Abstract:
A finger food container formed as a flat carton expandable into a truncated conical configuration with a substantially cylindrical lower portion extending upward to a scoop-forming upper portion. Front and rear walls of the folded carton have lower edges interconnected by a bottom wall which, upon an outward bowing of the front and rear walls, expands therebetween in close conformance thereto for a locking of the front and rear walls in the outwardly bowed positions thereof.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of the U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/254,933 filed on Dec. 13, 2000, entitled “Collapsible Food Carton Having Cylindrical Lower Portion,” the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention is directed toward a food carton, and more specifically, toward a flat glued food carton which, when erected, has a rounded or generally cylindrical lower portion adapted to fit into a vehicle cup holder. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     French fries, onion rings, and similar fast food products (hereinafter referred to generally as “finger foods” or “foods”) that can be eaten with one&#39;s fingers are popular restaurant carry-out items. Not infrequently, these foods are eaten in an automobile by the consumer away from the restaurant, often along with other food items, such as hamburgers and beverages. 
     Most automobiles, in order to accommodate containers for such foodstuffs are provided with one or more cup holders. Such cup holders have traditionally been used to accommodate beverage cups and bottles with cylindrical lower portions. 
     However, a problem arises with regard to how best to accommodate conventional finger food cartons which, when filled, are generally of an oval or scoop-like configuration with an oval or oblong lower portion not readily accommodatable within the conventional vehicle cup holder. Thus, if the driver of the vehicle wishes to avail himself of the finger food, there is no convenient way to hold the carton, or any convenient place to put the carton, the only options available being either to continuously hold the carton in one hand or lay the carton down on an adjacent seat, tray portion, or the like. 
     This problem could be addressed by serving the finger food in conventional beverage cups. However, such cups, normally including rolled rigidifying upper rims and water-tight sealed bottoms, neither of which are required for finger food containers, are substantially more expensive than the conventional scoop carton for many reasons including the use of thinner materials in scoop cartons and the ease with which such cartons can be formed as flat items for both shipping and storage economies. It is also to be recognized that the conventional scoop configuration of the upper portion of a scoop carton provides significant advantages in simplifying the filling of the carton. 
     Some attempts have been made to produce food cartons with cylindrical lower portions. This has resulted in two types of containers, a first type wherein a pre-formed container is utilized. Such containers are formed as a fully erected container at the time of manufacture, somewhat similar to a drinking cup. Note commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,053,403, issued Apr. 25, 2000, to Liming Cai. Such containers, while suited for their intended purpose, cannot be collapsed and must be shipped and stored in a stacked, nested state. Thus, such formed cartons tend to be more expensive and less practical from a commercial standpoint. 
     A second proposal has involved the development of folded food cartons which open to form a generally rectangular or rounded lower portion. However, these cartons also have encountered various problems. For example, such cartons often have undesirably large gaps between their bottom and side walls, which gaps tend to allow small food items to fall from the container. Some attempts to minimize the size of the openings between the bottom and side walls have involved providing a bottom wall formed with multiple layers of paperboard material or a bottom wall of a complex array of cut lines, fold lines and perforations. Thus, such cartons also tend to be too expensive to produce economically, and in some instances are difficult to erect. It should be appreciated, in this regard, that such cartons are throw-away items which are used by the thousands. Thus, even small economies can be significant. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is concerned with the provision of an improved finger food carton which incorporates the advantages of flat-formed cartons with regard to shipping and storage, as well as economies in manufacture, while at the same time, significantly improving thereon in providing for accommodation of the filled carton within conventional vehicle cup holders and the like. In conjunction therewith, the carton of the invention, while flat-formed and expandable in a convenient manner, incorporates a unique bottom or bottom wall construction which minimizes gapping, stabilizes the lower portion of the carton in a generally cylindrical configuration, and is easily expanded from the original folded position thereof to its position in the erected carton. 
     Basically, the carton includes, as manufactured and prior to opening into its use position, overlying front and rear tapered side walls interconnected at the lower or base ends thereof by a centrally folding bottom or bottom wall. The wall relationship is such whereby an inward pressure on the opposed tapered upright or vertical edges of the front and rear walls will produce an outward bowing of these walls relative to each other to define an upwardly directed conical or scoop configuration. As this occurs, the depending centrally folded bottom wall upwardly flexes between the lower edge portions of the side walls into a slight upward convex configuration which locks the walls in the open position of the carton. The bottom wall is so peripherally configured as to retain the lower edge portions of the side walls in a rounded or substantially cylindrical configuration adapted for reception within a cup holder. The side walls in turn, upward from the cylindrical lower portion thereof, and in light of the line joined vertical edges thereof, tends to broaden transversely into a general scoop configuration at the upper portion of the container to thus retain the scoop features of known fry containers along with the advantages of the cup-shaped lower portion. 
     The bottom wall is specifically configured to close the bottom of the open carton in a manner which not only ensures the stability of the open carton, but also minimizes any gaps therein. In this regard, the overall configuration of the bottom is such as to force and retain the lower peripheral edge portion of the two side walls into a substantially circular configuration. Pursuant thereto, the bottom includes, in addition to the transverse center fold, a second central fold line perpendicular thereto and extending between opposed end edges of the bottom which integrally join the front and rear side walls respectively along fold lines. The side edges of the bottom wall are each formed by a pair of linear lengths or extents which converge outwardly from corresponding ends of the end edges of the bottom wall to an apex on the transverse fold line, forming what might generally be referred to as an angular convex side edge. Each of these side edges, and an arcuate segment of the bottom wall adjacent thereto, tends to flex as the bottom wall moves into its open position, through engagement of the corresponding outer side edges of the bottom wall with the side edge portions of the front and rear walls, flexing slightly downward relative to the upwardly moving bottom wall to encourage a more intimate engagement with the side wall and to reduce any gapping therebetween. To enhance this flexing and more specifically define the arcuate segments, an arcuate fold line can be provided in the bottom wall inwardly spaced from each side edge and generally parallel to the corresponding side edges. 
     While the preferred embodiment of the carton utilizes a blank wherein the front and rear wall panels are positioned in the blank with the lower or base wall edges in parallel slightly spaced relation with the single ply integral bottom wall panel interposed therebetween, as a second embodiment, the carton can be formed utilizes a blank wherein the front and rear wall panels are integrally joined inside-by-side relation with a single fold line therebetween and utilizing a single glue flap. In such a blank, the bottom wall will be formed of two partially overlapped plies, one integral with the lower edge of each side wall panel. 
     Other objects, features and details of the invention will become apparent from the following more complete description of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a food carton according to the present invention in its flat formed collapsed and storage configuration; 
     FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the flat food carton of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the food carton of FIG. 1 in its erected use configuration; 
     FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the food carton of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective detail of a side portion of the bottom wall and the adjoining side walls; 
     FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a blank for forming the food carton of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a blank for forming a food carton according to second embodiment of the invention; and 
     FIG. 8 is an elevational detail of the lower portion of the folded blank of FIG. 7 with the bottom wall portions bonded. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now more specifically to the drawings, wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating preferred embodiments of the invention only and not for the purpose of limiting same, FIG. 1 shows a food carton generally designated at  10 . Broadly, food carton  10  is assembled by folding and gluing a unitary blank  15 , shown in FIG. 6, which is cut out of a sheet of appropriate shape sustaining foldable material such as paperboard stock. To facilitate the description of the present invention, the food carton will be generally described in an orientation in which it is normally used by a consumer, which is with the opening for the food at the top. 
     The carton  10 , noting both its folded position in FIGS. 1 and 2, and its in-use configuration in FIGS. 3 and 4, includes a front wall  12  and a rear wall  14  with a bottom wall  16  integral with and extending transversely between the lower portions of the front and rear walls  12  and  14 . This relationship will possibly be best seen in the blank  15  illustrated in FIG. 6 wherein the front and rear wall panels  12  and  14  are aligned along the longitudinal axis of the blank with the corresponding lower or base edges  18  and  20  thereof in spaced parallel relation to each other and with the bottom wall panel  16  integrally joined to the lower portions of the wall panels  12  and  14  and extending longitudinally therebetween. As will be seen, the front, rear and bottom wall panels of the blank  15  are designated by the same reference numbers as the carton walls which they form in the manufactured carton  10 . 
     The front and rear panels  12  and  14  are each of a generally truncated triangular configuration having opposed side edges diverging upward from the corresponding base edge  18  or  20  and terminating in a transverse upper or outer edge. The transverse outer edge  22  on the front wall panel  12  is concave while the corresponding transverse outer edge  24  on the rear wall panel  14  is convex, thereby providing, in the erected carton, the desired scoop configuration. The front and rear walls  12  and  14  of the carton are joined utilizing a pair of glue flaps  25  integral with the front wall panel  12  along the side edges thereof. These flaps, in an obvious manner, will fold about the side edge portions of the rear wall  14  and bond to the outer face of the rear wall. Note, for example, FIG.  2 . 
     The concavity of the upper edge  22  of the front wall  12  and the convex configuration of the upper edge  24  of the rear wall  14  generally complement each other as a manufacturing expedient and, in the use or unfolded position of the carton  10 , define a preferred scoop configuration at the open end of the carton while the lower portion of the open carton is of the desired generally circular configuration as shall be explained subsequently. 
     As noted best in FIG. 6, the bottom wall panel  16  is of a generally hexagonal configuration with opposed end edges  26  and  28  integral with the front and rear wall panels  12  and  14  along arcuate fold lines inwardly offset from the respective lower edges  18  and  20  of the side wall panels. The bottom panel  16  is further defined by space opposed side edges  30  and  32  extending between corresponding ends of the bottom panel end edges  26  and  28 . Each side wall edge comprises a pair of edge lengths or extents  30 ′ or  32 ′ angularly diverging from each other from a midpoint between the end edges  26  and  28  to the corresponding ends of the edges  26  and  28 . It will be noted that the edge lengths  30 ′ and  32 ′ actually extend, by cut lines, into the opposed lower portions of the front and rear wall panels  12  and  14  to extend to the inwardly offset bottom panel end edges  26  and  28 . 
     The angular extent of each side edge  30  and  32  defines a generally convex configuration. As desired, arcuate fold lines  34  and  36 , respectively inwardly spaced and generally paralleling the angular side edges  30  and  32 , may also be provided transversely between the bottom end edges  26  and  28  to define generally arcuate side sections or segments  38  and  40  on the bottom wall panel  16 . The bottom wall panel is completed by a first transverse central line  42  along the maximum transverse width of the bottom panel centrally between the bottom panel end edges  26  and  28 , and a second center fold line  44  perpendicular to the fold line  42  centrally between the formed arcuate segments  38  and  40 . 
     As will be appreciated from FIGS. 1 and 2, in the folded carton with the front and rear walls in overlying relation, the bottom wall  16  is folded about the transverse centerline  42 , defining a pair of overlapping bottom wall sections of generally trapezoidal configuration, the maximum width of which, defined at the center fold line  42 , is less than the length of the lower edges  18  and  20  of the front and rear walls. 
     When the folded carton is to be opened for reception of the foodstuff, the opposed vertical edges of the folded carton are inwardly compressed toward each other. This in turn causes a corresponding outward bulging of the front and rear walls  12  and  14  relative to each other and a corresponding unfolding of the bottom wall  16  with the extent of the outward bowing of the front and rear walls  12  and  14  being such as to cause an upward movement of the central portion of the bottom wall, along transverse fold line  42 , to a slight upwardly offset position wherein the bottom wall is slightly upwardly convex. If necessary, this positioning of the bottom wall can be encouraged by a slight finger pressure upward thereagainst. 
