Corner cap for boxed commercial products

Abstract

The cap includes a body constructed of a flexible and resilient material having a substantially square shaped top, a substantially rectangular shaped front, and substantially rectangular shaped first and second sides which are interconnected along with the top and front in a substantially “U” shaped configuration. The body further defines an open interior extending between the sides and from the front to a rear interconnecting edge defined along the top and sides. The corner cap is releasably engageable over the severed corner of the container in resistively affixing fashion. To this end, the resilient and deflectable first and second sides are being angled in inwardly extending fashion, typically between 5° to 10° relative to a vertical axis extending through each of the sides and so that, upon affixing the body over the severed corner of the container, the sides biasingly squeeze against the corresponding sides of the container.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates generally to packaging closure devices, and in particular re-closure devices for maintaining the quality of the contents of a previously opened package. More particularly, the present invention discloses a protective and resistively affixable corner cover or cap for use with severed corner portions of generally rectangular packages.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] The prior art is well documented with examples of sealing members for use with paperboard container, such as generally rectangular box-shaped containers and the like. The purpose, in each instance, of such containers and associated open/closure means is to protect foodstuffs and household products of the general type which are packaged in cardboard boxes. These typically includes such products as dry baby food, pancake flour mix, dry detergents, rice products, baking soda and the like, and which are typically opened by cutting and tearing the box at a designated corner near its top. Such boxes further usually have no provision for forming a sealing closure once the box has been opened.

[0005] In an attempt to maintain the quality and integrity of the remaining contents of a previously opened box, it is known in the art to place the contents in plastic sealable containers, such as commercially known under the brand name “TUPPERWARE”. A distinct disadvantage associated with moving the unused contents to another re-sealable type of container is the loss of the ability to consult recipes or other information typically imprinted upon the box.

[0006] Other attempts have been made in the relevant art to address sealing/resealing of such cardboard or paperboard containers, a first example of which is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,911,359, issued to Stone and which teaches a one-piece and flip-top carton. An outer carton includes opposing top and bottom walls, front and back walls, and first and second side walls. The first and second side walls and the front wall include a preferential area of weakness for opening the carton from a sealed form to an unsealed form. The area of weakness forms a lid hingedly connected to the top wall, which in turn includes a front top minor flap hingedly connected to an upper end of the front wall. An internal collar is integrally formed with the flap and is disposed within the carton when in sealed form.

[0007] Additional features of the internal collar include a front panel and opposing first and second side panels adjacent to the respective front wall and opposing first and second side walls of the container. The front panel is further detachably connected to the front top minor flap along at least one horizontal fold line and the internal collar may also include an extension flap with at least one hinged portion and at least one island portion disposed in forcibly displaceable mutual engagement, such that the opening of the lid exerts a force which disengages the mutual engagement and closing the lid leads to snap re-engagement of the hinged portion to the island portion.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 4,890,761, issued to Gaves, teaches a resealable pouch/box combination, particularly intended for use with a flowable material. The package includes an outer semi-rigid box made of cardboard or the like and a flexible bag-like pouch disposed within the box. An opening defined by a removable tab is provided in the box and extends from the top wall into a side wall thereof. A slot is provided in the side wall which extends to the margin of the opening. To open the package, the tab is removed so as to expose the pouch, and a corner of the pouch may be pulled through the opening at the top and be torn or cut from it. In this manner, the contents may be poured from the pouch. To reseal the pouch, the margin of the opening cut or torn from it is pulled into the slot.

[0009] Finally, a further example of a barrier carton with reclosable pour spout is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,768,703, issued to Sosler. An open ended carton includes a membrane liner and a cover having a peripherally depending flange which overlies a top end portion of the carton. A transverse score line in the cover and contiguous perforation lines in the flange divide the cover into first and second sections to provide a hinged pour spout. An extension panel attached to a peripheral edge of the carton includes a terminal section which is heat sealed to an interior section of the peripheral cover flange. Severance of a hinged section of the extension panel defines an indentation between a top panel in the cover and the terminal section which receives the hinged section for locking reclosure of the cover. The cover is locked in open position by inward flexing of sections of the peripheral cover flange which are received in the carton opening.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0010] The present invention is a flexible, yet resilient corner edge cap device for use in covering over a severed corner location of a conventional and three-dimensional shaped container. Furthermore, the present invention provides an easily affixable and elastic/resiliently biasing cap which is quickly and effectively installed over the severed portion, defined around a corner perimeter of the container, and in order to maintain the integrity and quality of interiorly held contents, such as dry and particular food items.

[0011] The cap includes a body constructed of a flexible and resilient material having a substantially square shaped top, a substantially rectangular shaped front, and substantially rectangular shaped first and second sides which are interconnected along with the top and front in a substantially “U” shaped configuration. The body further defines an open interior extending between the sides and from the front to a rear interconnecting edge defined along the top and sides.

[0012] The corner cap is releasably engageable over the severed corner of the container in resistively affixing fashion. To this end, the resilient and deflectable first and second sides are being angled in inwardly extending fashion, typically between 5° to 10° relative to a vertical axis extending through each of the sides and so that, upon affixing the body over the severed corner of the container, the sides biasingly squeeze against the corresponding sides of the container.

[0013] Additional aspects of the present invention include the manufacture of the corner cap from a variety of different materials including injection molded plasticized components and foamable plastics. It is also contemplated that a plurality of differently configured or shaped bodies can be provided in a kit form and so as to fit a plurality of differently sized and commercial packaging.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Reference will now be made to the attached drawings, when read in combination with the following detailed description, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which:

[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a corner cap illustrated in engaged fashion over a severed edge portion of a box container and according to the present invention;

[0016] FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the corner cap illustrated in FIG. 1 and illustrating the inwardly and biasingly deflecting nature of its first and second side wall portions;

[0017] FIG. 3 is a substantially rotated and elevational view of the corner cap again illustrated in FIG. 2 and again showing is biasingly deflecting and elasticized/resilient construction;

[0018] FIG. 4 is a substantially exploded view, similar to FIG. 1, and illustrating the manner of affixing the corner cap upon and over the severed edge portion of the box container; and

[0019] FIG. 5 is a view of a plurality of differently sized and configured corner caps capable of being provided in kit form according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] Referring now to FIG. 1, a corner cap is illustrated at 10 for use with an existing box container 12 (typically constructed of a cardboard or suitable paperboard material) and according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. As previously stated, the present invention provides an easily affixable and elastic/resiliently biasing cap which is quickly and effectively installed upon a severed portion defined around a corner perimeter 14 of the container and for maintaining the integrity and quality of the interiorly held contents, such as dry and particular food items.

[0021] The commercial packaging container 12 is of a type generally known in the art, and includes (see again FIG. 1) a top panel 16, front panel 18, rear panel 20, interconnecting side panels 22 and 24 and bottom panel 26 which defines an enclosed interior suitable for holding a volume of contents, such as again may include dried food items (baby-food, cereal, pancake/flour mix, etc.). It is also typically understood that the packaging container 12 may be constructed of a paperboard or cardboard based material, however the corner cap 10 of the present invention is not limited for use with any one particular type of conventional packaging.

[0022] Referring again to FIG. 1, as well as to succeeding FIGS. 2 and 3, the corner cap 10 is again illustrated and includes a body constructed of a flexible and resilient material having a substantially square shaped top 28, a substantially rectangular shaped front 30, and substantially rectangular shaped first 32 and second 34 sides which are interconnected along with the top 28 and front 30 in a substantially “U” shaped configuration. In the preferred embodiment, the body is constructed of an injection molded or foamable plasticized or material.

[0023] It is further contemplated that the body may include particular material constructions such as polypropylene, impact resistant polystyrene, polyethylene polyvinylchloride, or any other material exhibiting the necessary characteristics of durability, flexibility and impact resistance. Preferably, the material for manufacturing the cover is non-toxic and exudes substantially no odor during manufacture or subsequent application. The rotated and perspective view of FIG. 3 illustrates the plasticized material construction of the corner cap 10 according to the preferred embodiment.

