Carton with opening feature

• US 9,511,894 B2
• Filed: 01/15/2015
• Issued: 12/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Graphic Packaging International LLC (Graphic Packaging International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Inventors: Wilson, Weston R., Fontaine, Alan, Fitzwater, Kelly R.
• Primary Examiner(s): ELKINS, GARY E
• Application Number:
  US14/597,616
• Publication Number:
  US 20150197383A1
• Time in Patent Office: 691 Days
• Field of Search: 229223-226, 229/229, 229/230, 229/237, 229/242
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 2100/0024 having all side walls attached to the bottom
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 2110/35 rectangular, e.g. square
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 2120/10 provided with covers, e.g. lids
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 50/14 Cutting, e.g. perforating, punching, slitting or trimming cutting window openings B31B50/83
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 50/20 Cutting sheets or blanks
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 50/26 Folding sheets, blanks or webs
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/542 the lines of weakness being provided in the container body
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/60 for sweets or like confectionery products

Abstract

A carton having an opening feature. The carton may include a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton. The plurality of panels may include a top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel. The carton may further include a dispenser having a dispenser panel that is at least partially defined by a tear line having a perforation pattern. The perforation pattern may have at least one cut having a central portion, a first distal portion extending from the central portion, and a second distal portion extending from the central portion.

Claims

1. A carton having an opening feature, the carton comprising:

a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton the plurality of panels comprises a top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel;

a dispenser having a dispenser panel that is at least partially defined by a tear line comprising a perforation pattern, the perforation pattern extends in a longitudinal direction and comprises a plurality of cuts comprising a first cut, a second cut, and a third cut, the second cut being adjacent the first cut and the third cut,

the first cut comprising a first central portion extending in the longitudinal direction and having a first end and a second end, a first distal portion extending from the first end of the first central portion, and a second distal portion extending from the second end of the first central portion, the first distal portion being oblique relative to the longitudinal direction and comprising a first terminal end of the first cut, the second distal portion being oblique relative to the longitudinal direction and comprising a second terminal end of the first cut,

the second cut comprising a second central portion extending in the longitudinal direction and having a first end and a second end, a third distal portion extending from the first end of the second central portion, and a fourth distal portion extending from the second end of the second central portion, the third distal portion being oblique relative to the longitudinal direction and comprising a first terminal end of the second cut, the fourth distal portion being oblique relative to the longitudinal direction and comprising a second terminal end of the second cut, and

the third cut comprising a third central portion extending in the longitudinal direction and having a first end and second end, a fifth distal portion extending from the first end of the third central portion, and a sixth distal portion extending from the second end of the third central portion, the fifth distal portion being oblique relative to the longitudinal direction and comprising a first terminal end of the third cut, the sixth distal portion being oblique relative to the longitudinal direction and comprising a second terminal end of the third cut,

the second terminal end of the first cut is spaced apart from the first end of the second central portion of the second cut by a first distance extending in a lateral direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the second terminal end of the second cut is spaced apart from the first end of the third central portion of the third cut by a second distance extending in the lateral direction, the first distance and the second distance being equal.

2. The carton of claim 1, wherein the top panel is foldably connected to an at least one end flap at a fold line, the tear line is collinear with the fold line and the first central portion is generally parallel to the fold line.

3. The carton of claim 2, wherein the fold line extends in a longitudinal direction.

4. The carton of claim 2, wherein the first distal portion extends at a first angle relative to the first central portion.

5. The carton of claim 4, wherein the first distal portion is oblique relative to the first central portion.

6. The carton of claim 4, wherein the second distal portion extends at a second angle relative to the first central portion.

7. The carton of claim 6, wherein the first angle and the second angle are equal.

8. The carton of claim 7, wherein the first angle and the second angle are greater than 90 degrees.

9. The carton of claim 6, wherein the first distal portion and the second distal portion are oblique relative to the first central portion.

10. The carton of claim 6, wherein the first angle and the second angle are between approximately 120 degrees and approximately 150 degrees.

11. The carton of claim 2, wherein the perforation pattern comprises at least four spaced-apart cuts.

12. The carton of claim 2, wherein the first central portion is generally collinear with the fold line, the first distal portion extends into the at least one end flap, and the second distal portion extends into the top panel.

13. The carton of claim 1, wherein the first central portion, the second central portion, and the third central portion are parallel and collinear.

14. The carton of claim 1, wherein the first distal portion, the second distal portion, the third distal portion, the fourth distal portion, the fifth distal portion, and the sixth distal portion are parallel.

15. The carton of claim 1, wherein the second end of the first central portion is spaced apart from the first end of the second central portion by a third distance extending in the longitudinal direction, the second end of the second central portion is spaced apart from the first end of the third central portion by a fourth distance extending in the longitudinal direction, the third distance and the fourth distance being equal.

16. The blank of claim 1, wherein the second end of the first central portion is spaced apart from the first end of the second central portion by a third distance extending in the longitudinal direction, the second end of the second central portion is spaced apart from the first end of the third central portion by a fourth distance extending in the longitudinal direction, the third distance and the fourth distance being equal.

