Enclosed container carton convertible into a tray

• US 7,416,109 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2006
• Issued: 08/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Graphic Packaging International LLC (Graphic Packaging International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Inventors: Sutherland, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai; Tri M
• Application Number:
  US11/507,338
• Publication Number:
  US 20070017965A1
• Time in Patent Office: 736 Days
• Field of Search: 229/144, 229/116, 229108-110, 229/114, 229/235, 229/193, 229/223, 229/24, 229/224, 229/225, 229/226, 229/227, 229/241, 229/228, 229/146, 229/121, 229/122, 229/117.13, 229/117.14
• US Class Current: 229/227
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00141 glued
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/0045 for hands
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00549 consisting of fold lines
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00567 defining a narrow removable strip
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/0066 formed from one single sheet
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00728 the end walls being closed by gluing
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/5415 the lines of weakness being provided in one or more closure flaps and in the container body so as to form after rupture a lid hinged to a side edge of the container body
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 71/36 having a tubular shape, e.g. tubular wrappers, with end walls

Abstract

An enclosed carton for carrying a number of containers, such as cans, which is easily convertible into a tray with a lid, from which the cans can be easily removed. The tray is formed by a zipper with two tear lines that are formed in the adjoining bottom flaps of the carton. The carton may have a carrying handle for carrying the carton loaded with containers. This carton is especially designed to be easily convertible into a tray for holding cans between two closely spaced shelves in a refrigerator. Provision is made for the easy removal of the lid. Another embodiment of this invention discloses an enclosed carton with diamond shaped corners so that the carton can be tightly packed and which is also convertible into a tray.

Claims

1. A carton blank, comprising:

a top panel having a hinge fold line extending along a width of the blank;

a first top end flap foldably connected to the top panel by a first and a second triangular panel, the first and second triangular panels both being directly foldably connected to the top panel;

a second top end flap foldably connected to the top panel by a third and a fourth triangular panel, the third and fourth triangular panels both being directly foldably connected to the top panel;

a bottom side panel foldably connected to the top panel at a first transverse fold line extending along the width of the blank;

a first bottom flap foldably connected to the bottom side panel at a second transverse fold line, wherein the first bottom flap has a first tear strip that extends along the width of the blank;

a top side panel foldably connected to the top panel at a third transverse fold line; and

a second bottom flap foldably connected to the top side panel at a fourth transverse fold line, wherein the second bottom flap has a second tear strip that extends along the width of the blank.

2. The carton blank of claim 1, wherein the top panel is foldably connected to the first triangular panel at a first oblique fold line and to the second triangular panel at a second oblique fold line.

3. The carton blank of claim 2, wherein the top panel comprises a handle.

4. The carton blank of claim 3, wherein the top panel comprises a first step tear line extending obliquely to the third transverse fold line.

5. The carton blank of claim 4, wherein the handle is defined in part by a fold line.

6. A carton blank, comprising:

a top panel having a hinge fold line extending along a width of the blank;

a first top end flap foldably connected to the top panel by a first and a second triangular panel;

a second top end flap foldably connected to the top panel by a third and a fourth triangular panel;

a bottom side panel foldably connected to the top panel at a first transverse fold line extending along the width of the blank;

a first bottom flap foldably connected to the bottom side panel at a second transverse fold line, wherein the first bottom flap has a first tear strip that extends along the width of the blank;

a top side panel foldably connected to the top panel at a third transverse fold line;

a second bottom flap foldably connected to the top side panel at a fourth transverse fold line, wherein the second bottom flap has a second tear strip that extends along the width of the blank;

a first bottom end flap foldably connected to the first bottom flap by a fifth triangular panel; and

a second bottom end flap foldably connected to the first bottom flap by a sixth triangular panel.

7. The carton blank of claim 6, wherein the first tear strip is defined by a first tear opening line extending along the width of the blank and into the first and second bottom end flaps.

8. The carton blank of claim 7, wherein the second tear strip is defined by a second tear opening line extending along the width of the blank.

9. The carton blank of claim 8, further comprising:

a third bottom end flap foldably connected to the second bottom flap by a seventh triangular panel; and

a fourth bottom end flap foldably connected to the second bottom flap by an eighth triangular panel.

10. The carton blank of claim 8, further comprising:

a first side end flap foldably connected to the bottom side panel at a first longitudinal fold line; and

a second side end flap foldably connected to the bottom side panel at a second longitudinal fold line.

11. The carton blank of claim 10, further comprising:

a third side end flap foldably connected to the top side panel at a third longitudinal fold line; and

a fourth side end flap foldably connected to the top side panel at a fourth longitudinal fold line.

12. A carton blank, comprising:

a top panel;

a first top end flap foldably connected to the top panel by at least two triangular panels, the at least two triangular panels each being directly foldably connected to the top panel;

a second top end flap foldably connected to the top panel by at least two additional triangular panels, the at least two additional triangular panels each being directly foldably connected to the top panel;

a bottom side panel foldably connected to the top panel at a first transverse fold line;

a first bottom flap foldably connected to the bottom side panel at a second transverse fold line, wherein the first bottom flap has a first tear strip;

a top side panel foldably connected to the top panel at a third transverse fold line;

a second bottom flap foldably connected to the top side panel at a fourth transverse fold line, wherein the second bottom flap has a second tear strip; and

a first bottom end flap foldably connected to the first bottom flap, the first tear strip extending through the first bottom end flap.

13. The carton blank of claim 12, wherein the top panel is foldably connected to each triangular panel at an oblique fold line.

14. The carton blank of claim 13, further comprising a second bottom end flap foldably connected to the first bottom flap.

15. The carton blank of claim 14, wherein the first tear strip is defined in part by a first tear opening line extending along the width of the blank and into the first bottom end flap and the second bottom end flap.

16. The carton blank of claim 13, wherein the second tear strip is defined by a second tear opening line extending along the width of the blank.

17. The carton blank of claim 16, further comprising:

a third bottom end flap foldably connected to the second bottom flap by at least one triangular panel; and

a fourth bottom end flap foldably connected to the second bottom flap by at least one triangular panel.

18. The carton blank of claim 13, further comprising:

a first side end flap foldably connected to the bottom side panel at a first longitudinal fold line; and

a second side end flap foldably connected to the bottom side panel at a second longitudinal fold line.

19. The carton blank of claim 18, further comprising:

a third side end flap foldably connected to the top side panel at a third longitudinal fold line; and

a fourth side end flap foldably connected to the top side panel at a fourth longitudinal fold line.

20. The carton blank of claim 13, wherein the top panel comprises a handle defined in part by a fold line and a first step tear line extending obliquely to the third transverse fold line.

21. The carton blank of claim 13, wherein the top panel comprises a hinge fold line extending between the at least one triangular panels.

22. A carton blank, comprising:

a top panel having a hinge fold line extending along a width of the blank, and a slotted handle;

a first top end flap foldably connected to the top panel by a first and a second triangular panel;

a second top end flap foldably connected to the top panel by a third and a fourth triangular panel, wherein the hinge fold line extends through the first and second top end flaps;

a bottom side panel foldably connected to the top panel at a first transverse fold line;

a first bottom flap foldably connected to the bottom side panel at a second transverse fold line;

wherein the first bottom flap has a first tear strip;

a top side panel foldably connected to the top panel at a third transverse fold line;

a second bottom flap foldably connected to the top side panel at a fourth transverse fold line, wherein the second bottom flap has a second tear strip;

a first bottom end flap foldably connected to the first bottom flap by a fifth triangular panel; and

a second bottom end flap foldably connected to the first bottom flap by a sixth triangular panel.

23. The carton blank of claim 22, further comprising:

a first side end flap foldably connected to the bottom side panel at a first longitudinal fold line;

a second side end flap foldably connected to the bottom side panel at a second longitudinal fold line;

a third side end flap foldably connected to the top side panel at a third longitudinal fold line; and

a fourth side end flap foldably connected to the top side panel at a fourth longitudinal fold line.

24. The carton blank of claim 23, wherein the first tear strip is defined in part by a first tear opening line extending into the first bottom end flap and the second bottom end flap.

25. The carton blank of claim 22, wherein the top panel is foldably connected to the first triangular panel at a first oblique fold line and to the second triangular panel at a second oblique fold line.