U.S. patent number 3,804,321 [Application Number 05/288,722] was granted by the patent office on 1974-04-16 for reinforced multiple product carton.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Westvaco Corporation. Invention is credited to Hampton E. Forbes, Jr..
United States Patent |
3,804,321 |
Forbes, Jr. |
April 16, 1974 |
REINFORCED MULTIPLE PRODUCT CARTON
Abstract
A one-piece paperboard carton for packaging two or more
different sized products comprises a conveniently shaped outer
carton having a secondary product inner compartment formed therein
by at least two interior wall panels, said interior wall panels
being connected together and extending respectively between two
adjacent side walls of the carton with the added feature that one
of the interior wall panels has as an integral part thereof a
bridge member which is attached between opposed side walls of the
carton to insure that, upon erection of the carton from a flattened
condition, there is no possibility that the two interior wall
panels will not assume their preferred right angle relationship
with respect to one another when forming the separate inner
compartment within the carton.
Inventors: |
Forbes, Jr.; Hampton E.
(Wilmington, DE) |
Assignee: |
Westvaco Corporation (New York,
NY)
|
Family
ID: |
23108351 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/288,722 |
Filed: |
September 13, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
229/120.08;
229/120.28; 206/216 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
5/5016 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
5/50 (20060101); B65d 005/10 (); B65d 005/50 () |
Field of
Search: |
;229/39B,39,27,15,41B |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Price; William I.
Assistant Examiner: Bernstein; Bruce H.
Claims
1. A reinforced multiple product carton formed from a one-piece
blank of paperboard or the like comprising:
a. four foldably connected exterior side walls which are shiftable
between a substantially flat collapsed condition to an erected
condition wherein the exterior side walls define a rectangular
carton with right angled corners;
b. end closure flaps foldably connected to the end edges of said
side walls;
c. an internal product supporting and locating structure within the
carton and consisting of a pair of inner wall panels which are
connected to one another and between two opposed side walls of the
carton, one of said pair adhered to one exterior side wall and the
other of said pair adhered to an exterior side wall adjacent to
said first exterior side wall; and
d. a bridge-like member formed by an integral extension of one of
the inner wall panels and connected between two opposed exterior
side walls of the carton for the purpose of assuring that the two
inner wall panels will assume a substantially right angle
relationship to one another when the carton is shifted from its
substantially flat collapsed condition to its
2. A reinforced multiple product carton formed from a one-piece
blank of paperboard or the like comprising:
a. four foldably connected exterior side walls which are shiftable
between a substantially flat collapsed condition to an erected
condition wherein the exterior side walls define a rectangular
carton with right angled corners;
b. end closure flaps foldably connected to the end edges of said
side walls; and,
c. an internal product supporting and locating structure within the
carton consisting of a pair of inner wall panels which are
connected between two opposed side walls of the carton and between
two adjacent side walls of the carton wherein the first interior
wall panel is connected to a glue flap for securing the carton
together and the second interior wall panel is divided into two
portions and connected to the first interior wall panel, said first
interior wall panel including an integral centrally located portion
having a glue flap at the free end thereof for attaching the first
interior wall panel between two opposed side walls of the carton,
and said two portions of the second interior wall panel including
glue flaps at the free edges thereof for attaching the second
interior wall panel between the first interior wall panel and an
adjacent side wall
3. The carton of claim 2 wherein in the erected condition of the
carton, said first interior wall panel extends perpendicularly from
one adjacent side wall of the carton to the intersection of the
first interior wall panel with the second interior wall panel and
the two portions of the second interior wall panel extend at a
right angle from the first interior wall panel perpendicularly to
another adjacent side wall of the carton.
