U.S. patent application number 10/390940 was filed with the patent office on 2003-10-23 for container.
Invention is credited to Haraldsson, Rune Karl.
Application Number | 20030197053 10/390940 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 28454617 |
Filed Date | 2003-10-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030197053 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Haraldsson, Rune Karl |
October 23, 2003 |
Container
Abstract
A container blank is formed with a plurality of side panels
secured to a bottom panel. Adjacent side panels are further secured
to each other by gusset panels. The gusset panels include a first
region and second region formed along a substantially central fold
line. The first region has an exposed area when folded over the
second region. The gusset panels extend substantially along the
length of the side panels. A polymeric material is secured to
one-side of the blank. The gusset panels are dimension so that when
the container blank is folded at least some portion of polymeric
material on the first region and second region of the gusset panels
are secured to each other. Then opposing gusset panels are folded
so that at least some exposed area of two opposing gusset panels
are in contact with each other.
Inventors: |
Haraldsson, Rune Karl;
(Chester, VA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MeadWestvaco Corporation
11101 Johns Hopkins Road
Laurel
MD
20723
US
|
Family ID: |
28454617 |
Appl. No.: |
10/390940 |
Filed: |
March 18, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60364767 |
Mar 18, 2002 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
229/186 ;
229/125.35 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 5/246 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
229/186 ;
229/125.35 |
International
Class: |
B65D 005/24 |
Claims
1. An apparatus comprising: a bottom panel; a plurality of side
panels secured to each side of said bottom panels; a plurality of
gusset panels secured to said plurality of side panels, wherein
said gusset panels are dimensioned so that an interior region of
one gusset panels can be folded and placed in contact with an
interior region of an opposing gusset panel.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one flange panel is
secured to a side panel.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said gusset panels form a first
region and second region along a central axis fold line.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said gusset panels are
dimension so that said first region has more surface area than said
second region.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said first region is folded and
contacted with said second region so that at least some portion of
said first region is exposed and not in contact with said second
region.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein opposing gusset panels are
folded and contacted so that at least some exposed area of a first
region of a gusset panel is in contact with an exposed area of a
first region of an opposing gusset panel.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one surface of said
apparatus comprises a polymeric material.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said polymeric material
comprises at least one of the following: polyethylene, polyethylene
phteraphalate, polypropylene, styrene acrylate, and ethele vinyl
chloride.
9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said polymeric material is heat
sealable.
10. A method for forming an apparatus comprising the steps of:
providing a substrate; forming said substrate into a container
blank comprising a bottom panel, a plurality of side panels secured
to each side of said bottom panels; and a plurality of gusset
panels secured to said side panels, wherein said gusset panels are
dimensioned so that an interior region of one gusset panel can be
folded to contact an interior region of an opposing gusset
panel.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein said apparatus further comprises
at least one flange panel secured to a side panel.
12. The method of claim 10 wherein said gusset panels form a first
region and second region along a central axis fold line.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein said gusset panels are dimension
so that said first region has more surface area than said second
region.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein said first region is folded and
contacted with said second region so that at least some portion of
said first region is exposed and not in contact with said second
region.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein opposing gusset panels are
folded and contacted so that at least some exposed area of a first
region of a gusset panel is in contact with an exposed area of a
first region of an opposing gusset panel.
16. The method of claim 10 wherein at least one surface of said
substrate comprises a polymeric material.
17. The method of claim 16 wherein said polymeric material
comprises at least one of the following: polyethylene, polyethylene
phteraphalate, polypropylene, styrene acrylate, and ethele vinyl
chloride.
18. The method of claim 17 wherein said polymeric material is heat
sealable.
19. The method of claim 18 wherein said polymeric material is
heated and said apparatus is folded so that the gusset panels of an
interior region of one gusset panel is secured to an interior
region of an opposing gusset panel.
20. The method of claim 10 wherein said apparatus comprises a
four-sided bottom panel and four side panels.
