Unistack container with corner stacking tabs

Abstract

In accordance with aspects of the present invention, a single-piece containerboard blank is provided having a bottom panel with a side edge, an end edge and a truncated corner edge extending between the side edge and the corner edge. A side panel is hingedly attached to the bottom panel along the side edge. An end panel is hingedly attached to the bottom panel along the end edge. An end panel adjacent edge is an end panel end edge. An internal corner stacking tab assembly is hingedly attached to the end panel at the end panel end edge along a first fold line. The internal corner stacking tab assembly includes a plurality of segments hingedly connected at a second fold line and a third fold line. A tab extends from an edge of the internal corner stacking tab assembly. The tab is positioned substantially transverse of the third fold line.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A blank for a container comprising: 
 a single sheet of foldable material cut and scored to define    a bottom panel, said bottom panel having a side edge, an end edge and a truncated corner edge extending between said side edge and said end edge,    a side panel hingedly attached to said bottom panel along said side edge,    an end panel attached to said bottom panel along said end edge, said end panel having a side panel end edge    an internal corner stacking tab assembly hingedly attached to said side panel along a first fold line at said side panel end edge, said internal corner stacking tab assembly including a plurality of segments hingedly connected at a second fold line and a third fold line; and,    a tab extending from an edge of the internal stacking tab assembly, said tab extending substantially transverse of the third fold line.    
     
     
         2 . The blank of  claim 1 , further comprising a side panel cutout.  
     
     
         3 . The blank of  claim 2 , wherein the depth of said side panel cutout is less than about one half of the width of said side panel.  
     
     
         4 . The blank of  claim 1 , further comprising an end panel cutout.  
     
     
         5 . The blank of  claim 4 , wherein the depth of said end panel cutout less than about one half of the width of said end panel.  
     
     
         6 . The blank of  claim 1 , further comprising a notch formed in an edge of the internal stacking tab assembly substantially opposite of said tab.  
     
     
         7 . The blank of  claim 1 , wherein the truncated corner edge is configured to receive said tab.  
     
     
         8 . The blank of  claim 1 , wherein the length of the side panel is greater than the length of the side edge.  
     
     
         9 . The blank of  claim 1 , wherein the length of the end panel is greater than the length of the end edge.  
     
     
         10 . A container comprising: 
 a bottom panel, said bottom panel having a side edge, an end edge and a truncated corner edge extending between said side edge and said end edge,    a side panel hingedly attached to said bottom panel along said side edge, said sidewall panel having a side panel end edge,    an inner segment contiguous with said side panel,    a middle segment contiguous with said inner panel,    an outer segment contiguous with said end panel and attached to said end panel,    said middle segment and said outer segment forming a corner,    a tab extending upwardly from said middle segment and said outer segment across a fold line therebetween and forming a corner.    
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 10 , further comprising a side panel cutout.  
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein the depth of said side panel cutout is less than about one half of the width of said side panel.  
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 10 , further comprising an end panel cutout.  
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 13 , wherein the depth of said end panel cutout less than about one half of the width of said end panel.  
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 10 , further comprising a notch extending upwardly from said middle segment and said outer segment across a fold line therebetween, said notch being substantially opposite said tab.  
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein the truncated corner edge is configured to receive said tab.  
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein the length of the side panel is greater than the length of the side edge.  
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein the length of the end panel is greater than the length of the end edge.