Carrier with locking features
AssigneeGraphic Packaging International, Inc.
InventorKirsten L. Brand
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A carton for carrying a plurality of articles and a blank for forming the carton generally include a top panel, a first side panel foldably connected to the top panel, a second side panel foldably connected to the top panel, a first bottom panel foldably connected to the first side panel, the first bottom panel comprising a plurality of female locking openings and having opening flaps adjacent the female locking openings. The opening flaps are foldably connected to the first bottom panel at respective first arcuate fold lines. A second bottom panel is foldably connected to the second side panel. The second bottom panel comprises a plurality of male locking projections. The male locking projections are foldably connected to the second bottom panel at respective second arcuate fold lines.
Claims35
A one-piece wrap-around carton for carrying a plurality of articles, the one-piece wrap-around carton comprising:
- a top panel;
- a first side panel foldably connected to the top panel;
- a second side panel foldably connected to the top panel;
- a first bottom panel foldably connected to the first side panel, the first bottom panel comprising a plurality of female locking openings and having a plurality of opening flaps, a respective one of the opening flaps is adjacent a respective one of the female locking openings and is respectively foldably connected to the first bottom panel at a respective first arcuate fold line;
- and
- a second bottom panel foldably connected to the second side panel, the second bottom panel comprising a plurality of male locking projections, each of the male locking projections is respectively foldably connected to the second bottom panel at a respective second arcuate fold line,
- wherein the first bottom panel is foldably connected to the first side panel at a fold line, each respective first arcuate fold line comprises a first distal end, a second distal end, and a medial portion between the first distal end and the second distal end, and wherein each respective first arcuate fold line has a radius of curvature such that the medial portion is positioned to be a first distance from the fold line and the first distal end and the second distal end are arranged to be a second distance from the fold line, the first distance being greater than the second distance.
A blank for forming a carton for carrying a plurality of articles, the blank comprising:
- a top panel;
- a first side panel foldably connected to the top panel;
- a second side panels foldably connected to the top panel;
- a first bottom panel foldably connected to the first side panel, the first bottom panel comprising a plurality of female locking openings and having a plurality of opening flaps, a respective one of the opening flaps is adjacent a respective one of the female locking openings and is respectively foldably connected to the first bottom panel at a respective first arcuate fold line;
- and
- a second bottom panel foldably connected to the second side panel, the second bottom panel comprising a plurality of male locking projections, each of the male locking projections is respectively foldably connected to the second bottom panel at a respective second arcuate fold line,
- wherein the first bottom panel is foldably connected to the first side panel at a fold line, each respective first arcuate fold line comprises a first distal end, a second distal end, and a medial portion between the first distal end and the second distal end, and wherein each respective first arcuate fold line has a radius of curvature such that the medial portion is positioned to be a first distance from the fold line and the first distal end and the second distal end are arranged to be a second distance from the fold line, the first distance being greater than the second distance.
A method of forming a carton, the method comprising:
- obtaining a blank comprising:
- a top panel;
- a first side panel foldably connected to the top panel;
- a second side panels foldably connected to the top panel;
- a first bottom panel foldably connected to the first side panel, the first bottom panel comprising a plurality of female locking openings and having a plurality of opening flaps, a respective one of the opening flaps is adjacent a respective one of the female locking openings and is respectively foldably connected to the first bottom panel at a respective first arcuate fold line;
- and
- a second bottom panel foldably connected to the second side panel, the second bottom panel comprising a plurality of male locking projections, each of the male locking projections is respectively foldably connected to the second bottom panel at a respective second arcuate fold line,
- wherein the first bottom panel is foldably connected to the first side panel at a fold line, each respective first arcuate fold line comprises a first distal end, a second distal end, and a medial portion between the first distal end and the second distal end, and wherein each respective first arcuate fold line has a radius of curvature such that the medial portion is positioned to be a first distance from the fold line and the first distal end and the second distal end are arranged to be a second distance from the fold line, the first distance being greater than the second distance;
- at least partially overlapping the first bottom panel and the second bottom panel;
- inserting the male locking projections into a respective one of the female locking openings;
- and
- placing the male locking projection into interlocking engagement with a respective one of the female locking openings.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.