Carton, carton blank and method of assembling the carton

Claim 2

In a carton having four serially connected rectangular panels and four flaps at one end of the carton with each flap being hinged to a panel along the length of the panel end, a first of said flaps being joined to the first of said panels, a second of said flaps being joined to a second of said panels spaced from said first flap by third and fourth flaps which are joined to third and fourth panels, respectively, said first and second flaps being bent inwardly perpendicular to their respective panels to form inner flaps for the carton end, said third flap lying generally over both the first and second flaps perpendicular to its respective panel and glued to said first and second flaps, and said fourth flap overlying at least a portion of said said third flap to form an outer flap for the carton and perpendicular to its respective panel and being glued to said third flap, wherein the improvement comprises said first and second flaps having a side lying adjacent the hinge line of the third flap and the third panel which tapers generally upwardly and inwardly from said third flap when the first, second and third flaps are in a position which is substantially coplanar with their respective panels, and tab means cut in the surface of the third flap which underlie and hold a portion of said first and second flaps, said tab means comprising two spaced tabs joined to the panel by respective hinge lines which are substantially perpendicular to the hinge lines of said third panel, said tab means underlying that portion of the first and second flaps lying adjacent the edge of the flap which is opposite the hinge line of the first and second flaps with their respective panels, said first and second flaps substantially completely overlying said respective tabs, and said first and second flaps not extending above the top surface of said third flap.

Claim 3

A carton as claimed in claim 1, wherein the distance from the tab hinge lines to the adjacent edge of the third flap which is perpendicular to the hinge line of the third flap is about the same as the length of the respective first and second flaps thereby to provide support for said first and second flaps.

Claim 4

In a carton blank having four serially connected rectangular panels and four flaps at one end of the carton with each flap being hinged to a panel along the length of the panel end, a first of said flaps being joined to the first of said panels, a second of said flaps being joined to a second of said panels spaced from said first flap by third and fourth flaps which are joined to third and fourth panels, respectively, said first and second flaps being adapted to be bent inwardly perpendicular to their respective panels to form inner flaps for the carton end, said third flap being adapted to generally lie over both the first and second flaps when said third flap is bent inwardly to lie perpendicular to its respective panel, and said fourth flap being adapted to overlie at least a portion of said third flap to form an outer flap for the carton when it is bent inwardly perpendicular to its respective panel, wherein the improvement comprises said first and second flaps having a side lying adjacent the hinge line of the third flap and the third panel which tapers generally upwardly and inwardly from said third flap when the first, second and third flaps are in a position which is substantially coplanar with their respective panels, and tab means cut in the surface of the third flap which are adapted to underlie and hold a portion of said first and second flaps after the first, second and third flaps have been rotated inwardly and lie generally perpendicular to their respective panels, wherein the tab means comprise two spaced tabs joined to the panel by respective hinge lines which are substantially perpendicular to the hinge line of said third panel, said tab means being adapted to underly that portion of the first and second flaps lying adjacent the edge of the flap which is opposite the hinge line of the first and second flaps with their respective panels, said first and second flaps being adapted to substantially completely overlie said respective tabs, and said first and second flaps not extending above the top surface of said third flap.

Claim 5

In a carton blank having four serially connected rectangular panels and four flaps at one end of the carton with each flap being hinged to a panel along the length of the panel end, a first of said flaps being joined to the first of said panels, a second of said flaps being joined to a second of said panels spaced from said first flap by third and fourth flaps which are joined to third and fourth panels, respectively, said first and second flaps being adapted to be bent inwardly perpendicular to their respective panels to form inner flaps for the carton end, said third flap being adapted to generally lie over both the first and second flaps when said third flap is bent inwardly to lie perpendicular to its respective panel, and said fourth flap being adapted to overlie at least a portion of said third flap to form an outer flap for the carton when it is bent inwardly perpendicular to its respective panel, wherein the improvement comprises said first and second flaps having a side lying adjacent the hinge line of the third flap and the third panel which tapers generally upwardly and inwardly from said third flap when the first, second and third flaps are in a position which is substantially coplanar with their respective panels, and tab means cut in the surface of the third flap which are adapted to underlie and hold a portion of said first and second flaps after the first, second and third flaps have been rotated inwardly and lie generally perpendicular to their respective panels, wherein the tab means comprise two spaced tabs joined to the panel by respective hinge lines which are substantially perpendicular to the hinge line of said third panel, said tab means being adapted to underly that portion of the first and second flaps lying adjacent the edge of the flap which is opposite the hinge line of the first and second flaps with their respective panels, said first and second flaps being adapted to substantially completely overlie said respective tabs, and said first and second flaps not extending above the top surface of said third flap.

Claim 6

A carton blank as claimed in claim 3 wherein the distance from the tab hinge lines to the adjacent edge of the third flap which is perpendicular to the hinge line of the third flap, is about the same as the length of the respective first and second flaps thereby to provide support of said first and second flaps.