DUAL DISPENSING CONTAINER

Abstract

A container of the present invention is designed for shipping and holding various items. The container is formed from a blank of a material, such as corrugated material, plastic, paperboard, etc. and includes side panels extending between a top portion and a bottom portion. A tear line extends around the side panels for disengaging the top portion from the container thereby exposing all of the items extending along the side panels. An improved configuration of the perforations or slits along the tear line prevents the corners defined between the side panels from being damaged and deformed and provides for smooth tearing of the tear line from the container. A second tear section is defined in the a portion of the container by a perforation line with the tear section being separable from the top portion thereby partially exposing the items contained in the container.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the inventive container;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a blank of the container shown in FIG. 1 with plurality of fold lines separating the blank to panels foldable about the fold lines;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a blank of an alternative embodiment of the container with a plurality of fold lines separating the blank into panels foldable about the fold lines;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the alternative embodiment of the inventive container;

FIG. 5 is a perspective fragmental view of the container shown in FIG. 4 and illustrating a tear line or strip having a multitude of perforations or slits spaced at different distances from one another; and

FIG. 6 a perspective view of the alternative embodiment of the inventive container shown in FIG. 4 illustrating the tear line being peeled from the container without damaging or deforming the corners of the container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the FIGS. 1 and 2, wherein like numerals indicate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, a container is generally shown at 10. The container 10 is formed from a blank of material, such as for example corrugated material, plastic or paperboard, generally shown at 12 in FIG. 2. The blank 12 includes an inner surface (not shown) and an outer surface, generally indicated at 16 and adapted for receiving printed material. The blank 12 is divided into four parts, such as, for example, a front panel 18, a back panel 20, and side panels 22, 24, with one of the side panels 22 being formed from two halves connected to one another by glue or other mechanical means known to those skilled in the art. In the illustrated embodiment, the front panel 18, the back panel 20, and the side panels 22 and 24 have equal heights and widths but other heights and widths would be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art.

The container 10 includes a tear line or tear tape 30 defined by spaced or opposing perforations 32 and 34 extending about periphery of the container 10. The tear tape 30 extends into a gripper 36. The gripper 36 is used by a consumer to tear the tear tape 30 along the spaced perforations 32 and 34 around the periphery of the container 10 to expose the container 10 to an open top as the bottom part, generally indicated at 28, remains as the base of the container 10. It should be understood that the use of top and bottom are for descriptive purposes only and the terms could be reversed without effecting the scope of the invention. Also, the tear tape 30 is shown as being parallel to the top or bottom, but it should be understood that the tear tape could be angled, shaped, curved etc. All items, such as bars, shown in phantom at 38, contained in the container 10 are exposed to and are accessible to the consumer. A top panel 26 integral with and foldable relative to the front panel 18 includes a section 40 extending to a thumb insert or puller 42 defined by a non-linear perforation 44. It should be understood that linear perforations could also be used and the section 40 could have any number of different shapes. Only a smaller part of the bars 38 is exposed to the consumer as the section 40 is removed from the top panel 26, which limits the number of the bars 38 removable by the consumer at one time. It should be understood that the container 10 could contain other products and could be of various sizes such as for example a larger container could be used to contain boxes of food, such as for example cereal boxes, or cartons containing light bulbs, pet supplies, etc.

Referring to FIGS. 3 through 6, an alternative embodiment of the container is generally shown at 50. A blank of the container 50 is generally indicated at 52 in FIG. 3. The blank 52 presents a plurality of panels, in particular, a front panel 54, a back panel 56, and side panels 58, 60 spaced by the front and back panels 54 and 56. Each of the aforementioned panels 54 through 60 extends to top and bottom flaps 62 through 76, respectively. Each panel 54 through 60 extends along common top and bottom axis A and B. The common top and bottom axis A and B define corners between the front panel 54, the back panel 56, and the side panels 58, 60, and the respective top and bottom flaps 62 through 76 as the blank 52 is erected to the container 50.

The side panel 58 is foldable relative to the front panel 54 about a first fold line 78, the front panel 54 is foldable relative the side panel 60 about a second fold line 80. Similarly, the back panel 56 is foldable relative the side panel 60 about a third foldable line 82. The side panel 58 includes a tear section 84 extending to a thumb insert or puller 86 defined by a non-linear perforation 88. Only smaller part of the bars 38 is exposed to the consumer (shown in phantom) as the tear section 84 is pealed away from the container 50.

