Abstract:
A tray with an upstanding billboard or panel that displays a three-dimensional image is provided by a carton assembly comprising sheet material having fold lines defining parts that are movable to assembled positions presenting a tray for receiving food, beverage or other items of interest to the user, and a display panel having an image printed thereon by a three-dimensional process. The display panel is part of a panel structure that provides a carrier for a viewer that may be removed from the panel structure by the user in order to see and enjoy the three-dimensional image.

Description:
[0001]     This invention relates to cartons or trays which are formed from a sheet of cardboard or similar material, and which are used to hold food, beverage or other items of interest to the user and also provide a billboard or display panel for the enjoyment and amusement of the user.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Disposable cardboard trays for holding food items have been used by restaurants and theaters as a convenience for their customers and in particular, to organize and hold food for children and create additional interest by designs that are displayed on the tray or carton. Typically, the trays are formed from a cardboard like material and assembled from a die cut sheet by folding various panels and tabs along score lines in the material into an assembled shape. Particularly with respect to young children, printed material on the tray adds to the child&#39;s interest and may comprise designs showing cartoon characters or other portrayals that hold the user&#39;s attention. Furthermore, as the tray organizes food items together on a disposable tray, it minimizes the volume of separate pieces of trash that must ultimately be disposed of by the provider.  
         [0003]     These cartons and trays also provide a medium for advertising in theaters, fast-food restaurants and the like, as well as organizing the items purchased and maintaining the child&#39;s interest. Three-dimensional images are particularly appealing but require a special viewer in addition to the tray in order to reveal images in three dimensions.  
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     In an embodiment of the present invention a tray with an upstanding billboard or panel that displays a three-dimensional image is provided by a carton assembly comprising sheet material that has a base portion and fold lines defining parts that are movable to assembled positions presenting a tray for receiving food, beverage or other items of interest to the user. One of the parts presents a top portion which is normally horizontally disposed during use of the tray and is spaced above the base portion, and which has front and rear edges and at least one opening therein between the edges for receiving and holding at least one desired item. The display panel is provided by a panel structure movable about a line of fold at the rear edge of the top portion to an upright position wherein the panel structure presents a front surface having an image printed thereon by a three-dimensional process. The rear surface of the panel structure has a line of weakness therein circumscribing a viewer that may be removed from the panel structure by the user. The viewer has eye openings therein for the left and right eyes of the user containing lenses that reveal the image in three dimensions so that a scene revealed by the image may be viewed while using the tray.  
         [0005]     Other advantages of this carton assembly and associated three-dimensional image will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example an embodiment of the present invention.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a piece of flat sheet material having openings therein and fold lines thereon, from which a carton or tray is formed.  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  shows the sheet material as an initial fold is made.  
         [0008]      FIG. 3  shows the sheet material after the initial fold is completed and glue is applied to form a double laminated display panel.  
         [0009]      FIGS. 4, 5 ,  6  and  7  are sequential views showing the additional stages of assembly of the tray.  
         [0010]      FIG. 8  is a rear perspective view showing the three-dimensional viewer prior to removal from the rear layer of the display panel.  
         [0011]      FIG. 9  is a view similar to  FIG. 8  but showing the viewer after removal from the rear panel layer.  
         [0012]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view showing the rear of the display panel and one end of the tray at the stage of assembly shown in  FIG. 6 , showing the double laminated construction of the display panel structure.  
         [0013]      FIG. 11  is a view similar to  FIG. 10  but with a portion of the rear panel layer broken away.  
         [0014]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the tray from the front showing the three-dimensional image on the front panel layer and illustrating the use of the viewer to reveal the image in three dimensions.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0015]     Referring initially to  FIGS. 1-7 , a sequence of steps is illustrated and shows a flat piece of sheet material  20  ( FIG. 1 ) which, after the assembly operation is complete, becomes an assembled carton or tray  22  ( FIG. 7 ). The sheet material is paperboard or a similar semi-rigid material capable of retaining fold lines and die cut so that openings are formed upon removal of the cutout portions. A suitable material is 18-point white C1S SBS stock or a thin plastic material capable of retaining fold lines and being folded to a desired configuration. As is evident from  FIG. 1 , in its initially unassembled state, the sheet material  20  is planar and flat.  
         [0016]      FIG. 1  shows that the sheet material  20  has a number fold lines therein, the purpose of which will be described below. Additionally, the sheet stock from which material  20  is formed is die cut to provide the perimeter configuration shown, which is essentially an elongated rectangle with a pair of opposed, transversely projecting flaps  24 , and a pair of opposed, transversely projecting flaps  26 . Additionally, a circular opening  28  has four circumferentially spaced tabs  30  projecting thereinto, and an adjacent opening  32  has two opposed tabs  34  projecting into opening  32  for a purpose to be subsequently discussed. Adjacent thereto, a rectangle is defined by a fold line  36 , a slit  37  and two slits  38 , and has a fold line thereacross at  40 .  
