GB2427605A

GB2427605A - Transit and display container

Info

Publication number: GB2427605A
Application number: GB0513205A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Oliver Gleim; Richard Pollard
Original assignee: CHARAPAK Ltd
Current assignee: CHARAPAK Ltd
Priority date: 2005-06-29
Filing date: 2005-06-29
Publication date: 2007-01-03
Anticipated expiration: 2025-06-29
Also published as: GB2427605B; GB0513205D0

Abstract

A transit and display container 6 comprises a base portion 62, and an upper portion 61 separable from the base portion 62. The upper portion 61 comprises a top face 65 and upper side panels 66, 121, 67, 122 extending forwardly from each peripheral edge of the top face 65. The base portion 62 comprises a bottom face 132 and lower side panels 64,131,63,71 extending upwardly from each peripheral edge of the bottom face 132. The container 6 includes a pair of opposing break-out panels 11a, 11b, each positioned within an opposite upper side panel 121, 67, each overlapping with and adhered to a portion of a corresponding lower side panel 131, 63 and arranged such that at least partial separation of the upper portion 61 and base portion 62 is effected through opposing break-out motions. The break out motions being orthogonal to the plane of each break-out panel 11a, 11b through breakage along lines of weakness 16 provided on the periphery of each break-out panel. The lines of weakness 16 may follow arcuate or circular paths (see fig 1b). A method of creating such a container 6 is also described.

Description

TRANSIT AND DISPLAY CONTAINER

The present invention relates to packaging for goods which can be used for both transit and display purposes. In particular, the invention relates to packaging which can be readily converted from a transit mode to a display mode.

Transporting goods to a place of sale requires the use of packaging containers which act to effectively protect the goods during delivery. To improve efficiencies, it is desirable for such packaging to serve purposes for both transportation and display for many types of goods. Such adaptive packaging, designed such that the goods can be contained both in transportation and display, results in several advantages. Firstly, the retailer has to spend less time unpacking and arranging the goods for display. Secondly, the manufacturer can choose to display the goods in a way of his choosing, through design of the display packaging which the retailer will use, thus increasing the attractiveness and uniformity of display. Thirdly, efficiencies are made in materials, as a result of the same packaging being used from the manufacturer to the retailer.

It is an important feature of adaptive packaging that the process of transformation from transit mode to display mode should be as quick and straightforward as possible. While the packaging should be sufficiently sturdy to withstand handling and transportation, it should be possible for the transformation process to be carried out easily with a minimum number of actions necessary. This involves a careful balance of ensuring both a secure package for transportation and an easily opened display package.

The transformation from transportation to display mode typically involves tearing or breaking to open up or expose sections of the transportation package. For the display to be attractive to the consumer it is important that the appearance of the display after transformation is as neat as possible, with a minimum of visible flaws or tears in the packaging.

The nature of a typical supply chain involves delivery of flat-packed containers to a goods manufacturer who then assembles the containers, fills them with goods, closes the containers and transports them to the retailer. It is desirable for the manufacturer of the goods to receive the packaging material in a form which is as close as possible to that required for being filled with goods, while bearing in mind that the delivery of the packaging to the goods manufacturer should be in as dense a form as possible in order to reduce delivery costs.

From the packaging manufacturer' s point of view, it is desirable for the packaging to be made with as little waste as possible and with a minimum number of operation steps. Blanks from which the packaging is formed should ideally be made with little cutting wastage. In packaging consisting of multiple portions, accurate alignment and gluing of the portions is necessary for success of the packaging product.

EP0763473 discloses a carton for use as a transit pack, convertible to a display tray, whose edges are pre-cut or folded and which is formed from a single blank of materiai. The carton is provided with connection tabs which join upper and lower sections together. The connection tabs have lines of weakness associated with them which, when broken, allow the separation of the upper and lower sections.

Separation is effected by lifting from a front face using a hand hole and opening up the carton by hinging the upper section around a rear top edge, thus breaking the connection tab weakness points. The upper section is then completely removed by separation along perforations running along the top rear edge.

FR2713597 discloses a carton for use as a transit and display package, formed from a single blank of card. The blank when flat forms first and second portions corresponding to a cover and bottom portion of the carton. The carton is provided with folded and detachable tabs which are cut out from the two surfaces and serve to join the two portions of the container. Separation of the container is effected by breakage along lines of weakness on the periphery of tab portions in the lower portion of the container. Recesses in the side panels corresponding to the tabs in the lower portion of the container are left behind after separation.

Certain problems are associated with prior art forms of adaptive packaging.

Firstly, when the transformation from transit to display mode is effected, visible rough edges or other artefacts may be left behind as a result of tearing along perforations. This affects the attractiveness of the display on the retailer's shelves.

Secondly, the process of separating the container normally has to be carried out before the container is placed in position on a shelf. This may result in damage to the display container or spillage of the goods. Thirdly, prior art forms of adaptive packaging have often provided lines of weakness along an edge of the container where separation of the sections takes place. This results in a weakening of the container, and may cause breakage when the containers are stacked.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a transit and display container that can be readily and quickly converted from a transit mode to a display mode with a minimum number of manual operations.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a transit and display container that can be more easily transformed from transit mode to display mode while in position on a display shelf.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a transit and display container which exhibits an increased resistance to breakage or damage while stacked in transit mode.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method for the formation of a flat pack transit carton which can be readily transformed into a transit and display container with a minimum number of operations.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a transit and display container with an enhanced appearance when converted from transit to display mode due to the absence of visible rough edges or other artefacts when in display mode.

Some or all of the above objects may be achieved by aspects of the present invention.

According to one aspect, the present invention provides a transit and display container comprising: a base portion comprising a bottom face and lower side panels extending upwardly from each peripheral edge of the bottom face; an upper portion, separable from the base portion, and comprising a top face and upper side panels extending downwardly from each peripheral edge of the top face; a pair of opposing break-out panels, each positioned within an opposite upper side panel, each overlapping with and adhered to a portion of a corresponding lower side panel and arranged such that at least partial separation of the upper portion and base portion is effected through opposing break-out motions orthogonal to the plane of each break-out panel through breakage along lines of weakness provided on the periphery of each break-out panel.

According to another aspect, the present invention provides a transit and display container comprising: a base portion comprising a bottom face and lower side panels extending upwardly from each peripheral edge of the bottom face; an upper portion, separable from the base portion, comprising a top face and upper side panels extending downwardly from each peripheral edge of the top face; a line of weakness and a finger hole, positioned along adjoining peripheral edges of an upper and a lower rear side panel away from an upper fold line defining a boundary between the top face and a rear upper side panel such that separation of the upper portion and base portion is at least partially effected by separation along the line of weakness.

According to another aspect, the present invention provides a method of forming a substantially rectangular flat pack transit container for a transit and display container comprising: forming a blank from a single piece of board; separating completely an upper and a lower portion of the blank; reassembling the upper and lower portions by alignment and at least partial overlapping of the upper and lower portions and adhesion thereof at break-out panels situated in the upper portion; and folding at vertical fold lines and adhering opposing vertical edge portions by means of a glue flap.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a plan view of a cardboard blank pre-cut and creased or scored for the formation of a carton; Figure la shows a plan view of a cardboard blank pre-cut and creased or scored for the formation of an alternative carton; Figure lb shows a schematic view of a separation mode of the alternative carton formed from the cardboard blank of Figure 1 a; Figure 1 c shows a plan view of a cardboard blank pre-cut and creased or scored for the formation of an alternative carton; Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the cardboard blank of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the cardboard blank of Figure 1 when separated into upper and lower portions; Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the cardboard blank of Figure 1 after separation and reassembly; Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a finished carton as supplied to a customer in flat pack form; Figure 6 shows a front perspective view of an assembled container in transit mode; Figure 7 shows a rear perspective view of the assembled container in transit mode of Figure 6; Figure 8 shows a rear perspective view of the assembled container in transit mode of Figure 6, with direction arrows indicating a preferred method of separation; Figure 9 shows a rear perspective view of the assembled container of Figure 6 in a stage of separation; Figure 10 shows a rear perspective view of the assembled container of Figure 6 in a further stage of separation.

Figure 11 shows a rear perspective view of the assembled container of Figure 6 in a further stage of separation.

Figure 12 shows a rear perspective view of the assembled container of Figure 6 in a further stage of separation with the base portion arid upper portion fully separated.

Figure 13 shows a perspective view of the base portion of the container of Figure 6 in display mode after separation; and Figure 14 shows a dimensioned plan view of a cardboard blank pre-cut and creased or scored for the formation of the carton of a specific embodiment.

Referring to Figures 6 and 7, a transit and display container 6 according to one specific embodiment of the invention provides an enclosed substantially cuboid space, within which the goods can be contained and further displayed.

