Flat blank carton

• US 20070194093A1
• Filed: 02/22/2006
• Published: 08/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Inventors: Ford, Colin
• Application Number:
  US11/359,277
• Publication Number:
  US 20070194093A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 229/144
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 21/242 in collapsed carton sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 5/024 for making containers from preformed blanks
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/18 by folding a single blank to U-shape to form the base of the container and opposite sides of the body portion, the remaining sides being formed primarily by extensions of one or more of these opposite sides, e.g. flaps hinged thereto B65D5/36 takes precedence

Abstract

A flat blank carton is provided for packaging articles or products. The flat blank carton includes a base, a top, and a rear panel, hingedly connected to one another, and pairs of upper and lower side flaps hingedly attached to the top and base panels, respectively. The upper and lower side flaps include locking projections and corresponding locking recesses that are brought into mating, locking engagement as the top panel is folded over the base panel. After loading with products, the front end flaps of the cartons can be sealed to close the cartons.

Claims

1. A carton for receiving and storing products comprising:

a base panel having front, rear, and side edges;

a top panel having front, rear, and side edges;

a rear panel extending between said rear edges of said base and top panels;

upper and lower front flaps attached to said front edges of said base and top panels;

upper side flaps extending along said side edges of said top panel, each of said upper side flaps having at least one locking projection arranging along a free edge thereof; and

lower side flaps extending along said side edges of said base panel, each of said lower side flaps having at least one locking receptacle therealong and adapted to receive a mating one of said at least one locking projection of a corresponding upper side flap to lock said upper flaps into said lower side flaps as said top panel is folded over said base panel.

2. The carton of claim 1 and wherein said at least one locking receptacle in each of said lower side flaps comprises an aperture having a locking edge positioned so as to be engaged by and hold said locking projection.

3. The carton of claim 2 and wherein said aperture has a triangular configuration.

4. The carton of claim 2 and wherein said aperture has a substantially rectangular configuration.

5. The carton of claim 1 and wherein said at least one locking receptacle in each of said lower side flaps comprises a substantially T-shaped slot.

6. The carton of claim 1 and wherein there are at least two locking projections in each of said upper side flaps and at least two corresponding locking receptacles in said lower side flaps.

7. The carton of claim 1 and further comprising gussets formed in corners between said top and base panels and said rear panel.

8. A method of packaging products comprising:

moving a series of carton blanks along a path of travel, each of the carton blanks comprising a substantially flat sheet of a carton material having top and base panels connected by a rear panel, first, second, third, and fourth side panels hingedly connected to said top and base panels and including cooperating locking elements formed therein, and upper and lower front flaps hingedly attached to said top and base panels;

engaging and urging the top panel toward the base panel;

as the top panel of each carton blank is moved downwardly toward the base panel, guiding the first and second side flaps of each carton blank toward the third and fourth side flaps;

engaging a locking projection along at least one of the first and second side flaps of each carton blank with a locking lug and urging the locking projection into a corresponding locking receptacle formed in a corresponding one of the third and fourth side flaps to lock the side flaps together and form a carton having an open end;

loading products into the open end of each carton; and

closing the upper and lower front flaps of each carton.

9. The method of claim 8 and wherein engaging and urging the top panel toward the base panel comprises moving the top panel into engagement with a guide, and guiding the top panel upwardly and forwardly so as to be folded over the base panel.

10. The method of claim 8 and wherein engaging the locking projection along at least one of the first and second side flaps with a locking lug and urging the projection into its locking receptacle comprises folding at least one of the side flaps downwardly an inwardly toward the base panel, and as the at least one side flap passes the locking lug, urging the locking projection inwardly into and through its locking receptacle.

11. The method of claim 8 and wherein closing the upper and lower front flaps comprises applying an adhesive to at least one of the upper and lower front flaps and folding the upper and lower front flaps into engagement.

12. The method of claim 8 and wherein engagement of each locking projection with its corresponding locking receptacle forms a substantially tamper evident lock along at least one of the first and second side flaps.