Abstract:
A triangular ice cream carton having indicia for serving proportional slices of ice cream. The ice cream container includes a repositionable triangular insert to protect the sliced end of ice cream.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to containers for food products and, more particularly, to a triangular ice cream container with internal indicia to aid in dispensing ice cream portions.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Containers for shipping and storage of various items are generally known in the art. Generally, triangular shaped containers heretofore have not been used for food items. Triangular shaped containers of the prior art are not particularly suited for food items, such as ice cream. Ice cream containers are primarily rectangular shaped cartons or cylindrical shaped tubs. These containers do not aid the user in proportionally or equally dispensing the contents.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     The present invention includes a triangular-shaped ice cream container. The container includes a blank having three rectangular panels with eared flaps which are foldable to form the triangular container. An inside surface of the container includes indicia to aid the user in proportioning and serving the ice cream. Additionally, a movable side panel or insert protects the exposed end of the ice cream remaining in the container after a portion of the ice cream has been served.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0004]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the container of the present invention.  
         [0005]      FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of the container of the present invention.  
         [0006]      FIG. 3  is a top view of  FIG. 2 .  
         [0007]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the container of  FIG. 2 .  
         [0008]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the container of  FIG. 3  along line  5 - 5 .  
         [0009]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view of the container of  FIG. 3  along line  6 - 6 .  
         [0010]      FIG. 7  is a plan view of a blank sheet of material which is utilized to form the container of the present invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of  FIG. 1  showing a partial assembly of the container.  
         [0012]      FIG. 9  is a plan view of an end cap insert.  
         [0013]      FIG. 10  is a side view of the end cap insert of  FIG. 9 .  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0014]     Referring to  FIGS. 1-5 , the container or carton of the present invention is generally indicated by reference numeral  20 . Container  20  includes a front panel  22 , a back panel  24 , a bottom panel  26 , and end panels  28  and  30 . The front  22 , back  24  and bottom  26  panels are rectangularly shaped to provide an elongated container. The end panels  28  and  30  are triangularly shaped to present a triangular shape to the elongated container  20 . Front panel  22  includes a closure tab  32 .  
         [0015]     The container  20  is formed from a blank sheet of material which will be described with reference to  FIGS. 6-8 . The blank of material generally indicated by reference numeral  40 , is formed of cardboard or other suitable material for making a container for ice cream, for example. The blank  40  includes a first transverse edge  42  and an opposing transverse edge  44 . Longitudinally spaced between the transverse edges  42  and  44  are three generally parallel transverse fold lines  46 ,  48  and  50 . Fold lines  46 ,  48  and  50  may be scored or depressed. The three fold lines  46 ,  48  and  50  separate the space between the transverse edges  42  and  44  into three rectangular panels  22 ,  24  and  26  and the closure tab  32 .  
         [0016]     At the lateral edges of panels  24  and  26  are formed trapezoid end panels  52  and  54 . Fold lines  56  and  58  separate the trapezoid end panels  52  and  54  from panels  24  and  26 . Within each trapezoid end panel are fold lines  60 ,  62 ,  64  and  66 , which divide the trapezoid end panels  52  and  54  into triangular sections  28 ,  30 ,  68 ,  70 ,  72  and  74 .  
         [0017]     At the lateral ends of panel  22  are formed triangular end panels  76  and  78  separated from panel  22  by fold lines  56  and  58 . Triangular end flaps  76  and  78  may be slightly smaller than the triangular sections  28 ,  30 ,  68 ,  70 ,  72  and  74 . Spaced indicia  80  is printed on the surface of panels  22  and  26  over fold line  48 .  
         [0018]     The container  20  is formed by folding the blank  40  along the fold lines. Triangular end flaps  76  and  78  are folded upwardly along fold line  56  to form a right angle with panel  22 . Closure tab  32  is folded upwardly along fold line  50 . Trapezoid panels  52  and  54  are folded upwardly along fold lines  56  and  58  to form a right angle with panels  24  and  26 . Triangular sections  68  and  72  on the right side of blank  40  and triangular sections  70  and  74  on the left side of blank  40  are folded inwardly along fold lines  60  and  62 , respectively. At the same time, triangular sections  28  and  68  on the right side and triangular sections  30  and  70  are folded outwardly along fold lines  64  and  66 , respectively, and panel  24  is folded forward along fold line  46 .  
         [0019]     Fold lines  60  and  62  are folded down until they make contact with fold lines  56  and  58 , respectively. The back surfaces of triangular sections  72  and  68  and sections  74  and  70  may be glued together and along fold lines  60 ,  62 ,  56  and  58 .  
         [0020]     Slots  82  and  84  are formed on each side of the container  20  between triangular sections  28  and  68  and triangular sections  30  and  70 , respectively. When the front panel  22  is folded upwardly along fold line  48 , the triangular flaps  76  and  78  slip into the slots  82  and  84  to seal the contents of the container  20 . The closure tab  32  is folded over the top of the container  20  along fold line  50  and sealed to the rear panel  24 .  
         [0021]     Referring to  FIGS. 1, 7  and  10 , repositioned internal end caps  100  may be included with the container  20 . End caps  100  are sized and shaped to match the interior cross-sectional dimension of the container  20  and include tabs  102  to keep the end cap upright within the container  20 . The end cap  100  aids in keeping the ice cream fresh as it is consumed. When the container  20  is first opened, the person serving the ice cream uses a knife to cut the ice cream. The server may use the indicia  80  to serve the same portion of ice cream. If all of the ice cream is not served, the server slides the end cap  100  against the exposed end of ice cream to keep the ice cream fresh and avoid freezer burn. The front panel  22  is closed and the ice cream may be then returned to the freezer. Advantageously, the triangular shape of the sliced ice cream may be placed on a piece of pie for a delightful ice cream and pie dessert.  
         [0022]     It is to be understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto, except in so far as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable equivalents thereof.