Carton with outwardly-extending access panel

• US 7,204,406 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2003
• Issued: 04/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mars Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mars Incorporated
• Inventors: Bone, Larry
• Primary Examiner(s): ELKINS, GARY E
• Application Number:
  US10/627,072
• Publication Number:
  US 20040112948A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,363 Days
• Field of Search: 229/122.1, 229/122, 229/123, 229/130, 229/151, 229/240, 229/242, 206/736, 206/766, 206/774, 221/305
• US Class Current: 229/242
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2313/02 of hook-and-loop type
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2313/08 Double sided adhesive tape, e.g. for suspension of the container B65D2313/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/18 by folding a single blank to U-shape to form the base of the container and opposite sides of the body portion, the remaining sides being formed primarily by extensions of one or more of these opposite sides, e.g. flaps hinged thereto B65D5/36 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/4208 Means facilitating suspending, lifting, handling, or the like of containers handles B65D5/46
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/548 for opening containers formed by erecting a blank to U-shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/722 having an alternating movement co-operating with incised or scored openings near the bottom-edges of the bodies of tubular containers

Abstract

Multi-unit product cartons for store racks, shelves, walls, columns, and floors, in particular, cartons with advantageous product visibility and accessibility via a radially-openable access panel disposed on at least one of the carton sides. The access panel has at least one side arm that inter-leaves between two adjacent carton sides.

Claims

1. A unitary carton for improved product visibility comprising a radially-openable access panel integrally hinged to a lip accommodation panel disposed on a portion of an inner side of a front panel having a front access opening, said radially-openable access panel covering at least a portion of said front access opening when in a closed position, a bottom panel connected to at least one back panel, at least two opposing side panels connected to said bottom panel, and a top panel joined at perforations to said side panels and joined to said back panel that is removable in whole or in part along said perforations to expose product through the top of the carton, wherein said front panel has two integrally connected and opposing front panel flaps, each disposed on an inner side of said side panels, and said access panel has disposed thereon at least one sidearm for interleaving between the inner side of one of said side panels and one of the front panel flaps disposed on the inner side of said side panels.

2. A carton according to claim 1 further comprising a product protection covering.

3. A carton according to claim 1 wherein the top panel is joined to said side and back panels to form an at least partially closed carton.

4. A carton according to claim 3 wherein said top panel forms a closed carton.

5. A carton according to claim 4 wherein said top panel comprises more than one panel defining portions of said top panel that can be selectively opened.

6. A carton according to claim 5 wherein said portions of said top panel that can be selectively opened are defined by perforations that may be selectively and controllably-torn.

7. A carton according to claim 1 further comprising means for affixing said carton to a surface.

8. A carton according to claim 1 wherein said access panel comprises at least two side arms.

9. A carton according to claim 1 wherein said side arm comprises at least one holding means to hold said access panel in a predetermined open position.

10. A carton according to claim 9 wherein said holding means comprises at least one notch in at least one of said side arms, wherein said notch engages at least one aperture in said top panel.

11. A carton according to claim 1 wherein said carton is constructed of paperboard.

12. A carton according to claim 1 wherein the front access opening of said front panel and said top panel when removed in whole or in part form a continuous opening to expose product through the top of the carton.

13. A unitary carton blank for forming a display carton having improved product visibility, said carton blank comprising:

a) a front access panel, (15), having two side arms, (20), each integrally connected to opposing sides of said access panel, and an inner rack lip accommodation panel, (40), having a topside and a bottom side, said top side of said inner rack lip accommodation panel integrally connected to a bottom side of said front access panel;

b) a bottom panel, (60), having a front side and an opposing rear side, said front side of said bottom panel integrally connected to said bottom side of said inner rack lip accommodation panel, and said bottom panel having two inner side panels, (50), each integrally connected to opposing sides of said bottom panel;

c) a back panel, (70), having a top side and a bottom side, said bottom side of said back panel integrally connected to said rear side of said bottom panel, and said back panel having two back panel side flaps, (80), each integrally connected to opposing sides of said back panel;

d) a top panel, (95), having a front side and a rear side, said rear side of said top panel integrally connected to said top side of said back panel, and said top panel having two outer side panels, (90), each integrally connected to opposing sides of said top panel;

e) a front panel lip, (200), having a top side and a bottom side, said top side of said front panel lip integrally connected to said front side of said top panel and said bottom side of said front panel lip defining a top boundary of an access panel opening, (170), said front panel lip having two front panel side flaps, (190), an upper portion of each front panel side flap integrally connected to opposing sides of said front panel lip; and

,

f) an outer rack lip accommodation panel, (180), having a top side and a bottom side, said top side of said outer rack lip accommodation panel defining a bottom boundary of said access panel opening, and a lower portion of each front panel side flap integrally connected to opposing sides of said outer rack lip accommodation panel.

14. A carton blank according to claim 13 further comprising an opening assistance flap, (120), disposed on said top panel.

15. A carton blank according to claim 13 further comprising two front/top corner assemblies, (150), each disposed between front top panel, (130), and outer side panels, (90), and between front panel lip, (200), and front panel side flaps, (190).

16. A carton blank according to claim 15 wherein said front/top corner assemblies each comprise at least one side arm notch-receiving aperture, (160).

17. A carton blank according to claim 16 wherein said side arms each comprise at least one side arm notch, (25), wherein said notch is designed to be received in said aperture when said carton is erected and said access panel is in the open position.

18. A carton blank according to claim 13 further comprising means for affixing said carton to a surface.

19. A carton blank according to claim 13 wherein said top panel comprises a rear top panel, (100), and a front top panel, (130).

20. A carton blank according to claim 19 wherein said top panel comprises two opposing rear top corner supports, (105), each disposed between said rear top panel, (100), said outer side panels, (90), and said back panel, (70).

21. A carton blank according to claim 13 wherein said carton is constructed of corrugated paperboard.