U.S. patent application number 09/736079 was filed with the patent office on 2001-06-21 for portable and stackable leak-proof container formed from a blank of material.
Invention is credited to Lau, Boon Wee.
Application Number | 20010004088 09/736079 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 20430489 |
Filed Date | 2001-06-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010004088 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lau, Boon Wee |
June 21, 2001 |
Portable and stackable leak-proof container formed from a blank of
material
Abstract
The present invention relates to a container (100) made from a
blank material. The container (100) is particularly suitable for
storing food stuffs, including liquid food stuffs. It is versatile
in that it can be assembled so that it has a handle for carrying
the container (100) and it is also possible to assemble the
container (100) so that the handle of the container (100) is tucked
away, so that it is suitable for stacking.
Inventors: |
Lau, Boon Wee; (Singapore,
SG) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Ladas & Parry
26 West 61st Street
New York
NY
10023
US
|
Family ID: |
20430489 |
Appl. No.: |
09/736079 |
Filed: |
December 13, 2000 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
229/117.15 ;
229/117.22 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 5/244 20130101;
B65D 5/2047 20130101; B65D 5/46144 20130101; B65D 5/2033
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
229/117.15 ;
229/117.22 |
International
Class: |
B65D 005/462; B65D
005/40 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 14, 1999 |
SG |
9906241-6 |
Claims
1. A container comprising a base panel, side and foldable flap
panels foldably adjoined to the perimeter of the base panel to
fully encircle the base panel, at least one lid panel used to
fashion a lid for the container, and at least one handle panel used
to fashion a handle for the container, wherein the foldable flap
panels foldably adjoin adjacent side panels to one another, and are
folded during construction of the container to bring the adjacent
side panels together, the or each handle panel is foldably adjoined
to a corresponding side panel, or a lid panel along an edge
opposite to the side panel to which the lid panel is joined, and is
foldable between an upstanding configuration in which it can be
gripped and a retracted configuration in which it lies flat against
the lid.
2. A container as claimed in claim 1, comprising a lid tab located
on the or each lid panel and insertable in a lid tab slot to retain
the lid in a closed position.
3. A container as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, comprising a
handle tab slot arranged, in the retracted configuration of the
handle, to receive a handle tab located on the handle.
4. A container as claimed in any of the preceding claims,
comprising at least one interlocking panel foldably attached to a
side panel to engage with the or each handle in the upstanding
handle configuration.
5. A container as claimed in any of the preceding claims,
comprising at least one seal panel located on the or each lid panel
to abut against an adjacent panel to provide a seal.
6. A container as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein
the base panel is polygonal, at least a first and second handle
panel are provided to fashion a lid for the container, the foldable
flap panels are located at corners of the polygon base and each
includes a crease line extending from the respective corner of the
polygonal base panel to allow the or each foldable flap panel to be
folded during construction of the container, the polygonal base
panel has at least four edges including a first pair of opposing
edges along which respective opposing side panels are foldably
adjoined, the first and second opposing lid panels are each
foldably adjoined to the opposing side panels at an edge of the
respective side panel opposite to the base and are arranged to meet
and be retained together to form the lid upon construction of the
container, and the or each handle panel is foldably adjoined to a
corresponding lid panel along an edge opposite to the side
panel.
7. A container as claimed in claim 6, wherein a lid tab slot is
located on the join between the second opposing lid panel and the
corresponding side panel.
8. A container as claimed in claim 6, wherein a lid tab is located
on the first opposing lid panel to engage with a slot on the second
opposing lid panel, or a second handle panel adjoined to the second
opposing lid panel.
9. A container as claimed in claim 6, wherein a first handle panel
adjoined to the first opposing lid panel includes a handle tab, and
the second opposing lid panel includes a handle tab slot to receive
the handle tab in the retracted configuration of the handle.
10. A container as claimed in claim 9, wherein the or each handle
panel defines a fully encircled hole, along an internal edge of
which, the handle tab is located.
11. A container as claimed in claim 6, further comprising at least
one interlocking panel used to lock the or each handle in the
upstanding configuration, wherein the polygonal base panel has a
second pair of opposing edges, the first and second pair of
opposing edges arranged mutually perpendicular to one another, the
or each interlocking panel is each foldably adjoined to a side
panel which extends from the second pair of base panel edges, and
comprises a interlocking slot for insertion of at least a corner of
the handle.
12. A container as claimed in claim 11, wherein the or each handle
panel comprises at least one slot extending from a free edge of the
handle to engage with the corresponding interlocking slot.
13. A container as claimed in claim 6, comprising two opposing
handle panels which abut in the constructed container.
14. A container as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first and second
opposing lid panels are sized to collectively cover the base panel
in the constructed container.
15. A container as claimed in claim 6, wherein the base panel is
square, rectangular, or octagonal.
16. A container as claimed in claim 6, wherein the side panels have
an angle of more than 90.degree.to the base panels.
17. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, made from a
single blank of material.
18. A blank used to form a container as claimed in any preceding
claim.
19. A container substantially as hereinbefore described and with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
20. A blank substantially as hereinbefore described and with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
Description
INTRODUCTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a container, which is
particularly suitable for storing foodstuffs, including liquid
foodstuffs. It is versatile in that it can be assembled so that it
has a handle for carrying the container. It is also possible to
assemble the container so that the handle of the container is
tucked away, so that it is suitable for stacking.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
[0002] Conventional containers for merchandise typically consist of
straight sided boxes with lids which simply fit over the top of the
box. Such boxes must often be secured in a closed condition with
additional means such as an elastic band or tape in order to
prevent the lid simply slipping off again.
[0003] Other conventional containers, even if they do not use
separate lids, are closed by tabs which tuck into slots or
interlock with other tabs. These containers sometimes have handles
when constructed. This will assist the user in carrying the
container, but is undesirable when, for example, more than one
container is used and the user wishes to put them in a carrier bag.
Alternatively, these containers have flat tops with no handles,
which are difficult to carry around without placing the containers
into carrier bags.
[0004] Furthermore, conventional containers for carrying foodstuffs
are not leak-proof. Thus, although they may be useful for carrying
dry foodstuffs such as pastry, they are not suitable for carrying
foodstuff which have liquid, such as food with gravy and,
particularly, soups.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is an objective of this invention to provide a container
which is versatile and easy to use in that it can be changed
alternatively from a configuration which gives the user a handle to
carry the container, and to a configuration which does away with
the handle and instead gives the container a flat top. The former
configuration facilitates the carrying of individual containers
while the latter configuration allows the container to be stacked
with like containers or other items. It is another objective of
this invention to provide a container which can be securely
retained in the closed condition without the need for additional
securing means.
[0006] It is a further objective of this invention to provide a
container which is leak-proof, so that foodstuffs comprising liquid
can be carried therein. The container can be used for keeping
foodstuff in a fridge as well as a container for microwaving or
baking the foodstuff. It is also an objective of this invention to
produce a container meeting the above advantages which is
manufactured and delivered as a single component and therefore
saves the costs.
[0007] Accordingly, in a first aspect, the present invention
provides a container comprising
[0008] a base panel, side and foldable flap panels foldably
adjoined to the perimeter of the base panel to fully encircle the
base panel, at least one lid panel used to fashion a lid for the
container, and at least one handle panel used to fashion a handle
for the container, wherein
[0009] the foldable flap panels foldably adjoin adjacent side
panels to one another, and are folded during construction of the
container to bring the adjacent side panels together,
[0010] the or each handle panel is foldably adjoined to a
corresponding side panel, or a lid panel along an edge opposite to
the side panel to which the lid panel is joined, and is foldable
between an upstanding configuration in which it can be gripped and
a retracted configuration in which it lies flat against the
lid.
[0011] In a second aspect, the invention provides a blank of
material for constructing the container.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The invention will be described in more detail, by way of
example only, with reference to one embodiment of the invention and
with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings relate to
a preferred embodiment of the invention.
