U.S. patent application number 12/266685 was filed with the patent office on 2009-05-14 for carton having modified end flaps for improved stacking strength and including easy opening feature.
This patent application is currently assigned to Georgia-Pacific Corrugated LLC. Invention is credited to Wayne P. Gasior.
Application Number | 20090121006 12/266685 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40205927 |
Filed Date | 2009-05-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090121006 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gasior; Wayne P. |
May 14, 2009 |
CARTON HAVING MODIFIED END FLAPS FOR IMPROVED STACKING STRENGTH AND
INCLUDING EASY OPENING FEATURE
Abstract
A carton having improved structural integrity and stacking
strength and an easy opening feature. The carton is formed from a
paperboard blank having modified end panels that provide improved
stacking strength and includes perforations arranged along a top
panel of the carton to provide an easy opening feature for the
carton.
Inventors: |
Gasior; Wayne P.; (Duluth,
GA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PATENT GROUP GA030-43;GEORGIA-PACIFIC LLC
133 PEACHTREE STREET, N.E.
ATLANTA
GA
30303-1847
US
|
Assignee: |
Georgia-Pacific Corrugated
LLC
Atlanta
GA
|
Family ID: |
40205927 |
Appl. No.: |
12/266685 |
Filed: |
November 7, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60987458 |
Nov 13, 2007 |
|
|
|
60989320 |
Nov 20, 2007 |
|
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|
61017215 |
Dec 28, 2007 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
229/242 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 5/18 20130101; B65D
5/26 20130101; B65D 5/548 20130101; B65D 5/5253 20130101; B65D
5/443 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
229/242 |
International
Class: |
B65D 17/28 20060101
B65D017/28 |
Claims
1. A carton, comprising: a top panel; a bottom panel; a first side
panel; a second side panel; a first end wall defined by a first
side panel top end flap and a second side panel top end flap
wherein the first side panel top end flap and the second side panel
top end flap define a first interface having a first portion, a
second portion and an inclined third portion connecting the first
portion with the second portion; and a second end wall defined by a
first side panel bottom end flap and a second side panel bottom end
flap wherein the first side panel bottom end flap and the second
side panel bottom end flap define a second interface having a
fourth portion, a fifth portion and an inclined sixth portion
connecting the fourth portion with the fifth portion.
2. The carton of claim 1 wherein the inclined third portion
intersects the first portion and the second portion at an angle
between about 30 degrees and abut 60 degrees.
3. The carton of claim 2 wherein the inclined third portion
intersects the first portion and the second portion at an angle of
about 45 degrees.
4. The carton of claim 2 wherein the inclined sixth portion
intersects the fourth portion and the fifth portion at an angle
between about 30 degrees and abut 60 degrees.
5. The carton of claim 4 wherein the inclined sixth portion
intersects the fourth portion and the fifth portion at an angle of
about 45 degrees.
6. The carton of claim 4 wherein the top panel includes a
perforation extending about an area in the top panel defining an
opening area to allow access to an interior portion of the
carton.
7. The carton of claim 6 wherein the perforation extends from a
first point adjacent to the first side panel to a spaced apart
second point adjacent to the first side panel.
8. The carton of claim 7 wherein the perforation includes a
generally arcuate portion extending from the first point to a
generally longitudinally extending portion, and a first laterally
extending portion extending from the second point to the generally
longitudinally extending portion.
9. The carton of claim 8 further including a second perforation
extending generally parallel to the generally longitudinally
extending portion between the generally arcuate portion and the
first laterally extending portion.
10. The carton of claim 8 further including a first generally
linear perforation extending as a chord of the generally arcuate
portion.
11. The carton of claim 10 further including a second generally
linear perforation extending generally parallel to the first
generally linear perforation.
12. A blank, comprising: an adhesive panel; a first side panel
adjoining the adhesive panel; a first side panel top flap connected
to a top portion of the first side panel wherein the first side
panel top flap includes a first edge, a second edge and an inclined
third edge connecting the first edge and the second edge; a first
side panel bottom flap connected to a bottom portion of the first
side panel wherein the first side panel bottom flap includes a
fourth edge, a fifth edge and an inclined sixth edge connecting the
fourth edge and the fifth edge; a bottom panel adjoining the first
side panel; a second side panel adjoining the bottom panel; a
second side panel top flap connected to a top portion of the second
side panel wherein the second side panel top flap includes a
seventh edge, an eighth edge and an inclined ninth edge connecting
the seventh edge and the eighth edge; a second panel bottom flap
connected to a bottom portion of the second side panel wherein the
second side panel bottom flap includes a tenth edge, an eleventh
edge and an inclined twelfth edge connecting the tenth edge and the
eleventh edge; and a top panel adjoining the second side panel.
13. The blank of claim 12 wherein the inclined third edge
intersects the first edge and the second edge at an angle between
about 30 degrees and abut 60 degrees.
14. The blank of claim 12 wherein the inclined third edge
intersects the first edge and the second edge at an angle of about
45 degrees.
15. The blank of claim 13 wherein the inclined ninth edge
intersects the eighth edge and the seventh edge at an angle between
about 30 degrees and abut 60 degrees.
16. The blank of claim 15 wherein the inclined ninth edge
intersects the eighth edge and the seventh edge at an angle of
about 45 degrees.
17. The blank of claim 12 wherein the top panel includes a
perforation extending from a first point adjacent to the first side
panel to a spaced apart second point adjacent to the first side
panel.
18. The blank of claim 17 wherein the perforation includes a
generally arcuate portion extending from the first point to a
generally longitudinally extending portion, and a first laterally
extending portion extending from the second point to the generally
longitudinally extending portion.
19. The blank of claim 18 further including a second perforation
extending generally parallel to the generally longitudinally
extending portion between the generally arcuate portion and the
first laterally extending portion.
20. The blank of claim 18 further including a first generally
linear perforation extending as a chord of the generally arcuate
portion.
21. The carton of claim 20 further including a second generally
linear perforation extending generally parallel to the first
generally linear perforation.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Provisional
Application Ser. No. 60/987,458 filed Nov. 13, 2007, Provisional
Application Ser. No. 60/989,320 filed Nov. 20, 2007, and
Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/017,215 filed Dec. 28, 2007.
The disclosures of the foregoing provisional patent applications
are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their
entireties.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to packaging for shipping and storing
products. More particularly, the invention relates to a paperboard
carton that can be used to package, ship and store a variety of
products, such as consumer products and, more particularly,
beverage containers. Such beverage containers may come in various
configurations such as cylindrical cans, bottles of various
configurations or flexible pouches having a substantially
trapezoidal configuration.
[0003] For many years, beverage companies, such as soft drink,
fruit juice and beer companies have packaged their products in
light weight paperboard cartons and shipped such products to a
retail outlet or some other location where consumers can purchase
the products. There are many different types of cartons that can be
used for packaging and shipping products from the manufacturer to
the retailer. However, many of these cartons tend to be large and
are designed to hold large numbers of products. Such cartons are
suitable for "warehouse" type operations but are difficult for the
consumer to store and use when the consumer needs smaller
quantities for typical household activities.
[0004] Products can be packaged in smaller cartons containing
quantities of product that a consumer would typically want to
purchase for use in a relatively short period of time, such as ten
or a dozen individual items. It is desirable for these smaller
quantities of product to be packaged in smaller cartons that can be
displayed for sale to the consumer at a typical retail outlet. In
order to maximize the use of valuable floor space at the retail
outlet, such smaller cartons may be stacked on top of each other to
minimize the footprint left by the cartons and to provide an
attractive display to entice the consumer to buy the product.
Unfortunately, such stacking can result in damage to the carton
causing the consumer to assume that the individual products
packaged within the carton are damaged as well. This is bad for the
retailer because such perceived damaged goods are more difficult to
sell and thus can result in lower profits.
[0005] Another attribute that is desirable for such paperboard
cartons is to ensure that the cartons are easily opened. This
facilitates easy access by the consumer to the products, such as
beverage containers, located therein. These paperboard cartons with
easy opening features appeal to consumers because such cartons
provide an easy way for the consumer to transport a number of
products, such as beverage containers, therein from the retail
outlet to the consumer's home. Moreover, the dispensing openings
allow the paperboard cartons to also be stored in an easily
accessible location in the consumer's home, such as the
refrigerator, to allow neat storage of the product therein while
providing easy access to the product one at a time. Although some
paperboard cartons having dispensing openings therein are currently
available and generally work for their intended purposes they could
be improved. For example, some of these cartons are in fact
difficult to open. In addition, some of the cartons having such
dispensing openings can have compromised structural integrity
because of such openings.
[0006] Therefore, there is a need to provide an easy opening
paperboard carton with improved stacking strength that may be used
to package and ship individual items from the manufacturer to a
retail outlet and that can also be used in homes and other consumer
locations.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] A paperboard carton is provided having a top, a bottom, two
side panels and two end walls. Perforations formed in the carton
are provided to allow a consumer or other user to form a dispenser
opening in the top by removing the material of the carton bounded
by the perforations. The material used to form the paperboard
carton can be any standard paperboard material such as corrugated
paperboard that is typically used for packaging or shipping
containers. This material provides enough rigidity to the carton to
allow it to maintain its shape and retain the product therein. In
accordance with this invention, the end walls are modified to
provide improved stacking strength for the carton.
[0008] A blank for forming the paperboard carton is also provided.
The blank includes an adhesive panel, a first side panel, a bottom
panel, a second side panel and a top panel. End flaps adjoin the
first and second side panels. Preferably the end flaps are formed
having a stepped configuration with an upper surface, a lower
surface and an inclined middle surface. This allows adjoining end
flaps to nest or interlock, which results in reinforced end walls.
Perforations are formed in the blank to form the dispensing opening
when the blank is formed into the paperboard carton.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The various objects, advantages and novel features of the
present invention will be best understood by reference to the
detailed description of the preferred embodiments which follows,
when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings where like
reference numbers refer to like parts and in which:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the paperboard carton of
the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the blank used to make the
paperboard carton of the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a plan view of a blank used to make a second
embodiment of the paperboard carton of the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a top perspective view, similar to that of FIG. 1,
of the second embodiment of the paperboard carton of the present
invention;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a top perspective view, similar to that of FIG. 1,
of the second embodiment of the paperboard carton of the present
invention but with the dispensing opening opened to allow for
access to the contents of the carton;
[0015] FIG. 6 is a plan view of a blank used to make a third
embodiment of the paperboard carton of the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 7 is a top perspective view, similar to that of FIG. 1,
of the third embodiment of the paperboard carton of the present
invention; and
[0017] FIG. 8 is a top perspective view, similar to that of FIG. 1,
of the third embodiment of the paperboard carton of the present
invention but with the dispensing opening opened to allow for
access to the contents of the carton.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0018] In the drawings, the same or similar elements are denoted by
the same reference numerals even though they are depicted in
different drawings. As used herein, the term "top" or "upper"
refers to a location on the carton or blank of this invention, as
the case may be, along or toward the upper or top portion thereof
as seen in the orientation shown in the Figs. As used herein, the
term "bottom" or "lower" refers to a location on the carton or
blank of this invention, as the case may be, along or toward the
lower or bottom portion thereof as seen in the orientation shown in
the Figs. As used herein, the term "end" when used in reference to
a position on the carton of this invention refers to either the
right most or left most side of the carton as seen in the
orientation of the carton shown in the carton Figs. As used herein,
the term "right" refers to a location on the carton or blank of
this invention, as the case may be, along the right side thereof as
seen in the orientation shown in the Figs. As used herein, the term
"left" refers to a location on the carton or blank of this
invention, as the case may be, along the left side thereof as seen
in the orientation shown in the Figs.
[0019] As shown in FIG. 1, the carton 100 of the present invention
has a generally rectangular footprint and includes two sets of end
flaps. One set of end flaps is not seen because that set is hidden
on the right side of carton 100 in the view shown in FIG. 1.
However, the description herein of one set of end flaps applies
equally to the other set of end flaps. The end flaps provide added
stacking strength to carton 100 because of their nested and
interlocking configuration as shown in FIG. 1. As described in more
detail below, first side panel top end flap 21 and second side
panel top end flap 41 each has a stepped configuration with an
upper surface, a lower surface and an inclined middle surface that
allows them to nest or interlock and thus support each other.
Similarly, first side panel bottom end flap 22 and second side
panel bottom end flap 42 each has a stepped configuration with an
upper surface, a lower surface and an inclined middle surface that
allows them to nest or interlock and support each other. This
configuration results in more structural integrity for assembled
carton 100. With this added structural integrity, a lighter weight
paperboard material can be used to fabricate carton 100 without
compromising the overall strength of the assembled carton.
[0020] A paperboard blank 200 that can be used to make carton 100
is shown in FIG. 2. Blank 200 includes an adhesive tab 10. In
addition, blank 200 includes four main panels, a first side panel
20, a bottom panel 30, a second side panel 40 and a top panel 50.
Adhesive tab 10 is connected along its right side to the left side
of first side panel 20 along a first vertical fold line 210. First
side panel 20 is connected along its right side to the left side of
bottom panel 30 along a second vertical fold line 220. Bottom panel
30 is connected along its right side to the left side of second
side panel 40 along a third vertical fold line 230. Second side
panel 40 is connected along its right side to the left side of top
panel 50 along a fourth vertical fold line 240. A fifth vertical
fold line 250 may also be included and splits bottom panel 30 in
half.
[0021] A first side panel top end flap 21 extends above first side
panel 20 above a first generally horizontal fold line 301. A first
side panel bottom end flap 22 extends below first side panel 20
below a second generally horizontal fold line 302. A second side
panel top end flap 41 extends above second side panel 40 above a
third generally horizontal fold line 303. A second side panel
bottom end flap 42 extends below a fourth generally horizontal fold
line 304. Each of first side panel top end flap 21, first side
panel bottom end flap 22, second side panel top end flap 41 and
second side panel bottom end flap 42 has a stepped configuration
with an upper surface, a lower surface and an inclined middle
surface. Specifically, first side panel top end flap 21 has an
upper surface 21a, a lower surface 21c and an inclined middle
surface 21b. First side panel bottom end flap 22 has an upper
surface 22a, a lower surface 22c and an inclined middle surface
22b. Second side panel top end flap 41 has an upper surface 41a, a
lower surface 41c and an inclined middle surface 41b. Second side
panel bottom end flap 42 has an upper surface 42a, a lower surface
42c and an inclined middle surface 42b. This configuration allows
adjacent end flaps, i.e. first side panel top end flap 21 and
second side panel top end flap 41 on the one hand and first side
panel bottom end flap 22 and second side panel bottom end flap 42
on the other hand, to nest or interlock when blank 200 is folded
and assembled into carton 100. Preferably, inclined surfaces 21b,
22b, 41b and 42b intersect upper surface 21a, 22a, 41a, and 42a
respectively and lower surface 21c, 22c, 41c and 42c respectively
at an angle of about 45 degrees. This angle is preferred because it
provides superior stacking strength characteristics for carton 100
and minimizes the necessary material needed to form carton 100.
Although an angle of about 45 degrees is preferred, other angles
may also be acceptable, such as an angle between about 30 degrees
and about 60 degrees. In addition, upper surfaces 21a and 41a are
preferably located along the left portion of first side panel 20
and second side panel 40 respectively. In another embodiment, upper
surfaces 21a and 41a could be located along the right portion of
first side panel 20 and second side panel 40 respectively. Either
of these orientations ensures that first side panel top end flap 21
nests or interlocks with second side panel top end flap 41.
Similarly, upper surfaces 22a and 42a are preferably located along
the left portion of first side panel 20 and second side panel 40
respectively. In another embodiment, upper surfaces 22a and 42a
could be located along the right portion of first side panel 20 and
second side panel 40 respectively. Either of these orientations
ensures that first side panel bottom end flap 22 nests or
interlocks with second side panel bottom end flap 42. In addition,
any permutation of the particular orientations of the two sets of
end flaps, i.e. first side panel top end flap 21 and second side
panel top end flap 41 as a set on the one hand in comparison to
first side panel bottom end flap 22 and second side panel bottom
end flap 42 as a set on the other hand, could be used to provide
the added stacking strength of assembled carton 100.
[0022] An adhesive panel top end flap 11 adjoins adhesive panel 10
above generally horizontal fold line 320. An adhesive panel bottom
end flap 12 adjoins adhesive panel 10 below generally horizontal
fold line 321. Bottom panel first top end flap 31a and bottom panel
second top end flap 31b adjoin bottom panel 30 above generally
horizontal fold line 322. Bottom panel first bottom end flap 32a
and bottom panel second bottom end flap 32b adjoin bottom panel 30
below generally horizontal fold line 323. A top panel top end flap
51 adjoins top panel 50 above generally horizontal fold line 324.
