WO2016057380A1

WO2016057380A1 - Cartons convertible for displayng products

Info

Publication number: WO2016057380A1
Application number: PCT/US2015/053969
Authority: WO
Inventors: Carmen Elena GIL; Juan Carlos RESTREPO; Alfredo PERDOMO
Original assignee: Intercontinental Great Brands Llc
Priority date: 2014-10-09
Filing date: 2015-10-05
Publication date: 2016-04-14
Also published as: AR102221A1

Abstract

A carton openable to display contents thereof includes multiple compartments each having an access opening. The carton is convertible from a closed configuration, where the compartments are oriented such that the access opening of each of the compartments is obstructed, and an open configuration, where the compartments are oriented such that the access opening of each of the compartments is unobstructed, and access to the contents of each of the compartments is permitted. Methods for manufacturing the carton and opening the carton are also provided.

Description

CARTONS CONVERTIBLE FOR DISPLAYING PRODUCTS

Field

[0001] Cartons convertible for displaying products stored therein, and in particular, multi-compartment cartons that may be converted from a closed configuration to an open configuration where the products stored therein are displayed and accessible to the consumer.

Background

[0002] Cartons including multiple compartments for storing consumer products such as food products are known. Such cartons are often displayed to consumers at retail locations while being placed on shelves in their closed, i.e., more compact, configuration to save shelf space. The closed configuration of such packages, while good for saving shelf space, is not optimal for displaying all of the compartments of the multi-compartment packages in a way that would attract the consumer's attention. Instead, such cartons, when displayed in their closed configuration, often require the consumers to read the small print on the cartons and/or physically unfold the cartons to identify the products being stored in each compartment of the carton, and/or to have physical access to the products stored in the compartments of the cartons. This is a disadvantage because it is not uncommon for cartons to be displayed at various retail locations where shelf-space is limited behind a counter that the consumers do not have access to.

Summary

[0003] Generally, the cartons described herein include multiple compartments each having an access opening and an interior configured to store a consumer product. The cartons may be oriented in a closed configuration, where the access opening of each of the compartments is obstructed. The cartons are convertible to an open configuration and may be displayed to consumers in the open configuration, where the compartments are oriented such that the access opening of each of the compartments is unobstructed and the products in each of the compartments are visible to, and accessible by, the consumers.

[0004] In one form, a carton openable to display products storable therein includes multiple compartments each having an access opening and an interior configured to store the products. The carton may be convertible from a closed configuration, where the compartments are oriented such that the access opening of each of the compartments is obstructed, and an open configuration, where the compartments are oriented such that the access opening of each of the compartments is unobstructed and the products storable in each of the compartments are accessible .

[0005] The carton may include a first compartment, a second compartment, and a third compartment. When the carton is in the closed configuration, the third compartment may be positioned between the first compartment and the second compartment and a portion of the first compartment may abut a first portion of the third compartment. Similarly, the second compartment may be positioned between the first compartment and the third compartment and a portion of the second compartment may abut a second portion of the third compartment.

[0006] In one form, each of the first, second, and third compartments may include a back panel; a front panel opposite the back panel; a first side panel and a second side panel opposite the first side panel, the first and second side panels connecting the back and front panels; and a bottom panel extending between the back, front, first side, and second side panels, the back, front, bottom, first side, and second side panels defining an interior of the carton therebetween, the interior configured to contain the products.

[0007] The carton may include a cover hingedly attached relative to the first compartment about a first hinge and movable in a direction away from the first, second, and third compartments about the first hinge from a closed position where the access opening of the first compartment is obstructed by the cover to an open position where the access opening of the first compartment is not obstructed by the cover and access to the products of the first compartment is permitted, and the access openings of each of the second and third compartments remaining obstructed when the cover is in the open position.

[0008] The cover may include a first cover panel non- detachably attached relative to the first compartment about the first hinge, a second cover panel non-detachably attached to the first cover panel about a second hinge, and a third cover panel detachably attached to the second cover panel of the cover about a third hinge. The third hinge may be a line of weakness configured to permit the third cover panel to be separated from the second cover panel along the line of weakness.

[0009] In one form, the first cover panel may include a first opening and the second cover panel includes a second opening and the second cover panel may be moved about the second hinge such that the first and second openings are aligned and the second cover panel overlies at least a part of the first cover panel.

[0010] The third cover panel may include a closure tab extending therefrom and the rear panel of the third compartment may include an opening configured to receive the closure tab when the carton is in the closed configuration.

[0011] The cover may include a flap extending from the first cover panel and second cover panel. The flap may be configured to be received in an opening between a first side panel of the third compartment and a second connecting panel when the lid is in the closed position.

[0012] In one form, when the carton is in the closed configuration, the access opening of each of the first and third compartments faces in a first direction and the access opening of the second compartment faces in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

[0013] The carton may have a first intermediate open configuration, where the back panel of the third compartment and the front panel of the first compartment do not abut, wherein the front panels of the second and third compartments remain in abutment, and where the access opening of the second compartment is open to permit access to the products in the second compartment. The carton may also have a fully open configuration, where the rear panel of the third compartment and the front panel of the first compartment do not abut, and where the front panels of the second and third compartments do not abut, and where the access opening of the third compartment is open to permit access to the contents of the third compartment.

[0014] In one form, each of the first, second, and third compartments may include a first top flap pivotally attached relative to the first side panel about a first top hinge and a second top flap pivotally attached relative to the second side panel about a second top hinge. The first and second top flaps may be movable about the first and second top hinges, respectively, from the closed configuration, where the first and second top flaps of the first and second compartments obstruct a portion of the access opening of the respective one of the first and second compartments and the first and second top flaps of the third compartment are received in the access opening of the third compartment, to an open configuration, where the first and second top flaps of the first and second compartments do not obstruct the portion of the access opening of the first and second compartments and the first and second top flaps of the third compartment are positioned outside of the access opening of the third compartment.

