Abstract:
A blank for forming a carton includes a top flap, top panel, front panel, bottom panel, and rear panel which are connectively hinged together in the named order such that when folded, the top flap is fastened to the rear panel. Right and left side flaps are also connectively hinged to the aforementioned panels. A first tear strip is placed within the front panel and the right and left side flaps attached thereto and a second tear strip is placed at the juncture of the top flap and top panel. After tearing and removing the tear strips, a display carton is formed to hold and display a plurality of articles.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/GB01/02168, filed May 18, 2001, which was published in the English language on Nov. 22, 2001 as International Publication No. WO 01/87721 A1 and the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to cartons for use in shipping a plurality of articles and more particularly to cartons for use in shipping a plurality of articles which can be converted to display the plurality of articles contained therewithin.  
           [0003]    It is a well known practice to employ cartons to package, store and transport sales articles from the manufacturer to the place of sale, such as a retail store. Conventionally, cartons, also referred to as containers, are formed from a one-piece blank made of corrugated paperboard which is suitably cut, scored and folded to produce a generally rectangularity shaped box. Once the carton reaches the place of sale, the articles held therewithin are unpacked from the carton and are typically placed on display shelves. Cartons can also be used as end aisle or mid-aisle displays where opened cartons can be placed on top of other unopened and/or opened cartons, permitting a customer to see and select the articles which are placed within the cartons.  
           [0004]    One drawback of such cartons is that a significant amount of labor is required to remove the articles from the carton and, in turn, place them on the display shelves.  
           [0005]    To reduce packaging costs, combined shipping and display packages have been utilized. The cartons used to form the packages have to be strong enough to support and protect the articles during shipment and in addition be capable of presenting the articles on display. This has resulted in the use of relatively complicated carton designs which require somewhat involved set-up procedures, often entailing the reassembly of the shipping carton into a display package having a different appearance. Such combination shipping and display packages are often limited to handling only small numbers of articles.  
           [0006]    Accordingly, it is well known in the art for cartons which can be utilized to ship the plurality of sales articles to be convertible into a display device at the place of sale, thereby eliminating the labor required in transferring the articles from the carton to the shelves of the place of sale. Such cartons normally comprise a separable upper section which is torn away from the lower section by a tear strip or perforated tear line formed through panels of the carton to expose the packaged articles for display.  
           [0007]    Certain of such cartons are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,905,837; U.S. Pat. No. 5,351,881; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,881,884. However, these cartons can have intricate tabs and flaps which make the blank for the carton difficult to make. In addition, certain flaps will have been adhered together (for example, by adhesive tape) and the adhesive tape may have to be separated before the carton can be separated into separate sections.  
           [0008]    Thus, the need exists for a carton which can be separated to form a display for articles which does not require intricate tabs and flaps nor requires the separation of adhesive tape.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and useful carton which can be used for shipping a plurality of articles.  
           [0010]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a carton which can be easily converted to enable it to be used for displaying the plurality of articles held therewithin.  
           [0011]    It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a carton which is formed from a single-piece blank.  
           [0012]    It is still another object of the present invention to provide a carton which is durable and strong.  
           [0013]    It is yet still another object of the present invention to provide a carton which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.  
           [0014]    In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a carton for use in the shipping and display of a plurality of articles is provided. The carton is formed from a single-piece corrugated paperboard blank and comprises a top flap, a top panel foldably connected to the top flap, a front panel foldably connected to the top panel, a bottom panel foldably connected to the front panel, and a rear panel foldably connected to the bottom panel to form a box-shaped shipping carton having an open right side and an open left side. The carton further comprises a right flap that is foldably connected to each of the top, front, bottom and rear panels, with each of the right flaps having an edge not foldably connected to its associated panel and being sized and shaped so as to at least partially close the open right side when folded, and a left flap foldably connected to each of the top, front, bottom and rear panels, with each of the left flaps having an edge not foldably connected to its associated panel and being sized and shaped so as to at least partially close the open left side when folded. A first continuous tear line is formed in a first panel of the top, front, bottom and rear panels and in a first of the right and left flaps connected to the first panel. The first tear line starts at the edge of the first left flap and terminates at the edge of the first right flap. A second continuous tear line is formed in a second panel of the top, front, bottom and rear panels and in a second of the right and left flaps connected to the second panel. The first and second panels are preferably different panels. The second continuous tear line starts at the edge of the second left flap and terminates at the edge of the second right flap. The carton is severable along the first and second tear lines to enable a portion of the carton to be removed to convert the carton into a display carton for a plurality of articles.  
