US3085736A

US3085736A - Carton opening means

Info

Publication number: US3085736A
Application number: US89761A
Authority: US
Inventors: George L Meyers
Original assignee: American Can Co
Current assignee: Primerica Inc
Priority date: 1961-02-16
Filing date: 1961-02-16
Publication date: 1963-04-16
Anticipated expiration: 1980-04-16

Description

April 16, 1963 G. l.. MEYERS 3,085,736

CARTON OPENING MEANS ATTRNEY April 16, 1963 G. MEYERS 3,085,736

CARTON OPENING MEANS Filed Feb. 16, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IWENTOR. GEORGE L. ME VERS ATTopA/EYS April 16, 1963 G. l.. MEYERS 3,085,736

CARTON OPENING MEANS Filed Feb. 16. 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INV EN TOR.

GEORGE L. MEVERS W Z ML A rroR/vgvs ttes This invention relates to a ltamperproof opening means `for cartons. More specifically, the invention relates to an opening means employing a tear strip and which is uitable for use on cartons having a reclosable cover or When employing an opening means on a carton, several features are desir-able. The opening means should be essentially tamperproof so that any opening prior to that of the user is readily ascertainable. Further, the means employed should not materially weaken .the carton construction so as to impair the overall strength of the unopened carton. Also, the means should be easy to open as well as readily accessible. Undesirable ripping or tearing otherwise .than at the desired areas should be avoided. Finally, the construction of the means should be such as to present a neat appearance of `the carton after it has been opened. This result is particularly important from the sales standpoint in .the case of a carton which is .to be opened and reclosed a number of times by the consumer and not thrown away after the initial opening.

One of the principal objections to many of the opening means previously employed on ice cream, butter and frozen food cartons is .that the carton shape is distorted when opened, In the case of prior glued opening means frequently tearing or peeling of the glued portion of the carton panels occurs. Such tearing not only weakens the carton and in many cases exposes the'contents in unintended areas, but also leaves .an unsightly looking package.

The general object of the present invention is to pro-- vide an opening means employing a tear strip which is cleanly detachable without a tearing or peeling of the carton panels.

Another object of the invention `is to provide an opening means that is essentially tamperproof.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an opening means which is readily accessible and which ensures a complete detaching action.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an opening means which does not substantially weaken the initial carton construction.

A further object of vthe invention is to provide an opening means which when employed does not distort the shape of .the carton.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an opening means which when employed presents a neat appearance lof the carton after opening.

This invent-ion provides means for readily and cleanly detaching a .two-ply tear strip formed of one strip connected to one of the carton panels and having another portion adhered to another carton panel, the latter panel being in subposed relationship to the lirst mentioned carton panel. Because the tear strip is connected to said panel only .by perforated score lines, when the tear strip is detached it cannot tear or pecl the adjacent carton panels. The adhered portion to which the tear strip is connected is covered by .the free edge of the aforementioned carton panel, and hence when the tear strip is removed the reclosed carton has a neat appearance.

Further details and advantages of the invention Iwill be apparent from the following specification and appended drawings wherein: l

FIGURE l is a plan View of an integral blank suitably cut and scored to form a tamperproof carton having a tear strip opening means,

FIGURE 2 is a fragmental view of the upper portion of the blank of FIGURE l `folded and glued,

FIGURE 3 is a plan View of the blank of FIGURE 1 folded upon itself and having certain superposed portions adhered together `as a step in making a carton from the blank,

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the folded blank of FIGURE 3 partially set up,

FIGURE 5 is a perspective View of the same partially set up blank at still a further stage,

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the completed carton in closed and sealed condition.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective View of the closed carton with the tear strip partially removed, and

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view showing the carton opened.

Referring to FIGURE l, the opening means are shown with a carton which -is made of a single foldable blank of flexible material, such as paperboard, The blank is divided by score lines 10,-20 and perforated lines Z7 into hingedly connected panels and aps, including front panel 30, bottom panel 31, back panel 32, back cover panel l33, top cover panel 34, front cover panel 35, side wall panels 39, bottom liaps 40, side wall panels 41, side cover panels 42., top cover flaps 43, and front cover -aps 44.

The opening means constituting this invention are connected to the free edge of front cover panel 35 along perforated line `22.

The opening means comprises tear strip panel portions 36 and 3-7 which are hingedly connected together by score line 23 and glue ap 38 connectedto tear strip portion 37 .along perforated line 25.

Panel portions

36 and 37 .preferably have the same dimensions. lPartial cut line 24, shown in FIGURE 2, and partial out line 211, shown in FIGURE 3, facilitate detachment of the tear strip, as will be described more fully hereinafter. Score lines 28 aid in removing the tear strip when opening the sealed carton as will be described later herein.

In forming the carton from the blank as described adhesive is first applied to tear strip portion 3K7. l`h-isstrip is then folded about score line 23 and is adhered t-o tear strip portion 36 in the position shown in FIGURE 2. .These ltwo adhered panel portions, 36 and 37, together constitute what is hereinafter referred to as a two-ply tear strip. If desired these panel portions are merely folded over but not adhered. Glue flap 38 and `front cover panel 35 to 4which the two-ply tear stripis connected remain unadhered to each other.

Next, adhesive is applied to the outside surface of the glue flap 38 which is shown in lFIGURE 2. Front panel 30 is then folded about score line 10 toy lie directly superposed on bottom panel 31 and back panel 3-2'. Top cover panel 34 with the elements attached thereto lying in a common plane are then folded about score line 13 so that adhesive bearing surface 38 overlies and is adhered to front panel 30. The twply tear strip is directly super'- posed on front panel 30 with no intervening panel ,to separate them. This stage of construction is shown in FIGURE 3.

The carton shell of FIGURE 3 is then squared as shown in FIGURE 4. In this position the carton panels are all at right angles. At this point the carton is side loaded prior to complete closure. Bottom flaps 40 and ftop cover flaps 43 are folded inwardly to lie parallel with the side edges of front and back panels 30- and 32, re-

3 spectively. Side wall panels 39 are then folded about score lines to overlie in superposed relationship the previously infolded bottom flaps 40 and top cover fiaps 43. FIGURE 5 shows this further stage with a portion of one of the bottom corners cut away.

Front cover iiaps 44 are infolded `along score lines Ztl to overlie side wall panels 39 in superposed relationshipl Following this step adhesive is applied on the exposed portions of both side wall panels 39 and front corner flaps 44. The carton is completed by infolding side wall panels 41 and side cover panels 4Z to abut the adhesive bearing portions in adhered relationship. The closed and sealed carton is shown in FIGURE 6. It is apparent that any tampering with the canton is readily ascertainable since no portion can be opened without permanently showing the point of entry.

Referring to FIGURE 8, the carton is unsealed by removing the two-

ply tear strip

36, 37. This is done by grasping the strip at either end and pulling `upward and away from one side to the other. Score lines 28 facilitate the bending out of the end portion of the two-ply tear strip, which are attached only by score lines 28, enabling the user to grasp the ends more readily. The strip is detached easily along the

perforated lines

22 and 25. Partial cut lines 21 and 24 prevent a tearing or peeling of the elements involved. Any tendency to tear or peel either up into front cover panel 35 or down into tear strip portioh 37 is stopped when the partial cut lines are reached. This eliminates a jagged or torn appearance on the edges of the glue iiap 33 and front cover' panel 35. lf the two ply tear strip should accidentallv break prior to its complete detachment, it can either be detached by starting at the other end or grasping the remaining portion and continuing in the original direction. These features are missing in prior cartons that employ a tear strip which is attached along both edges and which can be torn from only one end.

When the tear strip is completely detached, the carton has the appearance of a conventional iiip top or hinged cover box. Essentially the carton looks like the portions of FIGURE 7 which has the tear strip detached. Glue liap 38 is covered by the lower edge of front cover panel 35 and is visible only when the cover is opened. Since front cover panel 35 is no longer attached, only the connection Ibetween side wall panels 41 and side cover panels 42, namely perforated lines 27, prevents opening of the carton. Separation of panels 42 from panels 41 along perforated lines 27 enables the cover of the carton which is hingedly connected along score line 12 to swing upward. The outside surface area of the hinged `cover is comprised of back cover panel 33, top cover panel 34, front cover panel 35 and vside cover panels 42. As shown in FIG- URE 6, only glue ap 3S remains of the original open ing means employed. This flap again becomes invisible when the carton cover is reclosed.

The opening means of the present invention is particularly iadaptable to reclosable, flip-top or hinged cover cartons -as demonstrated in the described embodiment. Although shown only on one side of the carton, the opening means may extend around on as many sides as desired. Thus the whole cover portion of a carton may be released to come away free from the rest of the carton by ern- -ploying the tear strip around the entire perimeter of the carton. It is not necessary that a reclosable, nip-top carton be employed since the opening rneans is useful with a variety of carton constructions. The size and shape of the cartons utilizing the opening means of the present invention may be varied as desired since the opening means rather than the specific size and shape of the cartons themselves without said means comprise the invention.

