US3346164A

US3346164A - Folding carton and blank therefor

Info

Publication number: US3346164A
Application number: US499557A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles R Zeitter
Original assignee: Packaging Corp of America
Current assignee: Packaging Corp of America
Priority date: 1965-10-21
Filing date: 1965-10-21
Publication date: 1967-10-10
Anticipated expiration: 1984-10-10

Description

Filed Oct. 2l, 1965 Oct. 10, 1967 CL R. zElTTER FOLDING CARTQN AND BLANK THEREFOR l 5 Shts-Sheet l I N VE NTOR.

Bypvmn, mrd, (SMZ/m I Oct-10, 1967 l c.. R. zEn'Tl-:R I 3,346,164

FOLDING CARTON AND BLANK THEREFOR Filed oct. 21, 1965 5 sheets-sheet 2 I NVENTOR.

me 224m,

Oct. 10, 1967 l c. R. ZEITTER 3,346,164

LD G C TON AND Filed oct. 21, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet :s

United States Patent O 3,346,164 y FOLDING CARTN AND BLANK THEREFQR Charles R. Zeitter, Grand Rapids, Mich., assigner to Packaging Corporation of America, Evanstonlll., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 21, 1965, Ser. No. 499,557 9 Claims. (Cl. 229-16) ABSTRACT '0F THE vDISCLOSURE This invention relates to a folding carton and blank therefor and more particularly to a carton wherein the product disposed therein is readily observable without the carton being opened.

Various cartons of this general type have heretofore been proposed; however, because of certain design characteristics, they are of a costly and complex construction, are unattractive in appearance, or are ineffective in providing adequate protection for the accommodated product.

Thus, it is one of the objects of this invention to provide a folding carton which is not beset with the aforenoted shortcomings of the prior art cartons.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a `folding carton which may be formed from a blank of paperboard having printed indicia on only one surfaceY thereof, whereby, when the carton is set up, only the printed surface of the blank is exposed.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a folding carton'which is sturdy and compact and capable of accommodating a var-iety of products notwithstanding that the blank for said carton is formed of relatively thin gauge paperboard stock.

It is a still further object of thisinvention to provide a folding carton which is capable of being set up manually or by automatic equipment.

Further and additional objects will appear from the description, accompanying drawings, and appended claims.

In accordance with" one embodiment of this invention a folding carton is provided which comprises apertured front and back panels arranged in spaced registered relation. An aperture in one of the panels is in aligned position with respect to a corresponding aperture in the other panel. Outer side panels are provided which foldably interconnect corresponding peripheral portions of the front and back panels. Closure flaps are foldably connected to opposite ends of the front, back, and side panels and cooperate to effect closing of the carton ends. Corresponding perimet-rical portions of the aligned apertures -are interconnected by folding aps, which delimit the aligned apertures.

For a more complete understanding of this invention reference should be made to the drawings wherein:

FIGURE l is a top plan View of one form of a blank Ifor the improved carton;

FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1 but showing a modiiied blank;

FIGS. 3-5 are perspective views of the blank of FIG. l shown in various stages of setup;

ice

FIG. 6 is a perspective View of the improved carton fully set up from the blank of FIG. l;

FIG. 7 is similar to FIG. 6 but showing an improved carton fully set up from the blank of FIG. 2.

Referring now to FIG. l a blank 10 of thin gauge paperboard printed on only one surface thereof is shown which is adapted, when fully set up, to form the improved carton 11, shown in FIG. 6. The surface of blank 10 shown in FIG. l is the unprinted surface; however, as will be hereinafter discussed, only the printed surface of the blank will be exposed when the carton is set up as shown in FIG, 6.

Blank 1@ is provided with a plurality of foldlines and cuts which are adapted to cooperate with one another so as to form a back panel 13 which is provided with an enlarged central opening 14. Connected by foldline 15 to a perimetrical segment of opening 14 is an inner flap 16, the function of which will be described more fully hereinafter.

