US2557914A

US2557914A - Folding carton and opening flap therefor

Info

Publication number: US2557914A
Application number: US1154A
Authority: US
Inventors: Otto M Miller
Original assignee: Owens Illinois Glass Co
Current assignee: OI Glass Inc
Priority date: 1948-01-08
Filing date: 1948-01-08
Publication date: 1951-06-19
Anticipated expiration: 1968-06-19

Description

June 19,1951 0. M. MILLER FOLDING CARTON AND OPENING FLAP THEREFOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 8, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 z] r WM OTIoJLHILLER alw'lllllllll M. MILLER I FOLDING cm'rou AND ops-mus FLAP THEREFOR 'II/III/IIII June 19, 1951 Filed Jan 8, 1948 Patented June 19, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLDING CARTON OPENING FLAP THEREFOR om M. Miller, Elkhart, Ind., assignor to Owens- 1 Illinois Glass Company, a corporation of Ohio Application January 8, 1948, Serial No. 1,154

12 Claims. 1

My invention relates to cartons of sheet material such as cardboard, boxboard, or the like formed by folding blanks of the sheet material. The invention relates particularly to sealing means for the carton and a novel form of pullup or opening flap for breaking the seal and opening the carton.

Cartons of this general type which are not new in the art include various constructions in which the top or lid of the carton is sealed in closed position by means of a flap extending downward over the front of the carton, a restricted area of the flap being glued to the front panel of the carton. The carton is opened by pulling the flap in a manner to tear away the glued portion.

Such constructions are unsatisfactory for various reasons. The cartons are difficult toopen and the method of opening the carton is unsatisfactory as it results in mutilatin or weakening the wall of the carton by tearing away portions of the fibrous material to which the flap is glued. An object of the. present invention is 2 position preparatory to completely breaking the cover seal;

Fig. 9 is a similar view with the cover seal broken and the cover lifted to an intermediate defining a top panel rear panel l8, bottom to provide a novel construction free from the above noted and other objections characteristic of prior art cartons. More particularly, my invention provides a carton with a pull-up or opening fiap which, when pulled up will effect a clean break of the seal 0r holding means for the cover, without sacrificing strength at the point of closure and without tearing any glued fiber from the area of the carton overlying the contents of the package.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the outer face of a scored blank adapted to be folded to form the carton;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view showing the inner face of an end portion of the blank;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the sealed carton;

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the opening flap lifted to a position in which the die-cut portions are partially broken from their anchorage;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view on a comparatively large scale showing the sealing flap with its row of the removable segments;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but with the cover lifted a short distance;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional elevation showing the sealing and opening flaps folded down and the cover sealed;

Fig. 8 is a similar view with the pull-up or opening flap pulled outwardly to an intermediate panel I9, and front panel 20. End flaps 2| fold upwardly from the bottom panel at the score lines The rear and front panels I 8 and 20 fold upwardly at the lines It and I3 respectively.

End flaps

22 and 23 fold inwardly over the up: turned end flaps 2| and are interlocked by tongues 24 and slits 25. End flaps 26 fold downwardly from the top panel I! so as to extend downwardly between the inner flaps 2| and the

outer interlocking flaps

22, 23. The blank as thus far described and detailed by reference numbers is old in the art and forms no part of the present invention except as combined and cooperating with the novel construction of the opening flap and the holding or sealing means therefor, now to be described.

The blank is formed at one end with an extension 30 forming a sealing flap which, when the blank is folded or set up in box form, folds downward at the line l2 to lie against the outer face of the front panel 20. The flap 30 is diecut to form a row of removable segments 3|, separable from the adjoining panel and flap section in the operation of opening the carton as hereinafter described. Each segment is entirely severed from the blank except at very restricted areas or points 32 and 33 (Fig. 5). The fold line I2 consists of slits extending through the blank and severing the flap 30 from the body of the blank except at the points 33.

