Blank capable of forming a stackable container

Abstract

A packaging blank capable of forming a display sleeve having rounded corners comprises in one embodiment a bottom panel, a rear panel connected to the bottom panel, a front panel connected to the rear panel by the bottom panel, a top panel connected to the bottom panel by the front panel, a first pair of opposing side panels connected to the rear panel, and a second pair of opposing side panels connected to the front panel. Upon construction the packaging blank provides a display sleeve that nests with another sleeve formed from the blank when the bottom panel of one sleeve is positioned against the top panel of another sleeve.

1 . A packaging blank that is capable of forming a display sleeve, said blank comprising: 
 a bottom panel;    a substantially trapezoidal rear panel connected to said bottom panel;    a substantially trapezoidal front panel connected to said rear panel by said bottom panel;    a top panel connected to said bottom panel by said front panel;    a first pair of opposing side panels connected to said rear panel; and    a second pair of opposing side panels connected to said front panel;    wherein the normalized aspect ratio of said bottom panel and said top panel are equal to about 0.95 and 1.05; and    wherein the percentage variation between the area ratios of said bottom panel and said top panel are greater than 0 percent and less than about 2 percent.    
   
   
       2 . A packaging blank according to  claim 1 , wherein a bottom portion of a first sleeve formed from one of said blanks correspondingly engages a top portion of a second sleeve formed from another of said blanks when said bottom panel of the first sleeve is positioned against said top panel of the second sleeve.  
   
   
       3 . A packaging blank according to  claim 1 , wherein said packaging blank consists essentially of a one-piece blank.  
   
   
       4 . A packaging blank according to  claim 3 , wherein said one-piece blank has an external planar side and an internal planar side, said external planar side being finished.  
   
   
       5 . A packaging blank according to  claim 1 , wherein said bottom panel and said top panel have substantially rounded corners.  
   
   
       6 . A packaging blank according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 edges of said rear panel to which said first pair of opposing side panels are connected are substantially parallel; and    edges of said front panel to which said second pair of opposing side panels are connected are substantially parallel.    
   
   
       7 . A packaging blank according to  claim 1 , wherein said rear panel includes at least one fold line that extends from the edge of said rear panel to which said bottom panel is connected to the opposite edge of said rear panel.  
   
   
       8 . A packaging blank according to  claim 1 , wherein said front panel includes at least one fold line that extends from the edge of said front panel to which said bottom panel is connected to the edge of said front panel to which said top panel is connected.  
   
   
       9 . A packaging blank according to  claim 1 , wherein said rear panel and said front panel include a plurality of fold lines that facilitate the folding of said first and second pair of opposing side panels toward said rear panel and said front panel, respectively.  
   
   
       10 . A packaging blank according to  claim 1 , wherein said first pair of opposing side panels and said second pair of opposing side panels are substantially rectangular.  
   
   
       11 . A packaging blank according to  claim 1 , wherein said first pair of opposing side panels and said second pair of opposing side panels are substantially trapezoidal.  
   
   
       12 . A packaging blank according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 at least one nesting tab defined by adjacent free edges of said front panel and said second pair of opposing side panels, respectively;    wherein said nesting tab is positioned opposite the edge of said front panel to which said bottom panel is connected whereby a first sleeve formed from one of said blanks nests against a second sleeve formed from another of said blanks when said bottom panel of the first sleeve is positioned against said top panel of the second sleeve.    
   
   
       13 . A packaging blank according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a first nesting tab defined by adjacent free edges of said rear panel and said first pair of opposing side panels, said first nesting tab positioned opposite the edge of said rear panel to which said bottom panel is connected; and    a second nesting tab defined by adjacent free edges of said front panel and said second pair of opposing side panels, said second tab positioned opposite the edge of said front panel to which said bottom panel is connected.    
   
   
       14 . A packaging blank according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a first pair of opposing nesting tabs defined by adjacent free edges of said rear panel and said first pair of opposing side panels, said first pair of opposing nesting tabs positioned opposite the edge of said rear panel to which said bottom panel is connected; and    a second pair of opposing nesting tabs defined by adjacent free edges of said front panel and said second pair of opposing side panels, said second pair of opposing nesting tabs positioned opposite the edge of said front panel to which said bottom panel is connected.    
   
   
       15 . A one-piece packaging blank that is capable of forming a display sleeve, said blank comprising: 
 a substantially rectangular bottom panel having rounded corners;    a substantially trapezoidal rear panel connected to said bottom panel;    a substantially trapezoidal front panel connected to said bottom panel opposite said rear panel;    a substantially rectangular top panel having rounded corners, said top panel connected to said front panel opposite said bottom panel;    a first pair of opposing side panels connected to said rear panel, said first pair of opposing side panels being substantially trapezoidal;    a second pair of opposing side panels connected to said front panel, said second pair of opposing side panels being substantially trapezoidal;    a first pair of opposing nesting tabs defined by adjacent free edges of said rear panel and said first pair of opposing side panels, said first pair of opposing nesting tabs positioned opposite the edge of said rear panel to which said bottom panel is connected;    a second pair of opposing nesting tabs defined by adjacent free edges of said front panel and said second pair of opposing side panels, said second pair of opposing nesting tabs positioned opposite the edge of said front panel to which said bottom panel is connected;    a substantially rectangular tuck flap connected to said top panel opposite said front panel; and    a pair of substantially rectangular dust flaps connected to said second pair of opposing side panels, said dust flaps connected to edges of said second pair of opposing side panels adjacent to the edge of said front panel to which said top panel is connected.    
   
   
       16 . A one-piece packaging blank according to  claim 15 , wherein a plurality of sleeves formed from a plurality of said blanks correspondingly engage one another when the sleeves are stacked one on top of another.  
   
   
       17 . A one-piece packaging blank according to  claim 15 , wherein the edge of said rear panel opposite the edge to which said bottom panel is connected defines a cut-out, said cut-out positioned to receive at least a portion of said tuck flap when said blank is formed into the sleeve.  
   
   
       18 . A one-piece packaging blank according to  claim 15 , wherein said rear panel includes a cut-score capable of forming an opening, said cut-score positioned adjacent to the edge of said rear panel opposite the edge to which said bottom panel is connected.  
   
   
       19 . A one-piece packaging blank according to  claim 18 , wherein said opening formed from said cut-score is capable of receiving at least a portion of said tuck flap when said blank is formed into the sleeve.  
   
   
       20 . A stackable sleeve that is capable of correspondingly engaging other similar stackable sleeves, said sleeve comprising: 
 a bottom panel;    first and second side panels secured to respective opposing edges of said bottom panel, said first and second side panels defining substantially parallel planes;    a rear panel connected to said bottom panel and to respective opposing edges of said first and second side panels;    a front panel connected to said bottom panel and to respective opposing edges of said first and second side panels, said front panel and said rear panel defining substantially parallel planes; and    a top panel connected to said front panel opposite said bottom panel and releasably secured to said rear panel;    wherein the normalized aspect ratio of said bottom panel and said top panel are equal to about 0.95 and 1.05;    wherein the percentage variation between the area ratios of said bottom panel and said top panel are greater than 0 percent and less than about 2 percent.    
   
   
       21 . A stackable sleeve according to  claim 20 , wherein said stackable sleeve consists essentially of a one-piece flexible blank.  
   
   
       22 . A stackable sleeve according to  claim 20 , wherein said sleeve is comprised of paperboard.  
   
   
       23 . A stackable sleeve according to  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 at least one nesting tab defined by a free edge of said front panel and a free edge of one of said side panels, said free edges adjacent to one another;    wherein said nesting tab facilitates the corresponding engagement of a plurality of similar stackable sleeves when said sleeves are stacked one on top of another.    
   
   
       24 . A stackable sleeve according to  claim 23 , wherein said nesting tab extends above said top panel such that a bottom portion of one of said plurality of sleeves correspondingly engages a top portion of another of said plurality of sleeves when said bottom panel of one of said sleeves is positioned against said top panel of another of said sleeves.  
   
   
       25 . A stackable sleeve according to  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 a first nesting tab defined by a free edge of said rear panel and a free edge of one of said side panels, said first nesting tab positioned adjacent to said top panel; and    a second nesting tab defined by a free edge of said front panel and a free edge of one of said side panels, said second tab positioned adjacent said top panel;    wherein said first and second nesting tabs facilitate the corresponding engagement of a plurality of similar stackable sleeves when said sleeves are stacked one on top of another.    
   
   
       26 . A stackable sleeve according to  claim 25 , wherein said first and second nesting tabs extend above said top panel such that a bottom portion of one of said plurality of sleeves correspondingly engages a top portion of another of said plurality of sleeves when said bottom panel of one of said sleeves is positioned against said top panel of another of said sleeves.  
   
   
       27 . A stackable sleeve according to  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 a first pair of opposing nesting tabs defined by free edges of said rear panel and respective free edges of said first and second side panels, said first pair of nesting tabs positioned adjacent to said top panel; and    a second pair of opposing nesting tabs defined by free edges of said front panel and respective free edges of said first and second side panels, said second pair of nesting tabs positioned adjacent said top panel opposite said first pair of nesting tabs.    
   
   
       28 . A stackable sleeve according to  claim 20 , further comprising at least one nesting rim defined by a free edge of at least one of said first and second side panels, said nesting rim positioned adjacent to said bottom panel.  
   
   
       29 . A stackable sleeve according to  claim 28 , wherein said nesting rim extends beneath said bottom panel such that said nesting rim facilitates the corresponding engagement of said plurality of similar stackable sleeves when said bottom panel of one of said sleeves is positioned against said top panel of another of said sleeves.  
   
   
       30 . A stackable sleeve according to  claim 20 , further comprising a pair of opposing nesting rims defined by free edges of said first and second side panels, said nesting rims positioned adjacent to said bottom panel.  
   
   
       31 . A one-piece stackable sleeve that is capable of correspondingly engaging other similar stackable sleeves, said sleeve comprising: 
 a substantially rectangular bottom panel having rounded corners;    first and second substantially trapezoidal side panels secured to respective opposing edges of said bottom panel, said first and second side panels defining substantially parallel planes;    a substantially trapezoidal rear panel connected to said bottom panel and to respective opposing edges of said first and second side panels;    a substantially trapezoidal front panel connected to said bottom panel and to respective opposing edges of said first and second side panels, said front panel and said rear panel defining substantially parallel planes;    a substantially rectangular top panel connected to said front panel and releasably secured to said rear panel, said top panel having substantially rounded corners, said top panel and said bottom panel defining substantially parallel planes;    a first pair of opposing nesting tabs defined by free edges of said rear panel and respective free edges of said first and second side panels, said first pair of nesting tabs positioned adjacent to said top panel;    a second pair of opposing nesting tabs defined by free edges of said front panel and respective free edges of said first and second side panels, said second pair of nesting tabs positioned adjacent said top panel opposite said first pair of nesting tabs;    a pair of opposing nesting rims defined by free edges of said first and second side panels, said nesting rims positioned adjacent to said bottom panel;    a substantially rectangular tuck flap connected to said top panel opposite said front panel; and    a pair of substantially rectangular dust flaps connected to opposing edges of said first and second side panels, respectively, said dust flaps positioned adjacent to said top panel.    
   
   
       32 . A one-piece stackable sleeve according to  claim 31 , wherein a plurality of similar sleeves correspondingly engage one another when said sleeves are stacked one on top of another.  
   
   
       33 . A one-piece stackable sleeve according to  claim 31 , wherein the edge of said rear panel opposite the edge to which said bottom panel is connected defines a cut-out, said cut-out positioned to receive at least a portion of said tuck flap.  
   
   
       34 . A one-piece stackable sleeve according to  claim 31 , wherein said rear panel includes a cut-score capable of forming an opening, said cut-score positioned adjacent to the edge of said rear panel opposite the edge to which said bottom panel is connected.  
   
   
       35 . A one-piece stackable sleeve according to  claim 34 , wherein said opening formed from said cut-score is capable of receiving at least a portion of said tuck flap.