WO2013126212A1

WO2013126212A1 - Container with auto-locking closure

Info

Publication number: WO2013126212A1
Application number: PCT/US2013/025005
Authority: WO
Inventors: Brandon L. RAMSUER; Linh Li KOOC
Original assignee: Meadwestvaco Corporation
Priority date: 2012-02-20
Filing date: 2013-02-07
Publication date: 2013-08-29

Abstract

A container (10) including a body (12) defining an internal volume (16) and a closure assembly (14) connected to the body, the closure assembly including first and second locking tabs (54, 56), each tab having an opening (90, 92) formed therein, and first and second closure flaps (50, 52), each flap having a sealing panel (60, 72) and a fin panel (62, 74) with engagement members (68, 70) outwardly protruding from each end of the fin panel, wherein one engagement member of each fin panel protrudes through the first opening and another engagement member of each fin panel protrudes through the second opening when the first and second closure flaps are arranged such that the sealing panels enclose the internal volume.

Description

Patent Application:

CONTAINER WITH AUTO-LOCKING CLOSURE

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of United States provisional application serial number 61/600,900, filed on February 20, 2012 which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

[0002] This application relates to containers and, more particularly, to containers having a closure mechanism and, even more particularly, to containers having an auto-locking closure mechanism.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Paperboard-based containers are attractive alternatives to containers, such as lidded containers and clamshells, formed from plastic materials, such as molded polyethylene terephthalate or expanded polystyrene foam. Indeed, paperboard-based containers are now being used for packaging various products, such as consumer goods and ready-to-eat meals. For example, food retailers now offer various prepared meals, such as grab-and-go boxed lunches, in folded paperboard containers.

[0004] Paperboard containers provide an attractive alternative to traditional plastic containers. For example, paperboard containers are typically constructed with a smooth, coated outer surface that provides an excellent medium for printing advertising text and graphics. Furthermore, paperboard containers are constructed from renewable materials— wood pulp— and, therefore, are considered to be more "green" than traditional plastic containers.

[0005] Unfortunately, folded paperboard containers may be more difficult to close than traditional plastic containers. For example, traditional paperboard containers typically include an enclosure having various flaps that must be properly manipulated to ensure closure. Therefore, closing traditional paperboard containers can be time consuming.

[0006] Accordingly, those skilled in the art continue with research and development efforts in the field of containers.

SUMMARY

[0007] In one embodiment, the disclosed container with auto-locking closure may include a body defining an internal volume and a closure assembly connected to the body, the closure assembly including one or more locking tabs and one or more closure flaps, wherein the locking tab engages and retains the closure flap when the closure flap is moved into a configuration in which the closure flap encloses the internal volume of the body.

[0008] In another embodiment, the disclosed container with auto-locking closure may include a body defining an internal volume and a closure assembly connected to the body, the closure assembly including first and second locking tabs, each tab having an opening formed therein, and first and second closure flaps, each flap having a sealing panel and a fin panel with engagement members outwardly protruding from each end of the fin panel, wherein one engagement member of each fin panel protrudes through the first opening and another engagement member of each fin panel protrudes through the second opening when the first and second closure flaps are arranged such that the sealing panels enclose the internal volume.

[0009] In yet another embodiment, the disclosed container with auto-locking closure may include a body defining an internal volume and a closure assembly connected to the body, the closure assembly including a first locking tab longitudinally opposed from a second locking tab, the first locking tab defining a first opening and the second locking tab defining a second opening, a first closure flap including a first sealing panel and a first fin panel, the first fin panel having first and second ends and including a first engagement member outwardly protruding from the first end and a second engagement member outwardly protruding from the second end, and a second closure flap including a second sealing panel and a second fin panel, the second fin panel having first and second ends and including a third engagement member outwardly protruding from the first end of the second fin panel and a fourth engagement member outwardly protruding from the second end of the second fin panel, wherein the first engagement member and the third engagement member protrude through the first opening and the second engagement member and the fourth engagement member protrude through the second opening when the first and second closure flaps are arranged such that the first and second sealing panels enclose the internal volume.

[0010] Other embodiments of the disclosed container with auto-locking closure will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of one embodiment of the disclosed container with auto-locking closure;

[0012] Fig. 2 is a side perspective view of the container of Fig. 1;

[0013] Fig. 3 is a side perspective view of a portion of the container of Fig. 2, shown in an open configuration;

[0014] Fig. 4 is a side perspective view of the container of Fig. 3, shown while in the process of being closed;

[0015] Fig. 5 is a side perspective view of a portion of the container of Fig. 4, shown in a closed configuration; and

[0016] Fig. 6 is a top plan view of a die-cut blank that may be used to form the container of Fig. 1.