Connectedby a pair of spaced substantially parallel foldlines 17 and 18 to opposite sides of back panel 13 are side panels 2li and 21. When the blank is set up to form carton 11, panels 20 and 21 assume vertical positions with respect to back panel 13. Connected by foldline 22 to the opposite side of panel 20 is a front panelV 23. Panel 23 is likewise provided with an enlarged central opening 24 which is similar in configuration to |opening 14 formed in back panel 13. Connected by foldline 25 to a perimetrical segment of open-ing 24 is a second inner flap 26. The configuration of flap 26 closely resembles that of flap 16, so that when the blank 1 0 is fully set up, iiap 26 will overlie iiap 16 and be adhesively affixed thereto. Thus,

flaps

16 and 26 serve to retain the portions of the b-ack and front panels circumjacent the central openings thereof in proper spaced relation with respect to one another.

Connected by foldline 27 to the opposite side of panel 21 is a bridging panel 28. The function of panel 28 will be discussed more fully hereinafter. ,Connected to the lopposite side of panel 28 by foldline 3l) is a third inner flap 31 which is adapted to interconnect other corresponding perimetrical segments of

openings

14 and 24, when the blank is set up to form carton 11. Foldline 30 is shorter than foldline 27 and is approximately equal in length to perimetrical segment 14a of opening 14.

Connected by foldline 32 to the outer edge of flap 31 is an anchoring iiap or panel 33. Flap 33 is adapted to be adhesively affixed to the unprinted surface of 'back panel `13 when the carton 11 is formed. Foldline 32 is disposed in coincident relation with respect to perimetrical segment 14a of opening 14. FIG. 3 shows the disposition of the third inner flap 31 to be perpendicular to back panel 13.

Foldably connected to opposite ends of third inner iiap 31 are fourth and fth

inner flaps

34 and 35, respectively, Each

flap

34 or 35 is provided with foldable side and

end tabs

34a and 34h, and 35a and 35b. As seen in FIG. 4, during setting up of the blank 10, fourth and fifth

inner aps

34 and 35 .and their associated side and end tabs are folded at right angles with respect to third inner flap 31, so that iiap 31 is coincident to opening segment 14a, flap 34 is coincident to perimetrical segment 14b of opening 14, and iiap 35 is coincident to perimetrical segment 14e of opening 14. Tabs 34a-b and 35o-b, in turn, are folded at right angles to iiaps 34 and 35, respectively, see FIG. 4. The folded flaps normally are disposed in frictional face-to-face relation with respect to the unprinted or concealed surfaces of back and

front panels

13 and 23 and side panel 20, when the carton 11 is erected.

As seen in FIG. 1, side panels 20 and 21 are provided with

end closure flaps

36 and 37, respectively.

Flaps

36 and 37 are adapted to cooperate with

closure flaps

38 and 40 foldably connected to opposite ends of front or top panel 23. Flaps 3S and 49 are each provided with a

tuck flap

38a and 40a which are adapted to be tucked between

fiaps

34a and 35a and the unprinted surface of back panel 13, when the blank is set up to form carton 11.

Carton 11 is of a structure suitable for hanging on a display rod. To facilitate the hanging thereof, back panel 13 is provided with tongue portion 13a having the upper section 13b thereof adapted to be folded over so as to provide a two-ply thickness. Portion 13a and section 13b are provided with openings 13C which are in registration with one another when section 13b assumes its folded position. Section 13b may be retained in its folded position by either adhesively afixing section 13b to portion 13a or by having the distal edge of section 13b tucked behind tuck flap 38a of end closure fiap 38.

When the blank 10 is set up to form carton 11, openings '14 and 24 are in registered relation. It is in the open center part of the carton that the product to be packaged is disposed. The size and shape of

openings

14 and 24 and the size and shape of the inner flaps will depend upon the product to be packaged. If, for example, the product in question was a padlock, not shown, the hasp thereof might project into a suitable slot 41, shown in dotted lines, provided in inner flap 34, see FIG. 1. Likewise a slot 42, shown in dotted lines, might be provided in inner flap which might frictionally accommodate the bottom portion of the lock housing. On the other hand, if the product is Va bottle, not shown, which has a neck portion, then the slot 41 would be sized to frictionally accommodate said neck portion. Slot 42 in a like manner would be sized to accommodate the base or bottom portion of the bottle. Because of the frictional engagement between the product and the inner flaps no additional securing means is required. However, if desired, the center portion of the carton may be overwrapped by a clear plastic film or the product may be further retained in place by spotgluing.

