Carton with self locking cells

Claim 2

A multi-celled carton having self locking cells comprising front and bottom panels, side walls, and at least one closure flap each connected together along a plurality of longitudinal fold lines, said front panel being cut and scored to define at least one gang lift element having a plurality of longitudinally spaced corner braces in the plane of said front panel, a plurality of transverse partition walls divided by the trunk portion of said gang lift element and attached to said corner braces and swingable relative thereto between the plane of the front panel and a set up cell forming condition generally perpendicular to said bottom panel, the improvement consisting of a means for automatically locking the transverse their walls in heir generally perpendicular condition when the carton is set up, said means comprising: a. a plurality of integral pre-cut edge portions at one side edge of each gang lift element which form first locking means for each gang lift element; and, b. a plurality of second locking means formed by an integral part of at least one of said carton closure flaps for the purpose of engaging said first locking means and retaining said transverse partition walls in their generally perpendicular condition when the carton is set up.

Claim 3

The carton of claim 1 wherein the second locking means further compRise tab elements extending outwardly from one of said carton closure flaps.

Claim 4

The carton of claim 2 wherein only a single gang lift element is cut from said front panel to form carton cells which extend across the face of the front panel from side wall to side wall.

Claim 5

The carton of claim 2 wherein a single gang lift element is cut from said front panel to form carton cells which extend only partially across the face of the front panel.

Claim 6

The carton of claim 1 wherein the second locking means further comprise slot means cut from one of said carton closure flaps.

Claim 7

The carton of claim 4 wherein two gang lift elements are cut from said front panel to form paired rows of carton cells.

Claim 8

An easily erected, collapsible, multi-compartmented carton having a bottom panel, a pair of side walls at opposite sides of said bottom panel, a front panel extending between said side walls and spaced from said bottom panel by said side walls, at least one carton closure flap connected to a side wall, and end closure flaps connected to said front panel, said front panel including at least one cut and scored section to define a gang lift element having a continuous central trunk portion and a plurality of divided transverse partition walls, said gang lift element being connected to said front panel by a plurality of corner braces for swinging movement between a position coplanar with said front panel and a set up condition generally perpendicular to said bottom panel, the improvement consisting of a means for automatically locking the transverse partition walls in their generally perpendicular condition when the carton is set up, said means comprising: a. a plurality of pre-cut edge portions at one side edge of said gang lift element which form a first locking means integral with said gang lift element; and, b. a plurality of second locking means integral with one of said carton closure flaps, whereby the two locking means become automatically engaged in the set up condition of said carton.

Claim 9

An easily erected, collapsible, multi-compartmented carton having a bottom panel, a pair of side walls at opposite sides of said bottom panel, a front panel extending between said side walls and spaced from said bottom panel by said side walls, at least one carton closure flap connected to a side wall, and end closure flaps connected to said front panel, said front panel including at least one cut and scored section to define a gang lift element having a continuous central trunk portion and a plurality of divided transverse partition walls, said gang lift element being connected to said front panel by a plurality of corner braces for swinging movement between a position coplanar with said front panel and a set up condition generally perpendicular to said bottom panel, the improvement consisting of a means for automatically locking the transverse partition walls in their generally perpendicular condition when the carton is set up, said means comprising: a. a plurality of pre-cut edge portions at one side edge of said gang lift element which form a first locking means integral with said gang lift element; and, b. a plurality of second locking means integral with one of said carton closure flaps, whereby the two locking means become automatically engaged in the set up condition of said carton.