US5221040A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Buckle-proof clamshell carton
Assignee: PERSECO COMPANY A CORP OF
•
Filing: 1992-06-12
•
Granted: 1993-06-22
•
Expires: 2012-06-12
Abstract
Abstract A clamshell type carton is provided with a cut along the hinge score line connecting the upper cover and lower tray portions. Either a second cut in the back panel of the carton, above or below the hinge score line cut, or a cut-out slot encompassing the hinge score line cut, is utilized to facilitate the easy opening and closing of the carton without buckling occurring in the back panel in the region of the hinge score line.
Inventors
- 👤 John F. Sorenson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 02:02
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D5/00; B65D5/42; B65D5/64; B65D5/66; B65D5/6626; B65D5/665; B65D5/667; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S229/00; Y10S229/902; Y10S229/906; Y10S229/92
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
74 words
In a clamshell type container having a top cover portion, a bottom tray portion and an integral back panel, wherein said cover portion and said tray portion are hingedly connected through a hinge line extending across said back panel, the improvement comprising: a first cut along said hinge line, said cut being continuous and approximately half the length of said hinge line; and a second cut in said back panel above said first cut.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
74 words
In a clamshell type container having a top cover portion, a bottom tray portion and an integral back panel, wherein said cover portion and said tray portion are hingedly connected through a hinge line extending across said back panel, the improvement comprising: a first cut along said hinge line, said cut being continuous and approximately half the length of said hinge line; and a second cut in said back panel above said first cut.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A container according to claim 1, wherein said first cut is centrally disposed along said hinge line.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
A container according to claim 1, wherein said second cut is curved.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A container according to claim 1, wherein said first and second cuts are generally coextensive with each other.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
A container according to claim 1, wherein said first and second cuts are approximately 1/4-inch apart.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
64 words
In a clamshell type container having a top cover portion, a bottom tray portion and an integral back panel, wherein said cover portion and said tray portion are hingedly connected through a hinge line extending across said back panel, the improvement comprising: a cut along said hinge line; and at least one cut in said back panel generally coextensive with said hinge line cut.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
64 words
In a clamshell type container having a top cover portion, a bottom tray portion and an integral back panel, wherein said cover portion and said tray portion are hingedly connected through a hinge line extending across said back panel, the improvement comprising: a cut along said hinge line; and at least one cut in said back panel generally coextensive with said hinge line cut.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A container according to claim 6, wherein said hinge line cut is approximately half the length of said hinge line.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
A container according to claim 6, wherein said hinge line cut is centrally disposed along said hinge line,
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A container according to claim 6, wherein said generally coextensive back panel cut is adjacent said hinge line cut.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
A container according to claim 6, wherein said generally coextensive back panel cut is generally parallel to said hinge line cut.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
A container according to claim 6, wherein both said hinge line cut and said back panel cut are centrally disposed across said back panel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
A container according to claim 6, wherein said hinge line cut and said back panel cut are approximately 1/4-inch apart.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
A container according to claim 6, wherein said generally coextensive back panel cut is curved.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
119 words
In a clamshell container having a top cover portion, a bottom tray portion and an integral back panel, wherein said cover portion and said tray portion are hingedly connected through a hinge line extending across said back panel, the improvement comprising: a first cut along said hinge line, said hinge line cut centrally disposed along said hinge line and having a length equal to approximately half the length of said hinge line; and a second cut in said back panel adjacent said hinge line cut; said second cut being generally coextensive with and generally parallel to said first cut; whereby buckling of said back panel is avoided when said cover portion is folded about said back panel hinge line.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
119 words
In a clamshell container having a top cover portion, a bottom tray portion and an integral back panel, wherein said cover portion and said tray portion are hingedly connected through a hinge line extending across said back panel, the improvement comprising: a first cut along said hinge line, said hinge line cut centrally disposed along said hinge line and having a length equal to approximately half the length of said hinge line; and a second cut in said back panel adjacent said hinge line cut; said second cut being generally coextensive with and generally parallel to said first cut; whereby buckling of said back panel is avoided when said cover portion is folded about said back panel hinge line.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
