Box Wall Or Portion Thereof Pivots With Extension During Opening Of The Box Patents (Class 229/146)
  • Patent number: 6364203
    Abstract: An articulable food container. The food container is articulable from and between a first open position to a second closed position. In the first open position the food container can receive food. Additionally, the user may eat from the food container while it is in the first open position. In the second closed position, the food container covers or encloses the food. The closed position is useful for storing the food, heating the food, transporting the food between the point of service and the point of consumption, and/or disposing of the remnants of the food once the meal is completed. The food container may take the form of a plate, bowl, tray, clam shell, or other known configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: John William Toussant, Peter Morris
  • Patent number: 6360943
    Abstract: Hinge-lid boxes usually comprise a box part (10) and a lid (11) connected in an articulated manner thereto. In the region of a box front wall (15) and lid front wall (19), the box part (10) and lid (11) form transversely directed closure edges, namely a lid closure edge (33) and mating closure edge (34). These closure edges are of V-shaped design with different angles between the associated edge legs (37, 38 and 39, 40, respectively), with the result that a V-shaped or arrowhead-like opening (43) is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co.)
    Inventors: Heinz Focke, Jürgen Focke, Henry Buse
  • Patent number: 6349875
    Abstract: A clamshell container having an improved hinge for reducing container rear wall buckling when the container is opened and closed is disclosed. The hinge includes first and second offset partial hinge portions, each extending inwardly from one side of the container for less than the full width of the container. The partial hinge portions include fold line portions near the container side walls and parallel slit portions in the central area of the rear wall. A blank for forming the subject container is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: Dopaco, Inc.
    Inventor: Simon Whitnell
  • Patent number: 6193060
    Abstract: A front opening cigarette box comprises a container portion and an integral cover portion which articulates between opened and closed positions. The container portion includes a front face, a rear face generally parallel to the front face, a bottom face, and spaced apart side walls interconnecting the front and rear faces. The cover portion includes a front face that fully covers the container portion when the cover portion is in its closed position. The cover portion also includes top and bottom faces, and a rear face contiguous with and forming a continuation of the rear face of the container portion when the cover portion is in its closed position. Spaced apart side walls on the cover portion interconnect the front and rear faces thereof. A hinge line extends between the rear faces of the container and cover portions, and the cover portion articulates about that hinge line between its opened and closed positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Philip Morris Incorporated
    Inventors: David L. Roberts, Donald H. Evers
  • Patent number: 6109516
    Abstract: A rigid cigarette packet appears as a cupped container with one open end, surmounted by a hinged lid, and is stiffened by a frame anchored firmly to the inside of the container. The frame exhibits a front portion and two lateral portions projecting from the open end, of which the lateral portions are fashioned with respective flaps bent double and presenting a Vee profile when viewed in cross section; when the lid is lowered to cover the open end of the container, the two flaps engage in a snap fit with corresponding flaps incorporated into the flank faces of the lid, ensuring a stable closure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: G.D. S.p.A.
    Inventors: Alberto Laghi, Chiara Colo, Fiorenzo Draghetti
  • Patent number: 6012842
    Abstract: A convertible container is formed from (i) a collapsible foldable five-sided open-ended bag in the substantial shape of a rectilinear body preferably having handles for use as an object-carrying, or shopping, bag, in combination with (ii) a collapsible foldable five-sided lid affixed to the bag at its open end for unfolding between (1) a collapsed position interior to the bag and (2) an expanded position fitting over the bag's open end. The lid is of dimension A.times.B with three sides of width A/2, and with one, dual-creased, side which is joined to the bag at an extension of width A. The two creases are each folded in a first sense to fit the lid within the interior of the bag, and are each folded in an opposite, second, sense to fit the lid upon the bag's open end, forming thereby a six-sided closed package which may variously be used as gift wrap or for mailing or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Inventor: Renato M. Openiano
  • Patent number: 5895698
    Abstract: A pizza platform is provided including a platform with a top face, a bottom face, and a periphery formed therebetween. The platform is constructed from metal. A plurality of small cones each have a base integrally coupled to the platform. As such, a pizza is placed atop the top face of the platform and the cones while being stored in a pizza box for preventing moisture from accumulating thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Inventors: Vincent Cacciatore, Patrice Cacciatore
  • Patent number: 5875960
    Abstract: A paperboard carton providing improved dispensing of a granular detergent, the carton having a box having a back panel and a front panel, and having a top opening, and a lid integrally attached to the back panel along a first score line. The carton has at least one additional score line parallel to and spaced apart from the first score line and a slit substantially through the back panel at each side edge of the back panel from the first score line to the additional score line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Yukio Nanno
  • Patent number: 5788145
    Abstract: A covered food container especially adapted to hold a single slice of pizza or the like is described having a polygonal configuration and an integrated cover which folds over and is securely latched to enclose the contents. The covered food container can be formed from a single sheet of material such as cardboard or styrene foam and has the advantage that the top and base trays forming the container are interchangeable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Assignee: Bell Paper Box, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark S. Grahahm, Gregory A. Green
  • Patent number: 5645213
    Abstract: A hinged-lid box for cigarettes or the like, and a blank for producing the box from thin cardboard, includes a hinge of Z-bold configuration for pivotally attaching the lid to the rear wall so that in the closed position the lid encloses and overlaps an upper region of the box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Assignee: Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co.)
