Gusseted carton

• US 7,699,215 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2006
• Issued: 04/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Graphic Packaging International LLC (Graphic Packaging International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Inventors: Spivey, Raymond Rudolph Sr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elkins; Gary E
• Assistant Examiner(s): BYRD, LATRICE CHENELL
• Application Number:
  US11/345,185
• Publication Number:
  US 20060169755A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,539 Days
• Field of Search: 229/240, 229/117.16, 229/109, 229/243, 206/427
• US Class Current: 229/240
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00141 glued
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/0045 for hands
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00574 whereby contents can still be carried after the line has been torn
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/0066 formed from one single sheet
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00728 the end walls being closed by gluing
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 71/36 having a tubular shape, e.g. tubular wrappers, with end walls
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/261 for draining or collecting liquids without absorbing them

Abstract

A carton includes a bottom receptacle defined in part by the bottom panel, the side panels, and gusseted end panels. The bottom receptacle can be constructed without glue seals so that the receptacle is liquid-tight.

Claims

1. A carton, comprising:

a top panel;

a bottom panel;

a first side panel comprising a first upper side panel and a first lower side panel;

a second side panel comprising a second upper side panel and a second lower side panel;

a first end panel, comprising;

a first bottom end panel foldably connected to the bottom panel at a longitudinal fold line;

a first pair of gusset panels, the gusset panels being respectively foldably connected to opposite sides of the first bottom end panel;

a first pair of side end panels, one side end panel of the pair being foldably connected to one of the gusset panels, and the other side end panel of the pair being foldably connected to the other gusset panel, wherein the side end panels each comprise an upper side end panel and a lower side end panel; and

a first pair of diamond corner panels, one diamond corner panel of the pair being respectively foldably connected to the first upper side panel at an oblique fold line that is oblique relative to the longitudinal fold line, to one of the upper side end panels, and to one of the lower side end panels, and the other diamond corner panel of the pair being respectively foldably connected to the second upper side panel at an oblique fold line that is oblique relative to longitudinal fold line, to the other upper side end panel, and to the other lower side end panel;

wherein the upper and lower side panels are respectively foldably connected by a continuous fold line, each continuous fold line extends substantially across a respective diamond corner panel and a respective side end panel, each continuous fold line foldably connects a respective upper side end panel and a respective lower side end panel; and

a second end panel, wherein a bottom receptacle of the carton is defined at least in part by the bottom panel, the side panels, and the end panels,

wherein the bottom panel comprises a bottom length extending transverse to the longitudinal fold line between respective ends of the bottom panel and the top panel comprises a top length extending transverse to the longitudinal fold line between respective ends of the top panel, the bottom length being equal to the top length such that an end of the bottom panel and an end of the top panel are in vertical alignment at a respective first end and a respective second end of the carton.

2. The carton of claim 1, wherein the bottom receptacle is a substantially liquid-tight receptacle that comprises a portion of the carton having an upper border below which no glued seams are formed.

3. The carton of claim 1, wherein the first upper side panel and the first lower side panel are respectively connected to one of the upper side end panels and one of the lower side end panels at oblique fold lines.

4. The carton of claim 1, wherein each gusset panel overlaps the bottom end panel and one of the side end panels.

5. The carton of claim 1, further comprising a second pair of diamond corner panels foldably connected to the second end panel.

6. The carton of claim 1 and a plurality of articles accommodated therein.

7. The carton of claim 1, further comprising a dispensing feature defined by one or more lines of disruption.

8. The carton of claim 1, wherein the bottom receptacle has a height of at least ⅜

inches.

9. The carton of claim 1, wherein the bottom receptacle comprises a portion of the carton having an upper border below which no glued seams are formed.

17. The carton of claim 1, wherein each diamond corner panel further comprises an upper triangular panel and a lower triangular panel, each upper triangular panel being foldably connected to one of the upper side end panels at respective oblique fold lines that are oblique relative to the longitudinal fold line, each lower triangular panel being foldably connected to one of the lower side end panels at respective oblique fold lines that are oblique relative to the longitudinal fold line, each first upper side panel and each first lower side panel are respectively connected to respective upper and lower triangular panels at respective oblique fold lines that are oblique relative to the longitudinal fold line, the oblique fold line respectively connecting each of the lower side panels to a respective lower triangular panel and the oblique fold line respectively connecting each of the lower side end panels to a respective lower triangular panel extend obliquely across a respective width of each lower side end panel and lower side panel to a respective corner of the bottom panel.

19. The carton of claim 1, wherein each gusset panel of the first pair of gusset panels is connected to the first bottom end panel by a gusset fold line that is oblique relative to the longitudinal fold line.

