U.S. patent application number 11/440494 was filed with the patent office on 2006-11-30 for hang and display basket.
Invention is credited to Andrea Coltri-Johnson, Colin P. Ford, Franck Bruno Vidal.
Application Number | 20060266815 11/440494 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37137433 |
Filed Date | 2006-11-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060266815 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Coltri-Johnson; Andrea ; et
al. |
November 30, 2006 |
Hang and display basket
Abstract
A blank is shown that includes a removable portion that can be
separated from an enclosed carton to create an opening. The
remainder portion of the carton can be bisected by a fold or other
tear line to allow the carton to be folded or "cracked" into
approximately equal halves. These halves can then be oriented
vertically to allow for display either on a retailer's shelf or a
hanging display. Reinforcing strips can be provided on either end
or in the middle for additional structural support.
Inventors: |
Coltri-Johnson; Andrea;
(Acworth, GA) ; Ford; Colin P.; (Woodstock,
GA) ; Vidal; Franck Bruno; (Mableton, GA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WOMBLE CARLYLE SANDRIDGE & RICE, PLLC
ATTN: PATENT DOCKETING 32ND FLOOR
P.O. BOX 7037
ATLANTA
GA
30357-0037
US
|
Family ID: |
37137433 |
Appl. No.: |
11/440494 |
Filed: |
May 25, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60684818 |
May 26, 2005 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
229/242 ;
229/120.09 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 5/445 20130101;
B65D 5/5445 20130101; B65D 5/5253 20130101; B65D 5/542
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
229/242 ;
229/120.09 |
International
Class: |
B65D 17/00 20060101
B65D017/00; B65D 25/04 20060101 B65D025/04 |
Claims
1. A method of dispensing articles from a carton, the method
comprising: providing a carton comprising a removable portion and a
remainder portion; the removable portion being defined at least
partially by a tear line; the remainder portion being substantially
bisected by a fold line; the carton having reinforcing portions;
detaching the removable portion along the tear line; hinging the
carton about the fold line to create two approximately equal
halves; positioning the halves on a surface to orient the product
in each half vertically; and dispensing product from either said
half.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the halves can be detached along
the fold line.
3. The method of dispensing of claim 1, wherein hinging the carton
about the fold line further comprises: orienting the product from a
horizontal position to a vertical position.
4. The method of dispensing of claim 3, wherein dispensing the
product further comprises: facing the carton forward on a shelf to
allow dispensing from a carton half with product disposed
therein.
5. The method of dispensing of claim 4, wherein, once the forward
facing carton is emptied of product, the method further comprising:
facing backward the emptied carton half while, simultaneously,
facing the other carton half forward for dispensing.
6. The method of dispensing of claim 4 further comprising:
detaching the emptied half from the carton.
7. A package comprising: a carton including a top panel, a bottom
panel, two side panels, and at least one end flap, the at least one
end flap attached to one of the panels and being capable of closing
each end of the carton; a plurality of articles in the carton; a
means for attaching the at least one end flap at each said end to
close the carton; the carton including a remainder portion and a
removable portion, the removable portion being defined at least
partially by a first tear line at a perimeter portion; the
remainder portion capable of being separated along a second tear
line into two substantially equal carton halves to allow each said
carton half to orient the carton ends from a vertical position to a
horizontal position; and the carton including end reinforcing
portions along an interior portion of each said end.
8. The package of claim 7, wherein the removable portion extends
from one said side panel, across the top panel, and into the other
said side panel.
9. The package of claim 7, further including at least one middle
reinforcing portion at a central area of the interior of the
carton.
10. The package of claim 7, wherein an access port is included
along the perimeter of the first tear line.
11. The package of claim 7, wherein a finger flap is included along
the perimeter of the first tear line.
12. The package of claim 7, wherein the plurality of articles are
disposed in a horizontal orientation prior to separation of the
carton halves.
13. The package of claim 12, wherein, after the carton is separated
into halves and the ends are oriented in the horizontal position,
the plurality of articles are disposed in a vertical
orientation.
14. The package of claim 7, wherein the removable portion creates
an opening large enough to remove product from the carton.
15. A carton for a plurality of articles comprising: a top panel, a
bottom panel, two side panels, and at least one end flap, the at
least one end flap attached to one of the panels and being capable
of closing each end of the carton; a means for attaching the at
least one end flap at each said end to close the carton; the carton
including a remainder portion and a removable portion, the
removable portion being defined at least partially by a first tear
line at a perimeter portion; the remainder portion being capable of
separation along a second tear line into two substantially equal
carton halves to allow each said carton half to oriented the carton
ends from a vertical position to a horizontal position; and the
carton including end reinforcing portions along interior portions
of each said end.
16. The carton of claim 15, wherein the removable portion extends
from one said side panel, across the top panel, and into the other
said side panel.
17. The carton of claim 15, wherein at least one middle reinforcing
portion is included at a substantially central area of the interior
portion of the carton.
18. The carton of claim 15, wherein an access port is included
along the perimeter of the first tear line.
19. The carton of claim 15, wherein a finger flap is included along
the perimeter of the first tear line.
20. The carton of claim 15, wherein the plurality of articles are
disposed in a horizontal orientation prior to separation of the
carton halves.
21. The carton of claim 20, wherein, after the carton into halves
and the ends are oriented in the horizontal position, the plurality
of articles are disposed in a vertical orientation.
22. The carton of claim 15, wherein the removable portion creates
an opening large enough to remove product from the carton.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/684,818, filed May 26, 2005, entitled "Hang and
Display Basket," the entire contents of which are hereby
incorporated by reference as if repeated in entirety herein.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention generally relates to a carton for
housing containers, the carton having packaging, displaying, and
dispensing features.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Retail products generally are packaged in containers, e.g.,
boxes, cans, cartons, etc., which are then placed on a retailer's
shelf for display and sale. In order to reach a retailer's shelf, a
manufactured product is packaged for shipping, then shipped,
unpackaged, arranged, and maintained on a shelf. Once products have
been packaged during manufacture in their respective retail
packages, the retail packaged products are then loaded individually
in larger shipping containers or cartons and shipped to retailers.
The retailers then unpack the packaged products from the shipping
containers and place the individual retail packages on the
retailer's shelves. After consumers take the first few packaged
products from the shelf, the retailer typically must then move the
remaining packaged products on the shelf forward to present an
organized and evenly distributed display. Additionally, the
retailer must timely rotate the packaged products from back to
front to ensure that the products do not exceed their expiration
date. This unpackaging, fronting, and rotation of most packages
products creates waste from the shipping containers and is
expensive in terms of time and labor required for such operations.
What is needed is a single carton from which individually packaged
products can be shipped, displayed, and dispensed.
SUMMARY
[0004] The present invention is directed to the formation of
cartons having a detachable portion that can be separated from the
enclosed carton to create an opening therein. The cartons are
formed from blanks that are cut, stamped or otherwise formed from
paperboard or other, similar carton material with the detachable
portion of each carton defined, at least in some manner about its
perimeter, by a demarcation line that is separable from the
remainder of the carton to create the opening. The carton further
can be hinged, such as along a fold line, such that once the
opening has been created by separation of the detachable portion
from the enclosed carton, the carton can be "folded" into two
approximately equal halves, with a display opening defined in the
upper portion of each hinged carton half. When the carton has been
separated into halves, packaged products, which were oriented in
interspaced, alternating approximately horizontal positions, become
oriented in upstanding, approximately vertical positions in each
half of the carton in a basket orientation. The packaged products
are removable from either carton half through the display openings
created therein.
[0005] During manufacture and loading, the blanks described herein
can be formed into enclosed cartons and products can be loaded in
either or both ends. The end user can remove the detachable
portions from the enclosed cartons and open the cartons by
"cracking" or breaking or otherwise separating the cartons into
approximate halves. The cartons then can be placed in an upright
orientation, such as by placing the lower portion of each half onto
a surface, or hung from a display for dispensing. In an upright
orientation, carton halves resting on a surface, such as a
retailer's shelf, one half of each carton can be faced outwardly to
expose the packaged products for display and/or dispensing.
[0006] When the exposed half of each carton has been emptied of
product, the carton can be turned around so that the back half of
the carton faces outwardly for dispensing of the product therein.