The present invention provides Aan opening means which does not materially weaken the initial carton construction, is essentially tamper-proof, readily accessible, and easy to detach. Either of the ends or a portion in the center may be grasped to continue detachment if the tear strip breaks at any point between ythe ends. The carton with the tear strip removed has a neat appearance without disiiguration due to peeling and tearing initiated by the opening means. The size and shape of the elements employed in the opening means may be varied in numerous ways by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

l. An opening means for a tubular carton, the carton including a receptacle portion having a front panel and a cover portion having a front cover panel overlying said front panel; said means comprising a first tear panel connected to said front cover panel along a first line of weakening, a second tear panel hingedly connected to said first tear panel and a glue panel connected along a second line of weakening to said second tear panel, said second tear panel and said glue panel `being folded under said first tear panel and said front cover panel respectively with said glue panel yadhered to said front panel and said first and second lines of weakening being substantially coincident in superposed relation.

2. The means of claim l wherein the tear strip is detachably connected by said lines of weakening.

3. The means of claim l wherein said front cover panel has a partial cut line on the outer side adjacent said line of weakening connecting said front cover panel and said first tear panel, and said second tear panel has a partial cut line on the side facing said front panel adjacent said line of weakening connecting said second tear panel 'and said glue panel.

4. A tamperproof, reclosable carton formed of a single blank suitably cut and scored to provide a receptacle portion having an opening at the top thereof and a hinged box-like cover portion telescoped over the open top of the receptacle portion; said receptacle portion comprising a front panel, a bottom panel, a rear panel and side panel, said cover portion comprising a rear panel hingedly connected to the upper edge of said rear receptacle panel, a top cover panel, a front cover panel and side cover panels, a first tear panel connected to the edge of said -front cover panel along a line of weakening, a second tear panel having the same shape as said first tear panel and hingedly connected to said first tear panel and a glue panel connected along `a line of weakening to said second tear panel, said second tear panel being folded underneath and adhered to said first tear panel and said glue panel being folded underneath said front cover panel with the surface adjacent thereto unadhered and having the opposite surface adhered to the overlapped portion of the front receptacle panel adjacent said front cover panel and said first and second lines of weakening being substantially coincident in superposed relation.

5. The carton of claim 4 wherein said front cover panel has la partial cut line on the outer side adjacent said line of weakening connecting said front cover panel and said first tear panel, and said second tear panel has a partial cut line on the side facing said front receptacle panel adjacent said line of weakening connecting said second tear panel and said glue panel.

6. An opening means for a tubular carton, the carton including front, side, back and bottom panels, and a cover portion including a front cover panel; said means comprising a tear strip folded back and adhered upon itself `along a score line equidistant from its longitudinal edges and being 'detachably connected by lines of weakening along one longitudinal edge to said cover portion and along the other longitudinal edge to a flap that is adhered to a front panel adjacent said cover portion, said tear strip being in direct superposed Irelationship with said adjacent `front panel, said front cover panel having a partial cut line on the outer side adjacent said line of weakening connecting said front cover panel to said tear strip and said tear strip having a partial cut line on the side facing said front cover panel adjacent said line of 5 weakening connecting said tear strip Tand said flap, said 2,246,484 lines .of weakening being substantially coincident in super- 2,789,746 posed relation. 2,936,104

References Cited in the le of this patent 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS gg 2,218,509 Goodyear Oct. 22, 1940 6 Freers June 17, 1941 Hovland Apr. 23, 1957 De Blaere May 10, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany June 24, 1940 Finland Dec. 31, 1953

Claims

4. A TAMPERPROOF, RECLOSABLE CARTON FORMED OF A SINGLE BLANK SUITABLY CUT AND SCORED TO PROVIDE A RECEPTACLE PORTION HAVING AN OPENING AT THE TOP THEREOF AND A HINGED BOX-LIKE COVER PORTION TELESCOPED OVER THE OPEN TOP OF THE RECEPTACLE PORTION; SAID RECEPTACLE PORTION COMPRISING A FRONT PANEL, A BOTTOM PANEL, A REAR PANEL AND SIDE PANEL, SAID COVER PORTION COMPRISING A REAR PANEL HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO THE UPPER EDGE OF SAID REAR RECEPTACLE PANEL, A TOP COVER PANEL, A FRONT COVER PANEL AND SIDE COVER PANELS, A FIRST TEAR PANEL CONNECTED TO THE EDGE OF SAID FRONT COVER PANEL ALONG A LINE OF WEAKENING, A SECOND TEAR PANEL HAVING THE SAME SHAPE AS SAID FIRST TEAR PANEL AND HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO SAID FIRST TEAR PANEL AND A GLUE PANEL