Paperboard clamshell construction

• US 6,041,997 A
• Filed: 07/30/1999
• Issued: 03/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Paper Company
• Original Assignee: International Paper Company
• Inventors: Jensen, Kurt
• Primary Examiner(s): Elkins, Gary E.
• Application Number:
  US09/364,941
• Time in Patent Office: 242 Days
• Field of Search: 229/114, 229/902, 229/906, 206/459.5, 40/312
• US Class Current: 229/114
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/4229 in the form of a detachable panel
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/667 Lids in the form of an inverted tray
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 229/902 Box for prepared or processed food

Abstract

A clamshell type container is formed from a unitary blank (10) of paperboard, the top or crown of the container including two side wall panels (32) which extend slantingly downwardly and whose free edges extend beneath the upper edges of the lower container half side walls. The crown has a front wall formed of two panels (40, 48) folded together so as to define a dual layer front wall. The outer panel (40) of the dual layer front wall is provided with spaced apart perforated lines (46) to define a tear strip (44). The inner panel (48) of the dual layer front wall is provided with indicia to show the winning of a prize upon tearing off of the tear strip. Alternatively, the normally hidden inner surface of the tear strip may be provided with indicia. Either of the downwardly sloping side wall panels (32) of the crown or top may, alternatively, be provided with this tear strip and indicia construction. As a further variant, the auxiliary indicia panel (48) may be folded over the crown front panel (40) so that the auxiliary indicia panel (48) is on the outside of the dual layer (40, 48) crown front wall, instead of on the inside.

Claims

1. A unitary blank of paperboard, said blank including a plurality of panels defined by fold lines and cut lines, said panels including a top wall panel and a bottom wall panel, said top wall panel having a plurality of peripheral panels foldably secured thereto, said bottom wall panel having a plurality of peripheral panels foldably secured thereto, an auxiliary indicia panel foldably secured to an edge of one of said top wall peripheral panels, one of said top wall peripheral panels and auxiliary panel having a pair of perforated tear lines extending across it, that area between said perforated lines defining a tear tab, whereby a normally hidden area of one of said tear tab and is exposed upon ripping of said tear tab, to thereby indicate a prize.

2. The blank of claim 1 wherein said tear tab has one end terminating at a fold line and having an opposite end which is rounded.

3. The blank of claim 1 wherein one of said top wall peripheral panels is a front panel, and wherein said auxiliary indicia panel is secured to said front panel.

4. The blank of claim 1 wherein said top wall panel is foldably connected to said auxiliary indicia panel.

5. A clamshell type container including a plurality of panels defined by fold lines and cut lines, said panels including a top wall panel and a bottom wall panel, said bottom wall panel having peripheral panels foldably secured thereto, said top wall panel having peripheral panels foldably secured thereto, an auxiliary indicia panel foldably connected to one of said top peripheral panels, one of said auxiliary indicia panel and said top peripheral panels having a pair of spaced apart perforated lines spanning it to thereby form a tear tab, a fold line connecting said auxiliary indicia panel to one of said top wall peripheral panels to thereby form a double layer wall, whereby a normally hidden area of said auxiliary indicia panel or said top peripheral panel is exposed upon ripping of said tear strip, to thereby indicate a prize.

6. The container of claim 5 wherein said tear tab has two ends, one said end terminating at a fold line and said other end terminating beyond a fold line.

7. The container of claim 5 wherein one of said top wall peripheral panels is a top front wall panel, said indicia panel being foldably secured to said top wall front panel.

8. The container of claim 5 wherein said auxiliary indicia panel is located interiorly of said panel to which it is foldably attached.

9. The container of claim 5 wherein said container is formed from a unitary blank of paperboard.