Claims
- 1. A carton formed of a laminate including a core formed of a readily delaminatable material and separate inner and outer surface layers, said carton having at least one corner whereat said laminate is generally reversely folded, at least one product indentifying tab formed at said corner by a cut line through said outer surface and terminating in said core, said tab terminating at and being permanently connected to said carton along a fold line, said product identifying tab having a starting end extending partially around said corner and said fold line being remote from said starting end, and product identifying indicia on said carton generally aligned with said tab and positioned adjacent said fold line, said starting end being rounded to effect automatic separation of said tab starting end from said laminate when said laminate is folded to form said corner.
- 2. A carton according to claim 1 wherein said tab starting end is free of said laminate and projects beyond said carton at said corner for ease of grasping.
- 3. A carton according to claim 1 wherein said core and said outer surface layer are differently colored to enhance the observation of a removed tab.
- 4. A carton according to claim 1 wherein said carton has a folded top portion, and said corner is part of said top portion.
- 5. A carton according to claim 4 wherein there are a plurality of said corners and there are said tabs on more than one of said corners.
- 6. A carton according to claim 4 wherein said folded top portion includes a top panel, said tab is primarily formed in said top panel, and said indicia is on said top panel.
- 7. A carton according to claim 1 wherein there are a plurality of tabs on said corner.
- 8. A carton according to claim 1 wherein said cut line is U-shaped and includes a pair of spaced generally parallel legs connected at free ends by said fold line.
- 9. A carton according to claim 1 wherein said fold line is in the form of a crush scoring of said laminate.
- 10. A blank for a carton, said blank being formed of a laminate including a core formed of readily delaminatable material and separate inner and outer surface layers, said blank having at least one carton panel defining fold line for defining a reversely folded carton corner between two carton panels separated by said fold line, a cut line through said outer surface layer and terminating in said core, said cut line being generally U-shaped and defining a product identifying tab, said cut line having two generally parallel legs and a bight portion, free ends of said legs being joined by a hinge forming fold line in said outer surface layer for retaining a connection between a displaced tab and an associated carton panel, said cut line extending across said carton panel defining fold line to have a starting portion in one of said panels and a hinged end in the other of said panels, and product identifying indicia on said other panel adjacent said hinge forming fold line, said tab starting end being rounded in accordance with said cut line bight portion to effect automatic separation of said tab starting end from said laminate when said laminate is folded to form said corner.
- 11. A blank according to claim 10 wherein said core and said outer surface layer are differently colored to enhance the observation of a removed tab.
Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation in part of my copending application Ser. No. 811,366 filed Dec. 20, 1985, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,630,733.
This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in cartons intended to have received therein various products, most particularly cartons for receiving different drinks in a fast food store, and most particularly to the formation of a tab or tabs for identifying the product.
Most particularly, the invention relates to a container or a carton formed of a paperboard laminate generally known as polyboard. The laminate includes a paperboard core which is readily delaminatable and plastic surface layers or coatings.
In accordance with this invention, each tab is formed by a cut which extends through the plastic outer surface layer and terminates within the paperboard core. Most particularly, each tab has a rounded starting end which extends across a fold line in a blank from which the carton is formed so that when the carton is folded during the erection of the carton, the starting end of the tab will automatically separate from the laminate and project from the corresponding corner of the carton. The rounded projecting tab starting end portion may then be readily grasped for displacement.
In accordance with my prior above-identified application, the tab is defined by a continuous cut line so as to have a tail end. Thus when the tab is torn relative to the carton, it will be completely separated from the carton leaving an exposed portion of the core to identify the product. In practice, my prior tab arrangement has proven to have one deficiency. The tabs are to be completely removed from the carton. As a result, either the placing of each tab in a waste paper basket will be time consuming or the removed tab is merely discarded cluttering the floor.
In accordance with this invention, the configuration of the tab is modified so in lieu of having a pointed tail, the tab has a square end which is defined by a fold line impressed in the outer surface layer with the fold line defining a hinge about which the tab hinges as opposed to being completely removed from the carton. The retained tab serves its intended product identifying function while not being removed to result in a clutter.
The projecting rounded starting end of the tab also serves a further function. Cartons of the type to which the invention is directed are generally stacked in their open state and have a tendency to wedge, one within the other. The projecting starting end of the tabs serve to prevent such wedging.
US Referenced Citations (7)
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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811366 |
Dec 1985 |
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Patent Grant
4805775
