IP Library Granted Patent US 7,416,109
Granted Patent B2
US 7,416,109 · App. 11/507,338 · Granted Aug 26, 2008

Enclosed container carton convertible into a tray

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,416,109
App. No.
11/507,338
Granted
Aug 26, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

An enclosed carton for carrying a number of containers, such as cans, which is easily convertible into a tray with a lid, from which the cans can be easily removed. The tray is formed by a zipper with two tear lines that are formed in the adjoining bottom flaps of the carton. The carton may have a carrying handle for carrying the carton loaded with containers. This carton is especially designed to be easily convertible into a tray for holding cans between two closely spaced shelves in a refrigerator. Provision is made for the easy removal of the lid. Another embodiment of this invention discloses an enclosed carton with diamond shaped corners so that the carton can be tightly packed and which is also convertible into a tray.

Claims (74)

1. A carton blank, comprising:

a top panel having a hinge fold line extending along a width of the blank;

a first top end flap foldably connected to the top panel by a first and a second triangular panel, the first and second triangular panels both being directly foldably connected to the top panel;

a second top end flap foldably connected to the top panel by a third and a fourth triangular panel, the third and fourth triangular panels both being directly foldably connected to the top panel;

a bottom side panel foldably connected to the top panel at a first transverse fold line extending along the width of the blank;

a first bottom flap foldably connected to the bottom side panel at a second transverse fold line, wherein the first bottom flap has a first tear strip that extends along the width of the blank;

a top side panel foldably connected to the top panel at a third transverse fold line; and

a second bottom flap foldably connected to the top side panel at a fourth transverse fold line, wherein the second bottom flap has a second tear strip that extends along the width of the blank.

2. The carton blank of claim 1 , wherein the top panel is foldably connected to the first triangular panel at a first oblique fold line and to the second triangular panel at a second oblique fold line.

3. The carton blank of claim 2 , wherein the top panel comprises a handle.

4. The carton blank of claim 3 , wherein the top panel comprises a first step tear line extending obliquely to the third transverse fold line.

5. The carton blank of claim 4 , wherein the handle is defined in part by a fold line.

6. A carton blank, comprising:

a top panel having a hinge fold line extending along a width of the blank;

a first top end flap foldably connected to the top panel by a first and a second triangular panel;

a second top end flap foldably connected to the top panel by a third and a fourth triangular panel;

a bottom side panel foldably connected to the top panel at a first transverse fold line extending along the width of the blank;

a first bottom flap foldably connected to the bottom side panel at a second transverse fold line, wherein the first bottom flap has a first tear strip that extends along the width of the blank;

a top side panel foldably connected to the top panel at a third transverse fold line;

a second bottom flap foldably connected to the top side panel at a fourth transverse fold line, wherein the second bottom flap has a second tear strip that extends along the width of the blank;

a first bottom end flap foldably connected to the first bottom flap by a fifth triangular panel; and

a second bottom end flap foldably connected to the first bottom flap by a sixth triangular panel.

7. The carton blank of claim 6 , wherein the first tear strip is defined by a first tear opening line extending along the width of the blank and into the first and second bottom end flaps.

8. The carton blank of claim 7 , wherein the second tear strip is defined by a second tear opening line extending along the width of the blank.

9. The carton blank of claim 8 , further comprising:

a third bottom end flap foldably connected to the second bottom flap by a seventh triangular panel; and

a fourth bottom end flap foldably connected to the second bottom flap by an eighth triangular panel.

10. The carton blank of claim 8 , further comprising:

a first side end flap foldably connected to the bottom side panel at a first longitudinal fold line; and

a second side end flap foldably connected to the bottom side panel at a second longitudinal fold line.

11. The carton blank of claim 10 , further comprising:

a third side end flap foldably connected to the top side panel at a third longitudinal fold line; and

a fourth side end flap foldably connected to the top side panel at a fourth longitudinal fold line.

12. A carton blank, comprising:

a top panel;

a first top end flap foldably connected to the top panel by at least two triangular panels, the at least two triangular panels each being directly foldably connected to the top panel;

a second top end flap foldably connected to the top panel by at least two additional triangular panels, the at least two additional triangular panels each being directly foldably connected to the top panel;

a bottom side panel foldably connected to the top panel at a first transverse fold line;

a first bottom flap foldably connected to the bottom side panel at a second transverse fold line, wherein the first bottom flap has a first tear strip;

a top side panel foldably connected to the top panel at a third transverse fold line;

a second bottom flap foldably connected to the top side panel at a fourth transverse fold line, wherein the second bottom flap has a second tear strip; and

a first bottom end flap foldably connected to the first bottom flap, the first tear strip extending through the first bottom end flap.

13. The carton blank of claim 12 , wherein the top panel is foldably connected to each triangular panel at an oblique fold line.