4. A reinforced multiple product carton formed from a one-piece
blank of paperboard or the like comprising:
a. four foldably connected exterior side walls which are shiftable
between substantially flat collapsed condition to an erected
condition wherein the exterior side walls define a rectangular
carton with right angled corners;
b. end closure flaps foldably connected to the end edges of said
side walls; and,
c. an internal product supporting and locating structure within the
carton consisting of a pair of inner wall panels which are
connected between two opposed side walls of the carton and between
two adjacent side walls of the carton wherein the first interior
wall panel is connected to a glue flap for securing the carton
together and the second interior wall panel is connected to the
first interior wall panel, said first interior wall panel including
an integral portion located at one end thereof having a glue flap
at the free end thereof for attaching the first interior wall panel
between two opposed side walls of the carton, said second interior
wall panel including a glue flap at the free end thereof for
attaching the second interior wall panel between the first interior
wall panel and an
5. The carton of claim 4 wherein said interior wall panel extends
perpendicularly from one adjacent side wall of the carton in the
erected condition to the intersection of the first interior wall
panel with the second interior wall panel and the second interior
wall panel extends at a right angle from the first interior wall
panel perpendicularly to another
6. A reinforced multiple product carton formed from a one-piece
blank of paperboard or the like comprising:
a. four foldably connected exterior side walls which are shiftable
between a substantially flat collapsed condition to an erected
condition wherein the exterior side walls define a rectangular
carton with right angled corners;
b. end closure flaps foldably connected to the end edges of said
side walls; and,
c. an internal product supporting and locating structure within the
carton consisting of a pair of inner wall panels which are
connected between two opposed side walls of the carton and between
two adjacent side walls of the carton wherein with the carton
erected, the first interior wall panel is hingedly connected to a
free edge of the carton glue flap and extends inside the carton
from one side wall to a plurality of score lines in the first
interior wall panel where the first interior wall panel is hingedly
connected to the second interior wall panel, said second interior
wall panel extending between the first interior wall panel and an
adjacent side wall of the carton, said second interior wall panel
including an extension, cut from the first interior wall panel and
extending between
7. The carton of claim 6 wherein the second interior wall panel
consists of several discreet sub-panels having different positional
relationships within the carton as determined by the location of
the score lines connecting the first interior wall panel to the
second interior wall
8. A reinforced multiple product carton formed from a one-piece
blank of paperboard or the like, said blank comprising:
a. a plurality of outer carton side walls connected together along
parallel fold lines;
b. a glue panel foldably connected to the free edge of one of said
outer carton side walls;
c. a product retaining flap foldably attached to a portion of one
edge of said glue panel along a first fold line;
d. a first interior wall panel foldably attached to the remaining
portion of one edge of said glue panel along a second fold line
offset from but parallel to the first fold line, said first
interior wall panel including a centrally located extension thereof
having a glue flap attached thereto; and,
e. a pair of separate and discreet second interior wall panels on
each side of said first interior wall extension and attached to
said first interior wall panel along coextensive fold lines, said
separate and discreet panels
9. A reinforced multiple product carton formed from a one-piece
blank of paperboard or the like, said blank comprising:
a. a plurality of outer carton side walls connected together along
parallel fold lines;
b. a glue panel foldably connected to the free edge of one of said
outer carton side walls;
c. a product retaining flap foldably attached to a portion of one
edge of said glue panel along a first fold line;
d. a first interior wall panel foldably attached to the remaining
portion of said one edge of said glue panel along a second fold
line offset from but parallel to the first fold line, said first
interior wall panel including an extension thereof at one end
having a glue flap attached thereto; and,
e. a second interior wall panel foldably attached to said first
interior wall panel along a third fold line parallel to and spaced
from said second fold line, said second interior wall panel
including a glue flap attached
10. A reinforced multiple product carton forked from a one-piece
blank of paperboard or the like, said blank comprising:
a. a plurality of outer carton side walls connected together along
parallel fold lines;
b. a first glue panel foldably connected to the free edge of one of
said outer carton side walls;
c. a first interior wall panel foldably attached to said first glue
panel along a fold line parallel to said outer carton side wall
fold lines;
d. a second interior wall panel formed from three discreet
sub-panels attached to said first interior wall panel along
parallel but offset fold lines, one of said sub-panels including an
extended portion cut from the first interior wall panel, said
extended portion having a glue flap attached to the free edge
thereof; and,
e. a second glue panel attached to said second interior wall panel
along parallel but offset fold lines that are equally spaced from
said parallel and offset fold lines connecting the first interior
wall panel to the second interior wall panel.
Description
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to folding paperboard cartons of the
type commonly employed in the packaging of two or more products of
different sizes and dimensions. It is well known in the packaging
industry that cartons of the nature of the present invention
require at least one false wall located internally in the package
to separate the products from one another. Generally, the false
wall is provided in the cartons by extending the glue flap, used to
secure the carton together, with at least two additional interior
panels which then form a right angle bridge configuration between
two adjacent walls of the carton. The right angle bridge thus
serves to provide a support and a product locating shelf within the
carton for accommodating at least one additional product in the
carton. However, cartons of the prior art type just described tend
to suffer from several shortcomings which relate essentially to
problems that occur when the carton is set up for loading and
sealing.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a
one-piece paperboard carton for two or more different sized
products comprising a carton configuration that may be shipped and
stored in flat condition and that has a product locating and
supporting structure therein which, in the erected condition of the
carton, is adapted to engage and position each of the products
packaged therein in their proper location.
It is another object of the present invention to provide such a
carton as described above which includes the necessary safeguards
to insure complete reliability during the set-up and loading
sequence.
Thus, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a
one-piece paperboard carton for two or more products comprises four
foldably connected side walls that are angularly shiftable between
a substantially flat collapsed condition and an erected condition
wherein the side walls define a typical rectangular carton with
right angled corners having end closures constituted by the usual
flaps hingedly extending from the end edges of the side walls, and
an internal product supporting and locating structure within the
carton including wall portions which are connected between two
opposed side walls of the carton and an adjacent side wall of the
carton, whereby each of the products inserted in the carton become
positively located and supported from one another and from contact
with all of the walls of the carton.
In each embodiment of the invention, a portion of one of the
interior walls of the carton extends between two opposed side walls
of the carton, and a second interior wall extends between the first
interior wall and an adjacent side wall of the carton. In addition,
each embodiment of the invention also includes a means located
internally of the carton for restraining movement of one of the
products within the carton where the products are of different
sizes.
The carton of the present invention is generally used to package at
least two items, one of which is normally displayed as a bonus or
extra within the carton. For this purpose, the carton may, although
it would not be required, include a window portion formed in one or
more of the carton side walls through which the bonus item might be
viewed.
In one embodiment of the invention, a first interior wall panel is
hingedly attached to the glue flap for securing the carton together
and a second interior wall panel is divided into two portions and
hingedly attached to the first interior wall panel. The first
interior wall panel also includes a centrally located extended
portion having a glue flap at the free end thereof and thus the
first interior wall panel with its central portion, when secured in
place, extends between two opposed side walls of the carton. The
second interior wall panel also includes glue flaps, one attached
to each of the two portions thereof, and thus the second interior
wall panel portion when secured in place extends from the first
interior wall panel to an adjacent side wall of the carton. This
arrangement insures that when the carton is squared or set-up, the
first interior wall panel extends perpendicularly from one adjacent
side wall while the two portions of the second interior wall panel
extend at a right angle to the first interior wall panel and
perpendicularly to another adjacent side wall of the carton.
Meanwhile, the extended centrally located portion of the first
interior wall panel, which at one time was a part of the second
interior wall panel, serves as a bridge member for the purpose of
guaranteeing that the two interior wall panels will assume their
right angle relationship when the carton is squared for
filling.
In a second embodiment of the invention, two interior wall panels
are cut and scored from an extension of the carton blank that is
hingedly attached to the glue flap which secures the carton
together. In this case, a first interior wall panel is hingedly
attached directly to the glue flap and it includes a portion which
extends from one opposed side wall of the carton to another opposed
side wall of the carton where it is securely attached thereto by a
glue flap hingedly attached to the first interior wall panel
portion. A second interior wall panel is hingedly attached to the
first interior wall panel and it extends from the first interior
wall panel to an adjacent side wall of the carton where it is
securely attached thereto by a glue flap hingedly attached to the
free edge of the second interior wall panel. Finally, the carton
glue flap also includes a product retaining stop panel hingedly
attached thereto along a fold line that is offset from the fold
line connecting the first interior wall panel to the glue flap so
that the product retaining stop panel assumes a position that
extends across the space formed by the first and second interior
wall panels when the carton is erected.
In a third embodiment of the invention, two interior wall panels
are cut and scored from a glue flap extension which is hingedly
attached to the main carton blank. In this embodiment, a first
interior wall panel is hingedly connected to the free edge of the
carton glue flap and extends inside the carton from one side wall
of the carton to a point determined by one or more score lines in
the interior wall panel itself where the first interior wall panel
is hingedly connected to a second interior wall panel. The second
interior wall panel extends from the first interior wall panel to
an adjacent side wall of the carton where it is securely attached.
In addition, the second interior wall panel includes an extension
thereof, cut from the first wall panel, which includes a glue flap
hingedly attached to the free end thereof and that is securely
attached to an opposed side wall of the carton. In the preferred
form of this embodiment, the second interior wall panel preferably
consists of several discreet sub-panels having different positional
relationships within the carton as determined by the location of
the score line connecting the first interior wall panel to the
second interior wall panel. Similarly, the first interior wall
panel is of varying size as determined by the location of the
various score lines which form the discreet sub-panels of the
second interior wall panel. The purpose of the use of separate,
discreet sub-panel elements for the second interior wall panel is
to provide an interior space having a varying size between the two
interior wall panels for intimately gripping and retaining a
product of non-uniform size in the interior compartment. Obviously
the provision of discreet sub-panel elements on the second interior
wall panel eliminates the need for a product retaining stop panel
as specified in each of the first two embodiments.
In each case however, the provision of a separate bridge element
within the carton as an integral part of either the first interior
wall panel or the second interior wall panel, to permit the
respective interior wall panel to extend between and be connected
to two opposed side walls of the carton, insures that upon erection
of the carton, there is no possibility that the two interior wall
panels will not assume their preferred right angle relationship
with regard to one another and thereby form a separate compartment
within the carton for accepting and retaining therein a second
product in the carton.
Accordingly, a further object of the present invention is to
provide a one-piece, die-cut blank of novel design, fabricated from
paperboard material or the like, that may be conveniently and
simply formed into a carton having the above described
characteristics merely by folding and gluing operations as
performed on standard carton manufacturing machinery.
Hence, the above, and other objects, features and advantages of the
invention will be apparent from the following detailed description
of the illustrated embodiments hereof which is to be read in
connection with the accompanying drawing.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING
FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a prior art carton construction
with portions of the outer structure broken away to permit viewing
of the inner structure;
FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along the lines 2--2 of FIG.
1 in partially collapsed condition, in a position redundant to
being completely set-up, and in a fully set-up position;
FIG. 3 is a plan view of a carton blank according to the present
invention;
FIG. 4 shows the carton blank of FIG. 3 after a first folding and
gluing step;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the carton prepared from the blank
of FIGS. 3 and 4 with a portion of the outer structure broken away
to permit viewing of the inner structure;
FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken along the lines 6--6 of FIG.
5 showing the interior structure of the carton of FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a plan view of a carton blank according to the present
invention;
FIG. 8 shows the carton blank of FIG. 7 after a first folding and
gluing step;
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the carton prepared from the blank
of FIGS. 7 and 8 with a portion of the outer structure broken away
to permit viewing of the inner structure;
FIG. 10 is a plan view of a carton blank according to the present
invention;
FIG. 11 shows the carton blank of FIG. 10 after a first folding and
gluing step;
FIG. 12 shows the carton blank of FIG. 10 after a second folding
and gluing step;
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the carton prepared from the blank
of FIGS. 10-12 with a portion of the outer structure broken away to
permit viewing of the inner structure; and,
FIG. 14 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 14--14 of FIG.
13 showing the internal structure of the carton of FIG. 13.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The carton of the present invention takes the form of a flat, cut
and scored blank of paperboard or the like which blank is adapted
to form the novel one-piece carton for two or more products
referred to hereinbefore. The carton blank is sized to accommodate
a primary product and includes pre-cut interior panels for forming
an integral proportionally size inner compartment for accepting at
least one additional product.
