Shipping and display carton

Abstract

An improved shipping and display carton (94) is provided which includes strategically located perforation lines (74-84) permitting removal of portions of the carton (94) to create a dual display. The side-by-side sections (96, 98) of the carton (94) may be individually used by manual separation thereof along a perforation line (40). The carton (94) is preferably fabricated using a preform (86), the latter produced using a unitary sheet blank (10).

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is broadly concerned with a simplified combination shipping and display carton which can be used as a conventional carton for shipping and storage purposes, but which can be readily altered so as to create a display carton, all without the necessity of removal of any merchandise from the carton. More particularly, the invention is concerned with such shipping and display cartons, as well as carton blanks and preforms used in the fabrication of the final cartons, wherein the cartons include a plurality of side-by-side but separable carton sections each of which can be used as an individual display.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A bewildering variety of shipping boxes and cartons have been produced in the past. Most commonly, these items are fabricated from paper or cardboard, and have been designed to meet both general and specialized needs of shippers. Box suppliers usually provide box blanks to their customers, which can be appropriately folded and glued on-site to form a complete shipping box or carton.

Traditionally, retail outlets receiving boxed merchandise open the boxes and remove and shelve the merchandise therein. This is time and labor-intensive, however, and moreover creates a waste problem because of the large number of discarded boxes. One expedient adopted by some retailers is to use a box cutter to cut upper portions of a shipping container, and to use the remainder as a merchandise holder or display. For example, a typical rectangular box may be cut all the way around leaving only the bottom wall and a short upstanding continuous sidewall. However, this practice is objectionable because the remainder of the box used for display purposes is normally unsightly. Also, the merchandise within the box may be damaged when the box is cut.

Combination cartons which can serve as both a shipping carton and as a display have been proposed in the past. However, these have generally been nothing more than a conventional box or carton with perforation lines to facilitate alteration of the carton for display purposes. As such, these combination cartons lack the flexibility of use which many retailers may desire.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the problems outlined above and provides an improved combination shipping and display carton usually but not necessarily formed of Kraft paper. The overall carton comprises first and second side-by-side cartons each presenting a bottom wall, an outer sidewall, a center vertical divider wall, a top wall, and front and back closure flaps secured to said first and second bottom walls and to said first and second outer sidewalls. Additionally, portions of the top walls, outer sidewalls, center vertical divider walls and the front and back closure flaps are interconnected to the corresponding walls and flaps by perforation lines. This renders these portions removable along the perforation lines, whereby each of the cartons can serve as a display. Additionally, the center vertical divider walls are adhesively secured together but manually separable from each other; to this end, a perforation line is provided between said bottom walls permitting full separation of said first and second cartons.

Preferably, the carton separation perforation line is located between the bottom walls of the respective juxtaposed cartons, and extends through and interconnects the front and back closure flaps secured to the first and second bottom walls.

In order to facilitate modification of the carton for display purposes, the first and second center vertical divider walls and the first and second outer sidewalls each have an oblique perforation line extending from one margin thereof toward the other margin thereof and terminate at a point spaced from the other margin. Also, the first and second top walls each have a perforation line extending between and interconnecting the adjacent ends of the oblique perforation lines.

The carton of the invention is preferably fabricated from a blank comprising a sheet of material presenting a series of interconnected sections each having opposed margins. Preferably, the sections include a first glue segment, a first central vertical divider wall, a first top wall, a first outer sidewall, a first bottom wall, a second bottom wall, a second outer sidewall, a second top wall, a second central vertical divider wall, and a second glue segment. The first top wall, first outer sidewall, first bottom wall, second bottom wall, second outer sidewall, and second top wall have opposed closure flaps connected thereto along fold lines which define the opposed margins of the corresponding sections. The first and second center vertical divider walls, the first and second outer sidewalls, and the first and second top walls each have the perforation lines described above. Moreover, the blank has a central perforation line between the first and second bottom walls.

The carton blanks may be shipped as is to an end user. However, in preferred practice, the blank is used to fabricate a carton preform which can be more readily employed by the end user to create the final desired carton. Such a preform comprises a sheet of material presenting a bottom portion and first and second opposed top portions connected to the bottom portion. The bottom portion presents a series of interconnected sections each having opposed margins; the bottom portion sections include a first outer sidewall, a first bottom wall, a second bottom wall and a second outer sidewall. The first and second top portions each have a corresponding series of interconnected sections each having opposed margins. The first top portion is connected to the first outer sidewall at a point remote from the first bottom wall and includes a first top wall, a first center vertical divider wall, and a first glue segment. Similarly, the second top portion is connected to the second outer sidewall at a point remote from the second bottom wall and has a second top wall, a second center vertical divider wall, and a second glue segment. The first and second portions are folded over the bottom portion, with the first and second glue segments folded against the corresponding first and second center vertical divider walls and glued to the adjacent first and second bottom walls. In the use of such a preform, it is only necessary to fold and glue the center vertical divider walls together, followed by gluing together of the carton flaps.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the preferred carton blank used in fabricating the cartons of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a carton preform fabricated using the blank of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the preform of FIG. 2, shown during initial stages of carton fabrication using the preform;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view similar to that of FIG. 3, but showing the next stage of carton fabrication;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a completed carton in accordance with the invention and showing the bottom and one sidewall of the carton;

FIG. 6 is another perspective view of the completed carton, depicting the top and other sidewall thereof;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the preferred carton of the invention, shown when used as a dual-carton display; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the separation of the dual display cartons to form individual display cartons.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Turning now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a carton blank 10 fabricated from a single, unitary piece of Kraft paperboard. The blank 10 presents a series of sections including, in order from left to right, a first glue segment 12, a first central vertical divider wall 14, a first top wall 16, a first outer sidewall 18, a first bottom wall 20, a second bottom wall 22, a second outer sidewall 24, a second top wall 26, a second central vertical divider wall 28, and second glue segment 30. Each of the sections 12-30 has an upper and a lower margin referred to by reference letters “a” and “b” respectively; as shown, the upper and lower margins for the sections 16-26 are in the form of fold lines. In addition, it will be seen that the sections are interconnected by essentially mutually parallel fold lines 32-38, central perforation line 40, and fold lines 42-48.

The top wall 16, first outer sidewall 18, first bottom wall 20, second bottom wall 22, second outer sidewall 24 and second top wall 26 each have opposed and closure flaps, namely, in order from left to right in FIG. 1, flaps 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68 and 70, 72. The respective flaps 50-72 are connected to the associated blank sections by the mutually parallel fold lines 16a, 16b, 18a, 18b, 20a, 20b, 22a, 22b, 24a, 24b, 26a, and 26b. Finally, it will be seen that the first and second glue segments 12 and 30 have upwardly extending auxiliary glue flaps 73 which are connected to the associated segments via fold lines 73a.

The blank 10 also has a number of perforation lines, including the previously mentioned line 40 which extends the full height of the blank and defines a separation line between the bottom walls 20 and 22, flaps 58 and 62, and flaps 62,64. Moreover, the first and second central vertical divider walls 14 and 28 each have an oblique perforation line 74, 76 which extends from the upper margin 14a, 28a downwardly toward the lower margin 14b, 28b, and terminating above the latter. The first and second top walls 16, 26 also have a perforation line 78, 80 which is substantially parallel with the corresponding margin 16b, 26b and extends from the end of the corresponding line 74 or 76 the full width of the wall. Finally, the first and second outer sidewalls 18, 24 have an oblique perforation line 82, 84 which extends upwardly from the associated lines 78 or 80 to the upper margin 18a, 24a. It will also be observed that this perforation line extends vertically upwardly through the closure flaps 54, 62, so as to divide the latter into two flap sections 54a, 54b and 66a, 66b.

The blank 10 may be manufactured and sold as is, but more preferably is used to fabricate a carton preform 86 depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3. The preform has a bottom portion 88 as well as first and second opposed top portions 90, 92 connected to and folded over the bottom portion 88. The bottom portion is made up of first outer sidewall 18, first bottom wall 20, second bottom wall 22 and second outer sidewall 24, together associated with the closure flaps. The first top portion 90 is folded over along fold line 36 and has first top wall 16, first central vertical divider wall 14 and first glue segment 12. In like manner, the second top portion 92 is folded over bottom portion 88 along fold line 44 and has second top wall 26, second vertical divider wall 28 and second glue segment 30. In order to complete the preform 86, the glue segments 12 and 30 are folded back upon the adjacent center vertical divider walls 14 and 28 in a face-to-face relationship. Then, the surfaces of the glue segments 12 and 30, and the surfaces of the auxiliary glue flaps 73, remote from the center vertical divider walls 14 and 28 are glued to the first and second bottom walls 20, 22, and to the flaps 58, 62 thereof, so that the perforation fold line 40 is between the glued segments and flaps. This relationship is best seen in FIG. 3.

The carton preform 86 can readily be used to form a complete combination shipping and display carton 94 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. In the first step shown in FIG. 3, the portions 90 and 92 are folded toward each other about the fold lines 38, 42 until the first and second center vertical divider walls 14 and 28 come into close, face-to-face relationship. During or prior to this folding step, a small amount of glue is applied to one of the center divider walls below the perforation lines 72, 76 so that, when the divider walls are pressed together, the preform assumes the configuration of FIG. 4. That is, the preform in this condition presents a pair of side-by-side sections 96 and 98.

In order to complete the carton 94 it is only necessary to fold the closure flaps inwardly upon each other with appropriate application of glue. In practice, the flaps 56 and 68 are folded inwardly, whereupon flaps 56, 62 and 60, 64 are folded atop the flaps 56 and 68 and glued thereto. This forms a back wall 100 for the carton (FIG. 5). At this point the carton 94 presents a pair of open sections 96, 98 adapted to receive any suitable merchandise. These sections are filled, and the carton is closed by folding inwardly the flaps 66a, 66b and 54a, 54b, followed by application of glue and folding flaps 50 and 70 and 58 and 62 atop the flaps 66a, 66b and 54a, 54b. This creates a front wall 102 and the finishes the carton 94.

The merchandise can then be shipped within the carton 94 in the usual manner. If it is desired to use the carton 94 for display purposes, it is only necessary to remove the portions of the first and second top walls 16, 26, first outer sidewalls 18, 24, first and second central vertical divider walls 14, 28 and the flap sections 54a, 66a from the carton, so that the carton assumes the configuration of FIG. 7. Such portion removal is accomplished by manually grasping the portions of the carton defined by perforation lines 74, 76, 78, 80 and 82, and to manually detach these portions from the remainder of the carton.

It is also possible to separate the two sections 6, 98 of the carton 94 so that each may be used as a separate display container, such as depicted in FIG. 8. This involves merely manually tearing along the perforation line 40 throughout the extent of the bottom walls 20, 22, and to also separate the flaps 58, 62 and 60, 64.

While the carton 94 of the invention may be fabricated from Kraft or similar paper, the invention is not so limited. In some instances, the carton may be produced using white or other colored stock, with advertising or other printing thereon. For example, the outer faces of the flaps 58, 62 may bear such printing.

Claims

1. A carton blank comprising a sheet of material presenting a series of interconnected sections each having opposed margins, said series of sections including a first glue segment, a first central vertical divider wall, a first top wall, a first outer sidewall, a first bottom wall, a second bottom wall, a second outer sidewall, a second top wall, a second central vertical divider wall, and a second glue segment, said first top wall, first outer sidewall, first bottom wall, second bottom wall, second outer sidewall, and second top wall having opposed closure flaps connected thereto along fold lines which define said opposed margins thereof, said first and second center vertical divider walls, and said first and second outer sidewalls, each having an oblique perforation line extending from one margin thereof toward the other margin thereof and terminating at a point spaced from said other margin, said first and second top walls each having a perforation line extending between and interconnecting the adjacent ends of said oblique perforation lines, there being a perforation line between said first and second bottom walls and the closure flaps connected to the first and second bottom walls.

