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US3684159A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Carton with locking means for reclosable cover

Assignee: Gulf States Paper Corp
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Filing: 1970-07-16
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Granted: 1972-08-15
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Expires: 1990-07-16
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Abstract

Abstract A carton formed from a single blank of foldable paperboard or the like having a reclosable cover which is hinged to the upper edge of the rear wall panel of the carton proper or tray portion and provided with front and end apron panels, which, when the cover is closed, respectively overlap the front and end wall panels of the carton. Locking tabs cut from the front wall panel are hingedly connected to said panel along their upper edges, and their lower edges normally tend to protrude slightly outwardly from the face of said panel. Glue flaps, which secure the cover apron end panels to the inside of the cover front apron panel at the forward corners of the cover when the carton is erected, are provided with cut-out areas positioned for receiving and engaging the protruding edges of the locking tabs when the cover is in closed position. For gaining access to the closed carton, an upward pressure on the front apron panel of the cover causes an inward and upward force on the locking tabs, causing them to snap or cam out of the cut-outs of the glue flaps to release the locking engagement.

Inventors

  • 👤 George H Wolfe

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-01 18:40
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D5/00; B65D5/42; B65D5/64; B65D5/66; B65D5/6626; B65D5/665; B65D5/6661; B65D5/6664; B65D5/6667; B65D5/20; B65D5/26; B65D5/4204; B65D5/54; B65D5/545; B65D5/546

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 237 words
In a carton of paperboard or the like including a tray portion having hinged front, rear and end walls and a cover portion having at least front and end hinged apron panels adapted to overlap the front and end walls of said tray portion when the cover portion is closed, said end apron panels being connected to said front apron panel by hinged glue flaps integral with one of said apron panels and overlapping the inner face of a right angularly adjacent apron panel, means for releasibly locking said cover portion in closed position, comprising at least one locking tab having one free edge cut from one wall of said tray portion and connected thereto at its base along a hinge line forming the upper edge of said locking tab and spaced from the upper edge of said one wall, said locking tab projecting outwardly from said hinge line at a small angle to protrude said free edge outwardly with respect to the outer face of said one tray wall, a cut-out area formed in one of said hinged cover apron panels, which, when said cover is closed, is aligned to receive the protruding free edge of said locking tab, acting as a keeper therefor, said locking tab being releasible from said cut-out area by applying upward pressure on the cover panel having said cut-out area, causing the locking tab to snap out of said cut-out area.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 237 words
In a carton of paperboard or the like including a tray portion having hinged front, rear and end walls and a cover portion having at least front and end hinged apron panels adapted to overlap the front and end walls of said tray portion when the cover portion is closed, said end apron panels being connected to said front apron panel by hinged glue flaps integral with one of said apron panels and overlapping the inner face of a right angularly adjacent apron panel, means for releasibly locking said cover portion in closed position, comprising at least one locking tab having one free edge cut from one wall of said tray portion and connected thereto at its base along a hinge line forming the upper edge of said locking tab and spaced from the upper edge of said one wall, said locking tab projecting outwardly from said hinge line at a small angle to protrude said free edge outwardly with respect to the outer face of said one tray wall, a cut-out area formed in one of said hinged cover apron panels, which, when said cover is closed, is aligned to receive the protruding free edge of said locking tab, acting as a keeper therefor, said locking tab being releasible from said cut-out area by applying upward pressure on the cover panel having said cut-out area, causing the locking tab to snap out of said cut-out area.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 240 words
In a carton of paperboard or the like including a tray portion having hinged front, rear and end walls and a cover portion having at least front and end hinged apron panels adapted to overlap the front and end walls of said tray portion when the cover portion is closed, said end apron panels being connected to said front apron panel by hinged glue flaps integral with one of said apron panels and overlapping the inner face of a right angularly adjacent apron panel, means for releasibly locking said cover portion in closed position, comprising at least one locking tab having one free edge cut from one wall of said tray portion and connected thereto at its base along a hinge line forming the upper edge of said locking tab and spaced from the upper edge of said one wall, said locking tab projecting outwardly from said hinge line at a small angle to protrude said free edge outwardly with respect to the outer face of said one tray wall, at least one of said glue flaps having a cut-out area, which, when said cover is closed, is aligned to receive the protruding free edge of said locking tab, acting as a keeper therefor, said locking tab being releasible from said cut-out area by applying upward pressure on the cover apron panel to which said glue flap is adhered, causing the locking tab to snap out of said cut-out area.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 240 words
In a carton of paperboard or the like including a tray portion having hinged front, rear and end walls and a cover portion having at least front and end hinged apron panels adapted to overlap the front and end walls of said tray portion when the cover portion is closed, said end apron panels being connected to said front apron panel by hinged glue flaps integral with one of said apron panels and overlapping the inner face of a right angularly adjacent apron panel, means for releasibly locking said cover portion in closed position, comprising at least one locking tab having one free edge cut from one wall of said tray portion and connected thereto at its base along a hinge line forming the upper edge of said locking tab and spaced from the upper edge of said one wall, said locking tab projecting outwardly from said hinge line at a small angle to protrude said free edge outwardly with respect to the outer face of said one tray wall, at least one of said glue flaps having a cut-out area, which, when said cover is closed, is aligned to receive the protruding free edge of said locking tab, acting as a keeper therefor, said locking tab being releasible from said cut-out area by applying upward pressure on the cover apron panel to which said glue flap is adhered, causing the locking tab to snap out of said cut-out area.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 19 words
The invention as claimed in claim 1, wherein all of said hinged members are formed in a single blank.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 25 words
The invention as claimed in claim 2, wherein said glue flaps are hinged to said end apron panels and glued to said front apron panel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 21 words
The invention as claimed in claim 2, wherein said cut-out areas are formed in the upper edges of said glue flaps.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 22 words
The invention as claimed in claim 2, wherein said cut-out areas are in the form of slots cut in said glue flaps.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 25 words
The invention as claimed in claim 2, wherein said cover portion is hingedly connected to said tray portion along the rear wall of the latter.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2316701A Cited
US2365739A Cited
US2559320A Cited
US2531507A Cited
US2741418A Cited
US2692722A Cited
US2839236A Cited
US2854182A Cited
US2961144A Cited
US3330467A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1975-08-15 1976-02-14 1976-08-15 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1979-08-15 1980-02-14 1980-08-15 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1983-08-15 1984-02-14 1984-08-15 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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