Abstract:
Foldout tabs for assisting with the removal of contents from a carton. When extended, the foldout tabs provide a leverage point on which a user may place one or both feet so that while pulling the contents from within the carton, the carton does not exhibit its normal tendency to follow the contents.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention generally relates to the field of packaging. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus to assist in removing contents from packaging or shipping carton and a method for removing such contents. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   As evident from the huge expansion in mail order and Internet shopping, many more products are being purchased and delivered in packaging or boxes. Furthermore, many consumer and business products that are purchased in retail outlets are provided in packaging or boxes. In many cases, the internal packing materials and the weight of the enclosed products tend to make it difficult to remove the purchased goods from the shipping carton, especially when the contents are bulky and/or heavy. This is due to at least three factors: the weight of the product, the friction of the packing material as it is pulled from the shipping carton and the air pressure or the vacuum created as the product is pulled out of the shipping carton. All these factors make it more difficult to remove the product from the shipping carton. As the user pulls on the product or packing material to remove it from the shipping carton, the shipping carton tends to move in the same direction. 
   Furthermore, the actions of the user sometimes make this situation worse. When the shipping carton moves with the product during removal, the industrious user will try to use his or her legs to hold the carton in place. This not only causes the user to exert pressure in a way that is not natural to them, but as they put pressure on the box, the box deforms, putting further pressure on the packing material or product, making the task even more difficult. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is directed to a device for assisting in the removal of a product from its carton. The product can be anything, but the intended advantages of this invention are best realized when the product is bulky or relatively heavy. Examples of such products are, but not limited to, computer systems, computer monitors, microwave ovens, television sets, water softeners, mattresses and even kitchen sinks. 
   This invention provides for one or more tabs that may form part of the shipping carton during shipping, but fold out so that the user can use the tab to provide leverage while pulling out the contents of the shipping carton. For example, a computer shipping carton may have tabs disposed on opposite sides of the shipping carton, substantially close to the bottom of the carton and preferable, but not necessarily, near the heavier part of the contents. The user would fold out the tab or tabs by pushing in a finger/thumb hole then pulling out the tab along a perforation. The user can then place his or her feet on one or two tabs, hence holding the shipping carton substantially on the floor while lifting its contents, e.g., the computer. The pop-out tabs provide a means for keeping the shipping container in place while pulling on its contents while also providing an opening in the bottom area of the shipping carton to allow an equalization of air pressure to reduce the effects of a vacuum created as the contents are removed. 
   In many cases, one or two foldout tabs are sufficient to provide leverage for a single user to remove the contents from a shipping carton, but in some cases, due to size or weight, some contents require more than one user to get the contents out of the shipping carton. In this case, any number of pop-out tabs can be employed. 
   In another embodiment of this invention, the foldout tabs may not be pop-out tabs, but rather, be separate from the shipping container and attached to the shipping container using glue, tape, rivets, screws or any existing fastening method. This embodiment provides the leverage of the above embodiments, but does not cut into the shipping carton, thereby not providing the advantage of reducing vacuum. This embodiment does have the advantage of not altering the shipping carton, and therefore can be added as an optional component. Additionally, the shipping carton would not be altered by the user when they remove its contents, thereby providing a more reliable, sealed shipping carton should any of its contents need be shipped to another destination. 
   In many cases, it is envisioned that the foldout tabs may be an integral component of the shipping carton or a separate component that is permanently affixed to the shipping carton before the user received the carton. Alternately, reusable foldout tabs may be provided as an optional component, possible shipped within the carton, that have spikes or an adhesive layer that allow the user to attach them to any carton to assist in the removal of the carton&#39;s contents. 
   Although this invention has been described, for the most part, in relation to packaging material or shipping cartons, the concept of a foldout tab can be applied to many objects and this invention is not limited to packaging material of shipping cartons. For example, the disclosed invention can be used in storage cartons or boxes, or at the bottom of a trash container, perhaps one made of plastic for household use. Many people use plastic bags that fit snuggly in such containers, but have difficulty removing the plastic bag and its contents due, mostly, to friction and vacuum. If this invention was applied to opposite sides of such a container, the user could flip down the two feet, creating an opening at the base of the trash container for air to flow in, hence reducing vacuum. Furthermore, the feet would serve as a leverage point to hold down the trash container while the trash is lifted out. 
   It is to be understood that both the forgoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary only and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed. The general functions of this invention may be combined in different ways to provide the same functionality while still remaining within the scope of this invention. Although the descriptions generally use the terms, “shipping carton,” “contents” and pop-out tab, this invention is not restricted to packaging used only for shipping, any particular contents including packing material and any specific method of providing a foldout tab. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
     The numerous advantages of the present invention may be better understood by those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying figures in which: 
       FIG. 1  shows a shipping carton with a single foldout tab. 
       FIG. 2  shows the same shipping carton with the single foldout tab in the extended position where the user can step on it to aid in the removal of the contents of the shipping container. 
       FIG. 3  shows a two-dimensional side view of a shipping carton with two foldout tabs that are attached to the outside of the carton. 
       FIG. 4  shows a foldout tab that is a separate component and is attached to a shipping carton. 
       FIG. 5  shows a foldout tab that can be attached to various shipping cartons by the user. 
       FIG. 6  shows a top view of a shipping carton has two foldout tabs disposed on each of two sides of the carton. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Reference will now be made in detail to the presently discussed embodiment of the current invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
     FIG. 1  shows a shipping carton comprising a foldout tab in accordance with the present invention. The shipping carton  110  has two flaps  150  and  160  that flip open to allow access to the contents (not shown). The foldout tab of some embodiments comprises a finger tab  130 , as shown, that allows the user to press a finger or thumb into the box so that they can easily pull out the foldout tab  140 . This finger tab  130  and the foldout tab  140  may be perforated to help the user in pulling them from the shipping carton  110  and so that the foldout tab  140  and finger tab  130  can be cleanly separated from shipping carton  110 . 
     FIG. 2  shows a shipping carton comprising a foldout tab in accordance with the present invention. The shipping carton  210  has two flaps  250  and  260  that flip open to allow access to the contents (not shown). The foldout tab  240  of this embodiment is shown in the extended mode. It comprises a finger tab  230  that allows the user to press a finger or thumb into the box so that they can easily pull out the foldout tab  240 . This finger tab  230  and the foldout tab  240  are preferably perforated to help the user in pulling them from the shipping carton  210  and so that the foldout tab  240  and finger tab  230  can be cleanly separated from shipping carton  210 . Once folded out, the foldout tab  240  lays substantially on the floor, and provides a place where the user can place their foot to gain leverage while removing the contents from shipping carton  210 . Furthermore, after being folded out, the opening  220  in shipping carton  210  can be configured to provide a path for air to enter shipping carton  210  to reduce vacuum while pulling the contents out. 
     FIG. 3  shows, in two dimensions, a shipping carton comprising a foldout tab in accordance with the present invention. The shipping carton  310  has two flaps  350  and  360  that are shown in the open position in order to allow access to the contents (not shown). The foldout tabs of this embodiment are shown in the extended mode. Each tab assembly comprises a base plate  330  that is attached to shipping carton  310  either using an adhesive or some other type of fastener and a tab  340  shown extended, that snaps into base plate  330  when not in use. Once one or both tabs  340  are extended to lay substantially on the floor, they provide a place where the user can place their foot or feet to gain leverage while removing the contents from shipping carton  310 . Note, that since this embodiment does not make an opening in the side of shipping carton  310 , it will tend to be easier to re-use said shipping carton  310 , but without the openings, there will be no reduction in vacuum when removing contents. 
     FIG. 4  shows a foldout tab in accordance with the present invention. A cutaway view of the shipping carton  410  is shown to highlight details of the foldout tab design. The foldout tab  440  of this invention is shown in the extended mode. The tab assembly comprises a base plate  430  that is attached to shipping carton  410  using one or more fasteners  420 . Base plate  430  may also be attached to shipping carton  410  by various other methods including, for example; adhesive, glue, tape, rivets, screws or the like. Once tab  440  is extended to lie substantially on the floor, it provides a place where the user can place their foot to gain leverage while removing the contents from shipping carton  410 . Note, that since this embodiment does not make an opening in the side of shipping carton  410 , it will tend to be easier to re-use said shipping carton  410 , but without the openings, there will be no reduction in vacuum when removing contents. When not in use, the foldout tab  440  can be snapped into an upright and flush position and held in place by snap  450 . The foldout tab  440  and the base plate  430  may be constructed of many different materials. For example, foldout tab  440  may be made out of rubber, plastic, metal or cardboard. Flexible plastic may be used since hinge  460  may be constructed during the molding process or after the part is molded by thinning the plastic at hinge point  460  so foldout tab  440  can easily be moved between the upright, flush position and the extended position. 
     FIG. 5  shows a foldout tab in accordance with the present invention. The foldout tab  540  of this embodiment is shown in the extended mode. The tab assembly comprises a base plate  530  that is shown unattached to any shipping carton. Base plate  530  may be attached by the user to most any cardboard (or similar material) shipping carton by piercing the outer surface of the shipping carton with thorns  510 . Alternatively, base plate  530  may have an adhesive backing for attaching it to a carton instead of thorns  510  or in addition to thorns  510 , but this would limit the ability to reuse the foldout tab  540 . Once tab  540  is attached to the shipping carton and extended to lie substantially on the floor, it provides a place where the user can place their foot to gain leverage while removing the contents from shipping carton. When not in use, the foldout tab  540  snaps into an upright and flush position and is held in place by snap  550 . The foldout tab  540  and the base plate  530  may be constructed of many different materials. For example, foldout tab  540  may be made out of rubber, plastic, metal or cardboard. Flexible plastic may provide the best material since hinge  560  may be constructed during the molding process or after the part is molded by thinning the plastic at hinge point  560  so foldout tab  540  can easily be moved between the upright, flush position and the extended position. 
     FIG. 6  shows another embodiment  600  of the invention. The shipping carton has two foldout tabs  602 ,  604 ,  606 ,  608  disposed on each of at least two of the side portions of the carton. 
   Although the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it should be recognized that elements thereof may be altered by persons skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is believed that the foldout tab of the present invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the forgoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form herein before described being merely an explanatory embodiment thereof, and further without providing substantial change thereto. It is the intention of the claims to encompass and include such changes.