10. A carton blank, comprising:

a top panel;

a bottom panel;

a first side panel comprising a first upper side panel and a first lower side panel;

a second side panel comprising a second upper side panel and a second lower side panel;

a first plurality of panels extending along a first marginal area of the blank, the first plurality of panels comprising;

a first bottom end panel foldably connected to the bottom panel at a longitudinal fold line;

a first pair of gusset panels, the gusset panels being respectively foldably connected to opposite sides of the first bottom end panel;

a first pair of side end panels, one side end panel of the pair being foldably connected to one of the gusset panels, and the other side end panel of the pair being foldably connected to the other gusset panel, wherein each side end panel comprises an upper side end panel and a lower side end panel; and

a first pair of diamond corner panels, one diamond corner panel of the pair being respectively foldably connected to the first upper side panel at an oblique fold line that is oblique relative to the longitudinal fold line, to one of the upper side end panels, and to one of the lower side end panels, and the other diamond corner panel of the pair being respectively foldably connected to the second upper side panel at an oblique fold line that is oblique relative to the longitudinal fold line, to the other upper side end panel, and to the other lower side end panel;

wherein the upper and lower side panels are respectively foldably connected by a continuous fold line, each continuous fold line extends substantially across a respective diamond corner panel and a respective side end panel, each continuous fold line foldably connects a respective upper side end panel and a respective lower side end panel; and

a second plurality of panels extending along a second marginal area of the blank,

wherein the bottom panel comprises a bottom length extending transverse to the longitudinal fold line between respective ends of the bottom panel, and the top panel comprises a top length extending transverse to the longitudinal fold line between respective ends of the top panel, the bottom length being equal to the top length.

11. The carton blank of claim 10, wherein, the at least one oblique fold line comprising a first oblique fold line foldably connecting the diamond corner panel to the first upper side panel and a second oblique fold line foldably connecting the diamond corner panel to the first lower side panel.

12. The carton blank of claim 10, further comprising a second pair of diamond corner panels extending along the second marginal area of the blank.

13. The carton blank of claim 11, wherein the gusset panels are triangular in shape.

14. The carton blank of claim 10, wherein the gusset panels are triangular in shape.

20. The carton blank of claim 10, wherein each gusset panel of the first pair of gusset panels is connected to the first bottom end panel by a gusset fold line that is oblique relative to the longitudinal fold line.

15. A carton blank for forming a substantially liquid-tight container, comprising:

a top panel;

a bottom panel;

a first side panel comprising;

a first upper side panel and a first lower side panel;

a second side panel comprising;

a second upper side panel and a second lower side panel;

a first plurality of panels extending along a first marginal area of the blank, the first plurality of panels comprising;

a first bottom end panel foldably connected to the bottom panel at a longitudinal fold line;

a first pair of triangular gusset panels, the first pair of gusset panels being respectively foldably connected to opposite sides of the first bottom end panel;

a first pair of upper side end panels; and

a first pair of lower side end panels, one lower side end panel of the pair being foldably connected to one of the gusset panels, and the other lower side end panel of the pair being foldably connected to the other gusset panel;

a first pair of diamond corner panels, one diamond corner panel of the pair being respectively foldably connected to the first upper side panel at an oblique fold line that is oblique relative to the longitudinal fold line, to one of the upper side end panels, and to one of the lower side end panels, and the other diamond corner panel of the pair being foldably connected to the second upper side panel at an oblique fold line that is oblique relative to the longitudinal fold line, to the other upper side end panel, and to the other lower side end panel;

wherein the upper and lower side panels are respectively foldably connected by a continuous fold line, each continuous fold line extends substantially across a respective diamond corner panel and a respective side end panel, each continuous fold line foldably connects a respective upper side end panel and a respective lower side end panel;

a second plurality of panels extending along a second marginal area of the blank; and

at least one breachable dispenser pattern,

wherein the bottom panel comprises a bottom length extending transverse to the longitudinal fold line between respective ends of the bottom panel, and the top panel comprises a top length extending transverse to the longitudinal fold line between respective ends of the top panel, the bottom length being equal to the top length.

16. The carton blank of claim 15, further comprising a second pair of diamond corner panels extending along the second marginal area of the blank.

18. The carton blank of claim 15, wherein each diamond corner panel further comprises an upper triangular panel and a lower triangular panel, each upper triangular panel being foldably connected to one of the upper side end panels at respective oblique fold lines that are oblique relative to the longitudinal fold line, each lower triangular panel being foldably connected to one of the lower side end panels at respective oblique fold lines that are oblique relative to the longitudinal fold line, each first upper side panel and each first lower side panel are respectively connected to respective upper and lower triangular panels at respective oblique fold lines that are oblique relative to the longitudinal fold line, the oblique fold line respectively connecting each of the lower side panels to a respective lower triangular panel and the oblique fold line respectively connecting each of the lower side end panels to a respective lower triangular panel extend obliquely across a respective width of each lower side end panel and lower side panel substantially to a respective corner of the bottom panel.