FIG. 2 discloses a modified carton blank 43 which is similar in many respects to blank 10. Because of this fact and in order to simplify understanding of the structure of blank 43, similar numbers, but in the one hundred series, will be utilized. Back panel 113 and front panel 123 are similar in configuration to

panels

13 and 23 of blank 10 except that the opening 114 is provided with two

inner fiaps

116 and 119 foldably connected to opposite perimetrical segments of the opening. In addition the hanger tongue portion 13a and section 13b has been eliminated in blank 43; however, the elimination thereof is optional.

It will be noted that the fourth and fifth inner flaps 134 and 13S, respectively, which are foldably connected to opposite ends of third inner flap 131, each have only one side fiap 1340 or 135:1 connected thereto. In addition, anchoring flap 33 of blank 10 has been eliminated in blank 43. The reason for flap 33 being eliminated is that inner flap 119 disposed in opening 114 is adapted to be adhesively affixed to third inner flap 131 when blank 43 is set up to form carton 44, shown in FIG. 7. By eliminating the various tabs, tongues, and flap aforenoted in blank 43, substantial savings in material may be effected when forming a plurality of blanks from a web of paperboard or the like.

In setting up blank 10', side panel 21 is folded to an upright position with respect to back panel 13. Bridging panel 2S -and inner fiap 31 are then folded relative to panel 21 so as to assume respective horizontal and vertical positions, see FIG. 3. Anchoring flap 33 has adhesive applied to the back surface thereof. Whereupon the anchoring fiap 33 being folded at a right angle to flap 31, the coated surface of flap 33 will bond with the unprinted surface of back panel 13 between perimetrical segment 14a and foldline 18. It should be noted that anchoring liap 33 is separated from

side tabs

34a and 35a by slits or cuts. In securing anchoring flap 33 to the back panel 13,

it is important from an appearance standpoint that foldline 32 be made coincident with perimetrical segment 14a.

With blank 43, in place of `adhesively securing an anchoring iiap to the back panel, inner iiap 119 is adhesively coated on one surface thereof, whereupon flap 131 is brought into adhesive engagement with the coated surface of folded ap 119.

As shown in FIG. 4, the fourth and fifth

inner flaps

34 and 35 and their respective tabs 34a-b and 35u-b are folded relative to flap 31 so as to assume the positions shown. When disposed, as seen in FIG. 4, faps 34 and 35 are aligned with perimetrical segments 14b and c, respectively, of opening 14.

Side panel 20 is then folded upright yand front panel 23 is folded at a right angle thereto so as to assume a superimposed position with respect to back panel 13. The portion 23a of the front panel overlies and is adhesively affixed to bridging panel 28, so that blank 10 assumes the condition shown in FIG. 5. Prior to the blank assuming the condition of FIG. 5, the product to be packaged may be located between the fourth and fifth inner flaps.

The closure flaps, as shown in FIG. 5 are then folded relative to one another to close the ends of the carton. Section 13b may then be folded relative to tongue portion 13a.

As aforenoted, carton 11 or 44 Vhas all the exposed surfaces thereof formed by the printed surface of the blank 10 or 43. Thus, it is necessary that the blank have only one printed surface. Furthermore, the various panels, flaps, tabs, and portions cooperate with one another to form a very strong and sturdy carton, notwithstanding the caliper of the material used.

Various modifications besides those shown and discused may be made with regard to the shape and size of the various panels and the openings in the front and back panels. Furthermore, if in certain instances, appearance in so far as exposure of the unprinted surface of the blank is not important, then fourth and fifth

inner flaps

34 and 35 or 134 and 135 and their associated tabs might be eliminated entirely.

While several embodiments of this invention have been described above, further modifications may be made thereto and it is contemplated, therefore, by the appended claims, to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. A blank of sheet material for use in forming a foldable carton having front and back panels provided with aligned enlarged openings, said blank having a plurality of foldlines and slits cooperating with one another to form a back panel having an enlarged opening formed therein, at least one inner side ap, foldably connected to a peripheral segment of said opening, outer side panels foldably connected to opposite peripheral portions of said back panel, a front panel foldably connected to a peripheral portion of one of said outer side,u panels opposite the peripheral portion to which said back panel is connected, said front panel being provided with an enlarged opening, a second inner side fiap foldably connected to a peripheral segment of the front panel opening, said second inner side flap being adapted to be adhesively secured to said one inner side flap when said blank is set up to form said carton, a bridging panel foldably connected to a peripheral portion of the other of said outer side panels opposite the peripheral portion to which said back panel is connected, a third inner side flap foldably connected to a peripheral portion of said bridging panel opposite to that connected to said other outer side panel; said third inner side flap being adapted to span the interval between the front and back panels and comprise a border portion defining said central openings in said front and back panels when said blank is set up to form said carton, the foldline connection between said bridging panel and said other outer side panel being of greater extent than the foldline connection between said bridging panel and said third inner ap, and closure flaps foldably connected to opposite ends of said outer side panels and said front panel.

