Envelopes – wrappers – and paperboard boxes – Paperboard box – Miscellaneous joint construction
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-15
2001-01-16
Elkins, Gary E. (Department: 3727)
Envelopes, wrappers, and paperboard boxes
Paperboard box
Miscellaneous joint construction
C229S103200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06173889
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to mechanical locks for holding overlapping flaps of a wrap-around carton in place. More particularly, it relates to a belt lock that provides a variable lock size.
2. Prior Art
When fabricating a carton from a paperboard blank, opposite ends of the blank are conventionally attached to each other by glue or by a mechanical lock to form the bottom panel of the carton. In the case of a wrap-around carton, flaps located on the ends of the blank typically are overlapped and engaged with one another by mechanical locks formed in the flaps to form the bottom panel of the carton. Since the bottom panel must maintain its integrity throughout the use of the carton, it is essential that the locking system be capable of supporting the weight of the packaged articles, and remain engaged during shipping and handling of the constructed carton.
One approach to provide such a stable mechanical lock assembly utilizes primary and secondary locks. The primary locks connect the ends of the carton together via the flaps, while the secondary locks function to maintain the engaged flaps in place in order to provide a “backup” locking system to prevent the primary locks from separating.
A superior locking system that overcomes many of the deficiencies of prior art locks is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,443,203 to Sutherland, which describes a mechanical locking system that does not require secondary male locking tabs to extend beyond the end edges of the blank, but which system effectively locks the tabs in place and resists withdrawal of the tabs. Yet, neither this mechanical locking system, nor other prior art systems, incorporate the ability to adjust to the variation in size of the bottles contained by the carton. That is, prior art carton blanks are stamped for a particular sized bottle. Variations in bottle size or out of round bottles necessitate a new carton to accommodate the change.
It would be advantageous to provide a variable mechanical locking system that can adjust for bottle growth or out of round bottles. This type of assembly would allow a single carton to contain a range of different bottle sizes. The present invention and its preferred embodiments provide such variable locking, while they also provide a superior flap engagement assembly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly described, in a preferred form, the objects of this invention are achieved by providing both primary and secondary lock systems. The primary lock system allows for container growth or out of round containers in the carton. The primary lock system incorporates two primary locks of different sizes located in the carton's outer bottom panel flap so that at least one of these locks will engage with the female sloped lock ledge of the carton's inner bottom panel flap. Both of these primary locks will be engaged when the containers are of normal size. If the containers are oversized or out of round, then only the larger of the primary locks will be engaged.
The primary locks of this invention are secured in the engaged position by the provision of a secondary lock system that prevents the withdrawal of the primary male locks. A secondary male lock is located in the inner bottom panel flap and connected to the panel by a fold line spaced from the end edge of the flap. An intermediate fold line divides the secondary male lock into an outer portion that extends through a secondary female lock opening in the outer bottom panel flap when the carton is locked. The female lock opening has an edge of a retainer tab that assists in holding the secondary male lock in position. This retainer tab flap prevents the withdrawal of the secondary male lock, which maintains the primary lock system in locked condition.
Primary locking of the carton includes the engagement of at least one primary lock with the novel female sloped lock ledge that forms one end of the primary female lock tab aperture in the inner bottom panel flap. This configuration allows for product growth or out of round products contained in the carton. A carton for containing six (6) containers usually has three (3) sets of two (2) primary male locks, three (3) corresponding primary female lock tab apertures, three (3) secondary male locks and three (3) corresponding secondary female lock openings.
It is an object of the present invention to provide variable carton lock assemblies that are capable of a range of adjustment, yet throughout adjustment, the lock assemblies remain locked. These lock assemblies secure the inner and outer bottom panel flaps of the carton together without the use of glue and the like.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide at least one of the lock assemblies that is self adjusting to allow for container growth or out of round containers, and yet remain in the locked position at all times.
These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3655117 (1972-04-01), Weiss
patent: 4611754 (1986-09-01), Sutherland
patent: 4815599 (1989-03-01), Schuster
patent: 4844328 (1989-07-01), Cooper
patent: 5398870 (1995-03-01), Bienaime
patent: 5671845 (1997-09-01), Harris
patent: 5682995 (1997-11-01), Sutherland
patent: 5975286 (1999-11-01), Oliff
Elkins Gary E.
Riverwood International Corporation
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