           [0015]    In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, a carton for use in the shipping and display of a plurality of articles is provided. The carton is formed from a single-piece corrugated paperboard blank and comprises a top flap, a top panel foldably connected to the top flap, a front panel foldably connected to the top panel, a bottom panel foldably connected to the front panel, and a rear panel foldably connected to the bottom panel to form a box-shaped shipping carton having an open right side and an open left side. The carton further comprises a right flap that is foldably connected to each of the top, front, bottom and rear panels, with each of the right flaps having an edge not foldably connected to its associated panel and being sized and shaped so as to at least partially close the open right side when folded, and a left flap foldably connected to each of the top, front, bottom and rear panels, with each of the left flaps having an edge not foldably connected to its associated panel and being sized and shaped so as to at least partially close the open left side when folded. A first continuous tear line is formed in the front panel and in the right and left flaps connected to the front panel. The first tear line starts at the edge of the left flap and terminates at the edge of the right flap. A second continuous tear line is formed at a connection between the top flap and the top panel. The carton is severable along the first and second tear lines to enable a portion of the carton to be removed to convert the carton into a display carton for a plurality of articles.  
           [0016]    In accordance with an even further aspect of the invention, a blank for forming a carton is provided. The blank is formed from a single-piece of corrugated paperboard. The blank is cut and scored to comprise a top flap, a top panel foldably connected to the top flap, a front panel foldably connected to the top panel, a bottom panel foldably connected to the front panel, and a rear panel foldably connected to the bottom panel. The blank further comprises a right flap foldably connected to each of the top, front, bottom and rear panels, with each of the right flaps having an edge not foldably connected to its associated panel, and a left flap foldably connected to each of the top, front, bottom and rear panels, with each of the left flaps having an edge not foldably connected to its associated panel. A first continuous tear line is formed in a first panel of the top, front, bottom and rear panels and in a first of the right and left flaps connected to the first panel. The first tear line starts at the edge of the first left flap and terminates at the edge of the first right flap. A second continuous tear line is formed in a second panel of the top, front, bottom and rear panels and in a second of the right and left flaps connected to the second panel. The first and second panels are preferably different panels. The second continuous tear line starts at the edge of the second left flap and terminates at the edge of the second right flap.  
           [0017]    In accordance with yet an even further aspect of the invention, a blank for forming a carton is provided. The blank is formed from a single-piece of corrugated paperboard. The blank is cut and scored to comprise a top flap, a top panel foldably connected to the top flap, a front panel foldably connected to the top panel, a bottom panel foldably connected to the front panel, and a rear panel foldably connected to the bottom panel. The blank further comprises a right flap foldably connected to each of the top, front, bottom and rear panels, with each of the right flaps having an edge not foldably connected to its associated panel, and a left flap foldably connected to each of the top, front, bottom and rear panels, with each of the left flaps having an edge not foldably connected to its associated panel. A first continuous tear line is formed in the front panel and in the right and left flaps connected to the front panel. The first tear line starts at the edge of the left front flap and terminates at the edge of the right front flap. A second continuous tear line is formed at a connection between the top flap and the top panel.  
           [0018]    Additional objects and features of the present invention, as well as its advantages, will be set forth in part in the detailed description which follows. The embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.  
           [0019]    The accompanying drawings, which are hereby incorporated into and constitutes a part of this specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings, like reference numerals represent like parts. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]    The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.  
         [0021]    In the drawings:  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 1 is a plan view of a blank for forming the separable carton of the invention, the side of the blank which forms the exterior surface of the carton being shown;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 2 is front perspective view of a carton formed from the blank of FIG. 1;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the carton of FIG. 2 where one tear strip has been removed;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the carton of FIG. 3 where a second tear strip has been removed, showing severance of a portion of the carton to form a carton display suitable for holding a plurality of articles, for example, canisters therein, the canisters being shown in phantom. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0026]    Referring to the drawings, and to FIG. 1 in particular, a carton blank  1  is comprised of a single-piece of corrugated paperboard. Carton blank  1  comprises top flap  2 , top panel  20 , front panel  22 , bottom panel  24 , and rear panel  26 . Top flap  2  is connected to top panel  20  by a tear strip  28 . Those skilled in the art will appreciate that tear strip  28  can be tear tape or can be a scoreline which is perforated so that at an appropriate time after the carton is formed, top flap  2  can be disengaged from top panel  20 . Right side flap  12  has free edge  40 D and is hinged connectively to top panel  20  by a scoreline  40 B. Left side flap  4  has free edge  40 C is hinged connectively to top panel  20  by a scoreline  40 A.  
         [0027]    Top panel  20  is hinged connectively to front panel  22  by a scoreline  30 . Right side flap  14  has free edge  42 D and is hinged connectively to front panel  22  by a scoreline  42 B. Left side flap  6  has free edge  42 C and is hinged connectively to front panel  22  by a scoreline  42 A. Disposed within right side flap  14 , front panel  22 , and left side flap  6  is a continuous tear strip  38 , starting at edge  42 C and ending at edge  42 D. Tear strip  38  bisects right side flap  14  into sections  14 A and  14 B, bisects front panel  22  into section  22 A and  22 B, and bisects left side flap  6  into sections  6 A and  6 B. While tear strip  38  can be generally placed anywhere within right side flap  14 , front panel  22 , and left side flap  6 , preferably, tear strip  38  is placed parallel to scoreline  32 , which connects front panel  22  to bottom panel  24 . Also, it is further preferred that tear strip  38  is placed within right side flap  14 , front panel  22 , and left side flap  6  such that the distance of tear strip  38  from scoreline  32  is less than or equal to the width of either right side flap  14  or left side flap  6 , while in parallel orientation with scoreline  32 .  
         [0028]    Bottom panel  24  is hinged connectively to front panel  22  by a scoreline  32 . Right side flap  16  has free edge  44 D and is hinged connectively to bottom panel  24  by a scoreline  44 B. Left side flap  8  has free edge  44 C and is hinged connectively to bottom panel  24  by a scoreline  44 A.  
         [0029]    Rear panel  26  is hinged connectively to bottom panel  24  by a scoreline  34 . Right side flap  18  has free edge  46 D and is hinged connectively to rear panel  26  by a scoreline  46 B. Left side flap  10  has free edge  46 C and is hinged connectively to rear panel  26  by a scoreline  46 A. Rear panel  26  has edge  50 . When carton blank  1  is folded along scorelines  30 ,  32 , and  34 , edge  50  engages tear strip  28  such that top flap  2  is folded onto rear panel  26 . Top flap  2  can be attached to rear panel  26  using a variety of methods, for example, adhesive glue or adhesive tape.  
         [0030]    The carton is formed from blank  1  by first folding along scorelines  30 ,  32 , and  34  and then engaging edge  50  into tear strip  28 . Top flap  2  is then joined to rear panel  26  using a fastening material, for example, an adhesive material, for example, glue, paste, tape, and the like or a staple or a hook and loop set of material (commonly known as Velcro). Right side flaps  12 ,  14 ,  16 , and  18  are then folded along their respective scorelines  40 B,  42 B,  44 B, and  46 B towards the interior of the carton. Likewise, left side flaps  4 ,  6 ,  8 , and  12  are then folded along their respective scorelines  40 A,  42 A,  44 A, and  46 A towards the interior of the carton. In so doing is formed carton  60  shown in FIG. 2.  
         [0031]    In FIG. 2, it is seen that carton blank  1  has now been folded as mentioned above to form carton  60 . As can be seen in FIG. 2, left side flap  4  is folded along scoreline  40 A to cover a portion of left side flaps  6  and  10 . Additionally, left side flap  8  is folded along scoreline  44 A to cover a portion of left side flaps  6  and  10 . While there is shown an open space when left side flaps  4 ,  6 ,  8 , and  10  are folded along their respective scorelines  40 A,  42 A,  44 A, and  46 A, as mentioned above, left side flaps  4 ,  6 ,  8 , and  10  can be sized to as to completely close the left side of carton  60 .  
         [0032]    Likewise, right side flap  12  is folded along scoreline  40 B to cover a portion of left side flaps  6  and  10 . Additionally, left side flap  8  is folded along scoreline  44 B to cover a portion of left side flaps  6  and  10 . While there is shown an open space when left side flaps  4 ,  6 ,  8 , and  10  are folded along their respective scorelines  40 B,  42 B,  44 B, and  46 B, as mentioned above, left side flaps  4 ,  6 ,  8 , and  10  can be sized to as to completely close the left side of carton  60 .  
         [0033]    To complete assembly of carton  60 , a fastening material, is applied to a part of or all of the portion of left side flap  4  which covers a portion of left side flap  6  as mentioned above. Likewise, the fastening material is applied to a part of or all of the portion of left side flap  8  which covers a portion of left side flap  6  and left side flap  10 . It is noted that no fastening material is applied to any portion of left side flap  4  which covers left side flap  10 . This feature will be explained below.  
