Cartons and blanks with pleats proximate corners, and associated methods
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A carton in a substantially flat configuration and adapted to be reconfigured between at least an erected configuration and the substantially flat configuration, comprising:
- a bottom panel;
a first side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel;
a second side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel, the bottom panel being positioned between the first and second side panels;
a third side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel, the third side panel having opposite inner and outer sides;
a first plurality of pleat panels foldably connected between the first side panel and the third side panel, wherein a first pleat panel of the first plurality of pleat panels is mounted to the outer side of the third side panel;
a second plurality of pleat panels foldably connected between the second side panel and the third side panel, wherein a first pleat panel of the second plurality of pleat panels is mounted to the outer side of the third side panel; and
a plurality of flaps comprising a first flap foldably connected to the first side panel at a first fold line and a second flap foldably connected to the second side panel at a second fold line, the first fold line being adjacent to the second fold line such that the first flap is in flush alignment with and face-to-face contact with the second flap.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A collapsible box-like container or carton may be formed from a unitary foldable blank divided by fold lines into a bottom panel, a pair of side panels, a pair of end panels and corner sections. Each corner section may include triangular corner or pleat panels divided by a diagonal or oblique fold line. The triangular corner or pleat panels may be folded in intimate face-to-face contact on the outer surface of the adjacent end panels. Some of the triangular corner or pleat panels may be adhesively secured to the outer surface the adjacent end panel.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A carton in a substantially flat configuration and adapted to be reconfigured between at least an erected configuration and the substantially flat configuration, comprising:
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a bottom panel; a first side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel; a second side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel, the bottom panel being positioned between the first and second side panels; a third side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel, the third side panel having opposite inner and outer sides; a first plurality of pleat panels foldably connected between the first side panel and the third side panel, wherein a first pleat panel of the first plurality of pleat panels is mounted to the outer side of the third side panel; a second plurality of pleat panels foldably connected between the second side panel and the third side panel, wherein a first pleat panel of the second plurality of pleat panels is mounted to the outer side of the third side panel; and a plurality of flaps comprising a first flap foldably connected to the first side panel at a first fold line and a second flap foldably connected to the second side panel at a second fold line, the first fold line being adjacent to the second fold line such that the first flap is in flush alignment with and face-to-face contact with the second flap. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A blank for being formed into a carton and in a substantially flat configuration and adapted to be reconfigured between at least an erected configuration and the substantially flat configuration, the blank comprising:
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a bottom panel; a first side panel having opposite inner and outer edges, the inner edge of the first side panel being foldably connected to the bottom panel; a second side panel having opposite inner and outer edges, the inner edge of the second side panel being foldably connected to the bottom panel, and the bottom panel being positioned between the first and second side panels; a third side panel having opposite inner and outer edges, the inner edge of the third side panel being foldably connected to the bottom panel; a first plurality of pleat panels foldably connected between the first side panel and the third side panel; a second plurality of pleat panels foldably connected between the second side panel and the third side panel; a fourth side panel having opposite inner and outer edges, the inner edge of the fourth side panel being foldably connected to the bottom panel, and the bottom panel being positioned between the third and fourth side panels; a third plurality of pleat panels foldably connected between the first side panel and the fourth side panel; a fourth plurality of pleat panels foldably connected between the second side panel and the fourth side panel; and a plurality of flaps respectively foldably connected to the outer edges of the first, second, third and fourth side panels;
the outer edge of the first side panel being adjacent the outer edge of the second side panel such that a first flap foldably connected to the first side panel is in flush alignment with and face-to-face contact with a second flap foldably connected to the second side panel, the plurality of flaps being cooperatively configured to at least partially form a top closure when the blank is formed into a carton and in the erected configuration. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of configuring a carton into a substantially flat configuration and the carton adapted to be reconfigured between at least an erected configuration and the substantially flat configuration and comprising a bottom panel, a first side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel, a second side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel, a third side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel, pleat panels respectively foldably connected between the third side panel and the first and second side panels, a fourth side foldably connected to the bottom panel, and pleat panels respectively foldably connected between the fourth side panel and the first and second side panels, and a plurality of flaps comprising a first flap foldably connected to the first side panel at a first fold line and a second flap foldably connected to the second side panel at a second fold line, the first fold line being adjacent to the second fold line such that the first flap is in flush alignment with and face-to-face contact with the second flap, the method comprising:
at least partially erecting the carton from the substantially flat configuration, wherein the at least partially erecting is comprised of folding the first and second side panels relative to the bottom panel, wherein the folding of the first and second side panels is comprised of the first and second side panels pivoting away from one another, away from the bottom panel, and outwardly relative to an interior of the carton; the third side panel folding relative to the bottom panel in response to the folding of the first and second side panels, wherein the folding of third side panel is comprised of at least some of the pleat panels respectively foldably connected between the third side panel and the first and second side panels pulling the third side panel so that the third side panel pivots away from the bottom panel and the fourth side panel, and outwardly relative to the interior of the carton; and the fourth side panel folding relative to the bottom panel in response to the folding of the first and second side panels, wherein the folding of the fourth side panel is comprised of at least some of the pleat panels respectively foldably connected between the fourth side panel and the first and second side panels pulling the fourth side panel so that the fourth side panel pivots away from the bottom panel and the third side panel, and outwardly relative to the interior of the carton. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
Specification