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US 7,665,654 B2Granted
Shipping containers with stacking support structures
AssigneeSmurfit-Stone Container Enterprises, Inc.
InventorMichael B. McLeod
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Shipping containers having stacking support structures are provided. The shipping containers or cartons, are provided with three-panel inner support structures, in which the three panels form either triangular- (delta-) shaped cross-sections or L shaped cross-sections. In addition, the shipping containers or cartons, are provided with first outer support panels, and one or two second outer support panels. The shipping containers or cartons may be provided with no lid, one lid panel with closure panels for affixation to the end panels, or two lid panels, each with closure panels for affixation to the end panels.
Claims37
A carton, fabricated from a blank formed from at least one of paper, paperboard and corrugated paperboard, comprising:
- a bottom panel;
- two side panels emanating from opposing side edges of the bottom panel;
- at least one lid panel emanating from a top edge of one of the side panels;
- two end panels emanating from opposing end edges of the bottom panel, the opposing end edges of the bottom panel extending substantially perpendicular to the opposing side edges of the bottom panel;
- at least one connection panel emanating from a top edge region of at least one of the two side panels, a foldable line of weakness disposed between the at least one of the two side panels and the at least one connection panel;
- at least one outer support panel emanating from an end edge of the at least one connection panel, a foldable line of weakness disposed between the at least one connection panel and the at least one outer support panel, the at least one outer support panel being affixed to an outside surface of an adjacent one of the end panels;
- at least one first inner support panel emanating from an end edge of at least one of the two end panels, a line of foldable weakness disposed between the at least one first inner support panel and the at least one of the two end panels;
- at least one second inner support panel emanating from an edge of the at least one first inner support panel, a line of foldable weakness disposed between the at least one second inner support panel and the at least one first inner support panel;
- and
- at least one third inner support panel emanating from an edge of the at least one second inner support panel, a line of foldable weakness disposed between the at least one third inner support panel and the at least one second inner support panel;
- the at least one third inner support panel being affixed to an inside surface of the at least one of the two end panels to form, with the at least one first inner support panel and the at least one second inner support panel, at least one vertically extending stacking support structure upon articulation of the blank into the carton.
8 more elements
A blank for a carton, formed from at least one of paper, paperboard and corrugated paperboard, comprising:
- a bottom panel;
- two side panels emanating from opposing side edges of the bottom panel;
- at least one lid panel emanating from a top edge of one of the side panels;
- two end panels emanating from opposing end edges of the bottom panel, the opposing end edges of the bottom panel extending substantially perpendicular to the opposing side edges of the bottom panel;
- at least one connection panel emanating from a top edge region of at least one of the two side panels, a foldable line of weakness disposed between the at least one of the two side panels and the at least one connection panel;
- at least one outer support panel emanating from an end edge of the at least one connection panel, a foldable line of weakness disposed between the at least one connection panel and the at least one outer support panel;
- at least one first inner support panel emanating from an end edge of at least one of the two end panels, a line of foldable weakness disposed between the at least one first inner support panel and the at least one of the two end panels;
- at least one second inner support panel emanating from an edge of the at least one first inner support panel, a line of foldable weakness disposed between the at least one second inner support panel and the at least one first inner support panel;
- and
- at least one third inner support panel emanating from an edge of the at least one second inner support panel, a line of foldable weakness disposed between the at least one third inner support panel and the at least one second inner support panel.
7 more elements
A method for forming a carton, fabricated from a blank formed from at least one of paper, paperboard and corrugated paperboard, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a bottom panel;
- providing two side panels emanating from opposing side edges of the bottom panel;
- providing at least one lid panel emanating from a top edge of a side panel;
- providing two end panels emanating from opposing end edges of the bottom panel, the opposing end edges of the bottom panel extending substantially perpendicular to the opposing side edges of the bottom panel;
- providing at least one connection panel emanating from a top edge region of at least one of the two side panels, a foldable line of weakness disposed between the at least one of the two side panels and the at least one connection panel;
- providing at least one outer support panel emanating from an end edge of the at least one connection panel, a foldable line of weakness disposed between the at least one connection panel and the at least one outer support panel;
- providing at least one first inner support panel emanating from an end edge of at least one of the two end panels, a line of foldable weakness disposed between the at least one first inner support panel and the at least one of the two end panels;
- providing at least one second inner support panel emanating from an edge of the at least one first inner support panel, a line of foldable weakness disposed between the at least one second inner support panel and the at least one first inner support panel;
- and
- providing at least one third inner support panel emanating from an edge of the at least one second inner support panel, a line of foldable weakness disposed between the at least one third inner support panel and the at least one second inner support panel.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.