2. The blank of claim 1, there being a perforation line formed in one of the closure flaps of each of said first and second outer sidewalls, each of said closure flap perforation lines extending from the end of the corresponding oblique perforation line at said one margin, and permitting separation of the one closure flaps into two sections.

3. The blank of claim 1, said sheet of material being formed of Kraft paper.

4. The blank of claim 1, said first and second glue segments each having an auxiliary glue flap extending from a margin thereof and connected to the corresponding glue segment along a fold line.

5. A carton preform comprising a sheet of material presenting a bottom portion and first and second opposed top portions connected to said bottom portion, said bottom portion presenting a series of interconnected sections each having opposed margins, said series of sections of said bottom portion including a first outer sidewall, a first bottom wall, a second bottom wall and a second outer sidewall, said first and second top portions each including a corresponding series of interconnected sections each having opposed margins, said first top portion connected to said first outer sidewall at a point remote from said first bottom wall and including a first top wall, a first center vertical divider wall, and a first glue segment, said second top portion connected to said second outer sidewall at a point remote from said second bottom wall and including a second top wall, a second center vertical divider wall, and a second glue segment, said first and second portions folded over said bottom portion with the first and second glue segments folded against the corresponding first and second center vertical divider walls and glued to the corresponding first and second bottom walls, there being opposed closure flaps connected to said segments forming said bottom portion along the margins thereof, and to the first and second top walls of said first and second portions.

6. The carton preform of claim 5, there being first and second auxiliary glue flaps extending upwardly from the top margin of the corresponding first and second glued segments, said glue flaps being glued to the adjacent closure flaps of said first and second bottom walls.

7. The carton preform of claim 5, segments of said first center vertical divider wall, first top flap and first outer sidewall, and segments of said second vertical divider wall, second top flap and second outer sidewall, being removable.

8. The carton preform of claim 7, said segments being defined by perforations lines.

9. The carton preform of claim 8, said first and second center vertical divider walls, and said first and second outer sidewalls, each having an oblique perforation line extending from one margin thereof toward the other margin thereof and terminating at a point spaced from said other margin, said first and second top walls each having a perforation line extending between and interconnecting the adjacent ends of said oblique perforation lines.

10. The carton preform of claim 5, there being a perforation line between said first and second bottom walls and the closure flaps connected to the first and second bottom walls

11. The carton preform of claim 5, said sheet of material being formed of Kraft paper.

12. A combination shipping and display carton comprising a first and second side-by-side cartons each presenting a bottom wall, an outer sidewall, a center vertical divider wall, a top wall, and front and back closure flaps secured to said first and second bottom walls and to said first and second outer sidewalls, portions of said top walls, outer sidewalls, center vertical divider walls and said front and back closure flaps being interconnected to the corresponding walls and flaps by perforation lines, said portions being removable along said perforation lines whereby each of said cartons can serve as a display, said center vertical divider walls being adhesively secured together but manually separable from each other, there being a perforation line between said bottom walls permitting full separation of said first and second cartons.

13. The combination shipping and display carton of claim 12, said perforation line between said bottom walls extending through and interconnecting the front and back closure flaps secured to said first and second bottom walls.

14. The combination shipping and display carton of claim 12, said first and second center vertical divider walls, and said first and second outer sidewalls, each having an oblique perforation line extending from one margin thereof toward the other margin thereof and terminating at a point spaced from said other margin, said first and second top walls each having a perforation line extending between and interconnecting the adjacent ends of said oblique perforation lines.

15. The combination shipping and display carton of claim 12, said carton formed of Kraft paper.