Patent Publication Number: US-2022212831-A1

Title: Closeable Carton

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation patent application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/727,102, filed Mar. 9, 2020, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The subject matter of the invention relates generally to carry-out food cartons, and more particularly to a closeable carton with a hinged lid and webbed corners and method of using same. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Various products are known to be purchased by consumers which require a carton for ease of transport. For example, in the food and grocery industry it is common to place food items in individual carry-out food cartons. There may be certain drawbacks to commonly used carry-out food cartons. For example, cardboard-, paper-, and/or paperboard-based cartons may not be suitable for holding wet foods reliably without leaking. Further, often carry-out food cartons are not designed for reliable stacking. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one embodiment, a closeable carton is provided. The closeable carton may include a floor panel and a plurality of side panels extending about a periphery of the floor panel. The plurality of side panels may include a front side panel, an opposing rear side panel, a first end panel, and an opposing second end panel, wherein the front side panel may include a front tab formed at an upper edge thereof, and wherein the first end panel and the second end panel each may include an upper side flap extending from an upper edge thereof, and wherein each flap may include a side receiving slot formed therein. The closeable carton may further include foldable corner gussets extending between adjacent side panels, wherein the floor panel, side panels, and foldable corner gussets are configurable to form a compartment region. The closeable carton may further include a hingeable lid, that may include a lid panel, a front edge flap extending from a front edge of the lid panel, a side tab formed on each opposing side edge of the lid panel, and a front receiving slot formed in the front edge flap, wherein the lid panel may be configured to cover the compartment region when in a closed position, and wherein the front tab of the front side panel is sized, shaped, and positioned such that when the hingeable lid is in the closed position, the front tab aligns with the front receiving slot and is receivable therein and each side tab aligns with its respective side receiving slot and are receivable therein. Adjacent side panels and end panels may be coupled together via the foldable corner gussets. The front receiving slot may be configured such that when the hingeable lid is in the closed position the front receiving slot is engageable with the front tab to secure the hingeable lid in the closed position. Each side receiving slot may be configured such that when the hingeable lid is in the closed position each side receiving slot is engageable with its respective side tab. Each side tab may be formed proximate to opposing side edges of the lid panel. The hingeable lid panel may be hingeably coupled to a top edge of the rear side panel via a fold line. The flap of each of the first end panel and the second end panel and the front edge flap of the hingeable lid may be configured to fold inward. The front edge flap of the hingeable lid may be configured to tuck behind the front side panel when the hingeable lid is in the closed position. The foldable corner gussets may each include a first side portion and an adjacent second side portion, wherein the first side portion and the second side portions intersect at a fold line therebetween. The foldable corner gussets may be configured to be folded along their respective fold lines such that opposing faces of adjacent first and second side portions come in contact with one another. The folded foldable corner gussets may be configured to be further folded such that an interior or exterior facing surface of one of the first or second side portions comes in contact with an interior or exterior surface of its corresponding adjacent side panel. An adhesive or heat sealable coating may hold the folded adjacent first and second side portions in contact with one another. An adhesive or heat sealable coating may hold the folded corner gusset in contact with the interior or exterior surface of its corresponding adjacent side panel. The carton may further include one or more vent flaps formed in one or more of the plurality of side panels. The one or more vent flaps may be formed in at least one of the front side panel and/or the rear side panel. The one or more vent flaps may be defined by a perforation or score line about at least a portion of its periphery, wherein the one or more vent flaps may be one of partially or fully removable. 
     In another embodiment, a method of using a closeable carton is provided. The method may include providing a closeable carton; folding each of the upper side flaps and the front edge flap inward; folding the hingeable lid to the closed position; tucking the front edge flap behind the front side panel; and engaging the front tab of the front side panel with the front receiving slot of the hingeable lid and/or one or more of the side tabs of the hinged carton lid with its respective one or more of the side receiving slots of the upper edge flaps. The carton may include one or more vent flaps formed in one or more of the plurality of side panels. The method may further include partially or fully removing one or more of the one or more vent flaps. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Having thus described the subject matter of the invention in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying Drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an example closeable carton, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a front elevation view of the closeable carton of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a rear elevation view of the closeable carton of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of the closeable carton of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the closeable carton of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a bottom plan view of the closeable carton of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 7  is another perspective view of the closeable carton of  FIG. 1  shown in an example open configuration, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a front elevation view of the closeable carton of  FIG. 7 , in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a rear elevation view of the closeable carton of  FIG. 7 , in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a side elevation view of the closeable carton of  FIG. 7 , in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a top plan view of the closeable carton of  FIG. 7 , in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 12  is a bottom plan view of the closeable carton of  FIG. 7 , in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 13  is a top plane view of the of the closeable carton of  FIG. 1  shown in an example flat unfolded configuration, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 14  is another perspective view of the closeable carton of  FIG. 1  showing an example alternate configuration, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 15  is another perspective view of the closeable carton of  FIG. 14  shown in an example open configuration, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 16  illustrates a flow diagram of an example of a method of using the closeable carton, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The subject matter of the invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying Drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments of the subject matter of the invention are shown. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. The subject matter of the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Indeed, many modifications and other embodiments of the subject matter of the invention set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which the subject matter of the invention pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated Drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the subject matter of the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. 
     In some embodiments, the subject matter of the invention provides a closeable carton with a hinged lid and webbed corners and method of using same. In one example, the subject closeable carton includes a carton body and a hinged carton lid, and wherein the carton body includes a solid floor panel and webbed corners. Accordingly, the subject carton may be used as a disposable food carry-out (or take-out) carton that is suitable for holding wet foods reliably for some useful period of time. 
     In some embodiments, the carton body and/or hinged carton lid of the subject carton may include various tabs and slots that may be engaged for holding shut the hinged carton lid to the carton body. 
     In some embodiments, the subject carton includes a substantially flat hinged carton lid that allows for easy stacking of multiple of the subject cartons. 
     In some embodiments, the webbed corners of the subject carton may be held by glue or other adhesive. 
     In some embodiments, the webbed corners of the subject carton may be held by heat-sealable coatings, wherein the carton body may be folded into its assembled state and the corner flaps folded and heat sealed to an inside or outside surface of the assembled carton body without adding any glue, thereby providing a fully compostable carton. 
     Additionally, a method of using the subject carton is provided. 
     In some embodiments, the carton body and/or the hinged carton lid of the subject carton may include a tamper-evident feature that may be used to indicate a “secure” condition of the carton and wherein the tamper-evident feature may be, for example, a perforated tear line, a tear-away strip, and/or the like. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 through 15 , show various views and embodiments of an example of the subject carton  100  that may have a hinged lid  130 , webbed corners  118 , and a solid carton bottom. The carton  100  may be a used, for example, as a disposable food carry-out (or take-out) carton that is openable and closable. 
     The carton  100  may include a carton body  110  and a hinged carton lid  130 . The carton body  110  may further include a floor panel  112 , two opposing side panels  114  (e.g., a front side panel  114   a  and a rear side panel  114   b ), and two opposing end panels  116 . The ends of the side panels  114  and the end panels  116  may be coupled via webbed corners  118 . The webbed corners  118  may be, for example, a webbed corner inside glue design, wherein the webbed corners  118  may be adhered to an interior surface of their adjacent end panel  116  or side panel  114  (as shown, for example, in  FIG. 7 ). Alternatively, the webbed corners  118  may be, for example, a webbed corner outside glue design, wherein the webbed corners  118  may be adhered to an exterior surface of their adjacent end panel  116  or side panel  114  (as shown, for example, in  FIG. 14 ). The webbed corners  118  may be secured, for example, via an adhesive, thermal bonding, or any other suitable technique or mechanism. Each of the end panels  116  may include an upper edge flap  120 . Each of the upper edge flaps  120  may include a side receiving slot  122 . Further, a front locking tab  124  may be provided at the top edge of the front side panel  114   a.    
     The hinged carton lid  130  may be a substantially flat hinged carton lid. The hinged carton lid  130  may include a lid panel  132  that may be hingeably coupled to the top edge of the rear side panel  114   b  of the carton body  110  via a fold line  134 . A front edge flap  136  may be provided at the front edge of the lid panel  132 . The front edge flap  136  of the lid panel  132  may include a front edge receiving slot  138 . Further, a side locking tab  140  may be provided at each opposing end of lid panel  132 . 
     The front edge receiving slot  138  of the hinged carton lid  130  may be designed to receive and hold the front locking tab  124  of the carton body  110 . The side receiving slots  122  of the carton body  110  may be designed to receive and hold the side locking tabs  140  of the hinged carton lid  130 . Further, the rear side panel  114   b  may include one or more vent flaps  142  (as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 3, 7, 9, 13, 15 ). 
     The carton body  110  and the hinged carton lid  130  of the carton  100  may be formed of any lightweight, rigid or semi-rigid material that is suitable for holding and/or transporting, for example, a quantity of food and that is also suitable for disposing of after use. For example, the carton  100  may be formed of corrugated cardboard, paper, paperboard, post-consumer paperboard (i.e., recycled materials), biodegradable materials (e.g., sugarcane and paper), polystyrene foam (e.g., Styrofoam), plastic, molded fiber, and the like. 
     In operation, a user may fold the hinged carton lid  130  to a closed position and tucks the front edge flap  136  of the lid panel  132  behind the front side panel  114   a  of the carton body  110 . Then, the user may engage the front locking tab  124  of the carton body  110  with the front edge receiving slot  138  of the hinged carton lid  130 . Then, the user may engage the side locking tabs  140  of the hinged carton lid  130  with the side receiving slots  122  of the carton body  110 . 
     One benefit of the presently disclosed carton  100  is that the carton body  110  has a solid floor panel  112  and that the carton body  110  is formed using the webbed corners  118  to form a disposable food carry-out (or take-out) carton that is suitable for holding wet foods reliably for some useful period of time without leaking. 
     For example, to form the carton body  110 , the webbed corners  118  may be folded inward. Then, glue or other adhesive may be applied inside the fold such that facing surfaces of the webbed corners  118  are adhered or otherwise bonded together. In another example, a heat-sealable coating may be applied to the surfaces inside the fold of the webbed corners  118 . Then, for each webbed corner  118 , once the facing surfaces of the webbed corner  118  are folded into contact with one another, heat may be applied to the folded area and causing the heat-sealable coating to bond the facing surfaces of the webbed corner  118  together. Once the facing surfaces of the webbed corners  118  are adhered or otherwise bonded together, the folded webbed corners  118  may then be folded over in contact with an inside surface of its adjacent end panel  116  or side panel  114  and adhered or otherwise bonded thereto. Glue or other adhesive may be used to adhere or otherwise bond folded webbed corners  118  to the inside surface its adjacent end panel  116  or side panel  114 . In another example, a heat-sealable coating may be applied to all or select surfaces of the interior facing surface of the carton body  110 , and once the webbed corner  118  are folded into contact with the inside surface its adjacent end panel  116  or side panel  114 , heat may be applied to the area and causing the heat-sealable coating to bond the webbed corner  118  thereto. 
     In another embodiment, to form the carton body  110 , the webbed corners  118  may be folded outward. Then, glue or other adhesive may be applied inside the fold such that facing surfaces of the webbed corners  118  are adhered or otherwise bonded together. In another example, a heat-sealable coating may be applied to the surfaces inside the fold of the webbed corners  118 . Then, for each webbed corner  118 , once the facing surfaces of the webbed corner  118  are folded into contact with one another, heat may be applied to the folded area and causing the heat-sealable coating to bond the facing surfaces of the webbed corner  118  together. Once the facing surfaces of the webbed corners  118  are adhered or otherwise bonded together, the folded webbed corners  118  may then be folded over in contact with an outside surface of its adjacent end panel  116  or side panel  114  and adhered or otherwise bonded thereto (for example as shown in  FIGS. 14  an  15 ). Glue or other adhesive may be used to adhere or otherwise bond folded webbed corners  118  to the outside surface of its adjacent end panel  116  or side panel  114 . In another example, a heat-sealable coating may be applied to all or select surfaces of the exterior facing surface of the carton body  110 , and once the webbed corner  118  are folded into contact with the exterior surface of its adjacent end panel  116  or side panel  114 , heat may be applied to the area and causing the heat-sealable coating to bond the webbed corner  118  thereto. 
     Another benefit of the presently disclosed carton  100  is that the substantially flat hinged carton lid  130  allows for easy stacking of multiple of the cartons  100 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 16  is a flow diagram of an example of a method  200  of using the presently disclosed carton  100 . The method  200  may include, but is not limited to, the following steps, and not necessarily in the following order. 
     At a step  210 , the carton  100  is provided. 
     At a step  215 , a user may fold the upper edge flaps  120  inward. 
     At a step  220 , a user may fold the hinged carton lid  130  to the closed position and tuck the front edge flap  136  of the lid panel  132  into the front side panel  114   a  of the carton body  110 . 
     At a step  225 , the user may engage the front locking tab  124  of the carton body  110  with the front edge receiving slot  138  of the hinged carton lid  130 . 
     At a step  230 , the user may engage one or both of the side locking tabs  140  of the hinged carton lid  130  with one or more of the side receiving slots  122  of the upper edge flaps  120  of the carton body  110 . 
     In other embodiments, the carton body  110  and/or the hinged carton lid  130  of the presently disclosed carton  100  may include a tamper-evident feature (not shown) that may be used to indicate a “secure” condition of the carton  100 . For example, the tamper-evident feature may be a perforated tear line, a tear-away strip, and/or the like. In one example, when the perforated tear line or tear-away strip is fully intact, the carton  100  is in the “secure” condition. By contrast, when the perforated tear line or tear-away strip is shown to be compromised, the carton  100  is in a “tamper-evident” condition. 
     Following long-standing patent law convention, the terms “a,” “an,” and “the” refer to “one or more” when used in this application, including the claims. Thus, for example, reference to “a subject” includes a plurality of subjects, unless the context clearly is to the contrary (e.g., a plurality of subjects), and so forth. 
     Throughout this specification and the claims, the terms “comprise,” “comprises,” and “comprising” are used in a non-exclusive sense, except where the context requires otherwise. Likewise, the term “include” and its grammatical variants are intended to be non-limiting, such that recitation of items in a list is not to the exclusion of other like items that can be substituted or added to the listed items. 
     For the purposes of this specification and appended claims, unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing amounts, sizes, dimensions, proportions, shapes, formulations, parameters, percentages, quantities, characteristics, and other numerical values used in the specification and claims, are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about” even though the term “about” may not expressly appear with the value, amount or range. Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth in the following specification and attached claims are not and need not be exact, but may be approximate and/or larger or smaller as desired, reflecting tolerances, conversion factors, rounding off, measurement error and the like, and other factors known to those of skill in the art depending on the desired properties sought to be obtained by the presently disclosed subject matter. For example, the term “about,” when referring to a value can be meant to encompass variations of, in some embodiments±100%, in some embodiments±50%, in some embodiments±20%, in some embodiments±10%, in some embodiments±5%, in some embodiments±1%, in some embodiments±0.5%, and in some embodiments±0.1% from the specified amount, as such variations are appropriate to perform the disclosed methods or employ the disclosed compositions. 
     Further, the term “about” when used in connection with one or more numbers or numerical ranges, should be understood to refer to all such numbers, including all numbers in a range and modifies that range by extending the boundaries above and below the numerical values set forth. The recitation of numerical ranges by endpoints includes all numbers, e.g., whole integers, including fractions thereof, subsumed within that range (for example, the recitation of 1 to 5 includes 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, as well as fractions thereof, e.g., 1.5, 2.25, 3.75, 4.1, and the like) and any range within that range. 
     Although the foregoing subject matter has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that certain changes and modifications can be practiced within the scope of the appended claims.