    Inventors: Heinz Focke, Harald Gosebruch
  • Patent number: 5615796
    Abstract: A container for the temporary storage of foods is disclosed. The container includes a corrugated medium having a single backer paper thus creating an exposed corrugated surface on a side opposite the backer. The food container is formed such that the exposed corrugation is located towards an interior surface of the container. The corrugation is provided in a meandering, nonlinear pattern to provide strength along both longitudinal and transverse directions relative to the orientation of the corrugation. By using a corrugated medium having a single layer of backer paper, it is possible to construct the container using approximately one-third less materials without sacrificing strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: Boise Cascade Corporation
    Inventor: Frederick A. Rench
  • Patent number: 5538179
    Abstract: A convertible food container including two outwardly opening shells having inner walls interconnected along a common upper edge thereof for hinged movement of the shells between an open tray-forming position and a closed carton-forming position. The inner walls include integral tongue and recess lock components which are manually engageable to prevent movement of the inner walls, and hence the shells, relative to each other. A separate retainer enables a locking together of two overlying and facing containers in the open positions thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Assignee: Dopaco, Inc.
    Inventor: Liming Cai
  • Patent number: 5511722
    Abstract: A flip-top reclosable carton for packaging articles. The carton includes front, rear and side wall panels, the side wall panels having generally horizontally slits to form the sides of the flip-top and the rear wall panel being scored to form a hinge between the flip-top and the lower portion of the carton. Top and bottom wall panels are foldably attached to at least one of the front rear and side panels. A perforated tear strip is located on the front panel and extends between the slits in the side panels, whereby removal of the tear strip allows the flip-top to be opened. The tear strip includes an aperture located at one end of the perforated tear strip to permit the one end to be lifted to aid in the removal of the tear strip. In the preferred embodiment, the carton also includes an audible click closure. The closure includes a locking tab formed along the lower front edge of the flip-top and a first inner front panel adjacent to the front panel having an aperture adapted to receive the locking tab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Assignee: Mebane Packaging Corporation
    Inventor: Rodney D. Dixon
  • Patent number: 5443202
    Abstract: The carton has a hinged top with a depending flange in the front. A panel is folded up against the inside of the depending flange. The middle of the folded up panel has an arcurate nose and the edges are adhered to the depending flange, causing the nose to bulge out slightly from the depending flange. This nose engages a slot on the front panel of the carton to lock the top in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Assignee: Schur Engineering A/S
    Inventors: Frode Jorgensen-Beck, Heinrich W. Lambach
  • Patent number: 5431333
    Abstract: A closable container is formed by a bottom tray having upwardly and outwardly flaring side wall and a cooperating gable-shaped top closure having side wall with a rear side wall of the top foldably interconnected with a rear side wall of the bottom tray along the length thereof. Flaps extending from the top front and rear walls connect these walls to their respective adjacent top side walls to form the gabled shaped top closure and are provided with extensions each of which projects away from the top wall of the top closure a distance farther than the free edge of the top side wall to which it is connected. These projections extend beyond the top edge of their adjacent bottom side walls and help to ensure proper alignment of the top closure and bottom tray. The front walls of the bottom tray and of the gabled top are formed respectively with an undercut and a cooperating tongue adapted to interact to hold the gabled top in close position over the bottom tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1995
    Assignee: MacMillan Bloedel Limited
    Inventor: Achim R. Lorenz
  • Patent number: 5388758
    Abstract: A clamshell type container formed of a unitary blank of paperboard. The rear wall of the container includes a hinge line to permit opening and closing of the top cover. Buckling sometimes occurs at this hinge line upon cover opening. According to this invention four curved cut lines are provided in the common rear wall having the hinge line. The ends of these cut lines are pairwise contiguous and are spaced only slightly apart. The four pairs of contiguous cut line ends form the corners of an imaginary rectangle. Two opposite corners of the rectangle lie on the hinge line, while the remaining two opposite corners lie laterally of the hinge line on respective opposite sides thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Assignee: International Paper Company
