THERMAL PROTECTION PACKAGING
A blank for forming an insulated carton including a front panel hingedly attached to a first side panel, the first side panel hingedly attached to a rear panel, the rear panel hingedly attached to a second side panel along a longitudinal axis of a blank, wherein each panel includes a central portion disposed between and hingedly attached to at least one flap arranged transverse to the longitudinal axis, an end tab hingedly attached to the central portion of the second side panel, and wherein the blank defines an interior space of a carton when folded along each hinged attachment and at least one surface of the blank includes a reflective barrier for energy-insulating the interior space of the carton.
The present disclosure relates to insulating blanks for marking cartons and inserts for insulating cartons, and more particularly to blanks and inserts having a reflective barrier.
Description of Related ArtA variety of devices are known in the art for providing thermal protection to products being shipped.
The conventional methods and systems have generally been considered satisfactory for their intended purpose. However, there is still a need in the art for containers to minimize energy transfer with the outside. There also remains a need in the art for such containers to be economically viable. The present disclosure may provide a solution for at least one of these remaining challenges.
SUMMARYA blank for forming an insulated carton includes a front panel hingedly attached to a first side panel, the first side panel hingedly attached to a rear panel, the rear panel hingedly attached to a second side panel along a longitudinal axis of a blank, wherein each panel includes a central portion disposed between and hingedly attached to at least one flap arranged transverse to the longitudinal axis, an end tab hingedly attached to the central portion of the second side panel, and wherein at least one surface of the blank includes a reflective barrier for energy-insulating the interior space of the carton and the blank defines an interior space of a carton when folded along each hinged attachment. Each of the panels can be different lengths, each of the panels can be of equal widths.
The flap of each panel can be indirectly attached to at one flap of an adjacent panel. The flap of the front panel and the at least one flap of the rear panel can be rectangle shaped, and the at the flap of the first side panel and the flap of the second side panel can be trapezoid shaped.
The end tab can include a central portion disposed between and hingedly attached to two opposing flaps arranged transverse to the longitudinal axis.
The reflective barrier can face the interior space and an outwardly facing surface of the end tab which does not include a reflective barrier can be attached to the reflective barrier of the front panel when the carton is erected. It is also conceived that the end tab can be located on the outside of the carton when assembled.
An insulating insert for a carton includes a frontal layer, including a reflective barrier for energy-insulating the interior space of a carton, attached to a middle layer including at least one layer of corrugated cardboard and attached to a rear layer, and a top side, a first side, a second side, and a bottom side defining an outer perimeter of the insert, wherein the top side and the bottom side each include at least one notch and at least one tab for mating with a second insert or third insert.
The at least one tab of the top side can include two tabs aligned asymmetrically with respect to a length of the top side and the at least one tab of the bottom side can include two tabs aligned asymmetrically with respect to a length thereof. The at least one notch of the top side can also include two notches symmetrically disposed along a length of the top side and the at least one notch of the bottom side can include two notches symmetrically disposed along a length of the bottom side.
A second insert can be detachably attached to a side of the first insert, wherein when the second insert can be detached and the rear layer of the first insert can abuts the rear layer of the second insert. The tabs of the two inserts can be of unequal height.
The reflective barrier of the insert can face an interior space defined if the insert is joined with another five inserts, it is also considered that the reflective barrier faces away from the interior space. The at least one tab of the bottom side of the first insert can interlock with the at least one notch of the top side of the second insert.
A system of inserts for insulating a carton includes a top insert, a bottom insert, a frontal insert, a rear insert, a first side insert, and a second side insert each including a frontal layer including a reflective barrier, for energy-insulating the interior space of the carton, attached to a middle layer including at least one layer of corrugated cardboard and attached to a rear layer. The top, bottom, a frontal, a rear, first side, and second side inserts define an interior space when the top, bottom, a frontal, a rear, first side, and second side inserts are mated together. Each of the top, bottom, a frontal, a rear, first side, and second side inserts include a top side, a first side, a second side, and a bottom side defining an outer perimeter thereof, wherein the top side of the top insert includes two tabs configured for mating with two notches of a frontal insert and the bottom side of the top insert includes two tabs configured for mating with notches of a rear insert, wherein the frontal insert and the rear insert are wider than the top insert and the bottom insert.
The reflective barrier of the embodiments mentioned above can include an optical density greater than 2.0, can include metalized polyester, and can be laminated to the insert.
These and other features of the systems and methods of the subject disclosure will become more readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the drawings.
So that those skilled in the art to which the subject invention appertains will readily understand how to make and use the devices and methods of the subject invention without undue experimentation, preferred embodiments thereof will be described in detail herein below with reference to certain figures, wherein:
Reference will now be made to the drawings wherein like reference numerals identify similar structural features or aspects of the subject invention. For purposes of explanation and illustration, and not limitation, a partial view of an exemplary embodiment of a blank for forming an insulated carton in accordance with the invention is shown in
Referring to
The reflective barrier 114 can face the interior space 116 and an outwardly facing surface 115 of the end tab 112 which does not include a reflective barrier can be attached to the reflective barrier 114 of the front panel 102 when the carton is erected. The reflective barrier 114, can be used for both keeping energy within the carton and for keeping excess energy from entering from the outside. Also, the panels 102-108 of the blank 100 are folded in such a way so as to minimize the airflow into and out of the carton. The carton can be airtight when folded properly.
