US3670950A - Tubular carton with axially closed ends - Google Patents

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a carton blank and a carton formed therefrom which includes top, side and bottom panels with the side panels each including an end panel joined thereto along a fold line whereupon being set up into a generally tubular configuration the end panels close axially opposite ends of the carton. Novel locking panels are also associated with the top and side panels to maintain the upper end portions of the end panels generally normal to both the top and side panels.

Description

United States Patent Rossi 51 June 20, 1972 54] TUBULAR CARTON WITH AXIALLY 3,429,496 2/1969 Hickin ..229/40 CLOSED ENDS 3,517,876 6/1970 Stout ..229/40 3,398,856 8/1968 Graser ..220/l15 [72] Pamppan 3,337,045 8/1967 Morgese ..206/65 E [73] Assignee: Continental Can Company, Inc., New

York, NY. Primary Examiner-Donald F. Norton [221 Filed: July I, 1970 Attorney-Diner, Brown, Ramik & Holt [21] Appl. No.: 51,422 [57] ABSTRACT This disclosure relates to a carton blank and a carton formed 1.8. CI E, therefrom whigh includes top side and bottom panels [he [51] f- CI side panels each including an end panel joined thereto along a [58] Field of Search ..229/40; 206/65 E; 220/1 15 V fold fine whereupon being Set up mm a generally tubular com figuration the end panels close axially opposite ends of the [56] References Cited carton. Novel locking panels are also associated with the top UNITED STATES PATENTS and side panels to maintain the upper end portions of the end panels generally normal to both the top and side panels. 3,339,723 9/1967 Wood ..229/40 X 10/ 1966 Weiss ..229/40 X 4 Clairm, 5 Drawing Figures SHEET 1 UF 3 MI VEM TOR HQRRY J. RUSSI 9 TTUEA/EYS TUBULAR CARTON WITH AXIALLY CLOSED ENDS A primary object of the present invention is to provide a novel carton blank and a carton formed therefrom of the generally tubular type having normally open axially opposite ends which in the present case are closed by bam door" end panels, each end panel being joined to an edge of each side panel, and locking panel means being folded internally of the tubular carton into overlying relationship to an upper portion of each end panel to maintain the end panels generally normal to the side panels and thus the tubular carton is essentially closed at both of its axially opposite ends.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel carton of the type heretofore described wherein each end of the top panel has joined thereto said locking panel means for holding upper ends of the end panels generally within the tubular configuration of the carton, each top locking panel means being divided into three locking panel portions with a middle locking panel portion being disposed generally nonnal to the top panel while the outboard pair of locking panel portions are disposed generally parallel to the side panels thereby maintaining the inboard upper ends of the end panels within the tubular carton.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claimed subject matter, and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

IN THE DRAWINGS:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a novel carton blank constructed in accordance with this invention, and illustrates four barn door type end panels associated with a pair of side panels, and locking panel means joined by fold lines to associated top and side panels.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a carton constructed from the blank of FIG. 1 after the latter has been set up with a portion broken away for clarity, and illustrates the manner in which the barn door type end panels are retained in locked position at the upper ends thereof by the locking panel means.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken generally alongline 33 of FIG. 2, and illustrates overfolded locking panels at each comer of the carton for holding the bottoms of the end panels in normal relationship to the side panels.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken generally along line 4-4 of FIG. 2, and more clearly illustrates the upper and lower locking panels, as well as the manner in which inner and outer bottom panels are secured together by associated latching tabs and openings.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along line 5-5 of FIG. 4, and additionally illustrates one of the lowermost locking panels, as well as more clearly illustrating the folded condition of the uppermost one of the pair of the locking panels between the top panel and upper edges of the end panels.

Reference is made particularly to FIG. 1 of the drawings which illustrates a carton blank generally designated by the reference numeral which, as viewed from left to right, includes aninner bottom panel 11, afirst side panel 12, atop panel 13, anotherside panel 14 and anouter bottom panel 15.

