Carton assembly having a waterproof lining

Abstract

A carton, a method and an apparatus for forming a novel carton, having a waterproof lining are disclosed. The carton preferably may include a base portion, leading and trailing end edges, first and second side edges, leading and trailing end flaps, and first and second side flaps. The waterproof lining may be affixed to the carton by an adhesive pattern disposed on the at least a portion of the carton. Upon folding of the flaps about the base portion, a container having a waterproof lining may be formed for retaining objects. The waterproof lining may include a bag and may further include a means for sealing the bag for enclosing wet objects, such as seafood products, therein.

1 . A carton assembly comprising: 
 a container portion comprising a base portion, defining a plane, said base portion defined by leading and trailing end edges, and first and second side edges; a leading end flap, foldably attached to, and extending from, the leading end edge; a trailing end flap, foldably attached to, and extending from, the trailing end edge; a first side flap, foldably attached to, and extending from, the first side edge; and a second side flap, foldably attached to, and extending from, the second side edge; wherein said leading and trailing end flaps and said first and second side flaps fold away from the plane to define a container; and    a waterproof lining portion fixed to the container portion, configured to provide an enclosure around an object placed in the container.    
     
     
         2 . The carton assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the lining is fixed to the base portion.  
     
     
         3 . The carton assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the lining comprises a base portion, and at least first and second side flaps, substantially corresponding, respectively, to the base, and first and second side flaps, of the container portion.  
     
     
         4 . The carton assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the lining further comprises leading and trailing end flaps, substantially corresponding, respectively, to the leading and trailing end flaps of the container portion.  
     
     
         5 . The carton assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the lining comprises a base portion, leading and trailing end flaps, and first and second side flaps, substantially corresponding, respectively, to the base portion, leading and trailing end flaps, and first and second side flaps of the container portion.  
     
     
         6 . The carton assembly of  claim 5 , wherein upon definition of the container by bending the flaps of the container portion away from the plane, at least one of the flaps of the lining overlaps at least one of the corresponding flaps of the container portion.  
     
     
         7 . The carton assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the lining comprises a bag having an opening configured to receive the object.  
     
     
         8 . The carton assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the bag is fixed to the carton so that folding the flaps away from the plane to define the container simultaneously opens the bag.  
     
     
         9 . The carton assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the opening of the bag includes a sealing means for sealing the bag shut.  
     
     
         10 . The carton assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the sealing means is a tie.  
     
     
         11 . The carton assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the sealing means is a melted seal.  
     
     
         12 . The carton assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the sealing means includes an adhesive.  
     
     
         13 . The carton assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the adhesive is a releasable adhesive.  
     
     
         14 . The carton assembly of  claim 12 , wherein a first portion of the adhesive is permanent and a second portion of the adhesive is releasable.  
     
     
         15 . The carton assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the sealing means includes a “zip-lock” seal.  
     
     
         16 . The carton assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the object enclosed in the lining comprises a food product.  
     
     
         17 . The carton assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a lid portion configured to fit over the container portion.  
     
     
         18 . A method of manufacturing a carton having a waterproof lining, comprising the steps of: 
 feeding a carton blank in a first direction, the carton blank comprising: a base portion, defining a plane, said base portion defined by leading and trailing end edges, and first and second side edges; a leading end flap, foldably attached to, and extending from, the leading end edge; a trailing end flap, foldably attached to, and extending from, the trailing end edge; a first side flap, foldably attached to, and extending from, the first side edge; and a second side flap, foldably attached to, and extending from, the second side edge;    feeding a synthetic sheet under tension in a second direction;    cutting a waterproof lining from the synthetic sheet; and    affixing the waterproof lining to the carton blank.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising a step of applying a pattern of adhesive to selected positions of the carton blank.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the waterproof lining is affixed to the carton blank by pressing the waterproof lining against the pattern of adhesive on the carton blank.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising a step of folding said leading and trailing end flaps, and first and second side flaps, of the carton blank away from the plane to define a container.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein upon definition of the container by folding the flaps away from the plane, at least a portion of the lining overlaps at least one of the flaps of the container portion.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein upon affixing the waterproof lining to the carton blank, at least a portion of the lining overlaps at least one of the flaps of the container portion.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising the step of enclosing an object in the waterproof lining.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the object enclosed in the waterproof lining comprises seafood.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the waterproof lining is a bag, and the method further comprises the step of sealing the bag shut after enclosing at least one object in the bag.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the step of affixing the waterproof lining to the carton blank comprises releasably affixing the waterproof lining to the carton blank.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the step of affixing the waterproof lining to the carton blank comprises both releasably and permanently affixing the waterproof lining to the carton blank.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the waterproof lining is a bag, and wherein upon definition of the container by folding the flaps away from the plane, the bag is held in an open position.  
     
     
         30 . An apparatus for manufacturing a carton having a waterproof lining, comprising: 
 a means for feeding a carton blank in a first direction, the carton blank comprising: a base portion, defining a plane, said base portion defined by leading and trailing end edges, and first and second side edges; a leading end flap, foldably attached to, and extending from, the leading end edge; a trailing end flap, foldably attached to, and extending from, the trailing end edge; a first side flap, foldably attached to, and extending from, the first side edge; and a second side flap, foldably attached to, and extending from, the second side edge;    a means for feeding a synthetic sheet under tension in a second direction;    a means for cutting a waterproof lining from the synthetic sheet;    a means for folding said leading and trailing end flaps, and first and second side flaps, of the carton blank away from the plane to define a container; and    a means for fixing the waterproof lining to the carton blank.    
     
     
         31 . A method of assembling a carton assembly having a waterproof lining comprising the steps of: 
 providing a container portion comprising a base portion, defining a plane, said base portion defined by leading and trailing end edges, and first and second side edges; a leading end flap, foldably attached to, and extending from, the leading end edge; a trailing end flap, foldably attached to, and extending from, the trailing end edge; a first side flap, foldably attached to, and extending from, the first side edge; and a second side flap, foldably attached to, and extending from, the second side edge; wherein said leading and trailing end flaps and said first and second side flaps fold away from the plane to define a container;    providing a synthetic liner in the container portion; and    folding the flaps of the container portion away from the plane to define a container.    
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the synthetic liner comprises a synthetic bag.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the synthetic bag is fixed to the container portion with a combination of permanent adhesive and temporary releasable adhesive.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein upon folding the flaps of the container portion away from the plane, the synthetic bag is simultaneously opened and held open by releasable adhesive on the flaps.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising the steps of: 
 inserting objects into the synthetic bag;    releasing the synthetic bag from the flaps of the container portion;    sealing the synthetic bag to form a waterproof lining; and    folding the flaps of the container portion toward the plane to close the container.    
     
     
         36 . The carton assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the food product is frozen.  
     
     
         37 . The carton assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the food product is unfrozen.  
     
     
         38 . The carton assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the food product is meat.  
     
     
         39 . The carton assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the food product is seafood.