Closable carton

• US 5,620,134 A
• Filed: 11/07/1995
• Issued: 04/15/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: WestRock Shared Services, LLC (WestRock Company)
• Original Assignee: Gulf States Paper Corporation
• Inventors: Gulliver, Richard E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elkins, Gary E.
• Application Number:
  US08/553,221
• Time in Patent Office: 525 Days
• Field of Search: 229/114, 229/117, 229/14, 229/117.15, 229/128, 229/138, 229/911, 53/376.4, 53/378.3, 53/491
• US Class Current: 229/117.14
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/2047 trapezoidal, e.g. to form a body with diverging side walls B65D5/2033 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/244 and the gussets folds connected to the outside of the container body B65D5/247, B65D5/248 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/46128 two opposite closure flaps being provided with handle elements which are in contact with each other
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 229/911 with closure

Abstract

A carton includes a bottom wall panel, four side wall panels, each of the side wall panels being integrally connected along a fold line to the bottom wall panel thereby defining first and second pairs of opposite side wall panels. Corner portions integrally connect adjacent side wall panels. The corner portions are secured in overlapping pairs against the second pair of opposite side wall panels. Flap members are provided with each of the flap members being integral along a flap fold line with one of the side wall panels of the first pair of opposite side wall panels. Each of the flap members includes foldable portions constructed and arranged to be folded into generally overlapping relation with a central portion of the flap member. Closure members are provided with each of the closure members being integral along a closure fold line with one of the side wall panels of the second pair of opposite side wall panels. Tab structure secures a closure member to an adjacent flap member. Handle portions for carrying the carton are provided with each of the handle portions being integral along a handle fold line with one of the closure members. Each of the handle fold lines is generally parallel to a closure fold line and has an extent greater than the closure fold line. The carton is constructed and arranged such that it may be closed and may remain in a closed condition due to the construction of the carton itself.

Claims

1. A carton erected from a single carton blank and disposed in a closed condition, said carton comprising:

a bottom wall panel,

four side wall panels, each of said side wall panels being integrally connected along a fold line to said bottom wall panel and disposed upwardly therefrom thereby defining first and second pairs of opposite side wall panels, said bottom wall panel and said four side wall panels defining a container space,

corner portions integrally connecting adjacent side wall panels, said corner portions being secured in overlapping pairs against said second pair of opposite side wall panels,

flap members, each of said flap members being integral along a flap fold line with one of said side wall panels of said first pair of opposite side wall panels, each of said flap members defining foldable portions folded into generally overlapping relation with a central portion of said flap member,

closure members, each of said closure members being integral along a closure fold line with a respective side wall panel of said second pair of opposite side wall panels,

tab structure securing a closure member to an adjacent flap member, and

handle portions, each of said handle portions being integral along a handle fold line with a respective said closure member, each of said handle fold lines being generally parallel to a closure fold line and having an extent greater than said closure fold line,

said flap members extending upwardly from said first pair of opposite side wall panels with each of said closure members being disposed generally parallel to said bottom wall panel so as to close the container space, said handle portions being disposed between said flap members in generally abutting relation and being generally transverse with respect to said closure members, said handle fold lines being in generally abutting relation and causing said first pair of opposite side wall panels to bow outwardly to maintain the flap members in their upward position thereby maintaining the handle portions in their abutting relation.

2. The carton according to claim 1, wherein each of said flap fold lines is generally curved.

3. The carton according to claim 1, wherein said tab structure includes a pair of opposing closure tabs integral with each of said closure members along respective closure tab fold lines, said closure tab fold lines being generally transverse with respect to said closure fold lines.

4. The carton according to claim 1, wherein each of said handle portions has a bore therethrough such that when said handle portions are in said abutting relation, said bores are aligned to define a through-hole for receiving at least one user finger to carry the carton.

5. The carton according to claim 3, wherein two score lines are disposed in each of said flap members so as to define three generally triangular members including a central triangular member and two minor triangular members adjacent opposite edges of said central triangular member, said central triangular member defining said central portion of said flap member and said minor triangular members defining said foldable portions.

6. The carton according to claim 5, wherein each of said closure tabs is generally triangular and sized so that an entire surface area thereof engages an associated minor triangular member.

7. A carton erected from a single carton blank to be in an opened condition, said carton comprising:

a bottom wall panel,

four side wall panels, each of said side wall panels being integrally connected along a fold line to said bottom wall panel and folded upwardly therefrom, thereby defining first and second pairs of opposite side wall panels, said bottom wall panel and said four side wall panels defining a container space,

corner portions integrally connecting adjacent side wall panels, said corner portions being folded outwardly and secured in overlapping pairs against said second pair of opposite side wall panels,

flap members, each of said flap members being integral along a flap fold line with one of said side wall panels of said first pair of opposite side wall panels,

closure members, each of said closure members being integral along a closure fold line with a respective side wall panel of said second pair of opposite side wall panels,

tab structure securing a closure member to an adjacent flap member, and

handle portions, each of said handle portions being integral along a handle fold line with a respective said closure member, each of said handle fold lines being generally parallel to a closure fold line and having an extent greater than said closure fold line, said handle portions and said closure members being generally co-planar with a respective side wall panel of said second pair of opposite side wall panels.

8. The carton according to claim 7, wherein each of said flap members includes score lines defining foldable portions constructed and arranged to be folded into generally overlapping relation with a central portion of said flap member.

9. The carton according to claim 8, wherein said flap members, closure members and handle portions are constructed and arranged such that to close the carton, said flap members are moved outwardly and downwardly about a respective flap fold line with said foldable portions being disposed in generally overlapping relation with said central portion thereof, causing said handle portions to fold about their respective handle fold lines and come together in a position generally transverse with respect to said closure members, with each of said closure members being folded about a respective closure fold line so as to be disposed generally parallel to said bottom wall panel to close the container space, and each of said flap members being moved generally upwardly about a respective flap fold line causing said handle portions and said handle fold lines to be in generally abutting relation, respectively, said handle fold lines bowing said first pair of opposite side wall panels outwardly, thereby maintaining the flap members in their upward position and maintaining the handle portions in their abutting relation.

10. The carton according to claim 8, wherein said tab structure includes a pair of opposing closure tabs integral with each of said closure members along respective closure tab fold lines, said closure tab fold lines being generally transverse with respect to said closure fold lines.

11. The carton according to claim 10, wherein two score lines are disposed in each of said flap members so as to define three generally triangular members including a central triangular member and two minor triangular members adjacent opposite edges of said central triangular member, said central triangular member defining said central portion of said flap member and said minor triangular members defining said foldable portions.

12. The carton according to claim 10, wherein each of said closure tabs is generally triangular and sized so that an entire surface area thereof engages an associated minor triangular member.

13. The carton according to claim 7, wherein each of said side wall panels, closure members and flap members are tapered such that in the opened condition, the carton defines a generally inverted, truncated pyramidal configuration to enable stacked nesting of a plurality of cartons.

14. A flat blank of carton material cut and scored to be erected into a carton, said flat blank comprising:

a bottom wall panel,

four side wall panels, each of said side wall panels being integrally connected along a fold line to said bottom wall panel thereby defining first and second pairs of opposite side wall panels,

corner portions integrally connecting adjacent side wall panels, said corner portions being constructed and arranged to be folded outwardly and secured in overlapping pairs against said second pair of opposite side wall panels,

flap members, each of said flap members being integral along a flap fold line with one of said side wall panels of said first pair of opposite side wall panels, each of said flap members defining foldable portions constructed and arranged to be folded into generally overlapping relation with a central portion of said flap member,

closure members, each of said closure members being integral along a closure fold line with one of said side wall panels of said second pair of opposite side wall panels,

tab structure constructed and arranged to permit a closure member to be secured to an adjacent flap member, and

handle portions, each of said handle portions being integral along a handle fold line with one of said closure members, said handle fold line being generally parallel to said closure fold line and having an extent greater than said closure fold line.

15. The flat blank according to claim 14, wherein each of said flap fold lines is generally curved.

16. The flat blank according to claim 14, wherein said tab structure includes a pair of opposing closure tabs integral with each of said closure members along respective closure tab fold lines, said closure tab fold lines being generally transverse with respect to said closure fold lines.

17. The flat blank according to claim 16, wherein two score lines are disposed in each of said flap members so as to define three generally triangular members including a central triangular member and two minor triangular members adjacent opposite edges of said central triangular member, said central triangular member defining said central portion of said flap member and said minor triangular members defining said foldable portions.

18. The flat blank according to claim 17, wherein each of said closure tabs is generally triangular and sized so that an entire surface area thereof may engage an associated minor triangular member.

19. A method of closing an erected carton, said carton including a bottom wall panel;

four side wall panels, each of said side wall panels being integrally connected along a fold line to said bottom wall panel thereby defining first and second pairs of opposite side wall panels, said bottom wall panel and said four side wall panels defining a container space;

corner portions integrally connecting adjacent side wall panels, said corner portions being secured in overlapping pairs against said second pair of opposite side wall panels;

flap members, each of said flap members being integral along a flap fold line with one of said side wall panels of said first pair of opposite side wall panels, each of said flap members defining foldable portions;

closure members, each of said closure members being integral along a closure fold line with one of said side wall panels of said second pair of opposite side wall panels;

tab structure securing a closure member to an adjacent flap member; and

handle portions, each of said handle portions being integral along a handle fold line with one of said closure members, each of said handle fold lines being generally parallel to a closure fold line and having an extent greater than said closure fold line, the method including;

moving each of said flap members outwardly and downwardly about a respective flap fold line with said foldable portions being disposed in generally overlapping relation with said central portion thereof, causing said handle portions to fold about their respective handle fold lines and come together in a position generally transverse with respect to said closure members, with each of said closure members being folded about the closure fold line so as to be disposed generally parallel to said bottom wall panel closing said container; and

moving each of said flap members generally upwardly about a respective flap fold line causing said handle portions and said handle fold lines to be in generally abutting relation, respectively, said handle fold lines causing said bowing said first pair of opposite side wall panels outwardly, thereby maintaining the flap members in their upward position so as to maintain the handle portion in their abutting relation and thus the carton in a closed position.

20. A package comprising:

a carton of flat carton material comprising;

a bottom wall panel,

four side wall panels, each of said side wall panels being integrally connected along a fold line to said bottom wall panel and disposed upwardly therefrom thereby defining first and second pairs of opposite side wall panels, said bottom wall panel and said four side wall panels defining a container space,

corner portions integrally connecting adjacent side wall panels, said corner portions being secured in overlapping pairs against said second pair of opposite side wall panels,

flap members, each of said flap members being integral along a flap fold line with one of said side wall panels of said first pair of opposite side wall panels, each of said flap members defining foldable portions folded into generally overlapping relation with a central portion of said flap member,

closure members, each of said closure members being integral along a closure fold line with one of said side wall panels of said second pair of opposite side wall panels,

tab structure securing a closure member to an adjacent flap member, and

handle portions, each of said handle portions being integral along a handle fold line with one of said closure members, each of said handle fold lines being generally parallel to a closure fold line and having an extent greater than said closure fold line,

said flap members extending upwardly from said first pair of opposite side wall panels with each of said closure members being disposed generally parallel to said bottom wall panel so as to close the container space, said handle portions being disposed between said flap members in generally abutting relation and being generally transverse with respect to said closure members, said handle fold lines being in generally abutting relation and causing said first pair of opposite side wall panels to bow outwardly to maintain the flap members in their upward position thereby maintaining the handle portions in their abutting relation, and

a product disposed within said container space.