Patent Application
20100102110
U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/197,662, which was filed on Oct. 29, 2008, is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as if presented herein in its entirety.
The present disclosure generally relates to cartons for holding and dispensing food products.
In general, one aspect of the disclosure is directed to a carton for containing a food product. The carton comprises panels that extend at least partially around an interior of the carton. The panels comprise a bottom panel and side panels. The carton can be used as a scoop for gathering a food product by a food service employee and a food container for serving the food product to a customer.
Other aspects, features, and details of the present disclosure can be more completely understood by reference to the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments taken in conjunction with the drawings and from the appended claims.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate the above-stated advantages and other advantages and benefits of various additional embodiments reading the following detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the below-listed drawing figures. Further, the various features of the drawings discussed below are not necessarily drawn to scale. Dimensions of various features and elements in the drawings may be expanded or reduced to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the disclosure.
Corresponding parts are designated by corresponding reference numbers throughout the drawings.
In the illustrated embodiment, the blank 1 has a longitudinal axis L1 and a lateral axis L2. The blank 1 includes a first side panel 10 foldably connected to a second side panel 20 at a first fold line 21, a third side panel 30 foldably connected to the second side panel 20 at a second fold line 31, and a fourth side panel 40 foldably connected to the first side panel 10 at a third fold line 41. An adhesive flap 50 is foldably connected to the third side panel 30 at a fourth fold line 51. In the illustrated embodiment, the second and fourth side panels 20, 40 have respective fold lines 23, 43 that divide each of the second and fourth side panels into respective portions 20a, 20b, and 40a, 40b. In the first embodiment, the portions 20a, 20b of the side panel 20 are angled with respect to each other when the carton 3 is formed from the blank 1 such that the side panel 20 is generally nonplanar. Similarly, the portions 40a, 40b are angled with respect to each other in the assembled carton 3 such that the side panel 40 is generally nonplanar. The blank 1 could have other side panel arrangements without departing from the disclosure.
The blank 1 includes a first bottom flap 12 foldably connected to the first side panel 10 at a fold line 13. A first top panel 16 is foldably connected to the first side panel 10 at a curved fold line 17. The first bottom flap 12 has two generally curved edges 71, 72 and one straight edge 73 generally parallel to the fold line 13. The first bottom flap 12 has a fold line 15 that divides the first bottom flap into two bottom flap portions 12a, 12b. The first top flap 16 has a fold line 19 that divides the first top flap into a first and a second portion 16a, 16b. The first portion 16a of the first top flap 16 has a pattern 53 of tear lines, cut lines, and fold lines that forms two flaps 54, 56 foldably connected to the first top flap. In one embodiment, the pattern 53 includes tear lines 55, 57, 58 and fold lines 60, 61. Each of the flaps 54, 56 is respectively foldably connected to the first portion 16a of the top flap 16 by a respective fold line 60, 61. In the illustrated embodiment, a cutout 68 is adjacent the flaps 54, 56 to facilitate folding the flaps. The pattern 53 could be otherwise shaped, arranged, configured, and/or omitted without departing from the disclosure. Further, the first and/or second portions 16a, 16b of the first top flap 16 could be otherwise shaped, arranged, and/or configured without departing from the disclosure.
The blank 1 includes a second bottom flap 32 foldably connected to the second side panel 30 at a fold line 33 and a second top flap 36 foldably connected to the second side panel 30 at a curved fold line 37. The second bottom flap 32 is shaped generally similar to the first bottom flap 12 with two curved edges 81, 82 and one generally straight edge 83 parallel to the fold line 33. The second bottom flap 32 includes two retention flaps 85, 87 at the marginal portions of the second bottom flap and at least partially defined by curved tear lines 35 near the respective curved edges 81, 82. The second bottom flap 32 is larger than the first bottom flap 12 in that the maximum distance between the curved edges 81, 82 of the second bottom flap 32 is greater than the maximum distance between the curved edges 71, 72 of the first bottom flap 12. The retention flaps 85, 87 are generally arcuate or crescent-shaped but the retention flaps could be otherwise shaped, arranged, and/or configured without departing from the disclosure. For example, the retention flaps 85, 87 could be rectangular shaped without departing from the disclosure.
In the illustrated embodiment, the second top flap 36 is shaped generally similar to the first top flap 16 in that the second top flap has a fold line 39 that separates the second top flap into respective portions 36a, 36b. The second top flap 36 includes a pattern 53 of tear lines and cut lines that forms two flaps 54, 56 similar to the flaps in the first top flap 16. The second top flap 36 could be otherwise shaped, arranged, and/or omitted without departing from the disclosure.
As shown in
Once the bottom panel 7 of the carton 3 is formed, the carton has the form of a closed-bottom scoop with an open top that can be used, for example, to scoop French fries, chicken, fish, or other food products (not shown) that are held in a warming area. Once the food product is scooped and received in the carton 3 the top flaps 16, 36 can be closed. Alternatively, the top flaps 16, 36 can remain open. The two flaps 54, 56 in each of the top flaps 16, 36 can be downwardly folded to form a respective receiving opening 59. One or more complimentary food product packages 6 (e.g., a container or package of condiments such as barbecue sauce, mustard, salad dressing, etc.), can be placed in the receiving openings 59. As shown in
In the embodiment of
The first side panel 110 includes fold lines 117, 119 extending from respective ends of the fold line 113 and partially into the side panel. The second side panel 120 has similar fold lines 137, 139 extending from respective ends of the fold line 133 and partially into the side panel. The fold lines 117, 119, 137, 139 aid in forming the curved side panels 110, 120 of the carton 103. The carton 103 and blank 101 could be otherwise shaped, arranged, and/or configured without departing from the disclosure.
