US3349988A

US3349988A - Gable top container with notched ridge

Info

Publication number: US3349988A
Application number: US543927A
Authority: US
Inventors: Raymond H Horning
Original assignee: Phillips Petroleum Co
Current assignee: Huhtamaki Consumer Packaging Inc
Priority date: 1966-04-20
Filing date: 1966-04-20
Publication date: 1967-10-31
Anticipated expiration: 1984-10-31

Description

Oct. 31, 1967 Filed April 20, 1966 R. H. HORNING GABLE TOP CONTAINER WITH NOTCHED RIDGE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR RH. HORN I NC BYWQQWW ATTORNEYS Oct. 31, 1967 R. H. HORNING GABLE TOP CONTAINER WITH NOTCHED RIDGE Filed April 20. 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 A T TORNEYS Oct. 31, 1967 R. H. HORN'ING GABLE TOP CONTAINER WITH NOTCHED RIDGE Filed April 20, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 4

INVE/V TOR RH. HORNING ATTORNEYS Oct. 31,1967 R. H. HORNING 9,

' GABLE TOP CONTAINER WITH NOTCHED RIDGE Filed April 20, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 3i. ll"- F/G. 6 A 23 '26b INVENTOR R.H.HORNING By ax A 7 TORNEYS United States Patent 3,349,988 GABLE TOP CONTAINER WlTH N OTCHED RIDGE Raymond H. Homing, Fulton, N.Y., assignor to Phillips Petroleum Company, a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 20, 1966, Ser. No. 543,927

Claims. (Cl. 22917) 1 This invention relates to gable top containers. In a specific aspect the invention relates to containers formed of paperboard or the like and provided with a gable top closure structure.

Containers of this type are used extensively for the packaging of liquid products such as milk. The top closure structure consists generally of opposed front and rear roof panels inclined to make the gable formation, and a pair of triangular-shaped end closure panels inclined upwardly between the front and rear roof panels. These end closure panels have integral fold-back panels that assume a position lying against the underside of the front and rear roof panels. The fold-back panels, and the front and rear roof panels, are formed with integral inner and outer ridge panels, respectively, which get to be disposed in vertical contacting relation and are joined together, usually, by some form of adhesive to form the ridge of the gable top.

When these closure panels are thus folded to closed position, the inner ridge panels, surmounting each pair of fold-back panels, are bent on a score line located at the apex of the adjacent end closure panel. These fold or hinge joints, of the inner ridge panels preferably meet at the center of the gable top ridge to minimize the possibilities of leakage. Difiiculties have been encountered in sealing the adjacent ridge panels in the folded position to each other to provide a container which can Withstand normal handling abuse but which is readily opened by the consumer. In the containers formed of paperboard or the like coated on both sides with a heat sealable thermoplastic material, for example polyethylene, attempts have been made to overcome these difficulties through the application of a release agent to the surfaces of the ridge panels of the spout end of the gable top. However, difficulties are also encountered in the use of the release agent due to the lack of means for controlling the amount of release agent within a narrow range, resulting in cartons which openduring handling from an excessive amount of release agent or which are difficult for the consumer to open because of an insufiicient amount of release agent. Problems arealso encountered in the registration of the release agent with the container, the condition of the container blank, and the time, temperature and pressure of the top sealing equipment and the positioning of the carton with respect to the sealing equipment.

In accordance with one aspect of this invention, it has been discovered that these difliculties can be avoided through the utilization of a gable top container with each of the outer ridge panels which surmount the roof panels having a notch in the upper portion thereof extending from a point adjacent the outer end of the portion of the respective outer ridge panel forming part of the spout to at least the center of the respective outer ridge panel.

In accordance with another aspect of this invention, it has been discovered that damage to the fold joint of the inner ridge panels forming a portion of the spout, which had been encountered with previous containers where the opposing fold joints were closely spaced or in actual contact, can be avoided by the removal of the upper portion of the fold joint of the inner ridge panels which do not form part of the spout.

Accordingly, it -is an object of the invention to provide a readily openable container. Another object of the invention is to provide a container having a protected pouring spout which is not damaged upon opening of the container. It it an object of the invention to provide a con- 3,349,988 Patented Oct. 31, 1967 tainer with all raw edges of the paperboard forming the top being protected against wicking from both the inside and the outside. Another object of the invention is to provide a gable top container having a pouring lip free of mechanical damage caused by the container top sealing equipment. Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved gable top container at a competitive cost.

