Clamshell carton with convertible tray
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A clamshell carton formed from a single unitary sheet blank, the clamshell carton comprising:
- a tray portion including (i) a bottom panel having a plurality of perimeter edges, and (ii) a plurality of tray sidewalls including a rear tray sidewall, each tray sidewall extending upwardly from an associated perimeter edge of the plurality of perimeter edges at a fold therewith, each of the sidewalls being joined to adjacent tray sidewalls by perforated folds; and
a cover portion configured to fit over and cover the tray portion, the cover portion including (i) a top panel having a plurality of perimeter edges, and (ii) cover sidewalls including a rear cover sidewall, each cover sidewall extending upwardly from an associated perimeter edge of the plurality of perimeter edges at a fold therewith, each of the cover sidewalls being joined to adjacent cover sidewalls at folds;
wherein a top edge of the rear tray sidewall is joined to the rear cover sidewall by way of a perforated fold forming a living hinge;
wherein when each of the perforated folds of the tray portion and the living hinge are torn, a substantially planar tray with no sidewalls is formed and the cover portion is transformed into an independent receptacle.
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Abstract
A clamshell container having a cover portion and a tray portion connected by a living hinge wherein the corners of the sidewalls in at least the tray portion are perforated or scored to permit easy separation by a user to create a substantially flat serving tray is described.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A clamshell carton formed from a single unitary sheet blank, the clamshell carton comprising:
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a tray portion including (i) a bottom panel having a plurality of perimeter edges, and (ii) a plurality of tray sidewalls including a rear tray sidewall, each tray sidewall extending upwardly from an associated perimeter edge of the plurality of perimeter edges at a fold therewith, each of the sidewalls being joined to adjacent tray sidewalls by perforated folds; and a cover portion configured to fit over and cover the tray portion, the cover portion including (i) a top panel having a plurality of perimeter edges, and (ii) cover sidewalls including a rear cover sidewall, each cover sidewall extending upwardly from an associated perimeter edge of the plurality of perimeter edges at a fold therewith, each of the cover sidewalls being joined to adjacent cover sidewalls at folds; wherein a top edge of the rear tray sidewall is joined to the rear cover sidewall by way of a perforated fold forming a living hinge; wherein when each of the perforated folds of the tray portion and the living hinge are torn, a substantially planar tray with no sidewalls is formed and the cover portion is transformed into an independent receptacle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A clamshell carton formed from a single unitary sheet blank, the clamshell carton comprising:
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a tray portion including (i) a bottom panel having a plurality of perimeter edges, (ii) a plurality of tray sidewalls including a rear tray sidewall, a front tray sidewall, a left tray sidewall and a right tray sidewall, each tray sidewall extending upwardly from an associated perimeter edge of the plurality of perimeter edges at a fold therewith, each of the tray sidewalls being joined to adjacent tray sidewalls at ends thereof to form corners and (iii) a plurality of lines of perforations each extending from a perimeter edge to a top edge of a tray sidewall wherein by tearing the plurality of lines of perforations the tray sidewalls are effectively detached from each other so that at least the front, left and right tray sidewalls are laid flat and generally planar with the bottom panel; and a cover portion configured to fit over and cover the tray portion, the cover portion including (i) a top panel having a plurality of perimeter edges, and (ii) cover sidewalls including a rear cover sidewall, each cover sidewall extending upwardly from an associated perimeter edge of the plurality of perimeter edges at a fold therewith, each of the cover sidewalls being joined to adjacent cover sidewalls at folds; wherein a top edge of the rear tray sidewall is joined to the rear cover sidewall by way perforated fold forming a living hinge; wherein when each of the perforated folds of the tray portion and the living hinge are torn, a substantially planar tray with no sidewalls is formed and the cover portion is transformed into an independent receptacle. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of using a clamshell carton containing a sandwich, the method comprising:
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receiving the clamshell carton in a closed configuration with the sandwich contained therein, the clamshell carton comprising; a tray portion including (i) a bottom panel having a plurality of perimeter edges, and (ii) a plurality of tray sidewalls including a rear tray sidewall, each tray sidewall extending upwardly from an associated perimeter edge of the plurality of perimeter edges at a fold therewith, each of the sidewalls being joined to adjacent tray sidewalls by perforated folds; and a cover portion configured to fit over and cover the tray portion, the cover portion including (i) a top panel having a plurality of perimeter edges, and (ii) cover sidewalls including a rear cover sidewall, each cover sidewall extending upwardly from an associated perimeter edge of the plurality of perimeter edges at a fold therewith, each of the cover sidewalls being joined to adjacent cover sidewalls at folds wherein a top edge of the rear tray sidewall is joined to the rear cover sidewall by way of a perforated fold forming a living hinge; opening the clamshell carton by releasing the cover portion from the tray portion and rotating the cover portion rearwardly along the living hinge; tearing apart each of the perforated folds of the tray portion; tearing apart the perforated fold of the living hinge; lowering each of the tray sidewalls to lie generally flat against an underlying surface and create a planar tray; and accessing the sandwich from the planar tray with no interference from the tray sidewalls. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification