Blank and an open-top carton constructed therefrom

Abstract

A container comprises a bottom ball, opposite pair of end walls, and opposite pair of side walls. The opposite pair of the end walls foldably joined to opposite ends of the bottom wall and the opposite pair of side walls foldably joined to opposite sides of the bottom wall. The pair of side walls and the pair of end walls cooperating with one another to form an open-top tray. Each of the pair of side walls comprising at least one locking tab integrally formed on at least one end of the respective pair of side walls to securely lock the pair of side walls and the pair of end walls to one another.

1 . A container comprising a bottom ball, opposite pair of end walls, and opposite pair of side walls, the opposite pair of the end walls foldably joined to opposite ends of the bottom wall and the opposite pair of side walls foldably joined to opposite sides of the bottom wall, the pair of side walls and the pair of end walls cooperating with one another to form an open-top tray and wherein each of the pair of side walls comprising at least one locking tab integrally formed on at least one end of the respective pair of side walls to securely lock the pair of side walls and the pair of end walls to one another.  
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1  wherein each of the side walls comprises two locking tabs integrally formed on opposed ends of the each side walls.  
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 1  wherein each of the locking tabs is die cut into the side walls by forming a cut out and a slot therein.  
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the at least one locking tab support the pair of the side walls when the at least one locking tab is in a locking position.  
   
   
       5 . The container of  claim 4  wherein the locking position is defined by frictionally engaging the at least one locking tab with a slot formed between inner and outer end wall panels.  
   
   
       6 . The container of  claim 1  wherein each of the locking tab functions like a web portion of an I-beam to stiffen the pair of the side walls.  
   
   
       7 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the side walls are defined by inner and outer wall panels and wherein the locking tab inhibits deflection of the inner wall panel relative to the outer wall panel.  
   
   
       8 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the side wall panels are spaced apart by a landing surface.  
   
   
       9 . The container of  claim 8  wherein the landing surface is defined by two parallel fold lines.  
   
   
       10 . The container of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of sleeve boxes positioned within the open-top tray.  
   
   
       11 . The container of  claim 1  further comprising a cover fit over the open-top tray.  
   
   
       12 . A paperboard blank for making a container having a bottom wall, opposite end walls, and opposite side walls, comprising: 
 a central panel having opposite side edges and opposite end edges, and which forms the bottom wall of the container; a side panel foldably joined to each of the side edges of the central panel; an end panel foldably joined to each of the end edges of the central panel, the side panels and the end panels configured to form respective side walls and end walls in a container made from the blank and wherein each of the side walls comprising at least one locking tab integrally formed on at least one end of the respective pair of side walls to securely lock the pair of side walls and the pair of end walls to one another.    
   
   
       13 . The paperboard blank of  claim 12  wherein the side walls are defined by inner and outer wall panels wherein the inner and outer wall panels are positioned at substantially right angle with respect to the bottom wall.  
   
   
       14 . The paperboard blank of  claim 12  wherein the inner and outer wall panels are spaced apart from one another by a landing surface.  
   
   
       15 . The paperboard blank of  claim 13  wherein the landing surface is formed by a pair of parallel fold lines.  
   
   
       16 . The paperboard blank of  claim 12  each of the locking tabs is die cut into the side panels by forming a cut out and a slot therein.  
   
   
       17 . A container comprising a bottom ball, opposite end walls being defined by inner and outer end walls, and opposite side walls being defined by inner and outer sides walls; the end walls foldably joined to opposite ends of the bottom wall and the side walls foldably joined to opposite sides of the bottom wall, the side walls and the end walls cooperating with one another to form an open-top tray, each of the side walls having at least one locking tab integrally formed on at least one end of the respective pair of side walls to securely lock the pair of side walls and the pair of end walls to one another and wherein the at least one locking tab inhibits deflection of the inner end wall relative to the outer end wall.  
   
   
       18 . The container of  claim 17  wherein the at least one locking tab lies in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to a vertical plane in which the outer end wall panel lies and wherein the at least one locking tab substantially perpendicular to a vertical plane in which the inner end wall panel lies.