Nested pair of blanks

Abstract

The invention relates to a nested pair of blanks on a unitary sheet which minimizes the amount of scrap sheet material (i.e., sheet scrap) upon separation of the blanks and construction of containers formed from the blanks. The nested pair of blanks provides a first blank for forming a container, a second blank for forming an identical container, and a non-linear separation interface that connects the first and second blanks to one another in a rotationally inverted relationship. The nested configuration reduces the amount of sheet scrap in the sheet. The invention further relates to a container formed from the first or second blank having features that reduce sheet scrap and offset the potential weakening of the container bottom resulting from reduced overlapping sheet material.

1 . A nested pair of blanks on a unitary sheet, comprising:
 a first blank for forming a container, said first blank having one or more body panels connected to one another and oriented horizontally, said first blank having one or more bottom panels connected to edges of said one or more body panels of said first blank;   a second blank for forming an identical container, said second blank having one or more body panels connected to one another and oriented horizontally, said second blank having one or more bottom panels connected to edges of said one or more body panels of said second blank; and   a non-linear separation interface connecting said first and second blanks to one another in a rotationally inverted relationship that reduces sheet scrap;   wherein said one or more bottom panels of said first and second blanks define said non-linear separation interface.   
   
   
       2 . A nested pair of blanks according to  claim 1 , wherein said sheet comprises paperboard. 
   
   
       3 . A nested pair of blanks according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said first blank having one or more notched edges that correspondingly engage one another to form a container bottom upon separation of said blank from said sheet and construction of the container; and   said second blank having one or more notched edges that correspondingly engage one another to form a container bottom upon separation of said blank from said sheet and construction of the identical container.   
   
   
       4 . A nested pair of blanks according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 edges of said one or more bottom panels of said first blank having engagement notches that correspondingly engage one another to form the container bottom upon separation of said blank from said sheet and construction of the container; and   edges of said one or more bottom panels of said second blank having engagement notches that correspondingly engage one another to form the container bottom upon separation of said blank from said sheet and construction of the identical container.   
   
   
       5 . A nested pair of blanks according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said one or more bottom panels of said first blank is connected to and nested vertically with at least one of said one or more bottom panels of said second blank. 
   
   
       6 . A nested pair of blanks according to  claim 1 , wherein said non-linear separation interface is further defined by:
 one or more bottom flaps connected to edges of said one or more body panels of said first blank; and   at least one of said one or more bottom flaps of said first blank is connected to and nested vertically with at least one of said one or more bottom panels of said second blank.   
   
   
       7 . A nested pair of blanks according to  claim 1 , wherein said non-linear separation interface is further defined by:
 one or more bottom flaps connected to edges of said one or more body panels of said second blank; and   at least one of said one or more bottom flaps of said second blank is connected to and nested vertically with at least one of said one or more bottom panels of said first blank.   
   
   
       8 . A nested pair of blanks according to  claim 1 , wherein said non-linear separation interface is further defined by:
 one or more bottom flaps connected to edges of said one or more body panels of said first blank; and   one or more bottom flaps connected to edges of said one or more body panels of said second blank;   at least one of said bottom panels of said first blank is connected to and vertically nested with at least one of said one or more bottom panels of said second blank and at least one of said bottom flaps of said second blank.   
   
   
       9 . A nested pair of blanks according to  claim 8 , wherein at least one of said bottom panels of said second blank is connected to and vertically nested with at least one of said one or more bottom panels of said first blank and at least one of said one or more bottom flaps of said first blank. 
   
   
       10 . A nested pair of blanks according to  claim 1 , wherein each said first and second blanks is asymmetrical about a vertical axis of symmetry. 
   
   
       11 . A nested pair of blanks according to  claim 1 , wherein said body panels of said first and second blanks are oriented on said sheet in a non-linear arrangement. 
   
   
       12 . A nested pair of blanks according to  claim 1 , wherein said one or more body panels of said first blank include:
 a substantially rectangular front panel, said front panel having opposing first and second side panels; and   a substantially rectangular rear panel connected to said front panel by said second side panel.   
   
   
       13 . A nested pair of blanks according to  claim 12 , wherein said one or more bottom panels of said first blank include:
 at least one bottom panel connected to an edge of said front panel; and   at least one bottom panel connected to an edge of said rear panel.   
   
   
       14 . A nested pair of blanks according to  claim 1 , wherein said one or more body panels of said second blank include:
 a substantially rectangular front panel, said front panel having opposing first and second side panels; and   a substantially rectangular rear panel connected to said front panel by said second side panel.   
   
