Multi-Product Container and Container Blank

• US 20110031304A1
• Filed: 05/13/2010
• Published: 02/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Paper Company
• Original Assignee: International Paper Company
• Inventors: Philips, Nicholas A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,240,478 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 229/141
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/38 Articles or materials enclosed in two or more wrappers disposed one inside the other for shock absorbing purposes B65D81/03; for thermal insulating purposes B65D81/3893
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/56 Handles or other suspension means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 229/904 Compartmented fast food holder or lap tray

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a multi-product container and container blank. In accordance with the present invention, a single sheet of foldable material is cut and scored to define a container blank. The blank includes a bottom panel, a front panel, a back panel, opposed side panels and a plurality of corner panels. Also, a top panel is attached to the back panel opposite said bottom panel. A fold over cup panel is attached to the front panel opposite the bottom panel. The cup panel does not include additional panels or tabs opposite the front panel. An optional cup receptacle is formed in the cup panel. As fanned, the front panel, back panel opposed side panels and plurality of corner panels are hingedly attached to said bottom panel via unperforated score lines.

Claims

1. (canceled)

8. The container of claim 1 further comprising:

a cup panel foldably joined to the front panel along an edge thereof opposite the edge connected to the bottom panel, the cup panel being adapted to overlie a front portion of a container erected from the blank and to rest on the free edges of the side panels.

9. The container of claim 8, wherein:

at least one cup receptacle is formed in the cup panel by cut elements configured to allow the insertion of a container into the cup receptacle.

10. The container of claim 9, wherein:

a locking slot is formed in the blank along the fold connecting the cup panel to the front panel; and

a top tab is formed on an edge of the top panel opposite the edge joined to the back panel, the top tab adapted to be inserted into the locking slot in a container erected from the blank.

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

4. (canceled)

5. (canceled)

6. (canceled)

7. A container blank that can be stored and shipped in a flattened condition and quickly and easily set up at a point of use without requiring use of separate fastening means to make a sift-resistant and leak-resistant container for transporting products, comprising a one-piece sheet of foldable material cut and scored to define:

a bottom panel having opposite side edges defined by first and second spaced apart parallel fold creases extending transversely across the sheet of material, and opposite end edges defined by third and fourth spaced apart parallel fold creases extending perpendicular to the first and second fold creases and intersecting the first and second fold creases at locations inset from adjacent edges of the blank, the distance between the third and fourth fold creases defining a length dimension of said bottom panel;

first and second side panels foldably joined along one edge thereof to the opposite end edges of the bottom panel along the third and fourth fold creases, respectively, the side panels each terminating in a free edge opposite of the one edge;

front and back panels foldably joined to the opposite side edges of the bottom panel along the first and second fold creases, respectively, the front and back panels having a length dimension greater than the length dimension of the bottom panel;

corner panels integrally foldably connected between adjacent ends of the side panels and the front and back panels, the corner panels being joined to respective adjacent ends of the side panels along fold creases extending collinearly with the first and second fold creases, and joined to respective adjacent ends of the front and back panels along fold creases extending diagonally outwardly from the intersections of the first and second fold creases with the third and fourth fold creases to an adjacent end edge of a respective the front and back panel; and

a top panel foldably connected to an edge of the back panel that is opposite the edge connected with the bottom panel, the top panel having a length dimension greater than the length dimension of the bottom panel, whereby in a container erected from the blank the top panel covers the container and rests on and is supported by the side panels.

11. A sift-resistant and leak-resistant container formed from a single unitary sheet of cut and scored foldable material that can be shipped in a flattened condition to a point of use and quickly and easily erected without use of adhesive or other separate fastening means to hold the container in erected condition, the container comprising:

a bottom panel having opposite side edges and opposite end edges;

opposed side panels respectively on opposite end edges of the bottom panel, the side panels each terminating in a free upper edge;

opposed front and back panels on the opposite side edges of the bottom panel, the front and back panels extending perpendicular to the side panels and projecting at opposite ends thereof beyond the side panels;

gusset corner panels connecting adjacent ends of the side panels and the front and back panels, defining closed leak-resistant and sift-resistant corners in the container, the gusset corner panels being trapezoidally shaped and foldably connected to respective ends of the side panels by fold creases extending collinearly with the opposite side edges of the bottom panel, and foldably connected to respective adjacent ends of the front and back panels by fold creases extending diagonally from the ends of the front and back panels to adjacent corners of the bottom panel; and

a top panel foldably connected to a top edge of the back panel, the top panel terminating in opposite free side edges and having length and width dimensions to cover the container and to rest on and be supported by the free upper edges of the side panels.

12. The sift-resistant and leak-resistant container of claim 11 further comprising a cup panel foldably connected to a top edge of the front panel, the cup panel having length and width dimensions to overlie at least a portion of the container and to rest on and be supported by the free upper edges of the side panels.

13. The sift-resistant and leak-resistant container of claim 12, wherein:

at least one cup receptacle is formed in the cup panel by cut elements configured to allow the insertion of a container into the cup receptacle.

14. The sift-resistant and leak-resistant container of claim 13, wherein:

a locking slot is at the folded connection of the cup panel with the front panel; and

a top tab is on an edge of the top panel opposite the edge connected with the back panel, the top tab being adapted to engage in the locking slot to lock the top panel in closed position over the container.