Abstract:
A paperboard container having a lower portion and an upper portion and having two separate means to open the container comprising, a tear strip located around the lower portion of the container and a re-closable top located at the upper portion of the container.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to a container for various products in which the container enables the packaging, storing and using the product contained therein. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Disposable containers of the type disclosed herein are well known in the art. They are low in cost and provide a simplified method for packaging and using certain products. Various methods of opening and using these type of containers have been disclosed in patents such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,358,176; 5,505,374; and 4,314,642. 
         [0003]    Typical methods of opening these containers include a removable tear strip formed by one or more lines of perforations or a top type opening. The opening system of Applicants&#39; container is an improvement over those shown in the prior art, in that it combines at least two separate methods of opening the container and using the container, depending upon the purpose for which the container is opened. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention provides an improved paperboard container for products which has at least two entirely separate methods of opening the container, depending upon the use to be made of the products in the container. The container comprises a tear strip opening and a gable top opening, both of which allow the container to be re-closed. The container may also optionally be used by removing the entire upper portion of the container. 
         [0005]    The container of Applicants&#39; invention comprises a base panel of generally polygonal shape, a plurality of vertical or upstanding walls or panels, comprising at least two side panels, a front panel and a rear panel, said panels being foldably connected to each other. The container also comprises a bottom of foldable panels attached to the lower end of each of said walls and a re-closable top being formed from foldable panels attached to the upper end of each of said walls. In one embodiment the re-closable top is formed in a generally gable shape. The panels are all foldable to form the gable top of the container. 
         [0006]    The plurality of sidewalls and either the front wall or rear wall, or both, all contain tear strips, defining a lower portion of the container below said tear strips and an upper portion of the container above said tear strips, in which all, or less than all, of the tear strips may be removed to allow the upper portion of the container to fold back from the container, giving access to the full area of the lower portion of the container or in which the upper portion is removed entirely from the container. 
         [0007]    In one embodiment the top of the container is foldable to a gable shape, with a slot and a tab, for forming a narrow opening across the top of the container and, by placing the tab through the slot, the gable top to the container may be re-closed. 
         [0008]    The purpose of having the unique feature of the choice of using either the tear strip or the gable top opening is giving the choice to the consumer how they wish to use the product in the container. For instance, if the container contains cereal, the consumer may want to use the tear strips to either open the container and fold back the top in a hinged manner, or remove the entire upper portion, in either case, to pour milk into the container in order to eat the cereal directly from the container. On the other hand, if the consumer wishes to simply remove a portion of the cereal and save the rest for later, he or she can open the re-closable top, pour out or remove a portion of the cereal and close the container for later use. 
         [0009]    There are many other instances in which the choice of fully opening the container or providing a limited opening which is closeable, and having that choice, is a unique advantage of the container of this invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the -container in its closed state; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the container with the gable top opened; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the container with one side tear strip being pulled open, exposing the inside of the container; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the container with the tear strips on three sides removed and the container opened; and, 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is an illustration of a cardboard blank for making the container according to this invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    Referring now to the drawings there is shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , a preferred embodiment of the container  10  of this invention. Container  10  has a substantially rectangular base panel  12  made up of foldable sections  14 ,  16 ,  26  and  28 . 
         [0016]    Side panels  18  and  20 , front panel  22  and back panel  24  make up the vertical panels of the container. Bottom panels  26  and  28  fold along with bottom panels  14  and  16  to form the base  12  of container  10 . 
         [0017]    Extensions  30 ,  32  and  34  are respectively foldably connected to base panel  26 , to rear panel  24  and top panel  36  and are foldable along score line  38 . Bottom panels  14 ,  16 ,  26  and  28  are foldable on score line  40  and top panels  36 ,  42 ,  44  and  46  are foldable along score line  48 . 
         [0018]    The gable top is formed from panels  36 ,  42 ,  44  and  46  and the slot closure is formed from panel  48 , having slot  50 , and extensions  52 ,  54  and  56 . The panels and extensions are foldable along score line  58 . Panel  54  has tab  60  which fits into slot  50  to reclose the gable top after it has been opened. 
         [0019]    As shown in  FIG. 2  the gable top is formed by panels  42  and  46  foldable inwardly along score lines  62 ,  64 ,  66  and  68 . 
         [0020]    Shown in  FIG. 3  is pull tab  70  which has been partially pulled away from side panel  18 . 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 4  there is shown the container in which tear strips  70 ,  72  and  74  have all been pulled away from container  10  and the container is in an open position, the upper portion foldable across back  24 . Tear strips  70 ,  72  and  74  may be one continuous strip that runs from the side across the front and the other side of the container or may consist of three separate pull tabs, one for each side and one for the front of the container. Tear strip  70  is removed with the use of lift tab  76 . If tear strip  75  is also optionally pulled off (not shown), the entire upper portion of container  10  would separate and container  10  could be used without an upper part. 
         [0022]    As can be seen in  FIG. 2 , instead of removing a tear strip, the container may be opened through the gable top. When the container is full with a product enclosed, it is sealed by adhesive and the gable top is sealed by flap  78  of panel  48  being attached by adhesive to panel  54 . 
         [0023]    The containers of this invention are generally made of cardboard, similar to a milk carton, and often have a wax coating or a polymer coating on the cardboard, such as polyethylene or polypropylene. The containers may be made in any size depending upon the product to be contained therein. While the container was discussed for use with cereal above, another possible use, as an example, is to contain catsup or mustard or other condiment for use in fast-food restaurants. For instance, condiments are often now served in a very small plastic pouch which must be torn opened and the condiments squeezed out. Because of that, there is no container for the condiment once it is squeezed out of the plastic container and so the consumer usually squeezes the condiment either directly onto the food or, if used for instance for dipping French fries, simply places the condiment on a piece of paper or the packaging that the French fries came in, which is not a clean or acceptable way of using the condiment. With Applicants&#39; invention, a somewhat larger amount of condiment may be contained, and for instance with French fries, the gable top opened and the French fries dipped into the condiment, which is a far superior way of eating French fries dipped into catsup, than is now used. If the condiment is not completely used the consumer may close the gable top and take the condiment to another location or to home. On the other hand, if the consumer prefers to have the container open wider to access the condiment, he or she may pull the tear strip around three sides, pull the container top open and the condiment is still contained in the container, which is a far more acceptable and clean way to use the condiment for dipping French fries or other food items. The top may then be folded back over the container, if desired. Optionally the entire upper portion may be removed and the container used in that manner. 
         [0024]    Examples of food items that are particularly suitable for this container are catsup, mustard, mayonnaise, syrup, yogurt, jelly, peanut butter, hot sauce, salt or pepper, and various candies. Other types of food include liquids, small fruit, raisins, school lunch supplies and earthquake safety supplies. 
         [0025]    Other products may also be packaged, stored and used in the container of this invention, including, but not limited to, oil products, paint products, cleaning products, powders, cement, nuts and bolts, etc. 
         [0026]    The container of this invention may come in any convenient size, from about 10 cubic centimeters to about 100 cubic centimeters and may have taller or shorter vertical sides, depending upon the exact use to be made of them. 
         [0027]    While the top closure method described uses a tab and slot for re-closing, other methods may also be utilized. 
         [0028]    Having thus described the invention,