Integrated carton lid designs
View Patent ↗A plurality of cartons, preferably fabricated from paper, paperboard and/or corrugated paperboard, and particularly of tray or wrapper-style construction, are provided, having integral lid constructions, and outer overlap panels, operably associated with the at least one top panel, to enable articulation of the carton into a substantially completed structure, without interfering with the subsequent articulation of the at least one top panel to enable loading of the carton subsequent to articulation and affixation of the outer overlap panels.
1. A carton, fabricated from at least one of paper, paperboard and corrugated paperboard, comprising:
a bottom panel;
two outer side panels emanating from opposing side edges of the bottom panel;
two end panels emanating from opposing end edges of the bottom panel, the opposing end edges of the bottom panel extending perpendicular to the opposing side edges of the bottom panel, wherein the bottom panel, the two outer side panels, and the two end panels define a cavity within the carton;
at least one top panel emanating from a top edge of one of the end panels, the at least one top panel configured to be movable between an opened position and a closed position, wherein, when in the closed position, the at least one top panel forms at least a portion of a top wall, the top wall for substantially covering the cavity;
two connection panels associated with respective end edges of each of the two outer side panels, the connection panels affixed at least indirectly to inside surfaces of an adjacent one of the two end panels, for maintaining the two end panels and the two outer side panels in raised, upright orientation relative to the bottom panel;
at least two first outer overlap panels emanating, at least indirectly, from the top edge of at least one of the end panels, the at least two first outer overlap panels placed in overlying relation and affixed to an outer surface of at least the two outer side panels; and
at least two overlap panel connection structures each extending between the first outer overlap panel adjacent thereto and the at least one top panel, the at least two overlap panel connection structures for enabling the at least two first outer overlap panels to be affixed in place without interfering with movement of the at least one top panel and for permitting the restrained formation and subsequent loading of the carton, subsequent to positioning and affixation of the at least two first outer overlap panels.
2. The carton according to claim 1 , wherein the at least two overlap panel connection structures comprise:
at least two top corner panels, emanating from the end panel from which the at least one top panel emanates, each of the at least two top corner panels contiguously connected to one of the at least two first outer overlap panels.
3. The carton according to claim 2 , wherein the at least two overlap panel connection structures further comprise:
lines of weakness frangibly connecting the at least one top panel to the at least two top corner panels, whereby upon articulation of the carton, the at least one top panel is disposed in a closed orientation, prior to loading of the carton, and prior to lifting of the at least one top panel and breaking of the connection between the at least one top panel and the at least two top corner panels.
4. The carton according to claim 1 , wherein the at least two first outer overlap panels emanate directly from the at least one top panel, and the at least two overlap panel connection structures comprise:
lines of weakness frangibly connecting the at least one top panel to the at least two first outer overlap panels.
5. The carton according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a second outer overlap panel emanating from a side edge of each of the at least two first outer overlap panels, each second outer overlap panel being folded, relative to its respective first outer overlap panel, and affixed to an outer surface of an adjacent one of the side and end panels, each second outer overlap panel having a height substantially equal to the at least one of the side and end panels to which the second outer overlap panel is affixed.
6. The carton according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an inner side panel disposed adjacent to and in overlying relationship to each of the outer side panels, each inner side panel being connected to its respective outer side panel along at least portions of a top edge region of the outer side panel.
7. The carton according to claim 6 , further comprising:
minor flaps at least indirectly emanating from opposing end edges of each of the inner side panels, the minor flaps being affixed, at least indirectly, to inside surfaces of the two end panels.
8. The carton according to claim 7 , further comprising:
gusset panels disposed between the inner side panels and their respective minor flaps, the gusset panels extending diagonally across portions of corner regions of an interior area of the carton.
9. The carton according to claim 8 , wherein the gusset panels are substantially rectangular.
10. The carton according to claim 8 , wherein the gusset panels are substantially triangular.
11. The carton according to claim 1 , further comprising:
minor flaps at least directly emanating from opposing end edges of each of the outer side panels, the minor flaps being affixed, at least indirectly, to inside surfaces of the two end panels.
12. The carton according to claim 11 , further comprising:
gusset panels disposed between the outer side panels and their respective minor flaps, the gusset panels extending diagonally across portions of corner regions of an interior area of the carton.
13. The carton according to claim 12 , wherein the gusset panels are substantially rectangular.
14. The carton according to claim 12 , wherein the gusset panels are substantially triangular.
15. The carton according to claim 1 , further comprising:
stacking tabs emanating upwardly from at least one of one of the outer side panels and one of the end panels; and
stacking tab receiving apertures disposed in at least one of the bottom panel, bottom edge regions of the outer side panels, and bottom edge regions of the end panels.
16. The carton according to claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one top side closure flap emanating from a side edge of the at least one top panel, the at least one top side closure flap configured to be adhered to an outer surface of an outer side panel.
17. The carton according to claim 16 , further comprising:
a cut-out region disposed in each of the at least two first overlap panels for enabling the at least one top side closure flap to make direct contact with an outer surface of an outer side panel.
18. The carton according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one top front closure flap emanating from a front edge of the at least one top panel, the at least one top front closure flap configured to be adhered to an outer surface of one of the end panels.
19. The carton according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one top panel comprises:
two top panels emanating from top edges of each of the end panels.
20. The carton according to claim 1 , further comprising:
stacking tabs emanating upwardly from at least one of one of the outer side panels and one of the end panels, the stacking tabs comprising notches operably configured to engage side edge regions of the at least one top panel.
21. The carton according to claim 1 , further comprising:
stacking tabs emanating upwardly from at least one of one of the outer side panels and one of the end panel, the stacking tabs comprising notches operably configured to engage side edge regions of the at least one top panel; and
apertures disposed in the at least one top panel for receiving the stacking tabs when the at least one top panel is in a closed position.
22. The carton according to claim 1 further comprising:
an extension of the at least one top panel extending into the end panel from which the top panel emanates; and
a frangible line of weakness separating the extension from remaining portions of the end panel, for enabling separation of the at least one top panel from the end panel.
23. The carton according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one top panel further comprises:
inner and outer top panel members foldably connected to one another.
24. The carton according to claim 1 , further comprising:
venting apertures disposed in at least one of the two outer side panels, the end panels, the bottom panel, and the at least one top panel.
25. The carton according to claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one hand hole disposed on at least one of one of the outer side panels and one of the end panels.
26. The carton according to claim 1 , wherein the two connection panels each have a height substantially equal to the inside surfaces of the adjacent one of the two end panels to which the two connection panels are affixed.
27. The carton according to claim 1 , wherein the at least two first outer overlap panels each having a height substantially equal to respective one of the outer side panels to which the at least two outer overlap panels are affixed.