Gusseted Carton

• US 20080119344A1
• Filed: 11/21/2007
• Published: 05/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Inventors: Sutherland, Robert L., Ingram, Steve
• Granted Patent: US 7,601,111 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 493/162
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00141 glued
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/0045 for hands
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00561 Lines of weakness B65D2571/00864 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00567 defining a narrow removable strip
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/0066 formed from one single sheet
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00728 the end walls being closed by gluing
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00913 for accommodating articles of varying size
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/241 and the gussets folds connected to the inside of the container body B65D5/247 and B65D5/248 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/40 specially constructed to contain liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 71/36 having a tubular shape, e.g. tubular wrappers, with end walls

Abstract

A carton includes a bottom receptacle defined in part by the bottom panel, the side panels, and gusseted end panels. The bottom receptacle can be constructed without glue seals so that the receptacle is liquid-tight. An opening feature in the top panel allows the carton to be opened and to expose the carton contents. The carton is formed from a blank that is folded and glued in a manner that facilitates loading of the carton, and allows the carton to be opened to a relatively wide top opening.

Claims

1. A method of erecting a carton, comprising:

providing a carton blank having an upper side and an under side, the carton blank comprising;

a first side panel;

a bottom panel;

a second side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel at a transverse fold line;

a first top panel;

a second top panel foldably connected to the second side panel;

a first bottom end panel at a first end of the bottom panel;

a second bottom end panel at a second end of the bottom panel;

at least one first top flap foldably connected to a first end of the second top panel at a first longitudinal fold line; and

at least one second top flap foldably connected to a second end of the second top panel at a second longitudinal fold line;

folding the second side panel with respect to the bottom panel about the transverse fold line;

after folding the second side panel about the transverse fold line, folding the at least one first top flap about the first longitudinal fold line; and

folding the at least one second top flap about the second longitudinal fold line.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, after folding the at least one first top flap about the first longitudinal fold line:

gluing the blank so that it forms a tubular structure; and

forming a top panel at least from the first top panel, the second top panel, the at least one top flap, and the at least one bottom flap.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the at least one first top flap comprises a pair of first top flaps connected at an oblique fold line, the method further comprising folding the pair of first top flaps at the oblique fold line.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the at least one second top flap comprises a pair of second top flaps connected at an oblique fold line, the method further comprising folding the pair of second top flaps at the oblique fold line.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein gluing the blank so that it forms a tubular structure comprises:

folding the first top panel with respect to the first side panel about a transverse fold line.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein gluing the blank so that it forms a tubular structure comprises:

adhering the first top panel to the at least at least one first top flap and the at least one second top flap.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the blank further comprises a first top end flap foldably connected to the at least first one top flap and a second top end flap foldably connected to the at least one second top flap, wherein gluing the blank so that it forms a tubular structure further comprises:

adhering the first top panel to the first top end flap and to the second top end flap.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the blank further comprises:

at least one third top flap foldably connected to a first end of the second top panel at the first longitudinal fold line; and

at least one fourth top flap foldably connected to a second end of the second top panel at the second longitudinal fold line.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

folding the at least one third top flap about the first longitudinal fold line;

folding the at least one fourth top flap about the second longitudinal fold line;

adhering the at least one third top flap to the at least one first top flap; and

adhering the at least one fourth top flap to the at least second top flap.

10. The method of claim 10, after gluing the blank so that it forms a tubular structure:

at least partially closing a first end of the tubular structure; and

at least partially closing a second end of the tubular structure.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein at least partially closing the first end of the tubular structure comprises folding the first bottom end panel with respect to the bottom panel about the first longitudinal fold line.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein a first pair of gusset panels connects a first side of the first bottom end panel to the first side panel and a second pair of gusset panels connects a second side of the first bottom end panel to the second side panel, wherein folding the first bottom panel about the first longitudinal fold line causes the first and second gusset panel pairs to fold inwardly.

13. A method of erecting a carton, comprising:

providing a carton blank having an upper side and an under side, the carton blank comprising;

a bottom panel;

a first side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel at a first transverse fold line;

a second side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel at a second transverse fold line;

a first top panel foldably connected to the first side panel;

a second top panel;

a first bottom end panel at a first end of the bottom panel;

a second bottom end panel at a second end of the bottom panel;

at least one first top flap foldably connected to a first end of the first top panel at a first longitudinal fold line; and

at least one second top flap foldably connected to a second end of the first top panel at a second longitudinal fold line;

folding the second side panel with respect to the bottom panel about the second transverse fold line;

folding the at least one first top flap about the first longitudinal fold line so that the upper side of the at least one first top flap at least partially overlies the upper side of the first top panel;

folding the at least one second top flap about the second longitudinal fold line; and

after folding the second top flap about the second longitudinal fold line, folding the first top panel about a transverse fold line connecting the first top panel to the first side panel.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the blank further comprises:

at least one third top flap foldably connected to a first end of the second top panel at the first longitudinal fold line; and

at least one fourth top flap foldably connected to a second end of the second top panel at the second longitudinal fold line.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

after folding the first top panel about the transverse fold line connecting the first top panel to the first side panel, folding the at least one third top flap about the first longitudinal fold line and folding the at least one fourth top flap about the second longitudinal fold line.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

adhering the at least one third top flap to the at least one first top flap; and

adhering the at least one fourth top flap to the at least second top flap.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising, after folding the at least one first top flap about the first longitudinal fold line:

gluing the blank; and

forming a top panel at least from the first top panel, the second top panel, the at least one first top flap, and the at least one second top flap.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one first top flap comprises a pair of top flaps connected at an oblique fold line, the method further comprising folding the pair of first top flaps at the oblique fold line after folding the at least one first top flap about the first longitudinal fold line.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

gluing the blank so that it forms a tubular structure;

at least partially closing a first end of the tubular structure; and

at least partially closing a second end of the tubular structure.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein a first pair of gusset panels connects a first side of the first bottom end panel to the first side panel and a second pair of gusset panels connects a second side of the first bottom end panel to the second side panel, wherein folding the first bottom panel about the first longitudinal fold line causes the first and second gusset panel pairs to fold inwardly.