In the transit configuration the container 6 consists of a base portion 62 and an upper portion 61. Four lower side panels extend upwards from a bottom face 132 (shown in Figure 13): a front lower side panel 64; a left lower side panel 131 (shown in Figure 12); a right lower side panel 63; and a rear lower side panel 71.

Four upper side panels extend downwards from an upper face 65: a front upper side panel 66; a left upper side panel 121 (shown in Figure 12); a right upper side panel 67; and a rear upper side panel 122.

With further reference to Figure 2, the upper face 65 of the container 6 is formed from the upper face closure flaps 23a, 23b, 23c and 23d, while the bottom face 132 is formed from the lower closure flaps 22a, 22b, 22c and 22d.

Referring to Figure 13, the container in display configuration comprises the base portion 62 having a bottom face 132 and upwardly extending lower side panels 64, 63, 71 and 131. The space within the container is configured to contain goods for display on a retailer's shelf.

Assembly of the transit and display container 6 begins with the formation of a cardboard blank, a specific embodiment of which is shown in Figure 1, and in perspective form in Figure 2. In Figure 1, cut lines are indicated as thick solid lines, fold or crease lines are indicated by faint solid lines, lines of perforation or weakness intended to be separable are indicated by dashed lines, and short gaps 5a-5f in the solid lines indicate frangible connections keeping the upper portion 61 and base portion 62 temporarily connected during the manufacturing process. In this embodiment the entire container is cut from a single blank piece 1. The upper portion 61 and base portion 62 are shown in Figure 1 joined along a separation line 21. Horizontal fold or crease lines 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d are provided along the lines joining the lower flaps 22a, 22b, 22c and 22d to the lower side panels 71, 131, 64 and 63 respectively, and along the lines joining the upper face closure flaps 23a, 23b, 23c and 23d to the upper side panels 122, 121, 66 and 67 respectively. Vertical fold or crease lines 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d are provided along the lines joining the rear lower side panel 71 to the left lower side panel 131, the left lower side panel 131 to the front lower side panel 64, the front lower side panel 64 to the right lower side panel 63 and the right lower side panel 63 to the glue flap 19. Fold or crease lines 2e and 2f are provided along the vertical lines joining the left upper side panel 121 to the front upper side panel 66 and the front upper side panel 66 to the right upper side panel 67.

It will be understood that the expression "crease" or "fold" line is intended to indicate a line of introduced susceptibility to folding of the cardboard blank. It will also be understood that the expression "cardboard blank" is intended to cover boards made from cardboard, fibreboard or other materials suitable for the construction of packaging containers of the type described herein.

Break-out panels ha, lib are provided preferably in opposing upper side panels 121, 67. After the formation of the blank of Figure 1, the break-out panels are joined to the upper side panels by means of lines of weakness 15, which are preferably lines of perforations. These lines of weakness preferably run in diverging substantially diagonal straight lines from the finger holes 13 a, I 3b down the upper side panels 121, 67 until they meet vertical cut lines 1 5a which then run to the line of separation 21. The divergent nature of the lines of weakness 15 enhances the vertical load handling capability in the plane of the adjoined side panels 67, 63, 121, 131 by transmitting the loads through the lines 15 without tearing.

In an alternative example, shown in Figure 1 a, the lines of weakness 15 on the front edges of each breakout panel follow a generally arcuate path, and more preferably a substantially circular path whose centre of curvature is located at a rotation point 8 on the vertical fold lines 2e, 2f where the upper and base portions meet once assembled into the container 51. These rotation points 8 correspond to the lower ends of the front vertical edges of the upper portion when the container is assembled. The advantage of this is shown in Figure ib, which illustrates the mechanism by which the upper portion may be separated from the base portion, to be described more fully later, in connection with figures 10 to 12. The arrow 7 indicates the direction in which the upper portion 61 is separated. The particular shape of the front line of weakness permits rotation of the upper portion around the rotation point 8 without interference as the breakout panel 11 a is separated from the upper portion 61.

The embodiment from Figures 1 and 2 is shown further in Figure 3, where the upper portion 61 and base portion 62 have been separated along the separation line 21 through breakage of the frangible links 5a-5f shown in Figure 1. Glue points 31, 32a and 32b, on which glue is to be deposited, are provided on the base portion 62. Glue deposited on glue points 32a and 32b is restricted to within the regions over which the corresponding break-out panels 11 a and 1 lb are to be overlaid. Glue deposited on glue point 31 can correspond to the right vertical edge region of the top surface of the rear lower side panel 71 and / or to the corresponding mating surface on the underside of glue flap 19. Alternatively, if glue flap 19 is to lie on the outside of the container 51 when assembled, the glue may be placed on the top side of glue flap 19 as shown in Figure 3 and/or on the underside of flap glue point 31.

The upper and base portions are overlapped and joined together, as shown in Figure 4. The glue points 32a and 32b of Figure 3 are positioned directly underneath the break-out panels 11 a and 11 b provided in the upper portion 61. Tn this preferred embodiment the glue points do not extend beyond the region defined by the overlap of the break-out points and the lower side walls 63 and 131.

The break-out panels I la, 1 Ib, as shown in Figure 4 are preferably positioned such that they lie within the confines of the base portion 62 when assembled into the transit and display container shown in Figure 6. Consequently, the lines of weakness 15 on the periphery of each break-out panel are also confined within the base portion 62 and hidden from view in the assembled container.

Sequentially folding inwards along folds 2f and 2a, shown in Figure 4, provides for an overlapping join between the glue flap 19 and the rear lower panel 71 adjacent to its free edge 41. The joined portions thus produced forms a flat pack transit container 51 in the form supplied by the manufacturer to a customer, as shown in Figure 5. The flat pack transit container 51 thus produced is substantially rectangular in plan view and is no thicker than approximately four times the unit thickness of the board from which the container is made. The container 51 can therefore be efficiently packed for delivery to a customer through stacking, maximising the number of containers in a single delivery.

After delivery to a customer, the flat pack transit container 51 is converted into the transit and display container 6, shown in Figure 6. Referring to Figure 5 and Figure 1, this assembly is achieved by the operations of: opening the flat pack carton 51 such that the side panels together form a substantially rectangular cross- section; folding the lower closure flaps 22a, 22b, 22c and 22d inwards towards each other; and sealing the flaps closed with glue, adhesive tape, stapling or other suitable means. After the goods have been introduced to the now open container through the opening created by the open upper face closure flaps 23a, 23b, 23c and 23d, the container can be closed by folding the upper face closure flaps towards each other at the fold or crease lines 1 7a-l 7d provided along the lines adjoining the upper face flaps with the upper side walls 122, 121, 66 and 67, and sealing the flaps closed.

Conventional lower face closure flaps 22a-d are shown in Figure 1, where the shape of each flap is substantially rectangular. Closure may be effected by, for example, closing flaps 22b and 22d first, followed by 22a and 22c together with a gluing or stapling operation. Alternative shapes of flaps may be used without departing from the scope of the invention, the design of which may depend on the method by which the flaps are to be closed. For machine-closing operation, interlocking lower face closure flaps 222a-d, shown in Figure 1 a, may be more suitable. For hand closure, flaps 322a-d shown in Figure 1 c may be more suitable.

In both of these examples gluing or stapling is not necessary, since the edges of the flaps are designed to lock together.

The container in its transit form shown in Figure 6 and Figure 7, preferably loaded with goods, is then in a form suitable for delivery to a retailer. In order to display the goods the retailer has to separate the upper portion 61 from the base portion 62. Shown in Figure 8 is a preferred embodiment of the invention in which the opening procedure is indicated by arrows 81 and 82.

Referring to Figure 8 and Figure 1, the first operation involves pulling outwards on opposing sides of the container in a direction indicated by the arrow 81. This may be effected by inserting a thumb or finger into both break-out finger holes 13a and 13b provided in the left upper side panel 121 and the right upper side panel 67. The finger holes I 3a and 1 3b in the container in transit mode preferably extend from the exterior through to the interior of the container 6, and enable a user to grasp the lower side panels 63, 131 from the interior of the container in order to apply a break-out motion orthogonal to the plane of the side panels 63, 131. Pulling in an outward motion relative to the container 6 in the direction of arrow 81, substantially orthogonal to the plane of each of the upper 67, 121 and lower 63, 131 side panels, will tend to break the lines of perforation 15 on the periphery of the break-out panels ha and I ib, thus physically separating the upper side panels 67, 121 from the lower side panels 63, 131 and leaving behind the break-out panels I la, lib, which remain glued to the lower side panels.

The second opening operation preferably involves holding on to the upper rear panel 122 through the hand or finger hole 18 and pulling outwards in the direction of arrow 82. This pulling motion breaks the line of perforations 16 connecting the upper rear side panel 122 to the lower rear side panel 71. Shown in Figure 9 is the result, with the rear upper side panel 122 separated from the rear lower side panel 71, and forming a flap. At this stage the upper portion 61 is now physically disconnected from the base portion 62, and so the upper portion 61 can be readily removed.

The sequence of illustrations in Figures 10, 11 and 12 show the operation of removal of the upper portion 61 from the base portion 62. The action of removing the upper portion 61 involves bringing the rear upper side panel 122 forwards and away from the lower rear side panel 71.

One advantage of the embodiment illustrated in the sequence from Figure 8 to Figure 12 is that the separation and removal of the upper portion 61 from the base portion 62 can be carried out after the container 6 has been positioned in place on a display shelf The side panel break-out finger holes 13 a and 1 3b are accessible in location on a shelf, and the rear upper side panel hand or finger hole 18 can also be accessed by reaching over the top of the container. The simple two-step operation can be carried out in rapid succession and with a minimum of movement operations The final form of the base portion 61 in the display mode is shown in Figure 13.

The break-out panels 11 a, 11 b are left behind on the left lower side panels 131, 63.

In this form the base portion 62 presents a series of clean cut edges 133a-133g facing a potential purchaser of the goods on display within the base portion 62 in position on a shelf. Only the lower rear side panel edges 134a-134d and the remaining break-out panels 11 a, 1 lb show rough edges, but these are hidden from view by the goods held within the base portion 62. The attractiveness of the display container is thereby enhanced.

Referring to Figure 1, the shape of the periphery of each break-out panel 11 a, 1 lb provides for increased strength when in transit mode, in that the inwardly slanted edges on the peripheral lines of weakness 15 enable vertical supporting loads to be transmitted across the lines of weakness without causing breakage. In a similar fashion, the inwardly slanting lines of perforation along edges 134a and 134d, shown in Figure 13, provide enhanced load holding capability in the rear upper 122 and lower 71 side panels while the transit and display container 6 is in transit mode. Any vertical loading on the transit container 6 is typically transmitted through the vertical plane of the upper side panels 67, 121, across the lines of weakness 15, through the plane of the break- out panels I la, llb, by shear through the glue bond between the break- out panels 11 a, 1 lb on to the plane of the lower side panels 131, 63, and on to the bottom surface of the container 132 (further referred to in Figure 13). Such vertical loading may also be supported directly through the plane of the upper side panels 67, 121, to the bottom surface of the container 132 in an arrangement where the overlap of the upper and lower side panels extends the upper side panels to the bottom surface.

The Erie of weakness 16 in a preferred embodiment shown in Figure 1, forming a temporary join between the upper 122 and lower 71 rear side panels, is positioned and aligned such that the stacking strength of the container in transit mode is enhanced. The forces acting on the containers when stacked in transit mode are such that the load from the containers above is carried through the vertical side panels of the container. If, as in some prior art designs for adaptive packaging, a perforation line is provided along a top right angled edge where a rear side panel meets the top face then a slight misalignment in stacking will result in shear forces being transmitted across this perforated edge. Due to an edge being a line of weakness this can then result in the container bursting open. The positioning of the line of weakness 16 away from the upper fold line 1 7a and in the vertical plane of the rear side panels 122, 71 allows for the container to be more sturdy when stacked in transit mode. A small misalignment in stacking will not result in tearing of the container, as the largely vertical compressive loads on the container when stacked are readily transmitted through the line of weakness 16.

As best seen in Figure 13, the lower positioning of the perforation line 16 in a preferred embodiment also permits the necessarily imperfect edge exposed when opening the container for display to be hidden from view by the goods contained within. Thus, no imperfect edges are immediately visible to the end purchaser of the goods when the container is positioned on a shelf and filled with goods. This further enhances the attractiveness of display.

As indicated in Figure 1, the line of weakness 16 is subdivided into four distinct sections 1 6a- I 6d. Sections 1 6a, 1 6d run in a substantially straight diagonal line from upper corners 1 22a, 1 22d of the rear upper side panel 122 to lower corners 122b, 122c of the rear upper side panel 122. These sections 1 6a, 1 6d are, in a preferred embodiment, lines of perforation which can withstand the vertical loads supported through the plane of the rear side panels 122, 71. Sections 16b, 16c of the line of weakness 16, which run in substantially straight horizontal lines from the lower corners of the rear upper side panel 122 to the central finger hole 18, are preferably formed from a series of notches, leaving behind small frangible links connecting the rear side panels 122, 71. These frangible links are readily broken with a motion orthogonal to the side panels 122, 71, but are able in transit mode to transmit vertical loads through the plane of the side panels.

It will be understood that the container may include one or more product trays, within which are held individual items, maintaining the product in a presentation position. The items may also be stacked in more than one layer within a single container.

Other embodiments are within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

Claims 1. A transit and display container comprising: a base portion

comprising a bottom face and lower side panels extending upwardly from each peripheral edge of the bottom face; an upper portion, separable from the base portion, and comprising a top face and upper side panels extending downwardly from each peripheral edge of the top face; a pair of opposing break-out panels, each positioned within an opposite upper side panel, each overlapping with and adhered to a portion of a corresponding lower side panel and arranged such that at least partial separation of the upper portion and base portion is effected through opposing break-out motions orthogonal to the plane of each break-out panel through breakage along lines of weakness provided on the periphery of each break-out panel.
2. The transit and display container of claim 1 wherein the break-out motion is effected through applying opposing forces in an outward direction relative to the container and orthogonal to each break-out panel.
3. The transit and display container of claim 1 wherein the break-out panels in the upper side panels lie within the confines of the base portion.
4. The transit and display container of claim 1 wherein each break-out panel has an associated adjacent finger hole for access to the interior of the container.
5. The transit and display container of any preceding claim wherein the upper side panels in which are situated the break-out panels are mechanically connected to the associated lower side panels only by means of adhesive.
6. The ti-ansit and display container of claim 1 wherein the lines of weakness provided on the periphery of each break-out panel comprise lines of perforations.
7. The transit and display container of claim 1 wherein the lines of weakness on one or more peripheral edges of each breakout panel follow substantially arcuate paths.
8. The transit and display container of claim 7 wherein the lines of weakness on one or more peripheral edges of each breakout panel follow substantially circular paths such that separation of the upper and base portions may be effected without interference between the breakout panels and the corresponding upper side panels.
9. The transit and display container of claim 8 wherein each line of weakness following a substantially circular path has a centre of curvature which lies on a front vertical edge of a corresponding upper side panel.
10. The transit and display container of claim 9 wherein each centre of curvature is located at a lower end of the front vertical edge of the corresponding upper side panel.
11. A transit and display container comprising: a base portion comprising a bottom face and lower side panels extending upwardly from each peripheral edge of the bottom face; an upper portion, separable from the base portion, comprising a top face and upper side panels extending downwardly from each peripheral edge of the top face; a line of weakness and a finger hole, positioned along adjoining peripheral edges of an upper and a lower rear side panel away from an upper fold line defining a boundary between the top face and a rear upper side panel such that separation of the upper portion and base portion is at least partially effected by separation along the line of weakness.
12. The transit and display container of claim 11 wherein the line of weakness comprises: a first diagonal section, extending in a substantially straight line from a first upper corner of the upper rear side panel to a first lower corner of the upper rear side panel; a first horizontal section, extending in a substantially straight line from the first lower corner of the upper rear side panel to an edge of the finger hole; a second horizontal section, extending in a substantially straight line from the edge of the finger hole to a second lower corner of the upper rear side panel; a second diagonal section, extending in a substantially straight line from the second lower corner of the upper rear side panel to a second upper corner of the upper rear side panel.
13. The transit and display container of claim 12 wherein the first and second diagonal sections of the line of weakness comprise a line of perforations.
14. The transit and display container of claim 12 wherein the first and second horizontal sections of the line of weakness comprise a series of frangible connections.
15. A method of forming a substantially rectangular flat pack transit container for a transit and display container comprising: forming a blank from a single piece of board; separating completely an upper and a lower portion of the blank; reassembling the upper and lower portions by alignment and at least partial overlapping of the upper and lower portions and adhesion thereof at break-out panels situated in the upper portion; and folding at vertical fold lines and adhering opposing vertical edge portions by means of a glue flap.
16. The method of forming a flat pack transit container of claim 15, wherein the upper and lower portions are separated by means of a frangible separation line.
17. A blank having crease and cut lines substantially as shown in Figures 1 and 14.
18. A transit and display container substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.
19. A flat pack carton substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.
20. A blank having dimensions and proportions substantially as shown in Figure 14.