This invention relates generally to containers and, more specifically, to multi-product containers and container blanks.
Multi-product containers are typically used to ship or contain related products. For example, in the food industry, the various products may be pieces of chicken or other meats combined with containers for sauce or other seasoning material. Containers of this style typically have one container region for a first product and another container region for a second product.
There are several problems with the current designs. Initially, the current designs are overly complex to manufacture, are not structurally sound, or both. Also, the current designs typically are not leak or sift proof and therefore are limited in application. Finally, the current designs typically do not have top panels that cover all of the regions containing product. As such, the current design applications are limited by the container's failure to provide a sanitary barrier over all of the products within the container.
The present invention is directed to a multi-product container and container blank. In accordance with the present invention, a single sheet of foldable material is cut and scored to define a container blank that may be shipped to a point of use in a flattened condition and erected into usable condition at the point of use without requiring adhesive or other separate fasteners. The blank includes a bottom panel, a front panel, a back panel, opposed side panels terminating in outer free edges, and a plurality of corner gusset panels. Also, a top panel is attached to the back panel opposite said bottom panel. A fold over cup panel is attached to the front panel opposite the bottom panel. The cup panel does not include additional panels or tabs opposite the front panel. An optional cup receptacle is formed in the cup panel. As formed, the front panel, back panel, opposed side panels and plurality of corner panels are hingedly attached to said bottom panel via unperforated score lines.
The present invention further includes a container that is held in erected condition without the use of adhesives or other separate fasteners. The container comprises a bottom panel with opposed front and back panels, opposed side panels terminating in free upper edges, and corner gusset panels connected between adjacent ends of the side panels and respective front and back panels. A top panel is attached to said back panel opposite said bottom panel and has a top tab on its free edge. A fold over cup panel is attached to the front panel opposite the bottom panel and a locking slot is formed at the folded connection of the cup panel with the front panel. As formed, the cup panel lies in a plane substantially parallel to the top panel and bottom panel, and the top panel overlies the cup panel and is supported on the free upper edges of the side panels, with the top tab engaged in the locking slot.
More specifically, a container blank according to the invention that can be quickly and easily set up without requiring use of separate fastening means to make a sift-resistant and leak-resistant container for transporting products, comprises a one-piece sheet of foldable material cut and scored to define a bottom panel having opposite side edges defined by first and second spaced apart parallel fold creases extending transversely across the sheet of material. Opposite end edges of the bottom panel are defined by third and fourth spaced apart parallel fold creases extending perpendicular to the first and second fold creases and intersecting the first and second fold creases at locations inset from adjacent edges of said blank. The distance between the third and fourth fold creases defines a length dimension of the bottom panel. First and second side panels are foldably joined to opposite ends of the bottom panel along the third and fourth fold creases, respectively, and front and back panels are foldably joined to opposite side edges of the back panel along the first and second fold creases, respectively. The front and back panels have a length dimension greater than the length dimension of the bottom panel. Corner panels are integrally foldably connected between adjacent ends of the side panels and the front and back panels, said corner panels being joined to respective adjacent ends of the side panels along fold creases extending collinearly with the first and second fold creases, and joined to respective adjacent ends of the front and back panels along fold creases extending diagonally outwardly from the intersections of the first and second fold creases with the third and fourth fold creases to an adjacent end edge of a respective front and back panel. A top panel is foldably connected to an edge of the back panel opposite the edge connected with the bottom panel, and the top panel has a length dimension the same as the length dimension of the front and back panels but greater than the length dimension of the bottom panel, whereby in a container erected from the blank the top panel covers the container and rests on and is supported by the side panels.
Various embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings.
The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention is directed to a multi-product type container that utilizes a fold over cup panel with optional cup receptacles and a fully coving top panel. One suitable embodiment of a multi-product type container 50 constructed in accordance with aspects of the present invention is illustrated in
Referring now to
With reference to
A unique aspect of the present invention is the nature of the attachment of the various side panels 24, back panel 28, and front panel 34 and corner panels 44 to the bottom panel 22. Fold lines 41, 43, 45 corner fold lines 39 are score lines, and not lines of perforation or cut lines. The fold lines 41, 43, 45 and corner fold lines 39 do not have any open passage way between the relative panels. In this fashion, the container 50 is sift and leak proof when formed. By sift proof it is meant that the container 50 does not allow granular element to pass though the bottom panel 22 and surrounding panels. By leak proof it is meant, that the container 50 does not allow a liquid element to pass though the bottom panel 22 and surrounding panels.
A fold over cup panel 36 is attached to the front panel 34, opposite the bottom panel 22.
The cup panel 36 may be a solid panel; however, the cup panel 36 optionally includes at least one cup receptacle 40 formed therethrough. In an embodiment, the cup receptacle 40 includes a “starfish” or other shaped cut elements configured to allow the insertion of a container (not shown) into the cup receptacle 40. The relative size and geometry of the cup receptacle(s) 40 is variable and will be dependent upon the size and geometry of the item to be place in the cup receptacle 40. Positioned between the front panel 38 and the cup panel 36 is a locking slot 31. The locking slot 31 is sized to accommodate the top tab 32 and is bounded by co-axial fold lines 33.
The fold over cup panel 36 is folded inwardly such that the cup panel 36 is substantially parallel to the bottom panel 22. As can be seen from the FIGURES, the length of the cup panel 36 measured in a direction parallel to fold line 43, is greater than the distance between the respect fold lines 45, measured along the same line. As such, the cup panel 36 rests upon the top of side panels 24, and front panel 34. In this manner, the cup panel 36 provides a stable platform for products placed within the cup receptacles 40 without significantly reducing the overall container volume.
As best seen in
The top panel 30 is configured to completely cover the entire rest of the container 50. In this manner, the top panel 30 serves as a sanitary barrier for products contained within the container (not shown). Further, the top panel 30 serves to secure any objects placed with the cup receptacles (not shown).
The present invention may be used in a variety of manners. By way of non-limiting example, the container 50 may be used in the food industry. In an application items such as chicken wings or nuggets, dipping breads, French fries, or onion rings may be placed in the container 50, while sauce containers (not shown) may be stored in the cups 40. By way of further non-limiting example, the present invention is suitable for use in the arts and crafts industry. In this manner, brushes or figurines (not shown) or the like may be held in the container 50 while, paints (not shown) or other such items are supported in the cups 40. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention is suitable for many other uses as well.
Any variety of additional elements may be included, such as, without limitation, vents, specialized liners or grease barriers, etc., without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Similarly, rounding or otherwise trimming the various panels is considered within the scope of the instant invention.
While various embodiments of the invention has been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined entirely by reference to the claims that follow.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
1448864 | Pinkerton | Mar 1923 | A |
3642125 | Johnson | Feb 1972 | A |
4757937 | Maio et al. | Jul 1988 | A |
5183201 | Gulliver | Feb 1993 | A |
5205474 | Stuart et al. | Apr 1993 | A |
5265796 | Gulliver et al. | Nov 1993 | A |
5297726 | Detzel | Mar 1994 | A |
5337951 | Roccaforte | Aug 1994 | A |
5788081 | Bates | Aug 1998 | A |
6568586 | VanEsley et al. | May 2003 | B1 |
6676010 | Roseth et al. | Jan 2004 | B1 |
7004314 | Pucillo et al. | Feb 2006 | B2 |
7264123 | Reed | Sep 2007 | B2 |
20040200891 | Correll | Oct 2004 | A1 |
20040222109 | Pucillo et al. | Nov 2004 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20070074993 A1 | Apr 2007 | US |