Reinforced packing container

• US 10,196,170 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2013
• Issued: 02/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Georgia Pacific Corrugated LLC (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Georgia Pacific Corrugated LLC (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Gasior, Wayne P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Demeree, Christopher
• Application Number:
  US13/737,659
• Publication Number:
  US 20130126594A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,218 Days
• Field of Search: 229100, 2291982, 229930-931, 229190, 229194-197, 229188, 22912229, 229125, 229148
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/0227 with end closures formed by inward folding of flaps and securing them by heat-sealing, by applying adhesive to the flaps or by staples
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/4266 Folding lines, score lines, crease lines
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/443 Integral reinforcements, e.g. folds, flaps double walls B65D5/02

Abstract

A container has a plurality of panels integrally arranged with respect to a set of orthogonal x, y and z axes, the z-axis defining a direction line in which the container is configured to support a stacking load. The panels are folded to define a form having a plurality of folded edges oriented perpendicular to the z-axis. At least one of the plurality of folded edges has a cutout region having a planar edge oriented perpendicular to the z-axis. The plurality of panels includes a plurality of cut edges oriented and disposed inline with respective ones of the plurality of folded edges. At least one of the plurality of cut edges has a projection disposed contiguous and planar with a respective panel. The projection includes a planar edge oriented perpendicular to the z-axis, the planar edge being disposed within an adjacently disposed cutout region.

Claims

1. A container, comprising:

a plurality of panels having a defined thickness integrally arranged with respect to each other and with respect to a set of orthogonal x, y and z axes, the z-axis defining a direction line in which the container is configured to support a stacking load;

wherein the plurality of panels comprise a first panel comprising a first planar surface, and a second panel comprising a second planar surface, wherein the second panel is disposed adjacent the first panel, wherein the first panel and the second panel form a contiguity with a fold line disposed therebetween, wherein the first planar surface is disposed parallel to the x-z plane or the y-z plane, wherein the fold line comprises at least one cutout region having a first dimension that extends along the fold line and a second dimension that extends across the fold line from the first planar surface to the second planar surface, wherein the at least one cutout region comprises a first planar edge oriented perpendicular to the first planar surface and perpendicular to the z-axis;

wherein the plurality of panels further comprise a third panel comprising a third planar surface disposed parallel with the first planar surface, wherein the third panel comprises an outer edge having at least one projection that is contiguous and planar with the third planar surface, wherein the at least one projection comprises a second planar cut edge oriented perpendicular to the third planar surface and perpendicular to the z-axis;

wherein the second panel, the third panel, and two other panels of the plurality of panels, form a contiguity having three fold lines that separate the third panel from the second panel, wherein the three fold lines of the contiguity are oriented parallel with each other;

wherein the at least one projection is disposed within a respective one of the at least one cutout region; and

wherein the at least one projection extends outward from the respective outer edge no more than the defined thickness of the plurality of panels;

wherein the plurality of panels further comprise a first side panel contiguous with the second panel and with a first side fold line therebetween, the first side fold line comprising at least one cutout region;

wherein the plurality of panels further comprise a second side panel contiguous with the third panel and with a second side fold line therebetween, the second side panel comprising an outer edge having a projection that is contiguous and planar with the second side panel;

wherein the projection of the second side panel is disposed within the at least one cutout region of the first side fold line and extends outward from the respective outer edge no more than the defined thickness of the plurality of panels.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the first panel is secured to another one of the plurality of panels disposed adjacent the first panel.

3. The container of claim 1, wherein the plurality of panels are formed from a flat blank of corrugated material having a defined direction of corrugation, and wherein the second planar edge is oriented perpendicular to the direction of corrugation.

4. The container of claim 1, wherein the plurality of panels are formed from a flat blank of corrugated material having a defined direction of corrugation, and wherein the fold line is oriented perpendicular to the direction of corrugation.

5. The container of claim 1, wherein the plurality of panels are formed from a flat blank of corrugated material having a defined direction of corrugation, and wherein the fold line is oriented parallel with the direction of corrugation.

6. The container of claim 1, wherein the plurality of panels comprise a fourth panel comprising a fourth planar surface oriented parallel with the first planar surface, wherein the second panel and the fourth panel form a contiguity with a second fold line disposed therebetween, wherein the second fold line comprises at least one second cutout region that extends along the second fold line in one direction and across the second fold line in another direction, wherein the at least one second cutout region comprises a third planar edge oriented perpendicular to the fourth planar surface and perpendicular to the z-axis.

7. The container of claim 6, wherein the plurality of panels comprise a fifth panel comprising a fifth planar surface oriented parallel with the second planar surface and perpendicular to the fourth planar surface, wherein the fourth panel and the fifth panel form a contiguity with a third fold line disposed therebetween, wherein the fifth panel and the third panel form a contiguity with a fourth fold line disposed therebetween, wherein at least one of the third fold line and the fourth fold line comprises at least one third cutout region that extends along the respective fold line in one direction and across the respective fold line in another direction, wherein the at least one third cutout region comprises a fourth planar edge oriented parallel with the fifth planar surface and perpendicular to the z-axis.

8. The container of claim 1, wherein the plurality of panels comprise a fourth panel comprising a fourth planar surface oriented perpendicular with the first planar surface, wherein the second panel and the fourth panel form a contiguity with a second fold line disposed therebetween, wherein the second fold line comprises at least one second cutout region that extends along the second fold line in one direction and across the second fold line in another direction, wherein the at least one second cutout region comprises a third planar edge oriented perpendicular to the fourth planar surface and perpendicular to the z-axis.

9. The container of claim 8, wherein the plurality of panels comprise a fifth panel comprising a fifth planar surface oriented parallel with the second planar surface and perpendicular to the fourth planar surface, wherein the fourth panel and the fifth panel form a contiguity with a third fold line disposed therebetween, wherein the third fold line comprises at least one third cutout region that extends along the third fold line in one direction and across the third fold line in another direction, wherein the at least one third cutout region comprises a fourth planar edge oriented parallel with the fifth planar surface and perpendicular to the z-axis.

10. A container, comprising:

a plurality of panels having a defined thickness integrally arranged with respect to each other and with respect to a set of orthogonal x, y and z axes, the z-axis defining a direction line in which the container is configured to support a stacking load;

wherein the plurality of panels is folded to define a form having a plurality of folded edges oriented perpendicular to the z-axis;

wherein at least one of the plurality of folded edges comprises a cutout region comprising a planar edge oriented perpendicular to the z-axis;

wherein the plurality of panels comprises a plurality of cut edges oriented and disposed inline with respective ones of the plurality of folded edges;

wherein at least one of the plurality of cut edges comprises a projection disposed contiguous and planar with a respective panel of the plurality of panels;

wherein the projection comprises a planar cut edge oriented perpendicular to the z-axis, the planar cut edge being disposed within an adjacently disposed cutout region;

wherein the plurality of panels form a contiguity;

wherein the projection and the cutout region are disposed relative to one another on the contiguity separated by three fold lines that are oriented parallel with each other;

wherein the projection extends outward from the respective cut edge no more than the defined thickness of the plurality of panels; and

wherein at least another one of the plurality of folded edges comprises a second cutout region comprising a planar edge oriented perpendicular to the z-axis, wherein the planar cut edge of another projection is not disposed within the second cutout region;

further wherein at least two of the plurality of folded edges comprises a cutout region comprising a planar edge oriented perpendicular to the z-axis;

further wherein at least two of the plurality of cut edges comprises a projection disposed contiguous and planar with a respective panel of the plurality of panels;

further wherein each corresponding projection comprises a planar cut edge oriented perpendicular to the z-axis, the corresponding planar cut edge being disposed within an adjacently disposed corresponding cutout region.

11. The container of claim 10, wherein the plurality of folded edges comprises a first edge, and a second edge adjacent to and perpendicular to the first edge, wherein the first edge and the second edge each comprises at least one of the respective cutout regions with at least one of the respective projections disposed therein.