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A self-squaring corrugated container employs alignment markings on and adjacent to the manufacturing joint to allow quick visual inspection of placement and orientation of the manufacturing joint, and employs interlocking contoured peripheral edges on the major bottom flaps to allow consistent, quic

A self-squaring corrugated container employs alignment markings on and adjacent to the manufacturing joint to allow quick visual inspection of placement and orientation of the manufacturing joint, and employs interlocking contoured peripheral edges on the major bottom flaps to allow consistent, quick, and easy formation of a container which is square, non-skewed to within small, strict tolerances. Both the alignment markings and contoured bottom flaps are die cut into the carton blank to insure uniform container alignment. Additional container features include employment of a hinged, partially detached top flap to accommodate use of the container to packaged bottles. Method steps are provided for forming the self-squaring container using the innovative features.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A combination self-squaring packaging container and bottles, wherein the self-squaring container comprises a generally rectangular blank which has been folded and joined along opposing peripheral edges to form a flattened tube, the blank then being subsequent erected to form an elongate, hollow,

1. A combination self-squaring packaging container and bottles, wherein the self-squaring container comprises a generally rectangular blank which has been folded and joined along opposing peripheral edges to form a flattened tube, the blank then being subsequent erected to form an elongate, hollow, rectangular tube,the tube having a front side wall, and a rear side wall which is opposed to the front side wall, the tube having a first side wall which joins the front side wall to the rear side wall along a first edge, the tube having a second side wall which joins the front side wall to the rear side wall along a second edge such that the first side wall and the second side wall are opposed and separated from each other by the respective front and rear side wall,the tube comprisinga front side top flap which is hingedly secured to an upper edge of the front side wall,a rear side top flap which is hingedly secured to an upper edge of the rear side wall,a front side bottom flap which is hingedly secured to a lower edge of the front side wall,a rear side bottom flap which is hingedly secured to a lower edge of the rear side wall,an interior space defined, and separated from the exterior, by the respective front side wall, rear side wall, first side wall, and second side wall,a longitudinal axis which is aligned with the vertical, and a transverse axis which lies perpendicular to the longitudinal axis,wherein each of said bottles comprisesan elongate body portion, the body portion comprising a longitudinal axis which is aligned with the vertical when the bottle is upright, an upper end, and a lower end,a necked portion defined by a narrowing of the body portion adjacent to the upper end of the bottle, the necked portion having a lower end adjacent the body portion and having an upper end which is opposed to the lower end and coincides with the upper end of the bottle, anda cap portion, wherein the cap portion resides upon and surrounds the upper end of the neck portion,wherein said bottles reside within the interior space of said tube such that the longitudinal axis of the body lies in parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tube, the body portions of the bottles having a height which is generally the same as that of the respective side walls of the tube so that the necked portions extend above the upper edge of the tube when the bottles reside therewithin,wherein the bottom flaps of each respective front and rear side are provided with squaring means, and wherein the rear top flap is provided with bottle support means,said front side bottom flap comprises a first free peripheral edge which lies generally parallel to a transverse axis of said container,said rear side bottom flap comprises a second free peripheral edge which lies generally parallel to a transverse axis of said container,said squaring means comprises said first and second free peripheral edges comprising a curvilinear contour,said front side bottom flap and said rear side bottom flap being provided in a length that allows said first free peripheral edge to abuttingly confront said second free peripheral edge when respective rear side wall bottom flap and front side wall bottom flap are folded toward each other to an orientation which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the packaging container such that both respective bottom flaps lie in a single plane.the curvilinear contour of said first free peripheral edge interlocking and engaging with the curvilinear contour of said second free peripheral edge so that the respective rear side wall bottom flap and front wide wall bottom flap are prevented from relative motion within said plane, and so that respective opposing side walls and opposing end walls of said packaging container are easily formed into and maintained at right angles to and in a non skewed configuration relative to each other, andthe lower end of the body portion of the bottles resting on the interlocked front side and rear side bottom flaps,the rear side wall is provided with pivoting means which connects the rear side wall with the rear side top flap, wherein the rear side top flap is generally disconnected from said rear side wall by cutting said blank between said rear top flap and said upper edge of said tube,the pivoting means comprisinga first transverse perforation line which coincides with said upper edge of said tube, the first transverse perforation line extending from a first end to a second end,a second transverse perforation line which lies spaced apart from, parallel to, and below said first transverse perforation line, the second transverse perforation line extending from a first end to a second end,a first longitudinal cut line which extends between the respective first ends of the first and second transverse perforation lines, said first longitudinal cut line providing a slit in said blank which extends through the thickness of said blank, anda second longitudinal cut line which extends between the respective second ends of the first and second transverse perforation lines, said second longitudinal cut line providing a slit in said blank which extends through the thickness of said blankso that when in use, the rear side top flap moves laterally outward away