Blanks and methods for forming containers having stacking platforms

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9566756-B2
Application number	US-201414543601-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 17, 2014
Priority date	Nov 17, 2014
Publication date	Feb 14, 2017
Grant date	Feb 14, 2017

Abstract

A blank of sheet material for forming a container includes a plurality of side panels and a glue panel coupled together in series along a plurality of generally parallel fold lines. At least one of the generally parallel fold lines has an increased stiffness. The blank also includes a plurality of bottom panels. At least one of the bottom panels includes at least one bottom corner portion that extends adjacent to and beneath a free bottom edge of a corresponding one of the corner panels and the glue panel. The blank further includes a plurality of top panels. At least one of the top panels includes at least one top corner portion that extends adjacent to and above a free top edge of a corresponding one of the corner panels and the glue panel.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A blank of sheet material for forming a container, the blank comprising:
a plurality of side panels and a glue panel coupled together in series along generally parallel fold lines comprising a first fold line and a plurality of additional fold lines,
the plurality of side panels includes a plurality of corner panels,
wherein at least the first fold line has an increased stiffness as compared to the additional fold lines;
a plurality of bottom panels, each bottom panel extends from a bottom edge of a corresponding one of the plurality of side panels, at least one of the plurality of bottom panels includes at least one bottom corner portion that extends adjacent to and beneath a free bottom edge of a corresponding one of the corner panels; and
a plurality of top panels, each top panel extends from a top edge of a corresponding one of the plurality of side panels, at least one of the plurality of top panels includes at least one top corner portion that extends adjacent to and above a free top edge of a corresponding one of the corner panels.

2. The blank of sheet material in accordance with claim 1 , wherein each at least one top corner portion is configured to extend beyond a boundary defined by a plurality of sidewalls of the container to at least partially form a top stacking platform when the container is erected.

3. The blank of sheet material in accordance with claim 1 , wherein each at least one bottom corner portion is configured to extend beyond a boundary defined by a plurality of sidewalls of the container to at least partially form a bottom stacking platform when the container is erected.

4. The blank of sheet material in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the blank is rotatable about two of the additional fold lines to form a knocked-down-flat container, wherein the first fold line is other than the two additional fold lines.

5. The blank of sheet material in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the first fold line is preformed.

6. The blank of sheet material in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the first fold line is a perforation line, and each of the additional fold lines is a folding score.

7. The blank of sheet material in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the plurality of bottom panels further includes a bottom locking mechanism.

8. The blank of sheet material in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the plurality of top panels further includes a top locking mechanism.

9. The blank of sheet material in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the plurality of bottom panels includes four bottom panels, and the at least one bottom corner portion includes a first bottom corner portion and a second bottom corner portion of each of the four bottom panels.

10. The blank of sheet material in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the plurality of top panels includes four top panels, and the at least one top corner portion includes a first top corner portion and a second top corner portion of each of the four top panels.

11. The blank of sheet material in accordance with claim 1 , wherein at least two of the plurality of top panels are coupled together across a line of weakness.

12. The blank of sheet material in accordance with claim 11 , wherein the line of weakness is defined by at least one tab integrally formed across a segmented cut line.

13. The blank of sheet material in accordance with claim 11 , wherein one of the at least two of the plurality of top panels includes a fold line generally parallel to, and extending from, one of the plurality of additional fold lines.

14. A container formed from a blank of sheet material, wherein the blank includes a plurality of side panels and a glue panel coupled together in series along generally parallel fold lines comprising a first fold line and a plurality of additional fold lines, wherein at least the first fold line has an increased stiffness as compared to the additional fold lines, the container comprising:
a plurality of side walls that includes a plurality of corner walls, the plurality of side walls cooperate to define a boundary of the container;
a bottom wall that includes at least one bottom corner platform portion, each at least one bottom corner platform portion is disposed proximate a bottom edge of a respective one of the corner walls, each at least one bottom corner platform portion extends outside the boundary; and
a top wall that includes at least one top corner platform portion, each at least one top corner platform portion is disposed proximate a top edge of a respective one of the corner walls, each at least one top corner platform portion extends outside the boundary.

15. The container in accordance with claim 14 , wherein the bottom wall comprises a plurality of bottom panels of the blank coupled together by a bottom locking mechanism.

16. The container in accordance with claim 14 , wherein the top wall comprises a plurality of top panels of the blank coupled together by a top locking mechanism.

17. The container in accordance with claim 14 , wherein the at least one bottom corner platform portion includes four bottom corner platform portions, each of the four bottom corner platform portions is disposed proximate a bottom edge of a respective one of the plurality of corner walls.

18. The container in accordance with claim 14 , wherein the at least one top corner platform portion includes four top corner platform portions, each of the four top corner platform portions is disposed proximate a top edge of a respective one of the plurality of corner walls.

19. The container in accordance with claim 14 , wherein the plurality of side walls further includes a pair of opposing end walls, the container further comprising a pair of reinforcing end structures each formed from a reinforcing blank, each reinforcing end structure is positioned adjacent a respective one of the opposing end walls.

20. The container in accordance with claim 19 , wherein at least one of the reinforcing end structures is not secured to the respective one of the opposing end walls.

21. A method for forming a container from a blank of sheet material, wherein the blank includes a plurality of side panels and a glue panel coupled together in series along generally parallel fold lines comprising a first fold line and a plurality of additional fold lines, at least the first fold line has an increased stiffness as compared to the additional fold lines, the method comprising:
rotating the plurality of side panels about the generally parallel fold lines to form a plurality of side walls of the container, wherein the plurality of side walls includes a plurality of corner walls, the plurality of side walls cooperate to define a boundary of the container;
rotating a plurality of bottom panels of the blank to be substantially perpendicular to the plurality of side walls to form a bottom wall of the container, such that the bottom wall includes at least one bottom corner platform portion, each at least one bottom corner platform portion is disposed proximate a bottom edge of a respective one of the corner walls, each at least one bottom corner platform portion extends outside the boundary; and
rotating a plurality of top panels of the blank to be substantially perpendicular to the plurality of side walls to form a top wall of the container, such that the top wall includes at least one top corner platform portion, each at least one top corner platform portion is disposed proximate a top edge of a respective one of the corner walls, each at least one top corner platform

Assignees

• Westrock Shared Services Llc

Inventors

• Brundage David Joe

Classifications

• B31B50/52

  by reciprocating or oscillating members, e.g. fingers (by plungers moving through folding dies B31B50/44) · CPC title

• B31B2110/35

  rectangular, e.g. square · CPC title

• B31B50/624

  Applying glue on blanks · CPC title

• B65D5/106

  the opening being a slot · CPC title

• B31B50/60

  Uniting opposed surfaces or edges; Taping · CPC title