Hexagonal Patents (Class 229/110)
  • Patent number: 7578428
    Abstract: A carry-out food container comprised of a flexible open-ended, bag-like container having an upper partially transparent panel and a lower panel, in combination with a food tray which is movable into and out of the closable open end of the bag-like container, the tray having a food-supporting planar base panel with a peripheral edge supporting an upstanding sidewall that extends partially therearound to define an unrestricted access to the interior of the tray, the tray being freely movable within the container to a position where the tray base panel is beneath the window and its unrestricted access is adjacent to and slightly inward of the openable end of the closable container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: PDOC, LLC
    Inventor: Todd R. Charlton
  • Patent number: 7549570
    Abstract: A container made from corrugated paperboard has more than four sides and is constructed to resist distortion when force is applied to the ends or sides of the container, and also to resist crushing when containers are stacked on top of one another. In one embodiment, the container has six sides, with two side walls, two end walls, and two diagonally opposed diagonal corner panels and two diagonally opposed square corners. In another embodiment, the container has seven sides, with two side walls, two end walls, and three diagonal corner panels and one square corner. In a further embodiment, the container has eight sides, with two side walls, two end walls, and four diagonally opposed diagonal corner panels. In this embodiment, the diagonal corner panels are oriented so that they subtend an angle of from about 35° to about 40°, and preferably 38°, with respect to the longitudinal axis of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: International Paper Company
    Inventor: Benjamin W. Quaintance
  • Publication number: 20090095799
    Abstract: A carton having a dispensing opening. The carton can be formed from a paperboard blank so it has six corners and two corner panels and has perforations formed therein to provide an easy opening feature for dispensing product. In addition, the formed carton has improved stacking strength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: Georgia-Pacific Corrugated LLC
    Inventor: Chester Garner
  • Publication number: 20090014507
    Abstract: A container (1) for storing and removing food comprises a first and a second container half (2, 3) which are connected to each other by means of a pivotable connection in order to pivot between an open position (4) and a closed position (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2006
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Inventor: Gianfranco D'Amato
  • Publication number: 20080128478
    Abstract: A container for holding a product, preferably a product in pieces, in particular an edible product, such as sweets, chocolates and the like. The container consists of a container body and comprises product side and base retaining means and at least one outlet opening through which the product comes out. The container body has a polygonal base and there are container closing means, consisting of a lid for closing the product outlet opening, which is suitably connected to the container body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2004
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicant: Nestec S.A.
    Inventor: Sandro Quadrelli
  • Publication number: 20080067221
    Abstract: A container configured to be selectively moved between a substantially flat position and a deployed position is provided. The container includes a first blank of sheet material for forming side walls of the container, and a second blank of sheet material for forming a bottom wall of the container. The first blank having an interior surface and an opposing exterior surface, a top edge and a bottom edge. The first blank includes a first side panel, a second side panel, a third side panel, a fourth side panel, a fifth side panel, and a sixth side panel wherein each of the side panels are coupled across a fold line. The first blank also includes end flaps extending from the bottom edge of each of the side panels wherein at least two of the end flaps includes a tab joint. The second blank having a plurality of side edges equal to a number of side panels of the first blank, each side edge having a width substantially equal to a width of the side panels of the first blank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2006
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Inventors: Tesfahun Y. Mengistu, Thomas D. Graham, John Thomas Yoder
  • Patent number: 7328833
    Abstract: A heavy-duty pallet box for bulk goods and palletized loads. The knockdown box may be folded for storage. To erect it, a flat board comprising a pair of complementary, die-cut blanks, or a unitary blank comprising complementary halves, is unfolded. A central side panel and a pair of adjacent, foldable side panels on each blank are separated by score lines for folding. Suitable flaps project from each blank for gluing them together. A lower, generally trapezoidal segment is formed at each blank bottom, below the central panel. The latter segments, one from each of two blanks, are coupled to form the knockdown bottom of the desired foldable container. Smaller trapezoidal flanges project downwardly from each blank at opposite sides of the larger trapezoidal segment. These flanges include suitable glue tabs. When assembled, the flanges form a shelf that braces the container bottom, reinforcing the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Inventor: Teddy E. Wiley
  • Patent number: 7044305
