Reclosable cartons

• US 8,061,585 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2008
• Issued: 11/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Inventors: Sweet, Michael D., Schneider, Bernd A., Poverski, David M., Nikolai, Dave M., Preisig, Cheryl A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Newhouse; Nathan J
• Assistant Examiner(s): DEMEREE, CHRISTOPHER R
• Application Number:
  US12/022,371
• Publication Number:
  US 20080179385A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,392 Days
• Field of Search: 229/126, 229/198, 229/125.37, 229/125.28, 229/125.29
• US Class Current: 229/126
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/2057 Inter-engaging self-locking flaps B65D5/4254 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/28 with extensions of sides permanently secured to adjacent sides, with sides permanently secured together by adhesive strips, or with sides held in place solely by rigidity of material

Abstract

Cartons have reclosable lids that allow items to be placed in and removed from the cartons.

Claims

1. A carton, comprising:

a base panel;

a first side panel and a second side panel extending upwardly from a first pair of opposite edges of the base panel;

a first end panel and a second end panel extending upwardly from a second pair of opposite edges of the base panel, the first end panel and the second end panel being respectively located at opposite first and second ends of the carton;

a first cover panel and a second cover panel respectively joined to the first side panel and the second side panel, each of the first cover panel and the second cover panel having a linear peripheral edge extending substantially completely thereacross, each of the first cover panel and the second cover panel substantially extending from the first end of the carton to the second end of the carton, so that each of the linear peripheral edges extends substantially to each of the first and second ends of the carton, wherein each of the first cover panel and the second cover panel has opposite first and second ends respectively located substantially at the first and second ends of the carton;

a first upper end flap connected by a fold line to the first end of the first cover panel;

a second upper end flap connected by a fold line to the second end of the first cover panel;

a third upper end flap connected by a fold line to the first end of the second cover panel;

a fourth upper end flap connected by a fold line to the second end of the second cover panel;

a first closure projection extending from the linear peripheral edge of the first cover panel, the first closure projection including a cut adjacent to and co-extensive with the linear peripheral edge of the first cover panel, the cut being more proximate to the first end panel than the second end panel;

a second closure projection extending from the linear peripheral edge of the second cover panel, the second closure projection including a cut adjacent to and co-extensive with the linear peripheral edge of the second cover panel, the cut of the second closure projection being more proximate to the second end panel than the first end panel; and

the carton being configurable into a closed configuration in which the linear peripheral edge of the first cover panel extends along and is in substantially close proximity to the linear peripheral edge of the second cover panel, and the first, second, third and fourth upper end flaps are respectively in substantially close proximity to the first and second end panels, and wherein the first closure projection and the second closure projection are operative for engaging one another along the respective cuts to secure the carton in the closed configuration,

wherein

the first side panel is a first lower side panel,

a first upper side panel is positioned between, and joined by respective fold lines to each of, the first lower side panel and the first cover panel,

the second side panel is a second lower side panel, and

a second upper side panel is positioned between, and joined by respective fold lines to each of, the second lower side panel and the second cover panel.

2. The carton of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first closure projection and the second closure projection is substantially semi-circular in shape.

3. The carton of claim 1, wherein the first end panel and the second end panel are joined to the respectively adjacent first lower side panel and second lower side panel by respective adhesive flaps.

4. The carton of claim 1, wherein the base panel, first lower side panel, second lower side panel, first end panel, and second end panel form a receptacle of the carton, an uppermost portion of the receptacle having a larger area than the base panel.

5. The carton of claim 1, wherein the first lower side panel, second lower side panel, first end panel, and second end panel extend upwardly and obliquely from the base panel.

6. The carton of claim 1, wherein

the first lower side panel, second lower side panel, first end panel, and second end panel have a height, and

the base panel has a length and a width, at least one of the length and the width of the base panel being greater than the height of the first lower side panel, second lower side panel, first end panel, and second end panel.

7. The carton of claim 1, wherein the carton is formed from a one-piece blank.

8. The carton of claim 1, wherein the first closure projection is adapted for extending through the cut of the second closure projection, and the second closure projection is adapted for extending through the cut of the first closure projection, so that the first and second closure projections engage one another along the respective cuts to releasably secure the first and second cover panels in the closed configuration.

9. The carton of claim 1, wherein the first closure projection extends through the cut of the second closure projection, and the second closure projection extends through the cut of the first closure projection, so that the first and second closure projections are engaged to one another along the respective cuts and the first and second cover panels are secured to one another in the closed configuration.

10. The carton of claim 1, wherein each of the first upper side panel and the second upper side panel has opposite first and second ends respectively located substantially at the first and second ends of the carton, and the carton comprises:

a first attachment flap connected to and extending from the first end of the first upper side panel, the first attachment flap and the first upper end flap being attached to one another and overlapped with respect to one another;

a second attachment flap connected to and extending from the second end of the first upper side panel, the second attachment flap and the second upper end flap being attached to one another and overlapped with respect to one another;

a third attachment flap connected to and extending from the first end of the second upper side panel, the third attachment flap and the third upper end flap being attached to one another and overlapped with respect to one another; and

a fourth attachment flap connected to and extending from the second end of the second upper side panel, the fourth attachment flap and the fourth upper end flap being attached to one another and overlapped with respect to one another.