from the top edge of the rear side wall by pivoting about the second transverse perforation line, and then the rear side top flap is foldable to an orientation which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the packaging container by folding inward along the first transverse perforation line.2. A combination self-squaring packaging container and bottles, wherein the self-squaring container comprises a generally rectangular blank which has been folded and joined along opposing peripheral edges to form a flattened tube, the blank then being subsequent erected to form an elongate, hollow, rectangular tube,the tube having a front side wall, and a rear side wall which is opposed to the front side wall, the tube having a first side wall which joins the front side wall to the rear side wall along a first edge, the tube having a second side wall which joins the front side wall to the rear side wall along a second edge such that the first side wall and the second side wall are opposed and separated from each other by the respective front and rear side wall,the tube comprisinga front side top flap which is hingedly secured to an upper edge of the front side wall,a rear side top flap which is hingedly secured to an upper edge of the rear side wall,a front side bottom flap which is hingedly secured to a lower edge of the front side wall,a rear side bottom flap which is hingedly secured to a lower edge of the rear side wall,an interior space defined, and separated from the exterior, by the respective front side wall, rear side wall, first side wall, and second side wall,a longitudinal axis which is aligned with the vertical, and a transverse axis which lies perpendicular to the longitudinal axis,wherein each of said bottles comprisesan elongate body portion, the body portion comprising a longitudinal axis which is aligned with the vertical when the bottle is upright, an upper end, and a lower end,a necked portion defined by a narrowing of the body portion adjacent to the upper end of the bottle, the necked portion having a lower end adjacent the body portion and having an upper end which is opposed to the lower end and coincides with the upper end of the bottle, anda cap portion, wherein the cap portion resides upon and surrounds the upper end of the neck portion,wherein said bottles reside within the interior space of said tube such that the longitudinal axis of the body lies in parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tube, the body portions of the bottles having a height which is generally the same as that of the respective side walls of the tube so that the necked portions extend above the upper edge of the tube when the bottles reside therewithin,wherein the bottom flaps of each respective front and rear side are provided with squaring means, and wherein the rear top flap is provided with bottle support means,said front side bottom flap comprises a first free peripheral edge which lies generally parallel to a transverse axis of said container,said rear side bottom flap composes a second free peripheral edge which lies generally parallel to a transverse axis of said container,said squaring means comprises said first and second free peripheral edges comprising a curvilinear contour,said front side bottom flap and said rear side bottom flap being provided in a length that allows said first free peripheral edge to abuttingly confront said second free peripheral edge when respective rear side wall bottom flap and front side wall bottom flap are folded toward each other to an orientation which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the packaging container such that both respective bottom flaps lie in a single plane,the curvilinear contour of said first free peripheral edge interlocking and engaging with the curvilinear contour of said second free peripheral edge so that the respective rear side wall bottom flap and front wide wall bottom flap are prevented from relative motion within said plane, and so that respective opposing side walls and opposing end walls of said packaging container are easily formed into and maintained at right angles to and in a non skewed configuration relative to each other, andthe lower end of the body portion of the bottles resting on the interlocked front side and rear side bottom flaps,the rear side wall is provided with pivoting means which connects the rear side wall with the rear side top flap, wherein the rear side top flap is generally disconnected from said rear side wall by cutting said blank between said rear top flap and said upper edge of said tube,the pivoting means comprisinga first transverse perforation line which coincides with said upper edge of said tube, the first transverse perforation line extending from a first end to a second end,a second transverse perforation line which lies spaced apart from, parallel to, and below said first transverse perforation line, the second transverse perforation line extending from a first end to a second end,a first longitudinal cut line which extends between the respective first ends of the first and second transverse perforation lines, said first longitudinal cut line providing a slit in said blank which extends through the thickness of said blank, anda second longitudinal cut line which extends between the respective second ends of the first and second transverse perforation lines, said second longitudinal cut line providing a slit in said blank which extends through the thickness of said blankso that when in use, the rear side top flap moves laterally outward away from the top edge of the rear side wall by pivoting about the second transverse perforation line, and then the rear side top flap is foldable to an orientation which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the packaging container by folding inward along the first transverse perforation line,said necked portions of said bottles have a first diameter, and said capped portions of said bottles comprise a second diameter which is greater than said first diameter,wherein said rear side top flap comprises a free peripheral edge which lies generally parallel to and spaced apart from said upper transverse fold line by the body of said rear side top flap, the free peripheral edge of said rear side top flap comprising a plurality of crenulations which are sized of said first diameter so as to receive the necked portions therein,such that when in use, the crenulated free peripheral edge of the rear side top flap is inserted toward front side wall so that the crenulated free peripheral top edge lies between and surrounding said package contents, and below said bottle caps, thus providing a lateral stabilizing support to the necked portions of the bottles.