Material-saving blank and box

Abstract

A pizza box and blank comprising one or more of the features of (1) a unique end wall and corner panel structure for a box blank structure similar to that shown in Correll U.S. Pat. No. 6,547,125; (2) a unique cover side flap structure for a box blank structure similar to that shown in Correll U.S. Pat. No. 6,547,125; and (3) a unique pressure-reducing crushed area in the bottom panel for a box blank structure similar to that shown in Correll U.S. Pat. No. 6,547,125.

1 . A blank for a box having a unique end wall structure and corner panel, said blank being of foldable material cut and scored to define: 
 a bottom panel,    a side wall structure comprising a side wall attached to said bottom panel, a corner panel attached to said side wall and having an end edge and a bottom edge, and a connector panel attached to the bottom edge of said corner panel, and    an end wall structure comprising an end wall attached to said bottom panel at an end wall fold line and having an end flap attached to an end of said end wall at an end flap fold line and to said connector panel at a connector panel fold line;    wherein at least a portion of the end edge of said corner panel is obliquely disposed to the bottom edge and said end flap fold line is disposed at an obtuse angle to said end wall fold line.    
     
     
         2 . The blank of  claim 1  wherein: 
 said end flap fold line is disposed at an acute angle to said connector panel fold line.  
 
     
     
         3 . The blank of  claim 1  wherein: 
 said connector panel fold line is substantially aligned with said end wall fold line.  
 
     
     
         4 . A blank for a box having a unique front wall structure and corner panel, said blank being of foldable material cut and scored to define: 
 a bottom panel,    a rear end wall attached to said bottom panel,    a cover comprising a cover panel attached to said rear end wall,    a side wall structure comprising a side wall attached to said bottom panel at a side wall fold line, a corner panel attached to said side wall and having a front end edge and a bottom edge, and a connector panel attached to the bottom edge of said corner panel, and    a front wall structure opposing said rear end wall and comprising a front end wall attached to said bottom panel at a front wall fold line and having an end flap attached to an end of said front end wall at an end flap fold line and to said connector panel at a connector panel fold line;    wherein at least a portion of the front end edge of said corner panel is obliquely disposed to the bottom edge and said end flap fold line is disposed at an obtuse angle to said front wall fold line.    
     
     
         5 . The blank of  claim 4  wherein: 
 said cover further comprises a cover side flap structure comprising a cover side flap attached to said cover panel at a cover side flap fold line and a corner flap attached to a rear end of said cover side flap at a corner flap fold line;  
 wherein said corner flap fold line is disposed at an obtuse angle to said cover side flap fold line.  
 
     
     
         6 . The blank of  claim 4  wherein: 
 said cover further comprises a cover side flap structure comprising a cover side flap attached to said cover panel and a free-swinging corner flap attached to a rear end of said cover side flap, and  
 said cover side flap and said rear end wall each have a predetermined height;  
 wherein the predetermined height of said cover side flap is substantially less than the predetermined height of said rear end wall.  
 
     
     
         7 . The blank of  claim 4  wherein: 
 said cover further comprises a cover side flap structure comprising a cover side flap attached to said cover panel and having a lower edge and a free-swinging corner flap attached to a rear end of said cover side flap and having a lower edge;  
 wherein the lower edge of said free-swinging corner flap is disposed in non-alignment to the lower edge of said cover side flap.  
 
     
     
         8 . The blank of  claim 4  wherein: 
 each of said cover panel and said rear end wall has a predetermined left-to-right width, and  
 said cover further comprises a cover side flap structure comprising a cover side flap attached to said cover panel and a corner flap attached to a rear end of said cover side flap;  
 wherein the predetermined left-to-right width of said rear end wall is at least six millimeters longer than the predetermined left-to-right width of said cover panel.  
 
     
     
         9 . The blank of  claim 4  wherein: 
 each of said bottom panel and said cover panel has a predetermined front-to-rear length;  
 wherein the predetermined front-to-rear length of said cover panel is substantially shorter than the predetermined front-to-rear length of said bottom panel.  
 
     
     
         10 . The blank of  claim 4  wherein: 
 said front end wall has a predetermined height, and  
 said cover further comprises a cover front flap attached to a front edge of said cover panel and having a predetermined height substantially less than the predetermined height of said front end wall.  
 
     
     
         11 . The blank of  claim 4  wherein: 
 said side wall has a free rear end disposed at an obtuse angle to a top edge of said side wall.  
 
     
     
         12 . The blank of  claim 4  wherein: 
 said end flap fold line is disposed at an acute angle to said connector panel fold line.  
 
     
     
         13 . The blank of  claim 4  wherein: 
 said end flap fold line comprises a slit at least ten millimeters in length.  
 
     
     
         14 . A blank for a box having a unique pressure-reducing crushed area, said blank being of corrugated board having a fluted layer, said blank being cut and scored to define: 
 a bottom panel,    a first wall structure comprising a first wall attached to said bottom panel, a corner panel attached to an end of said first wall, and a connector panel attached to a bottom edge of said corner panel and to said bottom panel at a first fold line, and    a second wall structure comprising a second wall attached to said bottom panel at a second fold line intersecting said first fold line and an end flap attached to an end of said second wall and to said connector panel;    wherein said corrugated board has an area of material disposed adjacent said first and second fold lines, said area of material having a crushed fluted layer.    
     
     
         15 . A blank for a box having unique cover side flaps, said blank being of foldable material cut and scored to define: 
 a bottom panel,    a rear end wall attached to said bottom panel and having a predetermined height,    opposing left and right side wall structures comprising respective left and right side walls attached to said bottom panel at respective left and right side wall fold lines and each having a free rear end and a predetermined height, respective left and right corner panels attached to a front end of said left and right side walls and each having a front end and a bottom edge, and respective left and right connector panels attached to the bottom edge of said left and right corner panels,    a front wall structure opposing said rear end wall and comprising a front end wall attached to said bottom panel at a front wall fold line and left and right end flaps respectively attached to left and right ends of said front end wall at left and right end flap fold lines and to said left and right connector panels, and    a cover comprising a cover panel attached to said rear end wall and opposing left and right cover side flap structures comprising respective left and right cover side flaps attached to said cover panel at respective left and right cover side flap fold lines and respective free-swinging left and right corner flaps attached to a rear end of said left and right cover side flaps at respective left and right corner flap fold lines, said left and right cover side flaps having a predetermined height and said left and right corner flaps having a lower edge disposed in non-alignment to a lower edge of said left and right cover side flaps, respectively;    wherein the predetermined height of each of the left and right cover side flaps is substantially less than the predetermined height of at least one of the rear end wall and the left and right side walls.    
     
     
         16 . The blank of  claim 15  wherein: 
 the free rear end of each of said left and right side walls is disposed at an obtuse angle to a top edge of the same side wall.  
 
     
     
         17 . The blank of  claim 15  wherein: 
 the front end of each of said left and right corner panels is disposed at an acute angle to the bottom edge of the same corner panel and said left and right end flap fold lines are each disposed at an obtuse angle to said front wall fold line.  
 
     
     
         18 . The blank of  claim 15  wherein: 
 said left and right corner flap fold lines are disposed at an obtuse angle to said left and right cover side flap fold lines, respectively.  
 
     
     
         19 . The blank of  claim 15  wherein: 
 said front end wall has a predetermined height, and  
 said cover further comprises a cover front flap attached to a front edge of said cover panel and having a predetermined height substantially less than the predetermined height of said front end wall.  
 
     
     
         20 . The blank of  claim 15  wherein: 
 each of said bottom panel and said cover panel has a predetermined front-to-rear length;  
 wherein the predetermined front-to-rear length of said cover panel is substantially shorter than the predetermined front-to-rear length of said bottom panel.  
 
     
     
         21 . The blank of  claim 15  wherein: 
 the lower edge of each of said left and right corner flaps comprises a plurality of sections.  
 
     
     
