Carton blank, carton and method

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a carton and a carton blank having a first sidewall panel, a second sidewall panel joined to the first sidewall panel by a first fold line and a third sidewall panel joined to the first sidewall panel by a second fold line. The carton and carton blank may further have a first top panel joined to the first sidewall panel by a third fold line, a second top panel joined to the second sidewall panel by a fourth fold line and a third top panel joined to the third sidewall panel by a fifth fold line. The second top panel may have a sixth fold line extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the fourth fold line, a first score line intersecting the sixth fold line and wherein the first score line at least partially defines a first tab portion extending from the sixth fold line in a first direction. The third top panel may further include a seventh fold line extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the fifth fold line, a second score line intersecting the seventh fold line and wherein the second score line at least partially defines a second tab portion extending from the seventh fold line in a second direction opposite the first direction. Also disclosed herein is a method of retaining a flip top lid in an open position.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A carton blank comprising: 
 at least one first sidewall panel;    at least one second sidewall panel joined to said at least one first sidewall panel by a first fold line;    at least one third sidewall panel joined to said at least one first sidewall panel by a second fold line;    at least one first top panel joined to said at least one first sidewall panel by at least one third fold line;    at least one second top panel joined to said at least one second sidewall panel by at least one fourth fold line;    at least one third top panel joined to said at least one third sidewall panel by at least one fifth fold line;    said at least one second top panel further comprising: 
 at least one sixth fold line extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to said at least one fourth fold line;  
 at least one first score line intersecting said at least one sixth fold line; and  
 wherein said at least one first score line at least partially defines at least one first tab portion extending from said at least one sixth fold line in a first direction;  
   said at least one third top panel further comprising: 
 at least one seventh fold line extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to said at least one fifth fold line;  
 at least one second score line intersecting said at least one seventh fold line; and  
 wherein said at least one second score line at least partially defines at least one second tab portion extending from said at least one  
 seventh fold line in a second direction  
 opposite said first direction.  
   
     
     
         2 . The carton blank of  claim 1  and further wherein said at least one sixth fold line and said at least one seventh fold line are located so that they are in a superposed relationship when said carton blank is erected into a carton and said at least one third top panel is superposed over said at least one second top panel.  
     
     
         3 . The carton blank of  claim 1  and further wherein said at least one sixth fold line comprises at least a pair of spaced apart sixth fold lines.  
     
     
         4 . The carton blank of  claim 3  and further wherein said at least one first score line extends between said at least a pair of spaced apart sixth fold lines.  
     
     
         5 . The carton blank of  claim 1  and further wherein said at least one first score line comprises an arcuate shaped score line.  
     
     
         6 . The carton blank of  claim 1  and further comprising: 
 a first inner layer located opposite at least portions of said first, second and third sidewall panels;  
 said first inner layer comprising at least a first partial sidewall panel, a second partial sidewall panel and a third partial sidewall panel, said first partial sidewall panel being joined to said second and third partial sidewall panels by opposite fold lines;  
 said opposite fold lines defining a first partial sidewall panel width extending therebetween;  
 said first fold line and said second fold line defining a first sidewall panel width extending therebetween;  
 said first sidewall panel width and said first partial sidewall panel width being substantially the same;  
 said first inner layer having an upper edge portion and a lower edge portion;  
 at least a portion of said first partial sidewall panel being secured to at least a portion of said first sidewall panel;  
 said upper edge portion being located adjacent to but spaced from at least a portion of said third, fourth and fifth fold lines.  
 
     
     
         7 . The carton blank of  claim 6  and further comprising: 
 a second inner layer comprising a sheet of a relatively flexible fluid impervious material;  
 at least a portion of said second inner layer being secured to at least a portion of said first sidewall panel;  
 at least a portion of said second inner layer being secured to at least a portion of said first inner layer;  
 
     
     
         8 . The carton blank of  claim 7  wherein said second inner layer comprises a weakened portion located adjacent to but spaced from said upper edge portion of said first inner layer.  
     
     
         9 . The carton blank of  claim 6  wherein said first inner layer comprises a generally rectangular sheet of a relatively rigid material.  
     
     
         10 . A dispensing carton comprising: 
 at least one first sidewall panel;    at least one second sidewall panel joined to said at least one first sidewall panel by a first fold line;    at least one third sidewall panel joined to said at least one first sidewall panel by a second fold line;    at least one first top panel joined to said at least one first sidewall panel by at least one third fold line;    at least one second top panel joined to said at least one second sidewall panel by at least one fourth fold line;    at least one third top panel joined to said at least one third sidewall panel by at least one fifth fold line;    said at least one second top panel further comprising: 
 at least one sixth fold line extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to said at least one fourth fold line;  
 at least one first score line intersecting said at least one sixth fold line; and  
 wherein said at least one first score line at least partially defines at least one first tab portion extending from said at least one sixth fold line in a first direction; said at least one third top panel further comprising:  
 at least one seventh fold line extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to said at least one fifth fold line;  
 at least one second score line intersecting said at least one seventh fold line; and  
 wherein said at least one second score line at least partially defines at least one second tab portion extending from said at least one seventh fold line in a second direction opposite said first direction.  
   
     
     
         11 . The dispensing carton of  claim 10  and further wherein said at least one sixth fold line is superposed with said at least one seventh fold line.  
     
     
         12 . The dispensing carton of  claim 10  and further wherein said at least one sixth fold line comprises at least a pair of oppositely spaced apart sixth fold lines.  
     
     
         13 . The dispensing carton of  claim 12  and further wherein said at least one first score line extends between said at least a pair of oppositely spaced apart sixth fold lines.  
     
     
         14 . The dispensing carton of  claim 10  and further wherein said at least one first score line comprises an arcuate shaped score line.  
     
     
         15 . The dispensing carton of  claim 10  and further comprising: 
 a first inner layer located opposite portions of said first, second and third sidewall panels;  
 said first inner layer comprising at least a first partial sidewall panel, a second partial sidewall panel and a third partial sidewall panel, said first partial sidewall panel being joined to said second and third partial sidewall panels by opposite fold lines;  
 said opposite fold lines defining a first partial sidewall width extending therebetween;  
 said first fold line and said second fold line defining a first sidewall panel width extending therebetween;  
 said first sidewall panel width and said first partial sidewall panel width being substantially the same;  
 said first inner layer having an upper edge portion and a lower edge portion;  
 at least a portion of said first partial sidewall panel adjacent to said lower edge portion being secured to at least a portion of said first sidewall panel;  
 said upper edge portion being located adjacent to but spaced from said third, fourth and fifth fold lines.  
 
     
     
         16 . The dispensing carton of  claim 15  and further comprising: 
 a second inner layer comprising a generally rectangular sheet of a relatively flexible fluid impervious material;  
 at least a portion of said second inner layer being secured to at least a portion of said outer layer;  
 at least a portion of said second inner layer being secured to at least a portion of said first inner layer  
 
     
     
         17 . The dispensing carton of  claim 16  wherein said second inner layer having a weakened portion located adjacent to but spaced from said upper edge portion of said first inner layer.  
     
     
         18 . The carton blank of  claim 15  wherein said first inner layer comprises a generally rectangular sheet of a relatively rigid material.  
     
     
         19 . A method comprising: 
 providing a container comprising: 
 at least one first sidewall panel;  
 at least one second sidewall panel;  
 at least one third sidewall panel joined to said at least one first sidewall panel by at least one first fold line and to said at least one second sidewall panel by at least one second fold line;  
 at least one first top panel joined to said at least one first sidewall panel by at least one third fold line;  
 at least one second top panel joined to said at least one second sidewall panel by at least one fourth fold line;  
 said at least one first top panel further comprising at least one fifth fold line extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to said at least one third fold line;  
 said at least one second top panel further comprising at least one sixth fold line extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to said at least one fourth fold line;  
 said at least one fifth fold line and said at least one sixth fold line being in superposed relationship, thereby forming a hinge;  
 at least one first score line formed in said at least one first sidewall panel, said at least one first score line extending from said at least one third fold line to said at least one first fold line;  
 at least one second score line formed in said at least one second sidewall panel, said at least one second score line extending from said at least one fourth fold line to said at least one second fold line;  
 at least one third score line formed in said at least one third sidewall panel, said at least one third score line extending from said at least one first score line to said at least one second score line;  
 said at least one first, at least one second and at least one third score lines together at least partially defining a flip top lid in said container;  
   moving said flip top lid from a closed position to an open position by rotating said flip top lid about said hinge; and    releasably retaining said flip top lid in said open position.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein: 
 said at least one fifth fold line comprises at least a pair of spaced fifth fold lines.  
 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein: 
 said at least one first top panel further comprises at least one fourth score line extending between said at least a pair of spaced fifth fold lines; and  
 said at least one fourth score line at least partially defines at least one first tab portion in said at least one first top panel.  
 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein: 
 said at least one sixth fold line comprises at least a pair of spaced sixth fold lines;  
 said at least one second top panel further comprises at least one fifth score line extending between said at least a pair of spaced sixth fold lines; and  
 said at least one fifth score line at least partially defines at least one second tab portion in said at least one second top panel.  
 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein said releasably retaining said flip top lid in said open position comprises contacting said at least one first tab portion with said at least one second tab portion.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22  wherein: 
 said at least one first tab portion extends from said at least a pair of spaced fifth fold lines;  
 said at least one second tab portion extends in a second direction from said at least a pair of spaced sixth fold lines; and  
 said first direction is opposite said second direction.