Fully enclosed carton

• US 8,439,254 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2012
• Issued: 05/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Inventors: Smalley, Brian Leslie
• Primary Examiner(s): Newhouse, Nathan J
• Assistant Examiner(s): DEMEREE, CHRISTOPHER R
• Application Number:
  US13/553,063
• Publication Number:
  US 20120280025A1
• Time in Patent Office: 299 Days
• Field of Search: 229/240, 229/109
• US Class Current: 229/117.16
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00141 glued
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/0045 for hands
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00524 integral
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00567 defining a narrow removable strip
• 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

Abstract

A fully enclosed paperboard carton having a top, a base, a pair of oppositely disposed sides and a pair of oppositely disposed end panels. Each end panel being substantially planar and perpendicular to the base and top. Each side having a lower portion that is substantially planar and perpendicular to the base and an upper portion that is substantially planar and tapers inwardly towards its edge connection with the top.

Claims

1. A fully enclosed paperboard carton comprising:

a top, a base, a first side panel, a second side panel, a first side end panel, and a second side end panel;

a first base end panel and a second base end panel each including an upper base end panel portion and a lower base end panel portion;

the first side end panel and the second side end panel being disposed at a first end of the carton and being substantially planar and perpendicular to the base and the top;

a first top end panel having a handle flap;

the handle flap being rotatable inwardly through 180°

;

the first side end panel including a first handle hole adjacent a first side panel push through flap;

the first side panel including a lower side panel portion that is substantially planar and perpendicular to the base and an upper side panel portion that is substantially planar and tapers inwardly towards an edge connection with the top;

a first gusset panel hingedly connected to the first side end panel and to the lower base end panel portion of the first base end panel;

wherein the first side panel push through flap is rotatable inwardly through 180°

to be disposed behind the handle flap into a carrying position.

2. The carton of claim 1 further including a second top end panel, and wherein the first top end panel and the second top end panel are hingedly connected, and adhesively secured, to the top.

3. The carton of claim 1 wherein the first gusset panel is foldably connected to the first base end panel along a first lateral fold and the base is foldably connected to the first base end panel along a first longitudinal fold and the first gusset panel is foldably connected to the first side end panel at a first oblique fold that is 45°

relative to the first lateral fold and wherein the second gusset panel is foldably connected to the second base end panel along a second lateral fold and the base, is foldably connected to the second base end panel along a second longitudinal fold, and the second gusset panel is foldably connected to the second side end panel at a second oblique fold that is 45°

relative to the second lateral fold.

4. The carton of claim 1 wherein the first gusset panel is foldably connected to the first base end panel along a first lateral fold, the base is foldably connected to the first base end panel along a first longitudinal fold, and the first gusset panel is foldably connected to the first side end panel along a first oblique fold, the first gusset panel comprising a second oblique fold between the first oblique fold and the first lateral fold, a cut extends between the end of the first and second oblique fold adjacent an edge of the first side end panel.

5. The carton of claim 1 wherein the first top end panel handle flap defines a top end panel handle hole.

6. The carton of claim 1 wherein the first side panel push through flap is hingedly connected to the first top end panel along a substantially straight primary fold line.

7. The carton of claim 6 wherein the first side panel primary fold line comprises a pair of folds, spaced vertically apart a small distance to define a support panel therebetween.

8. The carton of claim 7 wherein the first side panel push through flap remains hingedly connected to the first side end panel along substantially straight secondary fold lines adjacent the primary fold line.

9. The carton of claim 1 wherein at each end of the first side panel and the second side panel, a corner formation defines a pair of creases, one crease of the pair extending from an apex at a junction between the top, and respective first and second side panels to a horizontal crease joining respective upper and lower side panel portions of the first and second side panels, and the other crease of the pair extending from an apex at a junction between the base, and respective first and second side panels to the horizontal crease joining respective upper and lower side panel portions of the first and second side panels.

10. The carton of claim 1 wherein lines of weakening are provided to facilitate access to the carton.

11. The carton of claim 1 wherein the second side end panel has a second handle hole adjacent a second side panel push through flap.

12. The carton of claim 1 wherein a second gusset panel is hingedly connected to the second side end panel and to the lower base end panel portion of the second base end panel.

13. A carton comprising:

a top, a base, a first side panel and a second side panel respectively connected to the top and the base, each of the first side panel and the second side panel having a lower portion and an upper portion, wherein the lower portion is generally perpendicular to the base, and the upper portion angles towards an interior of the carton, a first side end panel connected to the first side panel, a second side end panel connected to the second side panel;

a first top end panel having a handle flap, the handle flap being rotatable inwardly through 180°

, the first side end panel having a first handle hole adjacent a first side panel push through flap, the first side panel push through flap and the second push through flap being rotatable inwardly through 180°

, a base end panel connected to a side of the base and overlapping the first side end panel to at least partially form a closed end of the carton, a gusset panel foldably connected to the base end panel and the first side end panel, the gusset panel being upwardly foldable relative to the base and including a free edge elevated from the base, wherein the base, the gusset panel, a portion of the first side panel, a portion of the second side panel, a portion of the first side end panel and a portion of the second side end panel form a tray, the tray being free from fluid permeable openings and having a top edge corresponding to the free edge of the gusset, and

wherein the first side panel push through flap is rotatable inward to be disposed behind the handle flap into a carrying position.

14. The carton of claim 13 wherein the base end panel is foldably connected to the base along a longitudinal fold line, and the gusset panel is foldably connected to the base end panel along a lateral fold line perpendicular to the longitudinal fold line.

15. The carton of claim 14 wherein the gusset panel is foldably attached to the one of the first and second side end panels along an oblique fold line, wherein the longitudinal fold line, the lateral fold line and the oblique fold line intersect at a junction between the base and one of the first and second side panels.

16. The carton of claim 15 wherein the oblique fold line is at an angle of approximately 45 degrees with respect to the longitudinal fold line connecting the base end panel to the base.

17. The carton of claim 16 wherein the lateral fold line extends across an entire width of the gusset from an intersection with the longitudinal fold line to the free edge of the gusset.

18. The carton of claim 15 wherein the gusset panel comprises a two-piece web having a first portion foldably attached to the base end panel at a longitudinal fold line and a second portion foldably attached to the side end panel along an oblique fold line.

19. The carton of claim 18 wherein the first portion and the second portion are foldably attached along an oblique fold line, the oblique fold line being at an angle of approximately 45 degrees with respect to the longitudinal fold line connecting the base end panel to the base.

20. The carton of claim 13 further comprising:

a top end panel foldably connected to the top; and

a handle panel foldably connected to the top end panel and defining a handle opening in the carton.

21. The carton of claim 13 wherein the base end panel has a first portion hingedly attached to the side of the base, and a second portion hingedly attached to the first portion, the first portion being attached to the base at a longitudinal fold line and being attached to the gusset panel at a lateral fold line.

22. The carton of claim 13 wherein the second side end panel has a second handle hole adjacent a second side panel push through flap.

23. The carton of claim 13 wherein a second gusset panel is hingedly connected to the second side end panel and to the lower base end panel portion of the second base end panel.