Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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A Display Carton for a Plurality of Products
Background of the Invention
[0001] This invention relates to a display carton blank, and display carton
for a
plurality of products where the contained products are maintained in a set
array in
the carton. The carton is comprised of a carton and a separator, the separator
being
maintained in place by recesses in the sidewalls of the carton. The carton
front
surface can be at least partially transparent. Other surfaces also can be at
least
partially transparent.
[0002] Many products are sold in amounts of two to ten or more. Many of these
products are preferably displayed and maintained in a set array in the carton.
Being
maintained in a set array is useful in cases where the units are to be seen
through an
at least partially transparent front surface. The units that can be seen
through the
front surface can be a significant factor in the product being purchased. The
products are preferably displayed neatly to convey the proper message about
the
product to the prospective purchaser. In addition, the carton should be of a
low
cost, structurally stable, tamper evident and versatile in display. As used
herein,
versatile in display means that the carton can be displayed both resting on a
store
shelf and suspended from a peg or similar hardware that extends outwardly from
a
vertical support. When the product can be displayed sitting on a store shelf
it then
also can be stored on a shelf at the purchaser's residence. Storability by the
purchaser is convenient because the units in the carton may be used over a
period of
time. The carton should have sufficient structural stability so as not to be
damaged
during shipping and handling and display at the retail outlet. It also should
be
sufficiently durable to protect the contained units from any damage. To be
tamper
evident, it should be discernable from a casual inspection whether the carton
has
been the subject of any tampering.
[0003] The present carton solves the above problems through a unique structure
for
the carton. The carton has a unique carton structure, a unique product
separator
structure, and a unique carton/ product separator interfitting structure. Low
cost is
achieved by the use of a design that minimizes the amount of material yet
maintains
sufficient strength. This results in a display carton for a plurality of
products at a
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low cost, one which is structurally stable, is tamper evident, and is
versatile in
display.
Brief Summary of the Invention
[0004] The present invention is directed to a display carton for a plurality
of
products. In one embodiment, the carton comprises a front panel and a rear
panel,
the front panel and the rear panel connected one to the other by a top panel
and a
bottom panel, each of the front panel, the top panel and the bottom panel
having
appended side flaps. Each of the top panel and side panel appended side flaps
has a
recess, the recesses of the top panel flaps being in alignment with the
recesses of the
bottom panel flaps to form combined recesses in the sidewall of the carton.
There is
a product separator within the carton, the product separator having a
separator
panel with an appended first panel and an appended second panel, each of the
first
panel and the second panel being fitted into the combined recess in the
sidewall of
the carton to thereby secure the product separator within the carton. The
product
separator maintaining the position of the products displayed in the carton.
[0005] The carton has at least one surface which is at least partially
transparent in
order to display the container products. This preferably is the front surface.
Other
surfaces, such as the top surface can be at least partially transparent. The
product
separator will maintain the product units adjacent the front panel and any
other
panel with an at least partially transparent surface in a neat array.
[0006] The front panel side flaps have appended glue flaps, there being a
score line
between each of the side flaps and the glue flaps. The glue flap is at an
angle to the
side flap. Each glue flap has a plurality glue tabs, the appended glue flaps
attaching
to the rear panel of the carton.
[0007] The first panel and the second panel of the product separator have a
shape
which conforms to the shape of the combined recesses, the first panel and the
second
panel preferably having a rectangular shape with the combined recesses having
a
conforming rectangular shape.
[0008] The top panel has an attached first hanger panel and the rear panel has
an
attached second hanger panel, the first hanger panel and the second hanger
panel
jointly forming a common hanger panel of the carton. The second hanger panel
has
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breakaway glue tabs to secure the rear panel in a closed position and a
remaining bendable tab
to maintain the rear panel closed.
[0009] The product separator has apertures and a product separator weakened
area to
promote a partial fold. The apertures provide for a gripping of the product
separator. The
partial fold provides for a way to insert and to remove the product separator.
The product
separator provides for product to be maintained between the front panel and
the product
separator and the rear panel and the product separator.
[0010] The carton is constructed from a carton blank which is comprised of a
front panel
with an attached top panel at one end and an attached bottom panel at another
end. A rear
panel is attached to the bottom panel. Each of the front panel, top panel and
the bottom panel
have side flaps, the rear panel being devoid of side flaps. The top panel has
a first hanger
panel and the rear panel has a second hanger panel, each hanger panel having
an aperture.
The top panel side flaps and the bottom panel side flaps each has a recess,
the recesses
aligning when the carton blank is formed into a carton to form common
recesses. Each front
panel flap has an appended glue flap, each glue flap having a plurality of
glue tabs. The front
= panel of the carton blank is at least partially transparent.
[0010a] Another aspect of the invention relates to a carton comprising a front
panel and a
rear panel, the front panel and the rear panel connected one to the other by a
top panel and a
bottom panel, each of the front panel, the top panel and the bottom panel
having appended
side flaps, each of said appended side flaps of the top panel and of the
bottom panel having a
recess, the recesses of the top panel flaps being in alignment with the
recesses of the bottom
panel flaps to form combined recesses, a product separator in the carton, the
product separator
having a separator panel with a first panel and a second panel, each of the
first panel and the
second panel being fitted into a respective combined recess to thereby secure
the product
separator in the carton, wherein the first panel and the second panel have a
planar shape which
conforms to a planar shape of the combined recesses and the first and second
panels are
coplanar with the respective combined recess and side flaps.
[0011] The carton can be made of a wide range of materials. These range from
various
paperboards to various plastics.
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Brief Description of the Drawings
[0012] Figure 1 is a plan view of the carton blank for forming the carton.
[0013] Figure 2 is a plan view of the product separator for the carton.
[0014] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the carton.
[0015] Figure 4 is a perspective view of the carton of Figure 3 with the
product separator
seen through a transparent front surface.
[0016] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the carton along line 5-5 of
Figure 4.
[0017] Figure 6 is a front elevation view of the carton of Figure 4 with two
units of product
displayed through the front surface.
[0018] Figure 7 is a rear elevation view of the carton of Figure 4.
[0019] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the carton along line 8-8 of
Figure 7.
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100201 Figure 9 is a view of the carton of Figure 4 being opened.
[0021] Figure 10 is a view of the carton of Figure 10 partially opened.
[0022] Figure 11 is a view of the carton of Figure 10 being reclosed.
Detailed Description of the Invention
[0023] Referring to FIG. 1, a blank 11 for forming a display carton 10 (FIG.
4) is
illustrated. The blank 11 is comprised of a front panel 12 with a transparent
front
panel window 14. At one end of the front panel 12 is a top panel 18. The
transparent front panel window 14 of the front panel 12 is shown as extending
into
the top panel 18. The size, shape and orientation of the panel window 14 is
not
limited to that illustrated in FIG. 1. The panel window 14 could be smaller or
larger
and of any shape and orientation as long as products in the carton 10 are
visible
from outside of the carton 10. Attached to the top panel 18 is a first hanger
panel 22
which has a first hanger panel aperture 21. Attached to the front panel 12
opposite
the top panel 18 is a bottom panel 20 with a rear panel 16 attached to the
other end
of the bottom panel 20. Attached to the bottom panel 20 is a second hanger
panel 24
which has a second hanger panel aperture 23. The second hanger panel 24 has a
plurality of weakened lines 13 delineating a plurality of break-away glue tabs
17.
The front panel 12, top panel 18 and the bottom panel 20 each have side flaps
30, 32,
26, 26, 34, 36. There are no side flaps on the rear panel 16, or on the front
hanger
panel 22, or on the rear hanger panel 24.
[0024] The front panel 12 has a left side flap 30 and a right side flap 32.
Each of these
side flaps 30, 32 has an appended glue flap 31, 33. The left side glue flap 31
is
appended to the left side flap 30 and the right side glue flap 33 is attached
to the
right side flap 32. There is a weakened area 15 between each of the glue flaps
31, 33
and the side flap 30, 32 to which it is appended. Each of the right side glue
flap 32
and the left side glue flap 30 has a plurality of glue tabs 38, each glue tab
38 outlined
with a weakened area 38(a). The glue tabs 38 are a part of the tamper evident
structure of the carton. The glue tabs 38 will attach to the inner surface of
the rear
panel 16 when the carton blank 11 has been folded to construct the carton 10
(shown
in FIG. 4). When the carton 10 is opened the glue tabs 38 will remain attached
to the
inner surface of the rear panel 16 because the weakened areas 38(a) will
sever.
When it is seen that the glue tabs 38 are attached to the inner surface of the
rear
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panel 16 there is evidence that the carton 10 has been opened or tampered.
