Crush-resisting paperboard clamshell carton
First Claim
1. First and second paperboard clamshell cartons each being in an open disposition, the first carton being nested inside the second carton and each of the cartons comprising:
- a clamshell tray member comprising a bottom panel, opposing front and rear walls, and opposing first and second side walls disposed obliquely to said bottom panel and having a top outer edge, a predetermined minimum distance existing between the top outer edge of said first side wall and the top outer edge of said second side wall, a clamshell cover member comprising a top panel and opposing non-free-swinging first and second lateral panels disposed obliquely to said top panel and attached thereto at respective first and second lateral panel fold lines, a predetermined maximum distance existing between said first and second lateral panel fold lines;
wherein;
(a) the predetermined maximum distance between said first and second lateral panel fold lines is slightly longer than the predetermined minimum distance between the top outer edge of said first side wall and the top outer edge of said second side wall, and (b) said rear wall is hingedly attached to said bottom panel and said top panel is hingedly attached to said rear wall and both said rear wall and said top panel are free-swinging.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A paperboard clamshell carton having a cover member that has a distance between opposing lateral panel fold lines that is slightly longer than a distance between the top edges of opposing side walls. In addition, the height of the first and second side walls is such that the side walls extend virtually all the way from the bottom panel to the top panel of the carton. Thereby, lateral panels of the cover member are disposed on an exterior side of the side walls and the top panel rests on the top edge of the side walls, particularly when downward pressure is applied to the cover member. The invention is envisioned for use in packaging food products such as pizza, breadsticks, chicken, hamburgers, salads, and the like; however, it could be used in other applications, as well.
31 Citations
27 Claims
-
1. First and second paperboard clamshell cartons each being in an open disposition, the first carton being nested inside the second carton and each of the cartons comprising:
-
a clamshell tray member comprising a bottom panel, opposing front and rear walls, and opposing first and second side walls disposed obliquely to said bottom panel and having a top outer edge, a predetermined minimum distance existing between the top outer edge of said first side wall and the top outer edge of said second side wall, a clamshell cover member comprising a top panel and opposing non-free-swinging first and second lateral panels disposed obliquely to said top panel and attached thereto at respective first and second lateral panel fold lines, a predetermined maximum distance existing between said first and second lateral panel fold lines;
wherein;
(a) the predetermined maximum distance between said first and second lateral panel fold lines is slightly longer than the predetermined minimum distance between the top outer edge of said first side wall and the top outer edge of said second side wall, and (b) said rear wall is hingedly attached to said bottom panel and said top panel is hingedly attached to said rear wall and both said rear wall and said top panel are free-swinging. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
said rear wall is disposed substantially coplanar to at least one of said bottom panel and said top panel.
-
-
3. The first and second cartons of claim 1, wherein in each of the cartons:
-
each of said front wall and said first and second side walls has a predetermined height, the predetermined height of each of said first and second side walls is substantially equal to the predetermined height of said front wall.
-
-
4. The first and second cartons of claim 1, wherein in each of the cartons:
each of said first and second lateral panels has a rear end and each said rear end is free of a fixed-corner attachment.
-
5. The first and second cartons of claim 1, wherein in each of the cartons:
said clamshell tray member further comprises first and second rear corner flaps hingedly attached to said first and second side walls, respectively, each of the rear corner flaps being free-swinging.
-
6. The first and second cartons of claim 1, wherein in each of the cartons:
said clamshell tray member further comprises an ancillary panel hingedly attached to a top edge of said front wall.
-
7. The first and second cartons of claim 1, wherein in each of the cartons:
said clamshell cover member further comprises (a) third and fourth lateral panels attached to said top panel and disposed obliquely thereto and (b) a free-swinging cover interlock flap hingedly attached to said top panel and disposed between said third and fourth lateral panels.
-
8. The first and second cartons of claim 1, wherein in each of the cartons:
-
each of said first and second side walls has a predetermined height and each of said first and second lateral panels has a predetermined height, the predetermined height of each of the side walls is substantially longer than the predetermined height of each of the lateral panels.
-
-
9. First and second paperboard clamshell cartons each being in an open disposition, the first carton being nested inside the second carton and each of the cartons comprising:
-
a clamshell tray member comprising a bottom panel, opposing front and rear walls, and opposing first and second side walls disposed obliquely to said bottom panel and having a top outer edge, a predetermined minimum distance existing between the top outer edge of said first side wall and the top outer edge of said second side wall, a clamshell cover member comprising a top panel hingedly attached to a top edge of said rear wall and opposing non-free-swinging first and second lateral panels disposed obliquely to said top panel and attached thereto at respective first and second lateral panel fold lines, a predetermined maximum distance existing between said first and second lateral panel fold lines;
wherein;
(a) the predetermined maximum distance between said first and second lateral panel fold lines is slightly longer than the predetermined minimum distance between the top outer edge of said first side wall and the top outer edge of said second side wall, and (b) each of said first and second lateral panels has a rear end and each said rear end is free of a fixed-corner attachment. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
said rear wall is disposed substantially coplanar to at least one of said bottom panel and said top panel.
-
-
11. The first and second cartons of claim 9, wherein in each of the cartons:
-
each of said front wall and said first and second side walls has a predetermined height, the predetermined height of each of said first and second side walls is substantially equal to the predetermined height of said front wall.
-
-
12. The first and second cartons of claim 9, wherein in each of the cartons:
said clamshell tray member further comprises first and second rear corner flaps hingedly attached to said first and second side walls, respectively, each of the rear corner flaps being free-swinging.
-
13. The first and second cartons of claim 9, wherein in each of the cartons:
said clamshell tray member further comprises an ancillary panel hingedly attached to a top edge of said front wall.
-
14. The first and second cartons of claim 9, wherein in each of the cartons:
said clamshell cover member further comprises (a) third and fourth lateral panels attached to said top panel and disposed obliquely thereto and (b) a free-swinging cover interlock flap hingedly attached to said top panel and disposed between said third and fourth lateral panels.
-
15. The first and second cartons of claim 9, wherein in each of the cartons:
-
each of said first and second side walls has a predetermined height and each of said first and second lateral panels has a predetermined height, the predetermined height of each of the side walls is substantially longer than the predetermined height of each of the lateral panels.
-
-
16. A paperboard clamshell carton in closed disposition and comprising:
-
a clamshell tray member comprising a bottom panel, opposing front and rear walls, and opposing first and second side walls disposed obliquely to said bottom panel and having a top outer edge, a predetermined distance existing between the top outer edge of said first side wall and the top outer edge of said second side wall, each of the walls having a predetermined height, a clamshell cover member hingedly attached to a top edge of said rear wall and comprising a top panel and opposing non-free-swinging first and second lateral panels disposed obliquely to said top panel and attached thereto at respective first and second lateral panel fold lines, a predetermined distance existing between said first and second lateral panel fold lines, each of the lateral panels having a predetermined height;
wherein;
(a) the predetermined distance between said first and second lateral panel fold lines is slightly longer than the predetermined distance between the top outer edge of said first side wall and the top outer edge of said second side wall, and (b) at least a portion of the top outer edge of at least one of the first and second side walls is in contact with said top panel when slight downward pressure is applied to said clamshell cover member, and (c) a majority portion of each of said first and second lateral panels is disposed below an outermost perimeter of said clamshell tray member, and (d) the predetermined height of each of said first and second side walls is longer than the predetermined height of each of said first and second lateral panels. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
said rear wall extends between said bottom panel and said top panel.
-
-
18. The carton of claim 16 wherein:
each of said first and second lateral panels has a rear end and each said rear end is free of a fixed-corner attachment.
-
19. The carton of claim 16 wherein:
said rear wall is hingedly attached to said bottom panel and said top panel is hingedly attached to said rear wall and both said rear wall and said top panel are hingedly movable.
-
20. The carton of claim 16 wherein:
said rear wall is disposed substantially perpendicular to said bottom panel.
-
21. The carton of claim 16 wherein:
the predetermined height of each of said first and second side walls is substantially equal to the predetermined height of said front wall.
-
22. The carton of claim 16 wherein:
said clamshell tray member further comprises first and second rear corner flaps hingedly attached to said first and second side walls, respectively, each of the rear corner flaps being hingedly movable.
-
23. The carton of claim 16 wherein:
said clamshell tray member further comprises an ancillary panel hingedly attached to a top edge of said front wall and disposed substantially parallel to said top panel.
-
24. The carton of claim 16 wherein:
said clamshell cover member further comprises (a) third and fourth lateral panels attached to said top panel and disposed obliquely thereto and (b) a free-swinging cover interlock flap hingedly attached to said top panel and disposed between said third and fourth lateral panels.
-
25. A paperboard clamshell carton in open disposition and comprising:
-
a clamshell tray member comprising a bottom panel, opposing front and rear walls, and opposing first and second side walls disposed obliquely to said bottom panel, a clamshell cover member comprising a top panel and opposing non-free-swinging first and second lateral panels disposed obliquely to said top panel;
wherein;
(a) said top panel is hingedly movable at a fold line joining said top panel to said rear wall, and (b) said rear wall is hingedly movable at a fold line joining said rear wall to said bottom panel;
whereby when said paperboard clamshell carton is disposed on a flat surface said rear wall can assume a disposition coplanar to both said top panel and said bottom panel. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
each of said first and second lateral panels has a rear end and each said rear end is free of a fixed-corner attachment.
-
-
27. The carton of claim 26 wherein:
said clamshell tray member further comprises first and second rear corner flaps hingedly attached to said first and second side walls, respectively, each of the rear corner flaps being hingedly movable.
Specification