Multiple compartment carton

In a multiple compartment carton, one compartment has a line of weakness for opening the compartment. Protective means overlies the line of weakness, to prevent inadvertent breakage of the line of weakness.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention is an improvement in multiple compartment cartons such as 
are used to package and protect multiple units of individual servings of 
food. It is desirable that one unit may be removed from the package 
without damage to a remaining unit, and without opening the remaining 
unit. It is further desirable for the packager to be able to select a 
predetermined one of the multiple units which should be removed and opened 
first; to enhance its ease of first removal and opening, and to make it 
difficult to open a non-selected unit. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The invention is embodied in a multiple compartment carton, preferrably 
formed from a unitary blank, and having a first compartment and a second 
compartment. The second compartment has a first line of weakness for 
opening the second compartment, and protective means overlying the line of 
weakness. 
The first compartment may be separable from the second compartment after 
the carton is set up and closed, the protective means being removed during 
the separation to expose the first line of weakness, the second 
compartment remaining closed after the separation. 
The first line of weakness defines one edge of a cover on the second 
compartment. The first line of weakness, in the unopened carton, joins the 
cover to a carton wall panel, the protective means being affixed to the 
wall panel. 
The first and second compartments are joined by a second line of weakness, 
such that the first compartment may be opened by releasing the affixation 
of the protective means and tearing the first compartment from the second 
compartment at the second line of weakness. 
The invention is further embodied in a carton blank made of sheet material 
and suitable for erection into a multiple-compartment carton, the blank 
comprising top and bottom wall panels, end wall panels and glue flaps 
connected to each other by hinge lines along opposing edges. The sequence 
of elements is: a first glue flap, a first end wall panel, a first top 
wall panel, a second end wall panel, a first bottom wall panel, a second 
bottom wall panel, a third end wall panel, a second top wall panel, and a 
second glue flap. The hinge line between the first end wall panel and the 
first top wall panel has a first line of weakness on it. The hinge line 
between the first and second bottom wall panels is a second line of 
weakness.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT 
FIG. 1 shows a carton blank of this invention with the top surface which 
will be on the inside of the finished carton facing upwardly. The blank 
has top and bottom wall panels, and glue flaps connected to each other by 
hinge lines along opposing edges. Dust flaps depend from the end wall 
panels, and sidewall panels depend from the top and bottom wall panels. 
The carton blank is generally designated 10. A first glue flap 12 is 
connected to a first end wall panel 14 by hinge line 16. A first top wall 
panel 18 is connected to end wall panel 14 by hinge line 20. Second end 
wall panel 22 is connected to first top wall panel 18 by hinge line 24. 
First bottom wall panel 26 is connected to second end wall panel 22 by 
hinge line 28. Second bottom wall panel 30 is connected to a first bottom 
wall panel 26 by hinge line 32, line 32 having segments 32a, 32b and 32c. 
Third end wall panel 34 is connected to second bottom wall panel 30 by 
hinge line 36. Second top wall panel 38 is connected to third end wall 
panel 34 by hinge line 40. Second glue flap 42 is connected to second top 
wall panel 38 by hinge line 44. Dust flaps 46, 48 and 50 depend from end 
wall panels 14, 22 and 34 respectively. Sidewall panels 52 and 54 depend 
from panels 18, 26, 30 and 38, by means of hinge lines 53 and 55 
respectively. 
Hinge line 32 is a line of perforations extending from the outside edge of 
panels 52 to the outside edge of panels 54. Cut lines 56 and 58 
respectively extend from the outside edges of sidewall panels 52 and 54 
respectively to hinge lines 53 and 55 respectively, separating the dust 
flaps from the sidewall panels. 
Hinge line 20 is, for most of its length, a line of perforations. The line 
of perforations deviates from hinge line 20 to form tab 60, whose function 
will be appreciated by means of discussion following. Adjacent hinge line 
20, on the bottom surface of the blank, are glue receptive areas 62, shown 
in phantom outline. Areas 62 are generally defined by circumferential cut 
scores which extend at least through the surface of the blank material. 
In gluing the carton, glue is first applied, or activated, at the outside 
surface of glue flap 12. Glue flap 12 and end panel 14 are then folded 
about hinge line 20 onto top wall panel 18. Panels 12, 14, 18, and 22 are 
then folded about hinge line 28 onto panels 26 and 30, with glue flaps 12 
and end wall panel 14 to the inside of the fold. This folding brings the 
glue on glue flap 12 in contact with bottom wall panel 26 near hinge line 
32, adhering it to panel 26. Glue is then applied or activated at the 
inside surface of glue flap 42, and glue flap 42 and top wall panel 38 are 
folded about hinge line 40 and onto the previously folded structure. 
At this point top wall panel 38 overlies end wall panel 34 and bottom wall 
panel 30. Importantly, the glue on glue flap 42 is in contact with, and 
adhered to top wall panel 18 in adhesive receptive areas 62. 
The glued blank is erected by pushing simultaneously against hinge lines 40 
and 28. After product is inserted, the carton is closed and sealed by 
folding in dust flaps 46, 48, and 50, folding in panels 52a and 54a, 
applying, or activating, glue, as in FIG. 1 at the inside surface of the 
outer edges of panels 52b and 54b, and folding panels 52b and 54b against 
panels 52a and 54a. It is significant to note that glue flap 42 overlies 
the line of perforations generally following hinge line 20, and protects 
it. 
The completely closed and sealed carton is shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 shows a 
cross-section of FIG. 2, there being no product shown, in order to better 
illustrate the various elements in the carton. Note that both compartments 
share a common wall in wall panel 14. 
The carton is desirably opened with a high degree of control by first 
lifting glue flap 42, tearing it from top wall panel 18. Rotation of the 
two ends of the carton about hinge line 32b, as shown in FIG. 4 breaks 
perforation lines 32a and 32c, exposing the contents of the first 
compartment 66, which is generally defined by panels 30, 34, 38, 52 and 
54. As the package is opened, end wall panel 14 remains with the second 
compartment, and is separated from the first compartment. Thus the opening 
of the carton is effective in opening the first compartment. The first 
compartment 66 may then be entirely separated from the second compartment 
68 by tearing along line of weakness 32b. The separated compartments are 
shown in FIG. 5. At this point, the first compartment 66 is fully opened 
with the contents, if any, exposed. The second compartment 68 remains 
completely closed and sealed, providing substantially the same degree of 
protection to its contents as does the unitary carton as shown in FIG. 2. 
When desired, the second compartment is opened by pushing in on tab 60 and 
lifting panel 14, thus breaking the perforations along hinge line 20. 
Panel 14 functions as a hinge cover, hinged about hinge line 16. 
As described above, this invention provides a multiple compartment carton 
having individual access to the individual compartments by means of 
individual opening features. In the closed and sealed carton, the opening 
feature for opening the second compartment is hidden and protected until 
the first compartment has been opened. Thus it is virtually impossible to 
open the wrong compartment first, and the opening feature on the second 
compartment is protected against inadvertent damage or breakage. The same 
design responsible for these benefits also contributes to easily 
controlled opening of the compartments in the proper sequence. 
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the lines of perforations are 
merely illustrative of a variety of acceptable configurations for lines of 
weakness. Similarly the construction of adhesive receptive areas 62 is 
merely illustrative, and other similar constructed areas are contemplated.