The inner bottom panel 1 l is defined between afold line 16, an oppositeparallel edge 17, and a pair oftransverse edges 20, 21. Afold line 22 is provided between theedge 17 and thefold line 16 to allow thebottom panel 11 to be positioned toward and into its closed position more readily, as will be understood more fully hereinafter. The inner bottom panel 1 1 additionally includes a plurality ofidentical openings 23 for partially receiving bottom portions of articles A in a conventional manner, as is readily apparent from FIGS. 4 and 5. Additionally, theinner bottom panel 11 includes a plurality of latch-receivingapertures 24 which also function in a conventional manner to interlock theinner panel 11 with the outer bottom panel in a conventional manner.

Referring to theouter bottom panel 15, the same is defined by atransverse fold line 25, and a regulartransverse edge 26 interrupted by threeidentical latching tabs 27, each of which is in alignment with an oppositely directedlatching tab 28 and theapertures 24 of thebottom panel 11, and a pair oftransverse edges 30, 31. Thelatching tabs 28 are spaced from each other byfold lines 32, which facilitate the folding of aportion 33 of thebottom panel 15 incident to the latching engagement of thetabs 27, 28 with theapertures 24. Thefold line 34 likewise facilitates the movement of theouter bottom panel 15 to its closed position during the setting-up of the blank 10.Apertures 35 are likewise formed in theouter bottom panel 15 adjacent thefold line 25 for receiving the bottoms of the articles A, in much the same manner as theapertures 23 of theinner bottom panel 11.

Theside panel 12 is defined by thefold line 16, a pair ofparallel fold lines 36, 37, merging with respect toedges 40, 41 and respective shortangular fold lines 42, 43 merging at afold line 44 adjacent thetop panel 13 which is interrupted by a plurality of identical crescent-shaped openings 45. It will be noted that thefold lines 36, 37 includeextensions 46, 47 which intersect thefold line 16 and terminate adjacent the ends of thefold line 22. Likewise, thefold line 16 includesextensions 48, 49 defining an angle of approximately 90 withrespective extensions 46, 47 of therespective fold lines 36, 37.

Thefold lines 46, 48 set off holding or locking means 50 which are identical to locking means 51 set off by thefold lines 47, 49. The locking means 50, 51 are identical and each includes a locking panel defined by a pair oflocking portions 52, 53, and 54, 55, separated byrespective fold lines 56, 57. Thefold lines 56, 57 define an angle of approximately 45 between thefold lines 46, 48 and 47, 49, and merge therewith at their points of intersection. As will be described more fully hereinafter, thelocking panels 50, 51 are foldable to a position which retains a pair of barndoor end panels 60, 61 in a closed position generally normal to theside panel 12 and thebottom panel 11.

Theend panel 60 is of a generally rectangular configuration and is defined by thefold lines 36, 48, an oppositetransverse edge 62, andlongitudinal edges 63, 64.

Likewise, the barndoor end panel 61 is defined by thefold lines 37, 49, atransverse edge 65, and oppositelongitudinal edges 66, 67.

At the opposite side of the carton blank 10 theside panel 14 is similarly set ofi by thefold line 25, a pair offold lines 70, 71,adjacent edges 72, 73 andangular fold lines 74, 75 merging with afold line 76 which is interrupted by a plurality of identical crescent-shaped openings 77. As in the case of thefold lines 36, 37, thefold lines 70, 71 likewise includerespective extensions 80, 81 projecting into thebottom panel 15 while thefold line 25 includesrespective extensions 82, 83. Theextensions 80, 82 define holding or locking means in the form of a locking panel defined by a pair oflocking portions 84, 85 set off by afold line 86 disposed at an angle of approximately 45 to thefold lines 80, 82. The latter noted structure defines locking means designated by thereference numeral 87 which is opposite to the locking means 50 in the set-up state of the carton, as will be described more fully hereinafter, to maintain another barndoor end panel 88 in a position nonnal to thepanels 14, 15.