[0015] The carton may further include a first connecting panel that connects the first and second compartments and a second connecting panel that connects the second and third compartments. The first connecting panel may be attached relative to the second compartment along a fourth hinge and the second compartment may be movable relative to the first connecting panel and the first and third compartments about the fourth hinge. The second connecting panel may be attached relative to the third compartment along a fifth hinge and the third compartment may be movable relative to the second connecting panel and the first and second compartments about the fifth hinge.

[0016] When the carton is in the closed position, a portion of the first connecting panel may obstruct a portion of the access opening of the second compartment and a portion of the second connecting panel may obstruct a portion of the access opening of the third compartment.

[0017] In one form, a first line of weakness extends across at least a portion of the first connecting panel and a second line of weakness extends across at least a portion of the second connecting panel, and the second compartment is detachable from the first compartment along the first line of weakness, and the third compartment is detachable from the second compartment along the second line of weakness.

[0018] In one approach, a method of manufacturing a carton includes: providing material having first and second longitudinal edges and a plurality of fold lines extending both parallel and perpendicular to the first and second longitudinal edge; depositing the products on a portion of the material between one or more of the fold lines; folding the second longitudinal edge of the material about one of the lines of weakness such that a portion of the material overlays at least part of the products; folding the second longitudinal edge of the material about another one of the lines of weakness to enclose a side portion of the product; attaching a closure flap of the material including the second longitudinal edge to an underlying portion of the material; folding a plurality of side flaps and bottom panels about their respective fold lines to form first, second, and third compartments of the carton; folding the first compartment about a first hinge to bring the first compartment in a substantially perpendicular orientation relative to the second and third compartments; folding the third compartment about a third hinge to overlay and abut the second compartment; folding the second compartment about a second hinge to bring the third compartment into abutment with the first compartment; and folding a cover about a fourth hinge to cover the first, second and third compartments.

[0019] The method may further include providing the cover with a flap extending therefrom and inserting the flap into an access opening of the third compartment; and providing the cover with a closure tab extending therefrom and inserting the closure tap into an opening in a rear panel of the second compartment.

[0020] In one approach, a method of opening the carton includes: moving the cover to an open position to unobstruct the access opening of the first compartment; moving the first compartment in a direction away from the second and third compartments; moving the second and third compartments in a direction away from the first compartment to expose a first portion of the access opening of the second compartment; and moving the third compartment in a direction away from the second compartment to expose a second portion of the access opening of the second compartment and to expose the access opening of the third compartment.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a carton including three compartments and being in a closed configuration where the compartments are covered by an openable cover;

[0022] FIG. 2 is the same view as in FIG. 1, showing the openable cover moved to a position where a first of the three compartments is unobstructed by the cover and access to the product in the first compartment is permitted;

[0023] FIG. 3 is the same view as in FIG. 2, showing a first intermediate open position, where the first compartment is open and moved in a direction away from the second and third compartments;

[0024] FIG. 4 is the same view as in FIG. 3, showing the first compartment being open and the second and third compartments being moved in a direction away from the first compartment toward a second intermediate open position;

[0025] FIG. 5 is the same view as in FIG. 4, showing the second intermediate open position, where the second and third compartments are moved further away from the first compartment past the position shown in FIG. 4, and where the first and second compartments are open and the third compartment is closed;

[0026] FIG. 6 is the same view as in FIG. 5, showing the first and second compartments being open and the third compartment being moved in a direction away from the second compartment toward a fully open position; [0027] FIG. 7 is the same view as in FIG. 6, showing the carton in the fully open position, where the first, second, and third compartments are open;

[0028] FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of the carton of FIG. 1 in a fully open configuration and hanging on a vertical structure such as a wall; and

[0029] FIG. 9 is a top plan view of a carton blank that may be folded to the configuration shown in FIG. 1.

Detailed Description of the Drawings

[0030] The cartons described herein include multiple compartments each having an access opening and an interior configured to store a consumer product. During transport and/or storage, the cartons may be oriented in a closed configuration, where the compartments are oriented such that the access opening of each of the compartments is obstructed. The cartons may be displayed to consumers in an open configuration, where the compartments are oriented such that the access opening of each of the compartments is unobstructed and the products in each of the compartments are visible to the consumers and accessible by the consumers. The cartons described herein can be thus advantageously transported in the closed, more compact configuration, and displayed to the consumers, for example, at retail locations in the open, attention-catching easily accessible configuration.

[0031] One exemplary carton 10 including multiple compartments is shown in FIGS 1-8. The carton 10 includes a first compartment 10a, a second compartment 10b, and a third compartment 10c. The compartments 10a, 10b, and 10c are movable relative to each other, as described in more detail below, to permit the carton 10 to be converted from the closed (i.e., unopened) configuration (shown in FIG. 1) to the open configuration (shown in FIGS 7-8). While FIGS. 1-8 show a carton 10 having three compartments 10a, 10b, and 10c, it will be appreciated that the carton 10 may have fewer than three (i.e., two) compartments, or more than three (e.g., four, five, six, or more) compartments.

[0032] The compartments 10a, 10b, and 10c each have an interior configured to contain a product 90a, 90b, 90c, respectively, for example, beverage mix packets, as shown in FIG. 8. The compartments 10a, 10b, and 10c each have an access opening 12a, 12b, and 12c that advantageously permits the products 90a, 90b, and 90c in each compartment 10a, 10c, and 10c to be simultaneously displayed, and, optionally, accesssible to the consumers as shown in FIG. 8. The products 90a, 90b, and 90c have been shown in FIG. 8 as beverage mix packets by way of example only, and it will be appreciated that the compartments 10a, 10b, and 10c may advantageously store and display other products, for example, food products such as gum, candy, chocolates, and other food products, or non-food products such as stickers, stick-on tattoos, and/or other prizes, which can be either individually wrapped or have no individual wrapper.

[0033] The compartments 10a, 10b, and 10c of the carton 10 may each store an identical product 90a, 90b, and 90c. Alternatively, each of the compartments 10a, 10b, and 10c may store a different product 90a, 90b, and 90c such that a single carton 10 with three compartments 10a, 10b, and 10c may provide a consumer with a combination of three different products 90 to choose from. Instead of all three compartments 10a, 10b, and 10c containing a consumable beverage mix product 90, any one of the cartons 10 described herein may include a first compartment 10a containing a first drinkable product (e.g., beverage mix or vitamin mix), a second compartment 10b containing a chewable product (e.g., candy or chocolate), and a third compartment 10c containing a non-food product (e.g., stickers or other prizes). Alternatively, one or more of the three compartments 10a, 10b, and 10c may be empty.

[0034] When the carton 10 is in a closed (i.e., unopened configuration) , the first, second, and third compartments 10a, 10b, and 10c are oriented such that their access openings 12a, 12b, and 12c (shown in FIG. 7) are obstructed and access to the products 90a, 90b, and 90c in the compartments 10a, 10b, and 10c is not permitted, and the products 90a, and 90b, and 90c are not visible to the consumer. The closed configuration of the carton 10 in FIG. 1 is advantageously compact for shipping the carton 10. Conversely, when the carton 10 is in an open configuration shown in FIGS. 7-8, the access openings 12a, 12b, and 12c of the first, second, and third compartments 10a, 10b, and 10c are open, and the products 90a, 90b, and 90c in the respective compartments 10a, 10b, and 10c are visible to the consumer and may be accessed (i.e., removed from any one of the compartments 10a, 10b, and 10c) by the consumer.

[0035] Each of the first, second, and third compartments 10a, 10b, and 10c includes a back (or rear) panel 14a, 14b, 14c and a front panel 16a, 16b, and 16c opposite the back panel 14a, 14b, and 14c. Each of the front panels 14a, 14b, and 14c includes a cutout 18a, 18b and 18c that forms a portion of the access opening 12a, 12b, and 12c as shown in FIG. 7. While the cutout 18a, 18b, and 18c is shown in FIG. 7 as being generally rectangular, it will be appreciated that the cutout 18a, 18b, and 18c may be of any other suitable shape to display a portion of the food product 90a, 90b, and 90c when the carton 10 is displayed to the consumers in the configuration shown in FIG. 8, with the front panels 14a, 14b, and 14c of each compartment 10a, 10b, and 10c facing the consumers. [0036] The first, second, and third compartments 10a, 10b, and 10c each include a first side panel 20a, 20b, and 20c and a second side panel 22a, 22b, and 22c opposite the first side panel 20a, 20b, and 20c. The first side panels 20a, 20b, and 20c and the second side panels 22a, 22b, and 22c connect the front panels 16a, 16b, and 16c and the back panels 14a, 14b, and 14c. Each compartment 10a, 10b, and 10c further includes a bottom panel 24a, 24b, and 24c extending between the back panels 14a, 14b, and 14c, front panels 16a, 16b, and 16c, first side panels 20a, 20b, and 20c, and second side panels 22a, 22b, and 22c. The bottom panels 24a, 24b, and 24c, back panels 14a, 14b, and 14c, front panels 16a, 16b, and 16c, first side panels 20a, 20b, and 20c, and second side panels 22a, 22b, and 22c define the interior of the first, second, and third compartments 10a, 10b, and 10c of the carton 10 therebetween.

[0037] Each of the first, second, and third compartments 10a, 10b, and 10 of the carton 10 may further comprise a first bottom flap 36a, 36b, and 36c pxvotally attached relative to the first side panel 20a, 20b, and 20c about a first bottom hinge 40a, 40b, and 40c, and an opposite second bottom flap 38a, 38b, and 38c pxvotally attached relative to the second side panel 22a, 22b, and 22c about a second bottom hinge 42a, 42b, and 42c, as shown in FIG. 9. The first bottom flaps 36a, 36b, and 36c are movable about the first bottom hinges 40a, 40b, and 40c, while the second bottom flaps 38a, 38b, and 38c are movable about the second bottom hinge 42a, 42b, and 42c. In particular, the first and second bottom flaps 36a and 36b may move about the first and second bottom hinges 40a and 40b, respectively, during the manufacturing of the carton 10, into the position shown in FIG. 7, where the first bottom flaps 36a, 36b and 36c and the second flaps 28a, 28b, and 28c are oriented substantially perpendicularly to the first and second side panels 20a, 20b, 20c, and 22a, 22b, and 22c, and obstruct a portion of a bottom opening of the compartments lOa-lOc.

[0038] The bottom panels 24a, 24b, and 24c are pivotally attached relative to the first, second and third compartments 10a, 10b, and 10c about fold lines 29a, 29b, and 29c, respectively, which function as hinges, and include a closure flap 25a, 25b, and 25c pivotally attached relative a fold line 27a, 27b, and 27c. With the first, second, and third compartments 10a, 10b, and 10c oriented in the configuration shown in FIG. 7, the bottom panels 24a, 24b, and 24c are positioned to overlay the first and second bottom flaps 36a, 36b, 36c, 38a, 38b, and 38c and obstruct the bottom opening of the compartments 10a, 10b, and 10c, thereby providing the compartments 10a, 10b, and 10c with closed bottom ends. The closure flaps 25a, 25b, and 25c may be oriented substantially perpendicularly to their respective bottom panels 24a, 24b, and 24c, and may pass through the openings in the bottom ends 34a, 34b, and 34c of the compartments 10a, 10b, and 10c, and into the interior of the compartments 10a, 10b, and 10c, securing the bottom panels 24a, 24b, and 24c in place, and restricting the bottom panels 24a, 24b, and 24 from opening to permit the products 90a, 90b, and 90c to fall out of the compartments 10a, 10b, and 10c through the bottom ends 34a, 34b, and 34c.

