Abstract:
Disclosed is a container for shipping, display, and subsequent removal of a plurality of articles. The container includes a first surface having two oppositely extending flaps folded towards each other. Each of the flaps has a proximal end and a distal end. The distal ends of the flaps are oppositely disposed and form a flap gap therebetween. The container further includes a line of weakness having two ends. Each end of the line of weakness is juxtaposed with at least one of the distal ends of the flaps. The line of weakness extends therefrom to intercept at least one panel of the container adjacent one of the flaps. The line of weakness may include perforation lines having a multiplicity of cuts and skips. The line of weakness defines a removable segment, which may be removed by tearing along the perforation lines. The flap gap between the distal ends of the flaps provides an opening for the hand access to remove the removable segment of the container. Carton blanks used to form the containers are also disclosed.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to containers which may be used for shipping a plurality of products and optionally converted to an open container suitable to display the products for individual use. Further, the invention relates to containers having a flap gap and a tear out section, removal of which enables both display and removal of articles contained therein. Further, the invention relates to carton blanks for containers of this type. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Containers such as cardboard cartons are generally used to package and ship a plurality of individually wrapped or packaged articles such as consumer products. It would be convenient and desirable for these containers to have a readily openable or removable panel that would allow access to the contents of a container. There is also a need in the packaging art to economize the cost of such containers by using in their construction the smallest amount of materials possible, consistent with the volume and strength required for the container. 
     One type of container known in the art is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,946,042 issued Aug. 7, 1992 to Ferreri et al. Ferreri et al. disclose a shipping and display carton having panel top flaps divided into two sections. The panel top flaps meet in the center of the top of the package, thus forgoing any opportunity any economize with respect to the amount of the material used to form the carton. Furthermore, Ferreri et al. require requires a separate operation to cut out a notch in the top flaps for access to the contents of their carton. 
     Commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,657,872 issued Aug. 19, 1997 to Leftwich et al., which patent is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a shipping/display container. This shipping/display container has a tray portion and a removable cover portion. Again, the cover portion entirely encloses the contents of the container and does not provide for any economization in the cost of its materials. Further, Leftwich et al. also require a separate operation to add the cover and then to add the lines of weakness to the cover on their carton. 
     Yet another type of carton is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,899,126 issued Aug. 12, 1975 to Palmer , which patent is incorporated herein by reference. Palmer discloses a carton having a panel formed with a pair of lines of weakness extending at a 45° inclination between fold lines. However, Palmer fails to teach multi-panel access to the contents of his display carton and further, again, fails to teach a way to minimize the amount of materials used in making the carton. A similar example is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,011,021 issued Apr. 30, 1991 to Coltrane et al. Coltrane et al. disclose a carton having lines of separation at the corners defining one side panel. Again, Coltrane et al. fail to disclose lines of weakness which provide for multi-panel access to the carton and fail to economize o n materials as is known in the art. 
     Material economization has been separately practiced in the container or carton art through the use of flap gaps. A flap gap is the space left between opposite flaps on a common panel, which flaps are folded towards each other. The distal ends of the oppositely folded flaps do not meet, allowing a space in which the contents of the container can be seen between the distal ends of the flaps. Such a space between the distal ends of the flaps is known as a flap gap. Such flap gap economization has been practiced on the commercially successful BOUNTY™ paper towel shipping containers. However, such containers have not allowed for specific and predetermined access to the container contents by consumers or by personnel who remove the container contents for stocking at the point of purchase. 
     Given the foregoing, there exists a continuing need in the art to provide a shipping container which allows for easy and convenient multi-panel access, optionally multi-panel access at the juncture of adjacent panels, as well as economization of materials. Further, it would be desirable to have multi-panel access which has the flexibility to allow access to anywhere from two to five panels of a generally parallelepipedly shaped container. Such a need is satisfied by the containers and carton blanks of the present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a container or a carton for shipping, display, and subsequent removal of a plurality of articles. The container includes a first surface, generally the top of the container, having two oppositely extending flaps folded towards each other. Each of these flaps has a proximal end and a distal end. The distal ends of the flaps are oppositely disposed and form a flap gap between them. The container further includes a line of weakness having two ends. Each end of the line of weakness is juxtaposed with at least one of the distal ends of the flaps. The line of weakness extends from the distal ends of the flaps to intercept at least one panel of the container which is adjacent to one of the flaps. A segment of the container can be torn away along the line of weakness to expose the plurality of articles therein and to permit removal of the articles from the container. The present invention also provides carton blanks from which the containers herein can be formed. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a plan view of one form of a carton blank of the present invention, which carton blank represents the container in a flat unfolded state. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the carton blank of FIG. 1 in a folded closed state so as to form the container of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the container of FIG. 2 having a removable segment removed for displaying articles therein. 
     FIGS. 4-15 illustrate perspective views of alternative embodiments of the container of the present invention. 
     FIG. 16 is a plan view of a carton blank for the container shown in FIG.  4 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a carton blank  3  of one preferred embodiment of the present invention. The carton blank  3  comprises a first side panel  10 , a front panel  15 , a second side panel  20 , and a rear panel  25 . 