Other objects, aspects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a study of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims to the invention.

In the drawings, FIGURE 1 is a layout view of the outer surface of a container blank in accordance with the invention. FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a container in accordance with the invention which has been sealed except for the cover tape; FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the top structure of the container of FIGURE 2 to which a cover tape has been applied; FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the top structure of the container of FIG- URE 3 in a partly opened condition; FIGURES 5 and 6 are elevation views in cross section of the container of FIGURES 3 and 4 taken along lines 5-5 and 6-6, respectively; and FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the container of FIGURE 3 in an open or pouring position.

Referring to FIGURE 1, the blank from which the container is erected, is scored in the conventional manner as at 10, 11, 12 and 13 to form

side wall panels

15, 16, 17, 18 and 19. These score lines extend vertically from the lower edge of the blank to the upper edge thereof. Score line 21 is spaced downwardly from the upper edge of the blank and extends horizontally, or transversely, across the blank, intercepting

score lines

10, 11, 12 and 13-. Score line 21 can be a straight line, or as shown in FIGURE 1 it can be composed of

segments

21a, 21b, 21c, 21d and 21s, with

segments

21b and 21d being in one plane and offset downwardly from the plane of

segments

21a, 21c and 21e.

Horizontal score line 22 is spaced intermediate the top edge of the blank and score line 21 and extends transversely of the blank. The score line segment 21c and the lower portion of

vertical score lines

11 and 12 define a back (with respect to the views of FIGURES 2-7) side wall 17.

Score line segments

21a and 21e and the lower portions of

vertical score lines

10 and 13 define

panels

15 and 19, the free edges of which overlap in the erected container to form a front wall panel. Score line segment 21b and the lower portions of

score lines

10 and 11 define one end wall 16, While score line segment 21d and the lower portions of

score lines

12 and 13 define the opposite end wall 18. While the invention is applicable generally to containers of rectangular cross section, the scoring arrangement of FIGURE 1 is such to provide front, rear and end wall panels of equal width.

Score lines

11, 12 and 22, together with score line segment 21c, define a rear roof panel 23 immediately above rear wall panel 17.

Score lines

10, 22 and 13, together with score line segments 21a and 21s and the vertical edges of the blank, define

panels

24 and 25, which overlap in the erected container to form the front roof panel.

Score lines

10, 22 and 11 and score line segment 21b define one infoldable end panel 26, while

score lines

12, 22 and 13 and score line segment 21d define the opposite infoldable end panel ,27. End panel 26 is provided with

score lines

28 and 29 which begin at opposite ends of score line segment 21b and converge to a common intersection with each other and score line 22 midway between

vertical score lines

10 and 11, to form a triangular-shaped end panel portion 26b and a pair of triangular-shaped fold-back panel portions 26a and 260 whose sides are hingedly connected to the end panel portion 26b and the respective adjacent roof panel. End panel 27 is similarly provided with

score lines

31 and 32 which begin at opposite ends of score line segment 21d and converge to a common intersection with each other and score line 22 medial of

vertical score lines

12 and 13, thus forming triangular end panel portion 27b and a pair of fold-back panel portions 27a and 270.

Score lines

11, 22 and 12 and the upper edge of the blank define an outer ridge panel 33 surmounting the rear roof panel 23.

Score lines

10, 13 and 22 and the upper and vertical edges of the blank define

panels

34 and 35 which overlap in the erected container to form an outer ridge panel surmounting the

front roof panel

24, 25. Score line 36 extends vertically from the common intersection of

score lines

22, 28 and 29 to the upper edge of the blank to form a pair of

inner ridge panels

37 and 38 surmounting fold-

back panel portions

26a and 26c, respectively. Score line 39 extends vertically upward from the common intersection of

score lines

31, 32 and 22 to form a pair of

inner ridge panels

41 and 42, surmounting

foldback panel portions

27a and 27c, respectively.

Horizontal

score line segments

21b and 21d are located lower on the container than horizontal

score line segments

21a, 21c and 21e to substantially reduce the thickness of the folds at adjacent lower corners of the roof panels and end closure panels. In other words, the spacing apart in the vertical plane of the bend of each roof panel into its vertical container wall from the bend of each end closure panel into its vertical container wall permits smaller and more attractive folds in the resulting corners of the container. The portions of

vertical score lines

11 and 12 above horizontal

score line segments

21b and 21d are of extended width in a direction toward the center of rear roof panel 23. Similarly, the portions of vertical score lines and 13 above

horizontal line segments

21b and 21d are of extended width in a direction toward the center of the front roof panel formed by

panels

24 and 25. This results in each of

inner ridge panels

37, 38, 41 and 42 having a horizontal length exceeding one-half of the horizontal length of front

outer ridge panels

34, 35 or rear outer ridge panel 33.

When the blank of FIGURE 1 is folded on the

score lines

10, 11, 12 and 13 about the square mandrel of the container erecting machine, all of the roof panels and end closure panels are of equal length in a direction transversely of the container. The overlapping edges of panels and 19,

panels

24 and 25, and

panels

34 and 35 are sealed together, and a bottom closure 51 (FIGURE 2) is permanently sealed to the lower edges of

panels

15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 to form a container capable of holding liquids. After the container is filled, the top structure of the container is closed by folding triangular

end panel portions

26b and 27b inwardly towards each other and folding the roof panels inwardly and inclined towards each other and overlying the end closure panels. In the closed container illustrated in FIGURE 2, triangular fold-

back panel portions

26a and 27c lie against the underside of front

roof closure panel

24, 25, and triangular fold-

back panel portions

26c and 27a lie against the underside of rear roof closure panel 23 in conventional gable top fashion. In the closed

position ridge panels

33, 34, 35, 37, 38, 41 and 42 assume vertical abutting positions and are heat sealed to each other to maintain the container closed during handling.

When the roof panels and end closure panels are folded inwardly the greater width of the upper portions of

score lines

10, 11, 12 and 13 provides extra material for the end closure panels and their surmounting inner ridge panels while reducing the width of'the roof panels and their surmounting outer ridge panels. This results in the hinge joints on

score lines

36 and 39 abutting at the center of the laminar ridge structure formed by bonding the ridge panels together.

In containers of this type employing conventional scoring with the vertical score lines 10-13 being of uniform width throughout their length, the outer ridge panels surmounting the front and rear roof panels and the inner ridge panels surmounting the end panels are all of equal length. In manipulating these panels to folded, closed position, the hinge joint between the inner ridge panels surmounting the fold-back panels fail to meet or abut at the center of the ridge structure and, accordingly, there is a space between the inner folded ends of the inner ridge panels surmounting the fold-back panels. This spacing has a dimension along the length of the ridge structure approximately equal to double the thickness of the blank due to the folded inner ridge panels, whereby there is, accordingly, a small aperture for the escape of liquid contents from the container.

However, with the arrangement above described, wherein the folded ends of the inner ridge panels abut, such a leak passage is entirely avoided.

It will be apparent that this improvement is obtained simply by the modification of the vertical scoring in the upper portions of score lines 10-13, which obviously results in no increase in the cost of producing the blank. No change or modification in the container erecting equipment is required. Maintaining the square form of the container body also avoids any changes in the equipment for handling and casing the filled containers.

In order to provide a snap action for opening and closing the pouring spout, rear roof panel 23 is provided with a score line 43 extending upwardly from the intersection of horizontal score line segment 21c and vertical score line 11, to a point on score line 22 midway between

vertical score lines

11 and 12.

Front roof panels

24, 25 is similarly provided with score line 44 extending upwardly from the intersection of horizontal score line segment 21a and vertical score line 10, to a point on score line 22 midway of

vertical score lines

13 and 10. The plane through

score lines

43 and 44 is spaced upwardly from the plane of infolded end panel portion 26 in the closed position. When the two spout wings, formed by panel 26a and the adjacent portion of roof panel 24 and by panel 26c and the adjacent portion of roof panel 23, are broken apart and folded outwardly, as shown in FIGURE 4,

score lines

43 and 44 act as fulcrums to snap end panel portion 26b from its stable closed position to its stable open position illustrated in FIGURE 7. A slight inwardly directed pressure applied to end panel portion 2612 causes the spout to snap back to its stable closed position. Secondary

snap score lines

45 and 46 can be provided in

roof panels

23 and 24, 25 to provide a preliminary bend in the roof panels to enable an easier separation of the

inner ridge panels

37 and 38.

