U.S. patent number RE29,185 [Application Number 05/706,192] was granted by the patent office on 1977-04-19 for wedge shaped carton.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Hoerner Waldorf Corporation. Invention is credited to William M. Tolaas.
United States Patent |
RE29,185 |
Tolaas |
April 19, 1977 |
Wedge shaped carton
Abstract
A carton is provided having opposite side portions which project
beyond the lower surface of carton. The lower surface is provided
with apertures so that heat may pass through the apertures when the
carton is placed in an oven or other heating chamber. A strip of
film is secured to the lower surface and along an adjoining wall.
The film normally closes the apertures, but is removable to expose
the apertures.
Inventors: |
Tolaas; William M. (St. Paul,
MN) |
Assignee: |
Hoerner Waldorf Corporation
(St. Paul, MN)
|
Family
ID: |
27007122 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/706,192 |
Filed: |
July 19, 1976 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
Reissue of: |
375599 |
Jul 2, 1973 |
03876131 |
Apr 8, 1975 |
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
229/104; 229/120;
229/195; 229/115; 229/122; 426/113 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
5/2028 (20130101); B65D 5/708 (20130101); B65D
81/343 (20130101); B65D 2205/02 (20130101); B65D
2205/025 (20130101); B65D 2581/3406 (20130101); B65D
2581/3456 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
81/34 (20060101); B65D 5/70 (20060101); B65D
5/20 (20060101); B65D 005/18 (); B65D 085/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;229/22,51R,51AS,51TS,51D,51ST,51WB,DIG.14,17R ;206/45.32,45.31
;426/113,119 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Moorhead; Davis T.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Best; Jerry F.
Claims
I claim: .[.
1. A generally triangular carton for use in containing a
wedge-shaped piece of pizza or the like including:
a generally triangular bottom panel having a base edge and
converging side edges,
a generally rectangular end wall hingedly connected to the base
edge of said bottom panel and extending upwardly therefrom,
a generally triangular top panel hingedly connected to the upper
edge of said end wall, said top panel being substantially identical
in size and shape to said bottom panel, and extending parallel to
said bottom panel,
inner side wall panels secured to the converging edges of said
bottom panel and extending upwardly therefrom,
outer side wall panels secured to the converging edges of said top
panel and extending downwardly therefrom outwardly of said inner
side wall panels,
means securing said inner and outer side wall panels in face
contact,
corner flaps connecting the converging ends of side walls, and
connecting the ends of said end wall to said side walls,
said bottom panel having a series of spaced apertures
therethrough,
a strip of film secured to the under surface of said bottom panel
and upwardly along said end wall panel, said strip closing said
apertures,
the strip of film being secured in a manner to be readily
detachable to expose said apertures..]. .[.2. The structure of
claim 1 and in which said outer side walls extend below the plane
of said bottom panel to support said bottom panel in spaced
relation to a surface upon which said carton is placed..]. .[.3.
The structure of claim 1 and in which said end wall is defined by
weakened lines of contact..]. .[.4. The structure of claim 1 and in
which said end of said strip of film extends beyond the surface of
said top panel..]. .[.5. The structure of claim 1 and in which said
top panel includes a detachable area adjoining said base edge
thereof, and including a pair of weakened lines of separation
extending downwardly from the edges of said detachable area between
which said film strip is secured..]. .[.6. A carton including:
a bottom panel,
first side walls hinged to the edges of said bottom panel and
extending upwardly therefrom,
a top panel hingedly secured along one edge to one of said side
walls and extending substantially parallel to said bottom panel,
said top panel being substantially identical in size and shape to
said bottom panel,
second side walls hingedly secured to the remaining edges of said
top panel and extending downwardly therefrom and secured in face
contact with said first side walls,
said bottom panel having a series of spaced apertures extending
therethrough,
a strip of film secured to the under surface of said bottom panel
and extending upwardly outwardly of one of said side walls,
said film closing said aperture and being secured in a manner to be
readily detachable to expose said apertures..]. .[.7. The structure
of claim 6 and in which said second side walls lie outwardly of
said first side walls and extend below the plane of said bottom
panel to support said bottom panel in spaced relation to a surface
upon which said carton is placed..]. .[.8. The structure of claim 6
and in which said one side wall is defined by weakened lines of
separation..]. .[.9. The structure of claim 6 and in which an end
of said film extends above the surface of said top panel..]. .[.10.
The structure of claim 6 and in which said top panel includes a
detachable area adjoining said one side wall, and including a pair
of weakened lines of separation extending downwardly from the edges
of said detachable area in said one side wall between which said
film strip is secured..]. .Iadd.11. A generally triangular carton
for use in containing a wedge-shaped piece of pizza or the like
including:
a generally triangular bottom panel having a base edge and
converging side edges,
a generally rectangular end wall hingedly connected to the base
edge of said bottom panel and extending upwardly therefrom,
a generally triangular top panel hingedly connected to the upper
edge of said end wall, said top panel being substantially identical
in size and shape to said bottom panel, and extending parallel to
said bottom panel,
inner side wall panels secured to the converging edges of said
bottom panel and extending upwardly therefrom,
outer side wall panels secured to the converging edges of said top
panel and extending downwardly therefrom outwardly of said inner
side wall panels,
means securing said inner and outer side wall panels in face
contact,
corner flaps connecting the converging ends of side walls, and
connecting the ends of said end wall to said side walls,
said bottom panel having a series of spaced apertures
therethrough,
a strip of film secured to the under surface of said bottom
panel,
the strip of film being secured in a manner to be readily
detachable to expose said apertures. .Iaddend. .Iadd.12. The
structure of claim 11 and in which said outer side walls extend
below the plane of said bottom panel to support said bottom panel
in spaced relation to a surface upon which said carton is placed.
.Iaddend. .Iadd.13. The structure of claim 11 and in which said end
wall is defined by weakened lines of contact. .Iaddend. .Iadd.14.
The structure of claim 11, wherein said strip of film extends
upwardly along said end wall panel, said strip closing said
apertures. .Iaddend. .Iadd.15. The structure of claim 14 and in
which said end of said strip of film extends beyond the surface of
said top panel. .Iaddend. .Iadd.16. The structure of claim 14 and
in which said top panel includes a detachable area adjoining said
base edge thereof, and including a pair of weakened lines of
separation extending downwardly from the edges of said detachable
area between which said film strip is secured. .Iaddend. .Iadd.17.
A carton including:
a bottom panel,
first side walls hinged to the edges of said bottom panel and
extending upwardly therefrom,
a top panel hingedly secured along one edge to one of said side
walls and extending substantially parallel to said bottom panel,
said top panel being substantially identical in size and shape to
said bottom panel,
second side walls hingedly secured to the remaining edges of said
top panel and extending downwardly therefrom and secured in face
contact with said first side walls,
said bottom panel having a series of spaced apertures extending
therethrough,
a strip of film secured to the under surface of said bottom
panel,
said film closing said aperture and being secured in a manner to be
readily detachable to expose said apertures. .Iaddend. .Iadd.18.
The structure of claim 17 and in which said second side walls lie
outwardly of said first side walls and extend below the plane of
said bottom panel to support said bottom panel in spaced relation
to a surface upon which said carton is placed. .Iaddend. .Iadd.19.
The structure of claim 17 and in which said one side wall is
defined by weakened lines of separation. .Iaddend. .Iadd.20. The
structure of claim 17, wherein said strip of film extends upwardly
outwardly of one of said side walls. .Iaddend. .Iadd.21. The
structure of claim 20 and in which an end of said film extends
above the surface of said top panel. .Iaddend. .Iadd.22. The
structure of claim 20 and in which said top panel includes a
detachable area adjoining said one side wall, and including a pair
of weakened lines of separation extending downwardly from the edges
of said detachable area in said one side wall between which said
film strip is secured. .Iaddend.
Description
This invention relates to an improvement in a carton for use in
containing items to be heated such as a wedge shaped piece of pizza
pie or the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various cartons have been provided for containing products such as
frozen pizza pie. For the most part, these cartons comprise a disc
of paper board on which the frozen pizza pie is positioned, and the
product is over wrapped with a plastic film which is marginally
secured to the underside of the disc. Under normal circumstances,
the circular pizza is removed from the package, and rested upon a
flat sheet in an oven while in its frozen state. It has now been
proposed to cut the circular pizza pie into wedge shaped segments
and to insert these segments into a generally triangularly shaped
carton which may be heated in a very short period of time in a
microwave oven or the like. Such ovens are readily available, and
are often used in places of business to heat frozen sandwiches and
the like.
One of the problems involved lies in the fact that the carton
containing the product must be vented so that the moisture vapor
escaping from the product during the heating process can escape. At
the same time, however, the product must be sealed within the
carton during storage and shipment to prevent it from becoming
contaminated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of the present invention to provide a carton for
containing one or more wedges of pizza pie or the like which is
provided with openings permitting the circulation of air through
the carton during the heating process, and which will be
effectively sealed prior to its use. This is accomplished by
providing apertures through the carton, preferably in the bottom
panel and in adjoining end wall panel. These apertures are normally
covered by a strip of plastic film to protect the product from
contamination. When the product is used, the plastic film is
removed, opening the various apertures in the carton and permitting
the circulation of heated air through the carton during the heating
process.
A further feature of the present invention lies in the provision of
a carton of the type described in which certain of the carton walls
extend below the bottom panel of the carton. As a result, the
apertured bottom panel is held in a slightly elevated position when
the carton is rested upon a metal panel in the oven so that the
apertures are not closed by the supporting panel.
A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision
of a carton having a wall panel which is defined by weakened lines
of separation which permit the panel to be removed for the
dispensing of the product. After the product has been heated, it is
only necessary to remove this panel and to slide the product from
the carton in which it has been heated.
In view of the fact that the carton is of triangular form, and in
view of the further fact that it is difficult to shape the plastic
film, two corners of the film normally overlap the side walls of
the carton. It is necessary to secure these corners to the side
walls so that the corners of the film will fold with the side walls
during the formation of the carton. In order that these corners may
not be held tightly between the inner and outer side walls, the
portions of the side walls to which the film is attached are
preferably embossed so that the film may be released to permit the
film to be removed before the heating process is started.
These and other objects and novel features of the present invention
will be more fully and clearly sent forth in the following
specification and claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a carton, showing my
construction.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the carton in partially opened
position.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the carton before it is closed.
FIG. 4 is a sectional view, the position of the section being
indicated by the line 4--4 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the carton after the sealing strip
has been removed.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the carton with the end wall
partially removed for removal of the contents.
FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic view of the carton blank from which the
carton is formed.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a modified form of carton.
FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view of the carton shown in FIG. 8.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the carton before the contents
have been inserted.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the carton shown in FIGS. 8
through 11 with the sealing strip partially removed.
FIG. 12 is a sectional view through a portion of the carton, the
position of the section being indicated by the line 12--12 of FIG.
8.
FIG. 13 is a sectional view through the carton, the position of the
section being indicated by the line 13--13 of FIG. 9.
FIG. 14 is a diagrammatic view of the blank from which the carton
shown in FIGS. 8 through 13 is formed.
The carton illustrated in its blank form and identified by the
letter A. The carton includes a triangular bottom panel 10, an end
wall panel 11 of rectangular shape, and a top wall panel 12 which
is triangular and is of similar size and shape to the bottom panel
10.
Inner side wall panels 13 and 14 are connected to the converging
side edges of the triangular bottom panel 10 along fold lines 15
and 16. A corner flap 17 is hingedly connected to one side wall
such as 13 along a fold line 19. The flap 17, in the erected form
of the carton, lies against the inner surface of the side wall 14
and may or not be adhered thereto.
Corner flaps 20 and 21 are connected to the ends of the end wall 11
along perforated lines 22 and 23 respectively. The fold line 24
which connects the end wall 11 to the bottm panel 10 is also
preferably a weakened line of separation, as is also the fold line
25 connecting the end wall 11 to the top panel 12. The corner flaps
20 and 21 are designed to overlap the side walls 13 and 14
respectively and may be anchored thereto if it is so desired. The
top wall panel 12 is connected to outer side wall panels 26 and 27
along converging fold lines 29 and 30 respectively. In the
preferred form of construction, the side walls 26 and 27 are
somewhat wider than the side walls 13 and 14, and accordingly
extend somewhat below the level of the bottom panel 10. The purpose
of this arrangement is to permit the bottom panel 10 to be
supported somewhat above the level of a surface on which the carton
is placed. In other words, when the carton is closed, the bottom
panel is held somewhat above the level of the supporting surface so
that air may circulate through the carton when the product is being
heated.
The bottom panel 10 is provided with a series of apertures 31
extending there through, and another aperture such as 32 is
normally provided in the end wall 11. These apertures 31 and 32
normally closed by a strip 33 of plastic film or the like which is
marginally secured to the bottom panel and to the end wall panel
11. Thus during storage and shipment, the various holes through the
carton are closed to prevent any possibility of contamination of
the carton contents. The carton contents is indicated in general by
the letter B and indicated in FIG. 5 of the drawings. In forming
the carton A, the strip of film 33 is applied to the outer surface
of the carton A and is secured in such a manner that it may be
readily removed therefrom. As indicated in FIG. 1 of the drawings,
the film 33 extends slightly above the level of the top panel 12 so
that the end of the film may be grasped and pulled free. In view of
the fact that the plastic film does not adhere with great tenacity
to the paper board, the film will become rather readily removed in
the manner indicated in FIG. 2 of the drawings. In order that the
corners of the film 33 may be readily removed, generally triangular
areas 34 of the side walls 13 and 14 are embossed so as to provide
a sufficient space between the inner side walls 13 and 14, and the
outer side walls 26 and 27, so that the corners of the member 33
will not be clamped securely between the inner side walls and the
outer side walls.
When the strip 33 has been removed, the carton may be placed on a
suitable support, usually in a microwave oven, and the frozen
product may be heated in an extremely short period of time. In
other words, the product may be served much in the same manner as a
frozen sandwich or the like which is merely placed within the micro
oven and heated. In view of the fact that many small restaurants
and other eating places have micro ovens available, this is merely
an added product which may be served. In view of the fact that the
end wall panel 11 is surrounded by weakened lines of separation,
this panel may be merely removed after the product has been heated
to provide access to the carton contents.
FIGS. 8 through 14 of the drawings disclose a modified form of the
construction. In this arrangement, the carton is substantially
similar to that previously described, and is indicated in general
by the letter C. The carton C includes a bottom panel 40 connected
along a weakened line of separation 41 to an end wall panel 42.
This in turn is connected along a weakened line of separation 43 to
a top panel 44. The panels 40 and 44 are substantially indentical
in size and shape and are triangular, the base edges of the
triangle of each panel being secured to the end wall 42. Side walls
45 and 46 are hingedly connected to the edges of the bottom wall
panel 40 along fold lines 47 and 49 respectively. A corner flap 50
is hingedly connected to an edge of the side wall panel 45 along a
fold line 51 and is foldable inwardly of the side wall panel 46
when the carton is erected. A side wall panel which comprises an
outer side wall is hingedly connected to the top panel 44 along a
fold line 53, and a second side wall 54 is hingedly connected to
the other converging edge of the top panel 44 along a fold line 55.
The panels 52 and 54 are preferably somewhat wider than the panels
45 and 46, and accordingly extend below the level of the bottom
panel 40 when the carton is erected.
Locking tabs 56 and 57 are connected to the ends of the end wall 42
along weakened lines of separation 59 and 60 respectively. The
locking tabs 56 and 57 are designed to interlock into slots 61 and
62 in the side walls 45 and 46. Alternatively, the corner flaps 56
and 57 may be secured in any other suitable manner to the side
walls 45 and 46.
A substantially semi-circular weakened line of separation 63 is
provided in the center portion of the top wall 44, and communicates
with weakened lines of separation 64 and 65 which extend across the
end wall 42 in converging relation providing a removable area in
the end wall. A strip of film such as plastic sheet film 66 is
marginally secured to the bottom panel 40 and to the end wall 42.
The corners of the rectangular sheet of film 66 normally extend
into embossed areas 67 and 69 in the side walls 45 and 46 so that
the corners of the film will not be clamped between the inner side
walls 45 and 46 and the outer side walls 52 and 54 when the carton
is erected. The film 66 is secured to the removable area 70 between
the weakened lines of separation 64 and 65.
The carton is set up much in the manner previously described. The
side walls 45 and 46 are secured in right angular relation to the
end wall 42 as indicated in FIG. 10 of the drawings. The contents
are inserted into the carton while in the position indicated in
FIG. 10, and the cover 44 is then folded downwardly, the side walls
52 and 54 being adhered or heat sealed to the side walls 45 and 46
to hold the carton closed.
When the carton and its contents are to be heated, the generally
semi-circular portion within the weakened line of separation 63 is
pressed downwardly, and the removable area 70 of the end wall is
pulled outwardly, removing the film 66 from the end wall 42 and
bottom wall 40. The removal of the film 66 exposes the apertures 71
in the bottom panel 40 and the carton is placed upon a flat surface
in a heating chamber such as an oven in which the product is
heated. The remaining portions of the end wall 42 are then removed
by pulling them outwardly so that the contents may be slid from the
carton and consumed.
In accordance with the Patents Statutes, I have described the
principles of construction and operation of my improvement in Wedge
Shaped Carton and while I have endeavored to set forth the best
embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious
changes may be made within the scope of the following claims
without departing from the spirit of my invention.
* * * * *