Patent Application
20060180642
The anti-sifting polygonal carton relates to bulk product packages in general and more specifically to granular detergent or other material packaging. Adhesive or anti-sift tape upon the reverse side of the carton and miter panels seal the corners of the polygonal carton in the bottom and the top. The polygonal carton, when folded and glued upon the bottom, receives product in the main compartment and then the top is folded and glued to seal the carton for shipping.
Carton designs include both partial and full seal end constructions. Traditional cartons have packaged many bulk granular products such as laundry and dishwashing detergents, rice, cereals, pet litter, and dry pet foods. Upon moisture reaching these bulk granular products, the product activates as in detergents or deteriorates as in foods and pet products. Dry bulk products require a moisture resistant and sealed carton. A carton must prevent direct contact of the bulk product with moisture as in water and indirect contact as in humidity. Dry bulk products must meet customer expectations and reduce the losses encountered by bulk product distributors.
Further, cartons must minimize sifting of product out of the carton. Beginning as a blank, cartons start as a continuous plane or blank of material such as paperboard. Upon folding, stress points arise in the blank at each fold and particularly at each corner. Rectangular shaped cartons suffer from many instances of sifting. The corners endure stress from folding on two axes. In shipping and handling, cartons wear down their corners and in time, release the product inadvertently, commonly called sifting.
The present invention provides an octagonal shaped carton that contains bulk granulated product while minimizing sifting. Traditionally, cartons are folded and erected into a generally rectangular finished shape. The present invention utilizes a carton formed by specialized machinery that erects a carton and securely seals the end flaps.
Containers, or cartons, for bulk, or granulated, products are known in the prior art. Older cartons held the granulated products within octagonal shapes such as some with gussets. However, tape reinforced folds and corners make few appearances in the prior art.
The patent to Wellman, U.S. Pat. No. 1,892,715, shows a receptacle in its blank from. The receptacle contains a multitude of side walls that overlap, when glued, into the configuration of an octagonal shaped carton. In addition, the carton contains an integral bottom wall and likewise has a top closure, when folded into its usable configuration.
The patent to André, U.S. Pat. No. 2,787,408, is upon a quick set up folding container, bag like and hexagonal in shape.
The patent to McDonough, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,844,088, shows machinery for folding and packaging containers, in conjunction with the use of specialized machinery.
The patent to Budington, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,944,072, shows an octagonal dispenser carton for band saw coils. This carton just forms an octagonal shape, apparently of a shallow dimension.
Another patent to McDonough, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,990,210, shows a very similar mandrel formed carton which is a divisional patent of the previous McDonough patent.
The patent to Ljungcranzt, U.S. Pat. No. 4,094,124, shows a process and apparatus for the manufacture of filled closed containers. The apparatus incorporates a mandrel for shaping a blank, into the carton, during its erection, and filling.
The patent to Koltz, U.S. Pat. No. 4,360,146, shows an open top set-up container. This container forms into a uniquely multi-sided container, somewhat cone shaped, with a bottom, but has an open top.
The patent to Pankratz, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,448,008, shows another multiple mandrel carton erecting, filling and sealing machine with two stage loading.
The other patent to Koltz, U.S. Pat. No. 4,470,540, shows another open top set up container with a uniquely shaped, albeit octagonal, form and a uniquely folded bottom.
The patent to Zion, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,984,734, shows a stackable articulated carton tray apparatus. This carton simply discloses a shallow octagonal shaped carton, more than likely for holding pizzas.
The patent to Scruby, U.S. Pat. No. 1,425,549, discloses a symmetrical octagonal carton, formed as a paperboard box for containing hats and other millinery products. Nevertheless, a variety of side panels form the octagonal shape and the bottom panels fold over to provide closure. The upper panels incorporate a pair of major flaps, miter end flaps, and miter flaps, arranged intermediate thereof, which are folded over to accommodate an overlying relationship with the major and miter flaps, and adhered thereto for closure.
The patent to Welshenbach, U.S. Pat. No. 2,565,188, shows another polygonal box, an octagon. Likewise, it includes a variety of flaps, functioning as major flaps, with a series of miter flaps, which interlock with the major flaps during closure. Hence, while this patent may show an octagonal box, its various flaps are structured differently when closing.
The patent to Dempster, U.S. Pat. No. 4,119,266, discloses an octagonal shaped paperboard bin. But, all the claims of this patent define the use of slotted flaps for retention of the top of the carton.
The patent to Croley, U.S. Pat. No. 4,225,078, discloses a knocked-down polygonal container with set-up contour-forming flaps. This particular container apparently is opened upon its top, while its bottom includes a series of flaps that fold inwardly and form a bottom closure.
The patent to Hoffman, U.S. Pat. No. 4,260,100, shows another container closure with a series of end flaps pivotally connected to the sides of the outer closure panels to close the top of the carton. The tuck-in flaps tuck into the carton, rather than providing any type of a miter support for the erected carton.
The patent to Wozniacki, U.S. Pat. No. 4,361,267, shows a four corner design for an octagonal container and the corner flaps really provide an engagement flap, for tuck-in purposes, to secure the shown container into closure.
The patent to Perkins, Jr., U.S. Pat. No. 4,392,607, shows a carton with integral closures that forms an octagonal shape and overlapping of its various top miter flaps to engage with the flap strips.
The patent to Powlenko, U.S. Pat. No. 4,702,408, shows a bulk bin formed into an octagonal shape designed for the shipment of heavy quantities of fresh meat. It does not appear that any particular style of top closure has been made for this bin, and its bottom closure incorporates a variety of flaps that tuck into each other.
The patent to Dugan, U.S. Pat. No. 5,630,543, shows another one-piece octagonal box, a bulk bin box, but its closure and folding flaps have more of the bellows style of closure. The claims define the specific structure of its blank, as a unitary piece of cardboard that is folded into the octagonal shape, that the bottom of the box is formed of a pair of tabs, incorporating slots, with each tabbed slot simultaneously and continuously intermeshing with the other tab that helps erect the carton when they are opened.
The patent to Holladay, U.S. Pat. No. 6,446,859, shows another foldable storage container, an octagonal box. The upper closure is more designed for forming a recessed closure, than of the present invention. The claims of this particular patent define lid panels, sized to fit within the polygonal folded sheets.
The patent to Vogel, U.S. Pat. No. 6,471,102, is upon an easy opening handled carton, more concerned with its tear strip, which when opened, provides for a central portion of the major panel to be pulled free. In the carton, though, the bottom and top require the top units and bottom units to be attached to the inner surface of the walls unlike the present invention.
The patent to Quaintance, U.S. Pat. No. 6,588,651, discloses an octagonal bulk bin. The claims of this patent define score lines in at least one of the side walls for the bin. The score lines are weakened to buckle the wall in a controlled manner unlike the present invention.
The patent to Coalier, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,704,540, discloses a carton or cover with rigid sheet material and a handle. The carton folds into an octagonal shape but the claims of this patent define an elongated handle used in conjunction with the carton, unlike the present invention.
The patent to Frerot, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,878,946, shows a carton or cover of rigid sheet material with a reinforced handle, blank and process for manufacturing the same. The carton, when formed, does have somewhat of an octagonal shape.
The patent U.S. Pat. No. 5,943,840, to Nilsson, et al., is upon a method and apparatus for forming a top of a container. In essence though, the carton assembled upon the multi-mandrel machine appears more rectangular, and which is formed upon the various mandrel machinery in a continuous operation.
The patent to Anderson, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,042,527, is upon another carton forming device. The claims of this particular patent define the apparatus for forming the blank into an erect carton: a standard rectangular carton.
The patent to Auclair, U.S. Pat. No. 6,202,920, is upon another carton blank. It is apparently a gusseted carton, using its end formation, including all of its gussets and apparently undertakes the shape of its top panels, which are octagonal.
While the above-described devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe an anti-sifting polygonal carton with little forming, sifting, and sealing problems. Therefore, a need exists for a new and improved polygonal carton that can be formed upon specialized machinery, for accurate folding and sealing of one end of the carton. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need. Further, the polygonal carton according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides a device primarily developed for the purpose of sealing and reinforcing carton corners to reduce sifting of granulated products from cartons.
Generally, the present invention provides a single piece bulk granular product carton. The carton comprises a blank with major flaps, lower major flaps, minor flaps, miter flaps, emboss pads, a front panel, a rear panel, miter panels, notches, reinforcing tape, and a tear strip. The panels form a polygonal such as an octagon shaped carton with the flaps for closing the ends of the carton. The flaps overlap to seal the four corners of each end. With sealed ends, the carton reduces sifting and other losses of granulated product from within the carton.
