French fry carton with hidden indicia

• US 6,068,181 A
• Filed: 02/05/1999
• Issued: 05/30/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pactiv Packaging Incorporated (Pactiv)
• Original Assignee: Dopaco Incorporated (Graeme Richard Hart, MBA)
• Inventors: Cai, Liming
• Primary Examiner(s): Elkins, Gary E.
• Application Number:
  US09/245,346
• Time in Patent Office: 480 Days
• Field of Search: 206/459.5, 206/831, 229/116.1, 229/400, 229/906, 229/902, 40/312
• US Class Current: 229/116.1
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 31/005 by folding a single blank to U-shape to form the base of the bag and opposite sides of the body-portion, the remaining sides being formed by extensions of one or more of these opposite sides cartons B65D5/18
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 33/004 Information or decoration elements, e.g. level indicators, detachable tabs or coupons
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 229/906 Baked goods

Abstract

A french fry carton with front and rear face panels and a pair of overlay panels positioned over one of the face panels and including a pair of transversely aligned tear-out sections with partially concealed access tabs available only upon an erection of the carton from its folded stored position to its open in-use position, the tear-out sections providing for the selected disclosure of hidden prize or promotional materials.

Claims

1. A carton of foldable sheet material comprising first and second overlying face panels with joined lower edge portions, said face panels having opposed side edges, a pair of inner and outer side panels along each side edge of said first face panel, said inner and outer side panels of each pair of side panels being integral with a full length fold line defined therebetween, each inner side panel being integral with said first face panel along the corresponding side edge thereof with an inner fold line defined along said corresponding side edge, each outer side panel having an outer edge with an overlay panel integrally extending therefrom and foldable relative to the outer side panel along an outer fold line defined along said outer edge of the outer side panel, each of said overlay panels overlying and being at least partially bonded to said second face panel, said overlay panels having outer edges positioned generally adjacent each other centrally of said second face panel, a pair of tear-out sections, one extending transversely across each of said overlay panels and extending inward from the outer edge thereof, lines of severance defining each tear-out section in each overlay panel, each tear-out section further including a tab end defined from a portion of the adjacent outer side panel extending from said outer fold line to a point spaced from said central fold line and remote from the corresponding inner side panel.

2. The carton of claim 1 wherein said carton has a first folded position for storage purposes, and a second open position for use, said carton, in said folded position, having opposed outer side edges defined by said central fold lines with said outer side panels being coplanar with said overlay panels and with said tear-out section tab ends defined within and coplanar with the outer side panels and terminating inward of the opposed outer side edges of the folded carton.

3. The carton of claim 2 wherein said carton, in said second open position, has the side panels of each pair of side panels extending transversely of and between said first and second face panels, each of said tear-out section tab ends extending beyond the corresponding pair of side panels at substantially right angles thereto and in a common plane with the overlay panels.

4. The carton of claim 3 wherein each pair of inner and outer side panels defines a carton side wall which, in the second open position of the carton, is inwardly deflected and generally concave along a longitudinal axis defined by the central fold line.

5. The carton of claim 4 wherein each side wall includes a pair of crease lines diverging from said central fold line, at a point below said tab end, downward to said inner and outer fold lines wherein a reversibly foldable portion is defined for stabilization of the said side walls in said second position of said carton.

6. The carton of claim 5 wherein said first and second face panels extend below said overlay panels and terminate in integral lower edges with a transverse fold line defined therealong, each of said side walls, defined by a pair of inner and outer side panels, including a depending generally triangular flap extending below said overlay panels to approximately said transverse fold line between said lower edges of said face panels.

7. The carton of claim 6 wherein said inner and outer fold lines of the side panels of each side wall, in said second open position, arc outwardly relative to each other with a maximum width defined therebetween at a point below said tear-off sections.

8. The carton of claim 7 wherein said side edges of said second face panel, in said second open position, are generally coextensive with said outer fold lines.

9. The carton of claim 8 wherein said second face panel has a concave upper edge, said overlay panels having upper edges which, in combination, conform to said concave upper edge of said second face panel.

10. A blank for use in the formation of a folded carton with tear-out sections, said blank including first and second aligned and coplanar face panels with a transverse fold line defined therebetween, said first face panel having opposed side edges, a first inner side panel substantially coextensive with and integral along each side edge with an inner fold line defined therealong, each inner side panel having an outer edge with an outer side panel integral therewith and with a central fold line defined therebetween, each said outer side panel having an outer edge with an overlay panel integral therewith and with an outer fold line defined therebetween, each of said overlay panels having a tear-out section defined therein and extending transversely inward from an outer edge thereof generally centrally therealong, each tear-out section extending across the corresponding overlay panel and being defined therefrom by severance lines, each tear-out section extending beyond the corresponding outer fold line and partially into the corresponding outer side panel to define a tab portion terminating in spaced relation to the corresponding central fold line between the corresponding inner and outer side panels.

11. The blank of claim 10 wherein said face panels have outer edges remote from said transverse fold line therebetween, said inner and outer fold lines of each pair of inner and outer side panels diverging inward from the outer edge of said first face panel and following a slightly arcuate path, defining a maximum width between corresponding inner and outer fold lines at a point beyond said tear-out section relative to said outer edge.

12. The blank of claim 11 wherein said inner and outer side panels to each side of said first face panel, including coplanar flaps extending inward beyond said overlay panels into approximate alignment with said transverse fold line between said face panels.