2. A folding carton comprising a front panel, a back panel disposed in spaced registered relationship with respect thereto, said front and back panels each being provided with a large aligned opening, iirst outer side panels interconnecting corresponding peripheral portions of said front and back panels, a bridging panel foldably engaging an edge portion of one of said first outer side panels, the later foldable engagement being disposed parallel to the edge portion of said one outer side panel in foldable engagement with said back panel, a third inner side flap foldably connected to an edge portion of said bridging panel in parallel relationship with the bridging panel foldable connection with said one outer side panel; said third side flap being foldably connected to fourth and fth side aps at opposed end limits along foldlines transversely disposed to the third inner side flap foldable connection with said bridging panel; said, third, fourth and tifth side aps spanning the interval between said front and back panels, and oppositely-disposed, adhesively-engaged flaps extending from peripheral portions of said aligned openings spanning the interval between said front and back panels and defining the periphery of said panel openings with said third, fourth and fth side ilaps.

3. The folding carton of claim 2 in which said third, fourth and fifth side flaps have side tabs extending from peripheral portions of said side aps deiining said panel openings and in engagement with peripheral portions of said front and back panels defining said aligned openlngs.

4. The carton recited in claim 2 including a hanger flap extending laterally outwardly from the periphery of said back panel.

5. A blank of sheet material foruse in forming a foldable carton having front and back panels provided with aligned enlarged openings, said blank having a plurality of foldlines and slits cooperating with one another to form a back panel having an enlarged opening formed therein, a rst inner side ap foldably connected to a peripheral segment of said opening, outer side panels foldably connected to opposite peripheral portions of said back panel, a front panel foldably connected to a peripheral portion of one of said outer side panels opposite the peripheral portion to which said back panel is connected, said front panel being provided with an enlarged opening which is adapted to assume a spaced registered relation with respect to said back panel opening when said blank is set up to form said carton, a second inner side flap foldably connected to a peripheral segment of said front panel opening, said second inner side flap being adapted to be adhesively secured to said iirst inner side iiap when said blank is set up to form a carton, a bridging panel foldably connected to a peripheral portion of said other outer side panel opposite the peripheral portion to which said back panel is connected, said bridging panel being adapted to be adhesively connected to the concealed surface of said front panel when said blank is set up to form said carton, a third inner side Hap foldably connected to the opposite side of said bridging panel, the foldline connected between said bridging panel and said other outer side panel being of greater extent than the foldline connection between said bridging panel and said third inner ap, an anchoring tab foldably connected to the opposite side of said third inner side flap, said anchoring tab being adapted to be adhesively aixed to the concealed surface of said back panel when said blank is set up to form a carton, fourth inner side flap foldably connected to one end of said third inner side flap, iifth inner side flap foldably connected to the opposite end of said third inner side flap, said side flaps cooperating with one another to delimit the registered central openings and span the distance between said front and back panels when said blank is set up to form said carton, second anchoring aps foldably connected to said fourth and fifth inner side flaps, and closure flaps foldably connected to opposite ends of said outer side panels and said front panel.

6. The blank recited in claim 5 including a hanger ap foldably connected to one end of said back panel.

'7. A blank of sheet material for use in forming a foldable carton having front and back panels provided with aligned enlarged openings, said blank having a plurality of foldlines and slits cooperating with one another to form a back panel having an enlarged opening formed therein, first inner side flaps foldably connected to opposite peripheral segments of said opening, outer side panels foldably connected to opposite peripheral portions of said back panel, a front panel foldably connected to a peripheral portion of one of said outer side panels opposite the peripheral portion to which said back panel is connected, said front panel being provided with an enlarged opening, a second inner side flap foldably connected to a peripheral segment of said front panel opening, said second inner side flap being adapted to be adhesively secured to one of said first inner side flaps when said blank is set up to form said carton, a bridging panel foldably connected to a peripheral portion of said other outer side panel opposite the peripheral portion to which said back panel is connected, said bridging panel being adapted to be adhesively connected to the concealed surface of said front panel when said blank is set up to form said carton, a third inner side ap foldably connected to the opposite side of said bridging panel, said third inner side liap being adapted to be adhesively connected to the other of said iirst inner side flaps, when said blank is set up to form said carton the foldline connection between said bridging panel and said other outer side panel being of greater extent than the foldline connection between said bridging panel and said third inner flap, and closure flaps foldably connected to opposite ends of said outer side panels and said front panel.

