US3604560A

US3604560A - Tamperproof carton and blank for making same

Info

Publication number: US3604560A
Application number: US888503A
Authority: US
Inventors: Melville T Farquhar
Original assignee: Reynolds Metals Co
Current assignee: Reynolds Metals Co
Priority date: 1969-12-29
Filing date: 1969-12-29
Publication date: 1971-09-14
Anticipated expiration: 1988-09-14

Abstract

A tubular carton is provided which has substantially open ends and a bottom wall provided with extension flaps extending from its opposite ends. Each extension flap has a plurality of parallel fold lines defined therein which enable folding thereof to define an end stop used to stop or hold an article carried within the carton against outward movement and each extension flap has a locking tab which locks it in its folded position so that with an article within the carton it is impossible to unfasten either locking tab without damaging its associated extension flap or tearing the carton to thereby define a tamperproof carton.

Description

United States Patent 72] Inventor Melville T. Farquhar Bon Air, Va.

[21 App]. No. 888,503

{22] Filed Dec. 29, 1969 [45] Patented Sept. 14, 1971 [73] Assignee Reynolds Metals Company Richmond, Va.

[54] TAMPERPROOF CARTON AND BLANK FOR MAKING SAME 20 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 206/46 FD, 206/46 FR, 229/14 C, 229/33, 229/40 [51] Int. Cl B65d 85/00 [50] Field of Search 206/45. 14,

45.18, 45.19, 45.32, 46 R, 46 FD, 46 FR, 65 R, DIG. 10; 229/33, 34 l-IW, 87 F, 14 C, 40

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,904,170 9/1959 l-lennessey et al. 206/46 FD Primary Examiner-.loseph R. Leclair Assistant Examiner-Steven E. Lipman Attorney-Glenn, Palmer, Lyne, Gibbs & Thompson ABSTRACT: A tubular carton is provided which has substantially open ends and a bottom wall provided with extension flaps extending from its opposite ends. Each extension flap has a plurality of parallel fold lines defined therein which enable folding thereof to define an end stop used to stop or hold an article carried within the carton against outward movement and each extension flap has a locking tab which locks it in its folded position so that with an article within the cartonit is impossible to unfasten either locking tab without damaging its associated extension flap or tearing the carton to thereby define a tamperproof carton.

PATENIEU SEP] 4 IHYI 3,604,560

SHEEI 1 [IF 3 INVENTOR. MELVILLE T. FARQUHAR H IS ATTORNEYS PATENIED SEP] 4191: 1604 560

sum

2 or 3 INVENTOR.

\ MELVILLE T. FAROUHAR H IS ATTORNEYS PATENTEDSEPMIQ?! 3.604.560

SHEEI 3 [IF 3 42 lllll I 32 48 FlG-S 35 f HIS ATTORNEYS INVENTOR. MELVILEE T. FARQUHAR TAMPERPROOF CARTON ANDiBLANK FOR MAKING SAME BACKGROUND OF'TI-IE INVENTION Many products, such as food products, for example, are packaged and sold in expendable dishlike containers which for reasons of economy are made using a minimum amount of structural material whereby such containers must be protected to prevent damage thereto and possible loss of their associated products. One technique which is commonly used to protect such containers is to place each container within a protective outer carton. However, many previously proposed cartons are generally unsatisfactory because they require large amounts of materials which increase the cost thereof unnecessarily. Others of such previous cartons are easily opened which allows easy removal of the container and possible damage thereto or in the case of unsealed dishlike containers these previous cartons enable a pilferer to remove some of the contents of a dishlike container and replace the partially filed container within its carton without providing any readily visible signs which would indicate that pilfering has taken place.

SUMMARY This invention provides an improved carton and blank for making same which is of simple and economical construction and has a bottom wall and substantially open ends with extension flaps extending from opposite end edges of the bottom wall. Each extension flap has a plurality of parallel fold lines defined therein which enables folding thereof to define an end stop at its end of the carton which stops or prevents outward movement of an associated article carried within the carton. Each extension flap also has a locking tab which locks it in its folded position so that it is practically impossible to unfasten the locking tab without damaging the extension flaps or carton whereby the carton is essentially tamperproof.

Other details, uses, and advantages of this invention will become apparent as the following description of the exemplary embodiment thereof presented in the accompanying drawings proceeds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings show an exemplary embodiment of this invention, in which FIG. I is a perspective view illustrating one exemplary embodiment of a carton of this invention carrying a dishlike container containing a food product in a protected manner therewithin;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the carton of FIG. 1 with the dishlike container removed therefrom to illustrate the manner in which one of its two identical extension flaps extending from its bottom wall is folded and locked in position to define an end stop for the carton;

FIG. 5 is a greatly enlarged cross-sectional view of an end portion of the carton taken essentially on the line 5-5 of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of an exemplary blank used to make the carton of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the blank of FIG. 6 folded to define a tubular structure and showing extension flaps extending beyond opposite end edges of the bottom wall of such carton arranged coplanar therewith; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective illustrating the manner in which the extension flaps at opposite ends of the carton are initially bifolded and an associated dishlike container moved from a dotted line position outside the carton to a solid-line position within the carton whereupon each bifolded extension flap is then folded so that a portion thereof arranged outwardly of the carton is arranged vertically and an associated locking tab defined in the extension flap is locked in position whereby the dishlike container is locked in the carton in the manner illustrated'in FIG. 1 of thedrawings.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT Reference is now made to FIG. 1 of the drawings, which illustrates one exemplary embodiment of a tubular carton of this invention which is designated generally by the reference numeral 20. The carton 20 is a tubular carton having substantially open ends as indicated at 21 and is particularly adapted to carry an article such as a dishlike container 22 in a protected manner therewithin. The carton 20 prevents the container 22 from shifting or from being easily removed from within such carton once it is installed in position therein without damaging or tearing of a portion of the carton whereby carton 20 is substantially tamperproof.

The carton 20 may be utilized to carry any suitable article and hold such article against movement relative thereto; however, in this example of the invention a dishlike article or tub 22 is shown and such tub is particularly adapted to contain a frozen food product such as frozen spinach 23, for example. The tub 22 has a suitable cover 24 sealed against the top surface of a top peripheral flange 25 provided thereon which enables packing of the spinach 23 in a sealed manner. The tub 22 may be made of any suitable inexpensive material such as paperboard, plastic, metallic foil, or suitable laminated constructions; however, in this example of the invention such tub is made of polystyrene.

As best seen in FIG. 7 of the drawings, the protective carton 20 has a substantially planar bottom wall 27, a top wall 30 arranged parallel thereto and a pair of oppositely arranged

sidewalls

31 and 32 each foldably connected to associated side edges of the bottom wall 27 and top wall 30 so as to define a tubular structure having open ends. The bottom wall 27 has a pair of extension flaps each designated generally by the reference numeral 33 extending outwardly of its opposite end edges and each extension flap is particularly adapted to be initially bifolded as illustrated at 34 in FIG. 8 whereupon the tub 22 is placed within the carton 20 and then that portion of each bifolded extension flap which extends outwardly of the carton 20 is folded substantially vertically to define an end stop for the tub 22 at each end of the carton 20 to prevent such tub from moving out of the carton through either end thereof.

Each extension flap 33 has a fold line 35 defining the base thereof and also defining an associated end edge of the bottom wall 27, see FIGS. 6 and 7. Each fold line 35 is comprised of a pair of spaced portions each arranged adjacent opposite side edges of the extension flap 33 and on a common straight line. Each fold line 35 also has a slit 36 of substantially U-shaped configuration defining the central portion thereof. The slit 36 is particularly adapted to receive an associated locking tab 37 which is defined in each extension flap 33 in a manner to be subsequently described so that with locking tab 37 in position within its slit 36 the associated extension flap 33 is locked firmly in position.

Each extension flap 33 has second and

third fold lines

41 and 42 respectively arranged parallel to the fold line 35 and each extension flap 33 has cut means, comprised of an approximately U-shaped cut 43, provided therein. Each U-shaped cut 43 has a bight 44 which defines the central portion of fold line 41 and has a pair of outwardly extending arcuate leg portions or legs 45 each terminating on the fold line 42. The U-shaped cut 43 defines s tongue 46 of corresponding configuration, and it will be seen that the tongue 46 has the locking tab 37 defining and extending outwardly beyond its terminal end.

