CN115485204A

CN115485204A - Container blank

Info

Publication number: CN115485204A
Application number: CN202080100420.0A
Authority: CN
Inventors: E·W·波特; R·S·霍尔舒
Original assignee: Kimberly Clark Worldwide Inc
Current assignee: Kimberly Clark Worldwide Inc
Priority date: 2020-04-02
Filing date: 2020-04-02
Publication date: 2022-12-16
Also published as: US20230159216A1; WO2021201867A1; CA3173476A1; EP4126683A4; EP4126683A1; AU2020439412A1; BR112022019686A2; KR20220156086A; MX2022012286A

Abstract

A container blank can be used to form a container that can package, transport, and/or store any type of article placed within the container. Further, after removal of the article from the container, the container can be disassembled from the container configuration and returned to the planar container blank configuration. The planar container blank configuration can then be assembled into a folded configuration that is different from the container configuration, and that is smaller and generally flat to allow storage or single use of the container blank.

Description

Container blank

Background

Containers for packaging articles are indispensable in the current consumer-oriented society. Virtually all articles require convenient packaging, shipping, storage and display methods. Thus, most articles are packaged in one or another container.

One of the main goals of our increasingly service-oriented economy is to provide convenience to consumers. In the packaging industry, this means providing efficient, inexpensive, flexible containers. The container also needs to be suitable for packaging, transporting and storing the product. In addition, the container needs to be able to protect the article from damage.

To meet these needs, the containers may be solid, easily stackable, easily assembled or disassembled, and may contain additional packaging material in addition to the base structure of the container itself to stabilize the article and prevent it from shifting within the container. Further, a consumer information booklet associated with the article can be contained within the container.

However, such containers can become inconvenient for the consumer after removing the product from the container. Most consumers desire to dispose of the container, and any accompanying stabilizing packaging materials, informational brochures, and the like, as waste or as recyclable materials, or to store the container for future use. While containers can be removed from the container configuration and placed in a flat configuration, problems arise in that flat configurations can be improperly sized, bulky, have loose materials (e.g., stable packaging materials, informational booklets, etc.), and if there are more than one removed containers, are difficult to stack and combine together in a flat configuration. These problems can present difficulties to the consumer in relocating the disassembled container or stack of containers, and any accompanying material, from point a (where the articles are disassembled) to point B (where it is stored or disposed of as waste or as recyclable material). Bulky and unsuitable materials may require the consumer to make multiple trips from point a to point B, or the bulk material forming the container and any accompanying packaging material may separate from each other and fall apart into a mass.

There remains a need for a container that can be disassembled from the container configuration and reassembled into a smaller collapsed configuration that allows the consumer to better transport to another location for storage or disposal. There remains a need for a container that is capable of providing a shell in a flat configuration for any incidental packaging material present in the container.

Disclosure of Invention

In various embodiments, the container blank may have a foldable sheet; a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction; a first main panel hingedly connected to each of the first end wall and the opposing second end wall in the longitudinal direction and hingedly connected to each of the first side wall and the opposing second side wall in the transverse direction; the first end wall is hingedly connected to a first end reinforcing wall in the longitudinal direction and the second end wall is hingedly connected to a second end reinforcing wall in the longitudinal direction; the first side wall is hingedly connected to a first side reinforcement wall in the transverse direction and the second side wall is hingedly connected to a second main panel in the transverse direction; the second main panel is hingedly connected to the closure panel in the transverse direction; and a folded configuration, wherein a first portion of the first side reinforcing wall is in an overlapping configuration with a first portion of the second side wall, and a second portion of the first side reinforcing wall is in an overlapping configuration with a portion of the first main panel; the closure panel is in an overlapping configuration with the first sidewall; and the first portion of the second main panel is in an overlapping configuration with the second portion of the second side wall and the second portion of the second main panel is in an overlapping configuration with the first side reinforcing wall.

In various embodiments, in the folded configuration, the first end reinforcing wall is in an overlapping configuration with the first end wall and the second end reinforcing wall is in an overlapping configuration with the second end wall. In various embodiments, in the folded configuration, the first side wall is hingedly connected in the longitudinal direction to each of a first end tab of the first side wall and an opposing second end tab of the first side wall, wherein the first end tab of the first side wall is in an overlapping configuration with a portion of the first end reinforcing wall and the second end tab of the first side wall is in an overlapping configuration with a portion of the second end reinforcing wall. In various embodiments, the second main panel is hingedly connected to a first end tab of the second main panel and an opposing second end tab of the second main panel in the longitudinal direction. In various embodiments, in the folded configuration, a portion of the first end tab of the second main panel is located between a portion of the first end wall and a portion of the first end reinforcing wall, and wherein in the folded configuration, a portion of the second end tab of the second main panel is located between a portion of the second end wall and a portion of the second end reinforcing wall. In various embodiments, the first end reinforcing wall has an edge extending in the longitudinal direction and aligned with a hinge connecting the first main panel to the second side wall, wherein the edge of the first end reinforcing wall has a notch. In various embodiments, the second end reinforcing wall has an edge extending in the longitudinal direction and aligned with a hinge connecting the first main panel to the second side wall, wherein the edge of the second end reinforcing wall has a notch. In various embodiments, at least one of the first end tab of the second main panel or the second end tab of the second main panel defines an opening.

In various embodiments, the first main panel has a first width dimension in the transverse direction, the second main panel has a second width dimension in the transverse direction, the first sidewall has a third width dimension in the transverse direction, the first side reinforcing wall has a fourth width dimension in the transverse direction, and the second sidewall has a fifth width dimension in the transverse direction, wherein the first width dimension and the second width dimension are the same, and wherein the third width dimension, the fourth width dimension, and the fifth width dimension are the same as one another, but wherein the third width dimension, the fourth width dimension, and the fifth width dimension are less than the first width dimension and the second width dimension. In various embodiments, the third width dimension, the fourth width dimension, and the fifth width dimension are each two-thirds of the first width dimension and the second width dimension.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a container.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of an illustration of an embodiment of a container blank for forming the container of fig. 1.

Fig. 3-5 are pictorial plan views of the container blank of fig. 2, with various portions of the container blank folded into an overlapping configuration.

Fig. 6A and 6B are pictorial plan views of an embodiment of the container blank of fig. 2 in a folded and locked configuration.

Fig. 6C is a close-up view of a portion of the container blank of fig. 6A.

Fig. 7A and 7B are pictorial plan views of the embodiment of the container blank of fig. 2 in a folded and locked configuration.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of an illustration of an embodiment of a container blank for forming a container.

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic plan view of the container blank of fig. 8 partially folded into an overlapping configuration.

Repeat use of reference characters in the present specification and drawings is intended to represent the same or analogous features or elements of the present disclosure.

Detailed Description

The present disclosure relates to a container blank that can be used to form a container that can package, transport, and/or store any type of article placed within the container. Further, after removal of the article from the container, the container can be disassembled from the container configuration and returned to the planar container blank configuration. The planar container blank configuration can then be assembled into a folded configuration that is different from the container configuration, and that is smaller and generally flat to allow storage or single use of the container blank. This smaller and generally flat configuration may not allow for storage of the article in such a configuration, but may allow for storage/shipping/handling of the container blank and any accompanying packaging material, informational booklets, etc.

Fig. 1 provides an illustration of an embodiment of a container 220. The container 220 may be formed from a container blank 10 such as shown in the exemplary embodiment of fig. 2-9. The container 220 is shown in an open and empty configuration. This open and empty configuration may occur prior to placing the article in the container 220 or after removing the article from the container 220.

The container 220 may have a first main panel 12. In the embodiment shown in fig. 1, the first major panel 12 can have a first major surface 14 facing the interior volume of the container 220. The first main panel 12 may be planar and may extend in a longitudinal direction (L) and a transverse direction (T) of the container 220. In the longitudinal direction (L) of the container 220, the first main panel 12 may be hingedly connected to the first and

second end walls

20, 40. Referring to fig. 1, the first end wall 20 and the second end wall 40 are parallel to each other, the first end wall 20 extends from the fold 28 and is perpendicular to the first main panel 12, and the second end wall 40 extends from the fold 48 and is perpendicular to the first main panel 12. The first end wall 20 may also be hingedly connected to the first end reinforcing wall 30 in the longitudinal direction (L) of the container 220. In a container configuration such as that shown in fig. 1, the fold 38 may fold the first end reinforcing wall 30 down into the interior of the container 220, where the first end reinforcing wall 30 is also perpendicular to the first main panel 12 of the container 220. In the container configuration, the first end reinforcing wall 30 has a first major surface 34 in a face-to-face relationship with the first major surface 24 of the first end wall 20. The first end reinforcing wall 30 has a second major surface 36 facing the interior volume of the container 220, while the first end wall 20 has a second major surface 26 facing the exterior of the container 220. Thus, the first end wall 20 is an outwardly facing wall of the container 220, while the first end reinforcing wall 30 is an inwardly facing wall of the container 220. The second end wall 40 may also be hingedly connected to the second end reinforcing wall 50 in the longitudinal direction (L) of the container 220. In a container configuration such as that shown in fig. 1, the fold 58 may fold the second end reinforcing wall 50 downward into the interior of the container 220, where the second end reinforcing wall 50 is also perpendicular to the first main panel 12 of the container 220. In the container configuration, the second end reinforcing wall 50 has a first major surface 54 in a face-to-face relationship with the first major surface 44 of the second end wall 40. The second end reinforcing wall 50 has a second major surface 56 facing the interior volume of the container 220, while the second end wall 40 has a second major surface 46 facing the exterior of the container 220. Thus, the second end wall 40 is an outwardly facing wall of the container 220, while the second end reinforcing wall 50 is an inwardly facing wall of the container 220.

In the transverse direction (T) of the container 220, the first main panel 12 may be hingedly connected to the first and

second side walls

60, 90. Referring to fig. 1, first side wall 60 and second side wall 90 are parallel to each other, first side wall 60 extends from fold 68 and is perpendicular to first main panel 12, and second side wall 90 extends from fold 96 and is perpendicular to first main panel 12. The first side wall 60 may also be hingedly connected to the first side reinforcing wall 70 in the transverse direction (T) of the receptacle 220. In a container configuration such as that shown in fig. 1, the fold 78 may fold the first side reinforcing wall 70 downward into the interior of the container 220, where the first side reinforcing wall 70 is also perpendicular to the first main panel 12 of the container 220. In the container configuration, the first side reinforcing wall 70 has a first major surface 74 in a face-to-face relationship with the first major surface 64 of the first side wall 60. The first side reinforcing wall 70 has a second major surface 76 facing the interior volume of the container 220, while the first side wall 60 has a second major surface 66 facing the exterior of the container 220. Thus, the first sidewall 60 is an outwardly facing wall of the container 220, while the first sidewall reinforcement wall 70 is an inwardly facing wall of the container 220.

Unlike each of the first end wall 20, the second end wall 40, and the first side wall 60, the second side wall 90 is not hingedly connected to the reinforcing wall. Conversely, the second side wall 90 may be hingedly connected to the second main panel 110 in the transverse direction (T) of the container 220. In a container configuration such as that shown in fig. 1, the fold 118 may fold the second main panel 110 in an upward or downward direction to open or close the container 220, respectively. Accordingly, the second main panel 110 may form a sixth side to completely enclose the interior volume of the container 220. To help close the interior volume of the container 220, and potentially provide additional stability to the articles contained within the container 220, the second main panel 110 may be hinged to the end tab 120 via a hinge line 122 in the longitudinal direction (L) and to the end tab 130 via a hinge line 132. When the container 220 is in the closed configuration, the end flaps 120 and 130 may be positioned within the interior volume of the container 220 and abut the first and second