   
       15 . A nested pair of blanks according to  claim 14 , wherein said one or more bottom panels of said second blank include:
 at least one bottom panel connected to an edge of said front panel; and   at least one bottom panel connected to an edge of said rear panel.   
   
   
       16 . A nested pair of blanks according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said first blank having one or more bottom flaps connected to edges of said one or more body panels of said first blank; and   said second blank having one or more bottom flaps connected to edges of said one or more body panels of said second blank.   
   
   
       17 . A nested pair of blanks on a unitary sheet, comprising:
 a first blank for forming a container, said first blank having
 a substantially rectangular front panel, said front panel having opposing first and second side panels, 
 a substantially rectangular rear panel connected to said front panel by said second side panel, and 
 a bottom panel connected to an edge of said front panel; 
   a second blank for forming an identical container, said second blank having:
 a substantially rectangular front panel, said front panel having opposing first and second side panels, 
 a substantially rectangular rear panel connected to said front panel by said second side panel; and 
 a bottom panel connected to an edge of said rear panel; and 
   a non-linear separation interface connecting said first and second blanks to one another in a rotationally inverted relationship that reduces sheet scrap;   wherein said one or more bottom panels of said first and second blanks define said non-linear separation interface.   
   
   
       18 . A nested pair of blanks according to  claim 17 , wherein said sheet comprises paperboard. 
   
   
       19 . A nested pair of blanks according to  claim 17 , wherein:
 said first blank having one or more notched edges that correspondingly engage one another to form a container bottom upon separation of said blank from said sheet and construction of the container; and   said second blank having one or more notched edges that correspondingly engage one another to form a container bottom upon separation of said blank from said sheet and construction of the identical container.   
   
   
       20 . A nested pair of blanks according to  claim 17 , wherein said bottom panel of said first blank is connected to and nested vertically with said bottom panel of said second blank. 
   
   
       21 . A nested pair of blanks according to  claim 17 , said non-linear separation interface is further defined by:
 a bottom flap connected to an edge of said first side panel of said first blank; and   said bottom flap of said first blank is connected to and vertically nested with said bottom panel of said second blank.   
   
   
       22 . A nested pair of blanks according to  claim 17 , said non-linear separation interface is further defined by:
 a bottom flap connected to an edge of said second side panel of said second blank; and   said bottom flap of said second blank is connected to and vertically nested with said bottom panel of said first blank.   
   
   
       23 . A nested pair of blanks according to  claim 17 , said non-linear separation interface is further defined by:
 a bottom panel connected to an edge of said rear panel of first blank; and   a bottom panel connected to an edge of said front panel of said second blank;   wherein said bottom panel connected to said rear panel of said first blank is connected to and nested vertically with said bottom panel connected to said front panel of said second blank.   
   
   
       24 . A nested pair of blanks according to  claim 23 , wherein:
 edges of said bottom panels of said first blank having engagement notches that correspondingly engage one another to form a container bottom upon separation of said blank from said sheet and construction of the container; and   edges of said bottom panels of said second blank having engagement notches that correspondingly engage one another to form a container bottom upon separation of said blank from said sheet and construction of the identical container.   
   
   
       25 . A nested pair of blanks according to  claim 23 , said non-linear separation interface is further defined by:
 a bottom flap connected to an edge of said second side panel of said first blank; and   said bottom flap connected to said second side panel of said first blank is connected to and vertically nested with said bottom panel connected to said front panel of said second blank.   
   
   
       26 . A nested pair of blanks according to  claim 23 , said non-linear separation interface is further defined by:
 a bottom flap connected to an edge of said first side panel of said second blank; and   said bottom flap connected to said first side panel of said second blank is connected to and vertically nested with said bottom panel connected to said rear panel of said first blank.   
   
   
       27 . A nested pair of blanks according to  claim 17 , further comprising first and second locking closure flaps connected to edges of said first and second side panels of said first blank, respectively, opposite said non-linear separation interface. 
   
   
       28 . A nested pair of blanks according to  claim 17 , further comprising first and second top closure panels connected to edges of said front and rear panels of said first blank, respectively, opposite said non-linear separation interface. 
   
   
       29 . A nested pair of blanks according to  claim 28 , further comprising first and second tuck flaps connected to edges of said first and second top closure panels of said first blank, respectively, opposite said front and rear panels of said first blank. 
   
   
       30 . A nested pair of blanks according to  claim 17 , further comprising a glue flap connected to an edge of said rear panel of said first blank, opposite said second side panel of said first blank. 
   
   
       31 . A nested pair of blanks according to  claim 17 , further comprising first and second locking closure flaps connected to edges of said first and second side panels of said second blank, respectively, opposite said non-linear separation interface. 
   
   
       32 . A nested pair of blanks according to  claim 17 , further comprising first and second top closure panels connected to edges of said front and rear panels of said second blank, respectively, opposite said non-linear separation interface. 
   
   
       33 . A nested pair of blanks according to  claim 32 , further comprising first and second tuck flaps connected to edges of said first and second top closure panels of said second blank, respectively, opposite said front and rear panels of said second blank. 
   
   
       34 . A nested pair of blanks according to  claim 17 , further comprising a glue flap connected to an edge of said rear panel of said second blank, opposite said second side panel of said second blank. 
   
   
       35 . A nested pair of blanks on a unitary sheet, comprising:
 a first blank for forming a container, said first blank having
 a substantially rectangular front panel, said front panel having opposing first and second side panels, 
 a substantially rectangular rear panel connected to said front panel by said second side panel, 
 a first bottom closure panel connected to an edge of said front panel, 
 a second bottom closure panel connected to an edge of said rear panel, 
 a first bottom closure flap connected to an edge of said first side panel, and 
 a second bottom closure flap connected to an edge of said second side panel; and 
   a second blank for forming an identical container, said second blank having:
 a substantially rectangular front panel, said front panel having opposing first and second side panels, 
 a substantially rectangular rear panel connected to said front panel by said second side panel, 
 a first bottom closure panel connected to an edge of said front panel, 
 a second bottom closure panel connected to an edge of said rear panel, 
 a first bottom closure flap connected to an edge of said first side panel, and 
 a second bottom closure flap connected to an edge of said second side panel; and 
   a non-linear separation interface connecting said first and second blanks to one another in a rotationally inverted relationship that reduces sheet scrap.   
   
   
       36 . A nested pair of blanks according to  claim 35 , wherein said one or more bottom closure panels and said one or more bottom closure flaps of said first and second blanks define said non-linear separation interface. 
   
   
       37 . A nested pair of blanks according to  claim 35 , wherein one or more of said bottom closure panels of said first blank is connected to and nested vertically with one or more of said bottom closure flaps of said second blank. 
   
   
       38 . A nested pair of blanks according to  claim 35 , wherein one or more of said bottom closure panels of said second blank is connected to and nested vertically with one or more of said bottom closure flaps of said first blank. 
   
   
       39 . A nested pair of blanks according to  claim 35 , wherein said first bottom closure panel of said first blank is connected to and vertically nested with said second bottom closure panel and second bottom closure flap of said second blank. 
   
   
       40 . A nested pair of blanks according to  claim 35 , wherein said second bottom closure panel of said first blank is connected to and vertically nested with said first bottom closure panel and said first bottom closure flap of said second blank. 
   
   
       41 . A nested pair of blanks according to  claim 35 , wherein said first bottom closure flap of said first blank is connected to and vertically nested with said second bottom closure panel of said second blank. 
   
   
       42 . A nested pair of blanks according to  claim 35 , wherein said second bottom closure flap of said first blank is connected to and vertically nested with said first bottom closure panel of said second blank. 
   
   
       43 . A nested pair of blanks according to  claim 35 , wherein said first bottom closure flap of said second blank is connected to and vertically nested with said second bottom closure panel of said first blank. 
   
   
       44 . A nested pair of blanks according to  claim 35 , wherein said second bottom closure flap of said second blank is connected to and vertically nested with said first bottom closure panel of said first blank. 
   
   
       45 . A nested pair of blanks according to  claim 35 , wherein:
 said first and second bottom closure panels of said first blank having one or more notched edges that correspondingly engage one another to form a container bottom upon separation of said blank from said sheet and construction of the container; and   said first and second bottom closure panels of said second blank having one or more notched edges that correspondingly engage one another to form a container bottom upon separation of said blank from said sheet and construction of the identical container.   
   
   
       46 . A container having an interlocking container bottom, comprising:
 first and second bottom closure panels secured to one another, said first and second bottom closure panels having notched edges that correspondingly engage one another to form a container bottom;   first and second bottom closure flaps secured to said first and second bottom closure flaps, portions of said first and second bottom closure flaps positioned between overlapping portions of said first and second bottom closure panels;   a substantially rectangular front panel connected to said first bottom closure panel;   a substantially rectangular rear panel connected to said second bottom closure panel, said front panel and said rear panel defining substantially parallel planes;   a substantially rectangular first side panel connected to said first bottom closure flap and to respective edges of said front and rear panels; and   a substantially rectangular second side panel secured to said second bottom closure flap and to respective edges of said front and rear panels, said first side panel and said second side panel defining substantially parallel planes.