Tamper evident tuck end containers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11345506-B2
Application number	US-201816615250-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 25, 2018
Priority date	May 31, 2017
Publication date	May 31, 2022
Grant date	May 31, 2022

Abstract

A blank for forming a tamper evident container includes a plurality of panels connected together at fold lines configured for extending at least partially around an interior space, including a first side panel, a top panel, a second side panel and a bottom panel. A bottom flap is foldably connected to an edge of the bottom panel on the first end of the blank. A top flap is foldably connected to an edge of the top panel on the first end of the blank. The bottom flap includes a major flap and a minor flap, the major flap connecting between the bottom panel and the minor flap. The top flap includes a catch point feature and wherein the minor flap includes a trap aperture configured to catch the catch point feature of the top flap when opening a container constructed from the blank to provide a tamper evident access feature.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A blank for forming a tamper evident container comprising: a plurality of panels connected together at fold lines configured for extending at least partially around an interior space, including a first side panel, a top panel, a second side panel and a bottom panel; a bottom flap foldably connected to an edge of the bottom panel on a first end of the blank; and a top flap foldably connected to an edge of the top panel on the first end of the blank, wherein the bottom flap includes a major flap and a minor flap, the major flap connecting between the bottom panel and the minor flap, wherein the top flap includes a catch point feature and wherein the minor flap includes a trap aperture configured to catch the catch point feature of the top flap when opening a container constructed from the blank to provide a tamper evident access feature, wherein each of the major and minor flaps includes a viewing aperture configured to allow viewing of the tamper evident access feature with the container construction from the blank in a closed state prior to a first time opening, wherein the viewing apertures are aligned with one another for viewing the tamper evident access feature through the viewing apertures.

2. The blank as recited in claim 1 , wherein the viewing apertures are the same size and shape and are aligned with one another for viewing tamper evident access feature through the full size and shape of the viewing apertures.

3. The blank as recited in claim 1 , wherein the tamper evident access feature is partially surrounded by a cut line.

4. The blank as recited in claim 1 , wherein the tamper evident access feature is partially surrounded by a void in the top panel and/or a top end flap.

5. The blank as recited in claim 1 , wherein the tamper evident access feature is connected to a main portion of a top end flap only by a pair of frangible bridges configured to break when the catch point feature is trapped by the trap aperture.

6. The blank as recited in claim 1 , wherein the top panel includes a void area defining a lunate portion configured to facilitate opening a container formed from the blank.

7. The blank as recited in claim 1 , wherein a major panel includes a tab configured to form a leading edge for closure of a container formed from the blank.

8. The blank as recited in claim 1 , further comprising: a second bottom flap foldably connected to an edge of the bottom panel on a second end of the blank; and a second top flap foldably connected to an edge of the top panel on the second end of the blank, wherein the second bottom flap includes a major flap and a minor flap, the major flap connecting between the bottom panel and the minor flap, wherein the top flap includes a catch point feature and wherein the minor flap includes a trap aperture configured to catch the catch point feature of the second top flap when opening a container constructed from the blank to provide a tamper evident access feature.

9. The blank as recited in claim 8 , wherein each of the major and minor flaps of the second bottom flap includes a viewing aperture configured to allow viewing of the tamper evident access feature of the second top flap with the container constructed from the blank in a closed state prior to a first time opening.

10. A tamper evident container comprising: a plurality of panels connected together at fold lines and extending at least partially around an interior space, including a first side panel, a top panel, a second side panel and a bottom panel; a bottom flap foldably connected to an edge of the bottom panel on a first end of a blank; and a top flap foldably connected to an edge of the top panel on the first end of the blank, wherein the bottom flap includes a major flap and a minor flap, the major flap connecting between the bottom panel and the minor flap, wherein the top flap includes a catch point feature and wherein the minor flap includes a trap aperture configured to catch the catch point feature of the top flap when opening the container to provide a tamper evident access feature, wherein each of the major and minor flaps includes a viewing aperture configured to allow the viewing of the tamper evident access feature with the container in a closed state prior to a first time opening, and wherein the viewing apertures are aligned with one another for viewing the tamper evident access feature through the viewing apertures.

11. The container as recited in claim 10 , wherein the viewing apertures are the same size and shape and are aligned with one another for viewing the tamper evident access feature through the full size and shape of the viewing apertures.

12. The container as recited in claim 10 , wherein the tamper evident access feature is partially surrounded by a cut line, wherein the tamper evident access feature is partially surrounded by a void in the top panel and/or a top end flap, and wherein the tamper evident access feature is connected to a main portion of the top end flap only by a pair of frangible ridges configured to break when the catch point feature is trapped by the trap aperture.

13. The container as recited in claim 10 , wherein the top panel includes a void area defining a lunate portion configured to facilitate opening a container formed from the blank.

14. The container as recited in claim 10 , wherein a major panel includes a tab that forms a leading edge for closure of the container.

15. The container as recited in claim 10 , further comprising: a second bottom flap foldably connected to an edge of the bottom panel on a second end of the blank; and a second top flap foldably connected to an edge of the top panel on the second end of the blank, wherein the second bottom flap includes a major flap and a minor flap, the major flap connecting between the bottom panel and the minor flap, wherein the second top flap includes a catch point feature and wherein the minor flap includes a trap aperture configured to catch the catch point feature of the second top flap when opening the container to provide a tamper evident access feature.

16. A tamper evident container comprising: a plurality of panels connected together at fold lines and extending at least partially around an interior space, including a first side panel, a top panel, a second side panel and a bottom panel; a bottom flap foldably connected to an edge of the bottom panel on a first end of a blank; and a top flap foldably connected to an edge of the top panel on the first end of the blank, wherein the bottom flap includes a major flap and a minor flap, the major flap connecting between the bottom panel and the minor flap, wherein the top flap includes a catch point feature and wherein the minor flap includes a trap aperture configured to catch the catch point feature of the top flap when opening the container to provide a tamper evident access feature, wherein the major and minor flaps are adhered together with adhesive.

17. A tamper evident container comprising: a plurality of panels connected together at fold lines and extending at least partially around an interior space, including a first side panel, a top panel, a second side panel and a bottom panel; a bottom flap foldably connected to an edge of the bottom panel on a first end of a blank; and a top flap foldably connected to an edge of the top panel on the first end of the blank, wherein the bottom flap includes a major flap and a minor flap, the major flap connecting between the bottom panel and the minor flap, wherein the top flap includes a catch point feature and wherein the minor flap includes a trap aperture configured to catch th

Assignees

• Westrock Mwv Llc

Inventors

• Dixon Rodney D

Classifications

• B65D2401/10

  Tearable part of the container (B65D2401/60 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65D5/10 Primary

  with end closures formed by inward-folding of self-locking flaps hinged to tubular body · CPC title

• B65D5/103

  one of the self-locking flaps having a tongue engaging into an opening of an opposite flap · CPC title

• B65D2401/15

  Tearable part of the closure (B65D2401/60 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65D5/541

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