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The methods and systems of the present disclosure, as described above and shown in the drawings, provide for an insulating system with superior properties including increased energy. While the apparatus a of the subject disclosure have been showing and described with reference to embodiments, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that changes and/or modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and score of the subject disclosure.
Claims
1. A blank for forming an insulated carton comprising:
- a front panel hingedly attached to a first side panel, the first side panel hingedly attached to a rear panel, the rear panel hingedly attached to a second side panel along a longitudinal axis of a blank, wherein each panel includes a central portion disposed between and hingedly attached to at least one flap arranged transverse to the longitudinal axis;
- an end tab hingedly attached to the central portion of the second side panel; and
- wherein the blank defines an interior space of a carton when folded along each hinged attachment and at least one surface of the blank includes a reflective barrier which has a higher thermal radiation reflectance than an underlying layer for energy-insulating the interior space of the carton.
2. The blank of claim 1, wherein each of the panels are different lengths.
3. The blank of claim 1, wherein each of the panels are equal widths.
4. The blank of claim 1, wherein the at least one flap of each panel is indirectly attached to the at least one flap of an adjacent panel.
5. The blank of claim 1, wherein the at least one flap of the front panel and the at least one flap of the rear panel are rectangular, and the at least one flap of the first side panel and the at least one flap of the second side panel are trapezoidal.
6. The blank of claim 1, wherein the end tab includes a central portion disposed between and hingedly attached to two opposing flaps arranged transverse to the longitudinal axis.
7. The blank of claim 1, wherein the reflective barrier is configured to face the interior space when the carton is erected.
8. The blank of claim 7, wherein an outwardly facing surface of the end tab does not include a reflective barrier and is attached to the reflective barrier of the front panel.
9. An insulating insert for a carton comprising:
- a frontal layer including a reflective barrier which has a higher thermal radiation reflectance than an underlying layer for energy-insulating the interior space of the carton attached to a middle layer including at least one layer of corrugated cardboard and attached to a rear layer; and
- a top side, a first side, a second side, and a bottom side defining an outer perimeter of the insert, wherein the top side and the bottom side each include at least one notch and at least one tab configured for mating with a second insert.
10. The insert of claim 9, wherein the at least one tab of the top side includes two tabs aligned asymmetrically with respect to a length thereof and the at least one tab of the bottom side includes two tabs aligned asymmetrically with respect to a length thereof.
11. The insert of claim 9, wherein the at least one notch of the top side includes two notches symmetrically disposed along a length thereof and the at least one notch of the bottom side includes two notches symmetrically disposed along a length thereof.
12. The insert of claim 9, further comprising a second insert detachably attached to a side thereof, wherein when the second insert is detached and the rear layer of the first insert abuts the rear layer of the second insert.
13. The insert of claim 12, wherein the tabs of the two inserts are of unequal height.
14. The insert of claim 9, wherein the reflective barrier of the insert faces an interior space defined by the insert being joined with another five inserts.
15. The insert of claim 9, wherein the reflective barrier of the insert faces away from an interior space by the insert being joined with another five inserts.
16. The insert of claim 15, wherein the at least one tab of the bottom side interlocks with the at least one notch of the top side.
17. A system of inserts for insulating a carton comprising:
- a top insert, a bottom insert, a frontal insert, a rear insert, a first side insert, and a second side insert each including a frontal layer including a reflective barrier which has a higher thermal radiation reflectance than an underlying layer for energy-insulating the interior space of the carton attached to a middle layer including at least one layer of corrugated cardboard and attached to a rear layer;
- the top, bottom, a frontal, a rear, first side, and second side inserts defining an interior space when mated together;
- wherein each of the top, bottom, a frontal, a rear, first side, and second side inserts includes a top side, a first side, a second side, and a bottom side defining an outer perimeter thereof, wherein the top side of the top insert includes two tabs configured for mating with two notches of a frontal insert and the bottom side of the top insert includes two tabs configured for mating with notches of a rear insert;
- wherein the frontal insert and the rear insert are wider than the top insert and the bottom insert.
18. The blank of claim 1, wherein the reflective barrier includes an optical density greater than 2.0.
19. The insert of claim 9, wherein the reflective barrier includes metalized polyester.
20. The insert of claim 9, wherein the reflective barrier is laminated to the insert.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 19, 2019
Publication Date: Aug 20, 2020
Inventors: David J. Wiemann (Chesterfield, MO), Paul C. Haschke (Carol Stream, IL), Timothy L. McCarthy (Wilmette, IL), William T. McDonnell (Elmhurst, IL)
Application Number: 16/279,282