DETAILED DES CRIPTION

[0017] Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, one embodiment of the disclosed container with auto- locking closure, generally designated 10, may include a three-dimensional body 12 and a closure assembly 14. The body 12 may define an internal volume 16 and the closure assembly 14 may be connected to the body 12 to generally enclose the internal volume 16.

[0018] The body 12 may include a first (front) major wall panel 18, a second (rear) major wall panel 20, a first (left) side wall panel 22, a second (right) side wall panel 24 and a base wall panel 26. The general shape of the body 12 in plan view may be dictated by the shape of the base wall panel 26.

[0019] The major wall panels 18, 20 and the side wall panels 22, 24 may each be connected, either directly or indirectly, to the base wall panel 26. Specifically, the first major wall panel 18 may be connected to the base wall panel 26 along edge 28, the second major wall panel 20 may be connected to the base wall panel 26 along edge 30, the first side wall panel 22 may be connected to the base wall panel 26 along edge 32, and the second side wall panel 24 may be connected to the base wall panel 26 along edge 34.

[0020] The major wall panels 18, 20 and the side wall panels 22, 24 may each protrude upward from the base wall panel 26. Therefore, the first major wall panel 18 may be connected to the first side wall panel 22 along edge 36 and the second side wall panel 24 along edge 38. The second major wall panel 20 may be connected to the first side wall panel 22 along edge 40 and the second side wall panel 24 along edge 42.

[0021] Thus, the major wall panels 18, 20, the side wall panels 22, 24 and the base wall panel 26 may define the internal volume 16 of the body 12. The closure assembly 14 may be fixedly connected to the major wall panels 18, 20 and releasably connected to the side wall panels 22, 24 to enclose the internal volume 16.

[0022] While the body 12 of the container 10 is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 has having a generally trapezoidal shape (i.e., the second side wall panel 24 is wider than the first side wall panel 22), those skilled in the art will appreciate that container bodies of various shapes and configurations, such as generally square or rectangular, may be constructed without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0023] A plurality of products (not shown) may be housed in the internal volume 16. For example, the products may be consumer goods, food-stuffs or the like. Therefore, the overall size and shape of the body 12 of the container 10 may be dictated by, among other things, the size, shape and quantity of products to be housed in the internal volume 16.

[0024] Referring to Figs. 1-3, the closure assembly 14 may include a first closure flap 50, a second closure flap 52, a first locking tab 54 and a second locking tab 56. The first and second closure flaps 50, 52 may enclose the internal volume 16, while the first and second locking tabs 54, 56 may engage the first and second closure flaps 50, 52 to lock the closure flaps 50, 52 in the closed configuration, as shown in Fig. 5.

[0025] The first closure flap 50 may include a first sealing panel 60 and a first fin panel 62. The first sealing panel 60 may be connected to the first major wall panel 18 along edge 64, and may extend substantially along the length of the first major wall panel 18. The first fin panel 62 may be connected to the first sealing panel 60 along edge 66, and may extend along all, or only a portion of, the length of the first sealing panel 18.

[0026] The first fin panel 62 may include a first (left) engagement member 68 and a second (right) engagement member 70. The first engagement member 68 may protrude

longitudinally outward from the container 10 beyond the first side wall panel 22. The second engagement member 70 may protrude longitudinally outward from the container 10 beyond the second side wall panel 24.

[0027] The second closure flap 52 may include a second sealing panel 72 and a second fin panel 74. The second sealing panel 72 may be connected to the second major wall panel 20 along edge 76, and may extend substantially along the length of the second major wall panel 20. The second fin panel 74 may be connected to the second sealing panel 72 along edge 78, and may extend along all, or only a portion of, the length of the second sealing panel 72.

[0028] The second fin panel 74 may include a first (left) engagement member 80 and a second (right) engagement member 82. The first engagement member 80 may protrude longitudinally outward from the container 10 beyond the first side wall panel 22. The second engagement member 82 may protrude longitudinally outward from the container 10 beyond the second side wall panel 24.

[0029] As best shown in Figs. 1 and 3, each engagement member 68, 70, 80, 82 may include a camming edge 84 and may terminate at an outwardly protruding tip 86. In the closed configuration shown in Fig. 1, the camming edge 84 may substantially extend at an obtuse angle (e.g., 135 degrees) relative to the vertical plane defined by the respective side wall panel 22, 24.

[0030] Still referring to Figs. 1-3, the first locking tab 54 may protrude upward from the first side wall panel 22. As best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the first locking tab 54 may define a first opening 90, which may be sized and shaped to receive portions of the first engagement members 68, 80 of the first and second fin panels 62, 74.

