Food Carton

• US 20190322409A1
• Filed: 04/18/2019
• Published: 10/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Inno-Pak Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Inno-Pak Incorporated
• Inventors: Sill, Jonathan D., Mayer, Steven A.
• Granted Patent: US 10,829,262 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/2061 of triangular shape
• 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 5/5021 Integral elements for containers formed by folding-up portions connected to a central panel from all sides
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/5286 the container being provided with an opening or weakened area in which an item is inserted
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/545 for opening containers formed by erecting a "cross-like" blank
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/563 Laminated linings; Coatings

Abstract

A food carton including a one or more removable closure flaps. In various embodiments the food carton may include a bottom panel; side panels extending about a periphery of the bottom panel; corner gussets extending between adjacent side panels, wherein the bottom panel, side panels, and corner gussets may be configurable to form a compartment region; and one or more closure flaps extending from an uppermost edge of one or more of the side panels forming a moveable joint where the closure flap and corresponding side panel intersect, wherein one or more of the one or more closure flaps may be removable along its respective moveable joint.

Claims

1. A carton, comprising:

a. a bottom panel;

b. side panels extending about a periphery of the bottom panel;

c. corner gussets extending between adjacent side panels, wherein the bottom panel, side panels, and corner gussets are configurable to form a compartment region; and

d. one or more closure flaps extending from an uppermost edge of one or more of the side panels forming a moveable joint where the closure flap and corresponding side panel intersect, wherein one or more of the one or more closure flaps are removable along its respective moveable joint.

2. The carton of claim 1, further comprising one or more punch-out regions formed in one or more of the one or more closure flaps.

3. The carton of claim 2, wherein the punch-out region is sized and configured to accept and retain a portion cup therein.

4. The carton of claim 2, wherein the punch-out region is general circular in shape.

5. The carton of claim 2, wherein the punch-out region comprises a moveable or removable portion to allow for insertion of a portion cup into the punch-out region.

6. The carton of claim 2, wherein the punch-out region comprises two semicircle portions abutting each other along a straight edge of their respective semicircles, and each of the two semicircles having a portion thereof attached to the closure flap, wherein one or both of the two semicircle portions are configured to be at least one of moved or removed to allow for insertion of a portion cup into the punch-out region.

7. The carton of claim 1, wherein one or more of the moveable joints are weakened and configured to allow for removal of its corresponding closure flap by a user pulling on the closure flap.

8. The carton of claim 7, wherein one or more of the moveable joints comprise perforations.

9. The carton of claim 1, wherein the one or more closure flaps are configured to fold inward and downwardly into a position above and substantially parallel with the bottom panel to close the carton.

10. The carton of claim 9, wherein at least two of the one or more closure flaps are adapted to engage with one another when in a folded closed position.

11. The carton of claim 10, wherein the at least two closure flaps are opposing closure flaps and are configured to interlock with one another via a tab formed on one of the at least two closure flaps and a corresponding slot formed in the other of the at least two closure flaps.

12. The carton of claim 9, wherein closure flaps are configured such that when in a closed position one or more of the one or more closure flaps overlap at least a portion of a portion cup inserted in one or more of the one or more portion cup punch-outs.

13. The carton of claim 1, wherein the compartment region comprises a generally trapezoidal shape.

14. The carton of claim 1, wherein an inner surface of the compartment region comprises a coating.

15. The carton of claim 14, wherein the coating comprises a food grade plastic coating.

16. The carton of claim 14, wherein the coating comprises a heat sealable coating.

17. The carton of claim 1, wherein the corner gussets are configured to be foldable and securable to an inner surface of one of their adjacent side panels, wherein securing the corner gussets to their corresponding adjacent side panels secures the compartment region in its formed state.

18. The carton of claim 1, wherein the corner gussets are secured to the inner surface of one of their adjacent side panels by at least one of adhesive and thermal bonding.

19. The carton of claim 16, wherein the corner gussets are secured to the inner surface of their corresponding adjacent side panels by applying heat to the region where the corner gussets overlap with their corresponding adjacent side panels.

20. The carton of claim 1, wherein the side panels are disposed at an obtuse angle as measured from the bottom panel, and wherein the side walls taper along a left and right side edge of the side walls from their top edge to their bottom edge.