Similarly, the weakened lines 13 of the back panel provide the second hanger
panel
24 with break-away glue tabs 17. When the rear panel 16 is pulled outward, the
break-away glue tabs 17 sever along weakened lines 13 and remain attached to
the
front hanger panel 22.
[00251 The top panel 18 has a right side top flap 28 with a right side top
flap recess
27, and a left side top flap 26 with a left side top flap recess 25. The
bottom panel 20
has a right side bottom flap 36 which has a right side bottom flap recess 37
and a left
side bottom flap 34 with a left side bottom flap recess 35. When the bottom
panel 20
and the top panel 18, with their attached side flaps 34, 36, are folded to
form the
carton 10, the left side top panel flap recess 25 and the left side bottom
panel flap
recess 35 will form a single combined recess 25/35 along the inner surface of
left
side flap 30. Likewise the right side top panel flap recess 27 and the right
side
bottom panel flap 37 will form a combined recess 27/37 along the inner surface
of
the right side flap 32. These combined recesses 25/35 and 27/37 serve to
secure the
product separator 40 in the carton 10.
[0026] The product separator 40 is shown in Figure 2. This product separator
40 is
comprised of a separator panel 42 with grip apertures 41. The separator panel
42
has a separator panel top flap 48 and a separator panel bottom flap 46. There
can be
a weakened area 47 to allow for a slight bending of the separator panel 42
when the
grip apertures 41 are gripped and lightly pulled together. This facilitates
the
insertion and removal of the product separator 40 from the carton 10. The
separator
panel top flap 48 and a separator panel bottom flap 46 serve to align and
support the
product separator 40 in the carton 10. The separator panel 42 has a first
panel 14 and
a second panel 45. Between the separator panel 42 and the first panel 44 and a
second panel 45 there is a weakened area 39 depicted as a scored line. There
will be
a bend of about 75 to 105 degrees at this weakened line 39. Usually the bend
will be
about 90 degrees. The first panel 44 and a second panel 45 will fit into
combined
recesses 25/35 and 27/37. The exact combined recess into which first locking
panel
44 and a second locking panel 45 will fit into will be determined by the
orientation
of the product separator 40 when it is inserted into the carton 10. The
product
separator 40 is secured in the carton 10. Secured means that the product
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40 is supported in a stable position when it is inserted into combined
recessed 25/35
and 27/37. The product separator remains detachable and removable from the
carton 10.
[0027] Figures 3 and 4 show carton 10 formed from the carton blank 11 of
Figure 1.
Figure 3 shows the carton 10 without the product separator 40 while Figure 4
shows
the carton 10 with the product separator 40. The carton 10 is comprised of
front
panel 12 with transparent front panel window 14. There is seen right side flap
32,
top panel 18, and combined apertures of first hanger panel 22 with first
hanger
panel 22 and second hanger panel 24. In Figure 4 there is additionally seen
the inner
surface of left side flap 30, the separator panel 42, and the separator panel
grip
apertures 41. All of the other parts of the carton 10 of Figure 4 are the same
as that
shown in Figure 3. All of the parts of the carton 10 of Figures 3 and 4 can be
seen in
the carton blank 11 of Figure 1 and the product separator 40 of Figure 2.
[0028] Figure 5 is a cross-section of the carton 10 of Figure 4 along line 5-
5. There is
shown in this view the carton 10 with front panel 12 and front panel window
14,
rear panel 16 and bottom panel 20. The front panel 12 has left side flap 30
with
attached left side glue flap 31 and right side flap 32 with attached right
side glue flap
33. Each glue flap has glue tabs 38. These are attached to the inner surface
of rear
panel 16. Left side bottom flap 34 forms part of combined recess 25/35 and
right
side bottom flap 36 forms part of combined recess 35/37. The product separator
40
has grip apertures 41with first panel 44 and second panel 45 of the separator
panel
42. The first panel fits into combined recess 25/35 and second panel 45 fits
into
combined recess 27/37. The separator bottom panel 46 comprises the weakened
bend area 47.
[0029] Figure 6 is a front elevation view of the carton 10 filled with product
packages
50 and 52. These product packages 50/52 are between the front panel 12 and the
product separator 40. The product packages 50/52 are shown as thermoformed
packs, each containing two portable toothbrushes. The thermoformed pack 50
contains toothbrushes 54 and 55 and has a product package aperture 51 for the
option of hanging the product. The thermoformed pack 52 contains toothbrushes
56
and 57 and has a product package aperture 58. Figure 7 is a rear elevation
view of
the carton 10. There is shown rear panel 16, second hanger panel 24 and second
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hanger panel aperture 23. The second hanger panel 24 reinforces the first
hanger
panel 22. The second hanger panel has weakened line 13 that delineates break-
away
glue tabs 17. There also is a fold line 24(a) where the remaining part of
second
hanger 24 can bend and aid in re-closing the carton after an initial opening.
This is
shown in more detail in Figure 11.
[0030] Figure 8 is a cross-section view of a side of the carton 10 along line
8-8 of
Figure 7. This view shows the left side of the carton 10 with the product
separator
40 in place. There is shown front panel 12 with front window panel 14. The top
panel 18 and bottom panel 20 along with rear panel 16 complete the basic
structure
of the carton 10. The left side flap 30 has appended left side glue flap 31
with glue
tabs 38. Glue tabs 38 attach the left side glue flap 31 to the rear panel 16.
The top
panel flap 26 and the bottom panel flap 34 form the combined recess 25/35 into
which the first locking panel 44 of the separator 40 fits. This secures the
separator 40
in place in the carton 10. The first hanger panel 22 and the second hanger
panel 24
also are shown in this view.
[0031] Figure 9 shows the carton 10 being opened. Figure 10 shows the carton
10
partially opened. Figure 11 shows the carton 10 being reclosed. In Figure 9,
hands
60 and 62 remove the rear panel 16 by pulling the rear panel 16 away from the
remainder of the carton 10, thereby breaking the glue tabs 38. The glue tabs
38 are
attached to the left side glue flap 31 prior to opening and to rear panel 16
after
opening. When the rear panel 16 is fully removed the product units can be
removed
from the carton 10. Also shown in this view, are the second hanger panel 24
and the
second hanger panel aperture 23. With this second hanger panel aperture 23 in
combination with the first hanger panel aperture 21, the carton 10 can be
displayed
on a peg at a store. There is shown front panel 12 with front panel window 14,
rear
panel 16 and bottom panel 20. The rear panel 16 has the glue tabs 38 attached,
these
having been severed from left side glue flap 31via weakened lines 38(a) on
left side
glue flap 31. The second hanger panel 24 and the first hanger panel 22 are
shown
separated with the carton being opened. The break-away glue tabs 17 are shown
having been severed from the second hanger panel 24 and attached to the first
hanger panel 22. The remaining part of the second hanger panel 24 can be
gripped
to open the carton 10. After an initial opening of the carton 10, the carton
10 can be
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reclosed and the remaining part of second hanger panel 24 folded to about a
right
angle and inserted into space 29 under the top panel 18. This will keep the
rear
panel 16 in a closed position until there is to be another removal of a
product from
the carton 10. This is shown in more detail in Figure 11. This view shows the
remaining part of second hanger panel 24 (breakaway tabs 17 removed) folded
along line 24(a) and inserted into space 29 below top panel 18.
[0032] This carton 10 is useful in the display and sale of a wide range of
products. A
row of the products can be displayed inside the front panel window 14, between
the
front panel window 14 and the product separator 40. The products between the
front panel window 14 and the product separator 40 will be held in a neat
array.
The products between the product separator 40 and the rear panel 16 can be in
any
array. These products will not be seen at the time of purchase. In Figure 6
the
products were shown to be toothbrushes. The carton 10 has been found
particularly
useful for this type of a product. However, it can be used for a wide range of
products.
[00331 The carton 10 can be made of a wide range of materials. These range
from
various paperboards to various plastics. The paperboards can be virgin folding
box
boards and bleached boards. Also various grades of recycled paperboards can be
used. The useful paperboards include various Swissboards. The paperboards have
a weight of about 250 to about 500 g/m2 and a thickness of about 0.25
millimeter to
about 1.5 millimeters. The plastics that can be used in place of paperboards
include
polyethylenes, polypropylenes, ethylene copolymers, propylene copolymers,
vinyl
polymers and copolymers, acrylic polymers and copolymers and polyesters such
as
polyethylene terephthalate. The transparent front panel window can be a
clarified
polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride or polyethylene terephthalate. The plastics
will
have a thickness of about .015millimeters to about .25 millimeters.
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