    Abstract: A toy carrying package having an appearance of a toolbox, and having a handle for convenient transport and a window for viewing an interior of a compartment of the toy carrying package. The compartment is formed from a single sheet of foldable stock material having a plurality of mutually joined panels including first and second major panels each major panel having two opposing major edges and two opposing minor edges, first and second side panels joining together the major panels at the minor edges of the major panels, first and second angled panels extending from the major edges of the major panels, first and second cover panels extending from the angled panels opposite the major panels, and first and second bottom panels extending from the remaining major edges of the major panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark V. Girondi, Linda A. Carr
  • Publication number: 20040222276
    Abstract: A pizza box and blank comprising one or more of the features of (1) a unique end wall and corner panel structure for a box blank structure similar to that shown in Correll U.S. Pat. No. 6,547,125; (2) a unique cover side flap structure for a box blank structure similar to that shown in Correll U.S. Pat. No. 6,547,125; and (3) a unique pressure-reducing crushed area in the bottom panel for a box blank structure similar to that shown in Correll U.S. Pat. No. 6,547,125.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2003
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Inventor: John D. Correll
  • Publication number: 20040222278
    Abstract: A pizza carton and blank of a structure similar to that shown in Correll U.S. Pat. No.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2004
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Inventor: John D. Correll
  • Publication number: 20040222277
    Abstract: A pizza box and blank comprising one or more of the features of (1) a unique cover-locking structure comprising (a) a tab-like projection extending from a front end edge of a panel of a side wall structure and (b) a tab engaging means disposed in the cover, and (2) a unique cover side flap structure constituting a structure similar to that shown in Correll U.S. Pat. No. 6,547,125 except with the minimum height of the cover side flaps being substantially less than the maximum height of the rear wall and/or side wall panels of the box blank, thereby providing a possible way to mate two adjacent blanks during the manufacturing process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2004
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Inventor: John D. Correll
  • Publication number: 20040200891
    Abstract: A box comprising one or both of first and second article-retaining structures, with the first article-retaining structure comprising a first panel attached to a top edge of a wall panel of the box and the second article-retaining structure comprising a first panel attached to an end of a wall panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Publication date: October 14, 2004
    Inventor: John D. Correll
  • Publication number: 20040169066
    Abstract: A gable top package (1, 1′, 1″) for pourable food products comprising a gabled top portion (4) including a front sloping top wall (10) and a back sloping top wall (11) joined together at a top transversal seal (12), characterized in that the gabled top portion (4) includes a pair of lateral flaps (13, 14) adjacent to respective end portions (12a, 12b) of the top transversal seal (12) and folded out of the package top volume available for the food product and delimited by the front and backs loping top walls (10, 11).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2003
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventor: Lars-Erik Palm
  • Publication number: 20040129766
    Abstract: The invention relates to a folded box comprising two principal wall sections (5, 9), which are joined on one side and can be interconnected on the opposing side, for example by means of a flap (39), to form a substantially tubular body, whose ends can be sealed. To reduce production costs, a lateral wall section (11, 12), with ends that taper to a point, is configured in at least one of the two principal wall sections (5, 9).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2003
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Inventor: Joachim Schropp
  • Patent number: 6749107
    Abstract: A container made from corrugated paperboard has more than four sides and is constructed to resist distortion when force is applied to the ends or sides of the container, and also to resist crushing when containers are stacked on top of one another. In one embodiment, the container has six sides, with two side walls, two end walls, and two diagonally opposed diagonal corner panels and two diagonally opposed square corners. In another embodiment, the container has seven sides, with two side walls, two end walls, and three diagonal corner panels and one square corner. In a further embodiment, the container has eight sides, with two side walls, two end walls, and four diagonally opposed diagonal corner panels. In this embodiment, the diagonal corner panels are oriented so that they subtend an angle of from about 35° to about 40°, and preferably 38°, with respect to the longitudinal axis of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: International Paper Company
    Inventor: Benjamin Quaintance
  • Patent number: 6749106
    Abstract: In accordance with the aspects of the present invention, an improved container locking arrangement for a single piece blank and container is disclosed. The present invention includes a blank or a container including a bottom panel with first and second bottom sidewall panels, front and rear opposing wall panels, and first and second box corner locking constructions. Engagement of the corner locking constructions hingedly controls the relative position of the bottom sidewall panels. The corner locking constructions form first and second angled sidewall panels. Sidewall panel tabs disposed on an edge of the angled sidewall panels engage slots on the front wall panel to lock the first and second sidewall panels and the front wall panel in an assembled position. A top panel is hingedly configured to cover the bottom panel, thereby closing the container. First and second top panel flaps engage the first and second corner locking constructions to lock the top panel relative to the bottom panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Weyerhaeuser Company
    Inventors: Walter D. Keefe, Jr., Nicholas A. Philips
  • Patent number: 6651873
    Abstract: A container made from corrugated paperboard has at least one mitered corner, with an extended edge portion of one of the container walls extending beyond the mitered corner. A bag cuff grab is formed on the extended edge portion to engage and at least temporarily hold in position a bag placed in the container while product is placed in the bag and container. In one embodiment, the container has six sides, with two side walls, two end walls, and two mitered corners. In another embodiment, the container has seven sides, with two side walls, two end walls, and three mitered corners. In a third embodiment, the container has eight sides, with two side walls, two end walls, and four mitered corners. A bag cuff grab can be formed on an extended edge portion at only one or all of the mitered corners, and can be limited to two bag cuff grabs on extended edge portions at diagonally opposite mitered corners. In a preferred embodiment, the bag cuff grab is a notch formed in the extended edge portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: International Paper Company
    Inventor: Benjamin Quaintance
  • Publication number: 20030192945
    Abstract: An octagonal bulk bin of corrugated paperboard has opposed parallel side walls spaced a predetermined distance apart and opposed parallel end walls spaced a predetermined distance apart. The side and end walls are joined by diagonal corner panels. The diagonal corner panels are made wider than the corner panels in a conventional bin, and the side and end walls are narrower, with the corner panels and the end walls having approximately the same width, while maintaining the predetermined spacing. This configuration reduces the bulge experienced when product is loaded into the bin. In addition to the wider corner panels, or in lieu thereof, scores may be placed in at least one of the side and end panels to define a line along which controlled and predetermined buckling will take place, if buckling occurs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2003
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Inventor: Benjamin William Quaintance
  • Publication number: 20030141354
    Abstract: A container made from corrugated paperboard has more than four sides and is constructed to resist distortion when force is applied to the ends or sides of the container, and also to resist crushing when containers are stacked on top of one another. In one embodiment, the container has six sides, with two side walls, two end walls, and two diagonally opposed diagonal corner panels and two diagonally opposed square corners. In another embodiment, the container has seven sides, with two side walls, two end walls, and three diagonal corner panels and one square corner. In a further embodiment, the container has eight sides, with two side walls, two end walls, and four diagonally opposed diagonal corner panels. In this embodiment, the diagonal corner panels are oriented so that they subtend an angle of from about 35° to about 40°, and preferably 38°, with respect to the longitudinal axis of the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2003
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventor: Benjamin Quaintance
  • Patent number: 6598785
    Abstract: A container made from corrugated paperboard has more than four sides and is constructed to resist distortion when force is applied to the ends or sides of the container, and also to resist crushing when containers are stacked on top of one another. In one embodiment, the container has six sides, with two side walls, two end walls, and two diagonally opposed diagonal corner panels and two diagonally opposed square corners. In another embodiment, the container has seven sides, with two side walls, two end walls, and three diagonal corner panels and one square corner. In a further embodiment, the container has eight sides, with two side walls, two end walls, and four diagonally opposed diagonal corner panels. In this embodiment, the diagonal corner panels are oriented so that they subtend an angle of from about 35° to about 40°, and preferably 38°, with respect to the longitudinal axis of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: International Paper Company
    Inventor: Benjamin Quaintance
  • Patent number: 6588651
    Abstract: An octagonal bulk bin of corrugated paperboard has opposed parallel side walls spaced a predetermined distance apart and opposed parallel end walls spaced a predetermined distance apart. The side and end walls are joined by diagonal corner panels. The diagonal corner panels are made wider than the corner panels in a conventional bin, and the side and end walls are narrower, with the corner panels and the end walls having approximately the same width, while maintaining the predetermined spacing. This configuration reduces the bulge experienced when product is loaded into the bin. In addition to the wider corner panels, or in lieu thereof, scores may be placed in at least one of the side and end panels to define a line along which controlled and predetermined buckling will take place, if buckling occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: International Paper Company
    Inventor: Benjamin William Quaintance
  • Publication number: 20030121961
    Abstract: A single piece paperboard container for holding relatively flat circular food products is formed from a container having top and bottom walls with at least four side walls integrally connected to the top and bottom walls. The improved container includes a plurality of integral fold lines providing for substantial separation between the top wall and the bottom wall such that the remaining portion of the single piece paperboard container is capable of being reduced in size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2002
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Inventors: Mark Alan Pilgrim, Maia Lee Vasquez
  • Publication number: 20030116612
    Abstract: Packets of cigarettes (2) sold in multiples are wrapped in a rigid carton (1) with a predominating longitudinal axis (L) that extends parallel to the longitudinal axes (7) of the single packets (2) and presents a prismatic shape of polygonal section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Inventors: Roberto Polloni, Chiara Colo
  • Patent number: 6568586
    Abstract: A foldable cardboard food box (10) includes a base (16), a back wall (28), a cover (34), a front wall (46), a dip tray panel (54), a support wall (64), and base side wall assemblies (74) that are constructed such that upon folding the box provides a food receptacle (12) and a dip tray section (14) with a dip tray panel (54) supported by side wall vertical edge junctions (108) that are spaced rearward from the front wall (46).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Domino's Pizza PMC, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas M. VanEsley, Karen M. Chiera
  • Patent number: 6547125
    Abstract: A non-fastened food carton embodying one or more of the following structural features: (1) a slanting-wall-enabling cover side flap structure, (2) a bottom panel that has a front-to-rear length that's longer than a left-to-right width of the bottom panel and a full-length cover panel that has a front-to-rear length that's shorter than the bottom panel's front-to-rear length, (3) a bottom panel having a front-to-rear length that's at least six millimeters longer than the diameter of a pizza contained within the carton and a full-length cover panel having a front-to-rear length that's at least eight millimeters shorter than the diameter of the pizza, (4) a stack of inward-slanting-wall pizza cartons that have no stacking-impeding tabs projecting beyond the cover panel, (5) a non-rectangular carton structure involving a cover front flap that has a height that's substantially shorter than the height of the front wall, and (6) a rigidizing rear wall in which the rear wall has a left-t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Inventor: John D. Correll
  • Publication number: 20030047593
    Abstract: A non-fastened food carton embodying one or more of the following structural features: (1) a slanting-wall-enabling cover side flap structure, (2) a bottom panel that has a front-to-rear length that's longer than a left-to-right width of the bottom panel and a full-length cover panel that has a front-to-rear length that's shorter than the bottom panel's front-to-rear length, (3) a bottom panel having a front-to-rear length that's at least six millimeters longer than the diameter of a pizza contained within the carton and a full-length cover panel having a front-to-rear length that's at least eight millimeters shorter than the diameter of the pizza, (4) a stack of inward-slanting-wall pizza cartons that have no stacking-impeding tabs projecting beyond the cover panel, (5) a non-rectangular carton structure involving a cover front flap that has a height that's substantially shorter than the height of the front wall, and (6) a rigidizing rear wall in which the rear wall has a left-to-right width at least six mil
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2001
    Publication date: March 13, 2003
    Inventor: John D. Correll
  • Publication number: 20030019919
    Abstract: A container made from corrugated paperboard has at least one mitered corner, with an extended edge portion of one of the container walls extending beyond the mitered corner. A bag cuff grab is formed on the extended edge portion to engage and at least temporarily hold in position a bag placed in the container while product is placed in the bag and container. In one embodiment, the container has six sides, with two side walls, two end walls, and two mitered corners. In another embodiment, the container has seven sides, with two side walls, two end walls, and three mitered corners. In a third embodiment, the container has eight sides, with two side walls, two end walls, and four mitered corners. A bag cuff grab can be formed on only one or all of the mitered corners, and can be limited to two bag cuff grabs on diagonally opposite mitered corners. In a preferred embodiment, the bag cuff grab is a notch formed in the extended edge portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2002
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY
    Inventor: Benjamin Quaintance
  • Publication number: 20030019920
    Abstract: A container made from corrugated paperboard has more than four sides and is constructed to resist distortion when force is applied to the ends or sides of the container, and also to resist crushing when containers are stacked on top of one another. In one embodiment, the container has six sides, with two side walls, two end walls, and two diagonally opposed diagonal corner panels and two diagonally opposed square corners. In another embodiment, the container has seven sides, with two side walls, two end walls, and three diagonal corner panels and one square corner. In a further embodiment, the container has eight sides, with two side walls, two end walls, and four diagonally opposed diagonal corner panels. In this embodiment, the diagonal corner panels are oriented so that they subtend an angle of from about 35° to about 40°, and preferably 38°, with respect to the longitudinal axis of the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2002
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY
    Inventor: Benjamin Quaintance
  • Publication number: 20030015578
    Abstract: In accordance with the aspects of the present invention, an improved container locking arrangement for a single piece blank and container is disclosed. The present invention includes a blank or a container including a bottom panel with first and second bottom sidewall panels, front and rear opposing wall panels, and first and second box corner locking constructions. Engagement of the corner locking constructions hingedly controls the relative position of the bottom sidewall panels. The corner locking constructions form first and second angled sidewall panels. Sidewall panel tabs disposed on an edge of the angled sidewall panels engage slots on the front wall panel to lock the first and second sidewall panels and the front wall panel in an assembled position. A top panel is hingedly configured to cover the bottom panel, thereby closing the container. First and second top panel flaps engage the first and second corner locking constructions to lock the top panel relative to the bottom panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2002
    Publication date: January 23, 2003
    Inventors: Walter D. Keefe, Nicholas A. Philips
  • Publication number: 20020190110
    Abstract: A rigid pack (100) with a hinged lid (12) serves both as a carton proportioned to accommodate a plurality of packets (1) of cigarettes (3), and as a single packet (1); in either instance the pack comprises a container (10) surmounted by a lid (12) hinged to one open end (11) of the container and rotatable between positions in which the container (10) is open and closed, respectively. The pack (100) appears prismatic in shape and substantially triangular in section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2002
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Inventors: Roberto Polloni, Chiara Colo, Igino Conti, Fiorenzo Draghetti
  • Patent number: 6443357
    Abstract: An object is to secure a sufficient area for bonding a spout open/close member (51). A packaging container has a pair of seal portions; at least five side-surface panel portions (27) for forming a circumferential wall; an end-surface panel portion (35) disposed between the seal portion and the side-surface panel portions (27) and adapted to form a polygonal end-surface portion in cooperation with an intermediate portion (15a) of the seal portion; and flap portions (31) projected, together with end portions (15b) of the seal portion, from the end-surface panel portion (35), each of the flap portions (31) being bent toward a specified panel portion (27a) among the side-surface panel portions (27) and being welded to the specified panel portion (27a). In this case, since the flap portions (31) are welded to the specified panel portions (27a), and the end-surface portion is thus made substantially flat, a sufficiently large flat area can be secured on the end-surface portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance, S.A.
    Inventors: Peter Marbe, Patrik Hylta
  • Patent number: 6422454
    Abstract: A packaging apparatus for shipping and display of multi-component food items, such as a dinner assembled from multi-components. Included is a carton having an interior for receiving the various components required. An internal divider member disposed within the carton cooperates with the carton to maintain a pre-selected order of the components within the container. The carton contains a flip-top feature, and preferably is provided with a window for viewing the carton contents. A pull-out door may also be provided as an auxiliary means of access to the carton interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Kraft Foods, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher D. Barr, Neil Enciso
  • Publication number: 20010023891
    Abstract: A flexible bladder is enclosed within a plurality of overlapping plastic sheets, with the ends of the sheets being secured in place by the weight of the flexible bladder, when filled. The preferred plastic is an extruded, twin-walled, fluted plastic based upon a polypropylene copolymer. In a alternative embodiment, a pair of hexagonal, coaxial sleeves of the preferred plastic have an internal bladder for shipping materials. With both embodiments, hot chocolate is pumped into the bladder and cooled, in situ, to stop the chocolate from cooking further. The container is shipped, and then the chocolate is heated to facilitate pumping the chocolate out of the container. The cooling and heating processes involve the use of a heat exchange pad located between the bladder and the inner sleeve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Publication date: September 27, 2001
    Inventors: Charles M. Nelson, James D. Patton
  • Patent number: 6209781
    Abstract: A disposable container includes support structure that is shiftable between a disposable disposition and an erect disposition, the support structure defining an interior container space when in the erect disposition. The erect support structure has a bottom side section and a generally opposed and spaced apart top side section. A first end section extends between the bottom side section and the top side section and has an aperture defined therein, the aperture being disposed proximate the bottom side section. A second end section is spaced apart from the first end section and extends between the bottom side section and the top side section. In a further embodiment, a disposable container includes support structure that is shiftable between a disposable disposition and an erect disposition, the support structure defining an interior container space when in the erect disposition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Liberty Carton Co.
    Inventors: Carol A. Sylvester, Ted G. Young, Michael Fiterman
  • Patent number: 6206277
    Abstract: A quality-enhancing pizza carton having an improved fall-back side wall structure with a diagonal wall for verticalizing the fall-back side wall, an improved corner wall structure having a connector panel disposed at an oblique angle to the bottom panel, and a cover anti-shift structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Inventor: John D. Correll
  • 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: 6161754
    Abstract: The present invention provides a three dimensional package which includes a front wall, a back wall, a plurality of side walls, and a bottom wall. The bottom wall and the plurality of side walls join the front wall to the back wall in a spaced, generally parallel relationship. A lid is provided having a front wall lid portion, a tapered portion configured for covering the notched opening, and a tab configured for being gripped by a user. The lid is hinged to the front wall along a marking or hinge line. When the package is in a closed position, the tab engages in a slit in the notched wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: Wasabrod AB
    Inventors: Ingemar Arnesson, Joachim Nilsson
  • Patent number: 6109512
    Abstract: A folder type paperboard container formed from a single piece having a hexagonal bottom wall panel, a rear wall panel, a front wall panel, a pair of side wall panels and a cover panel. The front wall panel includes a tuck that adds strength to the location and also serves as a securing mechanism. The securing mechanism does not extend beyond the front panel. The cover panel includes two depending flaps that cooperate with and are part of the securing mechanism. The folder type container includes an angled front panel arrangement that secures the cover in place, requires less material, and increases the strength of the center front section of the box where it generally is grasped by a handler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Jefferson Smurfit Corporation
    Inventor: Mark D. Morrison
  • Patent number: 6092715
    Abstract: A pizza carton having an improved side wall structure and improved cover structure for a D-type box, an improved structural arrangement of major and minor diagonal walls, an improved fold line structure containing a pressure-releasing slit, and an easy-grasp tab on the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Inventor: John D. Correll
  • Patent number: 6079616
    Abstract: An adjustable box formed from a blank is disclosed. The box has two rectangular sides; a front panel and a back panel. The front panel and back panel each have two pairs of vertical fold lines on one side thereof, the front pair of vertical fold lines being on the opposite side from the back pair of vertical fold lines. Cooperating flaps including a tongue and groove arrangement are provided to close the box at the top and an automatic setup construction is provided to close the box at the bottom. As a result, the box can be folded along an inner fold line of the front and rear pair of vertical fold lines so that the bottom of the box has a first width. Alternatively, the box can be folded along an outer fold line of the front and rear pair of vertical fold lines so that the bottom of the box has a second width which is smaller than said first width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: Avmor Ltd.
    Inventors: Mattie Chinks, Koen De Winter
  • Patent number: 6026983
    Abstract: A sleeve (1) for beverage containers (2) made of a substantially planar rigid material, such as cardboard, having side sections (6) which are foldably connected along folding creases (4) to form a sleeve having a top opening (3) for inserting a container. The sleeve has a bottom coaster (11) which is foldably connected to a bottom of one of the side sections which is supported by a strut (8) under the coaster adhesively attached at a folding tab (9) to the bottom of the coaster. An extension (7) on the coaster (11) is also provided to extend through a slit (18) in the folding strut for additional support. When the sleeve is assembled, the entire coaster (11) and strut (8) fold up into the body of the sleeve for easy storage and shipping. When the sleeve (1) contains a beverage container during use configuration, the coaster (11) covers the entire bottom of the sleeve, thereby preventing moisture from wetting or damaging a surface on which it is placed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignees: Gregory W. Graham, Arthur W. Graham
    Inventor: Gregory W. Graham
  • 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: 5996884
    Abstract: A novel hybrid beverage container having a rigid body and flexible polymer film ends is disclosed herein. The hybrid container may be folded in a closed state for storage, and erected for a filling state. The top end of the container has a recloseable access for filling and sealing the container with a beverage. The container may also have a handle device. In one preferred embodiment, the rigid body is composed of a polyethylene coated fiberboard material. In another embodiment, the rigid body is composed of a mineral filled polyolefin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Pepsico, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Frisk, Craig Witty
  • Patent number: 5971263
    Abstract: A foldable box includes six substantially rectangular plastic sides which are connected to each other by live hinges so that the sides may be folded flat or opened to a substantially hexagonal configuration. A substantially hexagonal plastic bottom is connected to the bottom edge of one of the sides by a live hinge and a substantially hexagonal plastic top is connected to the top edge of one of the sides by a live hinge. An inner flange extends substantially orthogonally from the bottom edges of at least two of the sides other than the one to which the plastic bottom is attached for supporting the plastic bottom when the box is assembled by folding. An outer extending flange is provided on at least two edges of the plastic top to support it when the box is folded closed. A removable substantially hexagonal plastic shelf is preferably provided and inner surfaces of at least two sides are provided with interior flanges to support the shelf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Inventor: Joy Mangano
  • Patent number: 5961035
    Abstract: A designer-type pizza box employing one or more unique structural elements including: (a) at least six walls comprising front and rear walls, a pair of forward side walls, and a pair of non-parallel rearward side walls, with the length of the front wall being longer than the length of the rear wall; (b) an easy-folding rear diagonal side wall structure comprising a diagonally-disposed rearward side wall and a unitary plurality of hingedly connected connector panels extending between the rearward side wall and a rear wall; (c) a type of thermal-leg comprising a corner flap attached to the end of a wall and disposed between the panels of a double-panel wall and projecting through a hole in the bottom of the box; (d) a hole-covering double-panel wall structure comprising a hole-covering flap attached to the bottom edge of an inner panel of a double-panel wall and covering an opening in the bottom of the box; and (e) a strengthened double-panel wall comprising inner and outer panels joined by a double-panel conne
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Inventor: John D. Correll
  • Patent number: 5887781
    Abstract: A collapsible carton for containing articles such as prepared food and the like, including a plurality of side panels hingedly connected to one another by substantially parallel fold lines is disclosed. A bottom panel formed of a plurality of cooperating end panels hingedly connected to respective side panels and a closure for closing a top opening of the hexagonal carton with the closure being telescopically received within the top opening of the hexagonal carton and frictionally engaged with an inside surface of at least one of the side panels. Additionally, the closure may include a supplemental compartment formed therein for containing articles of a type different than that placed in the main body of the carton. In this case, a supplemental closure is provided which cooperates with the first closure for closing off the supplemental compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Fort James Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald Marx, James Cheshire, Mark Littlejohn, Norman Turner, James Capo
  • Patent number: 5875956
    Abstract: A package for a food product such as a cylindrical sandwich includes an elongate central strip having a plurality of fold lines defining a series of panels. A central panel of the series includes a central flap connected at each side edge, and other closure flaps are connected to at least some of the other panels. The panels are folded with respect to each other so that the endmost panels are positioned to define a polygonal cross-section for the package. The closure flaps and central flaps are folded to close the package. An outer portion of each central flap is free from the remaining closure flaps to permit outward folding of the panels for access to the food product. Several alternative embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: The Mead Corporation
    Inventor: Jacques Benarrouch
  • Patent number: 5816485
    Abstract: A dome shaped crown for a clamshell container is formed by two sets of sidewalls having different shapes. A narrow space is provided between adjacent pairs of sidewalls, the spaces permitting venting of warm, moist air due to the presence of a heated sandwich packaged in the container. The container is formed from a unitary blank of paperboard. In one embodiment, the crown is dome shaped and the lower tray is provided with straight walls. In the second embodiment, both the crown and the lower tray have sidewalls of different slopes. Any type of releasable latch between the two halves may be employed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: International Paper Co.
    Inventor: Linda A. Bernstein
  • Patent number: 5806755
    Abstract: A pizza carton providing a high degree of product protection through employing one or more structural features including a warp-resistant cover panel to prevent the cover from contacting the pizza, product anti-slide cover flaps and movable diagonal walls to contain the product on eight sides while still providing a square corner for packing an extra item in the box, and quick-release corner connections and a specially contoured inner panel of a double-panel front wall to allow for slicing pizza in the box without need to slide the pizza back-and-forth. Also included is a method for making a box having a warp-resistant cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Inventor: John D. Correll
  • Patent number: 5799863
    Abstract: Cup made from a rectangular sheet folded to form a convex base consisting of two isosceles triangles with a common base. The ends of the common base extend into two areas in the shape of deformable lozenges for folding and unfolding the cup while leaving the base flat. When the cup is unfolded by pressing on the edges to draw them together, the ends abut on the edges of the dihedrals forming the cup sides, thereby locking the cup into an open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Inventors: Gilbert Capy, Akiva Buchberg