This invention relates generally to blanks and their resulting containers and more specifically to blanks and containers having viewing windows and stacking tabs.
The invention is best understood from the following detailed description when read in connection with accompanying drawings. It is emphasized that, according to common practice, various features of the drawings are not to scale. On the contrary, the dimensions of various features are arbitrarily expanded or reduced for clarity. Included in these drawings are the following figures:
The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention is directed to a blank 20 and container 50 that utilizes a unique tab-in window arrangement to provide stacking stability. One suitable embodiment of the blank 20 and container 50 are constructed in accordance with aspects of the present invention as illustrated in
The blank 20 is cut and scored, perforated or otherwise formed into a plurality of panels that, when assembled, form container 50. In all FIGURES, like numbers indicate like parts; additionally, cut lines are shown as solid lines, score lines as dashed lines, and lines of perforation as broken lines. For the purposes of further description herein, the downward direction is defined as a direction perpendicular to the first bottom panel 26 when the container 50 has been erected. The upwards direction is defined as the direction perpendicular to the first bottom panel 26 that corresponds to the inner surface of the bottom panel when the container 50 has been erected.
Referring to
Attached to the first side panel 22 along a fold line 25 is a first bottom panel 26. Additionally, attached to the first side panel 22 along a fold line 23, opposite fold line 25, is a first top panel 30. It will be understood that the overall shape of the respective first bottom panels 26 and first top panels 30 will be dictated via the selected geometric shape of their respective first side panel 22 and second side panel 24. Still further, attached to one of the first side panels 22 along a fold line 27 is a manufacturer's joint panel 36 that is attached to one of the first side panels. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the manufacture's joint panel 36 may be of any suitable size, shape, or configuration so long as it provides an adequate base for locking the first side panels 22 and second side panels 24 in an erect arrangement with the container 50 is formed.
The second side panel 24 includes a second top panel 32 attached thereto along a fold line 31. In overall shape, the second top panel is generally an inverted T-shape. The overall length of the second top panel measured at and along fold line 31 is substantially the same as the length of the second side panel 24 measured at and along the same fold line 31. However, as you move in a direction away from fold line 31, the second side panel 32 narrows substantially symmetrically along both sides such that the second top panel has a length distal from fold line 31 that is substantially less than the length of the second top panel 32 at fold line 31.
The second side panel 24 includes a second bottom panel 28 attached thereto along a fold line 29, opposite fold line 31. As with the first bottom panel 26 discussed above, the second bottom panel's overall geometry is a function of the size and geometry of the second side panel 24. It will be appreciated that the overall size and shape of both the first bottom panel 26 and the second bottom panels 28 will be such that when the container 50 is erected, the respective bottom panels will substantially close off the entire bottom portion of the container 50.
Formed in the first side panel 22 and first top panel 30 is a punch-out window panel 34 that is defined by a perforation line 37. As depicted in the figures, the punch-out window panel 34 is substantially rectangular in shape. However, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art may change the overall shape and geometry of the punch-out window panel 34 depending upon a variety of factors such as, without limitation, the overall size and shape of the container 50 as well as the product that is being contained therein.
The first bottom panel 26 and the second bottom panel 28 include stacking tab structure. Specifically, in the embodiment disclosed in
The first top panels 30 and second top panels 32 are configured such that the relative panels interact to allow them to substantially close the top portion of the container 50 once it is erected. Specifically, as mentioned above, the second top panel 32 includes profiles that are formed along the outer periphery to form a substantially centrally located column extending away from the second side panel—the previously mentioned inverted T-shape. Additionally, the first top panel 30 includes the punch-out window panel 34. The punch-out window panel 34 is configured such that when it is removed it leaves the first top panel 30 as a substantially U-shaped member. The outer portion of the U-shaped member of the first top panel 30 is configured to cooperate with the substantially centrally located protrusion on the second top panel 32 such that the respective panels provide support to one another as the container 50 is erected and the top panels are closed. It will be appreciated that once the punch-out window panel 34 is removed, the design of the various top panels will still provide strength to the container 50 while permitting viewing of the products (not shown) placed in the container 50. It will be further appreciated that the punch-out window panel 34, may be completely removed, or cut out of the blank 20 when the blank 20 is formed.
With respect to
With respect to
After the manufacturer's joint panel 36 is suitably attached to the respective second side panel 24, the various second bottom panels 28 and first bottom panel 26 may be folded in along fold lines 29 and 25, respectively. Additionally, as best seen in
With respect to
While various embodiments of the invention have 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 is not limited by the disclosure of such embodiments. Instead, the invention should be determined entirely by reference to the claims that follow.
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3780934 | Gardner | Dec 1973 | A |
4000811 | Hardison et al. | Jan 1977 | A |
4318474 | Hasegawa | Mar 1982 | A |
4709852 | Stoll | Dec 1987 | A |
4946042 | Ferreri et al. | Aug 1990 | A |
5139196 | Fry et al. | Aug 1992 | A |
5318220 | Gagliardo | Jun 1994 | A |
5662508 | Smith | Sep 1997 | A |
6234385 | Espinoza et al. | May 2001 | B1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20070228132 A1 | Oct 2007 | US |