Preferably top panel top end flap 51 extends along about one half
of the width of top panel 50. A top panel bottom end flap 52
adjoins top panel 50 below generally horizontal fold line 325.
Preferably top panel second end flap 52 extends along about one
half of the width of top panel 50.
[0023] All of the fold lines formed in blank 100 are formed by
crushing the paperboard material along the line to be folded to
facilitate bending of the paperboard material to form the various
panels and flaps. All perforations in the paperboard blank of this
invention preferably are formed by scoring the paperboard so it is
cut about 50% into the outer side of the paperboard material. This
50% cut is a continuous cut that extends from the surface of the
material down to a depth that is half of the thickness of the
material. The 50% cut assures a clean tear at the surface that
leaves a relatively pleasing appearance, particularly when the
paperboard blank is printed.
[0024] To assemble carton 100, blank 200 is first folded by bending
the paperboard material along first vertical fold line 210 and
fourth vertical fold line 240. This allows adhesive panel 10 and
top panel 50 to be folded 90 degrees such that adhesive tab 10 is
generally perpendicular to first side panel 20 and top panel 50 is
generally perpendicular to second side panel 40 and adhesive panel
10 and top panel 50 extend in the same direction. Blank 200 can
then be folded along first horizontal fold line 301, second
horizontal fold line 302, third horizontal fold line 303, and
fourth horizontal fold line 304 such that first side panel top end
flap 21 and first side panel bottom end flap 22 are generally
perpendicular to first side panel 20 and extend in the same
direction and second side panel top end flap 41 and second side
panel bottom end flap 42 are generally perpendicular to second side
panel 40 and extend in the same direction. Adhesive panel top end
flap 11 is folded so it is generally perpendicular to adhesive
panel 10 and can be adhered to first side panel top end flap 21.
Adhesive panel bottom end flap 12 is folded so it is generally
perpendicular to adhesive panel 10 and can be adhered to first side
panel bottom end flap 22. Top panel top end flap 51 is folded so it
is generally perpendicular to top panel 50 and can be adhered to
second side panel top end flap 41. Top panel bottom end flap 52 is
folded so it is generally perpendicular to top panel 50 and can be
adhered to second side panel bottom end flap 42.
[0025] In one embodiment, bottom panel 30 can be folded in half,
180 degrees along fifth vertical fold line 250 so that each half of
bottom panel 30 is abutting one another in face to face
relationship and extending in the same direction as adhesive panel
10 and top panel 50. In addition, bottom panel first top end flap
31a is folded so it is perpendicular to bottom panel 30 and adjoins
first side panel top end flap 21. Bottom panel second top end flap
31b is folded so it is perpendicular to bottom panel 30 and adjoins
second side panel top end flap 41. Bottom panel first bottom end
flap 32a is folded so it is perpendicular to bottom panel 30 and
adjoins first side panel bottom end flap 22. Bottom panel second
bottom end flap 32b is folded so it is perpendicular to bottom
panel 30 and adjoins second side panel bottom end flap 42. In this
open suitcase type orientation, product can be loaded into the
partially erected carton before it is folded up like closing a
suitcase. When the carton is then folded closed like a suitcase,
top panel 50 overlaps adhesive panel 10, or vice versa, so that top
panel 50 and adhesive panel 10 can be adhered together to fully
erect carton 100.
[0026] In another embodiment, instead of folding bottom panel 30 in
half, first side panel 20 can be folded along second vertical fold
line 220 so first side panel 20 is perpendicular to bottom panel 30
and second side panel 40 can be folded along third vertical fold
line 230 so second side panel 40 is perpendicular to bottom panel
30 with first side panel 20 and second side panel 40 extending in
the same direction. In this configuration, bottom panel first top
end flap 31a can be adhered to first side panel top end flap 21,
bottom panel second top end flap 31b can be adhered to second side
panel top end flap 41, bottom panel first bottom end flap 32a can
be adhered to first side panel bottom end flap 22 and bottom panel
second bottom end flap 32b can be adhered to second side panel
bottom end flap 42. With carton 100 in this configuration, product
can be loaded through the top of carton 100. Thereafter, adhesive
panel 10 is folded over so that adhesive panel top flap 11 and
adhesive panel bottom flap 12 abut and are adhered to first side
panel top end flap 21 and first side panel bottom end flap 22
respectively. Similarly, top panel 50 is folded over so that top
panel top end flap 51 and top panel bottom end flap 52 abut and are
adhered to second side panel top end flap 41 and second side panel
bottom end flap 42 respectively. In addition, top panel 50 can be
adhered to adhesive panel 10.
[0027] Any panel or flap that is described as adhered to an
adjacent panel or flap may be glued, stapled or otherwise adhered
by conventional means.
[0028] The general blank and carton configurations depicted in
FIGS. 3 through 8 are substantially similar to the configurations
described above and depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2 except for the
inclusion of an easy opening feature in the embodiments of FIGS. 3
through 8. Thus the description of the second and third embodiments
that follow will focus solely on the different easy opening
features of these embodiments and not the other aspects of the
invention, it being understood that the general configurations
relating to the improved stacking strength of the resulting carton
is substantially the same as described in connection with the
embodiment of FIG. 1.
[0029] As shown in FIGS. 3 through 5, the easy opening feature of
the second embodiment of this invention includes a two part
opening. This two part opening includes a tear strip 380 and an
opening flap 385. Tear strip 380 is a standard feature of
paperboard cartons and is used to provide the consumer with a
mechanism to easily open carton 100'. As seen in FIG. 3, tear strip
380 extends along a generally middle or middle right portion of top
panel 50. Opening flap 385 is adjacent to tear strip 380 along a
middle left portion of top panel 50. The exact location of opening
flap 385 and tear strip 380 is not critical. All that is necessary
is that opening flap 385 and tear strip 380 are conveniently
located along a portion of top panel 50 to provide easy access by
the consumer to the contents of the carton. Opening flap 385 is
bounded at its right side by the left side of tear strip 380, along
its top by perforation line 390, along its bottom by perforation
line 391 and along its left side by a portion of fourth vertical
fold line 240. As discussed below, preferably that portion of
fourth vertical fold line between perforation lines 390 and 391 is
formed as a perforation to allow that portion of the paperboard to
be removed from blank 200'. By using tear strip 380 to tear a small
opening in the top of carton 100', a consumer can gain access to
the underside of opening flap 385 to lift up opening flap 385 by
tearing through perforation lines 390 and 391 and thus gain access
to the contents of carton 100'. Preferably opening flap 385 can be
completely removed from the top of carton 100' along a portion of
fourth vertical fold line 240 that is perforated so that opening
flap 385 does not get in the way. However, if desired, the consumer
can allow opening flap 385 to remain attached to the carton as
shown in FIG. 5. In such a case fourth vertical fold line 240 would
not include any perforations.
[0030] As shown in FIGS. 6 through 8, the easy opening feature of
the third embodiment of this invention includes a single opening
door 401, which is generally located in the middle or middle left
portion of top panel 50. The exact location of opening door 401 is
not critical. All that is necessary is that opening door 401 be
conveniently located along top panel 50 to provide the consumer
with easy access to the contents of the carton. As shown in FIG. 6,
opening door 401 is bounded on its right side by perforation line
530, along its top by curved perforation line 520, along its bottom
by perforation line 510 and along its left side by a portion of
fourth vertical fold line 240. As discussed in more detail below,
preferably, that portion of fourth vertical fold line 240 that
extends between perforation line 510 and perforation line 520 is
perforated. This allows opening door 401 to be completely removed
from the carton. Horizontal perforation lines 501 and 502 extend
across a top portion, as seen in FIG. 6, of opening door 401. These
horizontal perforation lines 501 and 502 provide an area of
weakness for a consumer to push into along opening door 401 so
their fingers can then grasp a portion of opening door 401 adjacent
to horizontal perforation lines 501 and 502 and then pull the
remaining portion of opening door 401 from the carton. If desired,
the consumer can allow opening door 401 to remain attached to the
carton, as shown in FIG. 8, to act as a door to reclose the carton
and protect the contents thereof. However, it is not preferred to
have opening door remain attached to the carton because opening
door 401 could get in the way of the consumer making access to the
contents of the carton difficult.
[0031] The present invention has been described with reference to
exemplary embodiments thereof. It will be readily apparent,
however, to those skilled in the art that it is possible to embody
the invention in specific forms other than those of the exemplary
embodiments described above. This may be done without departing
from the spirit of the invention. The exemplary embodiments are
merely illustrative and should not be considered restrictive in any
way.
* * * * *