In this example of the invention the fold line 42 is defined by a pair of spaced-apart portions 42A and 428 each arranged adjoining an associated side edge of the extension flap 33 and the

portions

42A and 42B are arranged in spaced relation at opposite ends of a common rectilinear path. The

portions

42A and 42B of fold line may be defined by any suitable weakening means such as by scorelines, cut scorelines, or a plurality of spaced slits or perforations, for example.

As previously indicated, each leg portion 45 of the U- shaped cut 43 of this example has an arcuate configuration and the arcuate configuration corresponds to an outwardly convex or arcuate corner configuration 47 of the tub 22 and each leg portion 45 defines a retaining edge 48, upon suitably folding the associated extension flap 33 in position, which engages an associated arcuate corner 47 and assures that the tub 22 is held firmly in position to prevent it from moving out of the carton 20, see FIG. 1.

The exemplary carton has a fastening flap 50 extending outwardly of a fold line 51 defining one side edge of its bottom wall 27. The flap 50 is suitably fastened to sidewall 31 to define the tubular construction shown in FIG. 7 and such construction may be easily flattened as shown by dotted lines at 52 in FIG. 7 whereby a plurality of cartons 20 may be easily stacked in a compact manner for storage and/or transportation.

Any suitable means may be used to fasten the flap 50 and sidewall 31 together; however, in this example these two components are fastened together by an adhesive material, such as glue, interposed between the flap 50 and the sidewall 31.

Having described the component portions of the carton 20, the detailed description will now proceed with a brief description of the manner in which the tub 22 may be easily installed within the carton 20 and firmly locked in position so as to prevent removal thereof. Each preglued carton 20 is moved from its dotted line position 52 to the solid-line position illustrated in FIG. 7 whereupon each extension flap 33 is effectively bifolded along its associated fold line 41 as illustrated at 34 in FIG. 8. The filled tub 22 is then placed so that its bottom wall rests upon the tongues 46 and the terminal end portions of the extension flaps 33 which extend beyond fold lines 42.

That portion of each bifolded extension flap 33 which extends outwardly of the bottom wall 27 and folded carton 20, and indicated by the reference numeral at 53, is then folded from a horizontal position to a vertical position essentially as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4 whereupon each extension flap 33 defines an end stop comprised of an end wall portion 54 defined between fold line 35 and fold line 41, an inclined wall 55 defined between

fold lines

41 and 42, and a terminal portion 56 defined outwardly of fold line 42 while being arranged flatly against the inside surface of the bottom wall 27, see FIG. 5. As each folded extension flap 33 is folded so that end wall portion 54 is moved from a horizontal position to a vertical position the locking tab 37 which is held flatly against bottom wall 27 slides outwardly away from the end of carton 20 and through its associated U-shaped slit 36 so that it locks the folded extension flap in position while simultaneously urging the retaining edges 48 defined by the arcuate leg portions 45 of the U-shaped cut 43 against the rounded corners of the tub 22 whereby the tub is held firmly in position against endwise movement.

The width of the tubular carton 20 indicated at 59 in FIG. 8 is preferably slightly larger than the width of the tub 22 indicated at 60 and this enables the tube to be easily slid in position by suitable machinery which is used to load and close the carton 20. The clearance between the peripheral flange and the

sidewalls

31 and 32 while being sufficient to permit unobstructed sliding is such that it is practically impossible for the tub 22 to rotate or shift about a central longitudinal axis extending through the open ends of the carton 20. Thus, it is seen that the tub 22 is held against endwise movement in the carton 20 by the folded extension flaps 33 and is prevented from rotating relative to such carton due to the cooperating dimensions of the tub 22 and tubular carton 20 whereby the tub 22 is held in position in an optimum manner.

As will be apparent from FIGS. 1 and 7 of the drawings, the length of the top wall of carton 20 is greater than the length of its bottom wall 27 whereby the

sidewalls

31 and 32 are of trapezoidal configuration, with the longer of the parallel sides of each sidewall corresponding in length to the top wall 30.

However, it will be appreciated that the carton 20 may be constructed so that its

sidewalls

31 and 32 have identical rectangular configurations whereby the top wall and bottom wall of such a carton would have the same length.

The carton 20 may be made in any suitable manner from any suitable foldable material. However, such carton is preferably made from a single-piece blank 61 of paperboard, or the like, as illustrated in FIG. 6 of the drawings, and such blank is suitably cut and scored to define the resulting carton 20 upon assembly thereof. The blank 61 has component parts which correspond to the various component parts of the carton 20 and because these component parts were described in detail previously in connection with the carton, the description thereof will not be repeated.

However, it will be noted that in addition to the previously described parts the blank 61 also has a plurality of three

parallel fold lines

62, 63 and 64 defined therein by suitably scoring the blank material. These fold lines are arranged so that sidewall 32 is defined between

fold lines

62 and 63, top wall 30 is defined between

fold lines

63 and 64, and sidewall 31 is defined outwardly of fold line 64.

As will be apparent from FIGS. 1 and 4 of the drawings, each end wall 54 cooperates with its arcuate retaining edges 48 defined by arcuate cut portions 45 to prevent outward endwise movement of the tub 22 relative to the carton 20; yet, the end wall 54 and hence its associated end stop has a height which is less than half of the overall height of the carton 20 whereby the carton 20 requires a minimum amount of carton material. In addition, it will be appreciated that instead of having rounded corners 47 the tub 22 may have comparatively sharp or angled corners; accordingly, the substantially U- shaped cut 43 would have its outwardly extending legs 45 contoured or shaped in a corresponding manner.

The carton 20 provides optimum protection for the tub 22 and its contents and a plurality of filled cartons may be easily stacked vertically. In addition, the comparatively large surface areas of the

sidewalls

31 and 32 allow each carton to be supported in an upright manner on either side thereof for display purposes in those instances where advertising, identification, or the like is provided on the top and/or bottom wall. It will also be appreciated that in those applications where the

sidewalls

31 and 32 have substantially rectangular configurations, the cartons and their associated tubs or dishlike containers may, if desired, be stood on end for display.

In this example the tub 22 is shown as having a cover 24 suitably sealed thereon and utilized to contain a frozen food product; however, it will be appreciated that all types of food products may be carried within a tub similar to the tub 22 and the tub need not necessarily have a separate cover sealed thereon.

The locking tab 37 ofthe exemplary carton 20 has a roughly rectangular configuration and is defined by a substantially U- shaped portion in the center of the bight of the U-shaped cut 43; however, it will be appreciated that the tab 37 may have any desired shape. In addition, the slit 36 may have any desired shape which allows easy insertion and holding of its associated locking tab.

While present exemplary embodiments of this invention and methods of practicing the same have been illustrated and described, it will be recognized that this invention may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A tubular carton having a bottom wall and substantially open ends, said bottom wall having a pair of extension flaps extending outwardly of its opposite end edges, each of said extension flaps being folded within said carton to define an associated end stop for an article carried within said carton, and each extension flap having cut means therein defining a locking tab which is used to lock its extension flap in position and prevent removal of said article without damage to said carton to thereby define a substantially tamperproof carton.

2. A carton as set forth in claim 1 in which each extension flap has a first fold line defining the base thereof and an end edge of said bottom wall, said first fold line in each extension flap having a slit comprising the central portion thereof which receives an associated locking tab and locks the associated extension flap in position.

3. A carton as set forth in claim 2 in which each extension flap has second and third fold lines arranged parallel to said first fold line; said out means in each extension flap comprises an approximately U-shaped cut having a bight defining the central portion of an associated second fold line and having a pair of outwardly extending legs each terminating on an associated third fold line with each leg defining a retaining edge; said U-shaped cut defining a tongue which has said locking tab defining its terminal end; and each extension flap being folded to define an associated end stop comprised of an end wall between its first and second fold lines, an inclined wall between its second and third fold lines, and a terminal portion beyond its third fold line; said article being supported within said carton on said tongues and terminal portions with opposite end surfaces thereof being retained between associated ones of said retaining edges.

