Tamper evident carton

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11760532-B2
Application number	US-202217587629-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 28, 2022
Priority date	Apr 30, 2020
Publication date	Sep 19, 2023
Grant date	Sep 19, 2023

Abstract

A tamper evident carton. The tamper evident carton may include a floor panel; side panels extending about a periphery of the floor panel; corner gussets extending between adjacent side panels, wherein the bottom panel, side panels, and corner gussets may be configurable to form a compartment region; first and second lid flaps extending from an uppermost edge of their respective side panels forming first and second moveable joints, respectively, therebetween, and the first and second lid flaps may each include an interlocking feature, such that the first and second lid flaps may interlock with one another when in a folded closed configuration; third and fourth lid flaps extending from an uppermost edge of their respective side panels forming third and fourth moveable joints, respectively, therebetween, and the third and fourth lid flaps may each include an interlocking feature, such that the third and fourth lid flaps may interlock with one another when in a folded closed configuration.

First claim

That which is claimed:

1. A tamper evident carton, comprising:
a. a floor panel;
b. side panels extending about a periphery of the floor panel;
c. corner gussets extending between adjacent side panels, wherein the bottom panel, side panels, and corner gussets are configurable to form a compartment region;
d. a first lid flap and a second lid flap opposite that of the first lid flap, wherein the first lid flap extends from an uppermost edge of a first one of the side panels forming a first moveable joint therebetween, and the second lid flap extends from an uppermost edge of a second one of the side panels opposite that of the first side panel forming a second moveable joint therebetween, and wherein the first lid flap and second lid flap comprise a first interlocking feature and a second interlocking feature, respectively, such that the first lid flap and second lid flap are configured to interlock with one another when in a folded closed configuration;
e. a third lid flap and a fourth lid flap opposite that of the third lid flap, wherein the third lid flap extends from an uppermost edge of a third one of the side panels forming a third moveable joint therebetween, and the fourth lid flap extends from an uppermost edge of a fourth one of the side panels opposite that of the third side panel forming a fourth moveable joint therebetween, and wherein the third lid flap and fourth lid flap comprise a third interlocking feature and a fourth interlocking feature, respectively, such that the third lid flap and fourth lid flap are configured to interlock with one another when in a folded closed configuration; and
f. a tear strip disposed in one of the third lid flap or fourth lid flap, and wherein upon removal of the tear strip the third lid flap is releasable from the folded closed configuration without unlocking the third interlocking feature from the fourth interlocking feature.

2. The tamper evident carton of claim 1 , wherein the first interlocking feature of the first lid flap comprises a first locking tab and slot and the second interlocking feature of the second lid flap comprises a corresponding second locking tab and slot, wherein the slot of the first locking tab and the slot of the corresponding second locking tab are configure to engage and interlock with one another to secure the first lid flap and the second lid flap in the folded closed configuration.

3. The tamper evident carton of claim 2 , wherein the third interlocking feature of the third lid flap comprises a locking tab extending from an upper portion of the third lid flap, and wherein the locking tab comprises two folding tabs, one extending perpendicular out from each side of the locking tab.

4. The tamper evident carton of claim 3 , wherein the fourth lid flap comprises a folding portion extending from an uppermost edge of the fourth lid flap forming a fifth moveable joint therebetween, and wherein the folding portion comprises a locking tab slot formed in the fifth moveable joint.

5. The tamper evident carton of claim 4 , wherein the locking tab slot is configured to receive the locking tab with the two folding tabs in a folded position, wherein in the folded position the two folding tabs are folded substantially flat against a surface of the locking tab.

6. The tamper evident carton of claim 5 , wherein the two folding tabs are configured to unfolded to a degree once fully inserted through the locking tab slot.

7. The tamper evident carton of claim 5 , wherein once fully inserted through the locking tab slot the two folding tabs are configured to unfolded to a degree such that the locking tab cannot be removed from the locking tab slot without causing visible damage to at least one of the locking tab, locking tab slot, and/or one or both of the two folding tabs.

8. The tamper evident carton of claim 1 , wherein the tear strip is disposed along a length of an upper portion of the third lid flap and below the third interlocking feature.

9. A method of securing contents in a tamper evident carton, comprising:
a. providing a tamper evident carton, comprising:
i. a floor panel;
ii. side panels extending about a periphery of the floor panel;
iii. corner gussets extending between adjacent side panels, wherein the bottom panel, side panels, and corner gussets are configurable to form a compartment region;
iv. a first lid flap and a second lid flap opposite that of the first lid flap, wherein the first lid flap extends from an uppermost edge of a first one of the side panels forming a first moveable joint therebetween, and the second lid flap extends from an uppermost edge of a second one of the side panels opposite that of the first side panel forming a second moveable joint therebetween, and wherein the first lid flap and second lid flap comprise a first interlocking feature and a second interlocking feature, respectively, such that the first lid flap and second lid flap are configured to interlock with one another when in a folded closed configuration;
v. a third lid flap and a fourth lid flap opposite that of the third lid flap, wherein the third lid flap extends from an uppermost edge of a third one of the side panels forming a third moveable joint therebetween, and the fourth lid flap extends from an uppermost edge of a fourth one of the side panels opposite that of the third side panel forming a fourth moveable joint therebetween, and wherein the third lid flap and fourth lid flap comprise a third interlocking feature and a fourth interlocking feature, respectively, such that the third lid flap and fourth lid flap are configured to interlock with one another when in a folded closed configuration; and
vi. a tear strip disposed in one of the third lid flap or fourth lid flap, and wherein upon removal of the tear strip the third lid flap is releasable from the folded closed configuration without unlocking the third interlocking feature from the fourth interlocking feature;

b. inserting contents into the compartment region;
c. interlocking the first lid flap and the second lid flap together; and
d. interlocking the third lid flap and the fourth lid flap together.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein interlocking the first lid flap and the second lid flap together, comprises folding the first lid flap and the second lid flap together and interlocking the first interlocking feature of the first lid flap with the second interlocking feature of the second lid flap.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first interlocking feature of the first lid flap comprises a first locking tab and slot and the second interlocking feature of the second lid flap comprises a corresponding second locking tab and slot, wherein the slot of the first locking tab and the slot of the corresponding second locking tab are configure to engage and interlock with one another to secure the first lid flap and the second lid flap in the folded closed configuration.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein interlocking the third lid flap and the fourth lid flap together, comprises folding the third lid flap and the fourth lid flap together and interlocking the third interlocking feature of the third lid flap with the fourth interlocking feature of the fourth lid flap.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the third interlocking feature of the third lid flap comprises a locking tab extending from an upper portion of the third lid flap, and wherein the locking tab comprises two folding tabs, one extending perpendicular out from each side of the locking tab.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the fourth lid flap comprises a folding portion extending from an uppermost edge of the fourth lid flap forming a fifth

Assignees

• Inno Pak Llc

Inventors

• Mayer Steven A

Classifications

• B65D5/241 Primary

  and the gussets folds connected to the inside of the container body (B65D5/247 and B65D5/248 take precedence) · CPC title

• B65D5/5455 Primary

  the lines of weakness being provided in a closure hinged to an edge of the container body · CPC title

• B65D5/2061

  of triangular shape · CPC title

• B65D5/208

  of triangular shape · CPC title

• B65D5/545

  for opening containers formed by erecting a "cross-like" blank · CPC title