     The dimensions of the bottom wall  16 , that is the width along central fold line  42  and the width transverse thereto along fold line  44 , are such as to shape the front and rear wall lower edges  18  and  20  into a substantially circular configuration, along with the lower wall portions immediately above these lower edges. At the same time, the bottom wall side edge segments  38  and  40 , adjacent edges  30  and  32  and whether or not defined by the arcuate fold lines  34  and  36 , flex and closely conform to the now arcuate side edge portions of the opened front and rear walls, note in particular FIGS. 4 and 5. The bottom wall segments  38  and  40 , through at least partial engagement of the outer angular edges  30  and  32  thereof with the inner surfaces of the surrounding front and rear walls  12  and  14 , are caused to slightly downward flex to both enhance supporting engagement with the front and rear walls and minimize any tendency for gaps to occur therebetween. 
     Inasmuch as the bottom wall  16 , in the erected carton of FIG. 3, is actually positioned upward of the lower edges  18  and  20  of the front and rear walls, a pair of opposed stabilizing support feet  46  and  48  are formed. Further, the upward offsetting of the bottom wall  16  from the extreme lower edge of the formed carton, sufficiently extends the desired cylindrical configuration, formed by the bottom wall, to provide a depth to this cylindrical portion sufficient for proper reception within a conventional vehicle cup holder. At the same time, inasmuch as the outward flexing of the front and rear walls is unsupported upwardly spaced from the bottom wall, the open cartons will tend to assume the desired oblong configuration which facilitates the desired scooping action in filling the container and also allows ready access to the finger food therein by the consumer. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, a further embodiment of the carton of the invention is illustrated therein utilizing a blank wherein the front and rear walls or wall forming panels  112  and  114  are laterally adjacent each other with fold line  116  defined along the common edge therebetween. As in the first embodiment, the front wall  112  is provided with a concave upper edge  118  which complements the convex upper edge  120  of the rear wall  114 . A single glue flap  122  extends integrally along the single outer edge of the front wall  112  and, upon a folding of the front and rear walls into an overlying relation with each other, overlies and is adhesively bonded to the outer face of the rear wall  114 . 
     The bottom wall to be defined by this blank comprises a first bottom wall section  124  integral with the lower portion of the front wall panel  112  along an arcuate fold line  126  inwardly offset from the lower edge  128  of this wall and differing from the one-piece bottom wall panel  16  of the first embodiment only in that the section  124  is truncated and terminates relative to bottom panel  16  in a straight edge  130  paralleling the lower edge  128  of the outer wall panel  112 . This bottom wall section  124  includes a transverse fold line  132  along the maximum width of the section and dividing the bottom wall section  124  in an upper portion  134  and a lower portion or extension  136 . The upper portion  134 , above the fold line  132 , is dimensionally equal to one-half of the bottom panel  16  of the first embodiment to one side of the transfer fold line  42  thereof. The portion  136  below the fold line  132  is, as previously suggested, truncated and terminates in the outer linear edge  130 . 
     A second bottom wall section  138  is integrally formed with the lower edge portion of the rear wall panel  114  along an arcuate fold line  140  inwardly spaced from the lower edge  142  of this rear wall panel  114 . This section  138  duplicates the upper portion  134  of the first bottom wall section  124  and, upon a folding of the blank to define the folded carton, overlaps the truncated lower portion  136  of the first bottom panel section  124  and aligns along the transverse fold line  132  thereof as will be seen in the partial elevational view of the folded carton in FIG.  8 . The two bottom sections  124  and  138  form a bottom wall which, other than being partially multi-layered, duplicates the bottom wall  16  of the first embodiment, including opposed arcuate foldable side segments  146  and  148  which duplicate the foldable side segments of the bottom wall  16 . So formed, it will be appreciated that the folded carton of the invention adapts itself to formation from blanks of different basic configurations, allowing for a versatility which permits use of differing manufacturing techniques. As will be recognized, manipulation of the formed folded carton of the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8 will be as described with regard to the first embodiment, with particular reliance placed on the arcuate bottom wall edge segments to enhance the stability of the open carton, encourage the desired cylindrical configuration, and minimize any gapping appearing therein. 
     The subject invention has been described herein in terms of preferred embodiments. It is to be appreciated that such additions and/or modifications which may be evident to those skilled in the art are intended to fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.