         22 . First and second box blanks formed from a single sheet of foldable material and disposed side-by-side, each of the blanks being cut and scored to define: 
 a bottom panel,    a rear end wall attached to said bottom panel,    opposing left and right side wall structures comprising respective left and right side walls attached to said bottom panel at respective left and right side wall fold lines and each having a free rear end, a top edge, and a predetermined height, respective left and right corner panels attached to a front end of said left and right side walls and each having a front end, and respective left and right connector panels attached to a bottom edge of said left and right corner panels,    a front wall structure opposing said rear end wall and comprising a front end wall attached to said bottom panel at a front wall fold line and left and right end flaps attached to respective left and right ends of said front end wall at left and right end wall fold lines and to said left and right connector panels at left and right connector panel fold lines, and    a cover comprising a cover panel attached to said rear end wall, a cover front flap attached to a front edge of said cover panel, and opposing left and right cover side flap structures comprising respective left and right cover side flaps attached to said cover panel at respective left and right cover side flap fold lines and each having a lower edge and a predetermined height and respective free-swinging left and right corner flaps attached to a rear end of said left and right cover side flaps at respective left and right corner flap fold lines and each having a lower edge, wherein the predetermined height of each of the left and right cover side flaps is substantially less than the predetermined height of said left and right side walls and the lower edge of said left and right corner flaps is disposed in non-alignment to the lower edge of said left and right cover side flaps, respectively;    said first and second blanks being oriented at one hundred eighty degrees from each other and with the top edge of one of the side walls of the first blank disposed adjacent the lower edge of one of the cover side flaps of the second blank.    
     
     
         23 . The first and second box blanks of  claim 22 , wherein in each of the blanks: 
 each of said bottom panel and said cover panel has a predetermined front-to-rear length;    wherein the predetermined front-to-rear length of said cover panel is substantially shorter than the predetermined front-to-rear length of said bottom panel.    
     
     
         24 . The first and second box blanks of  claim 22 , wherein in each of the blanks: 
 each of said cover front flap and said front end wall has a predetermined height and the predetermined height of said cover front flap is substantially less than the predetermined height of said front end wall.    
     
     
         25 . The first and second box blanks of  claim 22 , wherein in each of the blanks: 
 the free rear end of said left and right side walls is disposed at an obtuse angle to the top edge of the same side wall.    
     
     
         26 . The first and second box blanks of  claim 22 , wherein in each of the blanks: 
 the free rear end of said left and right side walls is disposed at an acute angle to the side wall fold line of the same side wall.    
     
     
         27 . The first and second box blanks of  claim 22 , wherein in each of the blanks: 
 the front end of said left and right corner panels is disposed at an acute angle to the bottom edge of the same corner panel.    
     
     
         28 . The first and second box blanks of  claim 22 , wherein in each of the blanks: 
 said left and right end flap fold lines are each disposed at an obtuse angle to said front wall fold line.    
     
     
         29 . The first and second box blanks of  claim 22 , wherein in each of the blanks: 
 said left and right corner flap fold lines are disposed at an obtuse angle to said left and right cover side flap fold lines, respectively.    
     
     
         30 . The first and second box blanks of  claim 22 , wherein in each of the blanks: 
 the lower edge of each of said left and right corner flaps comprises a plurality of sections.    
     
     
         31 . A box having a unique cover side flap structure, said box comprising: 
 a bottom panel,    a rear end wall, a front end wall, and left and right side walls, each having a predetermined height, and    a cover comprising (a) a cover panel attached to said rear end wall and (b) a cover side flap structure comprising (i) a cover side flap attached to a side edge of said cover panel at a cover side flap fold line and disposed substantially parallel to one of the left and right side walls and having a predetermined height and (ii) a free-swinging corner flap attached to an end of said cover side flap at a corner flap fold line and having a lower edge;    wherein the predetermined height of said cover side flap is substantially less than the predetermined height of said one of the left and right side walls and at least a portion of the lower edge of said free-swinging corner flap is in contact with said bottom panel.    
     
     
         32 . The box of  claim 31  wherein: 
 the lower edge of said corner flap comprises a plurality of sections, at least one of the sections being free of contact with said bottom panel.  
 
     
     
         33 . The box of  claim 31  wherein: 
 at least one of said rear end wall and said front end wall is disposed at an acute angle to said bottom panel.  
 
     
     
         34 . The box of  claim 31  wherein: 
 each of said bottom panel and said cover panel has a predetermined front-to-rear length;  
 wherein the predetermined front-to-rear length of said cover panel is substantially shorter than the predetermined front-to-rear length of said bottom panel.  
 
     
     
         35 . The box of  claim 31  wherein: 
 said corner flap fold line is disposed at an obtuse angle to said cover flap fold line.  
 
     
     
         36 . The box of  claim 31  further comprising: 
 respective left and right corner panels attached to a front end of said left and right side walls, left and right connector panels attached to a bottom edge of said left and right corner panels, and left and right end flaps attached to left and right ends of said front end wall at left and right end flap fold lines, respectively;  
 wherein said front end wall is attached to said bottom panel at a front wall fold line and each of said left and right end flap fold lines is disposed at an obtuse angle to said front wall fold line.  
 
     
     
         37 . A box having a unique end wall structure, said box comprising: 
 a bottom panel,    a side wall structure comprising a side wall, a corner panel attached to said side wall, and a connector panel attached to a bottom edge of said corner panel, and    an end wall structure adjacent said side wall structure and comprising an end wall attached to said bottom panel at an end wall fold line and having an end flap attached to an end of said end wall at an end flap fold line;    wherein said end wall is disposed at an acute angle to said bottom panel and said end flap fold line is disposed at an obtuse angle to said end wall fold line.    
     
     
         38 . The box of  claim 37  wherein: 
 said corner panel has an end edge disposed at an acute angle to said bottom edge.  
 
     
     
         39 . A blank for a box having a unique front wall structure comprising an inward-slanting end wall, said blank being of foldable material cut and scored to define: 
 a bottom panel having a predetermined front-to-rear length,    a rear end wall,    a cover comprising a full-length cover panel attached to said rear end wall and having a predetermined front-to-rear length,    a side wall structure comprising a side wall attached to said bottom panel, a corner panel attached to said side wall, and a connector panel attached to a bottom edge of said corner panel,    a front wall structure opposing said rear end wall and comprising a front end wall attached to said bottom panel at a front wall fold line and having an end flap attached to an end of said front end wall at an end flap fold line and to said connector panel at a connector panel fold line,    wherein the predetermined front-to-rear length of said cover panel is substantially shorter than the predetermined front-to-rear length of said bottom panel and said end flap fold line is disposed at a non-acute angle to said front wall fold line and at an acute angle to said connector panel fold line.    
     
     
         40 . The blank of  claim 39  wherein: 
 said cover further comprises a cover side flap structure comprising a cover side flap attached to said cover panel at a cover side flap fold line and a corner flap attached to a rear end of said cover side flap at a corner flap fold line;  
 wherein said corner flap fold line is disposed at an obtuse angle to said cover side flap fold line.  
 
     
     
         41 . The blank of  claim 39  wherein: 
 said cover further comprises a cover side flap structure comprising a cover side flap attached to said cover panel and a free-swinging corner flap attached to a rear end of said cover side flap, and  
 said cover side flap and said rear end wall each have a predetermined height;  
 wherein the predetermined height of said cover side flap is substantially less than the predetermined height of said rear end wall.  
 
     
     
         42 . The blank of  claim 39  wherein: 
 said cover further comprises a cover side flap structure comprising a cover side flap attached to said cover panel and having a lower edge and a free-swinging corner flap attached to a rear end of said cover side flap and having a lower edge;  
 wherein the lower edge of said free-swinging corner flap is disposed in non-alignment to the lower edge of said cover side flap.  
 
     
     
         43 . The blank of  claim 39  wherein: 
 said cover further comprises a cover side flap structure comprising a cover side flap attached to said cover panel and a corner flap attached to a rear end of said cover side flap, said corner flap having a lower edge comprising a plurality of sections.  
 
     
     
         44 . The blank of  claim 39  wherein: 
 said cover further comprises a cover side flap structure comprising a cover side flap attached to said cover panel and a free-swinging corner flap attached to a rear end of said cover side flap, and  
 said cover side flap and said side wall each have a predetermined height;  
 wherein the predetermined height of said cover side flap is substantially less than the predetermined height of said side wall.  
 
     
     
         45 . The blank of  claim 39  wherein: 
 each of said cover panel and said rear end wall has a predetermined left-to-right width, and  
 said cover further comprises a cover side flap structure comprising a cover side flap attached to said cover panel and a corner flap attached to a rear end of said cover side flap;  
 wherein the predetermined left-to-right width of said rear end wall is at least six millimeters longer than the predetermined left-to-right width of said cover panel.  
 
     
     
         46 . The blank of  claim 39  wherein: 
 said front end wall has a predetermined height, and  
 said cover further comprises a cover front flap attached to a front edge of said cover panel and having a predetermined height substantially less than the predetermined height of said front end wall.  
 
     
     
         47 . The blank of  claim 39  wherein: 
 said side wall has a free rear end disposed at an obtuse angle to a top edge of said side wall.  
 
     
     
         48 . The blank of  claim 39  wherein: 
 said corner panel has an end edge and at least a portion of said end edge is obliquely disposed to said bottom edge.