US20240017877A1

US20240017877A1 - Closeable Carton with Slotted Lid Hinge and Method of Using Same

Info

Publication number: US20240017877A1
Application number: US18/135,855
Authority: US
Inventors: Steven A Mayer
Original assignee: Inno Pak LLC
Current assignee: Inno Pak LLC
Priority date: 2022-07-15
Filing date: 2023-04-18
Publication date: 2024-01-18

Abstract

A closeable carton with a slotted lid hinge and method of using same. The closeable carton (or container) with a slotted lid hinge may include a floor panel; a plurality of side panels extending about a periphery of the floor panel, the plurality of side panels may include a front side panel, an opposing rear side panel, a first side end panel, and an opposing second side end panel, wherein the configuration of the side panels and floor panel form a container body; a lid portion hingeably attached at an upper edge of the rear side panel forming a moveable joint therebetween such that the lid portion may be configured to be movable between a closed position and an opened position; and one or more slots formed along the moveable joint.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/389,445, filed Jul. 15, 2022, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The subject matter relates generally to food containers and more particularly to a closeable carton with slotted lid hinge and method of using same.

BACKGROUND

Various products are known to be purchased by consumers which require a container for ease of transport. For example, in the food and grocery industry it is common to place food items in individual carry-out food containers. There may be certain drawbacks to commonly used carry-out food containers. For example, the covers and/or flaps of cardboard-, paper-, and/or paperboard-based containers do not always open and close reliably.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, a closeable carton with slotted lid hinge is provided. The closeable carton with slotted lid hinge may include a floor panel; a plurality of side panels extending about a periphery of the floor panel, the plurality of side panels may include a front side panel, an opposing rear side panel, a first side end panel, and an opposing second side end panel, wherein the configuration of the side panels and floor panel form a container body; a lid portion hingeably attached at an upper edge of the rear side panel forming a moveable joint therebetween such that the lid portion may be configured to be movable between a closed position and an opened position; and one or more slots formed along the moveable joint. The one or more slots may include two slots spaced substantially evenly apart from one another. The one or more slots may include three slots spaced substantially evenly apart from one another. The one or more slots may be generally ovular in shape. The one or more slots may have a width of about ¼ inch. The one or more slots may include a length in the range of about 1 inch to about 3 inches. The one or more slots may include a spacing therebetween in the range of about ¾ inches to about 2 inches. The upper portion of each of the one or more slots may extend into the lid portion and a lower portion of each of the one or more slots may extend into the rear side panel. The center horizontal axis of the one or more slots may be in horizontal alignment with the moveable joint formed where the lid portion and upper edge of the rear side panel intersect. The carton may further include a window formed within the lid portion. The window may include at least one of a transparent film or a semi-transparent film. The carton may further include a locking tab provided in a front panel of the lid portion, the locking tab being configured to be receivable by a locking slot formed in the front side panel of the container body when the lid portion is in the closed position.
In yet another embodiment, a method of using a closeable carton with slotted lid hinge is provided. The method may include providing a carton. The carton may include a floor panel; a plurality of side panels extending about a periphery of the floor panel, the plurality of side panels may include a front side panel, an opposing rear side panel, a first side end panel, and an opposing second side end panel, wherein the configuration of the side panels and floor panel may form a container body; a lid portion hingeably attached at an upper edge of the rear side panel forming a moveable joint therebetween such that the lid portion may be configured to be movable between a closed position and an opened position; and one or more slots formed along the moveable joint. The method may further include placing contents into the container body; and folding the lid portion along the moveable joint to the closed position. The carton may further include a locking tab provided in a front panel of the lid portion, the locking tab may be configured to be receivable by a locking slot formed in the front side panel of the container body when the lid portion is in the closed position. The method may further include engaging the locking tab with the locking slot after folding the lid portion along the moveable joint to the closed position. The method may further include folding the lid portion along the moveable joint to the open position prior to placing contents into the container body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Having thus described the subject matter in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 illustrate a perspective view when opened and a perspective view when closed, respectively, of an example of a closable carton (or container) including a slotted lid hinge having two slots, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 , FIG. 4 , FIG. 5 , FIG. 6 , and FIG. 7 illustrate a top view, a bottom view, a front view, a back view, and a side view, respectively, of the carton shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 in the closed state;

FIG. 8 , FIG. 9 , and FIG. 10 illustrate a front view, a back view, and a side view, respectively, of the carton shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 in the opened state;

FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 illustrate an inside plan view and an outside plan view, respectively, of the carton shown in FIG. 1 through FIG. 10 in a flat pre-folded configuration and including a slotted lid hinge having two slots;

FIG. 13 illustrates a flow diagram of an example of a method of using the closable carton shown in FIG. 1 through FIG. 12 , in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 14 illustrates an outside plan view of another example of a closable carton (or container) including a slotted lid hinge having two slots, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 15 and FIG. 16 illustrate a perspective view when opened and a perspective view when closed, respectively, of an example of a carton (or container) including a slotted lid hinge having three slots, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 17 illustrates a top view of the carton shown in FIG. 15 and FIG. 16 in the closed state;

FIG. 18 illustrates a back view of the carton shown in FIG. 15 and FIG. 16 in the opened state;

FIG. 19 illustrates an outside plan view of the carton shown in FIG. 15 through FIG. 18 in a flat pre-folded configuration and including a slotted lid hinge having three slots;

FIG. 20 illustrates an outside plan view of another example of a closable carton (or container) including a slotted lid hinge having three slots, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 21 and FIG. 22 illustrate a perspective view when opened and a perspective view when closed, respectively, of another example of a carton (or container) including a slotted lid hinge having two slots, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 23 illustrates an outside plan view of the carton shown in FIG. 21 and FIG. 22 in a flat pre-folded configuration and including a slotted lid hinge having two slots;

FIG. 24 illustrates an outside plan view of another example of a closable carton (or container) including a slotted lid hinge having two slots, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 25 and FIG. 26 illustrate a perspective view when opened and a perspective view when closed, respectively, of another example of a carton (or container) including a slotted lid hinge having three slots, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 27 illustrates an outside plan view of the carton shown in FIG. 25 and FIG. 26 in a flat pre-folded configuration and including a slotted lid hinge having three slots;

FIG. 28 illustrates an outside plan view of another example of a closable carton (or container) including a slotted lid hinge having three slots, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 29 illustrates a perspective view of a closable carton including a slotted lid hinge in the closed state and absent the window;

FIG. 30 , FIG. 31 , and FIG. 32 illustrates various views of an example of a closable carton including a slotted lid hinge, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The subject matter now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments of the subject matter are shown. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. The subject matter may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Indeed, many modifications and other embodiments of the subject matter set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which the subject matter pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the subject matter is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.
In some embodiments, the subject matter of the present invention provides a closeable carton with a slotted lid hinge and a method of using same.
In one example, the closeable carton (or container) with a slotted lid hinge may be a disposable food carton that is, for example, a cardboard-, paper-, and/or paperboard-based container.
In some embodiments, the closeable carton (or container) with a slotted lid hinge may include a container body and a container lid and wherein the container body may include a floor panel, a front panel, a back panel, and two side panels and wherein the container lid may include a top panel, a front panel, and two side panels.
In some embodiments, the closeable carton (or container) with a slotted lid hinge may include a container body and a container lid and wherein the back edge of the top panel of container lid may be foldably coupled to the top edge of the back panel of container body along a slotted hinge (or fold) line and wherein the slotted hinge (or fold) line may include one or more slots.
In some embodiments, the closeable carton (or container) with a slotted lid hinge may include a container body and a container lid and wherein the container lid may be foldably coupled to the container body along a slotted hinge (or fold) line including the one or more slots (e.g., two or three slots) and wherein the number of slots may depend on the size of the closeable carton.
In some embodiments, the closeable carton (or container) with a slotted lid hinge may include a container body and a container lid and wherein the container lid may be foldably coupled to the container body along a slotted hinge (or fold) line including the one or more slots (e.g., two or three slots) and wherein the slots may be provided to help prevent or entirely eliminate the possibility of the back panel of the container body folding inward or outward on itself at the lid hinge, as is a problem with conventional cardboard- or paper-based cartons or containers that do not always open and close reliably.
In some embodiments, the corner configurations of the closeable carton (or container) with a slotted lid hinge may be the same or may be different and wherein the corners may be held, for example, by glue or other adhesive, thermal bonding, or any other suitable technique or mechanism.
In some embodiments, the closeable carton (or container) with a slotted lid hinge may include a container body and a container lid and wherein the container lid may include a window of any shape (e.g., square, rectangular, circular, ovular, triangular, and the like) or may include no window at all.
Additionally, a method of using the closeable carton (or container) with a slotted lid hinge is provided.
Referring now to FIG. 1 through FIG. 12 is various views of an example of a closable carton (or container) 100 including a slotted lid hinge, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In this example, carton 100 includes a slotted lid hinge that has two slots. For example, FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 is a perspective view when opened and a perspective view when closed, respectively, of carton 100 including a slotted lid hinge. Further, FIG. 3 , FIG. 4 , FIG. 5 , FIG. 6 , and FIG. 7 is a top view, a bottom view, a front view, a back view, and a side view, respectively, of carton 100 in the closed state. Further, FIG. 8 , FIG. 9 , and FIG. 10 is a front view, a back view, and a side view, respectively, of carton 100 in the opened state. Further, FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 is an inside plan view and an outside plan view, respectively, of carton 100 in a flat pre-folded configuration and including the slotted lid hinge.
Referring still to FIG. 1 through FIG. 12 , carton 100 may include a container body 110 and a container lid 140. Container body 110 may include a floor panel 112, a front panel 114, which may have two end flaps 116, a back panel 118, and two opposing side (or end) panels 120. Each of the side (or end) panels 120 has an end flap 122 near back panel 118 and a perforation 124 near front panel 114.
Container lid 140 may include a top panel 142 and optionally having a window 144, a front panel 146 having two end flaps 148, and two opposing side (or end) panels 150. Each of the side (or end) panels 150 has a perforation 152 near front panel 146.
Further, container lid 140 may be foldably coupled to container body 110. For example, container lid 140 may be foldably coupled to a top edge of back panel 118 and along a slotted hinge (or fold) line 160. Additionally, one or more slots 162 may be provide along slotted hinge (or fold) line 160. The number of slots 162 may vary depending on the length of slotted hinge (or fold) line 160 (i.e., the width of carton 100). In this example, two slots 162 are provided along slotted hinge (or fold) line 160.
Further, window 144 may covered with a substantially transparent or semitransparent material 164, such as plastic, cellophane, foil, and the like, that allows the contents of carton 100 to be visible. In the example shown in FIG. 1 through FIG. 12 , window 144 may be substantially square-shaped. However, window 144 may be any shape, such as, but not limited to, square, rectangular, circular, ovular, triangular, and the like. Other examples of lids 140 that have substantially square windows 144 are shown in FIG. 15 through FIG. 19 , FIG. 24 , and FIG. 28 . Examples of lids 140 that have substantially circular windows 144 are shown in FIG. 14 , FIG. 20 , FIG. 21 , FIG. 22 , FIG. 23 , FIG. 25 , FIG. 26 , and FIG. 27 . Examples of lids 140 that have substantially rectangular windows 144 are shown in FIG. 30 , FIG. 31 , and FIG. 32 .
With respect to carton 100 being, for example, a disposable food container, carton 100 may be formed of any lightweight, rigid or semi-rigid material that is suitable for holding and/or transporting, for example, a quantity of food and that is also suitable for disposing of after use. For example, carton 100 can be formed of corrugated cardboard, paper, paperboard, post-consumer paperboard (i.e., recycled materials), biodegradable materials (e.g., sugarcane and paper), polystyrene foam (e.g., Styrofoam), plastic, molded fiber, and the like.
Conventional cardboard- or paper-based cartons or containers do not always open and close reliably. For example, the hinge or fold line where the lid couples to the body may not operate reliably. That is, in some instances the hinge may fold back on itself. For example, the lid hinge may fold inward causing the carton to buckle at the lid hinge. Accordingly, a main feature of carton 100 of the present invention may be the presence of the one or more slots 162 along slotted hinge (or fold) line 160. The one or more slots 162 may be used to help prevent or entirely eliminate the possibility of back panel 118 of container body 110 folding inward or outward on itself at slotted hinge (or fold) line 160. Slots 162 prevent the back hinge or spine from folding back and caving in on itself, which is a typical issue on similar cartons without slots, such as slots 162.
Again, the number of slots 162 may vary, for example, depending on the length of slotted hinge (or fold) line 160 (i.e., the width of carton 100). In one non-limiting example, the length of each slot 162 may be in the range of about 1 inch to about 3 inches. Further, in one non-limiting example, the spacing between slots 162 may be in the range of about ¾ inches to about 2 inches. Further still, in one non-limiting example, the width of slots 162 may be about ¼ inch. However, the length, spacing, and width of slots 162 may vary, and may be greater than or less than the referenced dimensions.
With respect to forming, for example, paperboard products, this flat pre-folded configuration is also called a “blank.” In this example, when folded or assembled, the overall width of carton 100 may be about 9 inches, the overall depth of carton 100 may be about 9 1/32 inches, and the overall height of carton 100 may be about 2½ inches. Further, in this example, window 144 may be about 6 inches wide and about 6 1/32 high. However, these dimensions are exemplary only, and carton 100 may be any size and/or proportion.
Referring still to FIG. 1 through FIG. 12 . For example, and referring now again to FIG. 1 , container body 110 may have two body front corners 170 and may have two body back corners 172. Further container lid 140 may have two lid front corners 174. Carton 100 may include different types/styles of corners. In the example shown in FIG. 1 through FIG. 12 , the two body front corners 170 and the two lid front corners 174 of carton 100 may include perforations 124 and 152, respectively. The purpose of perforations 124 and 152 are primarily for gluing purposes. In one example, these perforation lines, e.g., perforations 124 and 152, may allow for a portion of the corners of side panels 120 to back fold while having a glue dot (or other adhesive) applied to the inside facing surface of the corners of side panels 120. The glue dots may be brought into contact with their respective end flaps 116, 148, 119 thereby securing them in place. In one non-limiting example, perforations 124 and 152 may be at about a 44 degree angle, for example, to create what is referred to as a drag corner, which with the addition of notches added to the end flaps 116, 148, 119, help to ensure the side panels 120 and/or 150 keep from folding in.
Additionally, in one non-limiting example, the corners of carton 100 may utilize an inside glue design. For example, the corners may be secured via an adhesive, thermal bonding, or any other suitable technique or mechanism.
Carton 100 including the one or more slots 162 along the slotted hinge (or fold) line 160 and subsequent embodiments thereof may include various features and/or combinations of features. For example, the cartons of the invention may be any size, may include any number of slots 162 along the slotted hinge (or fold) line 160, may include any types/styles and/or combinations of corners, may include any shapes of window 144 or no window 144 at all, and any combinations thereof.
Referring now to FIG. 13 is a flow diagram of an example of a method 200 of using the closable carton 100 including a slotted lid hinge, as shown in FIG. 1 through FIG. 12 , in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Method 200 may include, but is not limited to, the following steps.
At a step 310, a carton is provided including a slotted lid hinge. For example, carton 100 may be provided that includes one or more slots 162 (e.g., two slots 162) along slotted hinge (or fold) line 160, as shown, for example, in FIG. 1 through FIG. 12 .
At a step 315, any contents may be placed into the carton. For example, food may be placed into container body 110 of carton 100.
