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US 7,475,777 B2Granted
Carton with article retaining feature
AssigneeGraphic Packaging International, Inc.
InventorsCharles F. Ho Fung, Andrea Coltri-Johnson, Jean-Manuel Gomes
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A carton includes a retaining structure that is arranged to retain articles within the carton when an end of the carton has been opened. The retaining structure includes an obstruction spaced from the opened end of the carton that abuts an article located at a dispenser opening of the carton.
Claims23
A carton, comprising:
- a first side panel;
- a top panel;
- a second side panel;
- a bottom panel;
- a first end panel at a first end of the carton;
- a second end panel at a second end of the carton;
- and
- a retaining structure defined at least in the first end panel by a plurality of lines of disruption in the carton, the plurality of lines of disruption comprising a plurality of tear lines defining at least a part of a perimeter of the retaining structure, and the retaining structure comprising:
- a plurality of foldable stop panels defined in the first end panel;
- a locking projection defined at an upper portion of the retaining structure in the first end panel, above the plurality of foldable stop panels;
- and
- a locking aperture defined at a lower portion of the first end panel, wherein the retaining structure is partially separable from a remainder of the carton and the plurality of stop panels are foldable such that the locking projection can be inserted in the locking aperture.
9 more elements
A carton in a dispensing configuration and a plurality of articles disposed in the carton, comprising:
- a first side panel;
- a top panel;
- a second side panel;
- a bottom panel;
- a first end panel at a first end of the carton;
- a second end panel at a second end of the carton;
- and
- a retaining structure comprising a retaining obstruction, the retaining obstruction being spaced from the first end of the carton and comprising
- a plurality of foldable stop panels that are respectively folded with respect to one another,
- a locking aperture positioned at a bottom portion of the retaining structure, and
- a locking projection connected to the stop panels and engaged with the locking aperture, wherein
- a dispenser opening is defined in the carton at least in the first end panel, and wherein the articles can be withdrawn from the carton through the dispenser opening, at least one of the articles being in a dispensing position at the dispenser opening and abutting the retaining obstruction.
9 more elements
A method of placing a carton in a dispensing configuration, comprising:
- providing a carton having a first end and a second end, a retaining structure being defined at least in the first end;
- providing a plurality of articles in the carton;
- separating a part of the retaining structure from a remainder of the carton, wherein a dispenser opening is defined in the first end of the carton;
- deforming a distal portion of the retaining structure to form a retaining obstruction;
- and
- engaging a locking projection of the distal portion with a locking aperture in a bottom portion of the retaining structure.
3 more elements
A carton black, comprising:
- a first side panel;
- a top panel
- a second side panel;
- at least one bottom panel;
- a first side end panel foldably connected to the first side panel and comprisinga first retaining pattern, the first retaining pattern defining
- a first plurality of foldably connected stop panel sections in the first side end panel, and
- a first locking projection section in the first side end panel:
- a second side end panel foldably connected to the second side panel and comprising a second retaining pattern, the second retaining pattern defining
- a second plurality of folaably connected stop panel sections in the second side end panel, and
- a second locking projection section in the second side end panel;
- and
- a first bottom end panel connected to the at least one bottom panel and comprising a bottom retaining pattern for defining a retaining aperture, wherein
- the first and second side end panels and the bottom end panel are combinable to form a retaining structure comprising a plurality of stop panels formed by the first and second pluralities of stop panel sections, and a locking projection formed by the first and second locking projection sections, the locking projection being connected to the plurality of stop panel sections at a top portion of the retaining structure, and
- the plurality of stop panels are foldable to engage the locking projection with the retaining aperture.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.