Reclosable carton

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10173805-B2
Application number	US-201715648853-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 13, 2017
Priority date	Jul 14, 2016
Publication date	Jan 8, 2019
Grant date	Jan 8, 2019

Abstract

A carton for holding at least one article includes a plurality of panels and a plurality of end flaps. The plurality of panels at least partially defines an interior space of the carton, and includes a first side panel and a second side panel foldably connected to the first side panel. At least a portion of the first side panel and at least a portion of the second side panel are reconfigurable between an open position allowing access to the interior space and a closed position wherein the access to the interior space is restricted. The plurality of end flaps is respectively foldably connected to respective panels of the plurality of panels and form a closed end portion of the carton. The closed end portion is removable from the carton to allow access to the interior space.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A carton for holding at least one article, comprising:
a plurality of panels at least partially defining an interior space of the carton, the plurality of panels comprising a first side panel and a second side panel foldably connected to the first side panel, at least a portion of the first side panel and at least a portion of the second side panel are reconfigurable between an open position allowing access to the interior space and a closed position wherein the access to the interior space is restricted, the at least a portion of the first side panel comprises a plurality of first sections and the at least a portion of the second side panel comprises a plurality of second sections, the plurality of first sections comprises a central section located on a vertical centerline of the first side panel, two side sections of the first side panel foldably connected to the central section of the first side panel, and two end sections of the first side panel foldably connected to the respective side sections of the first side panel, the plurality of second sections comprises a central section located on a vertical centerline of the second side panel, two side sections of the second side panel foldably connected to the central section of the second side panel, and two end sections of the second side panel foldably connected to the respective side sections of the second side panel; and
a plurality of end flaps respectively foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels, the plurality of end flaps comprising a first top end flap and a second top end flap, the first top end flap foldably connected to the first side panel at a first tear line that defines a top edge of the first side panel, the second top end flap connected to the second side panel at a second tear line that defines a top edge of the second side panel, the first top end flap and the second top end flap forming a top closed end portion of the carton, the top closed end portion is removable from the carton to allow access to the interior space,
at least one of the end sections extends to a respective top edge of one of the first side panel and the second side panel.

2. The carton of claim 1 , wherein in the open position the at least a portion of the first side panel and the at least a portion of the second side panel protrude outwardly from a centerline of the interior space and are generally concave relative to the centerline of the interior space.

3. The carton of claim 2 , wherein in the closed position the at least a portion of the first side panel and the at least a portion of the second side panel are curved inwardly and are generally convex relative to the centerline of the interior space.

4. The carton of claim 3 , wherein the at least a portion of the first side panel and the at least a portion of the second side panel converge at the centerline of the interior space.

5. The carton of claim 4 , wherein in the closed position the at least a portion of the first side panel and the at least a portion of the second side panel are in face-to-face contact along the centerline of the interior space.

6. The carton of claim 1 , wherein the at least a portion of the first side panel and the at least a portion of the second side panel are each biased toward the closed position.

7. The carton of claim 1 , wherein each section of each of the plurality of first sections and the plurality of second sections is foldably connected to a respective adjacent section at a fold line.

8. The carton of claim 7 , wherein the fold line is curved.

9. The carton of claim 1 , wherein the side sections of the first side panel are disposed obliquely inwardly relative to the central section of the first side panel in the open position.

10. The carton of claim 9 , wherein the side sections of the second side panel are disposed obliquely inwardly relative to the central section of the second side panel in the open position.

11. The carton of claim 10 , wherein each end section is foldably connected to a respective side section at a curved fold line that is generally concave relative to the respective vertical centerline extending through one of the central section of the first side panel and the central section of the second side panel.

12. The carton of claim 11 , wherein one end section of the plurality of first sections and one end section of the plurality of second sections are foldably connected to form a first end of the carton.

13. The carton of claim 12 , wherein another one end section of the plurality of first sections and another one end section of the plurality of second sections are foldably connected to form a second end of the carton.

14. The carton of claim 13 , wherein the first end and the second end maintain the at least a portion of the first side panel and the at least a portion of the second side panel in the closed position.

15. The carton of claim 10 , wherein the central section of each of the first side panel and the second side panel are foldably connected to respective adjacent side sections at respective fold lines that are generally convex relative to the respective vertical centerline extending through one of the central section of the first side panel and the central section of the second side panel.

16. The carton of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of end flaps is a first plurality of end flaps and the carton further comprises a second plurality of end flaps foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels, the second plurality of panels is overlapped to form a bottom closed end portion of the carton.

17. The carton of claim 16 , wherein in the closed configuration the plurality of first sections and the plurality of second sections extend inwardly from the bottom closed end portion.

18. The carton of claim 16 , wherein the configuration of the bottom closed end portion of the carton maintains the at least a portion of the first side panel and the at least a portion of the second side panel in the open position.

19. The carton of claim 1 , wherein the first top end flap and the second top end flap are disposed in at least partial face-to-face contact to form the top closed end portion.

20. The carton of claim 1 , wherein in the closed position the positioning of the at least a portion of the first side panel and the at least a portion of the second side panel inhibits passage of material between the interior space of the carton and an external environment.

21. A blank for forming carton for holding at least one article, comprising:
a plurality of panels for at least partially defining an interior space of the carton, the plurality of panels comprising a first side panel and a second side panel foldably connected to the first side panel, at least a portion of the first side panel and at least a portion of the second side panel are reconfigurable between an open position allowing access to the interior space and a closed position wherein the access to the interior space is restricted when the carton is formed from the blank, the at least a portion of the first side panel comprises a plurality of first sections and the at least a portion of the second side panel comprises a plurality of second sections, the plurality of first sections comprises a central section located on a vertical centerline of the first side panel, two side sections of the first side panel foldably connected to the central section of the first side panel, and two end sections of the first side panel foldably connected to the r

Assignees

• Graphic Packaging Int Inc
• Graphic Packaging Int Llc

Inventors

• Waddington Paul

Classifications

• B31B2110/10

  having a cross section of varying size or shape, e.g. conical or pyramidal · CPC title

• B65D5/0209

  the tubular body having a curved or partially curved cross-section · CPC title

• B65D5/029

  the tubular body presenting a special shape (pyramidal B65D5/008) · CPC title

• B65D5/541 Primary

  the lines of weakness being provided in one or more closure flaps · CPC title

• B65D5/4266

  Folding lines, score lines, crease lines · CPC title