Display Carton

Abstract

A blank is provided for an article display carton and the like having a double front wall construction with an intermediate front wall panel configured to define a resilient nesting and holding arrangement for an article to be displayed, and an outer front wall configured to break open upon the insertion of the article thereagainst, and to coact with the intermediate front wall panel to hold the article firmly in place while simultaneously framing the article. In addition, certain specific nick arrangements are provided for enabling initial erection of the carton into tubular form while providing easy break-away from tubular form upon insertion of the article to be displayed.

Description

Generally speaking, this invention relates to a display carton for the display of such goods as drugs, cosmetics, and like items commonly sold in drug stores and the drug departments of discount and department stores. More particularly, this invention relates to a particular arrangement for display cartons commonly known as shadow box structures, which structures, as well known, have a portion of the front face thereof slit in a manner so that the item being displayed in the carton is exposed to the purchasing public.

As is well known, such structures having at least a portion of the front face thereof opened do not present as substantial a final structure, thus making them more susceptible to damage from handling. This invention is particularly directed to a construction for such display cartons which provides for substantial rigidity by providing a double front wall construction having an intermediate front wall configured to define a resilient nesting and holding arrangement for an article to be displayed which intermediate front wall coacts with an outer front wall configured to break open upon the insertion of the article thereagainst, and to coact with the intermediate front panel to hold the article firmly in place while simultaneously framing the article. Also provided herewith is a particular kind of nick arrangement in the various cuts defining the various portions of the intermediate and outer front panels so that when the carton is initially erected into tubular form, the intermediate and front panels remain in substantially a single plane, thus making the handling during the initial erection of such cartons much easier and less expensive because they can be processed on conventional machinery. Subsequently to this initial erection, the insertion of the article into the carton causes a breakaway of both the intermediate and outer front panels to provide a resilient pocket therebetween for accommodating the article being inserted. Further included, in accordance herewith, is a particular configured curved score line between the end panel and the tuck flap thereof which provides increased rigidity and stiffening of the end portions of the carton, in accordance herewith, upon erection.

As well known, the blanks for such cartons are produced by mass production techniques in which literally hundreds of thousands of a particular blank design may be produced in a single production run. Therefore, it becomes economically important that the blanks be formed in a manner which will provide a final display carton which displays the item being held in a manner as desired while at the same time the carton presents sufficient rigidity for handling after the article has been inserted into the carton. Furthermore, because of the number of such cartons being produced on a mass production basis, it is important that the handling and erection of the carton prior to insertion of the article being displayed, can be taken care of or carried out on existing packaging machinery because such machinery is very complicated and expensive to replace if it must be replaced each time a new design for a carton is formulated, or each time a particular configuration of goods is developed for display in such cartons.

As well known, further, shadow box structures have been used increasingly for the sale of articles such as drug and cosmetic items because at least a portion of the article can be exposed to the purchasing public on a display counter. However, certain drawbacks may arise from the use of such shadow box cartons because the front panel thereof is slit or broken away in order to provide the opening or window for the article being displayed. When this happens, the carton does not provide the same kind of rigidity that a standard closed carton would provide.

Many arrangements have been devised in the past for overcoming this difficulty in the form of complicated series of folds and tucking arrangements at each end of the shadow box carton, which arrangements have proved satisfactory in the sense of providing the appropriate rigid carton for the final display of the article, as desired, with the carton sustaining the rough handling involved in shipping, etc., prior to the time that the articles are put on display in a store. However, these complicated folding and tucking arrangements require more substantial handling by more complicated machinery, thus making them more expensive to produce on a mass production basis because each additional cut or fold in the erection of such cartons requires revision of existing machinery or the development of additional machinery in a production line in order to provide the final erected carton.

By contrast, and quite unexpectedly, it has now been found in accordance with this invention that the advantages of utilizing a shadow box display carton can be utilized in a mass production operation using conventional erection machinery while at the same time providing a final display carton having the desired rigidity. The applicant herein has achieved this by utilizing a dual front panel construction for a shadow box with the two front panels being configured with cuts and nicks in a pattern arrangement so that both front panels remain in parallel planes in facing contact upon erection of the carton blank from its substantially flat form to a tubular form. Thus, the initial erection of the carton can take place with conventional machinery.