Locking means in the form of another locking panel generally designated by thereference numeral 90 is set off between thefold lines 81, 83 and is defined by a pair oflocking portions 91, 92 divided by afold line 93 which bisects the angle between the normalfold line extensions 81, 83. Likewise, the function of thelocking panel 90 is to maintain a barndoor end panel 95 disposed normal to thepanels 14, 15.

Theend panel 88 is set off by thefold lines 82, 70, an op? positelongitudinal edge 96, another oppositelongitudinal edge 97, and atransverse edge 98.

Theend panel 95 is defined by thefold lines 71, 83, a pair of generally oppositelongitudinal edges 100, 101, and atransverse edge 102.

Thetop panel 13 is defined by the interruptedfold lines 44, 76 and the associated crescent-shaped openings 45,77, and a pair of longitudinal generallyparallel fold lines 104, 105. A pair ofarcuate cut lines 106, 107 and fold lines 108, 110 associated therewith provide a pair of finger-receiving openings for carrying the carton in a conventional manner.

Means generally designated by thereference numerals 112, 113 are provided at opposite ends of thetop panel 13 for maintaining terminal ends (unnumbered) of thepanels 60, 88 and 61, 95, respectively, inboard of the carton body 10, as is best illustrated in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5. The locking means 112 is in the form of a locking flap or panel defined by thefold lines 42, 74 and 104, along with an edge 114 joined to therespective edges 40, 72, by angular edges 1 15, 116, thereby defining a generally rectangular central locking flap orpanel portion 117, and generally triangular outboard locking flap orpanel portions 118, 119.

Likewise, the locking means 113 is defined by thefold lines 43, 75, 105, andassociated edges 120, 121 and 122. The locking means 113 is thus defined by a generally rectangular central locking flap orpanel portion 123 and outboard generally triangular locking flap orpanel portions 124, 125.

Reference is now made particularly to FIGS. 2 through 5 of the drawings which illustrate the manner in which the carton is set up to form the carton or carrier 10 whose ends are closed by theend panels 60, 61 and 88, 95. Though the carton blank 10 is set up by machinery in the manner which has nothing to do with the present invention, the following description is that of merely manually assembling the carton 10 and a plurality (six) of articles A internally thereof.

The six articles are supported in a conventional manner with caps C thereof beneath the tabs (unnumbered) defined by the crescent-shaped openings 45 and 77. Thereafter theside walls 12, 14 are folded downwardly to bring theside panels 12, 14 into generally normal relationship to thetop panel 13. I

Theend panels 60, 61 are then folded inwardly toward a position normal to thefold lines 36, 37 during which time theinner bottom panel 11 is folded toward a position normal to theside panel 12. During this folding thepanel 53 of thelocking panel 50 is folded into overlying relationship to thelocking panel portion 52 while thelocking panel portion 54 is likewise folded into sandwiched relationship between thelocking panel portion 55 and thebottom panel 11. At this point thepanels 60, 61 are normal to thepanels 11, 12 with thelocking panel portions 52, 54 being sandwiched between thelocking panel portions 53, 55, respectively, and thebottom panel 11.

Thereafter theend panels 88, 95 are likewise folded in an identical manner, as is thebottom panel 15 whereupon thelocking panel portions 85, 92 are folded inwardly into sandwiched relationship between therespective panels 84, 91 and thebottom panel 15. During this folding operation thelatching tabs 27, 28 are united with thelatching apertures 24 to complete the assembly of the carton, including the locking of the end panels at the lower portions thereof, though it is to be understood at this time that the uppermost ends (unnumbered) of theend panels 60, 61, 88 and 95 are not yet captivated or held immobile. This is accomplished by merely folding downwardly therectangular panel portions 117, 123 until the latter are substantially normal to thetop panel 13 which brings thetriangular panels 115, 116 and 124, 125 into inwardly directed relationship, as is best illustrated in FIG. 2, thus completing the setting-up of the carton and its contents.

