IP Library Granted Patent US 10,301,062
Granted Patent B2
US 10,301,062 · App. 15/256,982 · Granted May 28, 2019

Carton with article protection feature

Inventor: John Murdick Holley, Jr. (Lawrenceville, GA)
Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, LLC
B65D5/5016B65B21/24B65B61/24B65D5/02B65D5/50B65D5/5002B65D71/12B65D71/16B65D71/36B31B50/26B31B50/81B31B2100/00B31B2120/00B65D2571/0045B65D2571/0066B65D2571/00141B65D2571/00265B65D2571/00302B65D2571/00524B65D2571/00728B65D2571/00753B65D2571/00882
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,301,062
App. No.
15/256,982
Granted
May 28, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A carton for containing at least one article. The carton comprises at least one panel that can form an interior of the carton. The carton comprises at least one protection feature for protecting the articles from breakage. The article protection feature can comprise at least one feature in end flaps of the carton. The article protection feature can comprise an article protection flap foldably connected to the at least one panel. The article protection flap can be moveable between a first position and a second position wherein the article protection flap is folded relative to the at least one panel.

Claims (23)

1. A carton for containing at least one article, the carton comprising:

at least one panel at least partially forming an interior of the carton; and

at least one article protection flap for protecting the at least one article, the at least one article protection flap being foldably connected to the at least one panel and moveable between a first position that is substantially parallel to the at least one panel and a second position wherein the at least one article protection flap is folded relative to the at least one panel;

wherein the at least one article protection flap comprises features for preventing folding of the at least one article protection flap from the second position to the first position, the at least one article protection flap comprises a cut in a central portion of the at least one article protection flap, the cut at least partially defines a tab extending outwardly from the central portion of the at least one article protection flap when the at least one article protection flap is in the second position;

wherein the cut is a first cut and the tab is a first tab, and the at least one article protection flap comprises a second cut in the central portion that is spaced apart from the first cut, the second cut forming a second tab disposed opposite to the first tab when the at least one article protection flap is in the second position;

wherein the at least one article protection flap is foldably connected to the at least one panel along a lateral fold line and is at least partially separable from the at least one panel along a cut line, the cut line comprising a first portion extending from a first end of the lateral fold line and a second portion extending from a second end of the lateral fold line;

wherein the central portion of the at least one article protection flap comprises a longitudinal fold line on the centerline of the at least one article protection flap, the first cut and the second cut are offset from the longitudinal fold line.

2. The carton of claim 1 , wherein the first cut and the second cut are between the longitudinal fold line and the lateral fold line.

3. A blank for forming a carton for containing at least one article, the blank comprising:

at least one panel for at least partially forming an interior of the carton formed from the blank; and

at least one article protection flap for protecting the at least one article, the at least one article protection flap being foldably connected to the at least one panel and moveable between a first position that is substantially parallel to the at least one panel and a second position wherein the at least one article protection flap is folded relative to the at least one panel,

the at least one article protection flap comprises features for preventing folding of the at least one article protection flap from the second position to the first position, the at least one article protection flap comprises a cut in a central portion of the at least one article protection flap, the cut at least partially defines a tab that is for extending outwardly from the central portion of the at least one article protection flap when the at least one article protection flap is in the second position in the carton formed from the blank;

wherein the cut is a first cut and the tab is a first tab, and the at least one article protection flap comprises a second cut in the central portion that is spaced apart from the first cut, the second cut forming a second tab disposed opposite to the first tab when the at least one article protection flap is in the second position;

wherein the at least one article protection flap is foldably connected to the at least one panel along a lateral fold line, and the at least one article protection flap is at least partially defined by a line of weakening comprising a cut line, the cut line comprising a first portion extending from a first end of the lateral fold line and a second portion extending from a second end of the lateral fold line;

wherein the central portion of the at least one article protection flap comprises a longitudinal fold line on the centerline of the at least one article protection flap, the first cut and the second cut are offset from the longitudinal fold line.

4. The blank of claim 3 , wherein the first cut and the second cut are between the longitudinal fold line and the lateral fold line.

5. A method of forming a carton, the method comprising:

obtaining a blank comprising at least one panel and at least one article protection flap foldably connected to the at least one panel;

positioning the at least one panel to at least partially form an interior space of the carton; and

folding the at least one article protection flap relative to the at least one panel, the folding comprises moving the at least one article protection flap from a first position that is substantially parallel to the at least one panel to a second position wherein the at least one article protection flap is folded relative to the at least one panel, the at least one article protection flap comprises features for preventing folding of the at least one article protection flap from the second position to the first position, the at least one article protection flap comprises a cut in a central portion of the at least one article protection flap, the folding comprises forming a tab at least partially defined by the cut that extends outwardly from the central portion of the at least one article protection flap when the at least one article protection flap is in the second position;

wherein the cut is a first cut and the tab is a first tab, and the at least one article protection flap comprises a second cut in the central portion that is spaced apart from the first cut, the folding comprises forming a second tab at least partially defined by the second cut, the second tab is disposed opposite to the first tab when the at least one article protection flap is in the second position;

wherein the at least one article protection flap is foldably connected to the at least one panel along a lateral fold line, and the at least one article protection flap is at least partially defined by a line of weakening comprising a cut line, the cut line comprising a first portion extending from a first end of the lateral fold line and a second portion extending from a second end of the lateral fold line;

wherein the central portion of the at least one article protection flap comprises a longitudinal fold line on the centerline of the at least one article protection flap, the first cut and the second cut are offset from the longitudinal fold line.

Assignments (8)
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 22, 2018
From: GRAPHIC PACKAGING INTERNATIONAL, INC.
To: GRAPHIC PACKAGING INTERNATIONAL, LLC
Reel/Frame 045103/0057 →
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 6, 2016
From: HOLLEY, JOHN MURDICK, JR.
To: GRAPHIC PACKAGING INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 039636/0577 →
Continuity (3)
Division 14248650 · Apr 9, 2014
Provisional Application 61853715 · Apr 10, 2013
Related Publication 20160368654A1 · Dec 22, 2016