| We may not be aware of it but the simplest of | | | | New York filed the patent for the corrugated carton. |
| materials we use for covering our food has been | | | | However, the corrugated carton Albert Jones |
| around for over centuries. Take a peek inside your | | | | patented back then only had a single-sided sheet of |
| pantry and try to see if you can find a milk carton, a | | | | carton with the pleats attached to it.The corrugated |
| carton full of eggs or even a carton of your favorite | | | | carton, from which the modern corrugated carton |
| breakfast cereal.Indeed, this centuries old packaging | | | | would be based from, was not produced up until 1874. |
| material is the carton.Carton is often made out of a | | | | During this time, Oliver Long, took Jones' design and |
| composite or of materials made out of two or more | | | | incorporated another sheet to make it more stiff and |
| components. Cartons can be made out of a mixture | | | | suitable for packaging heavier materials.Now bear in |
| of paper, pulp, wood or leaves. Its durability and | | | | mind that these cartons were just sheets and were |
| stiffness makes it ideal for packaging heavy | | | | not yet the carton boxes that we know of today.In |
| materials.The carton has existed even before food | | | | 1890, an American named Robert Gait "accidentally" |
| manufacturers have used it for carrying eggs, milk, | | | | invented the corrugated carton box. Robert Gait was |
| cereals, baking powder and other types of food. | | | | a printer and paper bag maker. While printing an order |
| Although there have been a lot of materials | | | | of seed bags, the metal ruler used to crease the bags |
| discovered and used for wrapping and encasing, the | | | | swung and cut the bags instead.Through this, Gait |
| carton still remains one of the most often used for | | | | discovered that creasing and cutting the bags would |
| packaging.The carton first appeared in the 15th century | | | | make it easier for manufacturers to make |
| in China and served different purposes. However, the | | | | pre-constructed cartons.Instead of using the seed |
| first commercial carton was not used up until the 1817 | | | | bags that he was printing on, he creased and cut |
| when it was first produced in England.The durable and | | | | corrugated cartons instead. So when the 20th century |
| sturdy carton that we know of today, on the other | | | | rolled in, wooden crates were replaced by cardboard |
| hand, would not have even existed if English hat | | | | boxes made out of corrugated carton.Today's |
| makers in 1856 did not think of using it to line the bases | | | | corrugated cartons are more intricately designed than |
| of the hats they made. In fact, before this, carton was | | | | those of the cartons used in earlier centuries. At |
| just a flimsy, thin type of paper that was not even | | | | present, the outer sheets are made to be puncture |
| considered to use for packaging.The corrugated | | | | resistant. The pleats are also made up of a stronger |
| carton is the type of carton that has pleats attached | | | | wood-based type of paper to make the cartons |
| to sheets of carton. These pleats of carton serve as | | | | sturdier and compression resistant.Who would have |
| support for carton sheets as it makes it more rigid and | | | | thought that a piece of carton used to hold your day's |
| suitable for carrying weighty materials.When the first | | | | breakfast can have so much history?James Monahan |
| corrugated cardboard was patented in 1856, it was | | | | is the owner and Senior Editor of |
| mainly used in England for the bases of tall hats that | | | | and writes expert |
| were of fashion to English gentlemen.It was only in | | | | articles about cartons. |
| December 20, 1871 when Albert Jones of New York, | | | | |