         [0017]     At the left end of sheet material  20  as viewed in  FIG. 1 , a rectangular rear panel layer  42  of the assembled carton (see  FIG. 8 ) is die cut to provide a continuous line of weakness  44  with spaced nicks (not shown) in the die cut line to prevent release of a viewer  46  until the carton is in use, as will be discussed below. The panel layer is cut through at  48  and the material removed providing an opening for the user&#39;s fingertip to facilitate removal of the viewer  46 , which has an eye mask configuration. A front panel layer  50  at the right end of the sheet material  20  will present a billboard or display panel when the carton is assembled.  
         [0018]     Now referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an initial fold is made at a fold line  52  extending transversely across sheet material  20  at essentially the longitudinal center thereof.  FIG. 3  shows the two halves in overlying relationship with front panel layer  50  overlying rear panel layer  42  (not visible). At this point in the assembly, glue is applied (not shown) to the upper surface of rear panel layer  42  in areas thereof spaced from the viewer  46  in order to adhere the two layers  42  and  50  together and form a laminated panel structure. Glue is also applied to a rectangular area  53  between transverse slit  37  and fold line  40  so that area  53  will adhere to base portion  60  at the stage of assembly shown in  FIG. 3 . In this stage of partial assembly ( FIG. 3 ) with the laminated panel structure formed, the carton material is still flat and easy to handle and thus would be provided to the user in this form.  
         [0019]     The user may readily complete the assembly as shown in  FIGS. 4-7 . Comparing  FIGS. 1 and 4 , it may be seen that the laminated panel  50 ,  42  is folded about line  54  until it reaches an upright position ( FIG. 5 ). As the panel layers  42  and  50  are now glued together to provide a composite panel structure, a fold line  56  across the bottom of front panel layer  50  defines the rear edge of top portion  62  of the tray. The front edge of the tray is defined by fold line  55  parallel to initial fold  52 . The rectangular area  53 , being adhered to the underlying base portion  60 , presents a foot that supports a post provided by the material between fold lines  36  and  40 , thereby supporting the top portion  62  of the assembled carton in spaced relationship above base portion  60  as is typically done in rectangular trays of this general type that are assembled from flat stock.  
         [0020]      FIGS. 6 and 7  show the completion of the assembly of the tray  22  by insertion of each upper flap  26  into the corresponding lower flap  24  at each end of the tray in a conventional manner. The tray is now ready for use as food and beverage items, for example, may be inserted into the pockets or holders provided by openings  28  and  32  and the rectangular opening presented by the material that depends from fold line  36  and is utilized as the supporting post and foot  53 . The four tabs  40  projecting into circular opening  28  bend downwardly upon insertion of a cup, for example, to hold it in place. Likewise, the tabs  34  and four associated tabs  64  secure an item, such as a premium, inserted into opening  32 .  
         [0021]     The double laminated panel structure  42 ,  50  is shown in greater detail in  FIGS. 8-11  where the tray  22  is shown in perspective from the rear and one end. In  FIG. 8  the viewer  46  is in place and forms a part of the rear panel layer  42 . In  FIG. 9  the viewer  46  has been removed by the user, revealing the rear surface of a portion of the front panel layer  50  where the viewer  46  had previously been held.  FIGS. 10 and 11  are similar views and somewhat enlarged and show the carton or tray at the stage of assembly corresponding to  FIG. 6 , and reveal that the rear panel layer  42  is slightly shorter and narrower than the front panel layer  50 . The viewer  46  has a right eye opening  66  and a left eye opening  68  and, once removed, as depicted in  FIG. 12 , is held by the user in order to view an image  70  printed on the front surface of the panel layer  50  by a three-dimensional process. Therefore, the user can enjoy the items (not shown) held in tray  22  while viewing an interesting scene such as the fanciful cartoon characters illustrated by image  70 .  
         [0022]     Three-dimensional printing processes are known and any of these may be utilized to print the image  70  on the front surface of panel layer  50 . If an anaglyph process is utilized, then the viewer  46  would be provided with red and blue lenses to create the three-dimensional effect. For example,  FIGS. 8 and 9  illustrate that eye openings  66  and  68  are windowed with a red polyfilm right lens  72  and a blue polyfilm left lens  74 . Each lens may be held in place in the associated eye opening  66 ,  68  by any suitable means. For example, a piece of polyfilm lens material may be cut larger than the associated eye opening  66  or  68  to present a margin that is glued to the viewer material around the opening.  
         [0023]     From the foregoing, it may be appreciated that the double laminated panel construction provides two important functions. The front panel layer  50  serves as a billboard or display surface for presenting a three-dimensional image of interest to the user of the tray. Second, the rear panel layer  42  provides both the viewer  46  and a carrier for the viewer until it is detached from the panel by the user.  
         [0024]     It is to be understood to be understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto, except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims.