Carton having space saving feature

Abstract

A carton includes a space-saving feature which allows it to be split into two sections. When a portion of the carton contents have been used, an upper section of the carton can be separated, leaving the lower section in which to store the remaining contents. The upper section can also be slid down or telescoped over the lower section as the carton contents are consumed.

1 . A carton blank for forming a carton, comprising: 
 a first side panel;    a front panel;    a second side panel;    a back panel;    at least one top flap extending across a first marginal potion of the blank;    at least one bottom flap extending across a second marginal portion of the blank; and    a tear strip extending along at least substantially an entire length of the blank, through the first side panel, the front panel, the second side panel, and the back panel.    
     
     
         2 . The blank of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the tear strip divides the front panel into a lower front panel section and an upper front panel section; and    in a carton formed from the carton blank, a height of the upper front panel section plus a height of the tear strip is at least about one third of a height of the carton.    
     
     
         3 . The blank of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the tear strip divides the front panel into a lower front panel section and an upper front panel section; and    a height of the upper front panel section plus a height of the tear strip is within about +/−30% of a height of the lower front panel section.    
     
     
         4 . The blank of  claim 3 , wherein a length of the front panel is approximately equal to a length of the back panel.  
     
     
         5 . The blank of  claim 1 , further comprising a z-fold section extending along a length of the blank and adjacent to the tear strip.  
     
     
         6 . The blank of  claim 5 , wherein the front panel, the first side panel, the back panel, and the second side panel are substantially rectangular.  
     
     
         7 . A carton erected from the blank of  claim 3 .  
     
     
         8 . The carton of  claim 7 , wherein the tear strip extends around substantially an entire perimeter of the carton.  
     
     
         9 . A method of erecting a carton, comprising: 
 providing a blank according to  claim 5;     folding the blank at the z-fold section;    folding the blank about transverse fold lines so that the front panel and the back panel are substantially parallel;    closing the at least one top flap to form a top panel; and    closing the at least one bottom flap to form a bottom panel.    
     
     
         10 . The blank of  claim 1 , wherein the blank is constructed of paperboard.  
     
     
         11 . A carton, comprising: 
 a first side panel;    a front panel adjacent to the first side panel;    a second side panel adjacent to the first side panel;    a back panel adjacent to the first and second side panels;    a top panel;    a bottom panel; and    a tear strip extending around a perimeter of the carton.    
     
     
         12 . The carton of  claim 11 , wherein: 
 the tear strip divides the front panel into a lower front panel section and an upper front panel section; and    a height of the upper front panel section plus a height of the tear strip is at least about one third of a height of the carton.    
     
     
         13 . The carton of  claim 12 , further comprising a z-fold section extending around a perimeter of the carton adjacent to the tear strip.  
     
     
         14 . The carton of  claim 11 , further comprising a z-fold section extending around a perimeter of the carton adjacent to the tear strip.  
     
     
         15 . A method of conserving space occupied by a carton, comprising: 
 providing a carton according to  claim 11;  and    separating the carton into an upper section and a lower section by removing the tear strip.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising sliding the upper section downwardly over the lower section after separating the carton into upper and lower sections.  
     
     
         17 . A carton, comprising: 
 a first side panel;    a front panel adjacent to the first side panel;    a second side panel adjacent to the first side panel;    a back panel adjacent to the first and second side panels;    a top panel;    a bottom panel; and    means for separating the carton into an upper section and a lower section, wherein    a height of the upper section is at least about one third of a height of the carton.    
     
     
         18 . The carton of  claim 17 , wherein a length of the front panel is approximately equal to a length of the back panel.  
     
     
         19 . The carton of  claim 18 , further comprising a z-fold section extending around a perimeter of the carton adjacent to the tear strip.  
     
     
         20 . A method of conserving space occupied by a carton, comprising: 
 providing a carton according to  claim 17;  and    separating the carton into an upper section and a lower section using the means for separating.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising consuming a portion of a product held within the carton before separating the carton into the upper and lower sections.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising sliding the upper section over the lower section after separating the carton into upper and lower sections.  
     
     
         23 . A carton, comprising: 
 a first side panel;    a front panel adjacent to the first side panel;    a second side panel adjacent to the first side panel;    a back panel adjacent to the first and second side panels;    a top panel;    a bottom panel;    a tear strip extending around a perimeter of the carton, the tear strip dividing the front panel into a lower front panel section and an upper front panel section; and    a z-fold section extending around a perimeter of the carton adjacent to the tear strip, wherein    a height of the upper front panel section plus a height of the tear strip is at least about one third of a height of the carton, and    the front panel, the first side panel, the back panel, and the second side panel are substantially rectangular.    
     
     
         24 . A carton blank for forming a carton, comprising: 
 a first side panel;    a front panel;    a second side panel;    a back panel, wherein a length of the front panel is approximately equal to a length of the back panel;    a plurality of top flaps extending across a first marginal potion of the blank;    a plurality of bottom flaps extending across a second marginal portion of the blank; and    a tear strip extending along at least substantially an entire length of the blank, through the first side panel, the front panel, the second side panel, and the back panel, wherein the tear strip divides the front panel into a lower front panel section and an upper front panel section; and    a z-fold section extending along a length of the blank and adjacent to the tear strip, wherein    in a carton formed from the carton blank, a height of the upper front panel section plus a height of the tear strip is at least about one third of a height of the carton, and    the front panel, the first side panel, the back panel, and the second side panel are substantially rectangular.