Each segment 3| is defined by an arc-shaped slit 3N and slits 3| perpendicular to the base line I2. The slits 3| are arranged in a row extending lengthwise of the flap 30, dividing the.

latter into an upper section 3|) and a lower section 30', said sections being integrally united at the restricted areas or points 32. The strip 3|)" of segments is likewise connected to the body of the blank only at the restricted areas or 3 points 33 in the line I2. When the flap 30 is folded downward against the front panel 20,

the lower section thereof or strip 30 is adhered to the outer face of the panel by a strip 35 (Figs. 1 and 7 to 9) of glue or other adhesive material. The area of the adhesive is confined entirely to the lower section 30 of the flap, being applied to a narrow strip area below and preferably separated from the strip 30" of segments.

The blank is formed, at the opposite end thereof from the sealing flap 30, with an integral flap or extension 36 herein referred to as the pull-up or opening flap, which serves for lifting the cover and opening the carton as hereinafter described. When the blank is folded to box form, the flap 36 is folded down over the front face of the sealing flap 30. The pull-up flap 36 has a strip 31 of glue or an adhesive applied to its inner face, the adhesive covering a strip area adjacent to the fold line 16 and extending throughout the length of the flap. This area of adhesive is so positioned that when the pull-up flap 36 is folded downwardly against the sealing flap 30 and adhered thereto, the strip 31 of adhesive comes entirely or mostly within the area of the removable segment strip 30 When the sealing strip 30 and the pull-up strip 36 are folded down and the parts adhered as indicated in Fig. '7, the top or cover I! of the carton is secured or sealed in its closed position. The segment strip 30 provides a releasable connecting means between the cover 11 and the flap section 30 which is glued to the front panel 35. The pull-up flap 36 is formed with a score line 38 which in the sealed carton is below the segment strip 30 said score line defining the upper edge of a flap extension 39 which extends a short distance below the sealing flap 30 and provides a finger piece or tab.

In practice, the blanks (Fig. l) are usually first folded to bring the

end flaps

30 and 36 into superposed relation and said flaps are glued together. The blanks, in knockdown form, are then packed and shipped to the place where they are to be filled with ice cream or other commodity. The blanks are then squared and one end folded, the carton filled and the opposite end then closed to complete the package.

For unsealing and opening the carton, the tab 39 is pulled outwardly as indicated in Fig.3, swinging upward about the line 38 as a hinge. A further pull to the Fig. 8 position breaks the connections of the removable segment strip 3t at the points 32. This leaves the cover held in closed position owing to the connection of the removable segment strip to the front panel at points 33. A further upward pull on the flap 36 breaks the connections at the points 33, thereby entirely releasing the cover as shown in Fig. 6 and permitting it to be swung wide open.

Fig. 10 illustrates a modification of the sealing flap 30 and particularly the removable segment strip. As here shown, the segments 3| are separated by narrow strips 45 which are integrally united with the body of the blank along the fold line l2. The individual segments are integrally united with the adjoining portions of flap 30 at the points or restricted areas 32 It will be seen that with this construction. the strip 3'! of adhesive by which the pull-up flap 35 is adhered to the sealing flap 30. will overlie portions of the strips 45 as well as segments 31. In opening the carton, the pull-up flap 36 will be disconnected from the sealing flap 30 by breaking the connece tions 32* and disrupting the seal at the restricted strip areas 45.

Fig. 11 shows a further modification wherein the slits 3| shown in Fig. 5 are omitted so that the removable section 30 is a continuous, unbroken strip extcnding the full length of the flap. The

flap sections

30 and 30" have their meeting edges defined by the row of slits 3P.

Other forms of the invention than those herein disclosed may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of my invention defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A carton formed of foldable sheet material and comprising a hinged cover, an upright front panel, a sealing flap integral with said panel and folded down from the upper edge of the panel, an adhesive covering a strip area of the flap spaced below the upper edge thereof and sealing a strip of said fiap to the panel, said flap including a removable strip intermediate said edge and the strip of adhesive material, means providing a weakened connection between the panel and said removable strip and between said removable strip and the strip sealed to the panel, and a lifting device connected to the cover and to said removable strip and providing a means for detaching said removable strip and lifting the cover,

2. A carton formed of foldable sheet material and comprising a hinged cover, an upright front panel, a sealing flap integral with said panel and folded down from the upper edge of the panel, an adhesive covering a strip area of the flap spaced below the upper edge thereof and sealing a strip of said flap to the panel, said flap including a removable strip intermediate said edge and the strip of adhesive material, means providing a, weakened connection between the panel and said removable strip and between said removable strip and the strip sealed to the panel, and a flap connected to said cover and extending downward therefrom and adhered to said removable strip and thereby providing a means for sealing the cover in closed position and for detaching said removable section and lifting the cover.

3. A carton formed of foldable sheet material and comprising a hinged cover, an upright front panel, a sealing flap integral with said panel and folded down from the upper edge of the panel, an adhesive covering a strip area of the flap spaced below the upper edge thereof and sealing a strip of said flap to the panel, said flap including a removable strip intermediate said edge and the strip of adhesive material, means providing a weakened connection between the panel and said removable strip and between said removable strip and the strip sealed to the panel, said removable strip being unadhered to the panel, a pull-up flap extending from the front edge of the cover and integrally united therewith by a fold line forming'a hinge for the flap, said pull-up flap being folded downward over the face of the sealing flap, and adhesive material adhering the lifting flap to said removable strip.

4. A carton consisting of foldable sheet material and comprising a hinged cover, a front panel. a sealing fiap forming an integral extension of the panel, said fiap being connected with the front panel along a fold line, the carton being formed with a row of slits extending lengthwise along the fold line, the adjacent ends of the slits being narrowly spaced apart by integral portions of the sheet material, said flap being folded downward at said fold line and adhered to the front face of the panel by a strip of adhesive material extending along the flap at an area spaced below the said fold line, said flap including a removable strip intermediate the adhered portion of the flap and said fold line, the upper edge of said removable strip being defined by said fold line, means providing a weakened connection between the lower edge of the removable strip and the adhered portion of the flap, and a pull-up flap connected to the cover and adhered to said removable strip.

5. A carton formed of foldable sheet material and comprising a vertically disposed front panel and a horizontally disposed top panel forming a cover for the carton, a sealing fiap integral with the front panel and folded downward at a fold line at the upper edge of the panel and sealed to the panel by a strip of adhesive material extending lengthwise of the flap and spaced below said fold line, said flap comprising a removable strip section between said sealed portion of the flap and said fold line, said removable strip including a row of die-cut segments, the base of the row of segments being defined by a row of slits extending along the fold line, said slits alternating with uncut portions of the sheet material, said segments being integrally united by a row of minute areas of the material spaced below said fold line, and a pull-up flap integral with the said cover and folded down along the front edge of the cover and adhered to the said removable strip.

6. A carton formed of foldable sheet material and comprising a vertically disposed front panel and a horizontally disposed top panel forming a cover for the carton, a sealing flap integral with the front panel and folded downward at a fold line at the upper edge of the panel and sealed to the panel by a strip of adhesive material extending lengthwise of the flap and spaced below said fold line, said flap comprising a removable strip section between said sealed portion of the flap and said fold line, said removable strip including a row of die-cut segments, the base of the row of segments being defined by a row of slits extending along the fold line, said slits alternating with uncut portions of the sheet material, said segments being integrally united by a row of minute areas of the material spaced below said fold line, and a pull-up flap integrally united with the cover along a fold line at the front edge of the cover, said pull-up flap being glued to said removable strip and formed-with a score line below the removable strip, the portion of the flap below said score line forming a hinged finger tab.

