Partition Insert

Abstract

A partition insert ( 100 ) includes a longitudinal primary partition panel ( 12 ), transverse divider panels ( 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 ), and a locking flap ( 26 ). The divider panels ( 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 ) are rotated to an operative position and the locking flap ( 26 ) is rotated toward the primary partition panel ( 12 ). The partition insert includes means for engaging ( 52 ) such that the divider panels ( 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 ) and the locking flap ( 26 ) can engage one another to fix the position of the divider panels ( 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 ) in the operative position.

1 . A blank for forming a partition insert for separating articles in a package, comprising:
 a substantially planar primary partition panel;   at least one divider panel formed at least in part from said primary partition panel, at least a first portion of said at least one divider panel being rotatable out of a plane defined by said primary partition panel to an operative position in which said first portion extends from a side of said primary partition panel; and   at least one locking flap hingedly connected only to said primary partition panel;   wherein at least one of said at least one divider panel and said at least one locking flap comprises means for engaging that substantially rigidly fixes said at least one divider panel in sale operative position when said at least one locking flap is folded toward said primary partition panel and info engagement with said at least one divider panel.   
   
   
       2 . The blank of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one divider panel further comprises a second portion, wherein in said operative position, said second portion extends from an opposite side of said primary partition panel. 
   
   
       3 . The blank of  claim 1 , wherein the hinged connection between said at least one divider panel and said primary partition panel defines an axis of rotation about which said at least one divider panel is rotatable. 
   
   
       4 . Use blank of  claim 3 , said substantially planar primary partition panel having a longitudinal edge, said axis of rotation being substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal edge. 
   
   
       5 . The blank of  claim 1 , wherein said means for engaging comprises at least one of the following: a notch, an aperture, a protuberance, a slot, a slit, a tab. 
   
   
       6 . The blank of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one locking flap comprises a single locking flap configured to engage each said at least one divider panel via said means for engaging. 
   
   
       7 . A blank for forming a partition insert for separating articles in a package, comprising:
 a substantially planar primary partition panel having a longitudinal edge;   at least one divider panel formed at least in part from said primary partition panel, at least a first portion of said at least one divider panel being rotatable out of a plane defined by said primary partition panel to an operative position in which said first portion extends from a side of said primary partition panel; and   at least one locking flap each hingedly connected to said primary partition panel along a fold line that is spaced apart from said longitudinal edge;   wherein at least one of said at least one divider panel and said at least one locking flap comprises means for engaging that substantially rigidly fixes said at least one divider panel in said operative position when said at least one locking flap is folded toward said primary partition panel and into engagement with said at least one divider panel.   
   
   
       8 . The blank of  claim 7 , wherein said at least one divider panel further comprises a second portion, wherein in said operative position, said second portion extends from an opposite side of said primary partition panel. 
   
   
       9 . The blank of  claim 7 , wherein the hinged connection between said at least one divider panel and said primary partition panel defines an axis of rotation about which said at least one divider panel is rotatable. 
   
   
       10 . The blank of  claim 9 , said axis of rotation being substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal edge. 
   
   
       11 . The blank of  claim 7 , wherein said means for engaging comprises at least one of the following: a notch, an aperture, a protuberance, a slot, a slit, a tab. 
   
   
       12 . The blank of  claim 7 , wherein said at least one locking flap has a distal edge, at least a portion of which lies along said longitudinal edge. 
   
   
       13 . The blank of  claim 6 , wherein said at least one locking flap comprises a single longitudinally extending locking flap configured to engage each said at least one divider panel via said means for engaging. 
   
   
       14 . A package, comprising:
 a plurality of articles arranged in multiple rows;   a carton for enclosing said articles;   a partition insert for separating said articles in said carton, said partition insert comprising;
 a substantially planar primary partition panel extending between two adjacent rows; 
 at least one divider panel formed at least in pad from said primary partition panel and rotated out of a plane defined by said primary partition panel so as to extend outwardly from said primary partition panel in an operative position in which a first portion of said at least one divider panel separates two articles in a first one of said two adjacent rows; 
 at least one looking flap each hingedly connected to said primary partition panel and each folded toward said primary partition panel to engage said at least one divider panel; and 
 means for engaging integral to at least one of said at least one divider panel and said at least one locking flap, said means for engaging substantially rigidly fixing said at least one divider panel in said operative position. 
   
   
   
       15 . The package of  claim 14 , wherein in said operative position, a second portion of said at least one divider panel separates two articles in a second one of said two adjacent rows.