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container according to the
preferred embodiment of this invention, assembled so that the
container has a flat top.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container in FIG. 1,
which is assembled such that the container has a handle.
[0015] FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of the shape of the
cut-out or blank from which the container is made.
[0016] FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of the shape of the
cut-out or blank from which the container is made.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ONE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE
INVENTION
[0017] With reference to FIG. 3, a blank 1 in accordance with the
preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a base
panel 2, side panels 3a-b & 6a-b, and foldable flaps (corner
panels) 5a-d. In addition, the lid is made from the lid panels
7a-b, handle panels 8a-b and interlocking panels 9a-b.
[0018] The base panel 2 in this embodiment is rectangular.
Extending outwards along the length of the base panel 2 are side
panels 6a-b and extending outwards along the width of the base
panel 2 are further side panels 3a-b, one extending from each edge
of the base panel 2. The adjacent side panels 3b-6b, 6b-3a, 3a-6a
and 6a-3b, are further adjoined to each other by foldable flaps 5b,
5c, 5,d and 5a respectively. Each foldable flap has a crease line
16a-d to facilitate the folding of the foldable flaps 5a-d.
[0019] The lid panels 7a-b preferably extend from the top edges of
two of the side panels 6a-b. Further, handle panels 8a-b extend
from the lid panels 7a-b. On each handle panel 8a-b, a handle slot
10a-b is cut out. Further, on one of the handle slots 10a, there is
a handle tab 13 extending slightly into the handle slot 10a. This
handle tab 13 slots into the handle tab slot 14, which is cut-out
from the opposite lid panel 7b, when the container 100 is
configured in the flat-top position.
[0020] On one of the handle panels 8a, there is also a lid tab 11
which is cut out from the handle panel 8a. This lid tab 11 slots
into the lid tab slot 12, which is cut out from the opposite handle
panel 12, when the container 100 is configured with the handle.
[0021] Further, at each outer edge of each handle panel 8a-b, there
are a pair of interlocking tabs 15a-b and 15c-d. These interlocking
tabs 15a-d are slotted into the interlocking slots 9a-b on the
interlocking panels 4a-b when the container 100 is configured with
the handle.
[0022] The interlocking panels (4a, 4b) are particularly important
in the portable configuration of the container 100, as they not
only engage with the handle to provide a rigid handle (FIG. 2), but
also provide a configuration which transmits handle loads to the
side panels 3a, 3b of the container 100 to which the handle panels
8a, 8b are not directly connected. This latter aspect of its
function distributes the handle loads along two perpendicular axes
of the container and thus assist in preventing the lid panels 7a,
7b from opening when the container 100 is carried by the
handle.
[0023] Finally, crease lines 17a-d are formed towards the side
edges of the lid panels 7a-b. Thus, seal panels 17 are defined. As
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, these seal panels 17 are used to abut with
the side panels 6a, 6b or interlocking panels 4a, 4b to provide a
leak-proof container.
[0024] The assembly of the containers 100, illustrated in FIGS. 1
and 2, starting from the blank 1, illustrated in FIG. 3, will now
be described.
[0025] The side panels 3a-b and 6a-b are folded upwards to vertical
positions. The foldable flaps 5a-d are folded outwards along the
crease lines 16a-d. The foldable flaps 5a-d, which are now folded
flat, are secured to the side panels 3a-b by gluing or any other
means to be substantially flush with the surfaces of the side
panels 3a-b. Although the Figures show the foldable flaps 5a-d
folded outside of the container 100, the said flaps could also be
folded and glued inside the container 100. The base and sides of
the container 100 are now formed. The lower portions of the side
panels 3a-b and 6a-b, when formed, are preferably tapered at an
angle of more than 90.degree.(illustrated for side panel 3a-b as
a.degree. in FIG. 1).
[0026] If a container 100 with a flat top is desired, in which the
handle is tucked away as shown in FIG. 1, interlocking panels 4a-b
are first folded inwards towards the inside of the container 100.