The polygonal carton addresses the sifting problem with a combination of minor flaps, emboss pads, and offset scores in various locations. Upon forming the carton, the minor flaps and then the miter panels are folded by intricate machinery that then applies glue to form a seal between the miter panels and the minor flaps. Next, upon forming the first major flap and the second major flap, emboss pads on the miter flaps fill the gap at the edge of the minor flaps and the first and second major flaps. Any remaining space in the miter flap is filled by glue. Without offset scores on the miter flaps, the carton has a closer more air-tight seal. Further, pinhole gaps have less effect as each miter, front and rear, and side panel folds at 45 degrees to form the octagonal carton. All minor panels have a tight overlap that avoids stress and fiber tear at the corners. An emboss pad on the second major lower flap fills the gap created by the partial overlap of the first major lower flap when sealing the bottom of the carton.
Preferably, the anti-sifting polygonal carton is a paperboard container of a single blank of material that forms an eight sided carton. The carton includes trapezoidal minor flaps with triangular emboss pads upon four miter panels, two side panels with attached minor flaps, and front and back panels with attached major flaps. The major flaps then allow opening and re-closing of the top, when initiated by a tear strip opener.
The present invention forms upon specialized machinery that allows gluing of the side seam. Gluing occurs as machinery first forms the blank into a tube as the precursor to a carton. The bottom of the carton then forms as the miter flaps fold beneath the minor flaps, glue then applied seals the bottom. After gluing the minor flaps, the specialized machinery folds the first major lower flap and glues it to the minor flaps layered upon the miter flaps. The second major flap then folds and glues upon the first major flap to form and seal the bottom of the carton. After insertion of the granulated product into the open carton, the second major flap is folded upon the first major flap as the top of the carton. The carton is now ready for shipping and sale to consumers.
Numerous objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description of presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiment of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Before explaining the current embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
One object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved polygonal carton that contains granulated product without sifting.
Another object is to provide such a carton that has tape reinforced corners.
Another object is to provide such a carton that is octagonal in shape that differentiates the carton from other manufactures in the eyes of the consumer.
Another object is to provide such a carton that is formed upon specialized machinery for accuracy of folding and integrity of sealing.
Another object is to provide such a carton that has a higher vertical load capacity, or top load compression strength, than rectangular cartons allowing for higher stacking of cartons at warehouses.
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty that characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention.
The same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the various figures.
The present art overcomes the prior art limitations and sifting of granulated product by reinforced tape, miter panels, and emboss pads at the four minor corners of the present invention. Beginning on
The first section 2a, or side panel 5, extends outward from the center of the blank 2 along the longitudinal axis of the blank 2. A side panel 5 has a generally rectangular shape with the longitudinal axis of the side panel 5 perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the blank 2. The length of the side panel 5 establishes the general height of the finished carton 1. The side panel 5 has longitudinal creases 5a and lateral folds 12a of lesser length than the longitudinal creases 5a. Extending away from the lateral folds 12a upon both ends, minor flaps 10 have a generally trapezoidal shape with a short base and a spaced apart parallel long base with edges joining the two bases. The short base is contiguous with the side panel 5 at a lateral end along a fold line 12a. Upon one or both edges, a minor flap 10 contacts a major flap or a major lower flap.
Flanking the side panel 5, miter panels 6 join the longitudinal creases 5a of the side panel 5. The longitudinal axes of the miter panels 6 are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the side panel 5. The miter panels 6 have a generally rectangular shape of less than or equal to half the width of a side panel 5. The miter panels 6 also have lateral folds 12b and longitudinal creases 6a. The lateral folds 12b connect miter flaps 6b with the miter panels 6. The miter flaps 6b have a generally triangular shape with the base of the triangle upon the fold 12b and the vertex of the triangle away from the miter panel 6. Each end of a miter panel 6 has a miter flap 6b. The miter flaps 6b are cut separate from the minor flaps 10 but contact the major and major lower flaps. Each miter flap 6b has an emboss pad 12 raised upon the obverse face of the blank 2. The emboss pad 12 also has a generally triangular shape though of less size than the miter flap 6b. The emboss pad 12 triangle has its base towards the fold 12b and its point away from the fold.
Away from the first section 2a towards the center of the blank 2, the second section 2b has the front panel 3 and appended second major flap 9b and second major lower flap 8b. The front panel 3 has a generally rectangular shape with a longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the blank 2. The front panel 3 has lateral ends contiguous with creases 6a to the miter panels 6 and longitudinal sides contiguous with folds 12c to the second major flap 9b and the second major lower flap 8b.
