Sustainable coated corrugated fiberboard container

Abstract

A packaging container having sustainable repulpable/recyclable capability specifically sized to maintain the integrity of the Meal, Ready-to-Eat (MRE™) rations used by the U.S. Army and military services. A coated corrugated fiberboard using a C-flute configuration is utilized in a novel packaging design that incorporates a liner or a vertical container divider.

1 . A container for food rations comprising:
 coated corrugated fiberboard material forming generally rectangular opposing sidewalls;   coated corrugated fiberboard material forming generally rectangular opposing end walls positioned adjacent said opposing sidewalls;   coated fluted corrugated fiberboard material forming bottom flaps adjacent a side edge of said opposing sidewalls and said opposing end walls, said bottom flaps being inwardly folded;   said opposing sidewalls and said opposing end walls and said bottom flaps defining a chamber therein;   a one piece liner of coated fluted corrugated fiberboard material is seated adjacent the interior perimeter of said chamber defined by said opposing sidewalls and said opposing end walls and said bottom flaps, said one piece liner comprising a long side section, equal width end sections connected to and positioned adjacent each end of said long side section and a smaller side section connected to the distal end of each of said end sections, each smaller side section being of equal width; and,   coated fluted corrugated fiberboard material forming top flaps connected to positioned adjacent the top edge of said opposing sidewalls and opposing end walls, said top flaps being inwardly foldable to seal the container.   
     
     
         2 . A container for rations as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said container is about 9¼ inches in height, about 17 3/16 inches in length, and about 10 11/16 in width when sealed. 
     
     
         3 . A container for rations as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said flaps, end walls and sidewalls are a C-fluted corrugated fiberboard material. 
     
     
         4 . A container for rations as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said flaps, end walls and sidewalls are a C-fluted corrugated fiberboard material and said liner is a B-fluted corrugated fiberboard material. 
     
     
         5 . A container for rations as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said container may be selectively collapsed into a generally flat conformation. 
     
     
         6 . A container for rations as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said coated corrugated fiberboard material further comprises linerboard facings selected from the group consisting of 55 lb. linerboard and 69 lb. linerboard sandwiching 30 lb. linerboard material forming a standard C-flute structure. 
     
     
         7 . A container for rations as claimed in  claim 1  wherein a water-resistant coating is applied to said flaps and sidewalls facings. 
     
     
         8 . A container for rations as claimed in  claim 7  wherein a water-resistant coating is applied to said flaps, end walls and sidewalls facings to coat the same and wax alternative media coating is applied to said one piece liner. 
     
     
         9 . A container for military rations comprising:
 coated C-fluted corrugated fiberboard material forming generally rectangular opposing sidewalls;   coated C-fluted corrugated fiberboard material forming generally rectangular opposing end walls positioned adjacent said opposing sidewalls;   coated C-fluted corrugated fiberboard material forming bottom flaps connected to and positioned adjacent an end of said opposing end walls and said opposing sidewalls, said bottom flaps being inwardly folded;   said opposing end walls and said opposing sidewalls and said bottom flaps defining a chamber therein;   a coated B-fluted corrugated fiberboard material liner insert is positioned adjacent the interior perimeter of said chamber defined by said opposing end walls, said opposing sidewalls and said bottom flaps, said one piece liner insert comprising a long side section, equal width end sections connected to and adjacent each end of said long side section and a half sized side section connected to the distal ends of each of said end sections;   coated C-fluted corrugated fiberboard material forming top flaps adjacent the top edge of said opposing end walls and said opposing sidewalls, said top flaps being inwardly foldable to seal the container;   said coated C-fluted corrugated fiberboard material further comprising linerboard facings selected from the group consisting of 55 lb. linerboard and 69 lb. linerboard sandwiching a 30 lb. linerboard material which is formed into a standard C-flute structure; and,   said coated C-fluted corrugated fiberboard material further comprising a water-resistant coating applied to said linerboard facings.   
     
     
         10 . A container for military rations as claimed in  claim 9  wherein said 30 lb. linerboard is coated with a wax medium. 
     
     
         11 . A container for military rations comprising:
 coated C-fluted corrugated fiberboard material forming a generally rectangular first sidewall;   coated C-fluted corrugated fiberboard material forming generally rectangular opposing end walls positioned adjacent said first sidewall ends;   coated C-fluted sidewall sections forming a generally rectangular second sidewall, each sidewall section being connected to and positioned at the distal ends of each opposing end walls;   coated C-fluted corrugated fiberboard material forming bottom flaps adjacent the bottom edge of said first sidewall, said opposing end walls and one of said side wall sections, said bottom flaps being inwardly folded;   coated C-fluted corrugated fiberboard material forming a vertical divider connected to an end of one of said sidewall sections, said vertical divider bisecting said first sidewall;   said first sidewall, said opposing end walls, sidewall sections, said vertical divider, and said bottom flaps defining a chamber therein; and,   coated C-fluted corrugated fiberboard material forming top flaps adjacent the top edge of said first sidewall and end walls and one of said sidewall sections, said top flaps being inwardly foldable to seal the container.   
     
     
         12 . A container for military rations as claimed in  claim 11  wherein said container is about 9¼ inches in height, about 17 3/16 inches in length, and about 10 11/16 in width when sealed. 
     
     
         13 . A container for military rations as claimed in  claim 11  wherein said vertical divider has a foldable tab at its distal end which is secured to an inner surface of said first sidewall. 
     
     
         14 . A container for military rations as claimed in  claim 11  wherein said container may be selectively collapsed into a generally flat conformation. 
     
     
         15 . A container for military rations as claimed in  claim 11  wherein said coated C-fluted corrugated fiberboard material further comprises linerboard facings selected from the group consisting of 55 lb. linerboard and 69 lb. linerboard sandwiching 30 lb. linerboard material forming a standard C-flute structure. 
     
     
         16 . A container for military rations as claimed in  claim 15  wherein said coated C-fluted corrugated fiberboard material further comprises a water-resistant coating applied to said linerboard facings and a wax medium coating applied to said 30 lb. linerboard material. 
     
     
         17 . A container for emergency food rations comprising:
 coated C-fluted corrugated fiberboard material forming a generally rectangular first sidewall;   coated C-fluted corrugated fiberboard material forming generally rectangular opposing end walls connected to and positioned adjacent said opposing first sidewall ends;   coated C-fluted sidewall sections forming a generally rectangular second sidewall, each said sidewall section being connected to and positioned at the distal ends of each opposing end walls;   coated C-fluted corrugated fiberboard material forming bottom flaps adjacent the bottom edge of said first sidewall, said opposing end walls and one of said sidewall sections, said bottom flaps being inwardly folded;   coated C-fluted corrugated fiberboard material connected to and positioned on the end of one of said sidewall sections forming a vertical divider bisecting said opposing first sidewalls;   said first sidewall, said opposing end walls, said sidewall sections, said vertical divider, and said bottom flaps defining a chamber therein;   coated C-fluted corrugated fiberboard material forming top flaps adjacent the top edge of said first sidewall and opposing end walls and one of said sidewall sections, said top flaps being inwardly foldable to seal the container;   said coated C-fluted corrugated fiberboard material further comprising linerboard facings selected from the group consisting of 55 lb. linerboard and 69 lb. linerboard sandwiching 30 lb. linerboard material forming a standard C-flute structure; and,   said coated C-fluted corrugated fiberboard material further comprising a water-resistant coating applied to said linerboard facings and a wax media coating applied to said 30 lb. linerboard material.   
     
     
         18 . A container for emergency food rations as claimed in  claim 17  wherein said vertical divider has a foldable tab at its distal end which is secured to an inner surface of said first sidewall. 
     
     
         19 . A container for emergency food rations as claimed in  claim 18  wherein said divider tab is beveled. 
     
     
         20 . A container for emergency food rations as claimed in  claim 17  wherein said container has dimensions of about 9¼ inches in height, about 17 3/16 inches in length, and about 10 11/16 inches in width when sealed.