Score lines

45 and 46 have a higher angle of inclination than

score lines

43 and 44, thus dividing

roof panels

23 and 24 into

portions

23a, 23b and 23c and 24a, 24b and 240, respectively. Other snap action score line patterns can be utilized in place of or in addition to the presently described pattern.

In accordance with the present invention,

outer ridge panels

33 and 34, 35 are provided with notches 61 and 62, respectively. Notch 61 extends from a first point 65, adjacent the outer end 63 of the half of ridge panel 33 which forms part of the spout, inwardly to a second point at or beyond the vertical centerline of ridge panel 33. Similarly, notch 62 extends from a first point 67, adjacent the outer end 64 of the half of

ridge panel

34, 35 which forms part of the spout, inwardly to a second point at or beyond the vertical centerline of

ridge panel

34, 35. The ratio of the area of each of notches 61 and 62 which is contiguous to the adjacent

inner ridge panel

38, 37, respectively, to the area of the respective adjacent

inner ridge panel

38, 37, respectively, can vary with the size of the container, the thickness of the coating of thermoplastic material, the type of thermoplastic material, the sealing conditions utilized, and the like, but will generally be in the range of 0.05 to 0.9, and will preferably be in the range of 0.1 to 0.7, and will more preferably be in the range of 0.1 to 0.5.

The height of each of the

outer ridge panels

33 and 34, 35 less the height of the respective one of notches 61 and 62, or in other words the height of that portion of the outer ridge panel under the notch, is such as to provide the degree of heat seal to the adjacent inner ridge panel required to prevent leakage during handling of the sealed container. The area of each of the

outer ridge panels

33 and 34, 35 which is bonded to the adjacent one of

inner ridge panels

38 and 37 is such as to provide the desired strength of bond which is sufiiciently high to prevent the inadvertent opening of the sealed container during handling but sufficiently low to permit the consumer to separate with ease the

inner ridge panels

37 and 38 from the adjacent

outer ridge panels

34, 35 and 33, respectively. In accordance with a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, the notches 61 and 62 extend beyond the vertical centerline of the

outer ridge panels

33 and 34, 35 to prevent any interference with the movement of the vertical fold between

inner ridge panels

37 and 38 during the opening of the container.

While the outer ends 65, 67 of notches 61 and 62 are illustrated as being perpendicular to the base of the notches, and the inner ends 68, 69 of notches 61 and 62 are illustrated as being inclined upwardly and outwardly at an acute angle with respect to the vertical, it is within the contemplation of the invention to utilize notches of other configurations, for example rectangular, semielliptical, semicircular, or having a horizontal base line with each or both ends being curved or inclined, and the like.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention,

inner ridge panels

41 and 42 are provided with a notch 71 extending downwardly from the upper edge of the container and symmetrically positioned with respect to vertical score line 39, common to

panels

41 and 42. Notch 71 is preferably in the shape of an isosceles trapezoid having the lower horizontal side 72 as the shorter of the two parallel sides and

sides

73 and 74 as the nonparallel sides of equal length. The angle of inclination of

sides

73 and 74 with respect to the vertical can vary with the particular container design, but will generally be in the range of 15 to 75, and preferably will be in the range of 30 to 60. The height of

inner ridge panels

41 and 42 at the common score line 39 is such as to provide sufficient material to press against the joint 36 of

panels

37 and 38 in the sealedcontainer to prevent leakage of liquid between the

adjacent joints

36 and 39 of the inner ridge panels. Notch 71 is of sufi'icient area to permit the opposing joint 36 to move with relative ease from the closed position of FIGURES 3 and 5 to an inclined position, as shown in FIGURES 4 and 6, during'the opening of the container. This prevents or minimizes mechanical damage to the tip of the pouring spout, such tip being formed by the junction of

inner'ridge panels

37 and 38 along score line 36, which would otherwise occur in containers where the vertical fold lines of the inner ridge panels are closely adjacent to each other or in actual abutting contact With each other. Such mechanical damage in conventional containers often results in an unsightly, nonuniform or disfigured, blotter-like pouring lip. While notch 71 has been illustrated in its presently preferred isosceles trapezoidal form, other configurations, such as semicircular, semi-elliptical, rectangular, triangular, and the like, can be utilized.

