Panel interlocking device for a carton and blank therefor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10099833-B2
Application number	US-201515307422-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 29, 2015
Priority date	May 5, 2014
Publication date	Oct 16, 2018
Grant date	Oct 16, 2018

Abstract

A locking device for a carton includes a first part (F) defined in a first panel ( 12 ) and a second part (M) defined in a second panel ( 14 ). The first part includes a female tab ( 22 ) struck from the first panel and foldably coupled thereto. The second part includes a male tab ( 20 ) struck from the second panel and foldably coupled thereto. The male tab is hinged to the second panel by a first non-linear fold line ( 24 ) and is receivable in an aperture created by folding the female tab out of the plane of the first panel so as to secure the first and second panels together. The male tab includes at least one weakened line ( 28 ) for facilitating folding of the male tab about the first non-linear fold line ( 24 ). An edge ( 30 ) of the female tab braces against the male tab so as to maintain the male tab in a folded or locked configuration.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A locking device for a carton, the locking device comprising
a first part defined in a first panel; and
a second part associated with a second panel,
the first part comprising a female tab struck from the first panel and foldably coupled thereto, the female tab defining an aperture in the first panel when folded out of a plane of the first panel,
the second part comprising a male tab foldably coupled to the second panel proximate a proximal end of the male tab,
wherein the male tab is foldable into a braced position in the aperture wherein the female tab leans against the male tab so as to maintain the male tab in the braced position whereby the first and second panels are secured together, and
wherein the second part further comprises at least one weakened line disposed between the proximal end and a free end of the male tab, the at least one weakened line extending toward the free end and stopping short of the free end.

2. The locking device according to claim 1 wherein the at least one weakened line comprises one or more fold lines.

3. The locking device according to claim 2 wherein the one or more fold lines comprise one selected from the group consisting of a single cut, a single score, a single half cut, a line of perforations, a line of cuts, a line of short slits, a line of half cuts, a line of scores and any combination thereof.

4. The locking device according to claim 1 wherein the male tab is foldably coupled to the second panel along a non-linear fold line, and wherein the non-linear fold line comprises a first linear fold line and a second linear fold line arranged to define an obtuse angle therebetween.

5. The locking device according to claim 1 wherein the male tab is foldably coupled to the second panel along a non-linear fold line, and wherein the non-linear fold line comprises a first curved fold line and a second curved fold line arranged to define a continuous arc with a cutline disposed therebetween.

6. The locking device according to claim 5 wherein the at least one weakened line intersects with the non-linear fold line.

7. The locking device according to claim 1 wherein the at least one weakened line comprises two or more fold lines disposed in parallel relationship with each other.

8. The locking device according to claim 1 wherein the female tab comprises a free end which is disposed in abutment on the male tab when the male tab is in the braced position, the free end of the female tab being shaped to form a mandrel for folding the male tab into a non-planar structure.

9. The locking device according to claim 8 wherein the free end of the female tab is non-linear in shape.

10. The locking device according to claim 9 wherein the free end of the female tab is concaved.

11. The locking device according to claim 9 wherein the free end of the female tab is convex.

12. The locking device according to claim 1 wherein the male tab is struck from the second panel.

13. The locking device according to claim 1 wherein the male tab extends from a free edge of the second panel.

14. The locking device of claim 1 , wherein the male tab, when folded about the proximal end, forms a substantially channel-shaped structure.

15. The locking device of claim 1 , wherein the female tab has a free end which comprises a shape that assists in folding the male tab about the at least one weakened line.

16. A blank for forming a carton, the blank comprising:
a first panel including a first part of a locking device; and
a second panel including a second part of a locking device,
the first part comprising a female tab struck from the first panel and foldably coupled thereto, the female tab defining an aperture when folded out of a plane of the first panel,
the second part comprising a male tab foldably coupled to the second panel proximate a proximal end of the male tab, wherein the male tab is foldable into a braced position in the aperture wherein the female tab leans against the male tab so as to maintain the male tab in the braced position whereby the first and second panels are secured together and
wherein the second part further comprises at least one weakened line disposed between the proximal end and a free end of the male tab, the at least one weakened line extending toward the free end and stopping short of the free end.

17. The blank according to claim 16 wherein the at least one weakened line comprises one or more fold lines.

18. The blank of claim 16 wherein the male tab, when folded about the proximal end, forms a substantially channel-shaped structure.

19. The blank of claim 16 , wherein the female tab has a free end which comprises a shape that assists in folding the male tab about the at least one weakened line.

Assignees

• Westrock Packaging Systems Llc

Inventors

• Saulas Alain
• Suzuki Tsugihiko

Classifications

• B65D2571/00154

  interlocked · CPC title

• B65D5/02

  by folding or erecting a single blank to form a tubular body with or without subsequent folding operations, or the addition of separate elements, to close the ends of the body (specially constructed to allow collapsing and re-erecting without disengagement of side or bottom connections B65D5/36) · CPC title

• B65D5/42

  Details of containers or of foldable or erectable container blanks · CPC title

• B65D71/00 Primary

  Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans or pop bottles; Bales of material · CPC title

• B65D71/12 Primary

  the packaging elements {, e.g. wrappers} being formed by folding a single blank · CPC title