FIG. 1 shows in some detail a view of a prior art carton including
the internal structure that has been used in the past to package
two different products in a single unit. The carton 1 of FIG. 1
includes a top wall 7 and a front wall 8 each of which have been
partially broken away to view the interior paneling. Accordingly,
the prior art cartons of this nature each include a glue flap 6
which has hingedly attached thereto a verical inner wall panel 2
and a horizontal wall panel 3. The horizontal wall panel 3 is shown
as being secured to the front wall 8 by a glue flap 4 while the
vertical wall panel 2 is secured to the top wall 7 by the glue flap
6. In addition, as often required to limit the translational
movement of one of the products, the carton 1 of FIG. 1 also shows
a product retaining flap 5 attached to glue flap 6 and extending
freely across the end of the interior compartment formed by the
right angle wall panels 2 and 3. The carton shown in FIG. 1 has
generally served its purpose in a satisfactory manner except for
set-up and loading problems which are more clearly illustrated in
the cross sectional view of FIG. 2.
FIG. 2 shows in solid lines the carton of FIG. 1 in a partially
collapsed condition with the glue flaps 4 and 6 secured to their
respective outer walls of the carton and the inner panels 2 and 3
approaching the properly set-up right angle configuration shown in
dotted lines. However, FIG. 2 also shows in dot-dash lines a
problem that quite often occurs on the assembly line when the
cartons are being squared for loading. Note that in FIG. 2 the
letter "F" denotes a force that sometimes occurs during the rapid
squaring sequence which tends to force the panels 2, 3 into a
position that makes it impossible for the carton to be squared
properly. The force "F" tends to urge the panels 2, 3 into the
position shown by the dot-dash lines (FIG. 2) and cause the
machinery to jam. The novel carton construction to be described in
detail hereinafter is designed to eliminate entirely the
possibility of the carton interior walls becoming flexed into a
redundant position as shown in FIG. 2.
In this regard, FIG. 3 shows in blank form a typical blank
construction which could be used to fabricate the novel carton
herein. A series of outer walls 10, 12, 14 and 16 are separated by
fold lines 11, 13, and 15 and they make up the conventional four
side walls of one ordinary carton. Attached along the opposite free
edge of the side panel 16 there is located the additional panels
necessary to form the secondary product inner compartment. These
latter panels are suitably shaped, cut and scored to form the inner
compartment side walls and a product supporting element or shelf
for the secondary product.
In particular, attached to the side panel 16 along a fold line 17,
there is located a glue panel 18 which is scored to form an odd
shape and which is ultimately adhered to the inside of side wall 10
to complete the basic outer carton configuration. The odd shape of
the glue panel 18 in this embodiment is formed by applying to the
glue panel 18 a cut line 33 for approximately one-half the width of
the panel and so as to intersect the scored line 19 located
more-or-less centrally of the panel. It should be apparent that the
cut line 33, and, for that matter the score line 19 could be
reoriented from their illustrated location to accommodate either a
shorter or taller, or, thinner or fatter secondary product.
However, for the sake of illustration, the score line 19 is shown
as extending from the end of cut line 33 to the base of the glue
panel 18 so as to form one of the interior wall panels 20 of the
carton. Meanwhile, another score line 22 is shown in the glue panel
18 in an offset and parallel relationship to the score line 19 and
extending from some intermediate point along the cut line 33 to
form a product retaining flap 23 at the end of the blank.