The second major flap 9b has a generally trapezoidal shape with a short base and a spaced apart and parallel long base joined by edges. The short base is contiguous with a fold 12c upon the longitudinal side of the front panel 3. The long base is away from the center of the blank 2, or towards the center of the assembled invention. The edges have a straight shape with an end proximate to the short base truncated at an approximately 45° angle. The miter flaps 6b7 abut the second major flap 9b at the truncated edges. Proximate to the long base, the second major flap 9b has a tear strip 13.
Parallel and spaced apart from the long base, the tear strip 13 allows a consumer to open the assembled invention. The tear strip 13 has a thin line of tape 13a upon the reverse side for ripping strength. The tear strip 13 forms from the second major flap 9b with partial cuts 13b, c. The first partial cut 13b, away from the center of the blank 2, extends for the length of the second major flap 9b. The second partial cut 13c, spaced apart and parallel to the first partial cut 13b, extends for two portions of the second major flap 9b. The second partial cut 13c has two triangular shaped ears 16a and a center portion 16b, with the vertex of the triangle shape towards the center of the blank 2. Upon removal of the tear strip 13, the ears 16a and center portion 16b form a male tab 16 to re-close the carton 1. Both the first and second partial cuts 13b, c expand outwards at a taper near the right side of the carton 1. The wider width of the tear strip 13 allows for a person to grip the strip 13.
The second major flap 9b also has additional cuts 14a, b, perpendicular to the tear strip 13. The third partial cut 14a, or outside cut is near the miter corner and extends across the width of the second major flap 9b. The outside cut 14a extends through the depth of the blank 2 but does not penetrate the reverse face of the blank 2. Parallel and inward of the outside cut, the fourth partial cut 14b, or inside cut, extends from the fold to the second partial cut. Akin to the outside cut, the inside cut 14b penetrates the blank 2 but not the reverse face.
Opposite the second major flap 9b, the second section 2b has the second major lower flap 8b. The second major lower flap 8b has a generally trapezoidal shape with a short base and a spaced apart and parallel long base joined by edges. The short base is contiguous with a fold 12c upon the longitudinal side of the front panel 3. The long base is away from the center of the blank 2, or towards the center of the assembled invention. The edges have a taper with an end proximate to the short base truncated at an approximately 45 degree angle. The miter flaps 6b abut the second major lower flap 8b at the truncated edges. Proximate to the long base, the second major lower flap 8b has a crease 12d. The crease 12d extends parallel to the long base and overlaps the long base of the first major lower flap 8a. The crease 12d permits the second major lower flap 8b to bend over the first major lower flap 8a forming the sealed bottom 8 of the carton 1.
Contiguous with the front panel 3 and opposite the first section 2a, the third section 2c has a similar assembly as the first section 2a. The third section 2c, or side panel 5, extends outward from the center of the blank 2 along the longitudinal axis of the blank 2. This side panel 5 has a generally rectangular shape with the longitudinal axis of the side panel 5 perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the blank 2. As in the first section 2a, the length of this side panel 5 establishes the general height of the finished carton 1. The side panel 5 has longitudinal creases 5a and lateral folds 12a of lesser length than the longitudinal creases 5a. Extending away from the lateral folds 12a upon both ends, minor flaps 10 have a generally trapezoidal shape with a short base and a spaced apart parallel long base with edges joining the two bases. The short base is contiguous with the side panel 5 at a lateral end along a fold line 12a. Upon both edges, the minor flap 10 contacts a major and major lower flap.
Flanking the side panel 5, miter panels 6 join the longitudinal creases 5a of the side panel 5. The longitudinal axes of the miter panels 6 are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the side panel 5. The miter panels 6 have a generally rectangular shape of less than or equal to half the width of a side panel 5. The miter panels 6 also have lateral folds 12b and longitudinal creases 5a. The lateral folds 12b connect the miter flaps 6b with the miter panels 6. The miter flaps 6b have a generally triangular shape with the base of the triangle upon the fold and the vertex of the triangle away from the miter panel 6. Each end of a miter panel 6 has a miter flap 6b. The miter flaps 6b are cut separate from the minor flaps 10 but contact the major and major lower flaps. Each miter flap 6b has an emboss pad 12 raised upon the obverse face of the blank 2. The emboss pad 12 also has a generally triangular shape though of less size than the miter flap 6b. The emboss pad 12 triangle has its base towards the fold and its point away from the fold.
And contiguous with the third section 2c, or side panel 5, the fourth section 2d has the rear panel 4 and appended first major flap 9a, first major lower flap 8a, and miter tab 7. The rear panel 4 has a generally rectangular shape with a longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the blank 2. The rear panel 4 has lateral ends contiguous with creases 6a, 7b to a miter panel 6 and the miter tab 7 and longitudinal sides contiguous with folds 12c to the major flap 9a and the major lower flap 8a.
The first major flap 9a has a generally trapezoidal shape with a short base and a spaced apart and parallel long base joined by edges. The short base is contiguous with a fold 12c upon the longitudinal side of the rear panel 4. The long base is away from the center of the blank 2, or towards the center of the assembled invention. The edges have a straight shape with an end proximate to the short base truncated at an approximately 45° angle. A miter flap 6b abuts the second major flap 9b at the truncated edge nearer the center of the blank 2. Upon the long base, the first major flap 9a has a rectangular notch 17.
As described previously for the second major flap 9b, upon removal of the tear strip 13, ears 16a and center portion 16b form a male tab 16. The male tab 16 fits the female notch 17 upon the long base of the first major flap 9a. The male tab 16 within the female notch 17 closes the top 9 of the carton 1. In blank form 2, the first and second major flaps 9a, b have the same width.
The first major flap 9a has cuts 15a, b, perpendicular to the fold 12c. The first partial cuts 15a, or outside cuts, are near the miter corners and extend across the width of the first major flap 9a. The outside cuts 15a extend through the depth of the blank 2 but do not penetrate the reverse face of the blank 2. Parallel and inward of the outside cut, the second partial cuts 15b, or inside cut, extend from the fold 12c to near the long base. Akin to the outside cut, the inside cuts 15b penetrate the blank 2 but not the reverse face.
Opposite the first major flap 9a, the fourth section 2d has the first major lower flap 8a. The first major lower flap 8a has a generally trapezoidal shape with a short base and a spaced apart and parallel long base joined by edges. The short base is contiguous with a fold upon the longitudinal side of the front panel 3. The long base is away from the center of the blank 2, or towards the center of the assembled invention. The edges have a taper with an end proximate to the short base truncated at an approximately 45 degree angle. A miter flap 6b abuts the first major lower flap 8a at a truncated edge. Opposite the miter panel 6 of the third section 2c, the fourth section 2d has a miter tab 7 extending from the other lateral end of the rear panel 4. The miter tab 7 has the same width as a miter panel 6 and slight trapezoidal shape. The long base of this trapezoid is a crease 7b to the rear panel 4 and the short base, spaced apart and parallel, to the long base is free for later attachment to the first section 2a during assembly of the carton 1. Unlike other miter panels 6, the miter tab 7 lacks miter flaps 6b. The edges of this trapezoidal shape have a slight taper, narrowing away from the center of the blank 2 forming notches 7a. The foregoing has described the anti-sifting polygonal carton 1 and its shape in blank 2 form viewing the reverse face.
Turning to
Then in
Away from the miter panels 6, the miter tab 7 has a strip of adhesive 18a applied for the full length. The adhesive 18a secures the miter tab 7 in the fourth section 2d to the miter panel 6 in the first section 2a during assembly of the carton 1. Outwards from the miter panel 6, the first major flap 9a and the first major lower flap 8a have parallel strips of adhesive 18c, d. These adhesive 18c, d strips occupy both edges of the flaps 8a, 9a and extend from the long base towards the short base. The adhesive strips 18c span from the edge of the flaps inwards to an imaginary line extending from the crease 6a and the adhesive strips 18d have a generally trapezoidal shape perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the carton 1. During assembly, the adhesive strips 18c, d strips of the first major lower flap 8a secure to the lower minor flaps 10. After filling the carton 1 with product, a manufacturer closes the first major flap 9a where its adhesive strips 18c, db secure to the minor flaps 10.
Further away from the miter flap 6b, the second major flap 9b and second major lower flap 8b have adhesive strips 18b, c, d. These strips 18c,d run along the long base of both flaps 8b, 9b and the edges of both flaps 8b, 9b similar to the edges of the first major flap 9a and the first lower major flap 8a. The strips 18d have a width outside of the tear cuts 14a, b and the crease 12d in the second major lower flap 8b. Along the edges, the adhesive strips 18c, d strips again span from the edge of the flaps 9a, b inwards to an imaginary line extending from the crease 6a. The adhesive strips 18c, d have a generally trapezoidal shape perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the blank 2. During assembly, the adhesive strips 18b, c, d of the second major lower flap 8b secure to the first major lower flap 8a. After filling the carton 1 with product, a manufacturer closes the second major flap 9b where its adhesive strips 18b, c, d secure to the first major flap 9a.
Upon folding the blank 2 with specialized machinery that forms the bottom 8 of the carton 1, filling the carton 1 with product, and closing the second major flap 9b upon the first major flap 9a, the present invention assembles into a carton 1 shown in an isometric view in
Opposite the front,
Turning the present invention,
Seen from above in
As described earlier in
The top 9 also has additional cuts to open the second and first major flaps 9a, b away from the mitered and sealed corners. The second major flap 9b has cuts perpendicular to the tear strip 13. The third partial cuts 14a, or outside cuts are nearer to the miter panels 6 and extend across the width of the second major flap 9b. The outside cuts 14a extend through the depth of the blank 2 but do not penetrate the reverse face of the blank 2. Parallel and inward of the outside cuts 14a, the fourth partial cuts 14b, or inside cuts, extend from the fold to the second partial cut 13c. Akin to the outside cuts 14a, the inside cuts 14b penetrate the blank 2 but not the reverse face.
Beneath the second major flap 9b, the first major flap 9a has cuts generally collinear with the cuts 14a, b upon the second major flap 9b. The first partial cuts 15a, or outside cuts, are near the miter panels 6 and extend across the width of the first major flap 9a. The outside cuts extend through the depth of the blank 2 but do not penetrate the reverse face of the blank 2. Parallel and inward of the outside cu 15a, the second partial cuts 15b, or inside cuts, extend from the fold to the near the long base. Like the outside cuts 15a, the inside cuts 15b penetrate the blank 2 but not the reverse face. The cuts 14a,b 15a, b in the top 9 delineate a rectangular portion of the top 9 for separation from the sealed corners.
Rotating the present invention,
In use, the carton 1 has a unique opening feature started by a tear strip 13. The tear strip 13 has partial knife cuts 13b, c backed by tape 11 along the length of the second major flap 9b. After pulling and removing the tear strip 13, further opening occurs along partial and full die cuts 14a, b, 15a, b, as well as perforations. A consumer pulls away the remaining second major flap 9b. The hinged connection of the second major flap 9b to the carton 1 allows easy separation of the second major flap 9b from the remainder of the top 9. Next, a consumer opens the first major flap 9a in a similar manner. Both major flaps 9a, b rotate about a fold line 12c after delaminating from full die cuts 14a, b. The full die cuts, extending through the press applied tape 11, cleanly expose the remainder of the major flaps 9a, b and the male re-close feature 16. On the second major flap 9ba, the partial die cuts 14a, b have sufficient depth to cut the press applied tape 11 to open the top 9 along the inside and the outside partial cuts 14a, b. The paperboard then delaminates and reveals the granulated product within the carton 1.
To close the carton 1, a consumer rotates the first major flap 9a toward the top 9 of the carton 1. The first major flap 9a has the female notch 17 while the second major flap 9b has the male tab 16. The consumer then rotates the second major flap 9b and inserts the male tab 16 into the female notch 17. Pressing gently, the consumer closes the second flap 9b upon the first flap 9a, and the male tab 16 and female notch 17 interlock. The flaps 9a, b now rest upon the top 9 and close the carton 1 until later use by the consumer.
From the aforementioned description, an anti-sifting polygonal carton has been described. The anti-sifting polygonal carton is uniquely capable of storing granulated product in talk stacks with minimal sifting of the product out of the carton. The anti-sifting polygonal carton and its various components may be manufactured from many materials including but not limited to paperboard, cardboard, chip board, polymers, high density polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephalate ethylene, polystyrene, nylon, ferrous and non-ferrous metal foils, their alloys, and composites.
The phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. Therefore, the claims include such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and the scope of the present invention.
This nonprovisional patent application claims priority to the provisional patent application having Ser. No. 60/652,598, filed Feb. 14, 2005.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60652598 | Feb 2005 | US |
