ANTI-SIFTING POLYGONAL CARTON AND METHODS OF ASSEMBLY

• US 20070063002A1
• Filed: 10/12/2006
• Published: 03/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Inventors: Zacher, Raymond, Brandenburger, Allen
• Granted Patent: US 7,690,554 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 229/109
• 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 5/0263 with end closures formed by inward folding of flaps, three of them being formed of a continuous strip, the fourth being a separate flap
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/029 the tubular body presenting a special shape pyramidal B65D5/008
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/4279 Joints, seams, leakproof joints or corners, special connections between panels B65D5/209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/443 Integral reinforcements, e.g. folds, flaps double walls B65D5/02
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/541 the lines of weakness being provided in one or more closure flaps

Abstract

An anti-sifting polygonal carton stores granulated and powdered products. The carton starts as a single blank with four sections: a side, a front, a side, and a rear. The sides have a side panel with two flanking miter panels and two minor flaps. Each miter panel has two opposite miter flaps. The front has a front panel with a second major flap having a tear strip and an opposite second major lower flap having a crease. Separated from the front by a side, the rear has a rear panel having a miter tab opposite the side and a first major flap and an opposite first major lower flap. The fold lines continuous with the miter flaps and the miter tab are reinforced with tape or patches. The tear strip and top of the carton have a pattern of cuts to open and to reclose the carton.

Claims

1. A polygonal shaped carton formed from a single blank, said carton comprising:

a front panel;

a rear panel spaced apart and substantially parallel to said front panel;

a plurality of side panels extending substantially perpendicularly from said front panel;

a plurality of miter panels extending contiguously with plurality of said side panels, said front panel, and said rear panels;

at least one miter tab configured to secure said rear panel to one of said side panels;

a bottom; and

,

a top opposite said bottom, wherein said front panel, said rear panel, said plurality of miter panels, said at least one miter tab, and said bottom form a polyhedron that receives granulated or powdered product therein, said top configured close said carton such that in a sealing arrangement.

2. The carton of claim 1 wherein said bottom comprises a first major lower flap, a second major lower flap, at least one minor flap, and a plurality of miter flaps, said top comprises a first major flap, a second major flap, at least one minor flap, and a plurality of miter flaps.

3. The carton of claim 2 further comprising adhesive applied to a reverse face of said blank.

4. The carton of claim 2 wherein said plurality of miter flaps are each triangular-shaped, said bottom first major lower flap is folded beneath said bottom at least one minor flap and beneath at two of said bottom plurality of miter flaps, said bottom second major lower flap is folded across said bottom first major lower flap.

5. The carton of claim 2 wherein said plurality of miter flaps are each triangular-shaped, said top first major lower flap is folded beneath said top at least one minor flap and beneath at two of said top plurality of miter flaps, said top second major lower flap is folded across said top first major lower flap.

6. The carton of claim 2 wherein said top further comprises a tear strip extending at least partially across said top second major flap, said tear strip facilitates a user opening and re-closing said carton.

7. The carton of claim 2 wherein at least one of said top first major flap and said top second major flap comprises at least one cut line configured to facilitate a user opening said carton.

8. The carton of claim 2 wherein said bottom and top first and second major flaps facilitate reducing sifting of a product from said carton.

9. The carton of claim 2 wherein said bottom and top first and second major flaps facilitate reducing stresses induced to said carton.

10. The carton of claim 2 wherein a portion of said top first major flap is configured to interlock with a portion of said second major flap after said carton as been opened from a fully assembled state.

11. The carton of claim 1 wherein said carton has an octagonal shape when fully assembled.

12. A carton for packaging a product, said carton formed from a single blank of material and comprising:

a top;

a bottom opposite said top;

a front panel;

an opposite rear panel spaced a distance from said front panel, said rear panel substantially parallel to said front panel;

a plurality of side panels oriented substantially perpendicularly to said front panel; and

a plurality of miter panels extending contiguously with said side panels, said front panel, and said rear panels, said front panel, said rear panel, and said plurality of side panels each extending between said top and said bottom, a portion of said miter panel is configured to secure said rear panel to at least one of said side panels such that sifting of the product from said carton is facilitated to be prevented when said carton is fully assembled.

13. A carton in accordance with claim 12 wherein each of said plurality of miter panels comprises at least one miter tab configured to facilitate sealing said carton to prevent sifting of the product from said carton.

14. A carton in accordance with claim 13 wherein each of said at least one miter tabs is triangular-shaped and comprises an emboss pad, said emboss pad facilitates assembly of said carton.

15. A carton in accordance with claim 13 wherein said at least one miter tab comprises a plurality of upper miter tabs and a plurality of lower miter tabs, each of said plurality of upper miter tabs each extends outward from each of said miter panels adjacent said top, each of said plurality of lower miter tabs extends outward from each of said miter panels adjacent said carton bottom.

16. A carton in accordance with claim 13 wherein said top comprises a tear strip formed integrally therewith, said tear strip is removable from said top to facilitate removing product from said carton.

17. A carton in accordance with claim 16 wherein said top further comprises at least a first cut line extending substantially parallel to said tear strip and at least a second cut line extending substantially perpendicular to said tear strip.

18. A carton in accordance with claim 16 wherein said top further comprises a first major flap and a second major flap, a portion of said first major flap is configured to interlock with a portion of said second major flap after said tear strip has been removed.

19. A carton in accordance with claim 12 wherein said top comprises a first major flap and a second major flap, and at least one minor flap, said first major flap is folded beneath said second major flap and said at least one minor flap when said top is closed.

20. A carton in accordance with claim 12 wherein said bottom comprises a first major flap and a second major flap, and at least one minor flap, said first major flap is folded beneath said second major flap and said at least one minor flap when said carton bottom is closed.

21. A carton in accordance with claim 12 wherein said carton has an octagonal shape when fully assembled.

22. A method of assembling a carton for packaging a product, said method comprising:

providing a single blank of material;

forming a carton having at least five sides and including a front panel, an opposite rear panel that is spaced a distance from the front panel, wherein at least two side panels extends substantially perpendicularly from the front panel;

folding a first major flap over a second major flap and over at least one minor flap to form a bottom for the carton, wherein the flaps facilitate preventing sifting of the product from the carton; and

folding at least one flap to form a top for the carton.

23. A method in accordance with claim 22 wherein forming a carton having at least five sides further comprises forming the carton to include a plurality of miter panels that extend contiguously with the side panels, the front panel, and the rear panel.

24. A method in accordance with claim 23 further comprising folding at least a portion of each miter panel to facilitate coupling the rear panel to at least one side panel.

25. A method in accordance with claim 22 wherein forming a carton having at least five sides further comprises forming the carton to have an octagonal shape when fully assembled.

26. A method in accordance with claim 22 further comprising folding a first major flap over a second major flap and over at least one minor flap to form a top for the carton, wherein the flaps facilitate preventing sifting of the product from the top of the carton.

27. A method in accordance with claim 26 wherein folding a first major flap over a second major flap and over at least one minor flap to form a top for the carton further comprises providing a tear strip formed integrally with one of the top first major flap and the top second major flap, wherein the tear strip facilitates removing product from said carton.

28. A method in accordance with claim 26 further comprising:

forming at least a first cut line extending substantially parallel to said tear strip in one of the first major flap and the second major flap; and

forming at least a second cut line extending substantially perpendicular to said tear strip in one of the first major flap and the second major flap.