4. A carton as set forth in claim 3 in which said slit in each extension flap comprises a U-shaped slit having its leg portions arranged to extend toward the center of said bottom wall.

5. A carton as set forth in claim 3 in which each of said second and third fold lines in each extension flap is defined by a pair of spaced scorelines arranged in aligned relation adjacent its opposite side edges.

6. A carton as set forth in claim 3 in which each of said outwardly extending legs of each U-shaped out has a configuration which corresponds to the configuration of an adjacent portion of said article.

7. A carton as set forth in claim 3 in which said bottom wall is in the form of a planar wall and said carton has a planar top wall arranged parallel to said bottom wall with the distance between said bottom and top wall defining the height of said carton, said first and second fold line in each extension flap being spaced a distance which is less than half the height of said carton to define an associated end wall having a corresponding height, and said end stop serving to confine said article within said carton yet enabling said carton to be made with a minimum amount of material.

8. in combination: a dishlike container and a tubular carton enclosing and protecting said container, said tubular carton having a bottom wall and substantially open ends, said bottom wall having a pair of extension flaps extending outwardly of its opposite end edges, each of said extension flaps being folded within said carton to define an associated end stop for said container with the end stop having a height which is less than the height of said carton, and each extension flap having cut means therein defining a locking tab which is used to lock the extension flap in position.

9. A combination as set forth in claim 8 in which each extension flap has a first fold line defining the base thereof and an end edge of said bottom wall, said first fold line in each extension flap having a slit comprising the central portion thereof which receives an associated locking tab and locks the associated extension flap in position.

10. A combination as set forth in claim 8 in which each extension flap has first, second, and third fold lines arranged in parallel spaced apart relation; said first fold line having a slit comprising the central portion thereof which receives an associated locking tab and locks the associated extension flap in position; said out means in each extension flap comprises an approximately U-shaped cut having a bight defining the central portion of an associated second fold line and having a pair of outwardly extending legs each terminating on an associated third fold line with each leg defining a retaining edge; said U- shaped cut defining a tongue which has said locking tab defining its terminal end; and each extension flap being folded to define an associated end stop comprised of an end wall between its first and second fold lines, an inclined wall between its second and third fold lines, and a terminal portion beyond its third fold line; said container being supported within said carton on said tongues and terminal portions with opposite end surfaces thereof being retained between associated ones of said retaining edges.

11. A combination as set forth in claim 10 in which said container has a peripheral flange extending horizontally outwardly from the top portion of its sidewall and said carton has a width which is slightly larger than the width of said container measured across said flange, said widths of said container and carton assuring said container may be easily slid within said carton yet being such as to prevent rotating movements of said container relative to said carton about a central axis through the ends of the carton.

12. A combination as set forth in claim 10 in which said slit in each extension flap comprises a U-shaped slit having its leg portions arranged to extend toward the center of said bottom wall.

13. A combination as set forth in claim 10 in which each of said second and third fold lines in each extension flap is defined by a pair of spaced scorelines arranged in aligned relation adjacent its opposite side edges.

14. A combination as set forth in claim 10 in which said container has corner portions each having an arcuate configuration and each of said outwardly extending legs of each U- shaped cut has an arcuate configuration which corresponds to the arcuate configuration of the adjacent corner portion.

15. A combination as set forth in claim 10 in which said bottom wall is in the form of a planar wall and said carton has a planar top wall arranged parallel to said bottom wall with the distance between said bottom and top wall defining the height of said carton, said first and second fold line in each extension flap being spaced a distance which is less than half the height of said carton to define an associated end wall having a corresponding height.

16. A combination as set forth in claim 10 in which said carton comprises a preglued carton having a plurality of parallel fold lines therein which enables easy flattening thereof for storage and transportation and easy assembly in tubular form.