end reinforcing walls

30 and 50, respectively. The second main panel 110 will be parallel to and spaced from the first main panel 12 when the container is in the closed configuration. Similar to the first main panel 12, the second main panel 110 will be perpendicular to each of the first end wall 20, the first end reinforcing wall 30, the second end wall 40, the second end reinforcing wall 50, the first side wall 60, the first side reinforcing wall 70, and the second side wall 90. The second main panel 110 may be hingedly connected to the closure panel 140 in the transverse direction (T). When the container 220 is in the closed configuration, the closure panel 140 may be in an overlapping configuration with an exterior of the second major surface 66 facing the first sidewall 60.

In various embodiments, it may be desirable for the container 220 to hold itself in a container configuration. In such embodiments, at least the first sidewall 60, the second sidewall 90, and the closure panel 140 may be provided with end flaps. The first sidewall 60 may be hingedly connected to the first end tab 80 and the second end tab 84 in the longitudinal direction (L). When the first side wall 60 is positioned perpendicular to the first main panel 12 via the fold 68, the first end tab 80 of the first side wall 60 may be positioned between the first end wall 20 and the first end reinforcing wall 30, while the second end tab 84 of the first side wall 60 may be positioned between the second end wall 40 and the second end reinforcing wall 50. The second sidewall 90 may be hingedly connected to the first end tab 100 and the second end tab 104 in the longitudinal direction (L). When the second side wall 90 is positioned perpendicular to the first main panel 12 via the fold 96, the first end tab 100 of the second side wall 90 may be positioned between the first end wall 20 and the first end reinforcing wall 30, while the second end tab 104 of the second side wall 90 may be positioned between the second end wall 40 and the second end reinforcing wall 50. While the first end flaps 80 and 100 are shown in fig. 1 as not abutting each other when positioned between the first end wall 20 and the first end reinforcing wall 30, it should be understood that the first end flaps 80 and 100 may have any size deemed suitable for retaining the container 220 in a container configuration. Similarly, while the

second end tabs

84 and 104 are shown in fig. 1 as not abutting each other when positioned between the second end wall 40 and the second end reinforcing wall 50, it should be understood that the

second end tabs

84 and 104 may have any size deemed suitable for retaining the container 220 in a container configuration. While the end flaps 80, 84, 100, and 104 can have any dimensions deemed suitable for maintaining the container 220 in a container configuration, in various embodiments, the size dimensions of each of the end flaps 80, 84, 100, and 104 will likely be small enough such that the first end flaps 80 and 100 are not placed in an overlapping configuration with each other when positioned between the first end wall 20 and the first end reinforcing wall 30, and the second end flaps 84 and 104 are not placed in an overlapping configuration with each other when positioned between the second end wall 40 and the second end reinforcing wall 50. Such an overlapping configuration may exert pressure on the first and second

end reinforcing walls

30 and 50, respectively, urging the first and second

end reinforcing walls

30 and 50 away from their

respective end walls

20 and 40, resulting in a reduced ability of the container 220 to maintain the container configuration.

The closure panel 140 may be hingedly connected in the longitudinal direction (L) to the first closure tab 150 and the second closure tab 154. The closure panel 140 may be placed in an overlapping configuration with the first sidewall 60 of the container 220 when the container 220 is in the closed configuration. To maintain the container 220 in the closed configuration, the first closure tab 150 may be positioned between the first end wall 20 and the first end reinforcing wall 30 with the first closure tab 150 in an overlapping configuration with the first end tab 80, and the second closure tab 154 may be positioned between the second end wall 40 and the second end reinforcing wall 50 with the second closure tab 154 in an overlapping configuration with the second end tab 84. While the overlapping configuration of the first closure tab 150 and the first end tab 80 and the overlapping configuration of the second closure tab 154 and the second end tab 84 may exert pressure on the first end reinforcing wall 30 and the second end reinforcing wall 50, respectively, to urge the first end reinforcing wall 30 and the second end reinforcing wall 50 away from their

respective end walls

20 and 40, the positioning of the first side reinforcing wall 70 may maintain the first end reinforcing wall 30 and the second end reinforcing wall 50 in their proper positions to maintain the container 220 in the container configuration.

