Packaging and blanks therefor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10894646-B2
Application number	US-201816158369-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 12, 2018
Priority date	Oct 12, 2018
Publication date	Jan 19, 2021
Grant date	Jan 19, 2021

Abstract

A blank for a package configured to retain an article therein can be configured to be wrapped around the article to form a circumferential case around the article and have a longitudinal length longer than the article. The blank can be configured to define the circumferential case to include one or more inward protrusions at or near one or more ends of the circumferential case that is configured to extend into the circumferential case above and/or below the article to retain the article longitudinally.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A blank for a package configured to retain an article therein, the blank configured to be wrapped around the article to form a circumferential case around the article having a longitudinal length longer than the article, wherein the blank is configured to define the circumferential case to include one or more inward protrusions at or near one or more ends of the circumferential case that is configured to extend into the circumferential case above and/or below the article to retain the article longitudinally;
wherein the blank further comprises:
an inner flap, comprising:
a plurality of inner flap hinges, wherein the plurality of inner flap hinges define a first inner panel and a second panel of the inner flap, wherein the first inner panel and second inner panel include one or more common cuts defined at last partially through each of the first inner panel and the second inner panel, and a plurality of secondary hinges defined in the first inner panel and the second inner panel from an edge of the inner flap to a respective common cut to define at least one push-in subpanel configured to form one or more of the one or more inward protrusions; and

an outer flap, comprising:
a plurality of outer flap hinges, wherein the plurality of outer flap hinges define a first outer panel and a second outer panel, wherein the first outer panel and the second outer panel define one or more apertures from or near an edge of the outer flap to provide a user access to each push-in subpanel when formed around the article to allow a user to selectively form the one or more inward protrusions;

wherein the plurality of inner flap hinges define a third inner panel and a fourth inner panel of the inner flap, wherein the third inner panel and the fourth inner panel include one or more common cuts defined at last partially through each of the third inner panel and the fourth inner panel, and a plurality of secondary hinges defined in the third inner panel and the fourth inner panel from an edge of the inner flap to a respective common cut to define at least one additional push-in subpanel configured to form one or more of the one or more inward protrusions;
wherein the first, second, third, and fourth inner panels include two common cuts total on opposite sides of the inner flap configured to form at least one of the inner protrusions at each end of the circumferential case to retain the article between both ends of the circumferential case;
wherein the plurality of inner flap hinges define a fifth inner panel between the first, second, third, and fourth inner panels.

2. The blank of claim 1 , wherein the blank is configured to form the circumferential case to have a polygonal tube shape having a polygonal cross-sectional shape.

3. The blank of claim 1 , wherein the blank is configured to form the circumferential case to include one or more of the inward protrusions at or near both ends of the circumferential case to retain the article between both ends of the circumferential case.

4. The blank of claim 1 , wherein the blank is configured to form at least one latch and a receiver for each latch to latch the circumferential case around the article.

5. The blank of claim 1 , wherein the third panel includes a receiver defined therein and configured to receive a latch tab of the blank.

6. The blank of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of outer flap hinges define a third outer panel and a fourth outer panel, wherein the third outer panel and the fourth outer panel define one or more additional apertures from or near an edge of the outer flap to provide a user access to the one or more additional push-in subpanel when formed around the article to allow a user to selectively form the one or more inward protrusions.

7. The blank of claim 5 , wherein the first, second, third, and fourth outer panels include at least two apertures total on opposite sides of the outer flap to provide access to one or more subpanels to allow a user to selectively form at least one inward protrusion at each end of the circumferential casing.

8. The blank of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of outer flap hinges define a fifth outer panel between the first, second, third, and fourth outer panels.

9. The blank of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of outer flap hinges define a sixth outer panel and a seventh outer panel extending from opposite lateral ends of the outer flap, wherein the sixth outer panel includes the latch tab extending therefrom, wherein the seventh outer panel includes a latch cut defined between the seventh outer panel and an adjacent panel and configured to allow the latch tab to be inserted through the latch cut to enter the receiver of the inner flap.

10. The blank of claim 9 , wherein the fifth inner panel is connected to the fifth outer panel at a flap hinge such that the inner flap can be folded over to mate with the outer flap.

11. The blank of claim 9 , wherein the inner flap is adhered to the outer flap such that at least one panel of the inner flap is attached to at least one panel of the outer flap.

12. The blank of claim 11 , wherein the inner flap is adhered to the outer flap such that each push-in subpanel is accessible through an aperture of the outer flap.

13. The blank of claim 1 , wherein the blank includes a single flap having a plurality of hinges that define a plurality of panels, and at least one structure panel having a first attachment tab configured to attach to at least one of the plurality of panels when the structure panel is folded over at an adjacent hinge of the plurality of hinges, the at least one structure panel including one or more inward protrusion panels defined by one or more cut therein and configured to form at least one of the one or more inward protrusions across the circumferential case when the attachment tab is attached to the at least one panel of the plurality of panels and the single flap is wrapped around the article to automatically retain the article longitudinally upon forming of the circumferential case.

14. The blank of claim 13 , wherein the blank defines a first structure panel and a second structure panel.

15. The blank of claim 14 , wherein each of the first and second structure panel include at least two cuts total, at least one on each longitudinal side of the single flap to form at least one inner protrusion panel on each longitudinal end of the circumferential case.

16. The blank of claim 15 , wherein the first structure panel includes a plurality of midsection panels defined between two inward protrusion panels, and the second structure defines a latch tab of the structure panel between two inward protrusion panels, wherein a cut receiver is defined in a hinge adjacent to the first structure panel for the latch tab to be inserted therethrough and retained thereby.

Assignees

• Westrock Shared Services Llc

Inventors

• Simpkins Kevin M

Classifications

• B65D5/0245

  with end closures formed by inward folding of flaps, to form a sunken or hollow end wall, e.g. for the packaging of books (internal supporting elements B65D5/50) · CPC title

• B65D5/029 Primary

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

• B65D85/20

  for incompressible or rigid rod-shaped or tubular articles · CPC title

• B65D5/0281

  the tubular body presenting double or multiple walls (for thermal insulating purposes B65D81/3853) · CPC title

• B65D5/5004

  formed as an extension of the end closures (hollow or recessed end closures B65D5/0245) · CPC title