The interior wall panel 20 includes a wall panel extension portion
28 defined by the cut lines 26 located centrally of the panel 20
and has connected to the end thereof a separate glue flap 27. Also
in the interior wall panel 20, there are a pair of preferably
parallel and coextensive fold lines 21 which extend from the ends
of the cut lines 26 to form a pair of discreet second interior wall
panels 24 which each have connected to the ends thereof the
separate glue flaps 25. Thus it may be seen that the fold lines 19
and 21 define one interior wall panel and the fold lines 21 and 34
define a second interior wall panel except that the second interior
wall panel is divided into two discreet segments 24 by the cut
lines 26 which form the wall panel extension portion 28 of the
first interior wall panel 20. Moreover, it would be possible, if
desired, to allow the glue flap 25 to be continuous and unbroken as
shown without deviating from the principles of the invention
contemplated herein. For this particular option, the interior wall
extension 28 would simply be cut out of the glue flap 25 and wall
24 and held in position during feeding of the blank on the machine
by nicks placed along the cut lines 26. The interior wall extension
would then be freed by breaking the nicks after feeding into the
gluer section.
FIG. 3 also shows a Staude machine glue application at 29 and 30 to
the inside of the carton for securing the respective panels in
their proper places to insure that the inner compartment is formed
in the carton and to eliminate entirely any tendency for the carton
to become jammed when set-up. In this regard, the carton folding
sequence next takes place with an initial fold about fold line 17
to adhere the interior wall extension portion glue flap 27 to the
glue application at 29 and also to apply adhesive at 36 for the
final gluing of the carton. A second fold is then made from
right-to-left along fold line 13 to adhere the second interior wall
glue flaps 25 to the glue applications at 30 and to adhere side
wall 10 to the glue panel 18 at glue application 36.
The carton thus formed is shown in FIG. 5 wherein the interior
structure is illustrated. Note that the interior wall 20 is rigidly
attached between the side wall 10 and the side wall 14 via the
interior wall extension 28 and the glue flap 27. Meanwhile, the
second interior wall 24 is shown as extending in two discreet but
coextensive and planar elevations between the first interior wall
20 and the carton side wall 12. Thus it may be seen that, according
to the present invention, a carton construction fully as functional
as the prior art carton of FIG. 1 is obtained, with the further
bonus that because of the presence of the interior wall extension
portion 28 and glue flap 27, there is no possibility for the inner
compartment walls 20, 24 to become jammed in an over-center
position and thereby fail to become oriented in their right angle
inner compartment forming configuration.
FIG. 6 clearly shows the above to be true where it may be seen that
as the carton moves from the collapsed state, shown schematically
in dotted lines, to the fully erected state shown in solid lines,
the bridge element 28 attached by flap 27 to bottom wall 14 assures
that the panels 20, 24 will not be urged to an overcenter
condition.
FIGS. 7 and 8 each show another typical blank configuration
according to the present invention. In the illustrations of FIGS. 7
and 8, similar reference characters have been applied to similar
panels as shown in connection with the embodiment of FIGS. 3-6. In
this regard, the typical blank construction of FIG. 7 utilizes a
series of outer walls 10, 12, 14 and 16 separated by fold lines 11,
13 and 15, and, as in the case of the construction shown in FIG. 3,
these walls make up the conventional four side walls of an ordinary
carton. Attached along the opposite free edge of the side wall 16
there is located the additional panels necessary to form the
secondary product inner compartment in accordance with the present
invention. As in the case of the embodiment of FIGS. 3-6, these
latter panels are cut and scored to form the inner compartment
interior walls and a product supporting shelf for the secondary
product.
In particular, it will be noted that there is a glue panel 18
attached to the side wall 16 along the fold line 17. The glue panel
18 is of an odd shape as shown in FIG. 7 as a result of the
location of the cut line 33 at one end thereof which intersects the
fold line 19 at a point previously determined to accommodate the
secondary product. The score line 19, which extends from the end of
cut line 33 to the base of the glue panel 18 serves to define one
side of the carton interior wall panel 20. Meanwhile, another score
line 22 is shown in the glue panel 18 in an offset and parallel
relationship to the score line 19 to form a product retaining flap
23 as known in the art.
Of course, the novelty in the present carton design lies in the
orientation and location of the cut lines and score lines in the
interior wall 20 which forms the combined interior wall panels and
integral bridge member which assures the reliability of the carton
during the set-up and loading sequence. In this regard, the
interior wall panel 20 includes a wall panel extension portion or
bridge member 28 defined by a cut line 26 that is parallel to the
cut line 33, but located at the opposite end of the carton blank
from the cut line 33. The wall panel extension portion 28 also
includes at the free end thereof a separate glue flap 27 which
connects the bridge element between two opposed side walls of the
carton in the set-up condition. Interior wall panel 20 also
includes a pair of parallel spaced apart fold lines 21, 34 which
define the second interior wall panel 24. Of course, the second
interior wall panel 24 includes yet another separate glue flap 25
at the free edge thereof for orienting the second interior wall
panel 24 between the first interior wall panel 20 and an adjacent
side wall of the carton. In the embodiment of FIGS. 7-9, the second
interior wall panel 24 is not divided as was the case in FIGS. 3-6,
however, the two different schemes for carrying out the principles
of the present invention are substantially the same.
The glue application shown applied to the blank of FIGS. 7 and 8 is
of the straight line application and is accomplished as follows.
Initially, the second interior wall panel 24 is folded upwardly
along score line 21 to permit a top glue pot to apply adhesive
along the glue flap 27. Then at a second glue station, two bottom
glue pots apply adhesive to the flap 25 and panel 18 at 38 and 37
respectively in preparation for the folding operation.
Subsequently, the blank is folded once along score line 17 to
adhere glue flap 27 to carton side wall 14, and a second time along
score line 13 to adhere glue flap 25 to carton side wall 12 and
glue panel 18 to carton side wall 10.
The carton thus formed in shown in FIG. 9 wherein the interior
structure is illustrated. Note that the interior wall panel 20 is
rigidly attached between the carton side walls 10 and 14 via the
integral wall extension 28 and the glue flap 27. Meanwhile, the
second interior wall 24 is shown as extending between the first
interior wall 20 and the carton side wall 12. This gluing scheme is
substantially the same as employed in the carton illustrated in
FIG. 5, except for the location of the bridge member 28.
Accordingly, as in the case of the carton of FIG. 5, there is no
possibility that the inner compartment walls 20, 24 of the carton
shown in FIG. 9 will become jammed in an overcenter position and
thereby fail to become oriented in their proper position when the
carton is set up.
Finally, FIGS. 10-14 show yet another typical blank and carton
configuration that is possible according to the present invention.
FIG. 10 shows the blank in a flat condition wherein there are a
series of outer walls 42, 40, 44 and 46 separated by the score
lines 41, 43 and 45. Along the opposite free edge of side wall 46,
there is a glue panel 48 foldably attached thereto by the score
line 47. Then, attached to the glue panel 48, along the fold line
49, there may be found the additional panels necessary to form the
secondary product inner compartment as described in connection with
the previous two embodiments of the invention. Of course, as in the
previous embodiments, these latter panels are cut and scored to
form the inner compartment sidewalls and a slightly different
secondary product supporting element than the element disclosed in
the previous two modified forms of the blank.
In particular, attached to the glue panel 48 along a fold line 49,
is a first interior wall panel 50 which is quite extensively scored
and cut to provide both an interior compartment bridge member and a
second interior wall panel consisting of three discreet elements,
namely panels 67, 54 and 58. Then, attached to the above noted
discreet panel elements, there is a final glue panel 56 attached
thereto along staggered score lines 55, 61 and 57.
Initially, however, it will be noted that the first element 58 of
the second interior wall panel is formed from the first interior
wall panel 50 by a pair of parallel and spaced apart score lines
57, 59 and a cut line 60 which is wholly located within the panel
50. Accordingly, the first element 58 of the second interior wall
panel thus serves alternately as a secondary product retaining
member at one end of the inner compartment, or, as a member for
gripping and retaining one end of an odd shaped secondary product
within the inner compartment. The second discreet member 54 of the
second inner wall panel is formed by a pair of parallel score lines
which are separated from one another by the same amount as the
score lines 57, 59, but are offset from the score lines 57, 59 to
effectively serve as a further gripping and retaining member for a
different part of the odd shaped secondary product within the inner
compartment. Finally, the third discreet element 67 of the second
interior wall panel is formed by yet another pair of parallel and
similarly spaced apart score lines 51, 55 and the cut line 53
within the panel 50, for forming the third element for gripping and
retaining the remainder of the odd shaped secondary product
enclosed in the inner compartment. In addition, as clearly
illustrated in the blank structure of FIG. 10, and as will be
explained more clearly with respect to FIGS. 13 and 14, the third
discreet element 67 of the second interior wall also includes an
extension which is cut from the interior panel 50 and which
includes a glue flap 52 to form the bridge element for the carton
as required by the present invention.
FIG. 10 also shows a Staude machine glue application at 63, 64, 65
and 66, to the inside of the panels of the carton for securing the
respective panels in their proper places thereby insuring that the
inner compartment is formed in the carton, and to eliminate
entirely any tendency for the carton to become jammed into a
redundant position when set-up. In this respect, because of the
location of the inner compartment forming panels on the blank
structure, three folding steps are required to set up the carton
from the blank of FIG. 10, whereas, with the blanks shown in FIGS.
3 and 7, only two folding steps were required. FIG. 11 illustrates
the first folding step, wherein the carton blank is folded along
fold line 49 to adhere the glue panel 56 to the adhesive
applications at 63 and 64 previously applied to side wall 46. FIG.
12 shows the second folding step about score line 45 which serves
to adhere the bridge element glue flap 52 to the adhesive
application applied at 65 to panel 40, and a third folding step
would then be required at fold line 41 to adhere side roll 42 to
glue panel 48. In this regard, it should be noted that glue could
either be applied as shown at 66 to side wall 42, or in the
alternative to glue panel 48.
The carton thus formed is shown in FIG. 13 where portions of the
outer walls of the carton are cut away to illustrate the unique
interior structure. Note that the interior wall panel portion 67 is
rigidly attached between the opposed carton side walls 40, 46 by
the bridge member extension and glue flap 52 while the other two
discreet interior wall panels 54, 58 extend in parallel and planar
offset relationship between the carton wall 46 and the first
interior wall panel 50. Of course, as in the case of the previous
embodiments, the interior wall panel 50 extends between the three
discreet interior wall elements 67, 54 and 58 and the adjacent side
wall of the carton at 42. Hence, as pointed out hereinbefore, the
carton formed from the blank of FIG. 10 produces a carton
construction fully as functional as the prior art carton of FIG. 1
with the added feature, that, because of the presence of the
interior wall extension to panel element 67 and glue flap 52, there
is no possibility for the inner compartment walls 50 and 67, 54 and
58 to become jammed in an overcenter position and thereby fail to
become oriented in their right angle inner compartment forming
configuration. FIG. 14 clearly shows the above to be true wherein
it may be seen that with the carton in the set-up condition, the
bridge element extending from panel 67 assures that the respective
panels 50 and 67, 54 and 58 will not tend to move to an overcenter
and redundant condition.
It may thus be seen that the present invention provides an improved
collapsible carton having a secondary product retaining compartment
which is easy to manufacture, assemble and erect; which is
economical of material used; which is economical of labor and
operations required to produce; which fully protects and partially
isolates the enclosed articles from one another; and which is a
general improvement over the prior art. Another feature of the
present invention not previously mentioned lies in the provision
for applying window openings in the different carton sidewalls to
thereby permit visual inspection and display generally of the
secondary product packaged in the carton. It will be noted that in
the carton blank structures shown in FIGS. 3 and 7 the window area
mentioned above has been shown and characterized by the broken
lines at 32. In the blank illustrated in FIG. 10, the corresponding
window area is also illustrated by broken lines.
Accordingly, this specification and the accompanying drawing have
thus described and illustrated several preferred embodiments of the
carton according to the present invention including the steps
necessary for fabricating the novel inner compartment structure of
the carton. It is to be understood, however, that even though only
the preferred embodiments have been described in detail, numerous
changes and variations could be made in the construction of the
carton while retaining the novelty of the invention. Thus, it will
be understood by those skilled in the art that variations in the
implementation of the concepts of the invention are within the
scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
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