Description
CROSS-RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
application No. 60/364,767 filed Mar. 18, 2002.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to a container having a bottom panel
for supporting container content, side panels for at least
partially surrounding the content, and an access opening intended
for the insertion or removal of content.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
[0003] It is known to make a container from a blank with a bottom
panel, side panels, and gusset panels. Exemplary of such prior art
is U.S. Pat. No. 5,411,204 ('204) issued to K. F. DeMay, entitled
"Reclosable Food Tray and Tray Blank". The DeMay patent teaches a
method of forming a tray by sealing with adhesives the gusset
panels to the side panels. However, at least one deficiency of this
method is that the application of the adhesive increases the costs
of forming the tray.
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 5, 873, 220 ('220) issued to Rune Haraldsson,
et al entitled "Method for Producing a Self-Locking, Paperboard
Pail-Like Container and Product Thereof" describes a method for
forming a container from a blank without the use of adhesives
taught in the DeMay patent. The Haraldsson patent teaches a
container blank with a bottom panel, side panels, and gusset
panels. One side of the blank is coated with a polymeric material.
The other side of the blank is coated with a particulate mineral.
At least some portion of the particulate mineral layer is "masked"
in the sealing area. In addition, at least some portion of the
gusset panels is "cut-away" in the sealing area. The gusset panels
are folded so that the gusset panels are partially overlapped and
sealed to each other in the "masked" and "cut-away" area without
the use of adhesives. However the "masking" and "cut-away" steps
adds to the container's costs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] A container blank is formed with a plurality of side panels
secured to a bottom panel. Adjacent side panels are further secured
to each other by gusset panels. The gusset panels include a first
region and second region formed along a substantially central fold
line. The first region has an exposed area when folded over the
second region. The gusset panels extend substantially along the
length of the side panels. A polymeric material is secured to
one-side of the blank. The gusset panels are dimension so that when
the container blank is folded at least some portion of polymeric
material on the first region and second region of the gusset panels
are secured to each other. Then opposing gusset panels are folded
so that at least some exposed area of two opposing gusset panels
are in contact with each other.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0006] FIG. 1 is a plan view of an exemplary container blank
according to the invention.
[0007] FIG. 2 is an end elevation view of a partially formed
container.
[0008] FIG. 3 is an end elevation view after a gusset panel is
partially folded.
[0009] FIG. 4 is an end view of a formed container.
[0010] FIG. 5 is a side view of a formed container.
[0011] FIG. 6 is a top view of a formed container.
[0012] The features of the invention are best understood by
considering the following detailed description in conjunction with
the accompanying figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0013] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary container blank 100
according to the invention. FIGS. 2-6 illustrate how the blank 100
is folded and various parts secured to each other to form a
container 400 (FIGS. 4-6). Blank 100 can be formed from any
suitable substrate, such as paperboard, and of any suitable
thickness. An exemplary thickness is about 0.008 to 0.028
inches.
[0014] Blank 100 is exemplary coated on one side with a mineral
coating. In an exemplary method, the exterior side is coated with a
fluidized mixture of minerals, such as clay and calcium, and
binders to form a smooth surface. The surface may undergo
additional mechanical smoothing treatments. In an exemplary method
graphic and advertising information is printed on the exterior side
of a formed container 400 (FIGS. 4-6).
[0015] The other side of blank 100 is exemplary coated with a
polymeric material, such as an extruded polymeric material. In a
conventional extrusion process, the polymeric material is heated to
a viscous flow temperature and extruded as a curtain onto the
surface of the substrate. Typical coat weights are about 5 to about
20 pounds of extruded material per ream (3,000 ft..sup.2) of
substrate surface. Exemplary polymeric materials include
polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polypropylene.
It is to be understood that the blank could also be coated with an
aqueous emulsion coating, such as for example Styrene Acrylate or
Ethele Vinyl Choloride. The polymeric material makes the container
substantially moisture proof and allows various parts of the blank
100 to be heat sealed to each other as described below.
