IP Library Granted Patent US 12,497,208
Granted Patent B2
US 12,497,208 · App. 18/461,098 · Granted Dec 16, 2025

Tamper-evident container having release flap and closure tab

Inventor: Angela E. Learn (Gilbertsville, PA)
Assignee: PACTIV LLC
B65D5/5455B65D5/2057B65D5/244B65D5/4295B65D5/6608B65D5/6655
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,497,208
App. No.
18/461,098
Granted
Dec 16, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Unitary blank for forming a container having a body portion with a plurality of fold lines and a cover portion. The body portion with a plurality of fold lines define a plurality of body wall portions, and each body wall portion has an upper edge. A first body wall portion includes a closure tab extending from the upper edge of the first body wall portion. The closure tab includes a closure tab flap portion and a closure tab base portion. The cover portion extends from the upper edge of a second body wall portion. The cover portion includes a cover portion flap score line extending along an upper edge of the cover portion and a release flap. A food container having a body portion and a cover portion is also provided.

Claims (24)

1 . A unitary blank for forming a container comprising:

a body portion having an upper edge, a lower edge, a first outer edge and a second outer edge opposite the first outer edge, the body portion further having a plurality of fold lines extending between the upper edge and the lower edge to define a plurality of body wall portions;

at least one join flap extending from at least one of the first outer edge and second outer edge;

a first body wall portion of the plurality of body wall portions including a closure tab extending from the first body wall portion, the closure tab including a closure tab flap portion and a closure tab base portion;

a cover portion extending from the upper edge of a second body wall portion of the plurality of body wall portions, the cover portion including a release flap and configured to receive the closure tab flap portion of the first body wall portion;

a first side flap extending from the upper edge of a third body wall portion of the plurality of body wall portions; and

a second side flap extending from the upper edge of a fourth body wall portion of the plurality of body wall portions,

wherein a plurality of vent cut-outs are formed along the plurality of fold lines, each vent cut-out defining a convex pop out tab and a concave recess when folded along a respective fold line,

wherein at least one vent cut-out is formed along the upper edge of the second body wall portion, the at least one vent cut-out along the upper edge of the second body wall portion defining a convex pop out tab and a concave recess when the cover portion is folded along the upper edge of the second body wall portion,

wherein at least one vent cut-out is formed along the upper edge of the third body wall portion and at least one vent cut-out is formed along the upper edge of the fourth body wall portion, each at least one vent cut-out along the upper edge of the third body wall portion defining a convex pop out tab and a concave recess when the first side flap is folded along the upper edge of the third body wall portion and each at least one vent cut-out along the fourth body wall portion defining a convex pop out tab and a concave recess when the second side flap is folded along the upper edge of the fourth body wall portion,

wherein the cover portion includes a first side edge and a second side edge, and further wherein at least one concave recess is formed along the first side edge of the cover portion and at least one concave recess is formed along the second side edge of the cover portion.

2 . The blank of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of vent cut-outs are die-cuts.

3 . The blank of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of vent cut-outs along the plurality of fold lines and the at least one vent cut-out along the upper edge of the second body wall portion are configured to provide venting when the blank is formed into a container.

4 . The blank of claim 1 , wherein the first body wall portion has a first inner edge and a second inner edge, the second body wall portion has an inner edge and an outer edge defined by one of the first outer edge and second outer edge of the body portion, the third body wall portion has a first inner edge and a second inner edge, and the fourth body wall portion has an inner edge and an outer edge defined by the other of the first outer edge and second outer edge of the body portion, wherein the fourth body wall portion extends from the first inner edge of the first body wall portion, the third body wall portion extends from second inner edge of the first body wall portion, and the second body wall portion extends from the second inner edge of the third body wall portion.

5 . The blank of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of fold lines with the vent cut-outs formed there along are located at the first and second inner edges of the first body wall portion, the inner edge of the second body wall portion, the first and second inner edges of the third body wall portion, and the inner edge of the fourth body wall portion.

6 . The blank of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of vent cut-outs includes vent cut-outs formed along the first outer edge and second outer edge.

7 . The blank of claim 1 , further including auto-bottom body wall portions extending from the lower edge of the body portion and configured to form a bottom portion when the blank is formed into a container.

8 . The blank of claim 1 , wherein the closure tab flap portion is defined by a closure tab flap upper edge, a closure tab flap score line, a first closure tab flap extension line, and a second closure tab flap extension line.

9 . The blank of claim 1 , wherein the release flap is defined by a release flap fold line, a first release flap score line, a second release flap score line, a first release flap extension line, a second release flap extension line, and a release flap edge.

10 . The blank of claim 1 , further wherein the convex pop out tab of the at least one vent cut-out formed along the upper edge of the third body wall portion is configured to overlap with the at least one concave recess formed along the first side edge of the cover portion when the cover is folded along the upper edge of the second body wall portion, and further wherein the convex pop out tab of the at least one vent cut-out formed along the upper edge of the fourth body wall portion is configured to overlap with the at least one concave recess formed along the second side edge of the cover portion when the cover is folded along the upper edge of the second body wall portion.

11 . The blank of claim 1 , wherein the first outer edge and the second outer edge are angled relative to each other.

12 . The blank of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of body wall portions tapers in width between the upper edge and the lower edge.

13 . The blank of claim 12 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of body wall portions has a trapezoidal shape.

14 . The blank of claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of body wall portions has a trapezoidal shape.

Assignments (1)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 2, 2025
From: BLUE RIDGE PAPER PRODUCTS LLC; EVERGREEN PACKAGING LLC; FABRI-KAL LLC; PACTIV LLC; PACTIV PACKAGING INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 070705/0859 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 17729697 · Apr 26, 2022
Provisional Application 63243269 · Sep 13, 2021
Provisional Application 63180222 · Apr 27, 2021
Related Publication 20240076097A1 · Mar 7, 2024
References Cited (34)
US 1108464A · Morey · 1914 [cited by applicant]
US 1955663A · Wendell · 1934 [cited by examiner]
US 2923455A · Tingley · 1960 [cited by examiner]
US 3037684A · Andrews · 1962 [cited by examiner]
US 3105626A · McCormick · 1963 [cited by examiner]
US 3163344A · Tunick · 1964 [cited by examiner]
US 3343660A · Bailey · 1967 [cited by examiner]
US 3532263A · Ross · 1970 [cited by examiner]
US 4063678A · Hall · 1977 [cited by examiner]
US 4232816A · Johnson et al. · 1980 [cited by applicant]
US 5467916A · Beales · 1995 [cited by applicant]
US 5520284A · Gray · 1996 [cited by examiner]
US 6481259B1 · Durney · 2002 [cited by examiner]
US 7267261B2 · Lo Duca · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 7980452B2 · Burton · 2011 [cited by examiner]
US 10099853B2 · Miller · 2018 [cited by examiner]
US 11186406B2 · Chapman · 2021 [cited by examiner]
US 11325739B2 · Requena · 2022 [cited by examiner]
US 11365021B2 · Borek · 2022 [cited by examiner]
US 11780641B2 · Learn · 2023 [cited by examiner]
US 20090072015A1 · Drew et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20190100346A1 · Bressan et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190300232A1 · Chapman et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190344927A1 · Ozgercel · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 20200017254A1 · Zeiler · 2020 [cited by examiner]
CN 105438585A · 2016 [cited by applicant]
CN 106672372A · 2017 [cited by applicant]
DE 3340798A1 · 1984 [cited by applicant]
EP 2999637A1 · 2016 [cited by applicant]
GB 2251600A · 1992 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2019216857A1 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 17/729,697 (U.S. Appl. No. 11/780,641), filed Apr. 26, 2022, (filed Oct. 10, 2023). [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 17/729,697, Sep. 5, 2023, Issue Fee Payment. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 17/729,697, Jun. 2, 2023 Notice of Allowance. [cited by applicant]