Folded Pre-wrap Carton

Abstract

A pre-wrapped carton has opposed main and side panels defining a rectangular cross section tube with inner and outer closure flaps foldable to closing position, the outer closure flaps overlying the inner one and extending approximately halfway between the opposite main panels. Right trapezoid-shaped closure flaps extend from the side panels and have the right angle sides thereof in proximate relationship with the first closure flap. A score line in each of the trapezoid-shaped flaps enables the flap portions to be folded into confronting relationship at the score line so that a single thickness portion of the trapezoidal flap overlies the outer closure flap with the double thickness portion overlying the inner closure flap with the free edge of the folded portion lying in abutting relationship with the distal edge of the outer closure flap.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention herein relates to folding cartons having an appearance of being hand wrapped, although the wrapper is in fact loosely adhered to the carton structure before the same is erected, filled, and closed.

2. Prior Art

The prior art developed in a search appears to be exemplified in the following patents:

M. M. Wright 3,257,068 Class 229-87 L. Adams, Jr. 3,443,739 Class 229-39 L. Adams, Jr. 3,451,611 Class 229-37 L. Adams, Jr. 3,459,358 Class 229-37 The structure disclosed herein constitutes an improvement over the referred to prior art patents in that the closing of the ends of the carton provides a substantially planar surface at the ends thereof.

DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pre-wrapped carton according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a cut and scored blank for forming the carton of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the blank of FIG. 2 assembled into a flattened carton tube;

FIG. 4 is a cross section taken along the line 4--4 of FIG. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but showing the carton folded so as to have rectangular cross section ready for the folding operation of the closure flaps;

FIGS. 6, 7, 8, 9 are also perspective views showing the steps in closing an end of the carton seen in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 10 is a section taken along the line 10--10 looking in the direction of the arrows.

The improved carton according to the present invention is referred to by the reference numeral 10 and is formed from a cut and scored blank 10A. The latter comprises main panel 11, first side panel 12, an opposite main panel 13 and an opposite side panel 14, these panels being foldably connected along parallel fold lines 16. A glue flap 17 is foldably connected to the first main panel 11 along a fold line 18, and glue flap 17 is joined to opposite side panel 14 to define a carton tube as seen in FIGS. 4 and 5.

The blank 19 of FIG. 2 is covered by a decorative wrap DW which is loosely adhered to blank 10A at a plurality of points as desired, so that when carton 10 is closed as seen in FIG. 1 it has the appearance of being hand wrapped.

First main panel 11 has an inner closure flap 19 foldably connected to each end thereof along fold lines 21, and opposite main panel 13 has an outer closure flap 22 also foldably connected to panel 13 along a continuation of score line 21. As seen in FIGS. 6 to 9 inner closure flap 19 is folded into closing position at right angles to the plane of the first main panel 11 and into the plane of the end of the tube. Flap 19 extends for a distance beyond the median line between the opposed main panels 11 and 13 when it is in the position seen in FIG. 5. Outer closure flap 22 is likewise folded at right angles to the plane of the opposed main panel 13 in overlapping relationship to inner closure flap 19, and may be glued thereto. Outer closure flap 22 extends over inner closure flap 19 and has a distal edge 20 thereof extending approximately to a median line between the opposed main panels 11 and 13.

Right trapezoidal-shaped closure flaps 23, 23 extend foldably from opposite ends of the opposed side panels 12 and 14 and have right angle sides 26 in proximate relationship to inner closure flap 19 which extends between the trapezoid-shaped closure flaps 23 when the blank 10A is folded and glued into a tube.

It may be noted that each of the trapezoid-shaped closure flaps 23 has an inclined side 25 extending from the base thereof at the score line 21 to a point at the distal edge thereof along a line extending longitudinally and medially of panels 12 and 14. As seen in FIG. 2 the decorative wrap DW is folded down along the inclined edge 25 and is glued thereto.

Each of the closure flaps 23 has an inclined score line 24 which extends from the intersection of fold line 21 with right angle side 26 to inclined edge 25 at the distal end of the flap 23. Closure flap 23 is folded along the score line 24 to provide a flap portion of double thickness and to have a free edge 27 of single thickness at right angles to the fold line 21.

When the closure flaps 23 are folded at right angles to their respective side panels 12 and 14 edge 27 of the double thickness portion of the flap 23 lies substantially in abutting relationship with the distal edge 20 of the outer closure flap 22 to provide a substantially planar surface for an end of the carton 10. Obviously, the closure flaps 23 are glued into position atop the inner and outer closure flap 19 and 22 in a conventional manner.

Claims

I claim:

1. In a carton having a decorative wrap secured thereto and constructed and arranged in appearance when set up to simulate a carton which is hand wrapped with a detached decorative wrap, said carton being formed from a cut and scored blank of paperboard or the like having the decorative wrap loosely secured thereto and comprising:

a. opposed main and side panels foldably interconnected to define a carton tube of rectangular cross section;

b. inner and outer closure flaps foldably extending from said main panels and folded into closing position at right angles into the plane of the end of said tube;

i. said outer closure flap overlapping said inner closure flap and having the distal edge thereof extending approximately to a median line between said opposed main panels;

c. right trapezoid-shaped closure flaps extending foldably from said side panels and having their right angled sides in proximate relationship and with said first closure flap extending therebetween;

i. a score line in each of said last named flaps extending from a point adjacent the intersection of the distal edge thereof with the inclined edge thereof to the fold line at the end of the right angle to said fold line;

d. each of said trapezoidal flaps being folded into confronting relationship at said score line to provide a flap portion of double thickness having a free edge of single thickness at right angle to said fold line.

2. A carton formed from a cut and scored blank of paperboard comprising:

a. opposed main and side panels foldably interconnected to define a carton tube of rectangular cross section;

b. inner and outer closure flaps foldably extending from said main panels and folded into closing position at right angles into the plane at the end of said tube;

i. said outer closure flap overlapping said inner closure flap and having the distal edge thereof extending approximately to a median line between said opposed main panels;

c. right trapezoid-shaped closure flaps extending foldably from said side panels and having their right angled sides in proximate relationship and with said first closure flap extending therebetween;

i. a score line in each of said last named flaps extending from a point adjacent the intersection of the distal edge thereof with the inclined edge thereof to the fold line at the end of the right angle side thereof;

d. each of said trapezoidal flaps being folded into confronting relationship at said score line to provide a flap portion of double thickness having a free edge of single thickness at right angles to said fold line;

e. so that its single thickness portion overlies the outer closure flap and its double thickness portion overlies the inner closure flap with said free edge lying in substantially abutting relationship with the distal edge of the outer closure flap to provide a substantially planar surface for an end of the carton.