Patents Represented by Attorney Tsugihiko Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6669083
    Abstract: A carton includes a first wall, a second wall connected to the first wall along a corner fold line and disposed at an angle with respect to the first wall to define a corner of the carton along the corner fold line, and a tear line formed in the first wall and extending into the second wall to define a tear panel disposed astride the corner fold line. The tear panel includes a push tab connected thereto along a transverse fold line extending transversely of the corner fold line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Meadwestvaco Packaging Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Aaron Bates
  • Patent number: 6615984
    Abstract: An article carrier and a blank for forming an article carrier for holding a plurality of articles, for example bottles. The carrier comprises a plurality of wall panels for forming a tubular structure. The wall panels include a pair of side wall panels, one of which is provided with a reinforcing tab hingedly connected thereto along an article-retaining edge of a first aperture for receiving an article. The reinforcing tab is folded to underlie the one side wall panel to provide a two-ply structure adjacent the article-retaining edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: MeadWestvaco Packaging Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Alain Saulas, Jean-Michel Garnier
  • Patent number: 6598784
    Abstract: A carton and a carton blank each includes a first wall, a second wall hingedly connected to the first wall, a handle strap attached at an end thereof to an inwardly displaceable portion of the second wall. The strap is arranged in a stored position to be in substantially co-planar relationship with the first wall, wherein inward displacement of the inwardly displaceable portion provides a surplus of material to enable the user part of the strap to be brought into a position of use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: MeadWestvaco Packaging Syatens, LLC
    Inventors: Philippe LaBras, Jean-Michel Auclair
  • Patent number: 6568585
    Abstract: An article carrier and a blank for an article carrier for holding an article, for example a tray, comprising a top wall, opposed side walls and a base wall hingedly connected together to form a tubular structure and wherein there further comprises an article retention structure hingedly connected to the top wall and the base panel. The article retention structure is formed by a pair of interconnected panels formed from adjacent carton walls and inwardly folded to retain the article within the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Meadwestvaco Packaging Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Philippe Marie
  • Patent number: 6550616
    Abstract: An article carrier and a blank for an article carrier for holding articles with tapered sides, for example connected plastic cups, comprising a top wall, opposed side walls and a base wall hingedly connected together to form a tubular structure. An article retention structure is hingedly connected to one of the side walls and the base panel. The article retention structure is formed by a plurality of panels including a side end flap so constructed and arranged to taper inwardly towards the base wall to substantially conform to the shape of an adjacent article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Meadwestvaco Packaging Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Philippe Le Bras
  • Patent number: 6536656
    Abstract: A carton and blank for forming a carton for packaging a plurality of articles, for example bottles, comprises a plurality of panels for forming a tubular structure including a top wall panel having opposed side edges and end edges. The top panel is provided with first and second spaced apertures provided therein so as to define a handle, and a score line extends from the handle to a cut line disposed along a side edge of the top wall panel thereby to direct lifting stresses away from the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: The Mead Corporation
    Inventors: Jean-Michel Auclair, Patrick Blin
  • Patent number: 6527108
    Abstract: An article carrier and blank for forming the article carrier are provided to package a plurality of necked articles. The carrier or blank comprises a top, bottom and opposed side panels interconnected together. The top panel comprises article receiving and retaining arrangement including an article retaining flap formed from the top panel. The article retaining flap is adapted to be folded inwardly of the top panel thereby to define an aperture for receiving a neck portion of the article. When the article neck portion is received in the aperture, the article retaining flap abuts the neck portion to engage and retain the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: The Mead Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick Blin, Alain Saulas, Jean-Michel Auclair
  • Patent number: 6505739
    Abstract: A sleeve and a blank for forming a sleeve for holding information discs, for example compact discs or the like includes a back panel, a partition panel foldably connected to one of the side edges of the back panel, and a front panel foldably connected to the bottom edge of the back panel. The partition panel is folded and disposed over the back panel to define a first disc pocket between the back panel and the partition panel. The front panel is folded and disposed over the partition panel to define a second disc pocket between the partition panel and the front panel as well as to provide a closed bottom for both the first and second disc pockets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: The Mead Corporation
    Inventor: Jean-Michel Garnier
  • Patent number: 6502743
    Abstract: A carton comprises first and second panels disposed in an overlapping relationship, and an interlocking arrangement for interconnecting the first and second panels. The interlocking arrangement comprises a slit formed in the first panel, and a tab projecting from the free end edge of the second panel and received in the slit. The slit includes a main slit portion disposed generally along the free end edge of the first panel, an intermediate slit potion emanating from an end of the main slit portion and extending away from the free end edge of the first panel, and a terminal slit portion emanating from the intermediate slit portion and extending away from the main slit portion to be disposed generally along the free end edge of the first panel. The tab comprises an ear protruding from at least one of the opposite side edges of the tab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: The Mead Corporation
    Inventor: Tamio Ikeda
  • Patent number: 6488322
    Abstract: An article carrier and blank for forming an article carrier for accommodating a plurality of articles, for example, bottles having a trapezoidal cross section. The carrier comprises a top, a base and opposed sides interconnecting the top and the base wherein one or more of the side walls are placed in an acute angular relationship with respect to the base. The carrier is collapsible along a supplemental hinged connection formed in the base thereby to enable the carrier to move between flat collapsed and set up conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: The Mead Corporation
    Inventor: Martinus C. M. Bakx
  • Patent number: 6478219