'7. A blank of foldable sheet material formed with fold lines including parallel lines extending lengthwise of the blank and transverse parallel lines, said blank being foldable along said lines to form a carton having top, bottom, rear, front, and end panels, said blank including an integral sealing flap united along a said fold line to the front panel, said flap having a strip of adhesive material thereon extending lengthwise of the flap and spaced from the front panel to provide a strip area free from adhesive, the blank having a pull-up flap at the opposite end thereof, united to the said top panel by a fold line permitting the pull-up flap to be folded downward over the sealing flap in the set-up carton, said pull-up flap having a strip of adhesive material extending lengthwise thereof adjacent to the top panel and so positioned that in the set-up carton the adhesive material on the pull-up flap will overlie the said strip area of the sealing flap which is free from adhesive.

8. A blank of foldable sheet material formed with fold lines at which the blank is foldable to form a carton, a sealing flap at one end of the blank united to the body of the blank along a weakened fold line, said sealing flap having a strip of adhesive material on one face thereof extending along the flap parallel with and spaced from the said weakened fold line to provide a strip area free from adhesive material, means providing a weakened line connection between the portion of the sealing flap with the adhesive material and the said strip area which is free from adhesive material, the blank having a second flap integral therewith at the opposite end of the blank from the sealing flap and united to the body of the blank along a fold line; said second fiap having a strip of adhesive material closely adjacent to said fold line and on the opposite face of the blank from the first mentioned strip of adhesive material and positioned and adapted, when the blank is folded, to overlie the said strip area of the sealing flap which is free from adhesive material, with said weakened line connection between and extending along said strips of adhesive material.

9. A carton formed of sheet material and comprising a top cover portion movable to and from a closed position. and a front wall having a portion comprising an inner ply and an outer ply, the outer ply having a restricted portion of its area adhered to the inner ply by an adhesive and a free unadhered portion between said adhered portion and the upper edge of said front Wall, said free portion including a removable section partially severed from the surrounding material by narrowly spaced slits defining weakened lines between the said removable section and the surrounding material permitting said section to be easily broken away, said cover portion having a flap extension overlying and adhered to said removable section for holding the cover portion in closed position, said cover being releasable by breaking away the removable section from the surrounding material.

10. A carton formed of foldable sheet material, comprising a hinged cover, an upright front panel, a sealing strip adhered to the face of the panel by adhesive material covering a'restricted area of the sealing strip spaced below the upper edge of the strip, said sealing strip comprising a removable section above and outside of the area of said adhesive material, means providing a weakened line extending between said removable section and said area, a pull-up flap connected to the cover, and adhesive connecting the pull-up flap to said removable section for disconnecting it along said weakened line when the fiap is pulled up, the removable section being unadhered to the front panel and free to be lifted with the cover when disconnected at said weakened line.

11. A carton formed of foldable she'et material, comprising a hinged cover, an upright front panel, a sealing strip adhered to the face of the panel by adhesive material covering a restricted area of the sealing strip spaced below the upper edge of the strip, said sealing strip comprising a re movable section above and outside of the area of said adhesive material and overlying but not adhered to the upper portion of the said face of the panel, a pull-up flap connected to the cover, and adhesive connecting the pull-up flap to said removable section, said removable section comprising a row of die-cut segments, the bases of the segments being defined by a row of slits cut through the sheet material along a line at the upper edge of the front panel with the adjacent ends of the said slits spaced apart by integral portions of the sheet material, said removable section being free to be lifted from said front panel when detached from the adhered portion of the sealing strip by an upward pull on the pull-up flap.

12. A carton of foldable sheet material comprising a hinged top cover, an upright front panel, a piece of sheet material overlying the face of the front panel and extending therealong adjacent to the upper edge thereof, said piece comprising an upper strip portion and a lower strip portion therebeneath, adhesive material applied to said lower strip portion and securing it directly to said front panel, said upper strip portion being free from adhesive material, means providing a weakened line connection between said upper and lower strip portions and extending lengthwise thereof, and a flap connected to said cover and extending downward therefrom and overlying and adhered to said upper strip portion, and thereby providing a means for sealing the cover in closed position and for detaching said upper stripportion and lifting the cover.

OTTO M. MILLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,992,222 LaGrua Feb. 26, 1935 2,083,158 Ramsey June 8, 1937 2,181,837 Snyder et al Nov. 28, 1939