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US 9,022,277 B2Granted
Carrier with locking features
AssigneeGraphic Packaging International, Inc.
InventorsTimothy W. Hendricks, Raymond R. Spivey, Sr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A carrier for holding a plurality of articles. The carrier comprises a plurality of panels that extend at least partially around an interior of the carton. The plurality of panels comprises a first bottom panel and a second bottom panel. At least one locking feature comprises a female locking feature in the first bottom panel and a male locking feature in the second bottom panel. The female locking feature comprises a locking flap, and the male locking feature comprises a retention feature. At least a portion of the male locking feature engages the female locking feature, and at least a portion of the locking flap at least partially engages the retention feature.
Claims37
A carrier for holding a plurality of articles, the carrier comprising:
- a plurality of panels that extend at least partially around an interior of the carton, the plurality of panels comprising a first bottom panel and a second bottom panel;
- at least one locking feature comprising a female locking feature in the first bottom panel and a male locking feature in the second bottom panel, the female locking feature comprising a locking flap that is foldably connected to the first bottom panel along a fold line, and the male locking feature comprising a retention feature, at least a portion of the male locking feature engaging the female locking feature, and at least a portion of the locking flap at least partially engaging the retention feature, wherein the locking flap is oblique with respect to at least a portion of the male locking feature and the first bottom panel.
A carrier for holding a plurality of articles, the carrier comprising:
- a plurality of panels that extend at least partially around an interior of the carton, the plurality of panels comprising a first bottom panel and a second bottom panel;
- at least one locking feature comprising a female locking feature in the first bottom panel and a male locking feature in the second bottom panel, the female locking feature comprising a locking flap, and the male locking feature comprising a retention feature, at least a portion of the male locking feature engaging the female locking feature, and at least a portion of the locking flap at least partially engaging the retention feature, wherein the locking flap is oblique with respect to at least a portion of the male locking feature and the first bottom panel;
- wherein the female locking feature further comprises a slit extending in the first bottom panel, the slit at least partially defining the locking flap;
- wherein the male locking feature comprises a male locking projection extending through the slit in the first bottom panel, the retention feature extends in the male locking projection, and the retention feature comprises an opening in at least the male locking projection.
1 more element
A carrier for holding a plurality of articles, the carrier comprising:
- a plurality of panels that extend at least partially around an interior of the carton, the plurality of panels comprising a first side panel, a second side panel, a first bottom panel, and a second bottom panel, the first bottom panel being foldably connected to the first side panel, and the second bottom panel being foldably connected to the second side panel;
- at least one locking feature comprising a female locking feature in the first bottom panel and a male locking feature in the second bottom panel, the female locking feature comprising a locking flap, and the male locking feature comprising a retention feature, at least a portion of the male locking feature engaging the female locking feature, and at least a portion of the locking flap at least partially engaging the retention feature, wherein the locking flap is oblique with respect to at least a portion of the male locking feature and the first bottom panel;
- and
- a plurality of push-in features, each comprising a first push-in panel foldably connected to a second push-in panel, each first push-in panel being foldably connected to at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel and each second push-in panel being foldably connected to a respective one of the first bottom panel and second bottom panel, each push-in feature of the plurality of push-in features being for positioning between two adjacent articles of the plurality of articles.
1 more element
A blank for forming a carrier for holding a plurality of articles, the blank comprising:
- a plurality of panels comprising at least a first bottom panel and a second bottom panel;
- at least one female locking feature in the first bottom panel, the at least one female locking feature comprising a locking flap that is foldably connected to the first bottom panel along a fold line;
- and
- at least one male locking feature in the second bottom panel, the at least one male locking feature comprising a retention feature, at least a portion of the at least one male locking feature being for engaging the at least one female locking feature when the carrier is formed from the blank, and at least a portion of the locking flap of the at least one female locking feature being for at least partially engaging the retention feature of the at least one male locking feature when the carrier is formed from the blank, wherein the locking flap is for extending in an oblique direction with respect to at least a portion of the male locking feature and the first bottom panel when the carrier is formed from the blank.
1 more element
A blank for forming a carrier for holding a plurality of articles, the blank comprising:
- a plurality of panels comprising at least a first bottom panel and a second bottom panel;
- at least one female locking feature in the first bottom panel, the at least one female locking feature comprising a locking flap;
- and
- at least one male locking feature in the second bottom panel, the at least one male locking feature comprising a retention feature, at least a portion of the at least one male locking feature being for engaging the at least one female locking feature when the carrier is formed from the blank, and at least a portion of the locking flap of the at least one female locking feature being for at least partially engaging the retention feature of the at least one male locking feature when the carrier is formed from the blank, wherein the locking flap is for extending in an oblique direction with respect to at least a portion of the male locking feature and the first bottom panel when the carrier is formed from the blank;
- wherein the at least one female locking feature further comprises a slit extending in the first bottom panel, the slit at least partially defining the locking flap;
- wherein the retention feature of the at least one male locking feature is a retention cut that at least partially defines a retention flap in the male locking projection, and the retention feature of the at least one male locking feature comprises an opening in at least the male locking projection when the carrier is formed from the blank.
3 more elements
A blank for forming a carrier for holding a plurality of articles, the blank comprising:
- a plurality of panels comprising at least a first side panel, a second side panel, a first bottom panel, and a second bottom panel, the first bottom panel being foldably connected to the first side panel, and the second bottom panel being foldably connected to the second side panel;
- at least one female locking feature in the first bottom panel, the at least one female locking feature comprising a locking flap;
- and
- at least one male locking feature in the second bottom panel, the at least one male locking feature comprising a retention feature, at least a portion of the at least one male locking feature being for engaging the at least one female locking feature when the carrier is formed from the blank, and at least a portion of the locking flap of the at least one female locking feature being for at least partially engaging the retention feature of the at least one male locking feature when the carrier is formed from the blank, wherein the locking flap is for extending in an oblique direction with respect to at least a portion of the male locking feature and the first bottom panel when the carrier is formed from the blank;
- and
- a plurality of push-in features, each comprising a first push-in panel foldably connected to a second push-in panel, each first push-in panel being foldably connected to at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel and each second push-in panel being foldably connected to a respective one of the first bottom panel and second bottom panel, each push-in feature of the plurality of push-in features being for positioning between two adjacent articles of the plurality of articles when the carrier is formed from the blank.
3 more elements
A method of forming a carrier for holding a plurality of articles comprising:
- obtaining a blank comprising a plurality of panels comprising at least a first bottom panel and a second bottom panel, at least one female locking feature in the first bottom panel, and at least one male locking feature in the second bottom panel, the at least one female locking feature comprising a locking flap, and the at least one male locking feature comprising a retention feature, wherein the locking flap of the at least one female locking feature comprising a retaining protrusion, and the retaining feature of the at least one male locking feature comprises a retaining cut;
- forming an interior of the carrier at least partially defined by the plurality of panels, the forming the interior of the carrier comprising at least partially overlapping the first bottom panel and the second bottom panel;
- and
- forming at least one locking feature comprising inserting at least a portion of the at least one male locking feature into the at least one female locking feature adjacent the locking flap and engaging at least a portion of the locking flap of the at least one female locking feature with the retention feature of the at least one male locking feature so that the locking flap is oblique with respect to at least a portion of the male locking feature and the first bottom panel and inserting at least a portion of the retaining protrusion of the locking flap into the retaining cut of the retaining feature.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.