Tamperproof carton and blank for making same

Claim 2

A tubular carton having a bottom wall and substantially open ends, said bottom wall having a pair of extension flaps extending outwardly of its opposite end edges, each of said extension flaps being folded within said carton to define an associated end stop for an article carried within said carton, and each extension flap having cut means therein defining a locking tab which is used to lock its extension flap in position and prevent removal of said article without damage to said carton to thereby define a substantially tamperproof carton.

Claim 3

A carton as set forth in claim 1 in which each extension flap has a first fold line defining the base thereof and an end edge of said bottom wall, said first fold line in each extension flap having a slit comprising the central portion thereof which receives an associated locking tab and locks the associated extension flap in position.

Claim 4

A carton as set forth in claim 2 in which each extension flap has second and third fold lines arranged parallel to said first fold line; said cut means in each extension flap comprises an approximately U-shaped cut having a bight defining the central portion of an associated second fold line and having a pair of outwardly extending legs each terminating on an associated third fold line with each leg defining a retaining edge; said U-shaped cut defining a tongue which has said locking tab defining its terminal end; and each extension flap being folded to define an associated end stop comprised of an end wall between its first and second fold lines, an inclined wall between its second and third fold lines, and a terminal portion beyond its third fold line; said article being supported within said carton on said tongues and terminal portions with opposite end surfaces thereof being retained between associated ones of said retaining edges.

Claim 5

A carton as set forth in claim 3 in which said slit in each extension flap comprises a U-shaped slit having its leg portions arranged to extend toward the center of said bottom wall.

Claim 6

A carton as set forth in claim 3 in which each of said second and third fold lines in each extension flap is defined by a pair of spaced scorelines arranged in aligned relation adjacent its opposite side edges.

Claim 7

A carton as set forth in claim 3 in which each of said outwardly extending legs of each U-shaped cut has a configuration which corresponds to the configuration of an adjacent portion of said article.

Claim 8

A carton as set forth in claim 3 in which said bottom wall is in the form of a planar wall and said carton has a planar top wall arranged parallel to said bottom wall with the distance between said bottom and top wall defining the height of said carton, said first and second fold line in each extension flap being spaced a distance which is less than half the height of said carton to define an associated end wall having a corresponding height, and said end stop serving tO confine said article within said carton yet enabling said carton to be made with a minimum amount of material.

Claim 9

In combination: a dishlike container and a tubular carton enclosing and protecting said container, said tubular carton having a bottom wall and substantially open ends, said bottom wall having a pair of extension flaps extending outwardly of its opposite end edges, each of said extension flaps being folded within said carton to define an associated end stop for said container with the end stop having a height which is less than the height of said carton, and each extension flap having cut means therein defining a locking tab which is used to lock the extension flap in position.

Claim 10

In combination: a dishlike container and a tubular carton enclosing and protecting said container, said tubular carton having a bottom wall and substantially open ends, said bottom wall having a pair of extension flaps extending outwardly of its opposite end edges, each of said extension flaps being folded within said carton to define an associated end stop for said container with the end stop having a height which is less than the height of said carton, and each extension flap having cut means therein defining a locking tab which is used to lock the extension flap in position.

Claim 11

A combination as set forth in claim 8 in which each extension flap has a first fold line defining the base thereof and an end edge of said bottom wall, said first fold line in each extension flap having a slit comprising the central portion thereof which receives an associated locking tab and locks the associated extension flap in position.

Claim 12

A combination as set forth in claim 8 in which each extension flap has first, second, and third fold lines arranged in parallel spaced apart relation; said first fold line having a slit comprising the central portion thereof which receives an associated locking tab and locks the associated extension flap in position; said cut means in each extension flap comprises an approximately U-shaped cut having a bight defining the central portion of an associated second fold line and having a pair of outwardly extending legs each terminating on an associated third fold line with each leg defining a retaining edge; said U-shaped cut defining a tongue which has said locking tab defining its terminal end; and each extension flap being folded to define an associated end stop comprised of an end wall between its first and second fold lines, an inclined wall between its second and third fold lines, and a terminal portion beyond its third fold line; said container being supported within said carton on said tongues and terminal portions with opposite end surfaces thereof being retained between associated ones of said retaining edges.

Claim 13

A combination as set forth in claim 10 in which said container has a peripheral flange extending horizontally outwardly from the top portion of its sidewall and said carton has a width which is slightly larger than the width of said container measured across said flange, said widths of said container and carton assuring said container may be easily slid within said carton yet being such as to prevent rotating movements of said container relative to said carton about a central axis through the ends of the carton.

Claim 14

A combination as set forth in claim 10 in which said slit in each extension flap comprises a U-shaped slit having its leg portions arranged to extend toward the center of said bottom wall.

Claim 15

A combination as set forth in claim 10 in which each of said second and third fold lines in each extension flap is defined by a pair of spaced scorelines arranged in aligned relation adjacent its opposite side edges.

Claim 16

A combination as set forth in claim 10 in which said container has corner portions each having an arcuate configuration and each of said outwardly extending legs of each U-shaped cut has an arcuate configuration which corresponds to the arcuate configuration of the adjacent corner portion.

Claim 17

A combination as set forth in claim 10 in which said bottom wall is in the form of a planar wall and said carton has a planar top wall arranged parallel to said bottom wall with the distance between said bottom and top wall defining the height of said carton, said first and second fold line in each extension flap being spaced a distance which is less than half the height of said carton to define an associated end wall having a corresponding height.

Claim 18

A combination as set forth in claim 10 in which said carton comprises a preglued carton having a plurality of parallel fold lines therein which enables easy flattening thereof for storage and transportation and easy assembly in tubular form.

Claim 19

A blank being suitably cut and scored to define a resulting tubular carton upon assembly thereof having open ends and being used to support an associated dishlike container in a protected position therewithin; said blank comprising; a bottom wall; a pair of extension flaps extending outwardly of the opposite end edges of said bottom wall; first, second, and third fold lines in each extension flap arranged in parallel spaced apart relation; an approximately U-shaped cut in each extension flap having a bight defining the central portion of an associated second fold line and having a pair of outwardly extending legs each terminating on an associated third fold line with each leg defining a retaining edge; a slit in each extension flap defining the central portion of its first fold line; each U-shaped cut defining a tongue which has a locking tab defining its terminal end; and in said resulting carton each extension flap is folded so that its locking tab extends through its associated slit to define an associated end wall between its first and second fold lines, an inclined wall between its second and third fold lines, and a terminal portion beyond its third fold line; said container being supported within said resulting carton on said tongues and terminal portions with opposite end surfaces thereof being retained between associated ones of said retaining edges.

Claim 20

A blank being suitably cut and scored to define a resulting tubular carton upon assembly thereof having open ends and being used to support an associated dishlike container in a protected position therewithin; said blank comprising; a bottom wall; a pair of extension flaps extending outwardly of the opposite end edges of said bottom wall; first, second, and third fold lines in each extension flap arranged in parallel spaced apart relation; an approximately U-shaped cut in each extension flap having a bight defining the central portion of an associated second fold line and having a pair of outwardly extending legs each terminating on an associated third fold line with each leg defining a retaining edge; a slit in each extension flap defining the central portion of its first fold line; each U-shaped cut defining a tongue which has a locking tab defining its terminal end; and in said resulting carton each extension flap is folded so that its locking tab extends through its associated slit to define an associated end wall between its first and second fold lines, an inclined wall between its second and third fold lines, and a terminal portion beyond its third fold line; said container being supported within said resulting carton on said tongues and terminal portions with opposite end surfaces thereof being retained between associated ones of said retaining edges.

Claim 21

A blank as set forth in claim 17 in which said slit in each extension flap comprises a U-shaped slit having its leg portions arranged to extend toward the center of said bottom wall.

Claim 22

A blank as set forth in claim 17 in which each of said second and third fold lines in each extension flap is defined by a pair of spaced scorelines arranged in aligned relation adjacent its opposite side edges.

Claim 23

A blank as set forth in claim 17 in which each of said outwardly extending legs of each U-shaped cut has an arcuate configuration which corresponds to the arcuate configuration of said container carried within said resulting carton.