Patent US3701181A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3701181A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Panel interlocking means and method
Assignee: Mead Corp
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Filing: 1970-01-23
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Granted: 1972-10-31
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Expires: 1990-01-23
Abstract
Abstract A pair of angularly related panels are interlocked by providing a plurality of locking slots formed along a fold line adjoining one edge of one of the panels and an associated guide panel together with a plurality of locking tabs foldably joined to an edge of the other panel. The slots are configured to extend into the guide panel and define entry tabs integral with the associated panel and the slots are arranged to extend into that panel along an angular fold line. When inserting the locking tabs into the associated locking slots the guide panel is first moved into normal relationship with respect to its associated panel and the other panel is bowed in such a way as to impart bodily rotation in sequence to the locking tabs whereby the dimension of the locking tab in the general direction of the locking slot is reduced following bowing to facilitate entry of the lock and the panel is restored to a planar condition upon completion of a locking operation so as to rotate the locking tabs sequentially to cause a larger dimension of the tab to become aligned with the general direction of the slot.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph H Lock
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 20:42
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D71/00; B65D71/06; B65D71/12; B65D71/14; B65D71/16; B65D2571/00; B65D2571/00123; B65D2571/00129; B65D2571/00135; B65D2571/00154; B65D2571/0016; B65D2571/00246; B65D2571/00253; B65D2571/00277; B65D2571/00648; B65D2571/00654; B65D2571/0066; B65D2571/00709; B65D2571/00722; B65D2571/00759
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
304 words
An arrangement for interlocking a pair of angularly related panels, said arrangement comprising a guide panel foldably joined along one edge thereof to one edge of one of said panels along a fold line, a locking tab foldably joined to an edge of the other of said panels, said locking tab having a base portion and a generally transverse shoulder portion defining a locking edge angularly disposed with respect to the plane of said other panel and to the general disposition of said edge of said other panel, an irregular slot disposed astride the fold line adjoining said guide panel and said one panel and formed in said guide panel and in said one panel with both of its end portions formed in and extending into said one panel a substantial distance to define an entry tab struck from said guide panel and constituting an integral projection of said one panel, one end of said slot extending into said one panel at an angle corresponding generally to the angle by which said locking edge of said locking tab is disposed relative to the plane of said other panel to define a locking segment formed in said one panel between said slot and said fold line, and the overall length of said slot in a direction parallel to said fold line being generally equivalent to the dimension of the shoulder portion of said locking tab in the same direction, the locking edge of said locking tab and the adjacent part of said shoulder portion being disposed in slightly overlapping relation with said locking segment and said locking tab being disposed in flat face contacting relation with said one panel and at an angle to said other panel corresponding to the angular relation between said panels, and means for positively maintaining the carton in locked condition.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
304 words
An arrangement for interlocking a pair of angularly related panels, said arrangement comprising a guide panel foldably joined along one edge thereof to one edge of one of said panels along a fold line, a locking tab foldably joined to an edge of the other of said panels, said locking tab having a base portion and a generally transverse shoulder portion defining a locking edge angularly disposed with respect to the plane of said other panel and to the general disposition of said edge of said other panel, an irregular slot disposed astride the fold line adjoining said guide panel and said one panel and formed in said guide panel and in said one panel with both of its end portions formed in and extending into said one panel a substantial distance to define an entry tab struck from said guide panel and constituting an integral projection of said one panel, one end of said slot extending into said one panel at an angle corresponding generally to the angle by which said locking edge of said locking tab is disposed relative to the plane of said other panel to define a locking segment formed in said one panel between said slot and said fold line, and the overall length of said slot in a direction parallel to said fold line being generally equivalent to the dimension of the shoulder portion of said locking tab in the same direction, the locking edge of said locking tab and the adjacent part of said shoulder portion being disposed in slightly overlapping relation with said locking segment and said locking tab being disposed in flat face contacting relation with said one panel and at an angle to said other panel corresponding to the angular relation between said panels, and means for positively maintaining the carton in locked condition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
An arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the end portion of said slot which is remote from the end which extends into said one panel is substantially parallel therewith.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
67 words
An arrangement according to claim 1 wherein a plurality of locking tabs and their associated locking slots are provided and wherein the base portion of an end one of said locking tabs on the side remote from said locking edge is cutaway to define a securing notch and wherein the associated end of said slot is disposed at a substantial angle to the other end portion thereof.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
227 words
A method of interlocking a pair of panels one of which is foldably joined to a guide panel along one edge thereof and is provided with a locking slot disposed astride said one edge and configured to define an entry tab struck from said guide panel and having one end extending into said one panel at an angle to said one edge thereof and the other panel being foldably joined along one edge thereof to a locking tab having a shoulder portion defining a locking edge which is disposed at an acute angle to said one edge of said other panel, the method comprising folding said guide panel into a position of substantially normal relation to said one panel, folding said locking tab into a position of substantially normal relation to said other panel, bowing said other panel so as to impart bodily rotation to said locking tab in one direction, the effective overall dimension of said locking tab in the direction of said fold following bowing of said one panel and bodily rotation of said locking tab in said one direction being significantly less than the corresponding dimension thereof when said one panel is in a planar flat condition, inserting said locking tab into said locking slot, and finally restoring said one panel to a planar condition thereby rotating said locking tab in the opposite direction.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
227 words
A method of interlocking a pair of panels one of which is foldably joined to a guide panel along one edge thereof and is provided with a locking slot disposed astride said one edge and configured to define an entry tab struck from said guide panel and having one end extending into said one panel at an angle to said one edge thereof and the other panel being foldably joined along one edge thereof to a locking tab having a shoulder portion defining a locking edge which is disposed at an acute angle to said one edge of said other panel, the method comprising folding said guide panel into a position of substantially normal relation to said one panel, folding said locking tab into a position of substantially normal relation to said other panel, bowing said other panel so as to impart bodily rotation to said locking tab in one direction, the effective overall dimension of said locking tab in the direction of said fold following bowing of said one panel and bodily rotation of said locking tab in said one direction being significantly less than the corresponding dimension thereof when said one panel is in a planar flat condition, inserting said locking tab into said locking slot, and finally restoring said one panel to a planar condition thereby rotating said locking tab in the opposite direction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein a plurality of locking tabs and associated slots are provided and wherein the bowing of said one panel is progressive in the direction of said fold line so as to impart sequential insertion of said locking tabs into their associated locking slots.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-10-31 | 1976-05-01 | 1976-10-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-31 | 1980-05-01 | 1980-10-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-31 | 1984-05-01 | 1984-10-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |