Vehicle replica carton and method of forming the same

• US 9,469,460 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2015
• Issued: 10/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kid Stuff Marketing Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Kid Stuff Marketing Incorporated
• Inventors: Billen, William D.
• Primary Examiner(s): ELKINS, GARY E
• Application Number:
  US14/716,506
• Publication Number:
  US 20150329269A1
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/425 Decoration elements
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/4266 Folding lines, score lines, crease lines
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/368 Foldable carton-boxes simulating, or transformable into, a special configuration, e.g. a car, a house, an animal cartons with spaced apart images to give a 3-D effect B65D5/4258; toy models made by folding paper A63H33/16

Abstract

A method of forming a carton or container for food or other items having a model vehicle configuration is provided that accurately depicts the contours and dimensions of the vehicle to enhance its appeal. An elongated, cardboard-like sheet is presented that is die cut to fold into a three dimensional model of the vehicle. The sheet'"'"'s first end is folded along a first pair of transverse fold lines and secured in a position to present an open cabin, rear deck and tail of the vehicle, whereby the open cabin may provide the container for food and other items. The sheet'"'"'s central portion is folded upwardly along a pair of longitudinal fold lines to present the sides of the vehicle, and the second end portion is folded along a second pair of transverse fold lines and secured in position to present the hood and front windshield of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A carton with a vehicle configuration, comprising:

an upper panel presenting a first hood panel, an interior portion and a rear deck panel;

a first side panel extending laterally from said upper panel along a first longitudinal fold line;

a second side panel extending laterally from said upper panel along a second longitudinal fold line;

a bottom panel presenting a grill panel, a second hood panel, a windshield panel and a lower rear panel, said bottom panel extending laterally from said second side panel along a third longitudinal fold line; and

a tab panel extending laterally from said bottom panel along a fourth longitudinal fold line;

wherein said first side panel is folded upwardly along said first longitudinal fold line;

wherein said upper panel is folded upwardly along said second longitudinal fold line;

wherein said second side panel is folded upwardly along said third longitudinal fold line;

wherein said tab panel is folded upwardly along said fourth longitudinal fold line to engage said first side panel and present an interior area;

wherein said rear deck panel is folded downwardly and said lower rear panel is folded upwardly to engage said rear deck panel to present a rear end of said carton;

wherein said grill panel is folded upwardly from said bottom panel, said second hood panel is folded rearwardly from said grill panel to present a front end of said carton;

wherein said windshield panel is folded upwardly from said second hood panel and coupled to said upper panel;

wherein said first side panel includes a first side panel tab having a first engaging slit, said second side panel includes a second side panel tab having a second engaging slit, said first and second side panel tabs folded forwardly and said first engaging slit engaging said second engaging slit to enclose said front end of said vehicle and;

wherein said upper panel includes a first pair of spaced apart tabs extending forwardly, said bottom panel includes a second pair of spaced apart tabs extending forwardly, wherein said first pair of spaced apart tabs are folded downwardly, wherein said second pair of spaced apart tabs are folded upwardly, and wherein said first pair of spaced apart tabs and second pair of spaced apart tabs are positioned behind said first and second side panel tabs to support said front end of said vehicle.

2. The carton of claim 1 wherein said carton comprises a semi-rigid material.

3. The carton of claim 1 wherein said first and second side panels each include a front and rear wheel cutout.

4. The carton of claim 1 wherein said first hood panel extends over a first upper edge of said first side panel tab and a second upper edge of said second side panel tab.

5. The carton of claim 1 wherein said grill panel folds over said first side panel tab and said second side panel tab.

6. The carton of claim 1 wherein said second hood panel folds over said first hood panel.

7. The carton of claim 1 wherein said second hood panel includes a raisable hood panel having a closed position and a raised position revealing said first hood panel.

8. A carton with a vehicle configuration, comprising:

an upper panel presenting a first hood panel, an interior portion and a rear deck panel;

a first side panel extending laterally from said upper panel along a first longitudinal fold line;

a second side panel extending laterally from said upper panel along a second longitudinal fold line;

a bottom panel presenting a grill panel, a second hood panel, a windshield panel and a lower rear panel, said bottom panel extending laterally from said second side panel along a third longitudinal fold line; and

a tab panel extending laterally from said bottom panel along a fourth longitudinal fold line;

wherein said first side panel is folded upwardly along said first longitudinal fold line;

wherein said upper panel is folded upwardly along said second longitudinal fold line;

wherein said second side panel is folded upwardly along said third longitudinal fold line;

wherein said tab panel is folded upwardly along said fourth longitudinal fold line to engage said first side panel and present an interior area;

wherein said rear deck panel is folded downwardly and said lower rear panel is folded upwardly to engage said rear deck panel to present a rear end of said carton;

wherein said grill panel is folded upwardly from said bottom panel, said second hood panel is folded rearwardly from said grill panel to present a front end of said carton; and

wherein said windshield panel is folded upwardly from said second hood panel and coupled to said upper panel; and

wherein said interior portion includes a dash panel extending rearwardly from said first hood panel, and an interior rear panel extending forwardly from said rear deck panel;

wherein said dash panel is folded downwardly and said interior rear panel is folded downwardly to present a cabin.

9. A carton comprising:

a first side panel having a first side panel tab extending forwardly along a first side panel fold line, said first side panel tab having a first engaging slit;

an upper panel connected to said first side panel along a first longitudinal fold line;

said upper panel having a lower hood panel, an interior portion, a rear deck, an upper rear flap, and first and second windshield slots cut generally parallel to said first longitudinal fold line on opposite sides of said upper panel at a transition between said lower hood panel and said interior panel;

said lower hood panel having a pair of spaced apart tabs extending forwardly, and first and second hood retention slots cut generally parallel to said front end;

a second side panel connected to said upper panel along a second longitudinal fold line;

said second side panel having a second side panel tab extending forwardly along a second side panel fold line, said second side panel tab having a second engaging slit configured to receive said first side panel tab first engaging slit;

a bottom panel connected to said second side panel along a third longitudinal fold line and having a base panel;

said bottom panel having a base panel, a pair of spaced apart tabs extending forwardly, a grill panel extending forwardly from said base panel along a first transverse fold line, a upper hood panel extending forwardly from said grill panel along a second transverse fold line, a windshield panel extending from said upper hood panel along a third transverse fold line, first and second hood retention tabs configured to be received in said first and second hood retention slots, first and second wing tabs extending from opposite lateral sides of said windshield panel and configured to be received in said first and second windshield slots, and a lower rear panel extending rearwardly from said base panel along a fourth transverse fold line, and

a tab panel connected to said bottom panel along a fourth longitudinal fold line.

10. The carton of claim 9 wherein said carton comprises a semi-rigid material.

11. The carton of claim 9 wherein said first and second side panels each include a front and rear wheel cutout.

12. The carton of claim 9 wherein said first and second side panel tabs enclose said front end of said vehicle.

13. The carton of claim 12 wherein said first hood panel extends over a first upper edge of said first side panel tab and a second upper edge of said second side panel tab.

14. The carton of claim 12 wherein said grill panel folds over said first side panel tab and said second side panel tab.

15. The carton of claim 12 wherein said upper panel includes a first pair of spaced apart tabs extending forwardly, said bottom panel includes a second pair of spaced apart tabs extending forwardly, wherein said first pair of spaced apart tabs are folded downwardly, wherein said second pair of spaced apart tabs are folded upwardly, and wherein said first pair of spaced apart tabs and second pair of spaced apart tabs are positioned behind said first and second side panel tabs to support said front end of said vehicle.

16. The carton of claim 9 wherein said upper hood panel folds over said lower hood panel.

17. The carton of claim 9 wherein said upper hood panel includes a raisable hood panel having a closed position and a raised position revealing said lower hood panel.

18. The carton of claim 9 wherein said interior portion includes a dash panel extending rearwardly from said first hood panel, and an interior rear panel extending forwardly from said rear deck panel;

wherein said dash panel is folded downwardly and said interior rear panel is folded downwardly to present a cabin.

19. A method of folding a carton into a vehicle configuration, comprising the steps of:

folding a first side panel upwardly along a first longitudinal fold line between said first side panel and an upper panel;

folding said upper panel upwardly along a second longitudinal fold line between said upper panel and a second side panel;

folding said second side panel upwardly along said third longitudinal fold line between said second side panel and a bottom panel;

folding a tab panel upwardly along said fourth longitudinal fold line between said tab panel and said bottom panel;

coupling said tab panel to said first side panel to present an interior area;

folding a rear deck panel downwardly from a rear portion of said upper panel;

folding a lower rear panel upwardly from a rear portion of said bottom panel to engage said rear deck panel to present a rear end of said carton;

folding a first pair of spaced apart tabs extending forwardly from said upper panel downwardly, folding a second pair of spaced apart tabs extending forwardly from said bottom panel upwardly, and wherein said first pair of spaced apart tabs and second pair of spaced apart tabs are positioned behind said first and second side panel tabs to support said front end of said vehicle;

folding a first side panel tab forwardly and inwardly from said first side panel and folding a second side panel tab forwardly and inwardly from said second side panel, and coupling said first side panel tab with said second side panel tab to enclose said front end of said carton;

folding a grill panel upwardly from said bottom panel to present a front end of said carton;

folding a second hood panel rearwardly from said grill panel and over said first hood panel;

folding a windshield panel upwardly from said second hood panel; and

coupling said windshield panel to said upper panel.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said carton comprises a semi-rigid material.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein said first and second side panels each include a front and rear wheel cutout.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein said first hood panel extends over a first upper edge of said first side panel tab and a second upper edge of said second side panel tab.

23. The method of claim 19 wherein said grill panel folds over said first side panel tab and said second side panel tab.

24. The method of claim 19 wherein said upper hood panel folds over said lower hood panel.

25. The method of claim 19 wherein said upper hood panel includes a raisable hood panel having a closed position and a raised position revealing said lower hood panel.

26. A method of folding a carton into a vehicle configuration, comprising the steps of:

folding a first side panel upwardly along a first longitudinal fold line between said first side panel and an upper panel;

folding said upper panel upwardly along a second longitudinal fold line between said upper panel and a second side panel;

folding said second side panel upwardly along said third longitudinal fold line between said second side panel and a bottom panel;

folding a tab panel upwardly along said fourth longitudinal fold line between said tab panel and said bottom panel;

coupling said tab panel to said first side panel to present an interior area;

folding a rear deck panel downwardly from a rear portion of said upper panel;

folding a lower rear panel upwardly from a rear portion of said bottom panel to engage said rear deck panel to present a rear end of said carton;

folding a grill panel upwardly from said bottom panel to present a front end of said carton;

folding a second hood panel rearwardly from said grill panel and over said first hood panel;

folding a windshield panel upwardly from said second hood panel; and

coupling said windshield panel to said upper panel;

wherein said interior portion includes a dash panel extending rearwardly from said first hood panel, and an interior rear panel extending forwardly from said rear deck panel;

wherein said dash panel is folded downwardly and said interior rear panel is folded downwardly to present a cabin.