BLANK AND CONTAINER HAVING AN ANTI-BUCKLING MECHANISM

• US 20130087607A1
• Filed: 10/07/2011
• Published: 04/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pactiv Packaging Incorporated (Pactiv)
• Original Assignee: Pactiv Packaging Incorporated (Pactiv)
• Inventors: Learn, Angela Elizabeth
• Granted Patent: US 8,733,622 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 229/124
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/667 Lids in the form of an inverted tray

Abstract

A blank of sheet material for forming a container is provided. The blank includes a tray panel assembly, a cover panel assembly, a fold line connecting the tray panel assembly and the cover panel assembly, and an anti-buckling mechanism interrupting the fold line. The anti-buckling mechanism includes a series of cuts positioned at least partially below the fold line in the tray panel assembly. The series of cuts extends more than half a length of the fold line. Each cut of the series of cuts is substantially straight. The anti-buckling mechanism further includes an upper cut line defined in the cover panel assembly.

Claims

1. A blank of sheet material for forming a container, the blank comprising:

a tray panel assembly;

a cover panel assembly;

a fold line connecting the tray panel assembly and the cover panel assembly; and

an anti-buckling mechanism interrupting the fold line and comprising;

a series of cuts positioned at least partially below the fold line in the tray panel assembly, the series of cuts extending more than half a length of the fold line, each cut of the series of cuts being substantially straight; and

an upper cut line defined in the cover panel assembly.

2. A blank in accordance with claim 1, wherein the series of cuts comprises a series of at least two cut lines.

3. A blank in accordance with claim 2, wherein the at least two cut lines comprise a first cut line separated by a gap from a second cut line, wherein the gap defines a finger of sheet material separating the first cut line and the second cut line.

4. A blank in accordance with claim 3, wherein the tray panel assembly comprises a lower rear panel and the cover panel assembly comprises an upper rear panel, the finger couples the lower rear panel to a strap defined in the upper rear panel, the finger configured to push the strap upward from a remaining portion of the upper rear panel to prevent buckling of the container at the upper rear panel and the lower rear panel.

5. A blank in accordance with claim 2, wherein each cut line comprises a downward cut, a substantially horizontal cut, and an upward cut.

6. A blank in accordance with claim 2, wherein each cut line comprises a minor cut, an intermediate cut, and a major cut.

7. A blank in accordance with claim 1, wherein the series of cut lines comprises a series of cuts that form a continuous cut line.

8. A blank in accordance with claim 7, wherein the continuous cut line comprises, in series, a first minor cut, a first intermediate cut, a first major cut, a second major cut, a second intermediate cut, and a second minor cut.

9. A blank in accordance with claim 1, wherein the upper cut line comprises one of an arcuate cut line, a substantially straight cut line, and a V-shaped cut line.

10. A blank in accordance with claim 1, wherein the upper cut line has a length that is shorter than a length of the series of cuts.

11. A container formed from a blank of sheet material, the blank comprising:

a lower tray;

an upper cover;

a fold line connecting the lower tray and the upper cover; and

an anti-buckling mechanism interrupting the fold line and comprising;

a series of cuts positioned at least partially below the fold line in the lower tray, the series of cuts extending more than half a length of the fold line, each cut of the series of cuts being substantially straight; and

an upper cut line defined in the upper cover.

12. A container in accordance with claim 11, wherein the series of cuts comprises a series of at least two cut lines.

13. A container in accordance with claim 12, wherein the at least two cut lines comprise a first cut line separated by a gap from a second cut line, wherein the gap defines a finger of sheet material separating the first cut line and the second cut line and connecting the lower tray and the upper cover.

14. A container in accordance with claim 13, wherein a strap is defined in an upper rear wall of the upper cover, the finger configured to push the strap upward from a remaining portion of the upper rear wall to prevent buckling of the container at the upper rear wall and a lower rear wall of the lower tray.

15. A container in accordance with claim 12, wherein each cut line comprises a downward cut, a substantially horizontal cut, and an upward cut.

16. A container in accordance with claim 15, wherein the upper cut line comprises one of an arcuate cut line and a substantially straight cut line.

17. A container in accordance with claim 12, wherein each cut line comprises a minor cut, an intermediate cut, and a major cut.

18. A container in accordance with claim 11, wherein the series of cuts define a single continuous cut line.

19. A container in accordance with claim 18, wherein the continuous cut line comprises, in series, a first minor cut, a first intermediate cut, a first major cut, a second major cut, a second intermediate cut, and a second minor cut.

20. A container in accordance with claim 18, wherein the upper cut line comprises a V-shaped cut line.