Reclosable carton

• US 7,407,087 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2004
• Issued: 08/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Inventors: Ford, Colin P., DeBusk, Patrick J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elkins; Gary E
• Application Number:
  US10/935,918
• Publication Number:
  US 20050247766A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,427 Days
• Field of Search: 229/101, 229/101.1, 229/101.2, 229/151, 229/152, 229/153, 229/235
• US Class Current: 229/101.1
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/0005 of variable capacity
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/542 the lines of weakness being provided in the container body
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/5445 for dividing a tubular body into separate parts
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/5888 Tear-lines for removing successive sections of a package for separating package into individual packages B65D75/527

Abstract

A carton that can be opened and incrementally reduced in size and reclosed is provided. A horizontal tear line is provided in a main panel of the carton and is connected to a tear line in each side panel that extends across to the other main panel. When these tear lines are torn, the carton is reduced in size by that increment. A reclosable top is formed in a main panel by two fold lines that extend across that panel. This carton may have several sections that can be incrementally reduced in size and reclosed as items are removed from the carton.

Claims

1. A carton for carrying a plurality of articles, that can be opened and incrementally reduced in size and reclosed, comprising:

(a) a main panel, an opposite main panel and foldably attached adjoining side panels, said carton having two ends, with one end being an opening end that is closed by two main end flaps, with the other end of the carton being closed by closing means; and

(b) said carton having a first closing fold line with two ends, said fold line being at least substantially parallel to and at a distance from the opening end of the carton, said first closing fold line extending across the main panel and both side panels, with each end of said first closing fold line interconnecting with a first main tear line that extends across the opposite main panel, said main panel having a first end fold line that is at least substantially parallel to the opening end of the carton, and which is spaced from the first closing fold line towards the opening end of the carton at a distance that is approximately the same as the distance between the main and opposite main panels, with each side panel having a first side tear line that extends from the intersection of the first closing fold line with the opposite main panel to the main panel near the opening end of the carton, said first side tear lines in the side panels interconnecting with the first main tear line in the opposite main panel, the arrangement of said first tear lines permitting the removal of sections of the carton when said first tear lines are torn open, the arrangement of the first side tear lines permitting the removal of sections of each said side panel while leaving closing flaps in each said side panel when the first side tear lines are torn open, the arrangement of said first closing fold line and first end fold line permitting the opening end of the carton to be reclosed when said fold lines are folded to create a reclosable top.

2. The carton of claim 1, in which the means for closing the other end of the carton are two main end flaps.

3. The carton of claim 1, in which each said first side tear line comprises a plurality of interconnected tear lines.

4. The carton of claim 3, in which each plurality of interconnected tear lines includes a tear line which is aligned with the first end fold line.

5. The carton of claim 3, in which each plurality of interconnected tear lines defines a flap foldably attached to a side panel of the side panels.

6. The carton of claim 1, in which the first side tear lines in both side panels are at least substantially parallel to each other.

7. The carton of claim 1, in which a main end flap is foldably attached to the main panel by a tear line in the main panel which has a arcuate section extending towards the first end fold line which forms a tab in the main panel to aid in the removal of the main end flap attached to the main panel.

8. The carton of claim 1, in which at least a portion of each first side tear line is aligned with the first end fold line.

9. A carton for carrying a plurality of articles, that can be opened and incrementally reduced in size and reclosed, comprising:

a main panel, an opposite main panel and foldably attached adjoining side panels, said carton having two ends, with one end being an opening end that is closed by two main end flaps, with the other end of the carton being closed by closing means;

said carton having a first closing fold line with two ends, said fold line being at least substantially parallel to and at a distance from the opening end of the carton, said first closing fold line extending across the main panel and both side panels, with each end of said first closing fold line interconnecting with a first main tear line that extends across the opposite main panel, said main panel having a first end fold line that is at least substantially parallel to the opening end of the carton, and which is spaced from the first closing fold line towards the opening end of the carton at a distance that is approximately the same as the distance between the main and opposite main panels, with each side panel having a first side tear line that extends from the intersection of the first closing fold line with the opposite main panel to the main panel near the opening end of the carton, said first side tear lines in the side panels interconnecting with the first main tear line in the opposite main panel, the arrangement of said first tear lines permitting the removal of sections of the carton when said first tear lines are torn open, the arrangement of said first closing fold line and first end fold line permitting the opening end of the carton to be reclosed when said fold lines are folded to create a reclosable top; and

a second closing fold line with two ends, said second closing fold line being at least substantially parallel to and at a distance greater from the opening end of the carton than the first closing fold line, said second closing fold line extending across the opposite main panel and both side panels, with each end of said second closing fold line interconnecting with a second main tear line that extends across the main panel, said opposite main panel having a second end fold line that is at least substantially parallel to the opening end of the carton and which is spaced from the second closing fold line towards the opening end of the carton at a distance that is approximately the same as the distance between the main and opposite main panels, with each side panel having a second side tear line that extends from the intersection of the second closing fold line with the main panel to the opposite main panel and interconnecting with said first main tear line in the opposite main panel, the arrangement of said second tear lines permitting the removal of sections of the carton when said second tear lines are torn open after the removal of sections of the carton by tearing the first tear lines, the arrangement of said second closing fold line and second end fold line permitting the opening end of the carton to be reclosed when said fold lines are folded to create a reclosable top.

10. The carton of claim 9, in which each said second side tear line comprises a plurality of interconnected tear lines.

11. The carton of claim 10, in which each plurality of interconnected tear lines includes a tear line which is aligned with the second end fold line.

12. The carton of claim 10, in which each plurality of interconnected tear lines defines a flap foldably attached to a side panel of the side panels.

13. The carton of claim 9, in which at least a portion of each second side tear line is aligned with the second end fold line.

14. The carton of claim 9, which can be further incrementally reduced in size and reclosed, comprising a third closing fold line with two ends, said third closing fold line being at least substantially parallel to and at a distance greater from the opening end of the carton than the second closing fold line, said third closing fold line extending across the main panel and both side panels, with each end of said third closing fold line interconnecting with a third main tear line that extends across the opposite main panel, said main panel having a third end fold line that is at least substantially parallel to the opening end of the carton and which is spaced from the third closing fold line towards the opening end of the carton at a distance that is approximately the same as the distance between the main and opposite main panels, with each side panel having a third side tear line that extends from the intersection of the third closing fold line with the opposite main panel to the main panel and interconnecting with said second main tear line in the main panel, the arrangement of said third tear lines permitting the removal of sections of the carton when said third tear lines are torn open after the removal of sections of the carton by tearing the second tear lines, the arrangement of said third closing fold line and third end fold line permitting the opening end of the carton to be reclosed when said fold lines are folded to create a reclosable top.

15. The carton of claim 14, in which each said third side tear line comprises a plurality of interconnected tear lines.

16. The carton of claim 15, in which each plurality of interconnected tear lines includes a tear line aligned with the third end fold line.

17. The carton of claim 15, in which each plurality of interconnected tear lines defines a flap foldably attached to a side panel of the side panels.

18. The carton of claim 14, in which at least a portion of each third side tear line is aligned with the third end fold line.

19. A carton for carrying a plurality of articles, that can be opened and incrementally reduced in size and reclosed, comprising:

(a) a main panel, an opposite main panel and foldably attached adjoining side panels, said carton having two ends, with one end being an opening end that is closed by two main end flaps, with the other end of the carton being closed by closing means; and

(b) said carton having a first closing fold line with two ends, said fold line being at least substantially parallel to and at a distance from the opening end of the carton, said first closing fold line extending across the main panel and both side panels, with each end of said first closing fold line interconnecting with a first main tear line that extends across the opposite main panel, said main panel having a first end fold line that is at least substantially parallel to the opening end of the carton, and which is spaced from the first closing fold line towards the opening end of the carton at a distance that is approximately the same as the distance between the main and opposite main panels, with each side panel having a first side tear line that extends from the intersection of the first closing fold line with the opposite main panel to the main panel near the opening end of the carton, said first side tear lines in the side panels interconnecting with the first main tear line in the opposite main panel, the arrangement of said first tear lines permitting the removal of sections of the carton when said first tear lines are torn open, the arrangement of said first closing fold line and first end fold line permitting the opening end of the carton to be reclosed when said fold lines are folded to create a reclosable top;

(c) said carton can be further incrementally reduced in size and reclosed by a second closing fold line with two ends, said second closing fold line being at least substantially parallel to and at a distance greater from the opening end of the carton than the first closing fold line, said second closing fold line extending across the opposite main panel and both side panels, with each end of said second closing fold line interconnecting with a second main tear line that extends across the main panel, said opposite main panel having a second end fold line that is at least substantially parallel to the opening end of the carton and which is spaced from the second closing fold line towards the opening end of the carton at a distance that is approximately the same as the distance between the main and opposite main panels, with each side panel having a second side tear line that extends from the intersection of the second closing fold line with the main panel to the opposite main panel and interconnecting with said first main tear line in the opposite main panel, the arrangement of said second tear lines permitting the removal of sections of the carton when said second tear lines are torn open after the removal of sections of the carton by tearing the first tear lines, the arrangement of said second closing fold line and second end fold line permitting the opening end of the carton to be reclosed when said fold lines are folded to create a reclosable top; and

