Wrap-type carton

Abstract

The present invention provides a carton used for packaging and displaying goods. The carton includes a transparent, plastic blank which is folded to encapsulate and secure the goods therein. The carton further includes a cardboard blank which is folded and wrapped around the plastic blank. The cardboard blank is secured to itself by a friction fit. The cardboard blank provides a front face of the carton such that the front face of the carton can be dedicated to full, stylish graphics. The cardboard blank further provides a back face of the carton and has an aperture therethrough such that the back face of the carton provides visibility to the plastic blank and, thus, the goods encapsulated within the plastic blank.

1 . A carton for packaging goods, said carton comprising: 
 an inner portion formed of a transparent material, said inner portion being configured to encapsulate and secure the goods therein; and    an outer portion formed of a non-transparent material, said outer portion being wrapped generally around said inner portion in order to secure said inner portion within said outer portion, said outer portion having at least one aperture therethrough such that said inner portion, and thus the goods packaged within said inner portion, are visible through said at least one aperture of said outer portion.    
   
   
       2 . A carton as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said transparent material of said inner portion is plastic.  
   
   
       3 . A carton as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said non-transparent material of said outer portion is designed to have graphics printed thereon.  
   
   
       4 . A carton as defined in  claim 3 , wherein said non-transparent material of said outer portion is cardboard.  
   
   
       5 . A carton as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said inner portion and said outer portion each have at least one aperture provided therethrough which are in communication with one another, said at least one apertures of said inner and outer portions being sized and configured to receive a member therethrough such that said carton can be hung from the member.  
   
   
       6 . A carton as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said inner and outer portions are generally formed in the shape of triangular prisms such that said carton is generally formed in the shape of a triangular prism.  
   
   
       7 . A carton as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said inner and outer portions are formed from blanks.  
   
   
       8 . A carton as defined in  claim 7 , wherein said blank from which said inner portion is formed includes a base panel, a front panel foldingly attached at a lower end thereof to said base panel, a back panel foldingly attached at a lower end thereof to said base panel, and means for securing an upper end of said front panel to an upper end of said back panel.  
   
   
       9 . A carton as defined in  claim 8 , wherein said back panel of said inner portion has a portion thereof which bulges outwardly through said at least one aperture of said outer portion.  
   
   
       10 . A carton as defined in  claim 8 , wherein said securing means includes at least one protrusion formed at said upper end of said back panel and at least one pocket formed at said upper end of said front panel, said at least one protrusion and said at least one pocket being configured such that said at least one protrusion can be inserted into said at least one pocket in order to secure same together by a friction fit.  
   
   
       11 . A carton as defined in  claim 8 , wherein said blank from which said outer portion is formed includes a generally rectangular base panel having first, second, third and fourth sides, a front panel foldingly attached at a lower end thereof to said first side of said base panel, and a back panel foldingly attached at a lower end thereof to said third side of said base panel, said at least one aperture of said outer portion being formed through said back panel of said outer portion.  
   
   
       12 . A carton as defined in  claim 11 , wherein said blank from which said outer portion is formed further includes first and second side panels, said first side panel being foldingly attached at a lower end thereof to said second side of said base panel such that said first side panel is configured to generally extend from said front panel of said inner portion to said back panel of said inner portion, said second side panel being foldingly attached at a lower end thereof to said fourth side of said base panel such that said second side panel is configured to generally extend from said front panel of said inner portion to said back panel of said inner portion.  
   
   
       13 . A carton as defined in  claim 12 , wherein said blank from which said outer portion is formed further includes first and second front intermediate panels, said first front intermediate panel being foldingly attached to said front panel and to said first side panel such that said first front intermediate panel is configured to be positioned between said front panel of said outer portion and said front panel of said inner portion, said second front intermediate panel being foldingly attached to said front panel and to said second side panel such that said second front intermediate panel is configured to be positioned between said front panel of said outer portion and said front panel of said inner portion.  
   
   
       14 . A carton as defined in  claim 13 , wherein said first front intermediate panel has a fold line which divides said first front intermediate panel into first and second portions such that when said first front intermediate panel is folded along said fold line, said first portion of said first front intermediate panel is configured to be positioned between said front panel of said inner portion and said second portion of said first front intermediate panel, and wherein said second front intermediate panel has a fold line which divides said second front intermediate panel into first and second portions such that when said second front intermediate panel is folded along said fold line, said first portion of said second front intermediate panel is configured to be positioned between said front panel of said inner portion and said second portion of said second front intermediate panel.  
   
   
       15 . A carton as defined in  claim 14 , wherein said blank from which said outer portion is formed further includes a top panel which is foldingly attached to said upper end of said back panel such that said top panel is configured to be positioned between said front panel of said outer portion and said second portions of said first and second front intermediate panels.  
   
   
       16 . A carton as defined in  claim 13 , wherein said blank from which said outer portion is formed further includes first and second back intermediate panels, said first back intermediate panel being foldingly attached to said back panel and to said first side panel such that said first back intermediate panel is configured to be positioned between said back panel of said outer portion and said back panel of said inner portion, said second back intermediate panel being foldingly attached to said back panel and to said second side panel such that said second back intermediate panel is configured to be positioned between said back panel of said outer portion and said back panel of said inner portion.  
   
   
       17 . A carton as defined in  claim 16 , wherein said first back intermediate panel has a fold line which divides said first back intermediate panel into first and second portions such that when said first back intermediate panel is folded, said first portion of said first back intermediate panel is configured to be positioned between said back panel of said inner portion and said second portion of said first back intermediate panel, and wherein said second back intermediate panel has a fold line which divides said second back intermediate panel into first and second portions such that when said second back intermediate panel is folded, said first portion of said second back intermediate panel is configured to be positioned between said back panel of said inner portion and said second portion of said second back intermediate panel.  
   
   
       18 . A carton for packaging goods comprising: 
 transparent means for encapsulating the goods therein; and    non-transparent means for wrapping said transparent encapsulating means therein, said non-transparent wrapping means having an aperture therethrough such that at least a portion of said transparent encapsulating means, and thus the goods, are visible through said aperture of said non-transparent wrapping means.    
   
   
       19 . A carton as defined in  claim 18 , wherein said transparent encapsulating means is a blank formed from plastic.  
   
   
       20 . A carton as defined in  claim 18 , wherein said non-transparent wrapping means is a blank formed from cardboard.  
   
   
       21 . A method of packaging goods comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing a first blank formed from a transparent material, said first blank including a base panel, a front panel attached at a lower end thereof to said base panel, and a back panel attached at a lower end thereof to said base panel;    b) folding said front and back panels of said first blank upwardly relatively to said base panel;    c) inserting the goods between said front, back and base panels of said first blank;    d) securing said front and back panels together at upper ends thereof in order to secure the goods within said first blank;    e) providing a second blank formed from a non-transparent material, said second blank including a base panel, a front panel attached at a lower end thereof to said base panel of said second blank, a back panel attached at a lower end thereof to said base panel of said second blank, a top panel attached to an upper end of said back panel, said back panel having an aperture provided therethrough;    f) positioning said first blank on said second blank such that said base panel of said first blank is positioned on said base panel of said second blank;    g) folding said front and back panels of said second blank upwardly relative to said base panel of said second blank such that said front panel of said second blank faces said front panel of said first blank and such that said back panel of said second blank faces said back panel of said first blank, said aperture provided through said back panel of said second blank providing visibility to the goods secured within said first blank; and    h) folding said top panel downwardly relative to said back panel of said second blank such that said top panel is positioned between said front panel of said first blank and said front panel of said second blank.