Multi-product container and container blank

• US 7,757,860 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2005
• Issued: 07/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Paper Company
• Original Assignee: International Paper ZAO (Sylvamo Corp.)
• Inventors: Philips, Nicholas A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu; Mickey
• Assistant Examiner(s): LALLI, MELISSA LYNN
• Application Number:
  US11/239,902
• Publication Number:
  US 20070074993A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,754 Days
• Field of Search: 206562-565, 206193-197, 206/217, 206/756, 206/763, 206/541, 229/120.05, 229/904, 229/148, 229/186
• US Class Current: 206/562
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/38 Articles or materials enclosed in two or more wrappers disposed one inside the other for shock absorbing purposes B65D81/03; for thermal insulating purposes B65D81/3893
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/56 Handles or other suspension means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 229/904 Compartmented fast food holder or lap tray

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a multi-product container and container blank. In accordance with the present invention, a single sheet of foldable material is cut and scored to define a container blank. The blank includes a bottom panel, a front panel, a back panel, opposed side panels and a plurality of corner panels. Also, a top panel is attached to the back panel opposite said bottom panel. A fold over cup panel is attached to the front panel opposite the bottom panel. The cup panel does not include additional panels or tabs opposite the front panel. An optional cup receptacle is formed in the cup panel. As formed, the front panel, back panel opposed side panels and plurality of corner panels are hingedly attached to said bottom panel via unperforated score lines.

Claims

1. A container blank that can be stored and shipped in a flattened condition and quickly and easily set up at a point of use without requiring use of separate fastening means to make a sift-resistant and leak-resistant container for transporting products, comprising a one-piece sheet of foldable material cut and scored to define:

a bottom panel having opposite side edges defined by first and second spaced apart parallel fold creases extending transversely across said sheet of material, and opposite end edges defined by third and fourth spaced apart parallel fold creases extending perpendicular to said first and second fold creases and intersecting said first and second fold creases at locations inset from adjacent edges of said blank, the distance between the third and fourth fold creases defining a length dimension of said bottom panel;

first and second side panels foldably joined along one edge thereof to said opposite end edges of said bottom panel along said third and fourth fold creases, respectively, said side panels each terminating in a free edge opposite said one edge;

front and back panels foldably joined to said opposite side edges of said bottom panel along said first and second fold creases, respectively, said front and back panels having a length dimension greater than the length dimension of said bottom panel;

corner panels integrally foldably connected between adjacent ends of said side panels and said front and back panels, said corner panels being joined to respective adjacent ends of said side panels along fold creases extending collinearly with said first and second fold creases, and joined to respective adjacent ends of said front and back panels along fold creases extending diagonally outwardly from the intersections of said first and second fold creases with said third and fourth fold creases to an adjacent end edge of a respective said front and back panel;

a cup panel foldably joined to said front panel along an edge thereof opposite the edge connected to said bottom panel, said cup panel being adapted to overlie a front portion of a container erected from said blank and to rest on said free edges of said side panels;

at least one cup receptacle being formed in said cup panel by cut elements configured to allow the insertion of a container into the at least one cup receptacle; and

a top panel foldably connected to an edge of said back panel that is opposite the edge connected with the bottom panel, said top panel having a length dimension greater than the length dimension of the bottom panel, whereby in a container erected from the blank the top panel covers the container and rests on and is supported by said side panels.

2. The blank of claim 1, wherein the blank is constructed from at least one of a containerboard, paperboard, fiberboard, and corrugated containerboard.

3. A container blank as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

a locking slot is formed in said blank along the fold connecting the cup panel to the front panel; and

a top tab is formed on an edge of said top panel opposite the edge joined to said back panel, said top tab adapted to be inserted into said locking slot in a container erected from the blank.

4. A sift-resistant and leak-resistant container formed from a single unitary sheet of cut and scored foldable material that can be shipped in a flattened condition to a point of use and quickly and easily erected without use of adhesive or other separate fastening means to hold the container in erected condition, said container comprising:

a bottom panel having opposite side edges and opposite end edges;

opposed side panels respectively on said opposite end edges of said bottom panel, said side panels each terminating in a free upper edge;

opposed front and back panels on said opposite side edges of said bottom panel, said front and back panels extending perpendicular to said side panels and projecting at opposite ends thereof beyond said side panels;

gusset corner panels connecting adjacent ends of said side panels and said front and back panels, defining closed leak-resistant and sift-resistant corners in said container, said gusset corner panels being trapezoidally shaped and foldably connected to respective ends of said side panels by fold creases extending collinearly with said opposite side edges of said bottom panel, and foldably connected to respective adjacent ends of said front and back panels by fold creases extending diagonally from said ends of said front and back panels to respective adjacent corners of said bottom panel;

a cup panel foldably connected to a top edge of said front panel, said cup panel having length and width dimensions to overlie at least a portion of said container and to rest on and be supported by said free upper edges of said side panels;

at least one cup receptacle being formed in said cup panel by cut elements configured to allow the insertion of a container into the at least one cup receptacle; and

a top panel foldably connected to a top edge of said back panel, said top panel terminating in opposite free side edges and having length and width dimensions to cover said container and to rest on and be supported by said free upper edges of said side panels.

5. A container as claimed in claim 4, wherein:

a locking slot is at the folded connection of said cup panel with said front panel; and

a top tab is on an edge of said top panel opposite the edge connected with the back panel, said top tab being adapted to engage in said locking slot to lock the top panel in closed position over said container.