    Inventor: Daniel B. Scovell
  • Patent number: 5332147
    Abstract: A clamshell type carton is provided with a cut along the hinge score line connecting the upper cover and lower tray portions. A second cut is placed in the back panel of the carton, above or below the hinge score line cut, wherein the second cut is a continuous curve having a first end point located in the back panel and a second end point intersecting the cut along the hinge score line. The second cut is utilized to facilitate the easy opening and closing of the carton without buckling occurring in the back panel in the region of the hinge score line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1994
    Assignee: Perseco Division Of The Havi Group LP
    Inventor: John F. Sorenson
  • Patent number: 5316811
    Abstract: In the production of packs, especially hinge-lid packs, from rigid packaging material (thin cardboard), hitherto individual blanks have been supplied in stacks and introduced into the packaging machine in succession. To make the handling of the blanks easier and to increase the storage capacity, the blanks (23) are now connected to one another via residual connections (25) into a continuous web of material (24) wound as a reel (30). Within the packaging machine, the blanks are severed from the web of material (23) in succession, specifically as a result of the elimination of the residual connections, preferably by being torn off. The residual connections (25) are formed in a region of the blanks (23) or in the region of folding tabs of the latter which, in the finished pack (hinge-lid pack), are concealed by other folding tabs, that is to say are on the inside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Assignee: Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co.)
    Inventors: Heinz Focke, Kurt Liedtke
  • Patent number: 5249736
    Abstract: A clam shell carton having a hexagonal tray with a similarly configured hexagonal cover integrally hinged thereto. The tray and cover, outward of hinge joined inner walls thereof, include alternating high and low peripheral walls with projecting locking lugs on selected ends of the high walls. The high and low walls on the cover respectively overlap the low and high walls on the tray with the locking lugs on the cover releasably interlocking with the locking lugs on the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1993
    Assignee: Dopaco, Inc.
    Inventor: Larry Eisman
  • Patent number: 5221040
    Abstract: A clamshell type carton is provided with a cut along the hinge score line connecting the upper cover and lower tray portions. Either a second cut in the back panel of the carton, above or below the hinge score line cut, or a cut-out slot encompassing the hinge score line cut, is utilized to facilitate the easy opening and closing of the carton without buckling occurring in the back panel in the region of the hinge score line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1993
    Assignee: Perseco Division of the Havi Group LP
    Inventor: John F. Sorenson
  • Patent number: 5188284
    Abstract: In a carton comprising a tray and a removable cover, peripheral walls on the cover and tray overlapping and engaging each other. Outwardly projecting locking lugs on the cover and tray walls cross each other and interlock upon a movement of the cover to a closed position over the tray and provide spaced points of interlock about the periphery of the carton.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1993
    Assignee: Dopaco, Inc.
    Inventor: Larry Eisman
  • Patent number: 5110039
    Abstract: A paperboard container is formed from a single piece with appropriate cuts, score lines and slots to become, when in the erected condition, a food container for holding hot food such as pizzas. Top and bottom panels are provided as are appropriate side panels. At the back side panel on each side thereof panels are provided whereby two opposed triangular flaps are folded back over an angle of 180.degree. to form a multi-layer construction to add to the strength. In another embodiment, front angled corners are constructed where triangular panels are created as is a generally rectangular antislide panel which, when the bottom receptacle portion is formed will be inclined inwardly within the interior of the container to form an antislide barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1992
    Assignee: Weyerhaeuser Company
    Inventor: Nicholas A. Philips
  • Patent number: 5097948
    Abstract: In a hinge lid cigarette pack of which one pair of opposite walls are profiled to project beyond the elevation of the other pair of walls the lid is attached to a profiled wall by an improved hinge structure which does not distort the wall on opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1992
    Assignee: Fabriques de Tabac Reunies, S.A.
