Package making – Matchbook making
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-08
2001-09-18
Kim, Eugene (Department: 3721)
Package making
Matchbook making
C493S136000, C493S137000, C493S390000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06289651
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates to panel interlocking means for securing together a pair of panels, for example, adjacent overlapping panels of a paperboard carton. In some situations, these panels are provided by the opposite ends of a wrapper blank which are brought together in overlapping relationship and interlocked.
Locking tabs which are struck from one end of the carton wrapper and which are arranged to be driven through corresponding apertures defined by retaining tabs, struck from an opposite end of a wrapper are well known. However, in the present invention, the interlocking of panels is effected by causing a locking tab to be engaged through an aperture. In the present invention, locking tabs are directed away from the free end of their respective panel, such configurations are known, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,351,263 (Wood). This application shows a locking arrangement in which a first panel includes a locking tab which is directed away from free end of the first panel. A second panel includes a first aperture through which the tab is passed and then passed over a portion of the panel located beyond the aperture and is inserted through a second aperture in select combination.
A problem associated with known locking arrangements is that the forming of such locking arrangements is complicated and requires additional features, for example, additional retaining means or apertures. The more complicated arrangements also require precise registration of the two panels that are to be interlocked.
The present invention seeks to mitigate the problems outlined above by providing a simplified but secure locking arrangement.
One aspect of the present invention provides panel interlocking means for securing together a first and a second panel in overlapping relationship, the first panel comprising a locking tab struck from the first panel adjacent a free edge thereof and extending away from the free edge of the first panel. The locking tab has a neck portion hinged at a base thereof to the first panel and terminating in a shoulder portion and wherein the second panel includes an aperture struck from the second panel adjacent a free edge thereof and wherein the aperture is adapted to receive the locking tab such that when the panels are locked together the free edge of the second panel, outboard of the aperture, is located along the locking tab between the base of the neck portion and the shoulder portion.
According to an optional feature of this aspect of the invention the neck portion may include a transverse fold line so that the shoulder portion is hinged relative to the neck portion.
According to another optional feature of this aspect of the invention a locking edge may be formed between the underside of the shoulder portion and the neck portion. Preferably, the locking edge is adapted to interengage with a complementary edge of an aperture of the first panel which was created by the formation of the locking tab
Another aspect of the present invention provides panel interlocking means for securing together a first panel and a second panel in overlapping relationship, the first panel comprising a locking tab struck from the fit panel adjacent to the free edge thereof and extending away from the free edge of the first panel, the locking tab having a neck portion hinged at a base thereof to the first panel and terminating in a shoulder portion, and wherein the second panel includes an aperture struck from the second panel adjacent the free edge thereof, and wherein the aperture is adapted to receive the locking tab such that the locking tab overlaps part of the second panel between the aperture and the free edge, and wherein a locking edge of the locking tab is provided at each of the opposed side edges of the locking tab at the transition between the neck portion and the shoulder portion to interengage with complementary edges of an aperture created by formation of the locking tab to maintain the first panel and the second panel in a locked overlapped relationship.
According to an optional feature of this aspect of the invention, the neck portion may include a transverse fold line so that the shoulder portion is hinged relative to the neck portion adjacent the locking edges.
According to another optional feature of this aspect of the invention, the locking edges of and the complementary edges may be curvilinear.
Another aspect of the invention provides a method of securing together a first panel and a second panel in overlapping relationship, the first panel comprising a locking tab struck from the first panel adjacent a free edge thereof and extending away from the free edge of the first panel, the locking tab having a neck portion hinged at the base thereof to the first panel adjacent the free edge and terminating in a shoulder portion, and wherein the second panel includes an aperture struck from the second panel adjacent a free edge thereof, which method comprises the following steps: (i) folding the locking tab out of the plane of the first panel and towards the free edge thereof; (ii) bringing the first and second panels into overlapping relationship so that the aperture and locking tab are brought into registry; (iii) inserting the locking tab through the aperture; and (iv) folding the locking tab into overlapping relationship with the second panel between the aperture and free edge thereof towards its original position and inserting it through the aperture from which the locking tab was struck such that the locking tab is interengaged with an edge portion of the tab aperture such that the first and second panels are locked together in overlapping relationship. Preferably, the free edge of the second panel outboard of the aperture is located along the locking tab between the base of the neck portion and the shoulder portion.
Another aspect of the invention provides a carton blank incorporating panel interlocking means having a first panel and a second panel, the first panel comprising a locking tab struck therefrom including a neck portion and a shoulder portion, the neck portion being positioned adjacent to the free edge of the first panel and hinged to the first panel by a fold line at the base of the neck portion and wherein opposed side edges of the locking tab at the transition between the neck portion and shoulder portion are each shaped to define a locking edge extending from the tab to cooperate with an adjacent locking edge formed in the first panel and wherein a locking aperture is struck from the second panel spaced from its free edge to receive the locking tab.
According to an optional feature of this aspect of the invention, said neck portion may include a transverse fold line so that said shoulder portion is hinged relative to the neck portion.
According to another optional feature of this aspect of the invention, there may further comprise a locking edge formed between the underside of said shoulder portion and said neck portion, said locking edge being adapted to internegage with a complementary edge of an aperture of the first panel which was created by the formation of said locking tab. Preferably, said locking edges and said complementary edges are curvilinear.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3793928 (1974-02-01), Wooten
patent: 4004500 (1977-01-01), Wood
patent: 4062270 (1977-12-01), Culpepper
patent: 4429486 (1984-02-01), Bjornstad
patent: 5004147 (1991-04-01), Bienaime
patent: 5472138 (1995-12-01), Ingram
patent: 5595292 (1997-01-01), Bates
patent: 5611425 (1997-03-01), Holley, Jr.
patent: 321181 (1997-11-01), None
Kim Eugene
Suzuki Tsugihiko
The Mead Corporation
LandOfFree
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