17. A blank for forming a carton having an opening feature, the blank comprising:

a plurality of panels for forming an interior of the carton formed from the blank, the plurality of panels comprises a top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel; and

dispenser features for forming a dispenser in the carton formed from the blank, the dispenser features comprise a dispenser panel that is at least partially defined by a tear line comprising a perforation pattern, the perforation pattern extends in a longitudinal direction and comprises a plurality of cuts comprising a first cut, a second cut, and a third cut, the second cut being adjacent the first cut and the third cut,

the first cut comprising a first central portion extending in the longitudinal direction and having a first end and a second end, a first distal portion extending from the first end of the first central portion, and a second distal portion extending from the second end of the first central portion, the first distal portion being oblique relative to the longitudinal direction and comprising a first terminal end of the first cut, the second distal portion being oblique relative to the longitudinal direction and comprising a second terminal end of the first cut,

the second cut comprising a second central portion extending in the longitudinal direction and having a first end and a second end, a third distal portion extending from the first end of the second central portion, and a fourth distal portion extending from the second end of the second central portion, the third distal portion being oblique relative to the longitudinal direction and comprising a first terminal end of the second cut, the fourth distal portion being oblique relative to the longitudinal direction and comprising a second terminal end of the second cut, and

the third cut comprising a third central portion extending in the longitudinal direction and having a first end and second end, a fifth distal portion extending from the first end of the third central portion, and a sixth distal portion extending from the second end of the third central portion, the fifth distal portion being oblique relative to the longitudinal direction and comprising a first terminal end of the third cut, the sixth distal portion being oblique relative to the longitudinal direction and comprising a second terminal end of the third cut,

the second terminal end of the first cut is spaced apart from the first end of the second central portion of the second cut by a first distance extending in a lateral direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the second terminal end of the second cut is spaced apart from the first end of the third central portion of the third cut by a second distance extending in the lateral direction, the first distance and the second distance being equal.

18. The blank of claim 17, wherein the top panel is foldably connected to an at least one end flap at a fold line, the tear line is collinear with the fold line, and the first central portion is generally parallel to the fold line.

19. The blank of claim 18, wherein the fold line extends in a longitudinal direction.

20. The blank of claim 18, wherein the first distal portion extends at a first angle relative to the first central portion.

21. The blank of claim 20, wherein the first distal portion is oblique relative to the first central portion.

22. The blank of claim 20, wherein the second distal portion extends at a second angle relative to the first central portion.

23. The blank of claim 22, wherein the first angle and the second angle are equal.

24. The blank of claim 23, wherein the first angle and the second angle are greater than 90 degrees.

25. The blank of claim 22, wherein the first distal portion and the second distal portion are oblique relative to the first central portion.

26. The blank of claim 22, wherein the first angle and the second angle are between approximately 120 degrees and approximately 150 degrees.

27. The blank of claim 18, wherein the perforation pattern comprises at least four spaced-apart cuts.

28. The blank of claim 18, wherein the first central portion is generally collinear with the fold line, the first distal portion extends into the at least one end flap, and the second distal portion extends into the top panel.

29. The blank of claim 17, wherein the first central portion, the second central portion, and the third central portion are collinear.

30. The blank of claim 17, wherein the first distal portion, the second distal portion, the third distal portion, the fourth distal portion, the fifth distal portion, and the sixth distal portion are parallel.

31. A method of forming a carton having an opening feature, the method comprising:

obtaining a blank comprising a plurality of panels, the plurality of panels comprising a top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel, and dispenser features comprising a dispenser panel that is at least partially defined by a tear line comprising a perforation pattern, the perforation pattern extends in a longitudinal direction and comprises a plurality of cuts comprising a first cut, a second cut, and a third cut, the second cut being adjacent the first cut and the third cut,

the first cut comprising a first central portion extending in the longitudinal direction and having a first end and a second end, a first distal portion extending from the first end of the first central portion, and a second distal portion extending from the second end of the first central portion, the first distal portion being oblique relative to the longitudinal direction and comprising a first terminal end of the first cut, the second distal portion being oblique relative to the longitudinal direction and comprising a second terminal end of the first cut,

the second cut comprising a second central portion extending in the longitudinal direction and having a first end and a second end, a third distal portion extending from the first end of the second central portion, and a fourth distal portion extending from the second end of the second central portion, the third distal portion being oblique relative to the longitudinal direction and comprising a first terminal end of the second cut, the fourth distal portion being oblique relative to the longitudinal direction and comprising a second terminal end of the second cut, and

the third cut comprising a third central portion extending in the longitudinal direction and having a first end and second end, a fifth distal portion extending from the first end of the third central portion, and a sixth distal portion extending from the second end of the third central portion, the fifth distal portion being oblique relative to the longitudinal direction and comprising a first terminal end of the third cut, the sixth distal portion being oblique relative to the longitudinal direction and comprising a second terminal end of the third cut,

the second terminal end of the first cut is spaced apart from the first end of the second central portion of the second cut by a first distance extending in a lateral direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the second terminal end of the second cut is spaced apart from the first end of the third central portion of the third cut by a second distance extending in the lateral direction, the first distance and the second distance being equal;

forming an interior of the carton at least partially defined by the plurality of panels; and

forming a dispenser opening by tearing along the tear line and at least partially removing the dispenser panel from the carton.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the top panel is foldably connected to one of the first side panel and the second side panel at a fold line, the tear line is collinear with the fold line and the first central portion is generally parallel to the fold line.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the first distal portion extends at a first angle relative to the first central portion.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the first distal portion is oblique relative to the first central portion.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein the second distal portion extends at a second angle relative to the first central portion.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the first angle and the second angle are equal.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the first angle and the second angle are greater than 90 degrees.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein the first distal portion and the second distal portion are oblique relative to the first central portion.

39. The method of claim 35, wherein the first angle and the second angle are between approximately 120 degrees and approximately 150 degrees.

40. The method of claim 32, wherein the perforation pattern comprises at least four spaced-apart cuts.

41. The method of claim 32, wherein the first side panel is formed by a least one end flap foldably connected to the top panel along the fold line, the first central portion is generally collinear with the fold line, the first distal portion extends into the at least one end flap, and the second distal portion extends into the top panel.