Partitioned container and method of making same
AssigneeAlliance Packaging, LLC
InventorsScott D. Younger, John V. Heise, Allen R. Tresch
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A partitioned container includes an outer case member erectable from a substantially flat condition to an expanded condition, and at least one partition formed from a unitary blank separate from the outer case member and configured to couple to at least one interior surface of the outer case member in the flat condition, the unitary blank including at least one divider panel and a plurality of cross members configured to automatically divide an interior of the outer case member into a plurality of cells when the outer case member is erected to the expanded condition. A partition blank for forming the partition member and a method of manufacturing a partitioned container are also provided.
Claims44
A partitioned container, comprising:
- an outer case member erectable from a substantially flat condition to an expanded condition;
- and
- a first partition formed from a unitary blank separate from the outer case member and configured to couple to at least one interior surface of the outer case member in the flat condition, the unitary blank including at least one divider panel and a plurality of cross members configured to automatically divide an interior of the outer case member into a plurality of cells when the outer case member is erected to the expanded condition.
A partition blank, comprising:
- a divider panel having at least a divider panel contact region for coupling the divider panel to a first interior surface of an outer case blank, the outer case blank being adapted to erect to form an outer case of a container;
- and
- a plurality of cross members integral to the divider panel, each cross member rotatably connected to a cross member contact region for coupling one or more of the plurality of cross members to at least a second interior surface of the outer case blank, and wherein the partition blank is configured to erect with the outer case blank from a substantially flat condition to an expanded condition in which the cross members of the partition blank extend substantially perpendicular to the divider panel to divide an interior of the outer case into a plurality of cells.
A method for forming an erectable partitioned container, comprising:
- forming a unitary partition blank to include a plurality of cross members and one or more divider panels, each cross member rotatably connected to the one or more divider panels for rotation to an erected configuration;
- coupling a contact region rotatably connected to at least one of the plurality of cross members of the unitary partition blank to an interior surface of an outer case blank;
- and
- folding the outer case blank about a first fold line and a second fold line to couple an end of the outer case blank to a flap of the outer case blank to thereby form an erectable container structure in a flat configuration, the erectable container structure substantially enclosing the unitary partition blank and being configured to automatically rotate the plurality of cross members of the unitary partition blank to the erected configuration when the erectable container structure is erected to form a partitioned container.
A partitioned container, comprising:
- an outer case member erectable from a substantially flat condition to an expanded condition;
- a first partition formed from a first unitary blank separate from the outer case member and configured to couple to at least one interior surface of the outer case member in the flat condition, the first unitary blank including at least one divider panel and at least one cross member configured to automatically divide an interior of the outer case member into at least four cells when the outer case member is erected to the expanded condition.
A method for forming an erectable partitioned container, comprising:
- forming a first unitary partition blank having one or more cross members rotatably connected to one or more divider panels for rotation to an erected configuration;
- coupling a contact region rotatably connected to at least one cross member of the first unitary partition blank to an outer case blank;
- and
- folding the outer case blank about a first fold line and a second fold line to couple an end of the outer case blank to a flap of the outer case blank to thereby form an erectable container structure in a flat configuration, the erectable container structure substantially enclosing the first unitary partition blank and being configured to automatically rotate the one or more cross members to the erected configuration when the erectable container structure is erected to form a partitioned container having at least four container cells.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.