    Inventor: Christopher J. Campbell
  • Patent number: 5092516
    Abstract: A carton formed from a carton blank comprising a unitary sheet of material hvaing cut out portions, cut lines, fold lines and perforated lines to form various sections which are folded together to form a carton having a hinged lid which may be moved between closed and opened positions to remove materials from the carton and which lid is retained in the closed position by a frictional fit between portions of the lid and a front panel portion of the carton.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1992
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging Corporation
    Inventor: Raymond S. Kastanek
  • Patent number: 5044549
    Abstract: A clamshell carton formed from two integral blanks of sheet material. The front wall of the upper clamshell carries a latching aperture. The front wall of the lower clamshell half carriers a latch release panel, the latter carrying a horizontally despaired latching tongue normally engaged in the latching aperture to maintain the clamshell in a closed configuration. The latch release panel is normally resiliently biased to maintain the latch tongue engaged. The front wall of the upper clamshell half is provided with a recess along a free edge, the recess permitting direct finger force to be applied to the latch release panel to open the carton by disengaging the latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1991
    Assignee: International Paper Company
    Inventor: Jonathan Beales
  • Patent number: 4955527
    Abstract: A clamshell type carton bottom having integrally connected thereto a domed top with upper portions of side and front panels of the carton bottom defining seats on which there are seated seat members carried by side and front panels of the top and reversely turned so as to slope upwardly and outwardly while the side and front panels slope downwardly and outwardly. Each side panel of the bottom adjacent the front panel of the bottom is provided with a cut line which defines stop means so as to limit the movement of the top into the bottom when the carton is being closed. Further, the bottom front panel is provided with a locking flap which carries a locking tab which engages over the front seat member of the top to lock the top in place relative to the bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1990
    Assignee: Federal Paper Board Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen M. Blackman, Douglas L. Neale
  • Patent number: 4951862
    Abstract: The strip is pre-creased to show the front, rear, sides, top and bottom of the packet, and provided with through cuts which combine with certain of the creases to create two pairs of top and bottom corner reinforcement tongues incorporated into the margins of the strip from which the sides of the box and lid are fashioned, each tongue being parted transversely by a cut parallel to and offset from the fold between the front and bottom faces of the box, and the front and top of the lid. The length of the top and bottom faces, measured across the packet from side to side, is reduced from the width of the front and rear faces of the box and the lid, and the top and bottom edges of the outermost side flaps of the box and lid are also cut short so as to remain distanced from the relative corners when the packet is folded into its final shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1990
    Assignee: G.D. Societa per Azioni
    Inventors: Pierino Taddia, Silvano Boriani
  • Patent number: 4951865
    Abstract: A carton with an integrally hinged tray and cover assembled as a preform and including a lock flange on the front wall of the cover with projecting lock tabs engageable through corresponding slots in the front wall of the tray. The lock flange is gusset-engaged at the opposed ends thereof to the side walls of the cover, and seats on support shoulders on the opposed side walls of the tray to stabilize the flange, and hence the lock tabs thereon, in an extended position for engagement of the tabs within the corresponding slots when the cover is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1990
    Assignee: Dopaco, Inc.
    Inventor: Larry Eisman
  • Patent number: 4948038
    Abstract: A freshness-preserving container is disclosed. The container includes a lid and a base which are connected and which pivot about a hinge line along their rear walls. The front wall of the lid has an inward facing surface disposed toward an outward facing surface on the fornt wall of the base. Between the inward and outward facing surfaces is a freshness-preserving element for preserving the freahness of the contents of the container. The freshness-preserving means includes a flap mounted on either the lid or the base which engages a shoulder on the other part of the container. As the container closes, the flap slides across the shoulder effecting a latch closing and making a clicking sound indicating the freshness-preserving characteristics of the container. An adhering element also may be provided, such as tape or magnetic pieces, for resealing the container when it is closed. In addition, the lid may overlap the base of the container, further contributing to its freshness-preserving characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1990
    Assignee: Philip Morris Incorporated
    Inventor: Robert E. Moeller
  • Patent number: 4930681
    Abstract: A container which can be constructed in one-piece or in two pieces. The container is preferably of corrugated paper-like material and is preferably of the "E-flute" type of corrugated material. The container includes a body member or body portion and a cover member or cover portion. The container includes a latch which automatically operates to latch the container in closed condition when the container is closed. The container has panels and walls which are relatively angular so that the opposing walls are in effective covering relationship when the container is closed. Also, the angular relationship between the panels and the walls permits a plurality of the containers to be nested and stacked in a stack having a minimum height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 5, 1990
    Inventors: Clinton Fultz, Stanley Dalton
  • Patent number: 4886161
    Abstract: A container for containing a plurality of cigarettes, comprises a front wall panel, a rear wall panel, two side wall panels, and two end walls. One of the end walls, namely the bottom wall, is constituted of a pair of panels slitted and formed with fold lines such that they may be folded against each other to a closed condition to form the respective container end wall, or may be unfolded to an open condition and retained in the open condition to form an extension of the container to serve as an ashtray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1989
    Inventors: Itzhak Keidar, Asher Dromi, Menahem Tilman, Joseph Harel
  • Patent number: 4792085
    Abstract: Disclosed are various diagonal incisions adjacent the hinge line of a clamshell container. These diagonal incisions allow opening of the clamshell container without permanent buckling. Also disclosed are ribs formed above, below, and parallel to, the hinge line of a clamshell container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1988
    Inventors: John S. Waring, III, Gary E. Pluff
  • Patent number: 4791883
    Abstract: Disposable litter boxes of the type for containing an absorbent material which are suitable for use as cat litter boxes or petroleum and other liquid waste containers wherein the boxes are foldable to create tray-like receptacles which include a bottom wall and upwardly extending ends and side walls which are continuously joined with the bottom wall so that no openings are created therebetween. The receptacles contain an absorbent material which when used may be selectively enclosed for disposal within a closed box created by folding the opposing end walls of the tray into overlapping configuration. The boxes may be sold or shipped in either a flat or folded configuration, and when folded may be sold with an absorbent material already packaged therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1988
    Assignees: Donald L. Lehman, Richard G. Lutzke
    Inventors: Donald L. Lehman, Richard G. Lutzke, Robert W. Beichler, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4763832
    Abstract: A carton for food products or the like comprises a combination lid and tray with a bottom locking means for securing the lid and tray when the carton is closed. The bottom locking means comprises a locking tongue integral with an extended portion of the lid component which engages a locking slot formed in the bottom of the tray component. The locking tongue comprises a tab element formed as a part of a flap foldably attached to an extension of the front wall of the lid. The locking slot comprises a cut out formed substantially along the fold line between the bottom wall and front wall of the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1988
    Assignee: Westvaco Corporation
    Inventor: Hampton E. Forbes, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4729508
    Abstract: A hinged lid container for arrays of cigarettes is made of a one-piece blank and has a hollow body with an open end remote from its bottom wall, a collar which is integral with the front wall of the body at the open end and extends in part into the body, and a lid which is integral with the rear wall of the body. The collar has two lateral panels with rhomboidal portions extending beyond the respective sidewalls of the body. The free edges of the lateral panels are inclined with reference to the top wall of the lid when the latter is held in closed position so that its lateral walls abut the sidewalls of the body and are outwardly adjacent the rhomboidal portions of the lateral panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1988
    Assignee: Korber AG
    Inventors: Otto Erdmann, Reinhard Deutsch, Harry David
  • Patent number: 4586648
    Abstract: The invention relates to a packing trough adapted to be provided with a lid, consisting of a bottom and walls formed of a coherent blank and a lid preferably also coherent therewith and formed of the same blank.The trough consists of a flat bottom section, lower wall sections sloping upwards and outwards therefrom and upper wall sections being generally perpendicular to the bottom, and there is at each of the corners between the lower wall sections a doubled portion which is folded so as to be coplanar with one of the lower wall sections adjoining such a corner and which is attached to said corner, said portion having a projection which also is doubled but folded so as to be coplanar with one of the upper wall sections, and attached thereto, said doubled portions and said equally doubled projections being adapted to seal the corners of the trough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1986
    Assignees: Glace-Bolaget AB, AB Akerlund & Rausing
    Inventors: Claes G. Josefsson, Rolf Andersson