Reclosable gable top carton

• US 7,891,543 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2007
• Issued: 02/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Target Brands Inc. (Target Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Target Brands Inc. (Target Corporation)
• Inventors: Abel, Jeffrey R., Sotebeer, Gary L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elkins; Gary E
• Assistant Examiner(s): BYRD, LATRICE CHENELL
• Application Number:
  US11/757,005
• Publication Number:
  US 20080296360A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,362 Days
• Field of Search: 229/213, 229/249, 229/137, 229/913, 229/138, 229/139
• US Class Current: 229/137
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/068 with supplemental means facilitating the opening, e.g. tear lines, tear tabs

Abstract

A reclosable carton having a tuck flap that slides between a first gable panel and side gussets is provided. The tuck flap is coupled to a second gable panel along a line that is in alignment with a non-continuous free edge. The tuck flap includes a tuck flap width that is less than widths of the first and second gable panels. The tuck flap also includes a tuck flap score that is spaced apart from the line. The side gussets forming the gable angle include two perforated score lines intersecting a top of the carton at the non-continuous free edge. The perforated scores are connected to a first intersecting score by two die cuts, which are angled substantially 45 degrees from the first intersecting score.

Claims

1. A sheet material formable into a carton comprising:

a first score;

a second score substantially parallel with the first score and spaced apart by a first gable panel width, wherein the second score and the first score define a first gable panel;

a third score spaced apart from and substantially parallel with the second score, wherein the third score and the second score define a side gusset panel;

a fourth score substantially parallel with the third score and spaced apart by a second gable panel width that is substantially equivalent to the first gable panel width, wherein the fourth score and the third score define a second gable panel;

a non-continuous free edge that is substantially perpendicular to and intersecting with the first, second, third and fourth scores to at least define edges of the first gable panel, the side gusset panel and the second gable panel; and

an extension panel having a fixed end coupled to the second gable panel along a line that is in alignment with the non-continuous free edge and having a free end, wherein the extension panel includes an extension panel width extending between portions of the non-continuous free edge along the line and an extension panel score that is spaced from the line, the extension panel width being less than the first gable panel width and less than the second gable panel width across an entirety of the extension panel from the fixed end of the extension panel to the free end of the extension panel.

2. The sheet material of claim 1, wherein the first gable panel, the side gusset panel and the second gable panel are also defined by an intersecting score that intersects with the first, second, third and fourth scores and is spaced apart from the non-continuous free edge.

3. The sheet material of claim 2, wherein the side gusset panel comprises first and second perforated score lines, wherein first ends of the first and second perforated score lines intersect with the non-continuous free edge to form a gusset flap located between a pair of gusset flap supports.

4. The sheet material of claim 3, wherein the side gusset panel further comprises:

a first die cut line extending from an intersection of the second score and the intersecting score to a second end of the first perforated score line; and

a second die cut line extending from the intersection of the third score and the continuous bottom score to a second end of the second perforated score line.

5. The sheet material of claim 4, wherein the first die cut line and the second die cut line are oriented substantially 45 degrees from the intersecting score.

6. The sheet material of claim 1, wherein the extension panel further comprises first and second side edges located between the fixed end and the free end, wherein a portion of each of the first and second side edges taper from a first select point located between the extension panel score and the free end towards the free end.

7. The sheet material of claim 5, wherein the taper of the first and second side edges begins at the first select point and terminates at the free end.

8. The sheet material of claim 5, wherein the taper of the first and second side edges begins at the first select point and terminates at a second select point along the first and second side edges of the extension panel that is spaced apart from the free end.

9. The sheet material claim of claim 5, wherein a distance between the third score and the first side edge of the extension panel is approximately equal to the thickness of the sheet material and a distance between the fourth score and the second side edge of the extension panel is approximately equal to the thickness of the sheet material.

10. The sheet material of claim 1, wherein a distance between the extension panel score and the line in alignment with the non-continuous free edge is approximately three times the thickness of the sheet material.

11. A reclosable carton comprising:

a first gable panel having a first gable panel width extending between a first score edge and a second score edge;

a second gable panel opposing the first gable panel and having a second gable panel width extending between a third score edge and a fourth score edge, wherein the second gable panel width is substantially equivalent to the first gable panel width;

a first side gusset panel that couples the second score edge of the first gable panel to the third score edge of the second gable panel;

a second side gusset panel opposing the first side gusset panel that couples the first score edge of the first gable panel to the fourth score edge of the second gable panel;

a non-continuous top edge that is substantially perpendicular to and intersects with the first, second, third and fourth score edges to define the first gable panel, the second gable panel, the first side gusset panel and the second side gusset panel; and

a tuck flap having a fixed end coupled to the second gable panel at a line that is in alignment with the non-continuous top edge and having a free end, wherein the tuck flap includes a tuck flap width extending between portions of the non-continuous top edge along the line and a tuck flap score that is spaced from the line, the tuck flap width being less than the first gable panel width and less than the second gable panel width across an entirety of the tuck flap from the fixed end of the tuck flap to the free end of the tuck flap.

12. The reclosable carton of claim 11, wherein the first and second gable panels and the first and second side gusset panels are also defined by a first intersecting score that intersects with the first, second, third and fourth scored edges.

13. The reclosable carton of claim 12, wherein each of the side gusset panels comprises:

a pair of perforated score lines that intersect at the non-continuous top edge, wherein first and second perforated score lines included in the first side gusset panel form a first gusset flap located between a pair of gusset flap supports and third and fourth perforated score lines included in the second gusset panel form a second gusset flap located between a pair of gusset flap supports.

14. The reclosable carton of claim 13, wherein the first side gusset panel further comprises a first die cut extending from an intersection of the second score edge and the first intersecting score to the first perforated score line and a second die cut extending from an intersection of the third score edge and the first intersecting score to the second perforated score line;

and

wherein the second gusset panel further comprises a third die cut extending from an intersection of the fourth score edge and the first intersecting score to the third perforated score line and a fourth die cut extending from an intersection of the first intersecting score and a continuous free edge that is aligned with the first score edge to the fourth perforated score line.

15. The reclosable carton of claim 14, wherein each of the die cuts of the first and second side gusset panels is oriented substantially 45 degrees from the first intersecting score.

16. The reclosable carton of claim 11, wherein the tuck flap further comprises first and second side edges located between the fixed end and the free end, wherein a portion of each of the first and second side edges taper from a first select point located between the tuck flap score and the free end towards the free end.

17. The reclosable carton of claim 16, wherein the tapers of the first and second side edges begin at the first select point and terminate at the free end.

18. The reclosable carton of claim 16, wherein the tapers of the first and second side edges begin at the first select point and terminates at a second select point that is spaced apart from the free end along the first and second side edges of the tuck flap.

19. A sheet material formable into a carton comprising:

a first score;

a second score substantially parallel with the first score and spaced apart to define a first gable panel;

a third score substantially parallel with the second score and spaced apart to define a side gusset panel;

a fourth score substantially parallel with the third score and spaced apart to define a second gable panel;

a non-continuous free edge substantially perpendicular to and intersecting with the first, second, third and fourth scores to at least define edges of the first gable panel, the side gusset panel and the second gable panel;

a first intersecting score substantially parallel with the non-continuous free edge and intersecting with the first, second, third and fourth scores to at least define the first gable panel, the side gusset panel and the second gable panel;

wherein the side gusset panel comprises;

first and second perforated score lines, wherein first ends of the first and second perforated score lines intersect at the non-continuous free edge to form a gusset flap located between a pair of gusset flap supports;

a first die cut extending from the intersection of the second score and the first intersecting score to a second end of the first perforated score line;

a second die cut extending from the intersection of the third score and the first intersecting score to a second end of the second perforated score line; and

wherein the first die cut and the second die cut are oriented substantially 45 degrees from the first intersecting score; and

an extension panel having a fixed end coupled to the second gable panel along a line that is in alignment with the non-continuous free edge and having a free end, wherein the extension panel includes an extension panel width extending between portions of the non-continuous free edge along the line and an extension panel score that is spaced from the line, the extension panel width being less than a first gable panel width of the first gable panel and a second gable panel width of the second gable panel across an entirety of the extension panel from the fixed end of the extension panel to the free end of the extension panel.

20. The sheet material of claim 19, wherein the first and second perforated score lines are oriented at an angle relative to first intersecting score that is different than the substantially 45 degrees that the first die cut and the second die cut are oriented from the first intersecting score.