CARTON WITH LID

• US 20120138668A1
• Filed: 12/05/2011
• Published: 06/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Inventors: Wright, Jeffrey T., Zinck, Becky L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,740,050 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 229/126
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/667 Lids in the form of an inverted tray

Abstract

A carton for holding a food product can comprise a tray and a lid. The lid can cooperate with the tray to at least partially close the carton. The carton further can comprise a hinge at least partially foldably connecting the lid and the tray. The hinge can comprise a first hinge fold line, a second hinge fold line, and a cut extending between the first hinge fold line and the second hinge fold line. The first hinge fold line and the second hinge fold line are generally aligned along a hinge axis, and the cut comprises a central portion that is generally parallel to the hinge axis and is offset from the hinge axis. Portions of a side panel of the tray are foldably connected to respective portions of a side panel of the lid along the respective first and second hinge fold lines.

Claims

1. A carton for holding a product, the carton comprising:

a tray comprising a plurality of tray panels that extend at least partially around an interior of the tray, the plurality of tray panels comprising a bottom panel and at least one tray side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel, the at least one tray side panel comprising a tray hinge side panel;

a lid comprising a plurality of lid panels that extend at least partially around an interior of the lid, the plurality of lid panels comprising a top panel and at least one lid side panel foldably connected to the top panel, the at least one lid side panel comprising a lid hinge side panel, the lid cooperating with the tray to at least partially close the carton when the carton is configured in a closed position; and

a hinge at least partially foldably connecting the lid and the tray, the hinge comprising a first hinge fold line, a second hinge fold line, and a cut extending between the first hinge fold line and the second hinge fold line, the first hinge fold line and the second hinge fold line being generally aligned along a hinge axis, and the cut comprising a central portion that is generally parallel to the hinge axis and is offset from the hinge axis, wherein a first portion of the tray hinge side panel is foldably connected to a first portion of the lid hinge side panel along the first hinge fold line, and a second portion of the tray hinge side panel is foldably connected to a second portion of the lid hinge side panel along the second hinge fold line.

2. The carton of claim 1, wherein the cut further comprises a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion extending from the first hinge fold line to a first end of the central portion, and the second end portion extending from the second hinge fold line to a second end of the central portion.

3. The carton of claim 2, wherein the central portion of the cut is offset from the hinge axis toward the bottom panel.

4. The carton of claim 3, wherein:

the hinge further comprises at least one crease line extending in the lid hinge side panel, the at least one crease line extending from an end of at least one of the first end portion of the cut and the second end portion of the cut and from an end of at least one of the first hinge fold line and the second hinge fold line; and

the hinge further comprises a debossed portion extending in the tray hinge side panel, the debossed portion being spaced apart from the cut.

5. The carton of claim 2, wherein the central portion of the cut is offset from the hinge axis toward the top panel.

6. The carton of claim 5, wherein:

the hinge further comprises at least one crease line extending in the tray hinge side panel, the at least one crease line extending from an end of at least one of the first end portion of the cut and the second end portion of the cut and from the end of at least one of the first hinge fold line and the second hinge fold line; and

the hinge further comprises a debossed portion extending in the tray hinge side panel, the debossed portion being at least partially defined by the at least one crease line and the cut.

7. The carton of claim 2, wherein the hinge further comprises a first plurality of crease lines extending in the lid hinge side panel and a second plurality of crease lines extending in the tray hinge side panel, the first plurality of crease lines comprising a first oblique crease line and a second oblique crease line, the first oblique crease line being generally collinear with the first end portion of the cut, and the second oblique crease line being generally collinear with the second end portion of the cut, the first oblique crease line and the second oblique crease line extending from respective ends of the respective first hinge fold line and second hinge fold line.

8. The carton of claim 7, wherein the first plurality of crease lines comprises a third oblique crease line and a fourth oblique crease line, each of the third oblique crease line and the fourth oblique crease line extending from a midpoint of the central portion of the cut.

9. The carton of claim 7, wherein the hinge further comprises an embossed portion in the lid hinge side panel, the embossed portion being at least partially defined by the cut, the first oblique crease line, and the second oblique crease line.

10. The carton of claim 9, wherein:

the second plurality of crease lines comprises a lateral crease line extending between respective ends of two oblique crease lines, the lateral crease line being spaced apart from the central portion of the cut; and

the hinge further comprises a debossed portion in the tray hinge side panel, the debossed portion being at least partially defined by the plurality of second crease lines.

11. The carton of claim 2, wherein the hinge further comprises a first crease line and a second crease line, each of the first crease line and the second crease line extending in the tray hinge side panel, the first crease line extending from an end of each of the first end portion of the cut and the first hinge fold line, and the second crease line extending from an end of each of the second end portion of the cut and the second hinge fold line.

12. The carton of claim 11, wherein the hinge further comprises a debossed portion, the debossed portion being at least partially defined by the first crease line, the second crease line, and the cut.

13. The carton of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the tray hinge side panel is separated from at least a portion of the lid hinge side panel along the cut, and the cut at least partially defines a protrusion extending from a first one of the tray hinge side panel and the lid hinge side panel and a recess in an edge of a second one of the tray hinge side panel and the lid hinge side panel.

14. The carton of claim 13, wherein the hinge further comprises at least one bossed portion extending in at least one of the tray hinge side panel and the lid hinge side panel.

15. A blank for forming a carton for holding a product, the blank comprising:

a tray portion for forming a tray in the carton formed from the blank, the tray portion comprising a plurality of tray panels comprising a bottom panel and at least one tray side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel, the at least one tray side panel comprising a tray hinge side panel;

a lid portion for forming a lid in the carton formed from the blank, the lid portion comprising a plurality of lid panels comprising a top panel and at least one lid side panel foldably connected to the top panel, the at least one lid side panel comprising a lid hinge side panel; and

hinge features for forming a hinge at least partially foldably connecting the lid and the tray in the carton formed from the blank, the hinge features comprising a first hinge fold line, a second hinge fold line, and a cut extending between the first hinge fold line and the second hinge fold line, the first hinge fold line and the second hinge fold line being generally aligned along a hinge axis, and the cut comprising a central portion that is generally parallel to the hinge axis and is offset from the hinge axis, wherein a first portion of the tray hinge side panel is foldably connected to a first portion of the lid hinge side panel along the first hinge fold line, and a second portion of the tray hinge side panel is foldably connected to a second portion of the lid hinge side panel along the second hinge fold line.

16. The blank of claim 15, wherein the cut further comprises a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion extending from the first hinge fold line to a first end of the central portion, and the second end portion extending from the second hinge fold line to a second end of the central portion.

17. The blank of claim 16, wherein the central portion of the cut is offset from the hinge axis toward the bottom panel.

18. The blank of claim 17, wherein:

the hinge further comprises at least one crease line extending in the lid hinge side panel, the at least one crease line extending from an end of at least one of the first end portion of the cut and the second end portion of the cut and from the end of at least one of the first hinge fold line and the second hinge fold line; and

the hinge further comprises a debossed portion extending in the tray hinge side panel, the debossed portion being spaced apart from the cut.

19. The blank of claim 16, wherein the central portion of the cut is offset from the hinge axis toward the top panel.

20. The blank of claim 19, wherein:

the hinge further comprises at least one crease line extending in the tray hinge side panel, the at least one crease line extending from an end of at least one of the first end portion of the cut and the second end portion of the cut and from the end of at least one of the first hinge fold line and the second hinge fold line; and

the hinge further comprises a debossed portion extending in the tray hinge side panel, the debossed portion being at least partially defined by the at least one crease line and the cut.

21. The blank of claim 16, wherein the hinge further comprises a first plurality of crease lines extending in the lid hinge side panel and a second plurality of crease lines extending in the tray hinge side panel, the first plurality of crease lines comprising a first oblique crease line and a second oblique crease line, the first oblique crease line being generally collinear with the first end portion of the cut, and the second oblique crease line being generally collinear with the second end portion of the cut, the first oblique crease line and the second oblique crease line extending from respective ends of the respective first hinge fold line and second hinge fold line.

22. The blank of claim 21, wherein the first plurality of crease lines comprises a third oblique crease line and a fourth oblique crease line, each of the third oblique crease line and the fourth oblique crease line extending from a midpoint of the central portion of the cut.

23. The blank of claim 21, wherein the hinge further comprises an embossed portion in the lid hinge side panel, the embossed portion being at least partially defined by the cut, the first oblique crease line, and the second oblique crease line.

24. The blank of claim 23, wherein:

the second plurality of crease lines comprises a lateral crease line extending between respective ends of two oblique crease lines, the lateral crease line being spaced apart from the central portion of the cut; and

the hinge further comprises a debossed portion in the tray hinge side panel, the debossed portion being at least partially defined by the plurality of second crease lines.

25. The blank of claim 16, wherein the hinge further comprises a first crease line and a second crease line, each of the first crease line and the second crease line extending in the tray hinge side panel, the first crease line extending from an end of each of the first end portion of the cut and the first hinge fold line, and the second crease line extending from an end of each of the second end portion of the cut and the second hinge fold line.

26. The blank of claim 25, wherein the hinge further comprises a debossed portion, the debossed portion being at least partially defined by the first crease line, the second crease line, and the cut.

27. The blank of claim 15, wherein the hinge further comprises at least one bossed portion extending in at least one of the tray hinge side panel and the lid hinge side panel.

28. A method of forming a carton, the method comprising:

obtaining a blank comprising a tray portion, a lid portion, and hinge features, the tray portion comprising a plurality of tray panels comprising a bottom panel and at least one tray side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel, the at least one tray side panel comprising a tray hinge side panel, the lid portion comprising a plurality of lid panels comprising a top panel and at least one lid side panel foldably connected to the top panel, the at least one lid side panel comprising a lid hinge side panel, and the hinge features comprising a first hinge fold line, a second hinge fold line, and a cut extending between the first hinge fold line and the second hinge fold line, wherein the first hinge fold line and the second hinge fold line are generally aligned along a hinge axis, the cut comprises a central portion that is generally parallel to the hinge axis and is offset from the hinge axis, a first portion of the tray hinge side panel is foldably connected to a first portion of the lid hinge side panel along the first hinge fold line, and a second portion of the tray hinge side panel is foldably connected to a second portion of the lid hinge side panel along the second hinge fold line;

forming an interior of a tray by folding the at least one tray side panel relative to the bottom panel;

forming an interior of a lid by folding the at least one lid side panel relative to the top panel, the lid being foldably connected to the tray at a hinge that comprises the hinge features; and

positioning the lid and the tray between an open configuration and a closed configuration by folding the lid relative to the tray at the hinge.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the cut further comprises a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion extending from the first hinge fold line to a first end of the central portion, and the second end portion extending from the second hinge fold line to a second end of the central portion.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the hinge further comprises a first plurality of crease lines extending in the lid hinge side panel and a second plurality of crease lines extending in the tray hinge side panel, the first plurality of crease lines comprising a first oblique crease line and a second oblique crease line, the first oblique crease line being generally collinear with the first end portion of the cut, and the second oblique crease line being generally collinear with the second end portion of the cut, the first oblique crease line and the second oblique crease line extending from respective ends of the respective first hinge fold line and second hinge fold line.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein:

the hinge further comprises a first crease line and a second crease line, each of the first crease line and the second crease line extending in the tray hinge side panel, the first crease line extending from an end of each of the first end portion of the cut and the first hinge fold line, and the second crease line extending from an end of each of the second end portion of the cut and the second hinge fold line; and

the hinge further comprises a debossed portion, the debossed portion being at least partially defined by the first crease line, the second crease line, and the cut.