[0016] Exemplary blank 100 is illustrated with a bottom panel 4,
side panels 6, 8, 10, and 12, gussets panels 14, 16, 18, 20, 22,
24, 26, 28. Optional flange panels 30 are also illustrated secured
to the side panels 6, 8, 10, 12. Blank 100 may be made using any
conventional blank forming techniques.
[0017] Gusset panels 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28 are illustrated
with exemplary central fold lines 15, 19, 23, 27. The gusset panels
14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28 are secured to the side panels 6, 8,
10, 12 along exemplary fold lines 81-88. The gusset panels 14, 16,
18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28 are illustrated with exemplary exterior
perimeters 41-45, 51-55, 60-65, and 70-75. The perimeters are
formed using conventional techniques. The exterior perimeters
41-45, 51-55, 60-65, and 70-75 allow gussets panels 14, 16, 18, 20,
22, 24, 26, 28 to be contacted with each other along central axis
fold line 15, 19, 23, 27 as illustrated in FIG. 2. It is to be
understood that blank 100 and its various parts can be dimensioned
and shaped into many container configurations and that the scope of
the invention is not limited to the exemplary container and shape
shown in the exemplary Figures.
[0018] In an exemplary method, the blank 100 is inserted in a
container forming apparatus (not shown). The polymeric material is
heated (not shown), for example with hot air. A container platen
(not shown) contacts (not shown) the blank 100 and forces the blank
100 into a container die (not shown). In an exemplary method the
gusset panels 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28 are pressed together,
for example, using spring loaded rollers, so that the gusset panels
14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28 are secured to each other by the
"heated" polymeric material. It is also possible to combine heating
and pressure after folding the blank 100 using for example
ultrasonic welding or heated sealing plates. It is also to be
understood that the gusset panels 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28
may simply be folded together without actually sealing in
accordance with the invention. FIG. 2 illustrates an end view of a
partially formed container 200. Side panel 8 and gusset panels 16,
18 are visible. Also illustrated is an exposed area of gusset panel
20 surrounded by perimeter 61, 62, 64, 65.
[0019] FIG. 3 illustrates the container 300 after gusset panels 14,
16 of FIG. 2 are folded toward side panel 8. The exposed polymeric
material region of gusset panel 16 with perimeter, 41, 42, 44, 45
and gusset panel 20 with perimeter 61, 62, 64, 65 are
illustrated.
[0020] FIG. 4 shows gusset panels 18, 20 folded over gusset panels
16, 14. In an exemplary method at least some portion of the
polymeric material of gusset panel 20 is in contact with at least
some a portion of the polymeric material of gusset panel 16. It is
to be understood that the exemplary perimeters 41-45, 51-55, 60-65,
and 70-75 of the gusset panels 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28 are
arranged to allow the gusset panels to overlap and secure to each
other without adhesives. It is to be understood that the other
gussets panels 22, 24, 26, 28 (not shown in FIGS. 2-6) are folded
and secured in the same manner (not shown). Using an exemplary
method of a platen (not shown) and container die (not shown) a
container 400 (FIGS. 4-6) can be formed in a single process using
conventional container forming equipment and techniques. It is to
be understood that the sealed gussets may or may not be further
secured to the sidewall panels. It is to further be understood that
the order and manner of forming the container is not to be limited
by the above exemplary method.
[0021] FIG. 6 illustrates optional flange panels 30 folded and
secured to each other. It is to be understood that an optional lid
of various shapes and sizes could be secured to the flange panels
30. An exemplary lid would have a suitable material that could be
secured to the exposed polymeric material of the flange panels 30.
It is to be further understood that optional flange panels 30 could
be configured in numerous ways, such as overlapping panels to form
a lid with various closure arrangements, such as a tab 38 and slot
40 arrangement (not shown).
[0022] Once given the above disclosure, many other features,
modifications or improvements will become apparent to the skilled
artisan. Such features, modifications or improvements are,
therefore, considered to be a part of this invention, the scope of
which is to be determined by the following claims.
* * * * *