Content-identifying carton structure

• US RE33,979 E
• Filed: 08/03/1989
• Issued: 06/30/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Taco Bell Corporation (Yum! Brands Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Taco Bell Corporation (Yum! Brands Incorporated)
• Inventors: Cortopassi, Jeffery J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elkins, Gary E.
• Application Number:
  US07/389,341
• Time in Patent Office: 1,062 Days
• Field of Search: 206/459, 229/8, 229/153, 229/902, 229/919, 40/312
• US Class Current: 206/459.1
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/4216 Cards, coupons or the like formed integrally with, or printed directly on, the container or lid
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/6626 formed by folding extensions of a side panel of a container body formed by erecting a "cross-like" blank

Abstract

A multi-purpose carton and, more particularly, a folding paperboard carton incorporating content-identifying structure enabling identification of the carton contents without necessitating the opening of the carton. Moreover, also disclosed is a paperboard blank for forming the carton.

Claims

1. A multi-purpose carton incorporating a content-identifying arrangement, said carton comprising integral front panel, rear panel, end panel and side panel structures hingedly joined along a plurality of fold lines to provide a foldable.[., parallelepiped.]. carton configuration, a flap hingedly joined to an outer edge of only one of said panels, and adapted to underlie a second of said panels in surface contact therewith and being pivotal away from said second panel, about said outer edge, in the erected condition of said carton and forming a carton closure, said flap having carton content-identifying legends imprinted on the surface facing said second panel;

a plurality of tuck-tabs in a .[.linearly.]. spaced array cut into said second panel .[.so as to be.]. .Iadd., with each tuck-tab being .Iaddend.joined thereto along a .[.single.]. hinge line and being arranged to overlie .[.said flap coextensive with.]. said flap, said underlying flap terminating .Iadd.underneath each of said tuck-tabs .Iaddend.substantially .[.in alignment with.]. .Iadd.parallel to .Iaddend.the hinge line .[.of said tuck-tabs.]. .Iadd.joining the tuck-tab to the second panel.Iaddend., each of said tuck-tabs being selectively depressable to engage rearwardly of said flap in .[.coextensive.]. surface contact therewith to provide visual access to printing on said flap in registry with the location of said depressed tuck-tab indicative of the contents in said carton without the necessity of opening said carton.

2. A carton as claimed in claim 1, wherein said one panel is the end panel, the second panel is the front panel, said end panel is hinged to the rear panel, said plurality of tuck-tabs are cut into the front panel of said carton proximate to a free edge of said front panel, said flap being integrally joined with the end panel and depending within said front panel inwardly of said carton in the erected condition of said carton.

3. A carton as claimed in claim 1, wherein said one panel is the front panel, said second panel is the end panel, said plurality of tuck-tabs are cut into the end panel of said carton which is hingedly connected with said rear panel, said front panel having said flap integrally joined therewith and depending behind said end panel inwardly of said carton in the erected condition of said carton.

4. A carton as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of tuck-tabs are spaced in series along said second panel proximate a front edge of said carton to afford ready viewing thereof from the front of said carton for identifying the carton contents.

5. A carton as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said tuck-tabs comprises a substantially rectangularly U-shaped tab having three sides thereof cut through said second panel so as to be manually deflectable into said carton for latching engagement rearwardly of said flap.

6. A carton as claimed in claim 5, wherein said front and rear panels of said carton include cooperating latching structures for forming a reopenable carton closure.

7. A carton as claimed in claim 6, wherein the edge of said tuck-tabs, which remains connected to said second panel includes a score line to facilitate deflecting said tuck-tab means into said carton.

8. A paperboard blank of unitary construction for forming the carton of claim 1.