[0024] The body further defines an open interior extending between the sides 32 and 34 and from the front 30 to a rear interconnecting edge 36 defined along the top 28 and sides 32 and 34 (see rotated perspective of FIG. 3). As best shown in FIG. 2, the sides 32 and 34 extend in inwardly and opposing fashion relative to a vertical axis extending through the sides 32 and 34 at their interconnecting location with the top 28. Reference particularly is made to offset angles 38 (for first side 32) and 40 (for second side 34). It is further contemplated that the first and second sides are being angled in inwardly extending fashion, typically between 5° to 10° relative to a vertical axis extending through each of the sides and so that, upon affixing the body over the severed corner of the container, the sides biasingly squeeze against the corresponding sides of the container.

[0025] It is important to point out that the shaping of the top, front and interconnected sides of the corner cap 10 is not limited to any one given set of dimensions, but is rather adaptable given the parameters of the commercial container 12 to which it will be applied. As such, the front, top and sides can interchangeably be shaped in rectangular, square or other appropriate fashion and, further the interconnected components can be lengthened, shortened, made deeper or more shallow in order to accommodate both the differently sized packaging as well as the size of the severed corner associated with any given container.

[0026] Referring to the exploded view of FIG. 4, it is illustrated as to how the corner cap 10 is applied over the severed and perimeter edge 14 of the associated box container 12, first by rotating (see directional arrow 42) to the orientation previously illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, and then by applying in a direction indicated by arrow 44 in the resulting fashion again shown in FIG. 1. Referring further to FIG. 5, a plurality of differently and individually sized and configured corner caps 46, 48 and 50 are illustrated and which are each constructed substantially identically to the preferred embodiment of FIGS. 1-3. It is contemplated that the present invention may be provided in kit form and so that a selected corner cap may be withdrawn and applied to any one of a variety of differently configured box containers.

[0027] Having described my invention, additional preferred embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains, and without deviating from the scope of the appended claims:

Claims

1. A cap for use with a generally three-dimensional and rectangular shaped container having a severed corner revealing a volume of interiorly held contents, said cap comprising:

a body constructed of interconnected top, front, and first and second sides, said body further defining an open interior extending between said sides and from said front to a rear interconnecting edge defined along said top and sides; and

engaging means for securing said body over the severed corner of the container in resistively affixing fashion.

2. The cap as described in claim 1, said body being constructed of a suitable flexible yet resilient material and said top further comprising a substantially square shaped top and said front and sides a substantially rectangular shape.

3. The cap as described in claim 2, further comprising said front extending from along an interconnecting edge with said top and at a substantially right angle thereto.

4. The cap as described in claim 3, said engaging means further comprising said first and second sides being angled in inwardly opposing fashion.

5. The cap as described in claim 4, further comprising said first and second sides each being angled between 5° to 10° relative to a vertical axis extending therethrough.

6. The cap as described in claim 1, said body having a specified shape and size and being constructed of a material selected from the group including injection molded plasticized composites, and foamable plastics.

7. The cap as described in claim 6, said body further being constructed from a subset group of materials selected from a group including polypropylene, impact polystyrene, polyethylene, and polyvinylchloride.

8. The cap as described in claim 1, said body having a specified shape and size and said rear interconnecting edge defining a substantially “U” shape.

9. The cap as described in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of differently sized bodies assembled in kit fashion.

10. A cap for use with a generally three-dimensional and rectangular shaped container having a severed corner revealing a volume of interiorly held contents, said cap comprising:

a body constructed of a flexible and resilient material having a substantially square shaped top, a substantially rectangular shaped front, and substantially rectangular shaped first and second sides, said body further defining an open interior extending between said sides and from said front to a rear interconnecting edge defined along said top and sides; and

engaging means for securing said body over the severed corner of the container in resistively affixing fashion, said engaging means further comprising said first and second sides being angled in inwardly extending fashion so that, upon affixing said body over the severed corner of the container, said sides biasingly squeeze against corresponding sides of the container.