Modification of the blank or carton 10 will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and such modifications are considered in keeping with the present disclosure. For example, thelocking flaps 50, 51, 87 and may be omitted if it is found that thelocking flaps 112, 113 are sufficient to maintain the barn door"end panels 60, 61, 88 and properly positioned generally normal to theside panels 12, 14. Likewise, the locking means 112, 113 may be omitted if the lower locking means 50, 51, 87 and 90 are sufficient to maintain theend panels 60,61, 88 and 95 normal to theside panels 12, 14.

However, in the preferred embodiment of the invention the cartons constructed as illustrated in FIG. 1, although in keeping with a further modification, the scrap material created by forming theedges 40, 64, 41, 66, 72, 97 and 73, 100 may be eliminated simply by not cutting the latter noted edges which would result inend panels 60, 61, 88 and 95 of almost aperfect rectangular configuration. However, by removing the latter noted material theedges 64, 66, 97 and 100 permit the end panels to be more readily folded inwardly while theside panels 12, 14 can bend toward an upwardly converging position, as is best illustrated in FIG. 2, to more readily contour to the configuration of the articles A within the carton 10.

While preferred forms and arrangements of parts have been shown in illustrating the invention, it is to be clearly understood that various changes in details and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure.

1 claim:

1. A carton comprising a generally tubular body including a top panel joined to a pair of side panels by first and second longitudinal fold lines, a pair of end panels at one axial end of said body substantially closing the same, first and second ones of said end panels being joined to first and second ones of said side panels by respective first and second vertical fold lines, said end panels having free upper terminal ends, and means holding said ends disposed inboard of said body to maintain at least portions of said end panels normal to said side walls, said holding means including a central locking panel portion joined by a first transverse fold line to said top panel and a pair of locking panel portions outboard thereof, one outboard locking panel portion being joined between said top panel and each of said first and second side panels by a pair of angularly disposed fold lines, said central locking panel portion being folded downwardly about said first transverse fold line into overlying relationship to said terminal end panel ends, and said outboard locking panels being folded inwardly of said body in generally side-by-side relationship to adjacent ones of said side panels for maintaining said central locking pane] portion in its overlying position whereby said end panels are precluded from moving outward of said body.

2. The carton as defined in claim 1 wherein said central locking panel portion is of a generally rectangular configuration and said outboard locking panel portions are of a triangular configuration.

3. The carton as defined in claim 2 wherein each side panel has a free edge coincident with each of said vertical fold lines, and each end panel has an edge in upward diverging relationship with said free edge.

4. The carton as defined in claim 1 wherein each side panel has a free edge coincident with each of said vertical fold lines, and each end panel has an edge in upward diverging relationship with said free edge.

ru a -km

Claims (4)

1. A carton comprising a generally tubular body including a top panel joined to a pair of side panels by first and second longitudinal fold lines, a pair of end panels at one axial end of said body substantially closing the same, first and second ones of said end panels being joined to first and second ones of said side panels by respective first and second vertical fold lines, said end panels having free upper terminal ends, and means holding said ends disposed inboard of said body to maintain at least portions of said end panels normal to said side walls, said holding means including a central locking panel portion joined by a first transverse fold line to said top panel and a pair of locking panel portions outboard thereof, one outboard locking panel portion being joined between said top panel and each of said first and second side panels by a pair of angularly disposed fold lines, said central locking panel portion being folded downwardly about said first transverse fold line into overlying relationship to said terminal end panel ends, and said outboard locking panels being folded inwardly of said body in generally sIde-by-side relationship to adjacent ones of said side panels for maintaining said central locking panel portion in its overlying position whereby said end panels are precluded from moving outward of said body.

2. The carton as defined in claim 1 wherein said central locking panel portion is of a generally rectangular configuration and said outboard locking panel portions are of a triangular configuration.

3. The carton as defined in claim 2 wherein each side panel has a free edge coincident with each of said vertical fold lines, and each end panel has an edge in upward diverging relationship with said free edge.

4. The carton as defined in claim 1 wherein each side panel has a free edge coincident with each of said vertical fold lines, and each end panel has an edge in upward diverging relationship with said free edge.

Images