    Abstract: A carton includes a first wall, a second wall connected to the first wall along a corner fold line and disposed at an angle with respect to the first wall to define a corner of the carton along the corner fold line, and a tear line formed in the first wall and extending into the second wall to define a tear panel disposed astride the corner fold line. The tear panel includes a push tab connected thereto along a transverse fold line extending transversely of the corner fold line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: The Mead Corporation
    Inventor: John M. Holley, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6443301
    Abstract: A multi-sleeve booklet for holding flat objects includes a plurality of sleeves joined in series and folded upon each other in an accordion fashion, and a spine panel forming a spine of the booklet and hingedly interconnecting all the sleeves together. Each sleeve has a pair of front and back panels hingedly connected together. The front and back panels are secured in face to face contacting relationship while the spine panel is joined to one of the opposed outermost sleeves and secured to the other of the outermost sleeves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: The Mead Corporation
    Inventor: Jean-Michel Garnier
  • Patent number: 6315123
    Abstract: A carton includes first and second overlapping panels and a lock for securing the panels together. The lock includes a locking tab and a retaining tab. The locking tab is joined at its one end edge to the first panel while the retaining tab defines a locking aperture and is connected at its one end edge to one end edge of the locking aperture. The locking tab is folded and received in the locking aperture. The retaining tab is folded and disposed at a folded position where the locking tab leans against the retaining tab. The respective free end edges of the locking and retaining tabs are disposed over the same side of the second panel. One of the locking and retaining tabs comprises a tongue projecting from its free end edge while the other tab is provided with a complementary notch or aperture for receiving the tongue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: The Mead Corporation
    Inventor: Tamio Ikeda
  • Patent number: 6289651
    Abstract: Panel interlocking means secures together first and second panels in overlapping relationship. The first panel comprises a locking tab struck therefrom adjacent the free edge thereof The locking tab extends away from the free edge of the first panel and defines a first aperture in the first panel. The locking tab has a neck portion hinged at its base to the first panel and terminates in its shoulder portion. The second panel includes a second aperture struck therefrom adjacent the free edge thereof. The second aperture receives the locking tab such that when the panels are locked together, the free edge of the second panel is located along the locking tab between the base of the neck portion and the shoulder portion, and the locking tab is engaged with an edge of the first aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: The Mead Corporation
    Inventor: Philippe Le Bras
  • Patent number: 6247585
    Abstract: A carrier for a plurality of articles arranged in at least two rows, includes substantially parallel first and second side walls, substantially parallel first and second end walls interconnecting the side walls, and a medial partitioning structure extending between and connected to the first and second end walls. The medial partitioning structure is disposed between and substantially parallel to the first and second side walls and includes first and second longitudinal partition panels disposed at least in part in face-to-face contacting relationship. The carrier further includes first and second transverse partition panels formed from the first and second longitudinal partition panels respectively. The first transverse partition panel is foldably connected to the first longitudinal partition panel and extends to the first side wall. The second transverse partition panel is foldably connected to the second longitudinal partition panel and extends to the second side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: The Mead Corporation
    Inventor: John M. Holley, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6209731
    Abstract: A gravity feed merchandising device includes a plurality of longitudinally extending, downwardly inclined tracks. Each track includes a pair of parallel rails defining a space therebetween. The rails support a row of bottles such that the underside of each bottle neck flange engages the rails for movement relative to the rails. Each track is provided at its front end with a spring-urged stopper so that the cap of the leading bottle in that track is prevented from dislodgement through the front end of the track when the leading bottle is supported by the track, but can be removed from the track through the front end when pulled against the stopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Display Industries, LLC
    Inventors: William S. Spamer, J. Marshall Suttles, Dennis E. Parham, James Douglas Whiten
  • Patent number: 6202920
    Abstract: A blank for forming a carton for packaging a plurality of articles includes a series of hingably interconnected top, first side, bottom and second side panels for forming an open ended sleeve capable of receiving articles. The top and bottom panels are similarly non-rectangularly shaped substantially to correlate with the cross-sectional shape of the array of articles in a plane parallel to the top and bottom panels. Each side panel has a plurality of panel portions including a pair of opposite end panel portions and at least one medial panel portion. The panel portions of each side panel are foldably interconnected by fold regions. Each side panel is adapted to be folded so as to put its end and medial panel portions into at least three different planes to conform with the respective shapes of the top and bottom panels. The blank further includes a pair of gussets provided for each side panel. Each gusset includes two hingably interconnected gusset panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: The Mead Corporation
    Inventor: Jean-Michel Auclair
  • Patent number: 6059125
    Abstract: A merchandising device comprises first and second elongated parallel tracks arranged side by side, and a spacer for maintaining a space between the first and second tracks. Each track includes a pair of spaced parallel rails for suspending a row of bottles therefrom such that said bottles in said row are slidably engaged with said rails for movement along that track and are removable from that track through its front end. The spacer comprises a first limb integrally formed with the first track and extending to the second track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Display Industries, LLC.
    Inventor: Dennis E. Parham
  • Patent number: 6019276
    Abstract: A blank for forming a carton for packaging a plurality of articles comprising a series of hingeably interconnected top, first side, bottom and second side panels (12, 14, 16, 18, 20) for forming an open-ended sleeve capable of receiving said articles, the top and bottom panels (12, 18, 20) being similarly non-rectangularly shaped substantially to correlate with the cross-sectional shape of the array of articles in a plan parallel to said top and bottom panels (12, 18, 20), wherein a gusset (38) comprising two hingeably connected gusset panels (58, 60) connects the first side panel (14) and top or bottom panel (12, 18, 20) which gusset (38) is adapted to facilitate movement of the first side panel (14) to correlate with the associated shape of a stowed array of articles during the formation of the carton (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Inventor: Jean-Michel Auclair
  • Patent number: D427522
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Inventor: Carlos Ponzio