     The first side panel  10  is integrally formed with a first side panel top flap  30  and a first side panel bottom flap  50  along fold lines  31  and  51 , respectively. The front panel  15  is connected to the first side panel  10  along a fold line  14  and is integrally formed with a front panel top flap  35  and a front panel bottom flap  55  along fold lines  36  and  56 , respectively. The second side panel  20  is connected to the front panel  15  along a fold line  16  and is integrally formed with a second side panel top flap  40  and a second side panel bottom flap  60  along fold lines  41  and  61 , respectfully. The rear panel  25  is connected to the second side panel  20  along a fold line  18  and is integrally formed with a rear panel top flap  45  and a rear panel bottom flap  65  along fold lines  46  and  66 , respectfully. The carton blank  3  preferably further comprises a side flap  12  which is integrally connected to the first side panel  10  along a fold line  11 . The side flap  12  is adapted for fastening the first side panel  10  to the rear panel  25  as to form a hollow sleeve. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the container is configured to have a flap gap F between the top flaps  30  and  40  when the flaps are folded toward each other to form a surface  7 , as shown in FIG.  2 . In any particular construction, the width of the top flaps  30  and  40 , which is depicted by a letter A in FIGS. 1 and 2, is a factor for providing the width of the flap gap F. The width of the flap gap F may be in the range of approximately 2 inches to 6 inches, and preferably approximately 4 inches wide. 
     Referring specifically to FIG. 2, there can be two separate flap gaps. The first flap gap occurs between folded in top flaps  30  and  40 , and the second flap gap is formed in similar fashion by folding in the top flaps  35  and  45 . The flap gaps are oriented differently, preferably at a 90 degree angle to each other. The container in this configuration may be a parallelepiped. 
     Another feature for providing the advantages of the present invention is a line of weakness P in the material from which the container is constructed. The line of weakness P can start near the distal end of the first side panel top flap  30 , then travel around the container  6 , and terminate near the distal end of the second side panel top flap  40 . For example, in the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the line of weakness P starts near the distal end of the first side panel top flap  30  at a distance B from the first vertical fold line  14  and extends near to the first side panel top fold line  31 , thus forming a first vertical section  32 . (The distance B is preferably approximately equal to the front panel width A.) The line of weakness P further extends generally along the first side panel top fold line  31  to near the first vertical fold line  14 , forming a first horizontal section  33 . Further, the line of weakness P extends generally along the first vertical fold line  14  at a distance which is preferably less than the height of the front panel E, forming a second vertical section  13 . Then, the line of weakness P extends laterally along, and optionally across, the front panel  15  to near the second vertical fold line  16 , forming a lateral section  19 . Further, the line of weakness P extends generally along the fold line  16  to near the second side panel top fold line  41 , forming a third vertical section  17 , and extends generally along the second side panel fold line  41  at a distance B, forming a second horizontal section  43 . Finally, the line of weakness P continues to near the distal end of the second side panel top flap  40 , forming a fourth vertical section  42 . (By vertical or horizontal sections is meant the position of the sections as viewed in the figures.) 
     The carton blank  3 , as depicted in FIG. 1, is preferably formed into a closed container  6 , as depicted in FIG. 2, by joining the flap  12  to the rear panel  25  so as to form a hollow sleeve. Joining may be accomplished with adhesives, staples, heat bonding, ultrasonic bonding, or any other means known in the art. The front panel bottom flap  55  and the rear panel bottom flap  65  are then folded ninety degrees inward, and preferably with adhesive is applied thereto, followed by folding the first side panel bottom flap  50  and the second side panel bottom flap  60  in order to become joined to the front and rear bottom panel flaps  55  and  65 . The front panel top flap  35  and the rear panel top flap  45  are folded ninety degrees inward and preferably adhesive is applied thereto, followed by folding the first side panel top flap  30  and the second side panel top panel  40  over and into contact with flaps  35  and  45  in order to become joined thereto, and, thus, forming a flap gap flap F between the oppositely located distal edges of the flaps  35  and  45 . It should be noted that the flaps described above can be folded in any order, and glue can be applied accordingly to that order. For example, the first side panel top flap  30  and the second side panel top panel  40  can be folded first and adhesive applied thereto, and then the front panel top flap  35  and the rear panel top flap  45  can be folded and joined thereto, as depicted, for example, in FIGS. 14 and 15. Further, adhesive can be applied to any flap at any point during any step of the folding process. It also should be noted that any suitable means for joining the above flaps in the assembled condition may be used, for example, tape, staples, heat or ultrasound bonding, or adhesives, of which hot melt adhesives are generally preferred. FIG. 2 depicts the container  6  in a fully folded condition. 
     To open the container  6  for access to the product therein, as shown in FIG. 3, the consumer or any person, who are to remove the container contents for stocking at the point of purchase or place the container with products for a display, grasps the front panel top flap  35  in the gap flap area F and pulls upwardly so as to tear the front panel removable segment  8  free along the line of weakness P shown as the sections  32  and  42 ,  33  and  43 ,  13  and  17 , and  19 . 
     It should be noted that the front panel removable segment  8  can have many shapes formed by various paths that can be taken by the line of weakness P which preferably starts near the distal end of the first side panel top flap  30 , then travels around the container  6 , and ends near the distal end of the second side panel top flap  40 . For example, FIGS. 4-16 depict some of the various paths which the line of weakness P can take. FIG. 4 depicts the line of weakness P having sections  75  and  76  extending from near flap junctions  79  and  80 , respectively, to near corners  77  and  78 , respectively. The flap junctions  79  and  80  are located in the intersections of the distal end of the front panel top flap  35  with the distal ends of the first and second side panels top flaps  30  and  40 , respectively. 
     The corners  77  and  78  are formed by intersecting fold lines  14 ,  31 ,  36  and  16 ,  41 ,  36 , respectively. Further, it should be noted that the line of weakness sections  75  and  76  extend not only in the first and second side panel top flaps  30  and  40 , but also in the front panel top flap  35 . 
     In an alternative embodiment to the second and forth vertical sections  13  and  17  extending along the fold lines  14  and  16 , respectfully, at a partial height of the front panel  15 , as depicted in FIG. 2, the vertical sections  13  and  17  can extend to the full height of the front panel  15 , as depicted in FIG.  5 . Even further, the second and third vertical sections  13  and  17  do not have to extend along the fold lines  14  and  16  but can extend in the front panel  15 , as shown, for example, in FIGS. 6 and 7, or they can extend in the first and second side panels  10  and  20 , as shown in FIGS. 8,  9 , and  10 . Depending on the height and position of the vertical sections  13  and  17 , the lateral section  19  can extend above the fold line  56 , as shown in FIG. 2, or substantially along the fold line  56 , as shown in FIG. 5, or in the bottom of the box as shown in FIG.  10 . 
     It should be noted that the alternative paths of the line of weakness P described above can be mirrored on the opposite side of the container, wherein a removable segment includes a rear panel, as shown, for example, in FIG.  11 . It should be also noted that a removable segment can include not only a front and/or back panels but also one or two side panels, including a partial width or a full width of a panel. For example, FIG. 12 depicts a removable segment  9  which includes a partial width of the first side panel  10 , and FIG. 13 shows a removable segment  9 A which includes a full width of the second side panel  20 . 
     The line of weakness P preferably exhibits sufficient strength to survive shipping and handling of the container without premature rupture while remaining sufficiently easy to rupture to facilitate opening and leave a reasonably well defined opening upon removal of a removable segment. An example of a removable segment is shown in FIG. 3 as a segment  8 . Each section of the line of weakness P preferably includes a plurality of successive perforations. (Other alternatives for the line of weakness P may include slits, chemically or mechanically weaken areas, etc.) Each perforation preferably includes a cut followed by a skip. A cut is a penetration or a series of penetrations through or substantially through the thickness of the material. A skip is an uncut length in the material. Each section of the line of weakness P preferably starts and ends with a cut, and the sections are preferably connected to each other by the cuts. The line of weakness P can include cuts and skips which are of any shape or size. For example, the cuts and skips may be straight or curved, and suitable lengths of the cuts and the skips may be approximately ¼ to approximately 1 inch long for the cuts and approximately {fraction (1/16)} to approximately ⅜ inch long for the skips. Preferable lengths may be approximately ½ inch long for the cuts and {fraction (3/16)} inch long for the skips. 
     FIG. 3 depicts the container  6  in a partially loaded configuration, i.e. with a plurality of products  21  inside of the container. As shown in FIG. 3, the products  21  preferably fit into the interior of the container  6  in orderly fashion. The container  6  is particularly suited to contain products having a height substantially equal to the height E of the container, although products of any size less than the overall interior volume of the container may be contained therein in any suitable orientation. It should be understood that, as used herein, the term “product” is intended to encompass not only individual items, but also individual containers which enclose a product or products in liquid, powdered, granular, particulate, or discrete forms. Accordingly, containers according to the present invention may contain a single individual product, but are particularly suitable for containing a plurality of products which may themselves be containers of individual products. 
     The container  6 , in the several figures herein, may be constructed in any desired dimensions, depending upon the particular product or products to be contain therein. Further, the proportions of the container may also be varied as desired to suit the proportions of the products and the desired overall container shape. Still further, the container may include symmetrical flaps (where flaps are the same size) or asymmetrical flaps (where flaps are differently sized). If the flaps are asymmetrical, the flap gap will be offset from the center of the container. Even further, the flap gap may be formed between a single (very large ) flap and the edge of the container. 
     The container  6 , as shown in the figures herein, may be fabricated from a wide variety of suitable materials including, but not limited to, paper, cardboard (corrugated and otherwise), wood, metal, plastic, or any combination thereof For reasons of strength, economy, and convenience of opening, presently preferred materials for containers, according to present invention, include corrugated cardboard, for example, 125 pound weight cardboard. 
     While particular embodiments and or individual features of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, it should be apparent that all combinations of such embodiments and features are possible and can result in preferred executions of the invention. Therefore, the appended claims are intended to cover all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention.