US3394867A

US3394867A - Prewrapped flat-folded carton

Info

Publication number: US3394867A
Application number: US685070A
Authority: US
Inventors: William D Gregg
Original assignee: William D. Gregg
Current assignee: WILLIAM D GREGG
Priority date: 1967-11-22
Filing date: 1967-11-22
Publication date: 1968-07-30
Anticipated expiration: 1985-07-30

Description

July 30, 1968 w. D. GREGG PREWRAPPED FLAT-FOLDED CARTON 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 22, 1967 INVENTOR. WILLIHM D. B12555 BY ATTOPNEV July 30, 1968 w. D. GREGG PREWRAPPED FLAT-FOLDED CARTON 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed NOV. 22, 1967 m T N w m QQIILLIFIM D. E2555 ATTORNEY y 0, 1968 w. D. GREGG 3,394,867

PREWRAPPED FLAT-FOLDED CARTON Filed NOV- 22, 1967' 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. WILLIHM D. BREEZE;

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,394,867 PREWRAPPED FLAT-FOLDED CARTON William D. Gregg, 49 E. Ivy Lane, Cherry Hill, NJ. 08034 Filed Nov. 22, 1967, Ser. No. 685,070 9 Claims. (Cl. 229-37) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A two-corner glued carton has a sheet of decorative wrapping paper applied to it. The edges of the wrapping are protected by the folded carton in the flat-folded storage condition. The carton and wrapping are formed to provide a sturdy carton and a neatly folded and sealed wrapping upon erection and closure of the carton.

This invention relates to fiat-folded cartons and particularly to a carton that has a wrapping preattached to it so that the carton can be erected, filled and wrapped quickly.

Pre-wrapped cartons are especially useful in department stores and the like. A clerk in a department store and the like must often spend substantial time periods engaged in such wrapping of gift packages, especially in holiday periods, U.S. Patent No. 2,479,456 describe a pro-wrapped foldable carton.

It is among the objects of this invention to provide a new and improved flat-folded carton having a preattached wrapping.

Another object is to provide a new and improved prewrapped carton in which the fragile edges of the wrapping are protected in the fiat-folded storage condition.

Another object is to provide a new and improved prewrapped flat-folded carton, which is readily and conveniently erected, filled with merchandise, and closed and sealed in a neat, gift-wrapped package.

Another object is to provide a new and improved prewrapped flat-folded carton that is suitable for gift-wrapped packages.

In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, a generally rectangular foldable carton blank is formed with a front panel, bottom wall, hinge panel, top wall, and top panel, which are integrally joined by fold lines in that order. Side flaps are provided for the bottom and top walls, and side ears for the hinge and top panel. A two-corner glued and folded bottom section is formed by ears connecting the sides of the front panel and the flaps of the bottom wall. A rectangular wrapping sheet is attached at its ends to the bottom wall and the top panel, and extends loosely therebetween to cover the top and bottom walls and the top and hinge panels. The wrapping sheet has a width greater than that of the walls, and its edges terminate within the top-wall flaps and the hinge and top-panel ears. In the storage condition of the cartons, they are folded flat at the intermediate fold line between the hinge panel and the top wall. Thereby, the edges of the wrapping sheet are protected by the overlapping carton sections from bruises and tearing during handling. Upon erection of the folded bottom section, it may be readily filled with merchandise and the top section folded over for closure of the-box with the top-wall flaps inserted within the bottom flaps and the top panel over-lapping the front panel. The cars of the hinge and top panels guide the folding of the wrapping at each end of the closed carton and form two neat wrapping folds, which, in turn, form two additional transverse wrapping folds that are closed and sealed to complete the package. Overlapping sections of these ears and the bottom-wall flaps are provided with suitable adhesive that is self-adhering to seal the ends of the carton. Similarly, the wrapping folds are also provided with adhesive to complete the sealing. The wrapping sheet has a portion extending outwardly from the top panel, which overlaps the bottom-wall wrapping upon closure of the box. This outwardly extending section carries an adhesive for sealing that edge of the wrapping.

The foregoing and other objects of this invention, the features thereof, as well as the invention itself, may be more fully understood from the following description when read together with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a carton blank partly in section with attached wrapping sheet embodying this invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a pre-wrapped folded carton with parts in section formed from the blank of FIG. 1 and assembled with the bottom section assembled in two glued and folded corners;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the assembled carton of FIG. 2, illustrated in the flat-folded storage condition;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the carton of FIG. 2, illustrated in the erected condition with the lid partly closed;

FIG. 5 is a perspective fragmentary view of the top and sides of the carton of FIG. 2 in the erected condition with the lid closed;

FIG. 6 is a perspective fragmentary view similar to that of FIG. 5 and illustrating the folding of an end of the carton;

FIG. 7 is a perspective fragmentary view of the bottom and sides of the erected and sealed carton of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the erected carton of FIG. 2 with part of the wrapping torn away and the top section opened.

In the drawing, corrresponding parts are referenced throughout by similar numerals.

In FIG. 1, there is shown a carton blank 10 made of relatively stiff foldablc material such as paperboard or the like. Overlying the blank 10 is a rectangular sheet of relatively flaccid wrapping paper, such as the wrappings customarily used for gift packages and the like. The blank 10 is formed from a generally rectangular sheet and is cut and scored to form a front panel 14, a bottom wall 16, a hinge panel 18, a top wall 20, and a top panel 22;

fold lines

15, 17, 19 and 21, respectively, are formed between these successive sections. On each side of the bottom section 16 is a pair .of generally

rectangular side flaps

24 and 25, and hinged to the latter flaps, adjacent to the front panel 14, are two

ears

26 and 27, respectively. A pair of

side flaps

28 and 29 are hinged to the top wall 20, a pair of

side ears

30 and 31 hinged to the hinge panel 18, and a pair of

side ears

32 and 33 hinged to the sides of the A top panel 22.

The blank 10 is of generally rectangular form, and the sections thereof are formed by side fold lines 40 and 41 so that the top and

bottom walls

16 and 20 are of generally the same dimension, as are the

panels

14, 18 and 22. The

flaps

28 and 29 have curved ends 34 that are cut back to permit ease of insertion in the assembled carton; in other respects the lateral width of the

flaps

24, 25, 28, 29 and the

ears

30, 31, 32 and 33 are the same. The rectangular wrapping sheet 12 has a width sufiiciently great to overlap the side flaps and ears, but not to extend beyond those parts, so that the relatively fragile edges of the sheet 12 are protected against injury by the flaps and the ears. It has been found that the wrapping sheet dimensions are best chosen to terminate within the flaps and ears, as illustrated in FIG. 1, which arrangement protects the edges of the wrapping and affords a neatly wrapped package upon folding of the paper as described hereinbelow. One end of the sheet 12 is glued to the top wall 16 along the fold line 15 between that wall 16 and the front panel 14. A narrow glue area 38 at the fold line 15 and the edge of sheet 12 extends between the flap fold lines 40 and 41; the portions of the sheet 12 that overlap the

flaps

24 and 25 are left unglued. The wrapping 12 is left unglued over the remainder of the bottom wall 16, the hinge panel 18, the top wall 20, and a portion of the top panel 22. At the outer edge 42 of the top panel 22, the sheet 12 is secured thereto by the glue area 44, which extends over the entire panel 22 between the fold lines 40 and 41. As indicated in the cut-away section in the lower left corner of FIG. 1, an end section 46 of the wrapping sheet 12 is folded back around the front panel 22 and parts of the associated

ears

32 and 33; this end section 46 is not glued to the top panel 22.

The two outer side corners of front panel 14 are scored on the

respective fold lines

48 and 49 to form triangular sections that receive an application of glue 50 on the reverse face thereof as viewed in FIG. 1. Glued corners for the bottom section of the carton are formed, as indicated in FIG. 2, by folding in the front panel 14, folding back the glued panel corners at the

lines

48 and 49, folding the

cars

26 and 27 back onto the

side flaps

24 and 25, and folding those flaps inward so that the

ears

26 and 27 overlap the

corners

48 and 49. The overlapping triangular areas 52 of

cars

26 and 27 also have glue applied thereto for fastening to the glued areas 50 on the

corners

48 and 49. Thereby a two-corner glued bottom section of the carton is formed.

For the purpose of fastening the ears 30-33 to the

flaps

24 and 25 upon erection of the folded box, selfadhering adhesive, such as that of the latex type, is applied to corresponding portions of these ears and flaps. As viewed in FIG. 2, the

cars

30 and 31 receive adhesive in the

areas

54 and 55, which overlap respectively with the

adhesive areas

56 and 57 on the

bottom side flaps

24 and 25, respectively; and the areas 58 and 59 of

ears

30 and 32 overlap the corresponding areas 60 and 61 on these

side flaps

24 and 25. The wrapping sheet 12 carries similar areas of self-adhesive 62 and 63 on the outer face thereof and in corresponding locations of those

sections

64 and 65 of the sheet that overlap the

bottom side flaps

24 and 25. On the inside face of the sheet 12, on those

sections

66 and 67 that overlap the

top side fiaps

28 and 29, are correspondingly located

areas

68 and 69 of self-adhesive. A gummed adhesive strip 70 is applied to the inside face of the overlap section 46 of the wrapping; the strip 70 has a substantial length to provide a good closure of the overlap section, as described below, and is provided with a cover tape to protect the gum adhesive in storage, which tape is removed for sealing the section 46 of the wrapping.

Various decorations may be attached to the outer face of the wrapping sheet 12, and a strip of ribbon 71 is shown extending loosely from the fold line 15 to the outer edge 42 of top panel 22 and attached by glue or the like to the wrapping sheet at each end. The top wall 20 is perforated along the fold lines 40 and 41 connecting it to the side flaps 28 and 29, as indicated by the dot-dash lines 72 and 73. Another perforated line 74 extends transversely between perforations 72 and 73 and across the central portion of top wall 20. A finger tab 76 is cut into the central portion of top wall 20 between two portions of perforated line 74. As explained below, tab 76 is used to open the closed and sealed carton, that is, to tear open top wall 20 along the perforated line 74, and thereafter along lines 72 and 73, after the wrapping has been torn from the carton.

FIG. 3 illustrates the pre-wrapped carton in its fiatfolded condition for storage. The folded carton, as viewed in FIG. 2, is folded again along fold line 19 between the hinge panel 18 and the top wall 20, to place the unit in its storage condition. The fold line 19 is the medial line between the

edges

15 and 42, since the hinge and

top panels

18 and 22 have the same width as do the bottom and

top walls

16 and 20. Accordingly, in the storage condition shown in FIG. 3, the

edges

15 and 42 substantially coincide. Thus, in this condition, all of the relatively fragile side edges of the wrapping 12 terminate within and are protected by the

flaps

28 and 29 and

cars

32 and 33 of the top half of the folded-down carton. At the bottom section of the carton, the wrapping

portions

64 and 65 that are not covered by the folded-in flaps24 and 25 are similarly protected by the

flaps

28 and 29 and

cars

32 and 33 which overlie those portions of the wrapping. In the storage condition, the carton has a rectangular form without projections, so that, for storage and shipment, a plurality of such folded cartons of FIG. 3 may be stacked in a box or other suitable container, and the stiff paperboard protects the wrapping. Similarly, in use in a department store or the like, the folded carton of FIG. 3 is a neat unit and the wrapping is also protected during handling.

When a carton is to be used, it may be placed on a table in the position illustrated in FIG. 3, and the top half folded back to the position illustrated in FIG. 2 (as viewed from the right side of the drawing). The tape covering the gummed adhesive strip 70' is removed, and the bottom section opened up by erecting the front panel 14 and the corners at each end. The merchandise is inserted in the bottom section of the box, the side flaps 28 and 29 are folded up, and the lid of the 'box is folded up at the hinge-panel line 17 to form a closed rear panel for the bottom section. The side flaps 28 and 29 are folded inside the side flaps 24 and 25 to reinforce and strengthen the bottom section of the carton. The top panel 22 is folded at the fold line 21, and the overlap section 46 of the wrapping is folded around the edge 15 and under the bottom section, where the gummed tape 70 is sealed to the wrapping along edge 15. The lid of the carton is thus closed and sealed, as shown in FIG. 5, whereas the ends are open, and the ears protrude.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 6, the

ears

30 and 32 at the hinge panel are folded in together with the overlapping

portions

74 and 76 of the wrapping associated with each ear. The folding in of the

ears

30 and 32 seals the end of the paperboard carton, since the

adhesive areas

54 and 56 mate and seal, as do the

adhesive areas

58 and 60. As the car 32 is folded in by the clerks finger, the overlapping wrapping section 76 is carried with it; thereby, a fold line 78 is formed on the wrapping section 66, and a similar fold line 80 is formed on the wrapping section 64 and the overlapping wrapping portion 46. This overlapping portion 46 carries the corner of the wrapping 64 with it and ensures a neat fold line 80. Similarly, ear 30 is folded in together with the wrapping section 74 to form

fold lines

82 and 84 therein. The wrapping at the end of the box is closed by folding up the remaining portion of wrapping flap 64 and folding down over it the corresponding portion of wrapping flap 66, so that the adhesive 68 seals against the adhesive 62. In a similar fashion, the other side of the box is closed and sealed, and a neatly folded wrapping is completed, as shown in FIG. 7.

The carton underlying the wrapping is sturdy and securely closed by the sealed ears 30-33, and the outer decorative wrapping has all the appearance of the usual custom-wrapped gift package. The gift wrapping is loosely formed around the carton, except at the fastened ends, in the customary fashion, so that it may be torn off, which is a desirable characteristic of such a package. The ribbon is wrapped around the carton in a suitable fashion, and does not require any additional, handling by the clerk. If

desired, a fancy bow may be'readily attached by an adhesive or the like in a well-known manner.

When the gift wrapping 12 is partly torn off and the top Wall 20 exposed, the carton itself is readily opened by pressing down on the finger tab 76 in the top wall 20', and breaking that wall by way of the perforation line 74 and the perforation lines 72 and 73, as shown in FIG. 8. Thereby, the contents of the carton are readily removed, and they can be returned thereto for display in the carton which would ordinarily be partly covered by the gift wrapping. The sealing of ears 30-33 to

flaps

24 and 25 by means of the adhesive areas 54-61 guides the one who opens the package to tear off the wrapping over the top wall 20 of the carton to expose the perforations 72-74 and tab 76 for opening the carton. The sealed ears also provide a sturdier carton and ensure closed carton ends even if the

flaps

64 and 66 are inadvertently unsealed. If desired, the

adhesive areas

62, 63 and 68, 69 on the wrapping flaps 64-67 may be omitted, and the clerk may apply strips of conventional gummed tape in the usual fashion to seal these flaps after they have been folded by pressing down the

ears

62, 63 and 68, 69 in the manner described above.

The overlap portion 46 of the wrapping may be omitted and the adhesive strip 70 used on the inside face of the top panel 22 to seal the latter to front panel 14. However, the illustrated embodiment is preferred in that the seam of carton fold line and edge 42 and the edges of the wrapping are neatly covered by the wrapping overlap 46. The latter overlap 46 interlocks with the free front edge of wrapping portion 64 as the car 32 is pressed down (FIG. 6) to form a neat fold line 80, which assists the clerk in completing the wrapping operation. The wrapping operation is guided by the carton construction so that no skill or special effort is needed, and a complete wrapping is achieved which is neat and has all the appearance of a carefully hand-wrapped package. The adhesive strip 70 may be omitted, and the clerk may apply a strip of gummed tape instead. Alternatively, a punched lock tab may be formed in the front and top panels 14 and 22 (and through the wrapping that covers panel 22) in a well-known fashion.

As may be seen in FIG. 4, the glued corners of the bottom section are formed with

cars

26 and 27 hinged to the side flaps 24 and 25 and attached along the front panel 1 4. These corners may be formed with similar ears hinged to the ends of front panel 14 and glued to the side flaps 24 and 25. However, the illustrated embodiment is preferred in that the

ears

26 and 27 are out of the path of and do not interfere with

flaps

28 and 29 as they are inserted inside of

flaps

24 and 25.

In manufacturing this pre-wrapped, flap-folded carton, the carton blank is cut, scored and otherwise prepared, and the wrapping sheet is cut, and the gummed tap and adhesive and glue areas applied thereto. The overlap 46 of the wrapping is folded over the edge 42 of the carton, the glued area 44 is sealed, and the paper rolled down smoothly to the other end 15 of the carton where the glued area 38 is sealed.