[0039] The first and second compartments 10a and 10b of the carton 10 may include a first top flap 26a and 26b pivotally attached relative to the first side panel 20a and 20b about a first top fold line or hinge 30a and 30b, and an opposite second top flap 28a and 28b pivotally attached relative to the second side panel 22a and 22b about a second top fold line or hinge 32a and 32b, as shown in FIG. 7. The third compartments 10c of the carton 10 may include a first top flap 26c pivotally attached relative to a second connecting panel 44b about a first top fold line or hinge 30c, and an opposite second top flap 28c pivotally attached relative to the second connecting panel 44b about a second top fold line or hinge 32c, as shown in FIG. 7. While the first and second top flaps 26c and 28c of the third compartment 10c have been illustrated as being attached to the second connecting panel 44b instead of the first and second side panels 20c and 22c, it will be appreciated that the first and second top flaps 26c and 28c of the third compartment 10c may be positioned similarly to the first and second top flaps 26a, 26b, 28a, and 28b of the first and second compartments 10a and 10b, by being attached to the first and second side panels 20c and 22c about the fold lines of hinges 30c and 32c.

[0040] The first top flaps 26a, 26b, and 26c are movable about the first top hinge 30a, 30b, and 30c, while the second top flaps 28a, 28b, and 28c are movable about the second top hinge 32a, 32b, and 32c. In particular, the first and second top flaps 26a and 26b may move about the first and second top hinges 30a and 30b, respectively, from the closed configuration of FIG. 1, where the first top flaps 26a, 26b and second top flaps 28a and 28b obstruct a portion of the access opening 12a, 12b of the first and second compartments 10a, and 10b, respectively, to an open configuration of FIG. 7, where the first top flaps 26a, 26b and second top flaps 28a and 28b do not obstruct a portion of the access opening 12a, 12b of the first and second compartments 10a, and 10b, respectively. The first and second top flaps 26c and 28c of the third compartment 10c are movable from the closed configuration of FIG. 1, where the first and second top flaps 26c and 28c are received in the access opening 12c of the third compartment 10c, to an open configuration of FIG. 7, where the first and second top flaps 26c and 28c of the third compartment 10c are positioned outside of, and do not obstruct, the access opening 12c of the third compartment 10c.

[0041] The first and second top fold lines or hinges 30a, 30b, 30c, 32a, 32b, and 32c may be lines of weakness that permit movement of the first and second top flaps 26a, 26b, 26c, 28a, 28b, and 28c relative to the first and second side panels 20a, 20b, 20c, 22a, 22b, and 22c, respectively, and permit the first and second top flaps 26a, 26b, 26c, 28a, 28b, and 28c to be detached from the first and second side panels 20a, 20b, 20c, 22a, 22b, and 22c along the lines of weakness. The lines of weakness may be perforations or score lines, which can be formed by laser ablation, die-cutting, micro-abrasion, or the like.

[0042] For example, when the carton 10 is in the open configuration of FIG. 7, the first and second top flaps 26a, 26b, 26c, 28a, 28b, and 28c may be detached from the first and second side panels 20a, 20b, 20c, 22a, 22b, and 22c along the lines of weakness provided by the first and second top hinges 30a, 30b, 30c, 32a, 32b, and 32c, or may be folded inwardly into the access openings 12a, 12b, and 12c of the first, second, and third compartments 10a, 10b, and 10c. It will be appreciated that the first top hinges 30a, 30b, and 30c and second top hinges 32a, 32b, and 32c may be optionally in the form of fold lines that permit movement of the first and second top flaps 26a, 26b, 26c, 28a, 28b, and 28c relative to the first and second side panels 20a, 20b, 20c, 22a, 22b, and 22c, respectively, but keep the first and second top flaps 26a, 26b, 26c, 28a, 28b, and 28c non-detachably attached relative to the first and second side panels 20a, 20b, 20c, 22a, 22b, and 22c.

[0043] The carton 10 includes intermediate or connecting panels 44a, 44b as shown in FIGS. 7-9. The first intermediate or connecting panel 44a connects the first compartment 10a and the second compartment 10b. The first connecting panel 44a is connected relative to the first compartment 10a along a hinge 46 and connected relative to the second compartment 10b along a hinge 48. The hinges 46 and 48 may be fold lines that permit the first and second compartments 10a and 10b, respectively, to be pivotally moved relative to the first connecting panel 44a and relative to each other as the carton 10 is converted from the unopened configuration of FIG. 1 to the open configuration of FIG. 7. Optionally, one or both the hinges 46 and 48 may also be in the form of a line of weakness that permits the first compartment 10a and/or the second compartment 10b to be detached from the first connecting panel 44a, for example, when the first compartment 10a is empty and the consumer desires to dispose of the first compartment 10a.

[0044] The second intermediate or connecting panel 44b connects the second compartment 10b and the second compartment 10c as shown in FIG. 7. The second connecting panel 44b is connected relative to the second compartment 10b along a hinge 50 and connected relative to the third compartment 10c along a hinge 52. Similar to the hinges 46 and 48, the hinges 50 and 52 may be fold lines that permit the second and third compartments 10b and 10c, respectively, to be pivotally moved relative to the second connecting panel 44b and relative to each other as the carton 10 is converted from the unopened configuration of FIG. 1 to the open configuration of FIG. 7. Optionally, one or both the hinges 50 and 52 may be in the form of a line of weakness that permits the second compartment 10b and/or the third compartment 10c to be detached from the second connecting panel 44b, for example, when the second compartment 10b is empty and the consumer desires to dispose of the second compartment 10b.

[0045] The carton 10 includes a lid or cover 60 that is movably attached relative to the first compartment 10a along a hinge 58. The cover 60 may be moved about a hinge 68 from the closed position shown in FIG. 1 to an open position shown in FIG. 2. The cover 60 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 as being attached to the first compartment 10a, but it will be appreciated that the cover 60 may be attached to another compartment of the carton 10, for example to the third compartment 10c.

[0046] The cover 60 includes a first cover panel 62, a second cover panel 64, and a third panel panel 66. The first cover panel 62 is connected relative to the rear panel 14a of the first compartment 10a along the hinge 68 and connected relative to the second cover panel 64 along a hinge 70. The second cover panel 64 is connected relative to the first cover panel 62 along the hinge 70 and connected relative to the third cover panel 66 along a hinge 72. The third cover panel 66 is connected relative to the second cover panel 64 along the hinge 72 and has a free edge 74. In embodiment of FIG. 2, a closure tab 76 projects from the free edge 74 of the third cover panel 66 and the rear panel 14c of the third compartment 10c includes an opening 78 sized and shaped to receive the closure tab 76 when the carton 10 is in the closed configuration of FIG. 1. The closure tab 76, when inserted into the opening 78 in the rear panel 14c of the third compartment 10c, secures the cover 60 in the position as shown in FIG. 1 and restricts the cover 60 from inadvertently opening during transportation or storage.

[0047] The hinges 68 and 70 may be fold lines that permit the first and second cover panels 62 and 64, respectively, to be pivotally moved relative to the rear panel 14a of the first compartment 10a and relative to each other and the hinge 72 may be a line of weakness that permits the third cover panel 66 to be detached from the second cover panel 64. Optionally, one or both of the hinges 68 and 70 may be lines of weakness that permit the second cover panel 64 to be detached from the first cover panel 62 along the hinge 70 and/or the first cover panel 62 to be detached from the rear panel 14a of the first compartment 10a along the hinge 68. Optionally, the hinge 72 may be a fold line instead of a line of weakness such that the third cover panel 66 may be non-detachably attached to the second cover panel 64.

[0048] When the carton 10 is in the closed position of FIG. 1, the cover 60 is positioned such that a portion of the first cover panel 62 overlies the first compartment 10a and obstructs a portion of the access opening 12a of the first compartment 10a. A portion of the first cover panel 62 also overlies a portion of the second connecting panel 44b and a portion of a top end of the third compartment 10c. A portion of the second cover panel 64 also overlies a portion of the second connecting panel 44b and a portion of the access opening 12c of the third compartment 10c as shown in FIG. 1. Another portion of the second cover panel 64 overlies a portion of the second connecting panel 44 and the bottom panel 24b of the second compartment 10b. The third cover panel 66 is oriented substantially perpendicularly to the first and second cover panels 62 and 64 and extends downwardly along the rear panel 14b of the second compartment 10b, permitting the closure tap 76 of the cover 60 to be inserted into the opening 78 in the rear panel 14b of the second compartment 10b, securing the cover 60 in its closed orientation of FIG. 1.

[0049] When the carton 10 is in the closed position of FIG. 1, a portion of the first connecting panel 44a obstructs a portion of the access opening 12b of the second compartment 10b, and a portion of the second connecting panel 44b obstructs a portion of the access opening 12c of the third compartment 10c, as can be seen, for example, in FIGS. 4 and 6. Conversely, when the carton 10 is in the open position of FIG. 7, the first connecting panel 44a does not obstruct the access opening 12b of the second compartment 10b, and the second connecting panel 44b does not obstruct the access opening 12c of the third compartment 10c, permitting the consumer to access the product 90b and 90c in the second and third compartments 10b and 10c, respectively.

[0050] When the carton 10 is in the closed configuration of FIG. 1, the first, second, and third compartments 10a, 10b, and 10c of the carton 10 may abut. For purposes of this application, the term "abut" means that physical contact is present between adjacent compartments of the carton 10. In particular, with the carton 10 being in the closed configuration of FIG. 1, the front panel 16a of the first compartment 10a is in contact with the rear panel 14c of the third compartment 10c and that the front panel 16c of the third compartment 10c is in contact with the front panel 16b of the second compartment 10b. Optionally, the adjacent compartments 10a and 10c as well as 10b and 10c may be spaced apart and may not be in direct contact.

[0051] When the carton 10 is in the closed configuration of FIG. 1, the access opening 12a of the first compartment 10a and the access opening 12c of the third compartment 10c face in the same direction and the access opening 12b of the second compartment 10b faces in a direction opposite to the direction faced by the access openings 12a and 12c of the first and third compartments 10a and 10c, respectively. Similarly, the bottom panels 24a and 24c of the first and third compartments, respectively, face in the same direction, while the bottom panel 24b of the second compartment 10b faces in a direction opposite to the direction faced by the bottom panels 24a and 24c of the first and third compartments, respectively. In other words, when the carton 10 is in the closed orientation of FIG. 1, the first and third compartments 10a and 10c have the same orientation, and the second compartment 10b has an opposite orientation relative to the first and third compartments 10a and 10c .

[0052] The cover 60 may include a flap 80 that is configured to be received in an opening 82 formed between the bottom panel 24c and the first side panel 22c of the third compartment 10c at a top end of the third compartment 10c when the cover 60 is in the closed position of FIG. 1. The flap 80 is shown in FIG. 2 as being located such that a portion of the flap 80 extends along a portion of the first cover panel 62 and a portion of the flap 80 extends along a portion of the second cover panel 64 and such that the hinge 70 bisects the flap 80. However, it will be appreciated that the location of the flap 80 has been illustrated by way of example only, and that the flap 80 is an optional feature that may be omitted altogether. If present as shown in FIG. 2, the flap 80, when inserted into the opening 82 when the carton 10 is in the closed position of FIG. 1, provides an additional means that secures the cover 60 in the position shown in FIG. 1, and restricts the cover 60 from inadvertently opening during transportation or storage of the carton 10. The flap 80 has been shown in FIG. 4 as having a trapezoidal shape, but the flap 80 may have any other suitable shape, for example, rectangular, triangular, or the like.

[0053] The first cover panel 62 of the cover 60 may include a first through opening 84 and the second cover panel 64 may include a second through opening 86 as shown, for example, in FIG. 2. The first and second cover panels 62 and 64 may be moved relative to each other above the hinge 70 such that the first and second openings 84 and 86 are aligned and the second cover panel 64 overlies a part of the first cover panel 66. It will be appreciated that the openings 84 and 86 do not need to be pre-formed, but may be, for example, punched out either by a user's fingers or by a fastening means 88 such as a screw as it passes through the first and second cover panels 62 and 64, when the user desires to display the carton 10 by hanging the carton 10 from the fastening means 88 as shown in FIG. 8.

[0054] The package 10 may be converted from the closed configuration of FIG. 1 to the open configuration of FIG. 7 as follows. First, the cover 60 may be moved by a user from the position shown in FIG. 1 about the hinge 68 in a direction shown by an arrow in FIG. 2 to the position in FIG. 2. While the cover 60 is illustrated as being generally perpendicular to the second connecting panel 44b and in the same plane as the back panel 14a of the first compartment 10a, the position of the cover 60 in FIG. 2 is shown by way of example only, and the cover 60 may be pivoted about the hinge 68 short of, or past the position shown in FIG. 2.

[0055] As the cover 60 is moved from the position shown in FIG. 1 to the position shown in FIG. 2, the closure tab 76 is removed from the opening 78 in the rear panel 14c of the third compartment 10c. The movement of the cover 60 from the position shown in FIG. 1 to the position shown in FIG. 2, and the removal of the closure tap 76 from the opening 78 in the rear panel 14c of the third compartment 10c also permits the first compartment 10a to be moved away from the third compartment 10c about the fold line or hinge 46 (as shown in FIG. 3) and similarly permits the second compartment 10b to be moved away from the first compartment 10a about the fold line or hinge 48 (as shown in FIG. 4) The movement of the cover 60 from the position shown in FIG. 1 to the position shown in FIG. 2 also unobstructs and opens a portion of the access opening 12a of the first compartment 10a, allowing the first and second top flaps 26 and 28 to pivot about their respective hinges 30 and 32 to unobstruct a portion of the access opening 12a. [0056] With the carton 10 being in the position of FIG. 2, the first compartment 10a may be moved about the hinge 46 in a direction shown by the arrow in FIG. 3 out of abutment with the third compartment 10c and in a direction away from the second and third compartments 10b and 10c to a position shown in FIG. 3. The movement of the first compartment 10a out of abutment with the third compartment 10c exposes a further portion of the access opening 12a of the first compartment 10a defined by the cutout 18a as shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 3 depicts the carton 10 in a first exemplary intermediate open configuration, where the back panel 14c of the third compartment does not abut the front panel 16a of the first compartment 10a and the front panel 16c of the third compartment 10c remains in abutment with the front panel 16b of the second compartment 10b, and where the access openings 12b and 12c of the second and third compartments 10b and 10c are obstructed by the first and second connecting panels 44a and 44b, respectively, to restrict access to the products 90 in the second and third compartments 10b and 10c.

[0057] With the carton 10 being in the first exemplary intermediate open position of FIG. 3, the second and third compartments 10b and 10c may be moved about the fold line or hinge 48 in a direction shown by the arrow in FIG. 4 in a direction away from the first connecting panel 44a and the first compartment 10a to a position shown in FIG. 4. The movement of the second and third compartments 10b and 10c out of abutment with the first connecting panel 44a exposes a portion of the access opening 12b of the second compartment 10b, but the first and second side flaps 26b and 28b remain in the closed position, still partially obstructing the access opening 12b.

[0058] The second and third compartments 10b and 10c may be moved about the fold line or hinge 48 in the direction shown by the arrow in FIG. 4 past the position shown in FIG. 4 and to a second exemplary intermediate open configuration shown in FIG. 5, where the back panel 14c of the third compartment 10c does not abut the front panel 16a of the first compartment 10a and the front panel 16c of the third compartment 10c remains in abutment with the front panel 16b of the second compartment 10b, and where the access opening 12b of the second compartment 10b is no longer obstructed by the first connecting panel 44a, but the access opening 12c of the third compartment 10c and is obstructed by the second connecting panel 44b to restrict access to the products 90 in the third compartment 10c.

[0059] With the carton 10 being in the second exemplary intermediate open position of FIG. 5, the second connecting panel 44b and the third compartment 10c may be moved about the hinge 50 in a direction shown by the arrow in FIG. 6 in a direction away from the second compartment 10b to a fully open position shown in FIG. 7. The movement of the third compartment 10c away from the second compartment 10b exposes a further portion of the access opening 12b of the second compartment 10b defined by the cutout 18b and exposes a portion of the access opening 12c of the third compartment 10c defined by the cutout 18c. The movement of the third compartment 10c out of abutment with the second connecting panel 44b from the position shown in FIG. 6 to the position shown in FIG. 7 also exposes a further portion of the access opening 12c of the third compartment 10c and the first and second side flaps 26c and 28c move from the closed position, where they are located into the access opening 12c to an open position where they are positioned outside of the access opening 12c as shown in FIG. 7.