14. The carton blank of claim 13 , further comprising a second bottom end flap foldably connected to the first bottom flap.

15. The carton blank of claim 14 , wherein the first tear strip is defined in part by a first tear opening line extending along the width of the blank and into the first bottom end flap and the second bottom end flap.

16. The carton blank of claim 13 , wherein the second tear strip is defined by a second tear opening line extending along the width of the blank.

17. The carton blank of claim 16 , further comprising:

a third bottom end flap foldably connected to the second bottom flap by at least one triangular panel; and

a fourth bottom end flap foldably connected to the second bottom flap by at least one triangular panel.

18. The carton blank of claim 13 , further comprising:

a first side end flap foldably connected to the bottom side panel at a first longitudinal fold line; and

a second side end flap foldably connected to the bottom side panel at a second longitudinal fold line.

19. The carton blank of claim 18 , further comprising:

a third side end flap foldably connected to the top side panel at a third longitudinal fold line; and

a fourth side end flap foldably connected to the top side panel at a fourth longitudinal fold line.

20. The carton blank of claim 13 , wherein the top panel comprises a handle defined in part by a fold line and a first step tear line extending obliquely to the third transverse fold line.

21. The carton blank of claim 13 , wherein the top panel comprises a hinge fold line extending between the at least one triangular panels.

22. A carton blank, comprising:

a top panel having a hinge fold line extending along a width of the blank, and a slotted handle;

a first top end flap foldably connected to the top panel by a first and a second triangular panel;

a second top end flap foldably connected to the top panel by a third and a fourth triangular panel, wherein the hinge fold line extends through the first and second top end flaps;

a bottom side panel foldably connected to the top panel at a first transverse fold line;

a first bottom flap foldably connected to the bottom side panel at a second transverse fold line; wherein the first bottom flap has a first tear strip;

a top side panel foldably connected to the top panel at a third transverse fold line;

a second bottom flap foldably connected to the top side panel at a fourth transverse fold line, wherein the second bottom flap has a second tear strip;

a first bottom end flap foldably connected to the first bottom flap by a fifth triangular panel; and

a second bottom end flap foldably connected to the first bottom flap by a sixth triangular panel.

23. The carton blank of claim 22 , further comprising:

a first side end flap foldably connected to the bottom side panel at a first longitudinal fold line;

a second side end flap foldably connected to the bottom side panel at a second longitudinal fold line;

a third side end flap foldably connected to the top side panel at a third longitudinal fold line; and

a fourth side end flap foldably connected to the top side panel at a fourth longitudinal fold line.

24. The carton blank of claim 23 , wherein the first tear strip is defined in part by a first tear opening line extending into the first bottom end flap and the second bottom end flap.

25. The carton blank of claim 22 , wherein the top panel is foldably connected to the first triangular panel at a first oblique fold line and to the second triangular panel at a second oblique fold line.

Assignments (10)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 15, 2026
From: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS SUCCESSOR‑IN‑INTEREST TO U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: GRAPHIC PACKAGING INTERNATIONAL, LLC
Reel/Frame 075415/0575 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 1, 2021
From: GRAPHIC PACKAGING INTERNATIONAL, LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 055811/0676 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 10, 2021
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: GRAPHIC PACKAGING INTERNATIONAL, LLC; FIELD CONTAINER QUERETARO (USA), L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 055545/0204 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 8, 2021
From: GRAPHIC PACKAGING INTERNATIONAL, LLC
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 055520/0204 →
CERTIFICATE OF CONVERSION Recorded Jan 29, 2018
From: GRAPHIC PACKAGING INTERNATIONAL, INC.
To: GRAPHIC PACKAGING INTERNATIONAL, LLC
Reel/Frame 045182/0983 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 8, 2018
From: GRAPHIC PACKAGING INTERNATIONAL, LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 045020/0746 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 5, 2018
From: GRAPHIC PACKAGING INTERNATIONAL, LLC (FORMERLY KNOWN AS GRAPHIC PACKAGING INTERNATIONAL, INC.); FIELD CONTAINER QUERETARO (USA), L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 045009/0001 →
NOTICE AND CONFIRMATION OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Dec 22, 2014
From: GRAPHIC PACKAGING HOLDING COMPANY; GRAPHIC PACKAGING CORPORATION; GRAPHIC PACKAGING INTERNATIONAL, INC.; BLUEGRASS LABELS COMPANY, LLC; FIELD CONTAINER QUERETARO (USA), L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 034689/0185 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 21, 2007
From: GRAPHIC PACKAGING INTERNATIONAL, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 019458/0437 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 2, 2006
From: SUTHERLAND, ROBERT L.
To: GRAPHIC PACKAGING INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 018330/0850 →