[0031] The second locking tab 56 may protrude upward from the second side wall panel 24. As best shown in Fig. 1 and 2, the second locking tab 56 may define a second opening 92, which may be sized and shaped to receive portions of the second engagement members 70, 82 of the first and second fin panels 62, 74.

[0032] Referring to Figs. 3-5, the closure assembly 14 may be arranged to enclose the internal volume 16 of the container body 12 by pivoting the first closure flap 50 along edge 64 and the second closure flap 52 along edge 76 to bring the first fin panel 62 into generally flush alignment with the second fin panel 74. As the first fin panel 62 is brought into generally flush alignment with the second fin panel 74, the first and second fin panels 62, 74 may pivot relative to the first and second sealing panels 60, 72 along edges 66, 78, respectively, thereby enclosing the internal volume 16 with the first and second sealing panels 60, 72 and situating the first and second fin panels 62, 74 such that they are arranged generally perpendicular to the first and second sealing panels 60, 72.

[0033] As best shown in Fig. 4, as the first fin panel 62 is brought into generally flush alignment with the second fin panel 74 and the first and second fin panels 62, 74 are urged downward (arrow A) such that the first and second sealing panels 60, 72 enclose the internal volume 16 (Fig. 3), the camming edges 84 of the engagement members 68, 70, 80, 82 (only engagement members 68, 80 are shown in Fig. 4) move into camming engagement with the locking tabs 54, 56 (only locking tab 54 is shown in Fig. 4), thereby causing the locking tabs 54, 56 to pivot outward, as shown by arrow B.

[0034] Finally, as best shown in Fig. 5, once the first and second fin panels 62, 74 have been urged sufficiently downward such that the protruding tips 86 of the engagement members 68, 70, 80, 82 (only engagement members 68, 80 are shown in Fig. 5) are aligned with the openings 90, 92 in the locking tabs 54, 56 (only locking tab 54 and opening 90 are shown in Fig. 5), the engagement members 68, 70, 80, 82 may extend through the openings 90, 92 in the locking tabs 54, 56 and the locking tabs 54, 56 may return to their original position (i.e., not pivoted outward), thereby locking the first and second fin panels 62, 74 in engagement with the locking tabs 54, 56. Thus, the engagement members 68, 70, 80, 82 may be shaped to readily enter their associated openings 90, 92 without direct manipulation of locking tabs 54, 56 (for example, without any need to touch or handle locking tabs 54, 56 while closing container 10), but then to resist removal of engagement members 68, 70, 80,82 from openings 90, 82 unless locking tabs 54, 56 are manipulated directly (for example, by the user pulling the locking tabs outward to release engagement members 68, 70, 80, 82 and open the container 10).

[0035] In a first optional expression, each locking tab 54, 56 may include a pre-formed weakness 94. The pre-formed weakness 94 may be formed using various weakening techniques, such as scoring, creasing, perforating or the like. While the pre-formed weakness 94 is shown in the drawings as an arcuate line, pre-formed weaknesses of various configurations (e.g., straight, non-linear) may be formed in the locking tabs 54, 56 without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0036] At this point, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the pre-formed weaknesses 94 in the locking tabs 54, 56 may facilitate controlled flexing of the locking tabs 54, 56. Therefore, when a pivoting force is applied to the locking tabs, such as when the camming edges 84 of the engagement members 68, 70, 80, 82 move into camming engagement with the locking tabs 54, 56 to outwardly pivot (arrow B in Fig. 4) the locking tabs 54, 56, flexing occurs primarily along the pre-formed weaknesses 94.

[0037] In a second optional expression, the first and second side wall panels 22, 24 may each include a pre-formed line of weakness 96. The pre-formed line of weakness 96 may be formed by controlled weakening of the first and second side wall panels 22, 24, such as by scoring, creasing or perforating the first and second side wall panels 22, 24 along the preformed lines of weakness 96.

[0038] The pre-formed lines of weakness 96 may vertically extend along all or a portion of the height of the first and second side wall panels 22, 24. Therefore, the pre-formed lines of weakness 96 may facilitate longitudinally outward bowing of the first and second side wall panels 22, 24. However, when the container 10 is being closed, the lateral outward force applied to the first and second major wall panels 18, 20 by the closing of the first and second closure flaps 50, 52 may apply an lateral outward force to the first and second side wall panels 22, 24, thereby overcoming any bowing of the first and second side wall panels 22, 24 and urging the first and second locking tabs 54, 56 longitudinally inward into engagement with the engagement members 68, 70, 80, 82. [0039] In a third optional expression, the first and second fin panels 62, 74 of the closure flaps 50, 52 may define a carry handle 98, as shown in Fig. 1. A locking flap 100 may extend from one fin panel 74 and may be wrapped around the carry handle 98 to secure together the first and second fin panels 62, 74 proximate the carry handle 98.