The blank 52 includes first and second tear lines, generally indicated at 90 and 92, to facilitate opening the container 50 to provide access to the interior. The first tear line 90 is defined in the front panel 54 and respective flaps 66 and 68. Similarly, the second first tear line 92 is defined in the back panel 56 and respective flaps 74 and 76 and extends longitudinally relative to the third fold line 82. Each of the first and second tear lines 90 and 92 includes a multitude of slits or perforations 94 and 96. As best shown in FIG. 5, the slits 94, which are located in selected portions of the first and second tear lines 90 and 92, in particular where the tear lines 90 and 92 extend through the front panel 54 and the back panel 56, respectively, are substantially longer than the slits 96 in the tear lines 90 and 92 extending through the flaps 66, 68, 74, and 76 to facilitate cleanly tearing the first and second tear lines 90 and 92 across the corners without damaging or deforming the corners of the carton 50. The inventive configuration of the slits 94 and 96 may also be applicable in the design of the slits 32 and 34 of the tear line 30 of the container 10.

While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A container erected from a blank of a material for holding a product, said container comprising: a plurality of panels extending between a common top fold line and a common bottom fold line and foldable relative to one another along multiple fold lines thereby forming said container of a tubular configuration;a plurality of flaps integral with and foldable relative each of said panels along said common top and bottom fold lines to form a bottom end and a top end of said container;a tear section defined in one of said side panels by a perforation line with said tear section being separable from one of said side panels for partially exposing the product contained in said container.at least one peripheral tear line extending around said panels for exposing said carton to an open top thereby exposing all of the items.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein said one side panel has a width and said tear section has a width generally equal to said side panel width.

3. The container of claim 1, wherein said one side panel has a height, said tear section has a height that is less than said side panel height.

4. The container of claim 3, wherein said tear section height is less than ½ said side panel height.

5. The container of claim 3, wherein said tear section height is less than ⅓ said side panel height.

6. The container of claim 1, wherein said one side panel has a width and height, said tear section has a width generally equal to said side panel width and a height that is less than said side panel height.

7. The container of claim 1, wherein said said at least one peripheral tear line is defined by first and second multitude of slits with said slits of said first multitude being spaced one from another at a first distance as said at least one peripheral line extends through said flaps of one of said side panels and said slits of said second multitude being spaced at a second distance as said at least one peripheral tear line extends through one of said panels.

8. The container of claim 8, wherein said first distance is shorter than said second distance.

9. A container erected from a blank of a material for holding a product, said container comprising: a plurality of panels extending between a common top fold line and a common bottom fold line and foldable relative to one another along multiple fold lines thereby forming said container of a tubular configuration;a plurality of flaps integral with and foldable relative each of said panels along said common top and bottom fold lines to form a bottom end and a top end of said container;at least one peripheral tear line extending around said panels for exposing said carton to an open top thereby exposing all of the items; andsaid at least one peripheral tear line defined by first and second multitude of slits with said slits of said first multitude being spaced one from another at a first distance as said at least one peripheral line extends through said flaps of one of said side panels and said slits of said second multitude being spaced at a second distance as said at least one peripheral tear line extends through one of said panels.

10. The container of claim 9, wherein said first distance is shorter than said second distance.

11. The container of claim 9, further including a tear section defined in one of said side panels by a perforation line with said tear section being separable from one of said side panels for partially exposing the product contained in said container.

12. The container of claim 11, wherein said one side panel has a width and said tear section has a width generally equal to said side panel width.

13. The container of claim 11, wherein said one side panel has a height, said tear section has a height that is less than said side panel height.

14. The container of claim 13, wherein said tear section height is less than 1/2 said side panel height.

15. The container of claim 13, wherein said tear section height is less than ⅓ said side panel height.

16. The container of claim 11, wherein said one side panel has a width and height, said tear section has a width generally equal to said side panel width and a height that is less than said side panel height.

17. A container erected from a blank of a material for holding a product, said container comprising: a plurality of panels extending between a common top edge and a common bottom edge and foldable relative to one and the other along multiple fold lines thereby forming said container to a tubular configuration;a plurality of flaps integral with and foldable relative each of said panels to form a bottom portion and a top portion of said container;a peripheral tear line extending around said panels for disengaging one of said bottom portion or top portion from said container thereby exposing all of the items extending along said panel; anda tear section defined in one of said top portion or bottom portion by a perforation line with said tear section being separable from said top portion thereby partially exposing the items contained in said carton.

18. The container of claim 17, wherein said said at least one peripheral tear line is defined by first and second multitude of slits with said slits of said first multitude being spaced one from another at a first distance as said at least one peripheral line extends through said flaps of one of said side panels and said slits of said second multitude being spaced at a second distance as said at least one peripheral tear line extends through one of said panels, and said first distance is shorter than said second distance.

19. The container of claim 17, wherein said one side panel has a width and height, said tear section has a width generally equal to said side panel width and a height that is less than said side panel height.