17. A blank being suitably cut and scored to define a resulting tubular carton upon assembly thereof having open ends and being used to support an associated dishlike container in a protected position therewithin; said blank comprising; a bottom wall; a pair of extension flaps extending outwardly of the opposite end edges of said bottom wall; first, second, and third fold lines in each extension flap arranged in parallel spaced apart relation; an approximately U-shaped cut in each extension flap having a bight defining the central portion of an associated second fold line and having a pair of outwardly extending legs each terminating on an associated third fold line with each leg defining a retaining edge; a slit in each extension flap defining the central portion of its first fold line; each U- shaped cut defining a tongue which has a locking tab defining its terminal end; and in said resulting carton each extension flap is folded so that its locking tab extends through its as sociated slit to define an associated end wall between its first and second fold lines, an inclined wall between its second and third fold lines, and a terminal portion beyond its third fold line; said container being supported within said resulting carton on said tongues and terminal portions with opposite end surfaces thereof being retained between associated ones of said retaining edges.

18. A blank as set forth in claim 17 in which said slit in each extension flap comprises a U-shaped slit having its leg portions arranged to extend toward the center of said bottom wall.

19. A blank as set forth in claim 17 in which each of said second and third fold lines in each extension flap is defined by a pair of spaced scorelines arranged in aligned relation adjacent its opposite side edges.

20. A blank as set forth in claim 17 in which each of said outwardly extending legs of each Ushaped cut has an arcuate configuration which corresponds to the arcuate configuration of said container carried within said resulting carton.

Claims

3. A carton as set forth in claim 2 in which each extension flap has second and third fold lines arranged parallel to said first fold line; said cut means in each extension flap comprises an approximately U-shaped cut having a bight defining the central portion of an associated second fold line and having a pair of outwardly extending legs each terminating on an associated third fold line with each leg defining a retaining edge; said U-shaped cut defining a tongue which has said locking tab defining its terminal end; and each extension flap being folded to define an associated end stop comprised of an end wall between its first and second fold lines, an inclined wall between its second and third fold lines, and a terminal portion beyond its third fold line; said article being supported within said carton on said tongues and terminal portions with opposite end surfaces thereof being retained between associated ones of said retaining edges.

6. A carton as set forth in claim 3 in which each of said outwardly extending legs of each U-shaped cut has a configuration which corresponds to the configuration of an adjacent portion of said article.

10. A combination as set forth in claim 8 in which each extension flap has first, second, and third fold lines arranged in parallel spaced apart relation; said first fold line having a slit comprising the central portion thereof which receives an associated locking tab and locks the associated extension flap in position; said cut means in each extension flap comprises an approximately U-shaped cut having a bight defining the central portion of an associated second fold line and having a pair of outwardly extending legs each terminating on an associated third fold line with each leg defining a retaining edge; said U-shaped cut defining a tongue which has said locking tab defining its terminal end; and each extension flap being folded to define an associated end stop comprised of an end wall between its first and second fold lines, an inclined wall between its second and third fold lines, and a terminal portion beyond its third fold line; said container being supported within said carton on said tongues and terminal portions with opposite end surfaces thereof being retained between associated ones of said retaining edges.

14. A combination as set forth in claim 10 in which said container has corner portions each having an arcuate configuration and each of said outwardly extending legs of each U-shaped cut has an arcuate configuration which corresponds to the arcuate configuration of the adjacent corner portion.

17. A blank being suitably cut and scored to define a resulting tubular carton upon assembly thereof having open ends and being used to support an associated dishlike container in a protected position therewithin; said blank comprising; a bottom wall; a pair of extension flaps extending outwardly of the opposite end edges of said bottom wall; first, second, and third fold lines in each extension flap arranged in parallel spaced apart relation; an approximately U-shaped cut in each extension flap having a bight defining the central portion of an associated second fold line and having a pair of outwardly extending legs each terminating on an associated third fold line with each leg defining a retaining edge; a slit in each extension flap defining the central portion of its first fold line; each U-shaped cut defining a tongue which has a locking tab defining its terminal end; and in said resulting carton each extension flap is folded so that its locking tab extends through its associated slit to define an associated end wall between its first and second fold lines, an inclined wall between its second and third fold lines, and a terminal portion beyond its third fold line; said container being supported within said resulting carton on said tongues and terminal portions with opposite end surfaces thereof being retained between associated ones of said retaining edges.

20. A blank as set forth in claim 17 in which each of said outwardly extending legs of each U-shaped cut has an arcuate configuration which corresponds to the arcuate configuration of said container carried within said resulting carton.