[0040] In a fourth optional expression, the first and second sealing panels 60, 72 of the closure flaps 50, 52 may cooperate to define a beverage carrier 102, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The beverage carrier 102 may be formed as an opening 104, such as a generally circular opening sized to receive a standard cylindrical or frustoconical beverage container therein. Half of the opening 104 may be defined by the first sealing panel 60 and the other half of the opening 104 may be defined by the second sealing panel 72 such that the complete opening 104 is presented when the container 10 is in the closed configuration (Figs. 1, 2 and 5). Optional tabs 106 may protrude inward from the opening 104 to engage and reduce shifting of a beverage container received in the opening 104.

[0041] In a fifth optional expression, one or more of the first and second major wall panels 18, 20 and the first and second side wall panels 22, 24 may be marked with indicia 108, as shown in Fig. 2, such as advertising text or graphics. As an alternative to, or in addition to, being marked with indicia 108, a window (not shown) may be formed in one or more of the first and second major wall panels 18, 20 and the first and second side wall panels 22, 24 to give potential consumers a glimpse of what is contained within the container 10.

[0042] The disclosed container 10 may be assembled from a container blank, such as the container blank 200 shown in Fig. 6.

[0043] The container blank 200 may be cut (e.g., die cut) from a sheet of stock material to define an outer periphery 202. In one particular construction, the stock material may be a paperboard-based material, such as CI S paperboard, which may have a coating (e.g., clay) on a first major surface thereof and an uncoated second major surface, or C2S paperboard, which may have a coating (e.g., clay) on both major surfaces thereof.

[0044] The container blank 200 may include a plurality of pre-formed fold lines that define the first major wall panel 18, the second major wall panel 20, the first side wall panel 22, the second side wall panel (comprised of panel components 24A, 24B connectable with a sealing strip 204), the base wall panel (comprised of panel components 26A, 26B connectable with a sealing strip 206), the first closure flap 50 (including sealing panel 60 and fin panel 62) and the second closure flap 52 (including sealing panel 72 and fin panel 74). The engagement members 68, 70 may be integral with the first closure flap 50, the engagement members 80, 82 may be integral with the second closure flap 52, the locking tab 54 may be integral with the first side wall panel 22, and the locking tab 56 may be integral with the second side wall panel component 24A.

[0045] Optionally, a first gusset 208 may connect the second side wall panel component 24A with the base wall panel component 26A, second and third gussets 210, 212 may connect the first side wall panel 22 to base wall panel components 26A, 26B, respectively, and fourth gusset 214 may connect the second side wall panel component 24B with the base wall panel component 26B. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the gussets 208, 210, 212, 214 may provide a connection between the side wall panels 22, 24 and the base wall panel 26 that allows for slight expansion, as well as bowing of the side wall panels 22, 24, such as along the pre-formed lines of weakness 96.

[0046] Thus, the body 12 of the container 10 may be assembled by folding the container blank 200 along the vertical pre-formed fold lines 216 and the horizontal pre-formed fold lines 218, sealing the second side wall panel component 24A to the second side wall panel component 24B using sealing strip 204, and sealing the base wall panel component 26A to the base wall panel component 26B. Then, the body 12 of the container 10 may be loaded with various products before arranging the first and second closure flaps 50, 52 into locking engagement with the locking tabs 54, 56 to enclose the container.

[0047] Accordingly, the disclosed container 10 may be formed from paperboard and may include a simple, easy to use closure assembly 14 that automatically locks the container 10 in a closed configuration when the first and second closure flaps 50, 52 are moved to enclose the internal volume 16 of the container body 12.

[0048] Although various embodiments of the disclosed container with auto-locking closure have been shown and described, modifications may occur to those skilled in the art upon reading the specification. The present application includes such modifications and is limited only by the scope of the claims.

[0049] What is claimed is:

Claims

1. A container comprising:

a body defining an internal volume; and

a closure assembly connected to said body, said closure assembly comprising:

a first locking tab longitudinally opposed from a second locking tab, said first locking tab defining a first opening and said second locking tab defining a second opening;

a first closure flap comprising a first sealing panel and a first fin panel, said first fin panel having a first end longitudinally opposed from a second end, and comprising a first engagement member outwardly protruding from said first end and a second engagement member outwardly protruding from said second end; and

a second closure flap comprising a second sealing panel and a second fin panel, said second fin panel having a first end longitudinally opposed from a second end, and comprising a third engagement member outwardly protruding from said first end of said second fin panel and a fourth engagement member outwardly protruding from said second end of said second fin panel,

wherein said first engagement member and said third engagement member protrude through said first opening and said second engagement member and said fourth engagement member protrude through said second opening when said first closure flap and said second closure flap are arranged to enclose said internal volume with said first sealing panel and said second sealing panel,

wherein said engagement members are shaped to readily enter said associated openings without direct manipulation of said locking tabs, and to resist removal from said associated openings unless said locking tabs are directly manipulated.

2. The container of Claim 1 wherein said body comprises paperboard.

3. The container of Claim 1 wherein said closure assembly is integral with said body.

4. The container of Claim 1 wherein each of said first and said second locking tabs comprises a pre-formed weakness.

5. The container of Claim 4 wherein said pre-formed weakness is configured as a line.

6. The container of Claim 5 wherein said line is an arcuate line.

7. The container of Claim 1 wherein said first fin panel is in substantially flush alignment with said second fin panel when said first closure flap and said second closure flap are arranged to enclose said internal volume with said first sealing panel and said second sealing panel.

8. The container of Claim 7 wherein said first fin panel and said second fin panel define a carry handle when said first fin panel and said second fin panel are in said flush alignment.

9. The container of Claim 1 wherein said first fin panel and said second fin panel define a beverage carrier when said first fin panel and said second fin panel are in said flush alignment.

10. The container of Claim 1 wherein each of said first, said second, said third and said fourth engagement members comprise a camming edge.

1 1. The container of Claim 10 wherein said camming edges of said first and said third engagement members are in camming engagement with said first locking tab while said first closure flap and said second closure flap are being arranged to enclose said internal volume with said first sealing panel and said second sealing panel.

12. The container of Claim 10 wherein said camming edges of said second and said fourth engagement members are in camming engagement with said second locking tab while said first closure flap and said second closure flap are being arranged to enclose said internal volume with said first sealing panel and said second sealing panel.

13. The container of Claim 1 wherein each of said first, said second, said third and said fourth engagement members comprise a protruding tip.

14. The container of Claim 1 wherein said body comprises:

a first major wall panel opposed from a second major wall panel; and

a first side wall panel opposed from a second side wall panel.

15. The container of Claim 14 wherein said body further comprises a base wall panel extending between said first major wall panel, said second major wall panel, said first side wall panel and said second side wall panel.

16. The container of Claim 15 wherein said first and said second side wall panels each comprise a pre-formed line of weakness extending generally vertically relative to said base wall panel.

17. The container of Claim 14 wherein said first locking tab is connected to said first side wall panel and said second locking tab is connected to said second side wall panel.

18. The container of Claim 17 wherein said first locking tab comprises a pre-formed weakness, and wherein said first locking tab pivots relative to said first side wall panel along said pre-formed weakness while said first closure flap and said second closure flap are being arranged to enclose said internal volume with said first sealing panel and said second sealing panel.

19. The container of Claim 17 wherein said first closure flap is pivotally connected to said first major wall panel and said second closure flap is pivotally connected to said second major wall panel.

20. A container comprising:

a body defining an internal volume, said body comprising:

a first major wall panel opposed from a second major wall panel;

a first side wall panel opposed from a second side wall panel; and a base wall panel extending between said first major wall panel, said second major wall panel, said first side wall panel and said second side wall panel; and

a closure assembly connected to said body, said closure assembly comprising:

a first locking tab connected to said first side wall panel, said first locking tab defining a first opening therein;

a second locking tab connected to said second side wall panel, said second locking tab defining a second opening therein; a first closure flap pivotally connected to said first major wall panel, said first closure flap comprising a first sealing panel and a first fin panel, said first fin panel having a first end longitudinally opposed from a second end and comprising a first engagement member outwardly protruding from said first end and a second engagement member outwardly protruding from said second end; and

a second closure flap pivotally connected to said second major wall panel, said second closure flap comprising a second sealing panel and a second fin panel, said second fin panel having a first end longitudinally opposed from a second end and comprising a first engagement member outwardly protruding from said first end of said second fin panel and a second engagement member outwardly protruding from said second end of said second fin panel,

wherein said first engagement member of said first fin panel and said first engagement member of said second fin panel protrude through said first opening and said second engagement member of said first fin panel and said second engagement member of said second fin panel protrude through said second opening when said first and said second closure flaps are moved into a closed configuration in which said first and said second sealing panels enclose said internal volume.