A container according to claim 14, wherein said generally coextensive and generally parallel cut is above said hinge line.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
A container according to claim 14, wherein either of said cuts is sufficiently wide to permit venting of the container.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
74 words
In a clamshell type container formed from a paperboard blank and having a top cover portion, a bottom tray portion and an integral back panel, wherein said cover portion and said tray portion are hingedly connected through a hinge line extending across said back panel, the improvement comprising a single slot cut out of said back panel and interrupting said hinge line, said single slot encompassing approximately half the length of said hinge length.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
74 words
In a clamshell type container formed from a paperboard blank and having a top cover portion, a bottom tray portion and an integral back panel, wherein said cover portion and said tray portion are hingedly connected through a hinge line extending across said back panel, the improvement comprising a single slot cut out of said back panel and interrupting said hinge line, said single slot encompassing approximately half the length of said hinge length.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
A container according to claim 17, wherein a portion of said slot is defined by a cut along said hinge line.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
12 words
A container according to claim 17, wherein said slot is generally elliptical.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
A container according to claim 17, wherein said slot includes at least one enlarged region to facilitate stripping out of paper material during fabrication.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
A container according to claim 17, wherein said slot is centrally disposed along the length of said hinge line.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
A container according to claim 17, wherein said slot includes at least one straight edge defined by a straight cut along said hinge line.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
A container according to claim 22, wherein said slot includes a curved portion adjacent said hinge line cut.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
A container according to claim 17, wherein said slot has a minimum width at any point along its length of approximately 1/8-inch.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
98 words
In a clamshell container having a top cover portion, a bottom tray portion and an integral back panel, wherein said cover portion and said tray portion are hingedly connected through a hinge line extending across said back panel, the improvement comprising a slot cut out of said back panel and horizontally disposed with respect thereto, said slot defined in part by a cut coincident with said hinge line and extending approximately half the length of said hinge line; whereby buckling of said back panel is avoided when said cover portion is folded about said back panel hinge line.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
98 words
In a clamshell container having a top cover portion, a bottom tray portion and an integral back panel, wherein said cover portion and said tray portion are hingedly connected through a hinge line extending across said back panel, the improvement comprising a slot cut out of said back panel and horizontally disposed with respect thereto, said slot defined in part by a cut coincident with said hinge line and extending approximately half the length of said hinge line; whereby buckling of said back panel is avoided when said cover portion is folded about said back panel hinge line.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
18 words
A container according to claim 25, wherein said hinge line cut defines a lowermost portion of said slot.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
16 words
A container according to claim 25, wherein at least one portion of said slot is curved.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
12 words
A container according to claim 25, wherein said slot is generally elliptical.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
24 words
A container according to claim 25, wherein said slot includes at least one enlarged region to facilitate stripping out of paper material during fabrication.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
19 words
A container according to claim 25, wherein said slot is centrally disposed along the length of said hinge line.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US329134A
Cited
US708288A
Cited
US1329531A
Cited
US1771760A
Cited
US1839752A
Cited
US2247870A
Cited
US2468543A
Cited
US2544565A
Cited
US3190535A
Cited
US3163344A
Cited
US3330467A
Cited
US3343660A
Cited
US4254862A
Cited
US4232816A
Cited
US4230261A
Cited
US4245773A
Cited
US4266713A
Cited
US4304353A
Cited
US4360147A
Cited
US4389013A
Cited
US4413726A
Cited
US4431128A
Cited
US4570845A
Cited
US4909432A
Cited
US5039003A
Cited
US4792085A
Cited
US4877178A
Cited
US5098013A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-06-21 | 1996-12-21 | 1997-06-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-06-21 | 2000-12-21 | 2001-06-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-06-21 | 2004-12-21 | 2005-06-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |