Envelopes – wrappers – and paperboard boxes – Paperboard box – Collapsible along supplemental fold line
Reexamination Certificate
2002-11-15
2004-05-18
Elkins, Gary E. (Department: 3727)
Envelopes, wrappers, and paperboard boxes
Paperboard box
Collapsible along supplemental fold line
C229S117190, C229S117240, C229S148000, C229S149000, C229S186000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06736309
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to portable, foldable corrugated or cardboard containers. More particularly, our present invention relates to corrugated or paperboard boxes ideal for temporarily storing canned or bottled beverages upon a bed of ice. Prior art that is germane to the invention is located in U.S. Class 229, Subclasses 177-179.
II. Description of the Prior Art
Numerous portable, box-like containers have been proposed in the prior art for temporarily storing and thermally-isolating iced beverages. Typically, such containers comprising portable, disposable “coolers” are folded together from large blanks, sometimes being constrained by gluing or staples, or other, separate mechanical means added to the assembled blank after folding. Suitable blanks, as well recognized in the art, are usually made of paperboard, cardboard, or corrugated material. Typical prior art, disposable cartons or “coolers” known to us are variously sized to accommodate a good portion of a typical bag of ice combined with several twelve to sixteen ounce beverage bottles or cans.
Typical corrugated “coolers” are subject to moderate but not-insignificant stresses, resulting from their internal load, and the rough handling that they are subjected to during use. It is well recognized in the art that such containers will be treated poorly by their consumers, and they are inevitably subjected to substantial physical abuse, vibration, and pounding. Since they typically constrain a hefty quantity of ice cubes and a six-pack or two of a desired beverage, design considerations relating to weight, strength and endurance are commercially important. Further, the ice melts over time, so the container is subject to attack and weakening from water. Of course it is desirable that suitable coolers temporarily constrain the melt-off, so that leaking water does not escape the cooler and damage the users vehicle, possessions, clothing or the like. Of course the previously discussed misuse to which such containers are routinely subjected further aggravates the foregoing design considerations.
In addition to the foregoing considerations, the commercial success and/or market practicability of candidate corrugated coolers is inexorably linked to common market factors like the cost of production, the cost of shipment, and ease of use. Where as here the product is represented as being “disposable,” a low cost is obviously a root consideration. Although the strongest available corrugated coolers are routinely assembled by the beverage vendor, rather than the retail beverage consumer, it is imperative for cost minimization that the candidate cooler be shippable in a flat, unassembled form. Further, a proper design must abrogate the typical requirement of mechanical staples or other accessory fastener means that are typically required by common prior art units. Finally, the assembled container must be durable and waterproof, at least for a significant portion of its intended or expected useful life, which can vary between three to five hours when subjected to conditions of hard use.
Recognizing some of these problems, Floyd in U.S. Pat. No. 5,284,294 discloses a disposable container made from an integral blank of corrugated cardboard that folds between flat, storage orientations and an erected or deployed configuration. The container is adapted to store beverages or other articles, in an appealing, iced down condition. A bottom wall is foldably attached to two pairs of side walls that are joined by pleated walls, forming a “seamless” interior when assembled. The latter feature is important for leak-proofing. The container walls are self-locking without external staples or fasteners. A moisture-proof coating formed on the box interior further minimizes potential leakage. One of the top walls has a panel with lateral locking tabs that fold down during cooler assembly and are mated to receptive slots formed by the upright walls. The carrying handle is formed from abutting cutouts.
Prior U.S. Pat. No. 5,062,527, which issued Nov. 5, 1991 and which was invented by one of the inventors common to this case, disclosed a “Foldable, leakproof multi-mode Carton Construction” and a blank that is similar to the instant invention. The slotless and leakproof cooler therein disclosed is commercially adapted for storing medical waste. The corrugated, cooler blank can be quickly folded to form the cooler. Preferably, a separate plastic liner is provided to waterproof the cardboard or corrugated material interiorly. Each blank comprises a center panel, a pair of bordering width panels, a pair of bordering length panels, and four corner panels. The scoring lines comprises a first pair of spaced apart, parallel fold lines extending longitudinally, and a second pair of parallel fold lines crossing the width of the blank. Diagonal fold lines are scored into the corner panels. The center panel forms a bottom of the cooler, and the width and length panels respectively form cooler ends and sides. The corner panels are foldably divided into separate segments which abut each other and are adjacent to the length panels. A knock down system that permits erected coolers to be flattened, includes a knock down line which evenly bisects the blank and a cooperating pair of groups of generally triangular relief lines formed in the center panel. The assembled cooler may be flattened by urging the length panels together, whereupon the width panels will fold into the carton interior. A similar deforming movement facilitated by the triangular relief lines enables the center panel to collapse outwardly from the carton.
DeMars, U.S. Pat. No. 5,094,359 discloses an ice cooler adapted to be disposed in a minimum volume disposition for shipping, which is thereafter expanded upon erection. Cooler end and side panels comprise foldable flaps that close the container. The foldable flaps are uncoupled to expose the container interior and facilitate and increase in resultant size to allow the introduction of beverage containers and a quantity of ice.
Krieg, U.S. Pat. No. 5,020,337, issued Jun. 4, 1991 and entitled “Combination ice package and Expandable Cooler” comprises a box-like cooler comprising an extendable upper portion consisting of folded cardboard flaps. Expanding top flaps fold to form a top seal through the use of mating notches which frictionally engage one another. The upper portion of the structure is provided with circular access areas through which drinks may be inserted while being consumed.
Ericson, U.S. Pat. No. 5,562,228 discloses a collapsible cooler comprising a floor surrounded by a plurality of foldable walls interconnected by a hinge. Internal container subassemblies include quantities of a heat transfer material. Peripheral hinges connect the floor module and the lower wall subassemblies for securing the lower wall subassemblies to the floor assembly. Flexible corner panels are connected between adjacent, foldable wall assemblies. A carry strap assembly which includes a first end is connected to one upper wall subassembly, and a second end of the carry strap assembly is connected to an opposite upper wall subassembly. A lid assembly with a handle is adapted to fit onto upper edges of the respective upper wall subassemblies.
Arasim, U.S. Pat. No. 5,303,863 issued Apr. 19, 1994, discloses a corrugated container having a compartment for multiple containers of beverage, and means for holding a coolant such as ice in a heat exchange relationship. The holding means comprise a plurality of panels arranged in stacked relationship when deployed and the panels can be unfolded to form an ice bin atop the compartment. Ice is poured into the bin and cans are cooled by direct contact with the ice. By first withdrawing plural cans from the compartment, pouring ice and then nestling the withdrawn cans back into the bin-contained ice, many or all cans are in direct cooling contact with the ice.
Dlugopolski, U.S. Pat. No. 4,119,265 issued Oct. 10, 1978 and entitled “Seamless leakproof container” disclose
Westerman Frank E.
Westerman Frank G.
Carver Stephen D.
Elkins Gary E.
Wes-Pak, Inc.
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