In a presently preferred embodiment of a one-half gallon container, score line 39 is inch while the maximum height of

inner ridge panels

41 and 42 is inch, lower horizontal base 72 is inch and

sides

73 and 74 are inclined at an angle of 45 to the vertical. Notches 61 and 62 are as illustrated in the drawings with the notches being one-half the height of the outer ridge panels and 1% inch in length along the lower horizontal base line 70 and ends 68 and 69 being inclined at an angle of 45 to the vertical, and the lower base line 70 extending V inch beyond the centerline of

outer ridge panels

33 and 34, 35.

After the ridge panels are heat sealed to each other to form the laminar ridge of FIGURE 2, a cover 81 is placed over the laminar ridge in the area of

notches

61, 62 and 71 and sealed to the ridge to completely cover said notches. As illustrated in FIGURE 3, cover 81 can be in the form of a sheet of material which is of the same length of the ridge and has a width suflicient to fold over the ridge and cover the notches. Cover 81 can be utilized in other configurations, for example a circular disk having a diameter greater than the maximum length of the notches, an oval disk with the longer dimension being in the direction of the ridge, or a rectangular sheet. Cover 81 can be formed of any suitable material such as metal foil or a film of plastic material and can be secured to the container by any suitable means, for example, by heat sealing or by a pressure sensitive adhesive. Aluminum foil having a coating of polyethylene on the side next to the container is the presently preferred cover material. The cover can be sealed to the container throughout the area of contact or only in selected areas. The sealing jaws can be shaped to compress the cover 81 and the container ridge at each end of the ridge, as at 82 and 83, and along the upper edge of score line 22 as at 84. A series of high pressure grooves 85 can be formed in the cover 81 and the container ridge adjacent each end of the container ridge to intimately seal the cover 81 to the top edges of the rib panels to prevent seepage along the top of the ridge underneath the cover 81. A high pressure seal 86 can be made bridging the outer surfaces of

panels

34 and 35 to prevent seepage along the exposed edge of panel 35 underneath the cover 81.

Reasonable variations and modifications are possible Within the scope of the foregoing disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims to the invention.

I claim:

1. A gable top container formed of paperboard or the like, comprising a tubular body rectangular in cross section and having a front Wall panel, a rear wall panel, first and second opposing end wall panels connecting said front wall panel and said rear wall panel, a bottom closure afiixed to the lower portion of each said front, rear and end Wall panels, a front roof panel affixed to the upper portion of said front wall panel, a rear roof panel affixed to the upper portion of said rear Wall panel, said front and rear roof panels being inclined toward each other and overlying said body, first and second end closure panels being infolded between said front and rear roof panels from the opposite gable ends formed by the latter, each of said end closure panels including a triangular end panel portion having its lower portion integral with the upper portion of the respective end wall and a pair of triangular fold-back panels integral with the respective triangular end panel portion and the respective adjacent roof panel, said fold-back panels being folded against the underside of said roof panels, first and second outer ridge panels surmounting said front and back roof panels, respectively, first and second inner ridge panels surmounting the two fold-back panels of said first end closure panel, third and fourth inner ridge panels surmounting the two fold-back panels of said second end closure panel, the inner ends of said first and second inner ridge panels being integral with each other along a first common fold line, the inner ends of said third and fourth inner ridge panels being integral with each other along a second common fold line, the outer ends of said first, second, third and fourth inner ridge panels being integral with the outer end of the respective adjacent roof panel, said inner and outer ridge panels being disposed vertically and being joined together with a permanent adhesive bond to define a central laminar top ridge, said container being openable by the consumer by first breaking the bond between said first and second inner ridge panels by folding said first and second inner ridge panels, :and the respective adjacent outer ridge panel, outwardly from each other and then separating each of said first and second inner ridge panels from the respective adjacent outer ridge panel, each of said outer ridge panels having a notch in the upper edge thereof extending inwardly from a first point adjacent the outer ends of said first and second inner ridge panels to at least the vertical centerline of the respective outer ridge panel, the height of the portion of the outer ridge panel beneath the notch being sufiicient to provide a leak proof seal to the adjacent portion of the respective inner ridge panel, the portion of each outer ridge panel which is sealed to the adjacent portion of the respective one of said first and second inner ridge panels being sufficient to provide a bond sutficiently strong to protect the container against inadvertent opening of the sealed container during handling and sufiiciently weak to permit the consumer to separate with ease said first and second inner ridge panels from the respective adjacent outer ridge panel.

2. A container in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a third notch in the upper edge of said third and fourth inner ridge panels and positioned substantially symmetric-ally about said second common fold line to substantially reduce or eliminate mechanical damage to said first and second inner ridge panels in the area of said first common fold line.

3. A container in accordance with claim 2 wherein said third notch is in the shape of an isosceles trapezoid having the lower horizontal side as the shorter one of the two parallel sides of the trapezoid.

4. A container in accordance with claim 3 where each of the first two mentioned notches extends inwardly along the ridge a sufficient distance to substantially completely expose said third notch.

5. A container in accordance with claim 1 wherein the ratio of the area of the portion of each of said notches which is contiguous to the respective adjacent one of said first and second inner ridge panels to the area of the respective adjacent one of said first and second inner ridge panels is in the range of 0.05 to 0.9.

6. A container in accordance with claim 1 wherein said notches extend beyond the vertical centerline of the respective outer ridge panel into that portion of the respective outer ridge panel which is adjacent the respective one of said third and fourth inner ridge panels.

7. A container in accordance with claim 1 wherein the combination of the folded length of said first and second inner ridge panels and the folded length of said third and fourth inner ridge panels exceeds the length of each of the outer ridge panels in the laminated ridge, to cause said first and second common fold lines to abut at the center of the laminated ridge.

8. A container in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a sheet member folded over said laminated ridge to cover said notches and bonded to said laminated ridge.

9. A gable top container for-med of paperboard or the like, comprising a tubular body rectangular in cross section and having a front wall panel, a rear wall panel, first and second opposing end wall panels connecting said front wall panel and said rear wall panel, a bottom closure affixed to the lower portion of each of said front,

rear and end wall panels, a front roof panel affixed to the upper portion of said front wall panel, a rear roof panel affixed to the upper portion of said rear wall panel, said front and rear roof panels being inclined toward each other and overlying said body, first and second end closure panels being infolded between said front and rear roof panels from the opposite gable ends formed by the latter, each of said end closure panels including a triangular end panel portion having its lower portion integral with the upper portion of the respective end wall and a pair of triangular fold-back panels integral with the respective triangular end panel portion and the respective adjacent roof panel, said fold-back panels being folded against the underside of said roof panels, first and second outer ridge panels surmounting said front and back roof panels, respectively, first and second inner ridge panels surmounting the two fold-back panels of said first end closure panel, third and fourth inner ridge panels surmounting the two fold-back panels of said second end closure panel, the inner ends of said first and second inner ridge panels being integral with each other along a first common fold line, the inner ends of said third and fourth inner ridge panels being integral with each other along a second common fold line, the outer ends of said first, second, third and fourth inner ridge panels being integral with the outer end of the respective adjacent outer ridge panel, said inner and outer ridge panels being disposed vertically and being joined together with a permanent adhesive bond to define a central laminar top ridge, said container being openable by the consumer by first breaking the bond between said first and second inner ridge panels by folding said first and second inner ridge panels, and the respective adjacent outer ridge panel, outwardly from each other and then separating each of said first and second inner ridge panels from the respective adjacent outer ridge panel, said third and fourth inner ridge panels having a notch in the upper edge thereof positioned substantially symmetrically about said second common fold line and having a horizontal length substantially less than the horizontal length of said third and fourth inner ridge panels to substantially reduce or eliminate mechanical damage to said first and second inner ridge panels in the area of said first common fold line.

10. A container in accordance with claim 9 wherein said notch is in the shape of an isosceles trapezoid having the lower horizontal side as the shorter one of the two parallel sides of the trapezoid.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,185,375 5/1965 Thomas 229-17 3,270,940 9/1966 Egleston et a1. 22917 3,272,425 9/1966 Bendersky et al 22917 3,302,846 2/ 1967 Wilcox 22917 JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

DAVIS T. MOORHEAD, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. A GABLE TOP CONTAINER FORMED OF PAPERBOARD OR THE LIKE, COMPRISING A TUBULAR BODY RECTANGULAR IN CROSS SECTION AND HAVING A FRONT WALL PANEL, A REAR WALL PANEL, FIRST AND SECOND OPPOSING END WALL PANEL CONNECTING SAID FRONT WALL PANEL AND SAID REAR WALL PANEL, A BOTTOM CLOSURE AFFIXED TO THE LOWER PORTION OF EACH SAID FRONT, REAR AND END WALL PANELS, A FRONT ROOF PANEL AFFIXED TO THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID FRONT WALL PANEL, A REAR ROOF PANEL AFFIXED TO THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID REAR WALL PANEL, SAID FRONT AND REAR ROOF PANELS BEING INCLINED TOWARD EACH OTHER AND OVERLYING SAID BODY, FIRST AND SECOND END CLOSURE PANELS BEING INFOLDED BETWEEN SAID FRONT AND REAR ROOF PANELS FROM THE OPPOSITE GABLE ENDS FORMED BY THE LATTER, EACH OF SAID END CLOSURE PANELS INCLUDING A TRIANGULAR END PANEL PORTION HAVING ITS LOWER PORTION INTEGRAL WITH THE UPPER PORTION OF THE RESPECTIVE END WALL AND A PAIR OF TRIANGULAR FOLD-BACK PANELS INTEGRAL WITH THE RESPECTIVE TRIANGULAR END PANEL PORTION AND THE RESPECTIVE ADJACENT ROOF PANEL, SAID FOLD-BACK PANELS BEING FOLDED AGAINST THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID ROOF PANELS, FIRST AND SECOND OUTER RIDGE PANELS SURMOUNTING SAID FRONT AND BACK ROOF PANELS, RESPECTIVELY, FIRST AND SECOND INNER RIDGE PANELS SURMOUNTING THE TWO FOLD-BACK PANELS OF SAID FIRST END CLOSURE PANEL, THIRD AND FOUTH INNER RIDGE PANELS SURMOUNTING THE TWO FOLD-BACK PANELS OF SAID SECOND END CLOSURE PANEL, THE INNER ENDS OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND INNER RIDGE PANELS BEING INTEGRAL WITH EACH OTHER ALONG A FIRST COMMON FOLD LINE, THE INNER ENDS OF SAID THIRD AND FOURTH INNER RIDGE PANELS BEING INTEGRAL WITH EACH OTHER ALONG A SECOND COMMON FOLD LINE, THE OTHER ENDS OF SAID FIRST, SECOND, THIRD AND FOURTH INNER RIDGE PANELS BEING INTEGRAL WITH THE OUTER END OF THE RESPECTIVE ADJACENT ROOF PANEL, SAID INNER AND OUTER RIDGE PANELS BEING DISPOSED VERTICALLY AND BEING JOINED TOGETHER WITH A PERMANENT ADHESIVE BOND TO DEFINE A CENTRAL LAMINAR TOP RIDGE, SAID CONTAINER BEING OPENABLE BY THE CONSUMER BY FIRST BREAKING THE BOND BETWEEN SAID RISST AND SECOND INNER RIDGE PANELS BY FOLDING SAID FIRST AND SECOND INNER RIDGE PANELS, AND THE RESPECTIVE ADJACENT OUTER RIDGE PANEL, OUTWARDLY FROM EACH OTHER AND THEN SEPARATING EACH OF SAID FRIST AND SECOND INNER RIDGE PANELS FROM THE RESPECTIVE ADJACENT OUTER RIDGE PANEL, EACH OF SAID OUTER RIDGE PANELS HAVING A NOTCH IN THE UPPER EDGE THEREOF EXTENDING INWARDLY FROM A FIRST POITN ADJACENT THE OUTER ENDS OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND INNER RIDGE PANELS TO AT LEAST THE VERTICAL CENTERLINE OF THE RESPECTIVE OUTER RIDGE PANEL, THE HEIGHT OF THE PORTION OF THE OUTER RIDGE PANEL BENEATH THE NOTCH BEING SUFFICIENT TO PROVIDE A LEAK PROOF SEAL TO THE ADJACENT PORTION OF THE RESPECTIVE INNER RIDGE PANEL, THE PORTION OF EACH OUTER RIDGE PANEL WHICH IS SEALED TO THE ADJACENT PORTION OF THE RESPECTIVE ONE OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND INNER RIDGE PANELS BEING SUFFICIENT TO PROVIDE A BOND SUFFICIENTLY STRONG TO PROTECT THE CONTAINER AGAINST INADVERTENT OPENING OF THE SEALED CONTAINER DURING HANDLING AND SUFFICIENTLY WEAK TO PERMIT THE CONSUMER TO SEPARATE WITH EASE SAID FIRST AND SECOND INNER RIDGE PANELS FROM THE RESPECTIVE ADJACENT OUTER RIDGE PANEL.