Envelopes – wrappers – and paperboard boxes – Paperboard box – With closure for an access opening
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-26
2001-12-11
Shoap, Allan N. (Department: 3727)
Envelopes, wrappers, and paperboard boxes
Paperboard box
With closure for an access opening
C229S184000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06328204
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention pertains to a carton bottom panel configuration. More particularly, this invention pertains to a paperboard carton bottom panel configuration that eliminates interior exposed edges and reduces exterior exposed edges.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A preferred package for milk and juice is the gable-top package. The gable-top package is typically composed of a paperboard material coated on its interior and exterior surfaces with a thermoplastic material such as polyethylene. A further barrier, such as foil, can be provided on the interior of the package intermediate the paperboard and the layers, for packaging citrus juices and the like.
The package is formed from a blank in a paper converting process. The blank has a plurality of crease lines formed therein for properly folding the blank into the desired package shape. The unconstructed form or blank has a plurality of side panels (typically four) and corresponding top and bottom panels. The side panels define the front, rear and side walls of the package, the top panels form the well-known gable-top and the bottom panels fold and are sealed to one another to form a liquid and gas impervious bottom package seal.
In the converting process, the carton blanks are cut from sheet stock previously coated with the polymer layers. As such, while the face areas of the paperboard are coated, the raw paper edges are uncoated and thus are more susceptible to absorption of moisture. Moisture absorbed into the paperboard material may comprise the integrity of the carton and may result in a reduced shelf life for the packaged product.
The carton bottom is particularly susceptible to moisture absorption. Moisture can be absorbed into raw edges from both the interior and the exterior of the package. To this end, various configurations and devices have been developed in an effort to reduce the opportunity for raw edge absorption at the carton bottom. Configurations are disclosed in Christensen, U.S. Pat. No. 6,027,015 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,988,490 and Johansson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,845,840 which patents are commonly assigned herewith and are incorporated herein by reference. The aforementioned patents work well in preventing raw edge liquid absorption from an exterior source, however, they do not address the absorption of liquid from an carton interior source.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a carton and a carton blank configuration that eliminates the exposure of the raw edges to moisture from both interior as well exterior conditions. Desirably, such a configuration can be accommodated on known form, fill and seal packaging machines with little to no modification to existing components.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A carton for storing a product, such as milk, juice and the like, defines a sealed interior storage region. The carton includes a plurality of side panels that define upstanding walls. The panels include first, second, third and fourth panels separated from adjacent side panels by longitudinal crease lines. A plurality of top panels define a sealed top.
A plurality of bottom panels define an over-folded, sealed bottom. The bottom panels extend from respective, adjacent side panels and are separated from their respective side panels by a transverse crease line. Each bottom panel has a length relative to the transverse crease line. The bottom panels are contiguous with adjacent bottom panels and are separated from adjacent bottom panels by the longitudinal crease lines.
The bottom panels include a rectangular major panel having a length, and a rectangular minor panel having a length. The length of the minor panel is less than length of the major panel. Preferably, the major bottom panel is adjacent the first side panel and the minor bottom panel is adjacent the third side panel, opposing the major bottom panel.
The minor panel has a tab extending from an end thereof that is separated from the minor panel by a tab crease line. The tab further includes a raw edge spaced from the crease line.
Each of the others of the bottom panels is formed from a plurality of substantially triangular panels. Each of the others of the bottom panels also includes a transverse panel portion extending along an entire side of one of the triangular panels. Preferably, each transverse panel portion is separated from its triangular panel by a transverse crease line, and is separated from another of its bottom panels by a short longitudinal crease line.
When the bottom panel is folded to form the sealed bottom, the tab is folded over onto the minor panel at and along the tab crease line, and each of the transverse panel portions overlies substantially one-half of the tab to isolate and space the tab raw edge from the carton interior region.
In a present embodiment, the major bottom panel and the transverse panel portions include angled corners to minimize the exposure of raw edges to external environmental sources. Preferably, the major and minor bottom panels fully cover the others of the bottom panels, and the major bottom panel covers at least a portion of the minor bottom panel when the over-folded bottom is fully folded and sealed.
A blank for the over-folded bottom carton includes a first side panel, a second side panel, a third side panel and a fourth side panel. The side panels are separated from adjacent side panels by respective longitudinal crease lines.
The blank includes a plurality of top panels. Each top panel is contiguous with adjacent ones of the other top panels, and contiguous with a respective side panel. The top panels are separated from the side panels by a first transverse crease line and are separated from adjacent top panels by the longitudinal crease lines.
A plurality of bottom panels extend and are separated from respective, adjacent side panels by a second transverse crease line. Each bottom panel has a relative to the transverse crease line. The bottom panels are contiguous with adjacent bottom panels and are separated from adjacent bottom panels by the longitudinal crease lines. The bottom panels include a rectangular major panel having a length, and a rectangular minor panel having a length. The length of the minor panel is less than the length of the major panel.
In a preferred embodiment, the major panel is adjacent the first side panel and the minor bottom panel is adjacent the third side panel, opposing the major bottom panel. The minor panel includes a tab extending from an end thereof. The tab has a width and is separated from the minor panel by a tab crease line. The tab further includes a raw edge spaced from the crease line.
Each of the others of the bottom panels is formed from a plurality of substantially triangular panels. Each also includes a transverse panel portion extending along an entire side of one of the triangular panels. The transverse portions and the tab define gaps therebetween. The gaps each have a width that is about equal to the width of the tab. Preferably, the transverse panel portions are each separated from their respective triangular panels by a transverse crease line and are separated from another of their respective bottom panels by a short longitudinal crease line.
In a present embodiment, the major bottom panel includes angled corners at junctures with each of the others of the bottom panels and the transverse panel portions each include an angled corner. Preferably, the major bottom panel has a length greater than the length of the others of the bottom panels, which each have a length that is greater than the length of the minor bottom panel.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4192446 (1980-03-01), Naito
patent: 4540116 (1985-09-01), Shirakawa
patent: 4667873 (1987-05-01), Yasui et al.
patent: 4702410 (1987-10-01), Derving
patent: 4801073 (1989-01-01), Farber
patent: 5056707 (1991-10-01), Larsen
patent: 5324250 (1994-06-01), Janson et al.
patent: 5474232 (1995-12-01), Ljunstrom et al.
patent: 5845840 (199
Mai Tri M.
Shoap Allan N.
Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance SA
Welsh & Katz Ltd.
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