Also incorporated into the blank, in accordance herewith, is a particular curved or boomerang-shaped score line between the end panels and their associated tucking flap which provides increased stiffening or rigidity to the ends of the erected carton, which arrangement can also be used in conventional erection machinery. After erection of the carton in substantially tubular form and after the tucking in of the end panels, the dual front panel system, in accordance herewith, still remains substantially in a single plane. Thereafter, upon insertion of the article to be displayed, both of the dual front panels break away to provide an arrangement wherein the two panels coact with each other to provide a resilient seating arrangement for the article being displayed. The result is a shadow box display carton having the substantial rigidity required for such cartons for subsequent handling and prior to the time they are put on display, and with such carton being configured to hold the item to be displayed in an appropriately rigid manner so that it will not fall out and will hold its place in the carton for the appropriate display thereof.

Accordingly, it is one object of this invention to provide a blank for a carton structure which can be erected on conventional machinery to an initial tubular form and which end flaps can also be handled and tucked in on conventional erection machinery. In addition, it is another object of this invention to provide a shadow box carton structure in which the structure, upon initial erection into tubular form, maintains the front panel portions thereof in substantially a single plane, so that the entire box does not become distorted and can easily be handled prior to the time when an object is inserted therein.

Further, it is an object of this invention to provide a shadow box structure for the display of articles such as cosmetics or drugs in which a dual panel structure is provided which breaks away upon insertion of the article to be displayed into a coacting configuration for holding the article to be displayed in resilient fashion therebetween and which dual structure serves to maintain the article being displayed in the appropriate display position during all subsequent handling. It is a still further object of this invention to provide a shadow box structure having a uniquely configured score line between the end panel for said structure and the tuck flap therefor, which upon erection provides enhanced rigidity for the cartons at the ends thereof and which arrangement can be handled on conventional erection machinery.

With the foregoing and additional objects in view, this invention will now be described in more detail, and other objects and advantages thereof will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

As purely illustrative of a carton blank which may be used for carrying out this invention, one may note the attached drawings in which a carton blank for a shadow box carton structure is shown, which blank is arranged to be initially folded and glued into a substantially two-layered form for subsequent erection into a tubular form, as well known.

IN THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a blank from which a shadow box may be formed and embodying aspects for practicing this invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a carton erected from the blank of FIG. 1 and having the dual front panels thereof broken away to show the internal arrangements, in accordance herewith;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of a shadow box carton erected from the blank of FIG. 1 and showing an article for display contained therein;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the erected carton of FIG. 3 and showing the configuration of the score line between one of the end panels and its associated tuck flap;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6--6 of FIG. 3.

Referring to the drawings, in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views thereof, a carton blank for erecting a shadow box carton, in accordance herewith, is indicated generally at 10 in FIG. 1. Blank 10 is comprised of flexible sheet material such as paperboard, as well known, and includes a rear panel 11 having side panels 12 and 16 articulated thereon along score lines 14 and 18, respectively. Articulated to rear panel 11 along the top edge thereof is an end panel 20 along score line 22 which, in turn, has a tuck flap 24 articulated thereto along score line 26.

As one feature of this invention, score line 26 is configured in a slightly curved or boomerang-shaped fashion as shown and cooperates with dual cuts 28 to provide enhanced rigidity and stiffening to the ends of the carton, upon erection. Articulated to the top and bottom edges of panel 12 are conventional dust flaps 30 and 34 articulated along score lines 36 and 38, respectively.

Articulated along one side edge of panel 16 is an intermediate front panel 46 along score lines 40, 40a and 50. As can be seen in FIG. 1, score line 50 is arranged intermediate of the side edges of panel 16 and at an angle from the longitudinal axis thereof. Score line 50 in conjunction with cuts 52 and 54, serve to form an intermediate suspension panel 47 which in turn is articulated to strap portion 56 of intermediate front panel 46. Disposed in the same axis as score line 40, 40a is a cut 42 interrupted by nicks 44, the use for which will be discussed below. Articulated to intermediate front panel 46 in mirror image fashion to side panel 16 is a glue flap 80 articulated along score lines 82, 82a and 84 and cut 85 interrupted by nicks 86.

Interposed between glue flap 80 and intermediate front panel 46 is a suspension panel 87 formed as panel 47 and having cuts 90 and 92 as well as score line 88 dividing panel 87 from strap 56 of intermediate front panel 46. Strap 56 of intermediate front panel 46 is arranged to provide a resilient nesting strap for the upper portion or cap of an article to be displayed, and is comprised of segments 56a, 56b, 56c and 56d. Top segment 56d is divided from side segments 56a and 56c by an interrupted score line 62 having cuts 62a therein, and 56d is separated from 56a and 56b by score lines 57. Strap 56 is articulated to stationary top portion 58 of intermediate front panel 46 along score line 60. Strap 56 has opening 48 disposed thereon for receiving the top of an article being displayed. Panel 46 is divided by transverse cut 64 interrupted by nicks 65 to form middle section 66 of intermediate front panel 46 which has a tongue 67 articulated thereon along divided score line 68.

Middle section 66 of front panel 46 is articulated to bottom section 76 thereof along interrupted score line 68. Tongue 67 is separated from bottom portion 76 by cuts 72 interrupted by nicks 74. Also, bottom section 76 has opening 70 therein for receiving the bottom portion of an article to be displayed. Section 76 has diagonally arranged score lines 78 disposed on each side thereof, extending upwardly from the top of score lines 40a and 82a and intersecting the edge of opening 70. Articulated to the bottom edge of intermediate front panel 76 is an end panel 94 along score line 96, which end panel 94 has tuck flap 98 articulated thereon along score line 100.

It should be understood that it is within the purview of this invention that intermediate panel 46 can be arranged to have similar structural arrangements above and below score line 64 for accommodating different configured items to be displayed. For example, an intermediate panel the same as panel 66 with its associated tongue 67 may be arranged in mirror image fashion above score line 64 or, in the alternative, a strap structure the same as 56 could be arranged in mirror image fashion below score line 64.

Articulated to side panel 12 along score line 104 is an outer front panel 102 which in turn has articulated thereon a side panel 118 along score line 120. Articulated to the top and bottom edges of side panel 118 are dust flaps 122 and 126 along score lines 124 and 128, respectively. Outer front panel 102 has a full width substantially horizontal transverse cut 106 in curved fashion as shown in FIG. 1, and longitudinal cut 108 intersecting cut 106 to form separable longitudinal shadow panels 112 and 114. Cut 108 has interruptions 110 therein which serve to hold shadow panels 112 and 114 together and to maintain all portions of outer front panel 102 in the same plane during the erection of a shadow box carton into tubular form from blank 10, of FIG. 1, as will be described below. As can be seen in FIG. 1, interruptions 110 are comprised of a series of long cuts 140 disposed in a single axis alternating with a second series of long cuts 141 disposed in a second axis, and with both said axes parallel with but offset from the axis of cut 108. Interconnecting alternating long cuts 140 and 141 are a plurality of substantially transverse cuts 142. The bottom edges of shadow panels 112 and 114 are cut along opposed diagonal lines 116 to coact in locking engagement with portions of intermediate panel 106 upon insertion of an article to be displayed.

In initial construction of the carton, side panel 12 is erected along score line 14 and side panel 16 is erected along score line 18. Thereafter, flap 80 is glued to glue strip 13 so that intermediate front panel 46 is formed in place. Thereafter, outer front panel 102 is articulated along score line 104 to carry side panel 118 to the erected outside edge of side panel 16 for application of glue strip 130 to the outer side of side panel 16, as viewed in FIG. 1. These two erection procedures place the entire carton in tubular form which may be flattened for shipping purposes.

Thereafter, the only handling necessary is the actual erection of the carton from its flattened to its tubular form condition and the tucking in of the two end panels 94 and 96 together with their respective tuck flaps 24 and 98. In this connection, as noted above, the curved or boomerang-shaped score line 26 in conjunction with the cuts 28 serve to provide an enhanced rigid end portion of the erected carton.

Subsequent to this erection procedure, an article 132 to be displayed may be inserted into the carton through outer front panel 102 by forcing apart the interruptions 110. This movement inwardly toward the rear panel of the carton by insertion of the article through outer front panel 102 forces various portions of intermediate panel 46 out of its original parallel facing contact position with outer front panel 102 and causes the various portions of intermediate panel 46 to divide along the various nicks 44, 65, 74, and 86. When this happens, the various articulated segments 56a, 56b, 56c and 56d of strap 56 form a strap or sling which, together with opening 48, and panels 47 and 87, serve to hold the upper portion of an article to be displayed in resilient fashion.

Thereafter, insertion of the bottom half of article 32 into opening 70 serves to force section 66 and tongue 67 flat against rear panel 11 (FIG. 2) and to articulate 66 and 67 with bottom section 76 along score lines 68 and 78. At this point, section 76 coacts with shadow panels 114 and 112 to form mitered corners near the bottom of the erected carton extending from the top of score lines 40a and 82a, respectively, with article 132 bedded resiliently in place on strap 56 at the top thereof; and with shadow panels 112 and 114 on each side thereof. That portion of bottom panel 76 below scores 78 forms a bottom front panel providing further rigidity to the bottom edge of the carton. Top portion 134 of article 132 is held in resilient fashion between strap 56 and the upper portion of outer front panel 102, as can be seen in FIG. 3.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the carton with the outer front panel 102 broken away in order to show the construction of intermediate front panel 46 after an article has been inserted therein, but with the article removed for clarity. As can be seen, tongue 67 and its associated section 66 lie flat against rear panel 11 with tongue 67 being held against tuck flap 98. Strap 56 of intermediate front panel 46 is arranged in resilient articulated fashion from side panel 16 and flap 80 through the action of intermediate panels 47 and 87 together with their associated score lines 50, 55, 88, and 84, as well as interrupted score lines 62 and score lines 57 dividing the various segments of strap 56.

As can be seen in FIG. 4, score line 26, because of its curved or boomerang-shaped configuration, provides a certain degree of tension on tuck flap 24 as it bears against outer front panel 102, thus enhancing the stiffening and rigidity of the ends of the carton erected, in accordance herewith.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show sectional views of the erected carton of FIG. 3 having the article 132 inserted therein and shows the arrangement of the articulated strap 56 as it bears against the cap or top portion 134 of article 132, as well as the arrangement of shadow panels 112 and 114 in relationship to the articulated strap 56 and the various segments or portions thereof.

Accordingly, as will be apparent from the foregoing, there is provided, in accordance herewith, a shadow box carton blank which is particularly appropriate for erection on conventional erection machinery equipment, and when such shadow box carton is erected into its tubular form, the particular dual front panel configuration, in accordance herewith, which maintains its substantially planar condition for easier handling prior to insertion of an article to be displayed. In addition, the dual front panel arrangement, in accordance herewith, is easily broken away by insertion of an article to be displayed with the configuration thereof serving to cause the dual front panel arrangement to coact to hold the article to be displayed in a rigid but non-slipping manner. The final erected carton has the substantial rigidity necessary for subsequent handling and, because of the relative ease of erection, conventional erection machinery can be used, thus making the invention, in accordance herewith, highly advantageous commerically.

While the methods and products herein disclosed form preferred embodiments of this invention, this invention is not limited to those specific methods and products, and changes can be made therein without departing from the scope of this invention which is defined in the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. In a carton for display packaging, said carton having a rear panel, two pairs of side panels, top and bottom end panels and a front panel; said front panel having a transverse cut over the width thereof, and a longitudinal cut extending from the bottom thereof and intersecting said transverse cut to form an article display opening having a pair of shadow panels derived from the lower portions of said front panel and bent inwardly upon insertion of an article to be displayed; the combination which comprises an intermediate front panel disposed immediately below said front panel in parallel facing contact therewith and arranged to coact with said front panel upon insertion of an article to be displayed; said intermediate front panel having a top portion and a bottom portion divided by a transverse cut interrupted by a plurality of nicks across the entire transverse extent of said intermediate front panel; said top portion being comprised of a segmented strap articulated on each side thereof to one each of one pair of said side panels, said bottom portion comprising a middle section having an integral tongue portion thereon with a bottom section articulated to said middle section by an interrupted score line; said strap having an opening therein, a top segment, a bottom segment, a pair of side segments, a plurality of sequential cuts and scores arranged in two diagonally disposed converging axes between said top segment and each of said side segments and extending from the top corners of said strap to said openings, and a pair of spaced-apart longitudinal score lines extending between the bottom of said strap and said opening dividing said bottom segment and said side segments; a bottom opening disposed between said middle section and said bottom section defining the bottom edge of said tongue portion; said middle section being separated from said pair of side panels by a first pair of longitudinal cuts extending therebetween and interrupted by a plurality of nicks; said bottom section having a pair of score lines disposed in converging axes extending upwardly from the side edges of said intermediate front panel and intersecting said bottom opening, a second pair of longitudinally extending cuts interrupted by a plurality of nicks and disposed along each side of said bottom section adjacent each one of said pair of side panels, and a third pair of cuts interrupted by a plurality of nicks, said third pair of cuts being curved and disposed in mirror image fashion along each side of said tongue; whereby insertion of an article to be displayed in said carton causes rupture of the said plurality of nicks in said first, second and third pairs of cuts and said transverse cut for insertion of an article to be displayed in said openings.

2. A display carton as described in claim 1 which includes a pair of suspension panels disposed between said strap and said pair of side panels in mirror image fashion with each of said suspension panels being derived from their respective side panels and formed by a first longitudinal score line extending between said strap and said suspension panels; a second diagonal score line on the side of said suspension panels opposite said first score line; and a pair of substantially transverse cuts extending between the ends of said first and second score lines; and which also includes a pair of fourth longitudinal cuts disposed between said strap and said pair of side panels in the axes of said pair of first longitudinal score lines.

3. A carton as recited in claim 1 in which said longitudinal cut in said front panel has a plurality of interruptions disposed therein with each of said interruptions being comprised of a plurality of long cuts arranged sequentially in alternating fashion along two axes parallel to but offset from the axis of said longitudinal cut on each side thereof, and a plurality of transverse cuts connecting the ends of said alternating long cuts.

4. A carton as recited in claim 1 in which one of said end panels is articulated to the top edge of said rear panel, with said end panel having a tuck flap articulated thereto along a substantially curved score line the apex of which extends into said tuck flap, said score line being shorter in length than the width of said end and tuck panels; and which includes an L-shaped cut extending from each end of said curved score line to the edge of the said end and tuck panels.

5. A one-piece paperboard blank for erection into an article display carton and having consecutively articulated glue flap, front, side, rear, and a second pair of side panels; said front panel having a full width substantially transverse cut therein defining a fixed top front wall portion and a bottom display opening portion; said bottom display opening portion having a longitudinal cut therein defining a pair of shadow panels for being bent inwardly upon erection of said carton; the combination which comprises an intermediate front panel articulated between said second pair of side panels and arranged upon erection to be disposed immediately below said front panel in parallel facing contact therewith; said intermediate front panel having a top portion and a bottom portion divided by a transverse cut interrupted by a plurality of nicks across the entire transverse extent of said intermediate front panel; said top portion being comprised of a segmented strap articulated on each side thereof to one each of one pair of said side panels, said bottom portion comprising a middle section having an integral tongue portion thereon with a bottom section articulated to said middle section by an interrupted score line; said strap having an opening therein, a top segment, a bottom segment, a pair of side segments, a plurality of sequential cuts and scores arranged in two diagonally disposed converging axes between said top segment and each of said side segments and extending from the top corners of said strap to said openings, and a pair of spaced-apart longitudinal score lines extending between the bottom of said strap and said opening dividing said bottom segment and said side segments; a bottom opening disposed between said middle section and said bottom section defining the bottom edge of said tongue portion; said middle section being separated from said pair of side panels by a first pair of longitudinal cuts extending therebetween interrupted by a plurality of nicks; said bottom section having a pair of score lines disposed in converging axes extending upwardly from the side edges of said intermediate front panel and intersecting said bottom opening, a second pair of longitudinally extending cuts interrupted by a plurality of nicks and disposed along each side of said bottom section adjacent each one of said pair of side panels, and a third pair of cuts interrupted by a plurality of nicks, said third pair of cuts being curved and disposed in mirror image fashion along each side of said tongue.

6. A display carton as described in claim 5 which includes a pair of suspension panels disposed between said strap and said pair of side panels in mirror image fashion with each of said suspension panels being derived from their respective side panels and formed by a first longitudinal score line extending between said strap and said suspension panels; a second diagonal score line on the side of said suspension panels opposite said first score line; and a pair of substantially transverse cuts extending between the ends of said first and second score lines; and which also includes a pair of fourth longitudinal cuts disposed between said strap and said pair of side panels in the axes of said pair of first longitudinal score lines.

7. A carton as recited in claim 5 in which said longitudinal cut in said front panel has a plurality of interruptions disposed therein with each of said interruptions being comprised of a plurality of long cuts arranged sequentially in alternating fashion along two axes parallel to but offset from the axis of said longitudinal cut on each side thereof, and a plurality of transverse cuts connecting the ends of said alternating long cuts.

8. A carton as recited in claim 5 in which one of said end panels is articulated to the top edge of said rear panel, with said end panel having a tuck flap articulated thereto along a substantially curved score line the apex of which extends into said tuck flap, said score line being shorter in length than the width of said end and tuck panels; and which includes an L-shaped cut extending from each end of said curved score line to the edge of the said end and tuck panels.