Thus, this invention provides a new and improved fiatfolded carton having a pre-attached wrapping. The carton has a flat-folded construction which is compact and rectangular in form for stacking in a storage or shipping container and which ensures protection of the edges of the wrapping. The carton is quickly erected, packed, and closed and sealed in a neat gift-wrapped package. The above described embodiment is presented by way of illustration, and not by way of limitation, and various modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, the invention may be used with cartons of different sizes and shapes and different proportions of panel and wall dimensions. Staple or other fasteners may be used in place of the glue for the fastened corners of the bottom section. The wrapping sheet may be glued or otherwise fastened to said carton blank at various locations. The pre-wrapped carton of this invention may be used for various types of packages for gifts, for specially Wrapped cartons containing alcoholic beverages, candy, cigarettes, soaps, and for special packaging of seasonal retail items of all types that may require appropriate wrapping.

What is claimed is:

1. A prewrapped carton comprising:

a sheet of foldable material cut and scored and including a front panel, a bottom wall, a hinge panel, atop wall, and a top panel integrally joined by fold lines in that order;

side flaps hinged to opposite sides of each of said top and bottom walls,

side ears hinged to opposite sides of each of said hinge and top panels,

and means including additional ears forming a foldable preattached corner between each of said bottom wall flaps and the adjacent side of said front panel;

said foldable sheet being folded flat at said hinge panel in the storage condition with said top wall overlapping said bottom wall;

and a rectangular sheet of thin wrapping attached at spaced parts to said foldable sheet with unattached parts therebetween and extending from said front panel to said top panel, said wrapping being of a width greater than said walls to overlap said panel ears and top wall side flaps and terminating within said top wall side flaps, whereby the edges of said wrapping are protected by said panel ears and top wall side flaps, in said storage condition;

said top wall side flaps being foldable against said bottom wall side flaps in the erected condition;

and said panel ears being foldable together with portions of the overlapping wrapping sheet at the corners of said bottom side flaps to overlap said side flaps and form wrapping corners thereat and to form foldable flaps of said wrapping that overlap to close the sides of said carton;

whereby said carton is readily erected and said wrapping sides are neatly folded to form a wrapped carton.

2. A prewrapped carton as set forth in claim 1, wherein said pre-attached corners are folded in said storage condition with said front panel and bottom side flaps folded inward, and said top side flaps insertable within said bottom side flaps in said erected condition.

3. A prewrapped carton as set forth in claim 2, wherein said additional ears are respectively hinged to said bottom wall flaps and attached to the sides of saidfront panel.

4. A prewrapped carton as set forth in claim 2, wherein said hinge and top panel ears and said bottom wall flaps carry areas of adhesive in corresponding locations that overlap upon erection and closure of said carton, whereby said hinge and top panel ears are attached to said bottom wall flaps.

5. A prewrapped carton as set forth in claim 4, wherein portions of said wrapping overlapping said top and bottom wall flaps carry areas of adhesive in corresponding locations that overlap upon erection and closure of said carton, whereby said wrapping flaps are attached to each other to close the sides of said carton.

6. A prewrapped carton as set forth in claim 2, wherein said wrapping has a portion extending outwardly beyond the outer edge of said top panel and, upon erection and closure of said carton, overlapping said bottom wall and a portion of said wrapping extending sidewardly from said bottom wall, whereby said sidewardly extending wrapping portion is engaged by said outwardly extending portion and folded in the formation of said foldable wrapping flaps.

7. A prewrapped carton as set forth in claim 6, wherein said outwardly extending wrapping portion carries an 7, area of adhesive for attachment to the bottom wall wrapping portion upon erection and closure of said carton.

8. A prewrapped carton as set forth in claim 6, wherein said outwardly extending wrapping portion is folded under said top panel and protected thereby in said storage condition. a

9. A prewrapped carton as set forth in claim 5, wherein one of said walls has a perforated section for opening said one wall of the erected and closed carton upon removal of said wrapping therefrom.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,479,456 8/1949 Arthur 229-14 2,828,060 3/1958 Brown 229-,-37 3,257,068 6/1966 Wright 229-44 3,343,750 9/1967 Desmond et al. 22987 DAVIS T. MOORHEAD, Primary Examiner.