         [0034]    Likewise, the fastening material is applied to a part of or the entire portion of right side flap  12  which covers a portion of right side flap  14 . The fastening material is also applied to a part of or all of the portion of right side flap  16  which covers a portion of right side flap  14  and right side flap  18 . It is noted that no fastening material is applied to any portion of right side flap  12  which covers right side flap  18 .  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 3 shows carton  60  where tear strip  38  has been pulled and removed to start to form a portion of carton  60  which will be suitable for displaying a plurality of articles (carton display  60 A) and a portion of carton  60  which can be discarded (carton portion  60 B). As can be seen from FIG. 3, carton display  60 A is comprised of portion of front panel  22 B, bottom panel  24 , rear panel  26 , portion of left side flap  6 B, left side flap  8 , left side flap  10 , portion of right side flap  14 B, right side flap  16 , and right side flap  18  as well as top flap  2 .  
         [0036]    Carton portion  60 B is comprised of portion of front panel  22 A, top panel  20 , left side flap  4 , portion of left side flap  6 A, right side flap  12 , and portion of right side flap  14 A.  
         [0037]    By not applying any fastening material to either of any portion of left side flap  4  which covers left side flap  10  or any portion of right side flap  12  which covers right side flap  18 , a pivot or hinge is provided where the pivot point or hinge point is formed by tear strip  28 .  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 4 shows carton portion  60 B being totally separated from carton display  60 A. This is achieved by tearing and removing tear strip  28 . By tearing and removing tear strip  28 , carton display  60 A can now be utilized to contain and display a plurality of articles. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the size of carton  60  and the resulting size of carton display  60 A can be designed to package and display articles of varying height, width and length. In so doing, carton display  60 A can be placed on shelving commonly found in supermarket, convenience stores, home centers, drug stores, and other retail and wholesale outlets. Carton display  60 A can also be placed on secondary supports (for example, tables, stools, and the like) for end of aisle and midaisle placement within the aforementioned outlets.  
         [0039]    The tear strip used in the present invention is placed on the corrugated paperboard such that the tear strip is perpendicular to the corrugation. While any type of tear strip can be used, it is preferred to use as a tear strip  38  found within front panel  22 , left side flap  6  and right side flap  14  a tear tape known as Open Sesame Tape available from Weyerhaeuser. This tape is a two-layer tape with one layer on the face of the paperboard and a second layer embedded within the corrugation. While the same tear tape can be used for tear strip  28 , it is preferable to provide a perforation as tear strip  28 .  
         [0040]    Additionally, while tear strip  38  can be a continuous strip from edge  42 C of left side flap  6  across front panel  22 , and right side flap  14  to edge  40 D, preferably at least one notch is placed within front panel  22  so that a finger can be inserted so as to grab onto a tab formed by the notch so that tear strip can be pulled and removed, pulling one part of the tear strip from the notch towards left flap edge  42 C and pulling the other part of the tear strip from the notch towards right flap edge  40 D.  
         [0041]    While the sizing of the panels and flaps can be determined so as to accommodate the shipping and displaying of articles, the placement of tear strip  38  on front panel  22  is dependent upon the width of left side flap  6  (it being appreciated that right side flap  14  will be the same width as left side flap  6 ). Tear strip  38  should be placed on front panel  22  up from scoreline  32  such that its placement is no further than the width of left side flap  6  (or right side flap  14 ).  
         [0042]    As discussed above, the first and second tear lines can be placed in the carton blank such that the first tear line is in a different panel from the second tear line. Thus, it can be envisioned that a first tear line could be placed, for example, in panel  20  and its associated flaps  4  and  12  and that a second tear line could be placed, for example, in panel  22  and its associated flaps  6  and  14 . It could also be envisioned, for example, that a first tear line could be placed in panel  22  and its associated flaps  6  and  14  and that a second tear line could be placed in panel  26  and its associated flaps  10  and  18 . Where either or both first and second tear lines are not at a score line, all the associated flaps in the carton are appropriately fastened to each other.  
         [0043]    As mentioned above, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is a carton made from a single piece blank. However, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that cartons can be made from multi-piece (that is, greater than one) blanks, where each blank potentially may contain at least one tear line such that when the carton is assembled, the tear lines can be utilized to form a display carton as envisioned by the present invention.  
         [0044]    The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention.  
         [0045]    It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.