The blank 101 is formed into the carton 103 in a similar manner as the blank 1 and carton 3 of the first embodiment. A generally open-ended tubular structure is formed by folding the blank 101 about fold lines 121, 151, 117, 119, 137, 139 and attaching the adhesive panel to the side panel 120. The bottom panel 107 of the carton 103 is closed by first folding the bottom end flap 132 inwardly in a manner that the retention flaps 185, 187 are placed in face-to-face contact with the interior surface of the side panels 110. The bottom end flap 112 is then folded over the bottom end flap 132 and can be secured by placing the edges of the bottom end flap 112 in contact with the side panels 110, 120 or can be secured to the bottom end flap 132 by adhesive. The side panels 110, 120 and overlapped bottom end flaps 112, 132 define the interior 105 of the carton 103. The carton 103 could be formed by alternative blank positioning steps without departing from the disclosure.
In the embodiment of
In the illustrated embodiment, a first top end flap 216 is foldably connected to the first side panel 210 at a curved fold line 215. A second top end flap 226 is foldably connected to the second top panel 220 at a curved fold line 227. In the embodiment of
The blank 201 can be formed into the carton 203 in a similar manner as the previous embodiments. First, a generally open-ended tubular structure is formed by folding the side panels 210, 220 and adhesive panel 250 about fold lines 217, 219, 221, 237, 239, 251 so that the side panels are curved and the adhesive panel is attached to the first side panel 210. The bottom panel 207 of the carton 203 can be formed by first inwardly folding the bottom flap 232 about fold line 233 and then inwardly folding the bottom flap 212 about fold line 213. Other alternative closing configurations can be used and the bottom flap 232 can be configured to have retention flaps as shown in the previous embodiments.
After placing a food product in the interior 205 of the carton 203 such that at least a portion of the food product is supported by the bottom panel 207, the top end flaps 216, 226 can be closed to form a substantially closed top 209 (
As shown in
In the embodiment of
In the illustrated embodiment, the bottom panel 312 has retention flaps 385, 387 foldably connected to the bottom panel by portions 317c, 319c of the respective fold lines 317, 319. The retention flaps 385, 387 comprise a marginal portion of the bottom panel 312. The bottom panel 312 includes a fold line 335 extending generally in the lateral direction L2 and dividing the bottom panel into two portions 312a, 312b. The blank 301 could be otherwise shaped, arranged, and or configured and could have other features without departing from the disclosure.
The blank 301 of
The blanks according to the present disclosure can be, for example, formed from coated paperboard and similar materials. For example, the interior and/or exterior sides of the blanks can be coated with a clay coating. The clay coating may then be printed over with product, advertising, price coding, and other information or images. The blanks may then be coated with a varnish to protect any information printed on the blank. The blanks may also be coated with, for example, a moisture barrier layer, on either or both sides of the blanks. In accordance with the above-described embodiments, the blank may be constructed of paperboard of a caliper such that it is heavier and more rigid than ordinary paper. The blanks can also be constructed of other materials, such as cardboard, hard paper, or any other material having properties suitable for enabling the cartons, to function at least generally as described above. The blanks can also be laminated to or coated with one or more sheet-like materials at selected panels or panel sections.
In accordance with the above-described embodiments of the present disclosure, a fold line can be any substantially linear, although not necessarily straight, form of weakening that facilitates folding therealong. More specifically, but not for the purpose of narrowing the scope of the present disclosure, fold lines include: a score line, such as lines formed with a blunt scoring knife, or the like, which creates a crushed portion in the material along the desired line of weakness; a cut that extends partially into a material along the desired line of weakness, and/or a series of cuts that extend partially into and/or completely through the material along the desired line of weakness; and various combinations of these features.
As an example, a tear line can include: a slit that extends partially into the material along the desired line of weakness, and/or a series of spaced apart slits that extend partially into and/or completely through the material along the desired line of weakness, or various combinations of these features. As a more specific example, one type tear line is in the form of a series of spaced apart slits that extend completely through the material, with adjacent slits being spaced apart slightly so that a nick (e.g., a small somewhat bridging-like piece of the material) is defined between the adjacent slits for typically temporarily connecting the material across the tear line. The nicks are broken during tearing along the tear line. The nicks typically are a relatively small percentage of the tear line, and alternatively the nicks can be omitted from or torn in a tear line such that the tear line is a continuous cut line. That is, it is within the scope of the present disclosure for each of the spaced apart slits to be replaced with a continuous slit, a continuous score, or the like. For example, a cut line can be a continuous slit or could be wider than a slit without departing from the present disclosure. Also, a tear line can be a series of cut scores passing completely, or partially, through the material, that are separated by nicks.
The above embodiments may be described as having one or more panels adhered together by glue during erection of the carton embodiments. The term “glue” is intended to encompass all manner of adhesives commonly used to secure carton panels in place.
The foregoing description of the disclosure illustrates and describes various exemplary embodiments. Various additions, modifications, changes, etc., could be made to the exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. It is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Additionally, the disclosure shows and describes only selected embodiments of the disclosure, but the disclosure is capable of use in various other combinations, modifications, and environments and is capable of changes or modifications within the scope of the inventive concept as expressed herein, commensurate with the above teachings, and/or within the skill or knowledge of the relevant art. Furthermore, certain features and characteristics of each embodiment may be selectively interchanged and applied to other illustrated and non-illustrated embodiments of the disclosure.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/197,662, which was filed on Oct. 29, 2008.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61197662 | Oct 2008 | US |
