Folding Patents (Class 493/162)
  • Patent number: 5458237
    Abstract: A set of sheets for producing a packaging assembly for products of small thickness, such as LCD panels, which comprises a first sheet (101) to fold into a product holding element (201), a second sheet (102) to fold into a base structure (202), and a third sheet (103) to fold into a cover member (203). Corrugated paper can be conveniently used for the sheets. No styrene foam is necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1995
    Assignee: Chuoh Pack Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hachiro Kataoka
  • Patent number: 5427306
    Abstract: Corrugated paper blanks for cooperatively forming a six wall box, and a box formed from the paper blanks are disclosed. The box formed from a body blank 10 and two side blanks 100 has two side walls, two end walls 32 and 36, a bottom wall 34, a top wall cooperatively formed by two top panels 30 and 38, a door 52 in one of the end walls 36, and a plurality of horizontally spaced perforations 74 between a distal end of the door 52 and the bottom wall 34 to minimize tears along the paperboard corrugations upon compression of the box. The box also has positioning slots 76 on one or both of its end walls 32 and 36 at opposite sides of the box to aid in moving the box while on a shelf or otherwise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1995
    Assignee: Packaging Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul F. Petriekis, Robert A. VanBeek, Michael Wilford, James Zavodsky
  • Patent number: 5419486
    Abstract: A multi-sided container for storing and heating food prepared from a blank of paperboard includes a bottom panel and upstanding end, corner and side walls. A first set of angular panels are connected to the corner walls and the base panel. The first angular panels overlap and are bonded to the base panel. A second set of angular panels are connected to the first angular panels and to the end walls. The second angular panels overlap and are bonded to the end walls. Vertical flange extensions extending from the corner walls and the second angular panels overlap and are bonded together with the raw edges facing away from the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1995
    Assignee: Universal Packaging Corporation
    Inventors: Darrell K. Bennett, Robert G. Tomich
  • Patent number: 5337948
    Abstract: A half-carton container for cigarette packs, formed from a unitary blank, having windows formed in a first wall to display and facilitate the removal of the contained goods and having partitions hingedly attached to the first wall and secured to a second wall to support the half-carton structure and to partition and hold in place the contained goods. The half-carton container can be paired with another half-carton by attachment or by placing in a full-carton container such that they can be tax-stamped as a pair and later easily separated for sale as independent units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Assignee: Philip Morris Incorporated
    Inventors: Reginald W. Newsome, James A. DeBlasio, Robert E. Talley, John M. Adams, Christopher N. Chance, Donald H. Evers, William C. Harris, Michael A. Kirby
  • Patent number: 5337895
    Abstract: A single-piece protective end cap for insertion into the ends of a tube of rolled sheet material to protect and contain the exposed edges of the rolled sheet material and reinforce the ends of the tube has a central panel with hingedly attached intermediate panels foldable to extend substantially perpendicular to the central panel to collectively form a tubular section with longitudinal edges coincident with the inside surface of the tube for holding the end cap firmly in the end of the tube, and outer panels hingedly attached to the intermediate panels and foldable to extend substantially perpendicular thereto and parallel the central panel to provide a peripheral lip around the tubular section which contains and protects the exposed edges of the sheet material when the end cap tubular section is inserted into the end of the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Assignee: Cleo, Inc.
    Inventors: Roman Mitelman, Gary B. Smith
  • Patent number: 5328090
    Abstract: A blank for forming a paperboard carton or breadtray having a bottom and four double ply walls with reinforced corners erected without stitches. Each corner has a double fold wrap around flap which is inserted through a slot in the adjoining wall and is captured between the plys. A reinforcing section folds down over the side section forming the two plys which are held together by a cutout which is inserted through a handle hole and locked by a tab inserted into the bottom section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Inventor: Allan T. Hanlon
  • Patent number: 5322168
    Abstract: According to a preferred embodiment of the invention a flat sheet of corrugated paper for producing a packing has a symmetrical shape and includes (i) two parallel central creases (A) extending from one edge (30) of the sheet to an opposed edge (31) thereof, (ii) five wall members (10) to (14), (iii) two first end sections (1), (iv) two outer side sections (2) located outside the wall members and the respective central creases (A), (v) two top sections (3) located outside the respective outer side sections (2), (vi) two inner side sections (5) partly surrounded by the respective top sections (3), (vii) two bottom sections (6) located outside the respective inner side sections (5), and (viii) two pairs of second end sections (20) located outside the respective inner side sections (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1994
    Assignee: Chuoh Pack Industry Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Hachiro Kataoka
  • Patent number: 5240173
    Abstract: A product sleeve blank comprises a number of panels hingedly connected toher. The outside panels have interengagement structure associated therewith. One of the outside panels has a premium card detachably joined to an edge thereof along a perforation line. The sleeve blank is sized so that when this outside panel is folded about its hinge line with the adjacent panel, the premium card overlies a further panel between the hinge lines of that panel. The premium card may be affixed to this further panel and then the premium card detached from the outside panel with which it is associated so that the panels may be hinged and the inter-engagement structure engaged to form a sleeve. The premium card may be readily removed by a consumer by being peeled from the panel to which it is affixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1993
    Assignee: Somerville POackaging, Division of Paperboard Industries Corporation
    Inventor: Leslie J. Dagostine
  • Patent number: 5238181
    Abstract: A container with an integral pouring spout a method for manufacturing the same are provided, the container being manufactured from a planar blank by means of a manufacturing process which involves only a small number of very simple steps. The container has a pouring spout which is formed integrally with one of the walls of the container, and during the assembly of the container, portions of the spout are aligned with grooves in the opening for the spout, so that the components of the spout are guided, whereby the spout is opened and set up in a controlled manner. The spout is covered by an overlying layer of material and the region above the spout is perforated. The upper extreme of the perforated region extends above the top of the container to permit easy grasping and removal of the perforated region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1993
    Assignee: Shorwood Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven Mahler
  • Map
    Patent number: 5217257
    Abstract: The invention relates to a map on which informative data are printed, said map being provided with folding lines and with map portions located between said folding lines. A central folding line is provided, whereby two further folding lines, extending on either side of the central folding line in the unfolded condition of the map, adjoin said central folding line in each of a plurality of spaced joining points, and whereby further folding lines, which extend from an adjoining point on the central folding line, include a 90.degree. angle with each other and similar angles with the central folding line. The map is folded alternately about the further folding lines in opposite directions, all this in such a manner that in the folded-up condition of the map all parts located between said folding lines lie one on top of the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1993
    Inventor: Gidy H. C. G. Knoors
  • Patent number: 5205474
    Abstract: A blank and carry-out tray for carrying a variety of food products are provided and the tray is capable of transformation from a storage condition of a substantially flat configuration to an erect and upright useable condition by manipulation of a plurality of foldably connected portions that move similarly to a parallel linkage arrangement and which are provided with a locking mechanism that automatically lock the tray in its upright and useable condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1993
    Assignee: Oscar Mayer Foods Corporation
    Inventors: Aurel E. Stuart, William Taylor
  • Patent number: 5178600
    Abstract: A tuck folder box erection fixture which quickly erects the box blank and holds the erected folder in place while the packaging operator loads the product. In particular, an inventive fixture that is stationary and uses no moving parts to erect and hold the box in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1993
    Assignee: Rolm Systems
    Inventor: Melvin S. Harder
  • Patent number: 5110037
    Abstract: A container especially of the palletized type, made of a single rectangular sheet of fiber board or the like in which the sheet is cut inwardly at its four edges to provide four panels that make up the ends and sides of a box-like structure leaving the uncut portion as a rectangular of smaller but similar shape. In addition to the four panels, the cutting operating provides four corner panels separated from the other panels but integral with the bottom. These corner panels are folded beneath and lie flat-wise against the bottom to give the bottom a double thickness. In addition, portions of the folded-under corner parts project laterally beyond the periphery of the box-like structure to provide a peripheral lip serving as a stop for a tubular cover element that is ultimately slipped over the structure for shipping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1992
    Assignee: Rock Island Packaging Corp.
    Inventor: John R. Pieritz, Sr.
  • Patent number: 4955528
    Abstract: A paperboard container for food and condiments is disclosed. The container is formed from a one piece blank cut from rectangular paperboard stock. The finished container has a first receptacle and an adjacent second fluid tight receptacle for condiments. The fininshed container may be collapsed to a flat condition for storage and may be stacked one upon another in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1990
    Inventor: Patricia A. Schluckebier
  • Patent number: 4950216
    Abstract: A flower pot for containing growing flowers or plants made by forming a sheet of material into a container having an upper end and a lower end with an object opening extending through the upper end and extending a distance through the container, the container having a plurality of overlapping folds for contributing to the rigidity of the container for cooperating in tending to maintain the formed shape of the container, and the container having a skirt extending a distance outwardly from the upper end of the container. After forming the container with the skirt outwardly extending therefrom, the skirt is formed in a downward direction to a position wherein the skirt is disposed generally near the outer peripheral surface of the container. When the plants or flowers are ready for shipment or display, the skirt again is formed or turned in the outwardly extending direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1990
    Assignee: Highland Supply Corporation
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Patent number: 4929223
    Abstract: A system for aligning portions of a carrier blank during the folding of a carrier blank into a folded carrier wherein an abutment tab having an abutment edge is provided in one portion of the carrier blank with the one portion having a first linear edge and wherein an abutment edge is provided in a second portion of the carrier blank with the second portion having a second linear edge so that when the first and second portions of the carrier blank are moved into adjacent relationship, the abutment edges move into a contacting relationship to guide the first and second linear edges into a superposed and aligtned relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 29, 1990
    Assignee: Adolph Coors Company
    Inventor: Joseph C. Walsh
  • Patent number: 4872609
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a blank and carton for packaging ice cream or the like comprising hingedly connected cover, rear, bottom and front panels. Left and right end flaps extending from each of the cover, rear, bottom and front panel end flaps. A pocket means formed in each of the carton ends for receiving a portion of the cover panel end flaps adjacent the rear panel for reforming the carton subsequent to the initial opening thereof. The pocket means includes rear panel end flaps forming exterior liners and the corresponding front and bottom panel end flaps forming interior liners. Membrane flaps are hingedly connected to the front panel and left and right front panel end flaps for forming a substantially continuous lip along a portion of the outer periphery of the carton.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1989
    Assignee: Somerville Packaging Corporation
    Inventor: Richard E. DePaul
  • Patent number: 4826212
    Abstract: An improved sheet folding method comprises forming an upper folding template and a lower folding template having plate elements corresponding to predetermined fold configurations desired to be formed, the plate elements being interconnected along respective joining lines between adjacent plates by thin, flexible joining parts which allow the plate elements to be folded together along the joining lines, placing a sheet to be folded between the upper and lower folding templates, then folding the stacked sheet and templates together according to the order of the fold configurations desired, whereby the desired fold lines are formed in the sheet corresponding to the joining lines betwen the plate elements in the order of the fold configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1989
    Assignee: VanDam Inc.
    Inventors: Stephan R. W. Muth, Guenter Vollath
  • Patent number: 4721040
    Abstract: A flanged, dish shaped rectangular pressure responsive diaphragm is made from non-stretchable flat sheet stock in which the corners are formed with a tapering loop of excess material, and pleat folds take up the excess flange material to allow a tab portion to lie flat across the corner. Spacer strips and pieces are added to provide a uniform flange thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1988
    Assignee: Filtra-Systems Company
    Inventor: Robert Mau
  • Patent number: 4717025
    Abstract: A structurally self supporting shipping package adapted for use with mechanical handling equipment. The package may be embodied as a base or as a unitary carton formed by bending a single sheet of material such as fiberboard. The package includes a horizontal panel elevated by adjacent upward facing rectangular channels. Flaps formed at the ends of the channels engage rails formed along the sides of the panel, to transfer shear stress away from the channels and towards the rails. The rails may be assisted by flaps formed adjacent their connection to the panel. The package may be further strengthened if certain portions are formed by placing multiple thicknesses of material adjacent each other. The structurally self-supporting package allows accommodation of a variety of oddly shaped items. Package assembly may be expedited if the rails are formed in sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1988
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Donald J. Maurer
  • Patent number: 4708704
    Abstract: Process and apparatus for forming cigarette packs having rounded or beveled longitudinal edges includes forming the contoured edges on a flat blank at a shaping station as a preliminary shaping step. The shaping station includes a shaping mandrel or plate having rounded or beveled edges and shaping rollers or strips for wrapping the blank about the plate to produce the desired longitudinal edges contours.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1987
    Assignee: Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co.)
    Inventors: Heinz Focke, Hugo Mutschall
  • Patent number: 4676428
    Abstract: A one-piece corrugated fiberboard blank and the triple-end container assembled therefrom wherein the blank includes a rectangular bottom panel with a side panel hingedly attached to each of the two opposite sides thereof. Hingedly attached to the remaining two opposite sides of the bottom panel are first, exterior end panels, each having a hand-hold slot formed therein. Second, intermediate end panels sized in width to extend approximately half way across the first end panel in the assembled container are hingedly attached to the opposite ends of each side panel. Each intermediate end panel has a cutout complementary to the hand-hold slot in the first end panel and includes an extension hingedly attached thereto that folds back upon the intermediate end panel to form the third, innermost end panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1987
    Assignee: Inland Container Corporation
    Inventor: Jack A. McClure
  • Patent number: 4613391
    Abstract: A machine for assembling polyhedron devices comprising lifting means for lifting a polyhedron blank from a supply stack. Forming means receive the polyhedron blank from the lifting means and form the polyhedron into a polyhedron shaped article. A resilient member inserter means inserts a resilient member, such as a rubber band, into the polyhedron blank on the forming means so that the resilient member will bias the polyhedron shaped article into its formed configuration. Preferably the polyhedron assembling machine of the present invention further comprises adhesive applying means for applying adhesive to the polyhedron blank in the forming means. The machine of the present invention may further comprise a polyhedron blank holder means for holding a supply stack of polyhedron blanks to be lifted by the lifting means.The invention also comprehends a method of making a collapsible polyhedron article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1986
    Assignee: Graphics 3 Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Herlin, Richard W. Sutton
  • Patent number: 4606456
    Abstract: A novel structure for a paint brush package is disclosed. The structure consists of a single sheet of pliant material scored with multiple foldlines for assembly. When folded and erected, a wedge-shaped container having an inner liner forming a false bottom is produced. A plurality of scored fold sites permit the depth of the false bottom to be varied as desired. Changing the depth of the false bottom effectively changes the size of the container. This may be done by the manufacturer or by the consumer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1986
    Assignee: EZ Paintr Corporation
    Inventor: Darryl L. Kaminski
  • Patent number: 4562690
    Abstract: A package blank is made from a single sheet having at least surface layers of heat-sealable material. The blank sheet comprises first and second rectangular panels foldably formed on opposite sides of a backstrip. The first and second panels have first and second pairs of foldable side flaps, respectively, extending from their opposite sides, and the backstrip has a pair of foldable back flaps extending from its opposite ends. The first side flap pair and the back flap pair have sloping edges located adjacent each other for forming at least partly overlapping seams when the blank is folded up into a generally boxlike, open-front package. The overlapping seams serve to prevent the intrusion into the package of heated air used for fusing the second side flap pair onto the first side flap pair and the back flap pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1986
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Insatsu Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Sato
  • Patent number: 4530685
    Abstract: A box assembly comprising a series of three corner connected boxes is formed from a unitary blank of sheet material. The unitary blank is suitably cut and scored to include along the length thereof twelve body panels, two pairs of tabs, each pair spaced apart by an even number of body panels, and a flap on the end of the blank. In addition, closing flaps are suitably cut and scored on the tops and bottoms of selected ones of the body panels for use in closing off the openings on the tops and bottoms of the individual boxes of the assembly. To fabricate the box assembly from the blank, the tabs of each pair of tabs are folded and glued back on themselves to form a joining flap. An adhesive is then placed on the surfaces of each of the joining flaps and the end flap. The blank is then folded over on itself such that six of the body panels on the blank are superimposed over the remaining six.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1985
    Inventor: Sandra D. Freeman
  • Patent number: 4498895
    Abstract: A jig construction having adjustable spacers which may be positioned to accommodate various sizes of pre-cut paperboard or cardboard sheets from which folded pallets are formed. The jig includes manually and semi-automatically actuated mechanisms for adjusting the size of the cardboard pallet formed thereon, and to facilitate bending and creasing sections of the paperboard for forming the pallet construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1985
    Assignee: J. M. Huber Corporation
    Inventor: Herbert V. White
  • Patent number: 4273548
    Abstract: A blank is folded to form a box by pressing it into a jig. End and side panels of the blank, along with supplemental panels at the corners, are lifted relative to a floor panel by folding surfaces of the jig. The side panels are lifted first and supplemental end panels are thus positioned inside the end panels. The blank may also include supplemental side panels that are folded outwardly and backwardly by corner guides of the jig.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1979
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1981
    Assignee: Industrial Designs & Services
    Inventor: Walton B. Crane
  • Patent number: 4239572
    Abstract: A cover sheet is disposed over a recess in a work table. A folding apparatus, including an edge folder and edge erector is disposed over the recess and lowered until the edge erector is in the recess. The edge erector includes horizontally movable plates which are moved outwardly against the edges of the recess to erect the marginal edges of the sheet. The edge folder has downwardly depending, horizontally moving members. The edge folder is lowered until the members touch the work table after which the members are moved inwardly to fold the erected marginal edges of the sheet horizontally over the plates. The plates are then withdrawn while the edge folder members are maintained in contact with the folded marginal edges, and high frequency heat applied to weld the folded marginal edges to the sheet. After the welding is completed the edge erector and edge folder are raised to their initial position and the members are returned to their outward positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1980
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tomita Sangyo
    Inventor: Keiji Tomita