US3142430A

US3142430A - Carton

Info

Publication number: US3142430A
Application number: US265409A
Authority: US
Inventors: George L Meyers
Original assignee: American Can Co
Current assignee: Primerica Inc
Priority date: 1963-03-15
Filing date: 1963-03-15
Publication date: 1964-07-28
Anticipated expiration: 1981-07-28

Description

G. L. MEYERS July 28, 1964 CARTON 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 15, 1963 IN VENTOR (:RORGY. \ymms 7V ATTORNKWS y 1964 a. L. MEYERS 3,142,430

1 CARTON Filed March 15, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. GEORGE .\"\"'L(ERS G. L. MEYERS July 28, 1964 CARTON Filed March 15, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Rs 0 mm M E Y X v a mm m x w a. mh/w/m Q CL rb United States Patent Jersey Filed Mar. 15, 1963, Ser. No. 265,409 2 Claims. (Cl. 229-22 This invention relates to a polygonal display carton. More specifically, the invention relates to a triangular display carton for the packaging of sandwiches, cake, etc.

Triangular cartons used for the packaging of foods such as pie, cake and sandwiches customarily are difiicult to erect, fill, and close, requiring a number of unusual folding and sealing steps. Furthermore, previous triangular cartons do not usually combine both tamperproofness and an easy opening means. In modern packaging operations, it is extremely important for the product packager to obtain high speed operation with a minimum amount of money and plant space. The product packager can realize greater economies if the cartons are shipped to him in the form of collapsed shells which can be erected, filled and closed by automatic machinery without the use of a sealing means.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a polygonal display carton which can be partially assembled by the paper converter, shipped in collapsed condition, and readily set, up, filled and closed on automatic machinery by the product packager.

Further details, advantages and objects will be apparent from the following specification and appended drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of an integral blank suitably cut and scored to form a polygonal carton having a tearstrip opening means,

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the blank of FIGURE 1 following folding and gluing,

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

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the blank partially closed,

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the completed carton in closed condition, and

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the completed carton with the tear strip removed and the contents exposed.

Referring first to FIGURE 1, the carton is made of a single foldable blank of flexible material, such as paperboard. The blank is divided by a plurality of score lines, indicated by numerals 10 to 21, to provide hingedly connected panels, flaps and tabs, including side panel 30, a pair of main spaced panels respectively comprising

portions

31, 32 and 34, 35, a connecting panel comprising portions 33 and window 45, interposed between the spaced main panels, glue flap 36, a pair of

side flaps

37, 41 and 39, 42, end flaps 38, and side tab 40. A male locking tab 43 is hingedly connected by score line 21 to side flap 39. Cut line 22 defines a female locking slit which in conjunction with inserted locking tab 43 closes the carton as hereinafter described. Angled lines of Weakness 23 and 24 provide a tear-strip 44 in

side flaps

39, 42 for gaining access to the closed and locked carton.

After the blank is cut out and separated from the original stock sheet or web layout, it is passed through a windowing machine which applies a transparent plastic sheet 45 of suitable dimensions to cover the opening bounded by

main panel portions

32, 34 and connecting panel portions 33, as shown in FIGURE 1. The blank is then partially assembled by applying adhesive to the side panel 30 in the areas indicated by the stippling, folding end flap 38, connected by score line 19, inwardly to overlie adjacent connecting panel portions 33, next infolding main panel portion 35 about score line 14 so that the glue flap 36 overlies window 45 and end flap 38, and finally infolding side panel 30 inwardly to adhere it to glue flap 36 and end flap 38. The blank in this stage is in the form of a collapsed shell having

main panel portions

31 and 35 overlying

main panel portions

32 and 34, respectively. Similarly, side flap

portions

37 and 39 overlie

side panel portions

41 and 42, respectively. In such condition, as shown in FIGURE 2, the shell may be shipped economically to the product packager for set-up, filling and closing.

FIGURE 3 depicts an initial stage in setting up the carton for filling same. The carton is set up by merely pushing inwardly at the edges defined by

score lines

11 and 14, connecting

main panel portions

31, 32 and 34, 35, respectively. When set up, side panel 30 and

side flaps

37, 41 and 39, 42 are positioned perpendicularly to

main panels

31, 32 and 34, 35. Next, the carton is filled with product to be packaged and closed. In closing the carton, extending end flap 38 and side tab 40 are folded inwardly to lie in a common plane, as shown in FIGURE 4. Then,

side flap

37, 41 is folded inwardly about score line 20 to overlie end flap 38 and side tab 40. The closure is completed by infolding

side flap

39, 42 about score line 17 and inserting male looking tab 43 in female locking slit 22 to form a tamperproof closure. The closed carton, having the window 45 for viewing the contents, is shown in FIGURE 5.

Referring to FIGURE 6, the carton is opened by grasping the end of the tear strip 44 adjacent side panel 30 and pulling outward and away from one end to the other.

Flap portions

37, 38, 39, 41, 42 and tab 40 are folded outwardly to expose the product, as shown in FIGURE 6.

The present invention provides a carton which can readily be set up from a collapsed shell, filled and closed on automatic machinery without the use of an adhesive. It is understood that the location and type of locking means and opening means as well as the size and shape of the carton can be changed without departing from the scope of the present invention.

I claim:

1. A unitary blank comprising a rectangular connecting panel defined by transverse and longitudinal score lines; a pair of opposed triangular main panels each hingedly connected along a first edge by one of said longitudinal score lines to said connecting panel; a side panel hingedly connected to a second edge of one of said main panels; a glue flap hingedly connected to the corresponding second edge of the other of said main panels; a pair of side flaps hingedly connected along associated score lines to the remaining edge of each of said main panels, one of said side flaps having a male locking tab hingedly connected at its outer edge opposite the score line connecting it to the adjacent main panel, the other of said side flaps having an arcuate female locking slit along the score line connecting this side flap to its adjacent main panel, the side flap which has the male locking tab having a tear strip therein defined by a pair of spaced lines of weakness substantially parallel to the score line connecting this side flap to its adjacent main panel; a pair of end flaps hingedly connected along said transverse score lines to said connecting panel; a side tab hingedly connected to said side panel along the edge adjacent the side flap; and a score line in each of said main panels running from the intersection of said longitudinal score line and said second edge at an angle to said longitudinal score line through said main panel and the adjacent side flap.

2. A collapsed carton shell comprising a rectangular connecting panel defined by transverse and longitudinal score lines; a pair of opposed triangular main panels each hingedly connected along a first edge by one of said longitudinal score lines to said connecting panel, each of said main panels being folded back upon itself along angular score lines and having a second edge underlying its first edge; a side panel hingedly connected to said second edges of said main panels; a pair of opposed side flaps hingedly connected to the third edges of said main panels and being folded back upon themselves along score lines which are extensions of said angular score lines, one of said side flaps having a tear strip therein defined by a pair of spaced lines of weakness substantially parallel to the hinge line connecting said side flap to the adjacent main panel, said side flaps together forming a side wall when the carton is erected.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 173,390 Cornell Feb. 15, 1876 2,100,888 Vine Nov. 30, 1937 2,701,090 Buttery Feb. 1, 1955 2,765,072 Will Oct. 2, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 769,854 France June 18, 1934

Claims

1. A UNITARY BLANK COMPRISING A RECTANGULAR CONNECTING PANEL DEFINED BY TRANSVERSE AND LONGITUDINAL SCORE LINES; A PAIR OF OPPOSED TRIANGULAR MAIN PANELS EACH HINGEDLY CONNECTED ALONG A FIRST EDGE BY ONE OF SAID LONGITUDINAL SCORE LINES TO SAID CONNECTING PANEL; A SIDE PANEL HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO A SECOND EDGE OF ONE OF SAID MAIN PANELS; A GLUE FLAP HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO THE CORRESPONDING SECOND EDGE OF THE OTHER OF SAID MAIN PANELS; A PAIR OF SIDE FLAPS HINGEDLY CONNECTED ALONG ASSOCIATED SCORE LINES TO THE REMAINING EDGE OF EACH OF SAID MAIN PANELS, ONE OF SAID SIDE FLAPS HAVING A MALE LOCKING TAB HINGEDLY CONNECTED AT ITS OUTER EDGE OPPOSITE THE SCORE LINE CONNECTING IT TO THE ADJACENT MAIN PANEL, THE OTHER OF SAID SIDE FLAP HAVING AN ARCUATE FEMALE LOCKING SLIT ALONG THE SCORE LINE CONNECTING THIS SIDE FLAP TO ITS ADJACENT MAIN PANEL, THE SIDE FLAP WHICH HAS THE MALE LOCKING TAB HAVING A TEAR STRIP THEREIN DEFINED BY A PAIR OF SPACED LINES OF WEAKNESS SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE SCORE LINE CONNECTING THIS SIDE FLAP TO ITS ADJACENT MAIN PANEL; A PAIR OF END FLAPS HINGEDLY CONNECTED ALONG SAID TRANSVERSE SCORE LINES TO SAID CONNECTING PANEL; A SIDE TAB HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO SAID SIDE PANEL ALONG THE EDGE ADJACENT THE SIDE FLAP; AND A SCORE LINE IN EACH OF SAID MAIN PANELS RUNNING FROM THE INTERSECTION OF SAID LONGITUDINAL SCORE LINE AND SAID SECOND EDGE AT AN ANGLE TO SAID LONGITUDINAL SCORE LINE THROUGH SAID MAIN PANEL AND THE ADJACENT SIDE FLAP.