At a step 320, the carton lid is opened and closed at will with respect to the carton body and with the hinge operating reliably. For example, container lid 140 of carton 100 may be opened and closed at will with respect to container body 110 of carton 100. All the while, the hinge action of carton 100 operates reliably because of the presence of the one or more slots 162 along slotted hinge (or fold) line 160. That is, the one or more slots 162 may be used to help prevent or entirely eliminate the possibility of back panel 118 of container body 110 folding inward or outward on itself at slotted hinge (or fold) line 160.
Referring now to FIG. 14 is an outside plan view of another example of a closable carton (or container) including a slotted lid hinge, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. For example, FIG. 14 shows a carton 101. Carton 101 may be substantially the same as carton 100 with two slots 162 shown in FIG. 1 through FIG. 12 except that it includes a substantially circular window 144 instead of the square window 144. In other embodiments, window 144 may be any other shape or not present at all.
Referring now to FIG. 15 through FIG. 19 is yet another example of a carton (or container) including a slotted lid hinge, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. For example, FIG. 15 through FIG. 19 show a carton 102. For example, FIG. 15 and FIG. 16 is a perspective view when opened and a perspective view when closed, respectively, of an example of a carton (or container) 102. Further, FIG. 17 is a top view of carton 102 shown in FIG. 15 and FIG. 16 in the closed state. Further, FIG. 18 is a back view of carton 102 shown in FIG. 15 and FIG. 16 in the opened state. Further, FIG. 19 is an outside plan view of carton 102 shown in FIG. 15 through FIG. 18 in a flat pre-folded configuration.
Carton 102 shown in FIG. 15 through FIG. 19 may be substantially the same as carton 100 with two slots 162 shown in FIG. 1 through FIG. 12 except that it includes three slots 162 along slotted hinge (or fold) line 160 instead of two slots 162. Again, the number of slots 162 may depend on the length of slotted hinge (or fold) line 160 (i.e., the width of the carton) and may include more or less than three slots 162.
Referring now to FIG. 20 is an outside plan view of yet another example of a closable carton (or container) including a slotted lid hinge, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. For example, FIG. 20 shows a carton 103. Carton 103 may be substantially the same as carton 102 with three slots 162 shown in FIG. 15 through FIG. 19 except that it includes a substantially circular window 144 instead of the square window 144. In other embodiments, window 144 may be any other shape or not present at all.
Referring now to FIG. 21 , FIG. 22 , and FIG. 23 is yet another example of a carton (or container) including a slotted lid hinge, in accordance with an example embodiment of the invention. For example, FIG. 21 , FIG. 22 , and FIG. 23 show a carton 104. For example, FIG. 21 and FIG. 22 is a perspective view when opened and a perspective view when closed, respectively, of carton 104. Further, FIG. 23 is an outside plan view of carton 104 in a flat pre-folded configuration.
Carton 104 may be substantially the same as carton 100 shown in FIG. 1 through FIG. 12 except that (1) it may include a substantially circular window 144 instead of the square window 144 (however, in other embodiments, window 144 may be any other shape or not present at all), and (2) corners 172 may be substantially the same type/style as that of corners 170 and 174. That is, the two body front corners 170, the two body back corners 172, and the two lid front corners 174 of carton 100 may all be substantially the same. Additionally, a finger tab 126 may be provided in the lower or outer edge of front panel 146 of container lid 140 of carton 104. Finger tab 126 may be used to assist easy opening of container lid 140. Finger tab 126 may be provided in any of the other example embodiments, e.g., carton 100, 101, 103.
Further, with respect to the two body back corners 172 now being substantially the same as that of corners 170 and 174, end flap 122 on each of the side (or end) panels 120 of container body 110 may be omitted. Instead, back panel 118 of container body 110 may now include two end flaps 119.
Referring now to FIG. 24 is an outside plan view of yet another example of a closable carton (or container) including a slotted lid hinge, in accordance with an example embodiment of the invention. For example, FIG. 24 shows a carton 105. Carton 105 may be substantially the same as carton 104, except that it may include a substantially square window 144 instead of the circular window 144. In other embodiments, window 144 may be any other shape or not present at all.
Referring now to FIG. 25 , FIG. 26 , and FIG. 27 are yet other examples of a carton (or container) including a slotted lid hinge, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. For example, FIG. 25 , FIG. 26 , and FIG. 27 show a carton 106. For example, FIG. 25 and FIG. 26 is a perspective view when opened and a perspective view when closed, respectively, of carton 106. Further, FIG. 27 is an outside plan view of carton 106 in a flat pre-folded configuration. Carton 106 may be substantially the same as carton 104 shown in FIG. 21 , FIG. 22 , and FIG. 23 except that it may include three slots 162 in slotted hinge (or fold) line 160 instead of two slots 162. Again, the number of slots 162 may depend on the length of slotted hinge (or fold) line 160 (i.e., the width of the carton) and may include more or less than three slots 162.
Referring now to FIG. 28 is an outside plan view of another example of a closable carton (or container) including a slotted lid hinge, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. For example, FIG. 28 shows a carton 107. Carton 107 may be substantially the same as carton 106 shown in FIG. 25 , FIG. 26 , and FIG. 27 except that it may include a substantially square window 144 instead of the circular window 144. In other embodiments, window 144 may be any other shape or not present at all.
Referring now to FIG. 29 is a perspective view of another example of a closable carton including a slotted lid hinge and in the closed state. For example, FIG. 29 shows a carton 108. Carton 108 is substantially the same as carton 100 shown in FIG. 1 through FIG. 12 except that window 144 may be absent. That is, in carton 108, top panel 142 of container lid 140 may be a substantially solid or continuous span of material.
Referring now to FIG. 30 , FIG. 31 , and FIG. 32 illustrate various views of an example of a carton 300 including a slotted lid hinge, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In this example, carton 300 has a slotted hinge (or fold) line 160 with three slots 162. Again, the number of slots 162 may depend on the length of slotted hinge (or fold) line 160 (i.e., the width of the carton). In this example, carton 300 may be in the range of about 16 inches by about 12 inches by about 2 inches. Accordingly, in this example, slotted hinge (or fold) line 160 may be in the range of about 16 inches long.
A locking tab 176 may be provided in the lower or outer edge of front panel 146 of container lid 140 of carton 100. Locking tab 176 may be used to interlock with a locking slot 178, which may be formed in the front panel 114 of container body 110 of carton 100. Locking slot 178 is preferably sized and positioned in the front panel 114 such that when the container lid 140 is in a closed position the locking tab 176 may be inserted into the locking slot 178 thereby interlocking the locking tab 176 with locking slot 178 and securing the container lid 140 in the closed position. Locking tab 176 and locking slot 178 may be provided in any of the other example embodiments, e.g., carton 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, and/or 300.
In summary and referring now again to FIG. 1 through FIG. 32 , the cartons (or containers) 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 300 of the invention including a slotted lid hinge, which is slotted hinge (or fold) line 160 with one or more slots 162, may include various features and combinations of features. For example, the cartons (or containers) including the slotted lid hinge of the invention may be any size and may include any number of slots 162, any types of corners (e.g., Type A, Type B, other type, or combinations thereof), any shaped window or no window, a finger tab 126 or no finger tab 126, and so on.
Following long-standing patent law convention, the terms “a,” “an,” and “the” refer to “one or more” when used in this application, including the claims. Thus, for example, reference to “a subject” includes a plurality of subjects, unless the context clearly is to the contrary (e.g., a plurality of subjects), and so forth.
Throughout this specification and the claims, the terms “comprise,” “comprises,” and “comprising” are used in a non-exclusive sense, except where the context requires otherwise. Likewise, the term “include” and its grammatical variants are intended to be non-limiting, such that recitation of items in a list is not to the exclusion of other like items that can be substituted or added to the listed items.
For the purposes of this specification and appended claims, unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing amounts, sizes, dimensions, proportions, shapes, formulations, parameters, percentages, quantities, characteristics, and other numerical values used in the specification and claims, are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about” even though the term “about” may not expressly appear with the value, amount or range. Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth in the following specification and attached claims are not and need not be exact, but may be approximate and/or larger or smaller as desired, reflecting tolerances, conversion factors, rounding off, measurement error and the like, and other factors known to those of skill in the art depending on the desired properties sought to be obtained by the subject matter. For example, the term “about,” when referring to a value can be meant to encompass variations of, in some embodiments ±100%, in some embodiments ±50%, in some embodiments ±20%, in some embodiments ±10%, in some embodiments ±5%, in some embodiments ±1%, in some embodiments ±0.5%, and in some embodiments ±0.1% from the specified amount, as such variations are appropriate to perform the disclosed methods or employ the disclosed compositions.
Further, the term “about” when used in connection with one or more numbers or numerical ranges, should be understood to refer to all such numbers, including all numbers in a range and modifies that range by extending the boundaries above and below the numerical values set forth. The recitation of numerical ranges by endpoints includes all numbers, e.g., whole integers, including fractions thereof, subsumed within that range (for example, the recitation of 1 to 5 includes 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, as well as fractions thereof, e.g., 1.5, 2.25, 3.75, 4.1, and the like) and any range within that range.
Although the foregoing subject matter has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that certain changes and modifications can be practiced within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

That which is claimed:

1. A carton, comprising:

a. a floor panel;

b. a plurality of side panels extending about a periphery of the floor panel, the plurality of side panels comprising a front side panel, an opposing rear side panel, a first side end panel, and an opposing second side end panel, wherein the configuration of the side panels and floor panel form a container body;

c. a lid portion hingeably attached at an upper edge of the rear side panel forming a moveable joint therebetween such that the lid portion is configured to be movable between a closed position and an opened position; and

d. one or more slots formed along the moveable joint.

2. The carton of claim 1, wherein the one or more slots comprise two slots spaced substantially evenly apart from one another.

3. The carton of claim 1, wherein the one or more slots comprise three slots spaced substantially evenly apart from one another.

4. The carton of claim 1, wherein the one or more slots are generally ovular in shape.

5. The carton of claim 1, wherein the one or more slots have a width of about ¼ inch.

6. The carton of claim 1, wherein the one or more slots comprise a length in the range of about 1 inch to about 3 inches.

7. The carton of claim 1, wherein the one or more slots comprise a spacing therebetween in the range of about ¾ inches to about 2 inches.

8. The carton of claim 1, wherein an upper portion of each of the one or more slots extends into the lid portion and a lower portion of each of the one or more slots extends into the rear side panel.

9. The carton of claim 1, wherein a center horizontal axis of the one or more slots is in horizontal alignment with the moveable joint formed where the lid portion and upper edge of the rear side panel intersect.

10. The carton of claim 1, further comprising a window formed within the lid portion.

11. The carton of claim 10, wherein the window comprises at least one of a transparent film or a semi-transparent film.

12. The carton of claim 1, further comprising a locking tab provided in a front panel of the lid portion, the locking tab being configured to be receivable by a locking slot formed in the front side panel of the container body when the lid portion is in the closed position.

13. A method of using a carton, comprising:

a. providing a carton, comprising:

i. a floor panel;

ii. a plurality of side panels extending about a periphery of the floor panel, the plurality of side panels comprising a front side panel, an opposing rear side panel, a first side end panel, and an opposing second side end panel, wherein the configuration of the side panels and floor panel form a container body;

iii. a lid portion hingeably attached at an upper edge of the rear side panel forming a moveable joint therebetween such that the lid portion is configured to be movable between a closed position and an opened position; and

iv. one or more slots formed along the moveable joint;

b. placing contents into the container body; and

c. folding the lid portion along the moveable joint to the closed position.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the carton further comprising a locking tab provided in a front panel of the lid portion, the locking tab being configured to be receivable by a locking slot formed in the front side panel of the container body when the lid portion is in the closed position.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising engaging the locking tab with the locking slot after folding the lid portion along the moveable joint to the closed position.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising folding the lid portion along the moveable joint to the open position prior to placing contents into the container body.