8. The blank recited in claim 7 including a fourth inner side iiap foldably connected to one end of said third inner side flap, a iifth inner side ap foldably connected to the opposite end of said third inner side flap, said side aps cooperating with one another to delimit the aligned openings and span the distance between said front and back panels when said blank is set up to form said carton, and anchoring iiaps foldably connected to said fourth and iifth inner side flaps.

9. The blank recited in claim 7 including a hanger flap foldably connected to one end of said back panel.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,684,758 7/ 1954 Aquino 229-40 X 2,850,160 9/1958 Siebbl et al. 206-45.3 X 2,921,674 1/ 1960 Ryder 206-52 2,955,738 10/ 1960 :Bacchus et a1 229-87 X 3,000,494 9/ 1961 Monroe 206-52 3,018,883 1/ 1962 Wohlforth 229-87 X 3,159,274 12/1964 Burt 229-40 X 3,253,703 5/ 1966 Ettin 229-40 X JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

D. T. MOORHEAD, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. A BLANK OF SHEET MATERIAL FOR USE IN FORMING A FOLDABLE CARTON HAVING FRONT AND BACK PANELS PROVIDED WITH ALIGNED ENLARGED OPENINGS, SAID BLANK HAVING A PLURALITY OF FOLDLINES AND SLITS COOPERATING WITH ONE ANOTHER TO FORM A BACK PANEL HAVING AN ENLARGED OPENING FORMED THEREIN, AT LEAST ONE INNER SIDE FLAP, FOLDABLY CONNECTED TO A PERIPHERAL SEGMENT OF SAID OPENING, OUTER SIDE PANELS FOLDABLY CONNECTED TO OPPOSITE PERIPHERAL PORTIONS OF SAID BACK PANEL, A FRONT PANEL FOLDABLY CONNECTED TO A PERIPHERAL PORTION OF ONE OF SAID OUTER SIDE PANELS OPPOSITE THE PERIPHERAL PORTION TO WHICH SAID BACK PANEL IS CONNECTED, SAID FRONT PANEL BEING PROVIDED WITH AN ENLARGED OPENING, A SECOND INNER SIDE FLAP FOLDABLY CONNECTED TO A PERIPHERAL SEGMENT OF THE FRONT PANEL OPENING, SAID SECOND INNER SIDE FLAP BEING ADAPTED TO BE ADHESIVELY SECURED TO SAID ONE INNER SIDE FLAP WHEN SAID BLANK IS SET UP TO FORM SAID CARTON, A BRIDGING PANEL FOLDABLY CONNECTED TO A PERIPHERAL PORTION OF THE OTHER OF SAID OUTER SIDE PANELS OPPOSITE THE PERIPHERAL PORTION TO WHICH SAID BACK PANEL IS CONNECTED, A THIRD INNER SIDE FLAP FOLDABLY CONNECTED TO A PERIPHERAL PORTION OF SAID BRIDGING PANEL OPPOSITE TO THAT CONNECTED TO SAID OTHER OUTER SIDE PANEL; SAID THIRD INNER SIDE FLAP BEING ADAPTED TO SPAN THE INTERVAL BETWEEN THE FRONT AND BACK PANELS AND COMPRISE A BORDER PORTION DEFINING SAID CENTRAL OPENINGS IN SAID FRONT AND BACK PANELS WHEN SAID BLANK IS SET UP TO FORM SAID CARTON, THE FOLDLINE CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID BRIDGING PANEL AND SAID OTHER OUTER SIDE PANEL BEING OF GREATER EXTENT THAN THE FOLDLINE CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID BRIDGING PANEL AND SAID THIRD INNER FLAP, AND CLOSURE FLAPS FOLDABLY CONNECTED TO OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID OUTER SIDE PANELS AND SAID FRONT PANEL.