the blank, the printed graphics including printed segments of the first minor flap and the third major flap such that in a first carton construction, the printed segment of the first minor flap is exteriorly exposed, and in a second carton construction, the printed segment of the third major flap is exteriorly exposed.

10 more elements

A carton comprising:

a first major wall;
a second major wall opposite the first major wall;
opposing side walls connecting opposite sides of the first and second major walls, respectively, to define a carton shell having first and second ends;
a first closure provided at the first end of the carton shell, the first closure including:
a first minor flap,
a second minor flap,
wherein at least one of the minor flaps forms a locking slot,
a first major flap,
a second major flap,
wherein the first major flap forms at least one locking slot,
and further wherein the first closure is formed by the first major flap extending over an exterior of the first and second minor flaps and the second major flap extending exteriorly over the first major flap, the first major flap being adhered to the second major flap;
a second closure provided at the second end of the carton shell, the second closure including:
a third minor flap,
a fourth minor flap,
a third major flap,
a fourth major flap,
wherein the second closure is formed by the third major flap extending over an exterior of the third and fourth minor flaps, and the fourth major flap extending exteriorly over the third major flap, the third major flap being adhered to the fourth major flap;
wherein the carton is characterized by the locking tab not being engaged within the locking slot.

15 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/191,533Filed 28 Jul 2005
Priority: 29 Jul 2004
Published: 16 Feb 2006
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

B65D 5/302
The tongue being a part of a lateral extension of a side wall: combined with a slot provided in an adjacent side wall
B65D 5/0227
By folding or erecting a single blank to form a tubular body with or without subsequent folding operations, or the addition of separate…
B65D 5/10
By folding or erecting a single blank to form a tubular body with or without subsequent folding operations, or the addition of separate…
B31B 50/624
By adhesives: applying glue on blanks

Family

Application60/591,984Us provisional application · filed 29 Jul 2004
US 2006/0032900 A1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Timeline

Citations

Open elsewhere

Building an agent or pulling many patents? Use the API or MCP server instead of scraping pages. Get an API key