Patent Publication Number: US-6708874-B1

Title: Carton with finger holes

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     This application relates to containers and, in particular, to box-like cartons which are stackable. 
     It is known to provide various types of lidded cartons made of cardboard, paperboard and the like. Such cartons are commonly of a substantially rectangular, parallelepiped shape so that they can be easily stacked. For example, shoe boxes are commonly stacked in shoe retailing establishments, one atop the other and with adjacent stacks in abutting side-by-side relationship on shelving or the like. It can sometimes be difficult to grasp such a shoe box to extract it from the middle of a stack, particularly if the shoe box is of the type wherein the side and end walls of the cover or lid extend all the way to the bottom wall of the base, so that there is no lid rim or lip which can be easily grasped. 
     It is known to provide cartons with the various types of ventilation openings and hand openings to aid in lifting and carrying large cartons. However, these arrangements may not be suitable for a relatively small cartons, such as shoe boxes or the like. 
     SUMMARY 
     This application discloses an improved stackable container which avoids disadvantages of prior containers while affording additional structural and operating advantages. 
     An important aspect is the provision of a stackable container with an access wall normally visible and accessible when stacked, with improved means for grasping the container and removing it from the stack. 
     Another aspect is the provision of a container of the type set forth with openings disposed at the junctions between the access wall and top and bottom walls. 
     In connection with the foregoing aspect, a further aspect is the provision of a container of the type set forth, having a base and a cover which overlaps the base, the openings extending through the overlapping portions of the base and cover walls. 
     A still further aspect is the provision of a foldable carton blank for forming a carton or container of the type set forth. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the subject matter sought to be protected, there is illustrated in the accompanying drawings an embodiment thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, the subject matter sought to be protected, its construction and operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated. 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a container having a base and a cover with the base and cover shown separated; 
     FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the container in its closed condition; 
     FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a blank for forming either the base or the cover of the carton of FIG. 1; and 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating folding of the blank of FIG. 3 to form the base of FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is illustrated a carton, generally designated by the numeral  10 , which has wall structure including a base  11  and a cover  20 . The carton may be formed of cardboard, paperboard, or any other suitable material. In the illustrated embodiment, as will explained more fully below, the carton is formed by folding a blank along crease or fold lines, but it will be appreciate that, if desired, it could be formed by other techniques, permitting the use of other types of materials. The base  11  and the cover  20  are similar in shape, each being substantially in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, with the cover  20  being slightly larger than the base  11  so that it can receive the base  11  therein, all in a known manner. 
     The base  11  has a rectangular bottom wall  12  and a pair of upstanding side walls  13  integral with the bottom wall  12  along opposite sides thereof, and each having a folded-over reinforced distal end  14  (one shown in FIG.  1 ). Also integral with the bottom wall  12 , respectively at the opposite ends thereof, are upstanding end walls  15 , each being provided with a folded-over reinforced distal end  16  (one shown in FIG.  1 ). Formed through each of the end walls  15  at the upper edge thereof, midway between the side walls  13 , are semi-circular apertures  17 . Also formed in each of the end walls  15  at the junction thereof with the bottom wall  12 , and in vertical alignment with the associated aperture  17 , is an aperture  18 , having a semicircular portion in the end wall  15  and a semicircular portion in the bottom wall  12 . Thus, the base  11  forms an open-top receptacle defining a storage space therein. 
     The cover  20  is an open-bottom structure, having a rectangular top wall  22 , integral along opposite side edges thereof with depending side walls  23 , each having a folded-over reinforced distal end (not shown). Also integral with the top wall  22 , respectively at the opposite ends thereof, are depending end walls  25 , each having a folded-over reinforced distal end(not shown). Formed in each of the end walls  25  at the junction thereof with the top wall  22 , midway between the side walls  23 , is an aperture  27  having a semicircular portion formed in the end wall  25  and a semicircular portion formed in the top wall  27 . Also formed in each of the end walls  25  at the lower edge thereof, in vertical alignment with the associated aperture  27 , is a semicircular aperture  28 . Formed on the outer surface of at least one of the end walls  25  may be suitable indicia  29 , which could be in the form of labels or be directly imprinted on the material of the end wall  25 , and may provide identifying information, such as the nature of the contents of the carton  10 , or the like. 
     Referring to FIG. 2 it can be seen that the cover  20  forms a movable closure portion of the carton  10 . The base  11  and the cover  20  are so dimensioned that, when the cover is disposed over the base  11  for closing the carton  10 , the base  11  fits within the cover  20 , so that the top wall  22  of the cover  20  rests upon the upper edges of the side walls  13  and the end walls  15  of the base  11 . In this closed condition, the cover side walls  23  and end walls  25 , respectively overlap and completely cover the base side walls  13  and end walls  15 . Thus, it can be seen that in this closed condition, the side walls  13  of the base  11  respectively cooperate with the side walls  23  of the cover  20  to form side walls of the overall closed carton, while the base end walls  15  respectively cooperate with a cover end walls  25  to form end walls of the overall carton  10 . In this closed condition, the cover apertures  28  respectively align with the portions of the base apertures  18  in the end walls  15 , while the base apertures  17  respectively align with the portions of the cover apertures  27  in the end walls  25 . Thus, the apertures  17  and  27  cooperate to form through holes  30  at the upper edges of the carton ends, while the apertures  18  and  28  cooperate to form through holes  35  at the lower edges of a carton ends. This greatly facilitates removal of the carton  10  from a stack. 
     For example, as in the case where the carton  10  is one of a number of shoe boxes stacked one atop the other and with adjacent stacks in abutting side-by-side relationship, the cartons will normally be stacked so that a carton end wall, typically bearing indicia  29 , will form an access wall which faces outwardly toward the user. In this regard it will be appreciated that, while indicia have been illustrated on one end wall of the container  10 , it could be provided on either or both end walls, as well as on other portions of the carton  10 , in a known manner. Preferably, the holes  30  and  35  are dimensioned so as to accommodate insertion therein of a finger or thumb of a user&#39;s hand, so that the carton  10  can be easily grasped, as by the use of a thumb and one finger of a hand, to greatly facilitate removing the carton from a stack. 
     Illustrated in FIG. 3 is a blank  40  for the formation of the base  11 . A similar blank will be used for forming the cover  20 , the only difference from the blank  40  being that the cover blank will be slightly larger, as explained above. The blank  40  has a rectangular base panel  41  integral along fold lines  42  with rectangular end panels  43 . Each end panel  43  is, in turn, integral along a fold line  44  with a reinforcing flange  45 . The base panel  41  is also integral along fold lines  46  with rectangular side panels  47 , each, in turn, being integral along a fold line  48  with a reinforcing flange  49 . Each flange  49  is provided at the opposite ends thereof with longitudinally outwardly extending lock tabs  50 , and is also provided adjacent each tab  50  with an arcuate notch  51  extending to the fold line  48 . Each side panel  47  is also integral along fold lines  52  with reinforcement flaps  53  which are substantially rectangular in shape and are each spaced a slight distance from the adjacent end panel  43 . Each reinforcement flap  53  has arcuate notches  54  formed at the distal end corners thereof, defining substantially quarter-circles. Formed through the blank  40  are two circular base holes  55 , respectively having diameters disposed along the fold lines  42  and each disposed midway between the fold lines  46 . Formed through each of the end panels  43  is a circular flange hole  56  having a diameter along the fold line  44  and centered between the lateral edges of the end panel  43 . It will be appreciated that the blank  40  may be scored or creased along each of the fold lines to facilitate folding, all in a known manner. 
     Referring to FIG. 4, in assembly, the reinforcing flanges  49  may first be folded over along the fold lines  48  so that they lie along the inner surfaces of the side panels  47 , where they may be secured in place, such as by a suitable adhesive to form the reinforced distal ends  14 . In this condition, the lock tabs  50  will lie along inner surfaces of the adjacent reinforcement flaps  53 . Then the side panels  47  are folded up along the fold lines  46 , and the reinforcement flaps  53  are folded along the fold lines  52 , so that flaps  53  at the same end of the blank  40  abut each other, as seen in FIG.  4 . During this operation the lock tab  50  will be bent accordingly. When in this configuration, the corner notches  54  of abutting reinforcement flaps  53  cooperate to define substantially semicircular apertures. The end panels  43  are then folded up along the fold lines  42  until they lie against the outer surfaces of the reinforcement flaps  53 , whereupon the reinforcing flanges  45  may be folded down along the fold lines  44 , until they lie along the inner surfaces of the reinforcement flaps  53 , trapping the lock tabs  50  therebetween. The reinforcing flanges  45  may then be secured in place in this position, as by a suitable adhesive, to form the reinforced distal ends  16 . It can be seen that, when thus assembled, the semicircular apertures formed by the corner notches  54  adjacent to the base panel  41  respectively align with the portions of the base holes  55  formed in the end panels  43 , while the semicircular apertures formed by the corner notches  54  at the upper edges of the reinforcement flaps  53  respectively align with the halves of the flange holes  56  which now lie respectively along outer and inner surfaces of the reinforcement flaps  53  to form semicircular through notches. 
     From the foregoing, it can be seen that there has been provided an improved stackable carton which greatly facilitates removal from a stack of like cartons. 
     The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only and not as a limitation. While a particular embodiment has been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the broader aspects of applicant&#39;s contribution. The actual scope of the protection sought is intended to be defined in the following claims when viewed in their proper perspective based on the prior art.