[0060] With the carton 10 being in the fully open position of FIG. 7, the first top flaps 26a, 26b, and 26c and the second top flaps 28a, 28b, and 28c may be detached from the carton 10 along their respective top hinges 30a, 30b, 30c, 32a, 32b, and 32c, which, as described above, may be in the form of a series of perforations or lines of weaknesses in the material from which the carton 10 is made. In addition, the third cover panel 66 may be detached from the second cover panel 64 along the hinge 72, which as discussed above, may be in the form of a series of perforations or lines of weakness.

[0061] After the third cover panel 66 is detached along the line of weakness 72, the second cover panel 64 may be pivoted about the line of weakness 70 to overlie a portion of the first cover panel 62 and such that the first and second openings 84 and 86 are aligned. The carton 10 may then be oriented in an open hanging configuration on a wall 89 from a fastening means 88 such as a screw or a nail 88 passing through the openings 84 and 86. It will be appreciated that instead of being mounted on a wall 89, the carton 10 may be mounted on a shelf and/or other display at a retail location where a support member (e.g., a rod) may pass through the openings 84 and 86 to permit the carton 10 to be oriented in the hanging configuration shown in FIG. 8. The hanging orientation shown in FIG. 8 is advantageously highly visible to the consumers and may be visually pleasing to the consumers, and may facilitate the consumers in selecting the carton 10 at a retail location over other cartons and packages that may have inwardly folded compartments. In addition, the hanging orientation of the carton 10 advantageously permits the carton 10 to be displayed in a fully open configuration at retail locations with limited counter and/or shelf space.

[0062] The carton 10 may be thus advantageously oriented for display at a retail location in an open configuration, where each of the compartments 10a, 10b, and 10c of the carton 10 is simultaneously open and the products 90a, 90b, and 90c stored in the individual compartments 10a, 10b, and 10c of the carton 10 are visible to the consumers and may be accessible by the consumers. It is to be appreciated that the number of packets 90a, 90b, and 90c in each of the compartments 10a, 10b, and 10c is shown in FIG. 8 by way of example only, and that each of the compartments 10a, 10b, and 10c may contain less packets or more packets (or other products) than the number shown in FIG. 8.

[0063] Turning now to more details regarding the construction of the carton 10, the exemplary carton 10 may be advantageously made from a single carton blank 100, which is shown in FIG. 9. The blank may be formed of paperboard, cardboard or the like, with a thickness determined based upon the weight and durability requirements of the carton 10. The carton material 100 can be unwound from a feed roll and fed as a web in a machine direction, for example, on top of a stationary plate, along a moving conveyor, or the like.

[0064 ] With the carton blank 100 positioned as shown in FIG. 9, the carton blank has longitudinal edges 102 and 104. The carton blank 100 may be sequentially folded about multiple fold lines, more specifically, about fold lines 15a, 15b, and 15c; 17a, 17b, and 17c, 19a, 19b, and 19c; 21a, 21b, and 21c; 29a, 29b, and 29c; 33a, 33b, and 33c; 46, 48, 50, 52, 68, 70, and 72 to bring the longitudinal edges 102 and 104 of the carton blank 100 toward each other and convert the planar carton blank 100 to the 3-dimensional carton 10 as shown in FIG. 1.

[0065] During assembly of the carton 10, portions of closure flaps 31a, 31b, and 31c may be non-detachably attached via an adhesive to portions of the rear walls 14a, 14b, and 14c of the first, second, and third compartments 10a, 10b, and 10. For purposes of this disclosure, "non-detachable" means an attachment that is not meant to be detached. It will be appreciated that the closure flaps 31a, 31b, and 31c may be non- detachably attached to the respective portions of the rear walls 14a, 14b, and 14c of the first, second, and third compartments 10a, 10b, and 10 via suitable means other than an adhesive. Optionally, instead of being non-detachably attached to portions of the rear walls 14a, 14b, and 14c, the closure flaps 31a, 31b, and 31c may be placed in abutment with the portions of the rear walls 14a, 14b, and 14c without the use of an adhesive. Thus, the exemplary carton 10 may be advantageously made from a single carton blank 100 of FIG. 9, and may be advantageously displayed in a vertical hanging orientation and an open configuration that is highly visible to the consumers and permits the consumers to have access to the products in each of the three compartments 10a, 10b, and 10c simultaneously.

[0066] Any of the foregoing cartons may be made of a variety of materials including, but not limited to plastics, paper, paperboard, cardboard, and the like, as well as combinations thereof. Any of the individual compartments of the cartons described herein can be subdivided into multiple compartments, such as by adding seals or adhering intermediate portions of the compartment to adjacent material.

[0067] While any of the hinges depicted in the figures are ay be formed from folding a material from which the above described cartons may be made, the hinges could take other forms, and may have perforations or other line or lines of weakness for predetermining the location of the hinge. Although certain structures are described as being joined, connected, or attached to each other, it will be understood that this includes both direct and indirect or relative joining, sealing or attaching, e.g., with intermediate structures.

[0068] While preferred embodiments have been described in detail, variations and modifications can be effected within the configurations described herein.

Claims

Claims :

1. A carton openable to display products storable therein, the carton comprising a plurality of compartments each having an access opening and an interior configured to store the products, the carton being convertible from a closed configuration, where the compartments are oriented such that the access opening of each of the compartments is obstructed, and an open configuration, where the compartments are oriented such that the access opening of each of the compartments is unobstructed and the products storable in each of the compartments are accessible.

2. The carton of claim 1, wherein the carton includes a first compartment, a second compartment, and a third compartment, and wherein, when the carton is in the closed configuration, the third compartment is positioned between the first compartment and the second compartment and a portion of the first compartment abuts a first portion of the third compartment, and the second compartment is positioned between the first compartment and the third compartment and a portion of the second compartment abuts a second portion of the third compartment .