(d) said carton can be further incrementally reduced in size and reclosed by a third closing fold line with two ends, said third closing fold line being at least substantially parallel to and at a distance greater from the opening end of the carton than the second closing fold line, said third closing fold line extending across the main panel and both side panels, with each end of said third closing fold line interconnecting with a third main tear line that extends across the opposite main panel, said main panel having a third end fold line that is at least substantially parallel to the opening end of the carton and which is spaced from the third closing fold line towards the opening end of the carton at a distance that is approximately the same as the distance between the main and opposite main panels, with each side panel having a third side tear line that extends from the intersection of the third closing fold line with the opposite main panel to the main panel and interconnecting with said second main tear line in the main panel, the arrangement of said third tear lines permitting the removal of sections of the carton when said third tear lines are torn open after the removal of sections of the carton by tearing the second tear lines, the arrangement of said third closing fold line and third end fold line permitting the opening end of the carton to be reclosed when said fold lines are folded to create a reclosable top.

20. The carton of claim 19, in which the means for closing the other end of the carton are two main end flaps.

21. The carton of claim 19, in which each side tear line comprises a plurality of interconnected tear lines.

22. The carton of claim 21, in which each plurality of interconnected tear lines includes a tear line aligned with the end of the corresponding end fold line.

23. The carton of claim 19, in which each side panel has end flaps on each end of the carton to completely close the ends of the carton.

24. The carton of claim 19, in which a main end flap is foldably attached to the main panel by a tear line in the main panel which has an arcuate section extending towards the first end fold line which forms a tab in the main panel to aid in the removal of the main end flap attached to the main panel.

25. A carton for carrying a plurality of articles, that can be opened and incrementally reduced in size and reclosed a plurality of times, comprising:

a. two main panels and foldably attached adjoining side panels, said carton having two ends, with one end being an opening end that is closed by two main end flaps, with the other end of the carton being closed by closing means; and

b. said carton having a plurality of closing fold lines, each with two ends and being at least substantially parallel to the opening end of the carton and extending across one main panel of the two main panels and both side panels with the closing fold lines placed at different distances from the opening end to establish the hinge for an incremental reclosable top, with each end of each closing fold line interconnecting with a main tear line that extends across the other main panel to define an incremental top opening for the carton, with each closing fold line having an end fold line that is at least substantially parallel to said closing fold line and spaced towards the opening end of the carton from the closing fold line at a distance that is approximately the same as the distance between the main panels, each said end fold line constituting the hinge between the top panel and the closing flap of the incremental reclosable top to secure the reclosing of the reclosable top, said carton having a plurality of side tear lines in each side panel, with each side tear line extending towards the open end of the carton from the intersection in the side panel of the closing fold line and main tear line, with each side tear line extending to the main panel near to the opening end of the carton in which said closing fold line is located, said side tear lines interconnecting with the corresponding main tear line, the arrangement of said tear lines permitting the removal of sections of the carton in increments when said tear lines are torn open, the arrangement of the first side tear lines permitting the removal of sections of each said side panel while leaving closing flaps in each said side panel when the first side tear lines are torn open, with the arrangement of a closing fold line and corresponding end fold line permitting the opening end of the carton to be closed when said fold lines are folded to create an incremental reclosable top.

26. The carton of claim 25, in which the means for closing the other end of the carton are two main end flaps.

27. The carton of claim 25, in which each side tear line comprises a plurality of interconnected tear lines.

28. The carton of claim 27, in which each plurality of interconnected tear lines includes a tear line aligned with the end fold line associated with the closing fold line from which the side tear line extends.

29. The carton of claim 27, in which each plurality of interconnected tear lines defines a flap foldably connected to a side panel of the side panels.

30. The carton of claim 25, in which each end fold line in a main panel of the two main panels extends to a tear line of the side tear lines in each side panel.

31. The carton of claim 25, in which a main end flap is foldably attached to the one main panel by a tear line in the one main panel which has an arcuate section extending towards the end fold line which forms a tab in the one main panel to aid in the removal of the main end flap attached to the one main panel.

32. The carton of claim 25, which has a main label printed on a panel of each incrementally reduced section of the carton.