Additionally, once the front half is emptied of product, the two
halves can be detached from each other to enable discarding of the
empty front half, or it can remain attached to the back half of the
carton, for example to act as a void filler on the shelf or hanging
display.
[0007] The present carton optionally can include one or more
dividers to provide structural support for each carton half or for
separation of the product therein. Additionally, the present blank
and formed carton can be provided with reinforced areas at selected
portions thereof to provide additional strength for carton
integrity, e.g. during stacking, shipping, displaying, or
dispensing.
[0008] These and other objects, features, and advantages of the
present invention will become more apparent upon reading the
following specification in conjunction with the accompanying
drawing figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1A is a top plan view of a blank from which a carton
according to the present invention can be formed.
[0010] FIG. 1B is an underside plan view of the blank of FIG. 1A
provided with reinforcing strips.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a carton formed from the
blank of FIG. 1 with a finger flap being engaged to begin
detachment of the removable portion.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the carton with the
removable portion being engaged and separated along the tear lines
to create the opening.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the carton with the
removable portion entirely detached from the remainder carton.
[0014] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the carton separated into
two halves.
[0015] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the carton opened for
display.
[0016] FIG. 7 is a top plan view of an alternate embodiment of a
blank from which a carton according to the invention can be
formed.
[0017] FIG. 8 is an underside plan view of the blank of FIG. 7
provided with reinforcing strips.
[0018] FIG. 9 is a view of a carton formed from the blank of FIG. 7
with the removable portion being detached.
[0019] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the carton of FIG. 9 with
the removable portion detached and showing the reinforcing
strips.
[0020] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the carton of FIG. 9 being
separated into two halves.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] To facilitate understanding and explanation of the blank(s)
of the present invention, the elements and numerals described
herein will utilize the terms "upper," "lower," "top," "bottom,"
"front," and "back" to distinguish portions of the halves of each
carton and of each blank. These conventions are included merely for
ease of explanation and understanding of the present description,
however, and should not be limiting in any manner. The descriptions
of the panels as "upper," "lower," etc., also can be referred to as
"first," "second," etc.
[0022] The present carton typically is useful as a container of
products that are individually dispensed. For example, the present
invention can be used in the dispensing of articles that contain
products such as food and beverages. These articles can include
food containers, including for example, containers being generally
rectangular prismatic in shape, liquids and/or foodstuffs packaged
in rectangular containers, and/or packaged products in plastic or
other pliable materials. As shown in FIG. 1, a blank, which forms
the carton, generally is formed from a foldable sheet material,
such as paperboard, although it will be understood that other
materials such as cardboard and non-fibrous, relatively stiff,
foldable material, such as plastic, composite, or metal, also can
be used.
[0023] The blank can have flaps at each end thereof, with the flaps
being foldable into an engaged configuration, and an adhesive can
be added to any desired panel to retain the carton in the desired
enclosed or folded configuration. An access port or finger hole can
be included along a portion of the tear line. The access port
enables receipt of a person's finger or other object for opening
the carton to begin to convert the carton from a shipping/storage
configuration to a display and/or dispensing configuration.
Although the access port is shown in a particular orientation and
shape, here ecliptic, it could be formed in any other desired
configuration that permits disengagement of the tear line to create
the opening. Alternatively, the access port could be covered with a
flap (not shown) that could be punctured or otherwise detached to
provide access for disengagement of the tear line.
[0024] FIGS. 1A-1B show an exemplary blank 10 according to the
present invention. The blank 10 generally includes side panels 12
and 20, top panel 16, bottom panels 24 and 28, and closure flaps 50
and 53. Side panel 12 is connected by transverse fold lines 31 and
33 to side panel end flaps 40 and 42; top panel 16 is connected by
transverse fold lines 31 and 33 to top panel end flaps 38 and 44;
side panel 20 is connected by transverse fold lines 31 and 33 to
side panel end flaps 36 and 46, bottom panel 24 is connected by
transverse fold line 31 to bottom panel flap 48, and bottom panel
28 is connected by transverse fold line 31 to bottom panel flap
34.
[0025] The side panel 12 further is connected to top panel 16 by
fold line 14, top panel 16 is connected to side panel 20 by fold
line 18, side panel 20 is connected to bottom panels 24 and 28 by
fold line 22, bottom panel 24 is connected to closure flap 53 by a
fold line 25, and bottom panel 28 is separated from closure flap 50
by fold line 25. The bottom panels 24 and 28 additionally are
connected to each other by a centrally aligned fold line 26 that
extends between fold lines 22 and 25 and is positioned
approximately half way between the transverse fold lines 31 and 33.
Closure flaps 50 and 53 similarly are separated from each other by
a fold line 51, which extends toward a periphery of the blank 10
from fold line 26 across fold line 25 through closure flaps 50 and
53. The panel end flaps can be of any construction or geometry and
are shown with cut outs in some portions in FIG. 1A.
[0026] As shown in FIG. 1B, reinforcing portions or strips 30 and
32 can be included on the blank 10 and generally are adhered, at
least in some parts thereof, to the blank 10. The reinforcing
strips 30 and 32 are shown with a predetermined width that can vary
as desired. The remaining strips 30 and 32 generally are applied on
the underside of blank 10 along and overlying the peripheral edges
of the panels along fold lines 31 and 33 that join the panels to
the end flaps. The reinforcing strips 30 and 32 are shown to
overlap sections of panels 12, 16, 20, and 28 or 24, respectively,
however, the reinforcing strips 30 and 32 also can overlie either
entire sections of, or substantial portions of, each of the end
flaps 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, and 48. Sections of the
reinforcing strips 30 and 32 can be removed during the
manufacturing or application process at positions therealong as
desired to vary the areas of blank 10 that are reinforced.
[0027] Typically, once the carton blank has been formed, the
reinforcing portions, such as those shown that cover portions of
the panels and closure flaps and portions of the end flaps
indicated at 30 and 32, can be applied. These reinforcing strips or
portions can comprise an additional layer of paperboard, or any
other reinforcement strip that provides the desired support, such
as those shown and described in U.S. patent application Ser. Nos.
09/559,704, 09/818,023, and 09/971,469, all of which are currently
pending and which are commonly owned by and assigned to the present
assignee and which are incorporated by reference herein as if
included in their entirety.
[0028] Additionally, a removable portion 75 (FIGS. 1A and 1B) is
defined at least along part of a perimeter thereof by a series of
fold or tear lines. For example, tear line 54 is shown as extending
in an arcuate pattern through a portion of side panel 12 and
continues into top panel 16 along tear lines 52 and 58, which
extend substantially parallel to transverse fold lines 31 and 33
and are spaced from each other by a predetermined width.
[0029] The tear lines can be formed with fold lines, cuts, nicks,
tears, perforations, cut scores, scores, creases, or any other
inclusions, demarcations, or combinations thereof alone and in
differing combinations along and in any panel or flap of the
present blank(s). The particular orientations and combinations of
the tear line shown in the figures are exemplary and should not be
construed as limiting in any manner.
[0030] As shown in FIG. 1A, the tear line of the removable portion
75 continues from top panel 16 across fold line 18 into side panel
20 along tear line 60. An opening feature 64 is formed along the
tear line 60, which opening feature can be an opening in the formed
blank, or can be another access feature that creates a means for
removal of the removable portion 75. Tear line 60 extends in a
general arcuate pattern in side panel 20 analogous to the arcuate
portion 54 in side panel 12, with the tear lines 54 and 60
generally being spaced from fold lines 14 and 18 toward respective
fold lines 22 and the peripheral portion adjacent to side panel 12
a distance D, which can be varied in length depending upon carton
size and formation.
[0031] In order to form the blank into a carton, generally, the
blank is folded into a sleeve configuration then the flaps are
glued to result in a carton with two closed ends. Once the blank is
formed into a carton sleeve, product is loaded into the carton and
the various end flaps on both ends are closed. These various end
flaps and the panels that form the sleeve generally are held
together by glue and/or other adhesive means. The blank shown in
the figures is provided with exemplary dimensions for reference and
is not restricted to the dimensions or scale provided. Thus, wider
panels can be provided to accommodate larger products to be stored,
displayed, and dispensed as desired or necessary and smaller
dimensions can be provided to accommodate smaller products as
desired or necessary.
[0032] As shown in FIG. 2, the blank 10 has been formed into a
carton ready for shipping or storage, typically with product stored
or otherwise encased therein. FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of
the carton with the access port or opening feature 64 being engaged
to begin removal of the removable portion 75 along the tear lines
52, 54, 58, and 60. FIG. 3 shows the user engaging the access port
and separating the removable portion 75 along the tear lines of the
carton. FIG. 4 shows the removable portion entirely removed from
the enclosed carton.
[0033] FIG. 5 shows the carton with the opening feature removed and
with the two halves being separated to engage the folding feature
to form a basket display. FIG. 6 shows the perspective view of the
formed basket with product therein disposed generally in a vertical
alignment. The perspective view of the halves of the cartons shows
that the two halves are substantially similar to one another.
[0034] The present blank and carton can be formed in any size or in
any configuration. For example, an alternate blank 110, shown in
FIGS. 7 and 8, is similar to blank 10 of FIG. 1. FIG. 7 shows the
alternate embodiment of a blank 110 having side panels 112 and 120,
top panel 116, bottom panels 124 and 128, and closure flap 150 and
153. Side panel 112 is connected by transverse fold lines 131 and
133 to side panel end flaps 140 and 142, top panel 116 is connected
by transverse fold lines 131 and 133 to top panel end flaps 138 and
144, side panel 120 is connected by transverse fold lines 131 and
133 to side panel end flaps 136 and 146, bottom panel 124 is
connected by transverse fold line 131 to bottom panel flap 148, and
bottom panel 128 is connected by transverse fold line 131 to bottom
panel flap 134. The panel end flaps can be of any construction or
geometry and are shown with cut outs in some portions of blank 110.
Side panel 112 further is connected to top panel 116 by fold line
114, while top panel 116 is connected to side panel 120 by fold
line 118, which is connected to bottom panels 124 and 128 by fold
line 122. Bottom panel 124 is connected to its closure flap 153 by
a fold line 125, and bottom panel 128 is separated from its closure
flap 150 by fold line 125. The bottom panels 124 and 128 also are
connected to each other by a fold line 126 that extends between
fold lines 122 and 125 and is positioned approximately half way
between transverse fold lines 131 and 133. The closure flaps 150
and 153 similarly are separated by a fold line 151, which extends
toward a periphery of the blank 110 from fold line 126 past fold
line 125 and through closure flaps 150 and 153.
[0035] Also included on blank 110, as shown in FIG. 8, is an
additional reinforcing strip 131 applied along a central portion of
blank 110. Further, reinforcing portions or strips 130 and 132 are
included on blank 110 and generally adhered, at least in some parts
thereof to the blank 110. Reinforcing strips 130 and 132 are shown
with a predetermined width that can vary as desired, and typically
are applied on the underside of blank 110 along and overlying
peripheral edges of the panels along fold lines 131 and 133 that
join the panels to the end flaps. Reinforcing strips 130 and 132
are shown to overlap sections of panels 112, 116, 120, and 128 or
124, respectively, and also can overlie either entire sections of,
or substantial portions of, each of the end flaps. Sections of
reinforcing strips 130 and 132 can be removed during the
manufacturing process at positions therealong as desired to vary
the areas that are reinforced of blank 110.
[0036] A removable portion 175 is defined at least along part of a
perimeter thereof by a series of fold or tear lines. For example,
the tear line 154 extends in an arcuate pattern through a portion
of side panel 112 and continues into top panel 116 along tear lines
152 and 158 that are substantially parallel to transverse fold
lines 131 and 133 and are spaced from each other a predetermined
width. The tear lines can include cuts, creases, cut scores,
scores, perforations, nicks, tears, creases, folds, or other
inclusions or combinations thereof to allow separation of the
opening feature and to allow the halves of the formed carton to be
formed into a basket display as detailed herein. As shown in FIG.
7, the tear line of the removable portion 175 continues from top
panel 116 across fold line 118 into side panel 120 along tear line
160. Tear line 160 is shown as including an opening feature 164,
which can be an opening in the formed blank, or can be another
access feature that creates a means for removal of the removable
portion 175. The tear line 160 further can extend in a generally
arcuate pattern in side panel 120 analogous to the arcuate portion
154 in side panel 112. Generally, the tear lines are spaced from
fold lines 114 and 118 toward respective fold lines 122 and the
peripheral portion adjacent to side panel 112 a distance D, which
can be varied in length depending upon carton size and formation.
Once the blank is formed, during the manufacturing process,
reinforcing portions, such as those shown that cover portions of
the panels and closure flaps and portions of the end flaps
indicated at 130 and 132, can be applied.
[0037] FIG. 9 is a view of the blank of FIG. 7 formed into an
enclosed carton with the opening feature being engaged to separate
the tear line therealong. FIG. 10 shows the removable portion of
the carton entirely removed from the enclosed carton. FIG. 11 shows
the carton of FIG. 9 with the removable portion removed and the
folding feature being engaged to form the basket display. The
carton halves in FIG. 11 show the formed basket and the bottoms of
both halves of the cartons with the reinforcement portions being
visible.
[0038] Generally, once the carton halves are placed in a vertical
position, such as on a display or retail shelf, product can be
dispensed therefrom. Once the product has been completely removed
from a front half of the carton, the retailer can rotate the carton
180 degrees to place a back half into a dispensing position and/or
can separate and remove the front half from the back half as
desired. The front half of the carton can remain attached at the
hinged part of the tear line to be used as a void-filler on the
shelf to maintain a consistent and pleasant looking display.
Alternatively, once the product has been completely removed from
the front half of the carton, the empty half can be torn away at
the hinged part of the line (26 or 126) and can be discarded.
Whether the front half of the carton is removed from the back half
of the carton or remains attached to the back half of the carton,
the back half of the carton can be rotated to face outward on the
shelf to allow product to be removed therefrom. Once all of the
product has been removed from the entire carton, the back half of
the carton, or the entire carton if the front half was not
separated therefrom, can be discarded. A new carton can then
replace the emptied carton.
[0039] According to common practice, the various features of the
drawings discussed below are not necessarily drawn to scale.
Dimensions of various features and elements in the drawings may be
expanded or reduced to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of
the invention.
[0040] In the embodiments shown in the figures, the carton is shown
as accommodating packages, however, other types of containers can
be accommodated within a carrier according to the present
invention. The dimensions of the blank may also be altered, for
example, to accommodate various container forms.
[0041] The blanks according to the present invention can be, for
example, formed from coated paperboard and similar materials. For
example, the interior and/or exterior sides of the blanks can be
coated with a clay coating. The clay coating may then be printed
over with product, advertising, price coding, and other information
or images. The blanks may then be coated with a varnish to protect
any information printed on the blanks. The blanks may also be
coated with, for example, a moisture barrier layer, on either or
both sides of the blanks.
[0042] In accordance with the exemplary embodiments, the blanks may
be constructed of paperboard of a caliper such that it is heavier
and more rigid than ordinary paper. For example, the caliper can be
in the range of about 16-22 lbs. The blanks can also be constructed
of other materials, such as cardboard, hard paper, or any other
material having properties suitable for enabling the carrier
package to function at least generally as described above. The
blanks can also be laminated to, or coated with, one or more
sheet-like materials at selected panels or panel sections.
[0043] In accordance with the exemplary embodiment of the present
invention, a fold line can be any substantially linear, although
not necessarily straight, form of weakening that facilitates
folding therealong. More specifically, but not for the purpose of
narrowing the scope of the present invention, fold lines include: a
score line, such as lines formed with a blunt scoring knife, or the
like, which creates a crushed portion in the material along the
desired line of weakness; a cut that extends partially into a
material along the desired line of weakness, and/or a series of
cuts that extend partially into and/or completely through the
material along the desired line of weakness; and various
combinations of these features. In situations where cutting is used
to create a fold line, typically the cutting will not be overly
extensive in a manner that might cause a reasonable user to
incorrectly consider the fold line to be a tear line.
[0044] The above embodiments may be described as having one or
panels adhered together by glue. The term "glue" is intended to
encompass all manner of adhesives commonly used to secure carton
panels in place.
[0045] The invention has been described in terms of preferred
configurations and methodologies considered by the inventors to be
the best mode of carrying out the invention. These preferred
embodiments are presented as examples only and should not be
construed as limiting the scope of the invention. A wide variety of
additions, deletions, and modifications to the illustrated and
described embodiments might be made by those of skill in the art
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, which
is circumscribed only by the claims.
* * * * *