3. The carton of claim 2, wherein each of the first, second, and third compartments includes:

a back panel;

a front panel opposite the back panel;

a first side panel and a second side panel opposite the first side panel, the first and second side panels connecting the back and front panels; and a bottom panel extending between the back, front, first side, and second side panels, the back, front, bottom, first side, and second side panels defining an interior of the carton therebetween, the interior configured to contain the products.

4. The carton of claim 3, further comprising a cover hingedly attached relative to the first compartment about a first hinge and movable in a direction away from the first, second, and third compartments about the first hinge from a closed position where the access opening of the first compartment is obstructed by the cover to an open position where the access opening of the first compartment is not obstructed by the cover and access to the products of the first compartment is permitted, the access openings of each of the second and third compartments remaining obstructed when the cover is in the open position .

5. The carton of claim 4, wherein the cover includes a first cover panel non-detachably attached relative to the first compartment about the first hinge, a second cover panel non- detachably attached to the first cover panel about a second hinge, and a third cover panel detachably attached to the second cover panel of the cover about a third hinge.

6. The carton of claim 5, wherein the third hinge is a line of weakness configured to permit the third cover panel to be separated from the second cover panel along the line of weakness .

7. The carton of claim 5, wherein the first cover panel includes a first opening and the second cover panel includes a second opening, and wherein the second cover panel may be moved about the second hinge such that the first and second openings are aligned and the second cover panel overlies at least a part of the first cover panel.

8. The carton of claim 4, wherein the third cover panel includes a closure tab extending therefrom, and wherein the rear panel of the third compartment includes an opening configured to receive the closure tab when the carton is in the closed configuration .

9. The carton of claim 5, wherein the cover includes a flap extending from the first cover panel and second cover panel, the flap being configured to be received in an opening between a first side panel of the third compartment and a second connecting panel when the lid is in the closed position.

10. The carton of claim 2, wherein, when the carton is in the closed configuration, the access opening of each of the first and third compartments faces in a first direction and the access opening of the second compartment faces in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

11. The carton of claim 3, further comprising a first intermediate open configuration, wherein the back panel of the third compartment and the front panel of the first compartment do not abut, wherein the front panels of the second and third compartments remain in abutment, and wherein the access opening of the second compartment is open to permit access to the products in the second compartment.

12. The carton of claim 11, further comprising a fully open configuration, wherein the rear panel of the third compartment and the front panel of the first compartment do not abut, wherein the front panels of the second and third compartments do not abut, and wherein the access opening of the third compartment is open to permit access to the contents of the third compartment.

13. The carton of claim 2, wherein each of the first, second, and third compartments further comprises a first top flap pivotally attached relative to the first side panel about a first top hinge and a second top flap pivotally attached relative to the second side panel about a second top hinge, the first and second top flaps being movable about the first and second top hinges, respectively, from the closed configuration, where the first and second top flaps of the first and second compartments obstruct a portion of the access opening of the respective one of the first and second compartments and the first and second top flaps of the third compartment are received in the access opening of the third compartment, to an open configuration, where the first and second top flaps of the first and second compartments do not obstruct the portion of the access opening of the first and second compartments and the first and second top flaps of the third compartment are positioned outside of the access opening of the third compartment .

14. The carton of claim 3, further comprising a first connecting panel that connects the first and second compartments and a second connecting panel that connects the second and third compartments .

15. The carton of claim 14, wherein the first connecting panel is attached relative to the second compartment along a fourth hinge, the second compartment being movable relative to the first connecting panel and the first and third compartments about the fourth hinge, and wherein the second connecting panel is attached relative to the third compartment along a fifth hinge, the third compartment being movable relative to the second connecting panel and the first and second compartments about the fifth hinge.

16. The carton of claim 14, wherein, when the carton is in the closed position, a portion of the first connecting panel obstructs a portion of the access opening of the second compartment and a portion of the second connecting panel obstructs a portion of the access opening of the third compartment .

17. The carton of claim 14, wherein a first line of weakness extends across at least a portion of the first connecting panel and a second line of weakness extends across at least a portion of the second connecting panel, the second compartment being detachable from the first compartment along the first line of weakness, and the third compartment being detachable from the second compartment along the second line of weakness .

18. A method of manufacturing the carton of claim 4, the method comprising:

providing material having first and second longitudinal edges and a plurality of fold lines extending both parallel and perpendicular to the first and second longitudinal edge;

depositing the products on a portion of the material between one or more of the fold lines; folding the second longitudinal edge of the material about one of the lines of weakness such that a portion of the material overlays at least part of the products;

folding the second longitudinal edge of the material about another one of the lines of weakness to enclose a side portion of the product;

attaching a closure flap of the material including the second longitudinal edge to an underlying portion of the material ;

folding a plurality of side flaps and bottom panels about their respective fold lines to form first, second, and third compartments of the carton;

folding the first compartment about a first hinge to bring the first compartment in a substantially perpendicular orientation relative to the second and third compartments;

folding the third compartment about a third hinge to overlay and abut the second compartment;

folding the second compartment about a second hinge to bring the third compartment into abutment with the first compartment; and

folding a cover about a fourth hinge to cover the first, second and third compartments.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising providing the cover with a flap extending therefrom and inserting the flap into an access opening of the third compartment; and providing the cover with a closure tab extending therefrom and inserting the closure tap into an opening in a rear panel of the second compartment .

20. A method of opening the carton of claim 4, the method comprising : moving the cover to an open position to unobstruct the access opening of the first compartment;

moving the first compartment in a direction away from the second and third compartments;

moving the second and third compartments in a direction away from the first compartment to expose a first portion of the access opening of the second compartment; and

moving the third compartment in a direction away from the second compartment to expose a second portion of the access opening of the second compartment and to expose the access opening of the third compartment.