Packing trough and blank therefor

Claim 2

A packing trough made from a blank, comprising a bottom section having a plurality of peripheral edges which define a polygonal shape; a plurality of sidewalls, each sidewall being attached to a corresponding one of said peripheral edges of said bottom section and including a lower wall section extending upwardly and outwardly from said corresponding one of said peripheral edges of said bottom section and an upper wall section extending upwardly from said lower wall section such that said upper wall section is generally perpendicular to said bottom section; and a plurality of corners, each of said corners being defined by a joint formed between a pair of adjacent sidewalls and including sealing means for sealing said corner, said sealing means including a tab connected between said pair of adjacent sidewalls, said tab including a first portion folded upon itself such that said first portion overlaps one of said lower wall sections of said pair of adjacent sidewalls in such a manner that said lower wall sections are in abutting relationship and a second portion folded upon itself such that said second portion overlaps one of said upper wall sections of said pair of adjacent sidewalls in such a manner that said upper wall sections are in abutting relationship.

Claim 3

The packing trough of claim 1, wherein said tab includes a central crease notch extending from said first portion of said tab to said second portion of said tab, said central crease notch dividing said second portion into two unsymmetrical parts.

Claim 4

The packing trough of claim 2, wherein said first portion of said tab has a triangular shape, whereby said first portion has a base and two sides, and wherein said second portion of said tab has a triangular shape, whereby said second portion has a base and two sides.

Claim 5

The packing trough of claim 3, wherein said first portion of said tab is folded upon itself along said central crease notch and wherein said second portion of said tab is folded upon itself along said central crease notch.

Claim 6

The packing trough of claim 4, wherein said base of said first portion is conincident with said base of said second portion.

Claim 7

The packing trough of claim 5, wherein said first portion of said tab is connected between said pair of adjacent sidewalls by a pair of additional crease notches, one of said additional crease notches being adjacent to one of said lower wall sections of said pair of adjacent sidewalls and the other of said additional crease notches being adjacent to the other of said lower wall sections of said pair of adjacent sidewalls.

Claim 8

The packing trough of claim 6, wherein said sealing means further includes flaps projecting from opposite ends of each of at least two opposed upper wall sections, each of said flaps being folded such that it is coplanar with an adjacent upper wall section.

Claim 9

The packing trough of claim 7, wherein each flap is attached to said second portion of a corresponding one of said tabs.

Claim 10

The packing trough of claim 8, wherein said flap overlies said second portion of said corresponding one of said tabs when said second portion is folded upon itself and said flap is folded into a coplanar relationship with said adjacent upper wall section.

Claim 11

The packing trough of claim 9, further comprising a lid which includes a top section having a plurality of peripheral edges which define a polygonal shape conforming with said polygonal shape of said bottom section of said trough; a plurality of sidewalls, each sidewall being attached to a corresponding one of said peripheral edges of said top section; and an intermediate wall member attached between one of said sidewalls of said lid and one of said upper wall sections of said trough, whereby said lid is formed integrally with said trough.

Claim 12

The packing trough of claim 10, wherein said siewalls of said lid and said intermediate wall member have the same height.

Claim 13

A cut and scored blank for a packing trough, said blank comprising a bottom section having a plurality of peripheral edges which define a polygonal shape; a plurality of sidewalls, each sidewall including a lower wall section pivotally attached to a corresponding one of said peripheral edges of said bottom section such that it is pivotable into a position in which it extends upwardly and outwardly from said corresponding one of said peripheral edges of said bottom section and an upper wall section pivotally attached to said lower section such that it is pivotable into a position in which it extends upwardly from said lower wall section generally perpendicular to said bottom section; and a plurality of corners, each of said corners being defined by a tab pivotally connected between said pair of adjacent sidewalls, said tab including a first portion being foldable upon itself such that said first portion overlaps one of said lower wall sections of said pair of adjacent sidewalls in such a manner that said lower wall sections are in abutting relationship and a second portion being foldable upon itself such that said second portion overlaps one of said upper wall sections of said pair of adjacent sidewalls in such a manner that said upper wall sections are in abutting relationship.

Claim 14

A cut and scored blank for a packing trough, said blank comprising a bottom section having a plurality of peripheral edges which define a polygonal shape; a plurality of sidewalls, each sidewall including a lower wall section pivotally attached to a corresponding one of said peripheral edges of said bottom section such that it is pivotable into a position in which it extends upwardly and outwardly from said corresponding one of said peripheral edges of said bottom section and an upper wall section pivotally attached to said lower section such that it is pivotable into a position in which it extends upwardly from said lower wall section generally perpendicular to said bottom section; and a plurality of corners, each of said corners being defined by a tab pivotally connected between said pair of adjacent sidewalls, said tab including a first portion being foldable upon itself such that said first portion overlaps one of said lower wall sections of said pair of adjacent sidewalls in such a manner that said lower wall sections are in abutting relationship and a second portion being foldable upon itself such that said second portion overlaps one of said upper wall sections of said pair of adjacent sidewalls in such a manner that said upper wall sections are in abutting relationship.

Claim 15

The blank of claim 12, wherein said tab includes a central crease notch extending from said first portion of said tab to said second portion of said tab, said central crease notch dividing said second portion into two unsymmetrical parts.

Claim 16

The blank of claim 13, wherein said first portion of said tab has a triangular shape, whereby said first portion has a base and two sides, and wherein said second portion of said tab has a triangular shape, whereby said second portion has a base and two sides.

Claim 17

The blank of claim 14, wherein said first portion of said tab is capable of being folded upon itself along said central crease notch and wherein said second portion of said tab is capable of being folded upon itself along said central crease notch.

Claim 18

The blank of claim 15, wherein said base of said first portion is coincident with said base of said second portion.

Claim 19

The blank of claim 16, wherein said first portion of said tab is connected between said pair of adjacent sidewalls by a pair of additional crease notches, one of said additional crease notches being adjacent to one of said lower wall sections of said pair of adjacent sidewalls and the other of said additional crease notches being adjacent to the other of said lower wall sections of said pair of adjacent sidewalls.

Claim 20

The blank of claim 17, further comprising flaps projecting from opposite ends of each of at least two opposed upper wall sections, each of said flaps having the capability of being folded such that it is coplanar with an adjacent upper wall section.

Claim 21

The blank of claim 18, wherein each flap is attached to said second portion of a corresponding one of said tabs.

Claim 22

The blank of claim 19, wherein said flap is capable of overlying said second portion of said corresponding one of said tabs when said second portion is folded upon itself and said flap is folded into a coplanar relationship with said adjacent upper wall section.

Claim 23

The blank of claim 20, further comprising a lid which includes a top section having a plurality of peripheral edges which define a polygonal shape conforming with said polygonal shape of said bottom section of said trough; a plurality of sidewalls, each sidewall being attached to a corresponding one of said peripheral edges of said top section; and an intermediate wall member attached between one of said sidewalls of said lid and one of said upper wall sections of said trough, whereby said lid is formed integrally with said trough.

Claim 24

The blank of claim 21, wherein said sidewalls of said lid and said intermediate wall member have the same height.