When each of the first end wall 20, the first end reinforcing wall 30, the second end wall 40, the second end reinforcing wall 50, the first side wall 60, the first side reinforcing wall 70, and the second side wall 90 is placed perpendicular to the first main panel 12, the container 220 may have an overall length dimension in the longitudinal direction (L), an overall width dimension in the transverse direction (T), and an overall height dimension in the depth direction (D). Such length, width, and height dimensions may provide the container 220 with an interior volume suitable for receiving articles and any other accompanying packaging material or informational booklets.

Referring to fig. 2, a plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a container blank 10 for forming the container 220 of fig. 1 is shown, wherein the container blank 10 is in a flat, planar and expanded configuration. In various embodiments, the container 220 may be formed from a container blank 10 of foldable sheet material, such as paperboard, coated paperboard, corrugated board, or any other suitable material deemed suitable. Container blank 10 may have a first main panel 12 having a first major surface 14. As shown in fig. 2, the first main panel 12 may be planar and may extend in a longitudinal direction (L) and a transverse direction (T). In the longitudinal direction (L) of the container blank 10, the first main panel 12 may be hingedly connected to the first end wall 20 via a hinge line 22 and to the second end wall 40 via a hinge line 42. When the container blank 10 is assembled into the container 220, the hinge line 22 will form the fold 28 and the hinge line 42 will form the fold 48. The first end wall 20 may also be hingedly connected to the first end reinforcing wall 30 via a hinge line 32 in the longitudinal direction (L) of the container blank 10. When the first end reinforcing wall 30 is folded, the hinge line 32 will form a fold 38. The second end wall 40 may also be hingedly connected to the second end reinforcing wall 50 via a hinge line 52 in the longitudinal direction (L) of the container blank 10. When the second end reinforcing wall 50 is folded, the hinge line 52 will form a fold 58.

In the transverse direction (T) of the container blank 10, the first main panel 12 may be hingedly connected to the first side wall 60 via a hinge line 62 and to the second side wall 90 via a hinge line 92. When the first side wall 60 is folded the hinge line 62 will form the fold 68 and when the second side wall is folded the hinge line 92 will form the fold 96. The first side wall 60 may also be hingedly connected to the first side reinforcing wall 70 in the transverse direction (T) of the container blank 10 via a hinge line 72. When the first side reinforcing wall 70 is folded, the hinge line 72 will form a fold 78. The second side wall 90 may be hingedly connected to the second main panel 110 in the transverse direction (T) of the container blank 10 via a hinge line 112. When the second main panel 110 is folded, the hinge line 112 will form a fold 118. The second main panel 110 may be hingedly connected to the closure panel 140 in the transverse direction (T) via a hinge line 142. When the closure panel 140 is folded, the hinge line 142 will form a fold.

The first main panel 12 may have a width dimension W1 in the transverse direction (T), and the second main panel 110 may have a width dimension W5 in the transverse direction (T), wherein each of the width dimension W1 and the width dimension W5 is the same. The first side wall 60, the first side reinforcing wall 70, the second side wall 90, and the closure panel 140 may each have a width dimension W2, W3, W4, and W6, respectively, in the transverse direction (T). Each of the width dimensions W2, W3, and W4 may be the same. In various embodiments, each of the width dimensions W2, W3, and W4 may be the same, but less than the width dimensions W1 and W5 of the first and second

main panels

12 and 110, respectively. In various embodiments, width dimensions W2, W3, and W4 are two-thirds of width dimensions W1 and W5. In various embodiments, the width dimension W6 of the closure panel 140 may be the same as the width dimension W2 of the first sidewall 60. In various embodiments, the width dimension W6 of the closure panel 140 may be less than the width dimension W2 of the first side panel 60.

In various embodiments, it may be desirable to assemble the container blank 10 into a smaller and generally flat folded configuration for storage or transport to a location for single use. Fig. 3-5 provide exemplary illustrations of the folding process for converting the larger container blank 10 into a smaller and generally flat folded configuration. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the container blank 10 wherein the first end reinforcing wall 30 has been folded and formed into an overlapping configuration with the first end wall 20 to form a fold 38 and place the first major surface 34 of the first end reinforcing wall 30 in face-to-face relationship with the first major surface 24 of the first end wall 20. In addition, the second end reinforcing wall 50 has been folded and formed into an overlapping configuration with the second end wall 40, thereby forming a fold 58 and placing the first major surface 54 of the second end reinforcing wall 50 in face-to-face relationship with the first major surface 44 of the second end wall 40. Folding the first end reinforcing wall 30 over the first end wall 20 and the second end reinforcing wall 50 over the second end wall 40 may reduce the maximum length dimension of the container blank 10 in the longitudinal direction (L). Fig. 4 provides an exemplary illustration in which the first sidewall 60 has been folded to form a fold 68. Forming the fold 68 repositions the first side wall 60 such that the first major surface 64 of the first side wall 60 is in a face-to-face relationship with a portion of the first major surface 14 of the first main panel 12, and also repositions the first side reinforcing wall 70 such that a portion of the first major surface 74 of the first side reinforcing wall 70 is in a face-to-face relationship with a portion of the first major surface 94 of the second side wall 90, and such that another portion of the first major surface 74 of the first side reinforcing wall 70 is in a face-to-face relationship with a portion of the first major surface 14 of the first main panel 12. As shown in fig. 4, forming the fold 68 may reduce the overall width dimension of the container blank 10 in the transverse direction (T). Referring to fig. 5, the overall width dimension of the container blank 10 in the transverse direction (T) may be further reduced by forming the fold 118 and repositioning the second main panel 110 such that a portion of the first major surface 114 of the second main panel 110 is in a face-to-face relationship with the first major surface 94 of the second side wall 90 and a second portion of the first major surface 114 of the second main panel 110 is in a face-to-face relationship with the second major surface 76 of the first side reinforcing wall 70. Forming the fold 118 also forms the closure panel 140 into an overlapping configuration with the first sidewall 60, wherein the first major surface 144 of the closure panel 140 is in a face-to-face relationship with the second major surface 66 of the first sidewall 60. Additionally, a portion of the first major surface 124 of the end tab 120 is in a face-to-face relationship with a portion of the second major surface 36 of the first end reinforcing wall 30, while a portion of the first major surface 134 of the end tab 130 is in a face-to-face relationship with a portion of the second major surface 56 of the second end reinforcing wall 50.

As shown in fig. 5, the container blanks 10 have been reassembled into a smaller and generally flat configuration, making the container blanks 10 easier to store and/or transport. While container blank 10 has been reassembled into a size and shape that is more convenient for the consumer, in various embodiments, it may be desirable to lock container blank 10 into a smaller and generally flat configuration so that it does not unfold on its own during storage or transport.

Referring to fig. 6A, 6B, and 6C, embodiments of exemplary locking configurations are shown. As described herein, after the fold 118 is formed, a portion of the first major surface 124 of the end tab 120 is in a face-to-face relationship with a portion of the second major surface 36 of the first end reinforcing wall 30, while a portion of the first major surface 134 of the end tab 130 is in a face-to-face relationship with a portion of the second major surface 56 of the second end reinforcing wall 50. As shown in fig. 6A, 6B, and 6C, embodiments of locking the container blank 10 can include repositioning the end tab 120 such that a portion of the end tab 120 is sandwiched between the first end wall 20 and the first end reinforcing wall 30, and repositioning the end tab 130 such that a portion of the end tab 130 is sandwiched between the second end wall 40 and the second end reinforcing wall 50. For example, repositioning of the end tab 120 may be performed by lifting the edge 160 of the first end reinforcing wall 30 to a position sufficiently out of plane to allow a portion of the end tab 120 to reach under the first end reinforcing wall 30 and be repositioned between the first end wall 20 and the first end reinforcing wall 30. After this repositioning of the portion of the end tab 120, the portion of the first major surface 124 of the end tab 120 that is in face-to-face relationship with the portion of the second major surface 36 of the first end reinforcing wall 30 will now be in face-to-face relationship with the portion of the first major surface 24 of the first end wall 20, and the portion of the second major surface 126 of the end tab 120 will now be in face-to-face relationship with the portion of the first major surface 34 of the first end reinforcing wall 30. A close-up view of the locked configuration is provided in the example shown in fig. 6C. A similar repositioning of the end tab 130 can be made wherein the edge 164 of the second end reinforcing wall 50 is raised out of plane sufficiently to allow a portion of the end tab 130 to reach under the second end reinforcing wall 50 and be repositioned between the second end wall 40 and the second end reinforcing wall 50 such that a portion of the first major surface 134 of the end tab 130 that is in face-to-face relationship with a portion of the second major surface 56 of the second end reinforcing wall 50 will now be in face-to-face relationship with a portion of the first major surface 44 of the second end wall 40 and a portion of the second major surface 136 of the end tab 130 will now be in face-to-face relationship with a portion of the first major surface 54 of the second end reinforcing wall 50.

In various embodiments, to facilitate lifting

edges

160 and 164 out of plane, each of

edges

160 and 164 may have a notch (such as

notches

162 and 166, respectively) that may provide a consumer with the ability to grasp the material forming first end reinforcing wall 30 and second end reinforcing wall 50 without the need to grasp the material forming first end wall 20 and second end wall 40 simultaneously. An example of

such notches

162 and 166 is shown in FIG. 6B.

Concave recesses

162 and 166 may be any size and shape deemed suitable for accommodating a consumer who extends at least a single finger (such as an index finger) through the opening formed by

recesses

162 or 166 and sandwiches the material between the index finger of the same handle and the thumb of the consumer and exerts a pulling force on the material to lift

edges

160 and 164 out of plane.

Referring to fig. 7A and 7A, in various embodiments, it may be deemed appropriate to provide the container blank 10 with at least one opening in the material forming the container blank 10 to facilitate carrying and transporting the container blank 10 in the folded configuration by a consumer. Each opening may be any size and shape deemed suitable for convenient carrying and transport of the folded configuration container blank 10. Examples of various suitable shapes for the opening may include, but are not limited to, square, rectangular, circular, oval, elliptical, and the like. The opening should be provided in the material forming the container blank 10, where it is readily accessible to the consumer after the container blank 10 is reassembled into the smaller and generally flat configuration. In various embodiments, container blank 10 may have at least one opening. In various embodiments, container blank 10 may have at least 1, 2, 3, or 4 openings. As shown in the exemplary embodiment provided in fig. 7A and 7B, the container blank 10 has two

openings

170 and 172 located in the end flaps 120 and 130, respectively, hingedly connected to the second main panel 110. Each

opening

170 and 172 is shown in a portion of each

respective end flap

120 and 130, wherein the material forming the

end flap

120 or 130 is not in an overlapping configuration with any other material forming the carton blank 10.

As described herein, containers for packaging articles may contain not only articles, but also additional packaging materials and informational booklets that may prevent the articles from moving within the container and damage to the articles. As shown in fig. 8 and 9, such additional packaging material 210 and informational booklets may be placed on top of the container blank 10 when the container blank is in its fully expanded and planar configuration, and then may be contained within the refolded smaller and generally flat folded configuration after the container blank 10 is folded into the smaller generally flat configuration.

For the sake of brevity and conciseness, any range of values set forth in this disclosure contemplates all values within that range and should be construed as supporting claims reciting any sub-ranges whose endpoints are all numbers within the specified range in question. By way of hypothetical example, a disclosure having a range of 1 to 5 should be considered to support claims to any of the following ranges: 1 to 5, 1 to 4, 1 to 3, 1 to 2, 2 to 5, 2 to 4, 2 to 3, 3 to 5, 3 to 4 and 4 to 5.

The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Rather, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as "40mm" is intended to mean "about 40mm".

All documents cited in the detailed description are, in relevant part, incorporated herein by reference; the citation of any document is not to be construed as an admission that it is prior art with respect to the present invention. To the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this written document conflicts with any meaning or definition of the term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition assigned to the term in this written document shall govern.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention.

When introducing elements of the present disclosure or the preferred embodiments thereof, the articles "a," "an," "the," and "said" are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms "comprising," "including," and "having" are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. Many modifications and variations of this disclosure can be made without departing from its spirit and scope. Accordingly, the above exemplary embodiments should not be used to limit the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A container blank, the container blank comprising:

a. a foldable sheet;

b. a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction;

c. a first main panel hingedly connected to each of the first end wall and the opposing second end wall in the longitudinal direction and hingedly connected to each of the first side wall and the opposing second side wall in the transverse direction;

d. the first end wall is hingedly connected to a first end reinforcing wall in the longitudinal direction and the second end wall is hingedly connected to a second end reinforcing wall in the longitudinal direction;

e. the first side wall is hingedly connected to a first side reinforcement wall in the transverse direction and the second side wall is hingedly connected to a second main panel in the transverse direction;

f. the second main panel is hingedly connected to the closure panel in the transverse direction; and

g. a folded configuration wherein a first portion of the first side reinforcing wall is in an overlapping configuration with a first portion of the second side wall and a second portion of the first side reinforcing wall is in an overlapping configuration with a portion of the first main panel; the closure panel is in an overlapping configuration with the first sidewall; and the first portion of the second main panel is in an overlapping configuration with the second portion of the second side wall and the second portion of the second main panel is in an overlapping configuration with the first side reinforcing wall.

2. The container blank of claim 1, wherein in the folded configuration, the first end reinforcing wall is in an overlapping configuration with the first end wall and the second end reinforcing wall is in an overlapping configuration with the second end wall.

3. The container blank of claim 2, wherein in the folded configuration, the first side wall is hingedly connected to each of a first end tab of the first side wall and an opposing second end tab of the first side wall in the longitudinal direction, wherein the first end tab of the first side wall is in an overlapping configuration with a portion of the first end reinforcing wall and the second end tab of the first side wall is in an overlapping configuration with a portion of the second end reinforcing wall.

4. The container blank of claim 3 wherein the second main panel is hingedly connected in the longitudinal direction to a first end tab of the second main panel and an opposing second end tab of the second main panel.

5. The container blank of claim 4, wherein in the folded configuration, a portion of the first end tab of the second main panel is located between a portion of the first end wall and a portion of the first end reinforcing wall, and wherein in the folded configuration, a portion of the second end tab of the second main panel is located between a portion of the second end wall and a portion of the second end reinforcing wall.

6. The container blank of claim 5, wherein the first end reinforcing wall has an edge extending in the longitudinal direction and aligned with a hinge connecting the first main panel to the second side wall, wherein the edge of the first end reinforcing wall has a notch.

7. The container blank of claim 5 wherein the second end reinforcing wall has an edge extending in the longitudinal direction and aligned with a hinge connecting the first main panel to the second side wall, wherein the edge of the second end reinforcing wall has a notch.

8. The container blank of claim 4, wherein at least one of the first end tab of the second main panel or the second end tab of the second main panel defines an opening.

9. The container blank of claim 1, wherein the first main panel has a first width dimension in the transverse direction, the second main panel has a second width dimension in the transverse direction, the first side wall has a third width dimension in the transverse direction, the first side reinforcing wall has a fourth width dimension in the transverse direction, and the second side wall has a fifth width dimension in the transverse direction, wherein the first and second width dimensions are the same, and wherein the third, fourth, and fifth width dimensions are the same as one another, but wherein the third, fourth, and fifth width dimensions are less than the first and second width dimensions.

10. The container blank of claim 9, wherein the third, fourth, and fifth width dimensions are each two-thirds of the first and second width dimensions.