Panel interlocking arrangement, carton and carton blank

Abstract

A panel interlocking arrangement for securing a pair of panels together comprising: first and second panels for placement in an overlapping position. The first and second panels are disposed at least in part in a face-contacting arrangement. A pair of locking elements are provided for locking engagement with each other to secure the first and second panels in the overlapping position. The pair of locking elements comprises a male locking element and female locking element. The female locking element is formed in the second panel and the male locking element is connected to the first panel.

1 . A panel interlocking arrangement comprising:
 first and second panels for placement in an overlapping position wherein the first and second panels are disposed, at least in part, in a face-contacting arrangement; and   a pair of locking elements for locking engagement with each other to secure the first and second panels in the overlapping position, the pair of locking elements comprises a male locking element and female locking element, the female locking element being formed in the second panel, the male locking element being connected to the first panel,   wherein the female locking element includes a cut formed in the second panel, the second panel comprising a corner defined by first and second peripheral edges of the second panel, the first peripheral edge being hingedly connected, at least in part, to a third panel, the second peripheral edge being hingedly connected, at least in part, to a fourth panel, the second panel further comprising first and second portions on the opposite sides of the cut, the first portion extending between the cut and the corner such that the first portion is brought into contact at an inside surface thereof with at least part of the male locking element when the male and female locking elements are in the locking engagement, and   wherein the cut comprises first and second angled segments, the first segment being disposed obliquely with respect to each of the first and second peripheral edges, the second segment extending from the first segment away from the corner.   
     
     
         2 . A panel interlocking arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the female locking element further includes an opening formed in the second portion of the second panel, the opening being defined in part by part of the cut. 
     
     
         3 . A panel interlocking arrangement according to  claim 2 , wherein the opening is defined in part by the second segment of the cut. 
     
     
         4 . A panel interlocking arrangement according to  claim 2 , wherein the female locking element further includes a retaining tab hingedly connected to the second portion of the second panel along a fold line, wherein the opening is defined in the second portion when the retaining tab is folded about the fold line out of a plane of the second panel. 
     
     
         5 . A blank for forming a carton, the blank comprising:
 a plurality of primary panels connected together to define an interior of the carton for receiving at least one article, the plurality of primary panels including an inner front panel, a bottom panel hingedly connected to the inner front panel along a first fold line, a rear panel hingedly connected to the bottom panel along a second fold line, a top panel hingedly connected to the rear panel along a third fold line, and an outer front panel hingedly connected to the top panel along a fourth fold line, the inner and outer front panels being arranged for placement in an overlapping position when the blank is erected into a carton wherein the inner and outer front panels are disposed, at least in part, in a face-contacting arrangement;   a male locking element and a female locking element for locking engagement with each other to secure the inner and outer front panels in the overlapping position, the female locking element being formed in the inner front panel, the male locking element being connected to the outer front panel,   wherein the female locking element includes a cut formed in the inner front panel, the inner front panel comprising a corner defined by first and second peripheral edges of the inner front panel, the first peripheral edge being hingedly connected, at least in part, to the bottom panel by the first fold line, the second peripheral edge being hingedly connected, at least in part, to an end flap, the inner front panel further comprising first and second portions on opposite sides of the cut, the first portion extending between the cut and the corner such that the first portion is brought into contact at an inside surface thereof with at least part of the male locking element when the male and female locking elements are in the locking engagement, and   wherein the cut comprises first and second angled segments, the first segment being disposed obliquely with respect to each of the first and second peripheral edges, the second segment extending from the first segment away from the corner.   
     
     
         6 . The panel interlocking arrangement according to  claim 1  wherein the first panel is hingedly connected to a third panel along a first fold line, wherein the first and second panels are hingedly connected together indirectly through at least the third panel for generally linear movement toward and relative to each other along a notional line into the overlapping position, the notional line being parallel to at least one of the first and second panels and being generally perpendicular to the first fold line, wherein the male locking element comprises a locking tab hingedly connected to the first panel along a second fold line such that the male and female locking elements are engageable into the locking engagement through the generally linear movement of at least one of the first and second panels, and wherein the second fold line is disposed obliquely with respect to the notional line. 
     
     
         7 . A panel interlocking arrangement according to  claim 6 , wherein the at least the third panel comprises two or more panels hingedly connected together in series. 
     
     
         8 . The blank according to  claim 5  wherein the male locking element comprises a locking tab hingedly connected to the outer front panel along a fifth fold line, wherein the first, second, third and fourth fold lines are parallel to one another such that the inner and outer front panels are movable relative to each other along a notional line into the overlapping position, the notional line being parallel to at least one of the inner and outer front panels and being generally perpendicular to the fourth fold line, and wherein the fifth fold line is disposed obliquely with respect to the fourth fold line such that the male and female locking elements are engageable into the locking engagement through linear sliding movement of at least one of the inner and outer front panels along the notional line toward and relative to the other. 
     
     
         9 . A panel interlocking device for securing a pair of panels together, the panel interlocking device comprising:
 a first part provided by one of the pair of panels and a second part provided by the other one of the pair of panels,   wherein the first part comprises a male tab struck from within the one of the pair of panels, the male tab comprises a head section hingedly connected to a body section by a hinged connection, the body section is detachably connected to the one of the pair of panels and struck therefrom, the body section is defined by at least one severance line, the severance line extends between a first end of the hinged connection and a second end of the hinged connection, the head section defines a first aperture in the one of the pair of panels,   wherein the second part comprises a cutaway struck from the other one of the pair of panels to form a receiver, the cutaway defines a second aperture which receives the head section, the second aperture provides a pair of opposing edges of the other one of the pair of panels,   wherein in a locked condition, one of the pair of opposing edges is disposed on a first side of the one of the pair of panels and a portion of the other one of the pair of opposing edges is disposed on a second side of the one of the pair of panels, a portion of the other one of the pair of panels at least partially occludes the first aperture in the one of the pair of panels, the cutaway may be shaped such that the other one of the pair of opposing edges overlaps with the hinged connection between the head section and body section.   
     
     
         10 . A panel interlocking arrangement according to  claim 9 , wherein the cutaway is shaped such that the one of the pair of opposing edges is spaced apart from the hinged connection between the head section and body section. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A panel interlocking arrangement according to  claim 9 , wherein the severance line comprises a pair of severance lines, wherein the pair of severance lines comprises a first partial depth severance line provided in a first face of the one of the pair of panels and a second partial depth severance line provided in a second, reverse, face of the one of the pair of panels. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A panel interlocking arrangement according to  claim 9 , wherein the cutaway comprises one of the features selected from the following group: a cut line, severance line, and opening. 
     
     
         17 . A panel interlocking arrangement according to  claim 9 , wherein the cutaway comprises an opening defined at least in part by a tab foldably connected to the other one of the pair of panels. 
     
     
         18 . A panel interlocking arrangement according to  claim 9 , wherein the cutaway comprises a cutline and an opening adjacent to the cutline, the opening being provided on a leading edge or side of the receiver. 
     
     
         19 . A panel interlocking arrangement according to  claim 9 , wherein a cut line defines the receiver and comprises an intermediate portion and end portions, the end portions being offset with respect to the intermediate portion. 
     
     
         20 . A panel interlocking arrangement according to  claim 19 , wherein terminal ends of the end portions define a notional line obliquely oriented with respect to a pair of adjacently disposed brace panels hingedly connected to the other one of the pair of panels. 
     
     
         21 . A carton of a clam shell arrangement comprising the panel interlocking arrangement according to  claim 9 , wherein the carton comprises, a tray and a lid hingedly connected to the tray, and wherein the first part is provided by a panel forming one of the tray and lid and the second part is provided by a panel forming the other one of the tray and lid, the first and second parts being brought into engagement when the lid or cover is closed. 
     
     
         22 . A carton according to  claim 21 , wherein the lid is closed by pivoting the lid about a hinged connection between the tray and the lid. 
     
     
         23 . A carton according to  claim 22 , wherein the fold line between the head section and the body section is obliquely oriented with respect to the hinged connection between the tray and the lid. 
     
     
         24 . A carton comprising the panel interlocking arrangement according to  claim 9 , the first part being provided by a first one of the pair of panels, and the second part being provided by a second one of the pair of panels, the first one of the pair of panels being disposed in overlapping relationship with the second one of the pair of panels to form a composite wall, the pair of panels being two of a plurality of panels hinged together in a linear series by respective fold lines.