The lid panel 7b and handle panel 8b (having the handle tab slot 14
and lid tab slot 12 respectively) are folded inwards to rest on top
of the folded interlocking panels 4a-b (not shown).
[0027] The next stage is to fold the lid panel 7a and handle panel
8a (having the lid tab 11 and handle tab 13 respectively) to rest
on top of the other lid panel 7b and handle panel 8b (as shown in
FIG. 1). To secure the container 100, as the lid panel 7b and
handle 8b are lowered, the lid tab 11 is slotted into and through
the lid tab slot 12. The handle tab 13 is then slotted into the
handle tab slot 14 to complete the assembly.
[0028] In order to reopen the container from the above flat-top
configuration, the handle tab 13 is pulled out from the handle tab
slot 14, and the lid tab 11 is pulled out from the lid tab slot 12,
thus releasing the lid panels 7a-b and handle panels 8a-b.
[0029] In a different configuration in which the handle of the
container 100 is not tucked away, as shown in FIG. 2, the
interlocking panels 4a-b are not folded away but remain
substantially vertical. In this case, the lid panel 7a and handle
panel 8a, and corresponding lid panel 7b and handle panel 8b, are
folded inwards and the interlocking tabs 15a-d are inserted through
the corresponding interlocking slots 9a-b. Upon folding, the lid
panels 7a-b are in the horizontal position whilst the handle panels
8a-b are substantially in the vertical position. The corresponding
handle slots 10a-b are arranged adjacent to each other so that one
single handle slot is formed.
[0030] In more detail, once the handle panels 8a-b are sufficiently
lowered, the interlocking panels 4a-b are folded inwards such that
the corners of the handle panels 8a-b are inserted into the
interlocking slots 9a-b. The interlocking panels 4a-b are folded
inwards to approximately a 45-degree angle to enable the top of the
interlocking slots 9a-b to rest inside the interlocking tabs 15a-d.
The edges of the lid panels 7a-b are simultaneously folded upwards
along the crease lines 17a-d so as not to obstruct the said folding
of the interlocking panels 4a-b. The handle panels 8a-b are then
lifted up slightly to engage the top of the interlocking slot 9a
with the bottom of the pair of interlocking tabs 15a, c and the top
of interlocking slot 9b with the bottom of the pair of interlocking
tabs 15b, d to complete the assembly.
[0031] In order to reopen the container 100 of FIG. 2, the handle
panels are pushed downwards to release the interlocking panels 4a-b
from the interlocking tabs 15a-d, allowing the interlocking panels
4a-b to swing outwards. Once the interlocking panels 4a-b are in a
substantially vertical position, the lid panels 7a-b and handle
panels 8a-b are released and may be pulled open.
[0032] The container 100 is preferably made from a material such as
stiff paper, cardboard or thin plastic which is relatively cheap
and easy to handle and has a degree of resilience. However, any
other suitable material could be used. The container 100 could
comprise a combination of different materials and it could also be
formed as a laminate, for example, to improve insulation.
Preferably, the materials should also be food-grade so that the
containers can be used for storing foodstuffs. Furthermore, by
using the appropriate material, the container 100 can be used as a
cooking utensil which is suitable for both microwaving and oven
baking the food stored therein.
[0033] A number of other modifications to the container described
will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, although
the embodiment described shows the base panel to be rectangular,
other shapes can be constructed. For example, the base panel could
be other polygonal shapes such as square or octagonal (FIG. 4), and
it is also conceivable that the base panel could be substantially
elliptical or circular. In this case, the container would have a
two-piece construction. In addition, the side panels 3a-b and 6a-b,
together with the foldable flaps 5a-d could be significantly deeper
to give the container 100 a greater volume.
[0034] Thus, a number of variations are possible to the present
invention which provides a container which is simple to close and
which can either have a configuration with a handle or have a flat
top in which the handle is tucked away. The container can also be
securely retained in the closed condition in either configuration
without the need for additional securing means. Further, the
container can be stacked with like containers or other items
without the weight causing opening or crushing of the
container.
* * * * *