Perforated packaging

Abstract

Packaging boxes and packaging methods for providing the ability to quickly open tape-sealed packages while eliminating the necessity for cutting tools and potential cutting injuries associated with these cutting tools. Through the inclusion of at least one perforated access panel in at least one end portion of a corrugated packaging box, hand access is provided to an end of the tape allowing the length of tape to be completely removed without the use of any cutting tools. The at least one perforated access panel can include a punch-in section and a tear-away section wherein a tape end is positioned over at least a portion of the punch-in section. The punch-in section can be pushed inwards providing access to the tear-away section. Pulling on the tear-away section results in the tear-away section and correspondingly, the tape being torn from the packaging box.

1 . A packing container comprising: 
 a box having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side surface, a second side surface, a first end surface and a second end surface, the top surface defined by a first hinged flap and a second hinged flap formed in a closed configuration wherein the first hinged flap is attached to the first side surface and the second hinged flap is attached to the second side surface; and    a length of tape having a first tape end and a second tape end,    wherein the length of tape retains the first hinged flap and second hinged flap in the closed configuration, and    wherein the first end surface comprises a first access panel defined by a first perforated link, said first access panel having a punch-in portion abutting a tear-away portion, said punch-in portion and tear-away portion separated by a second perforated link, the first tape end positioned at least partially over the tear-away portion and first end surface, said punch-in portion separable from the first end surface and tear-away portion at the second perforated link, and said tear-away portion and first tape end separable from the first end surface at the first perforated link.    
   
   
       2 . The packing container of  claim 1 , further comprising a second access panel on the second end surface, the second access panel resembling the first access panel such that a second tape end is positioned at least partially over the tear-away portion of the second access panel.  
   
   
       3 . The packing container of  claim 2 , wherein the punch-in portion on the second access panel is separable from the tear-away portion on the second access panel and wherein the tear-away portion and second tape are separable from the second end surface.  
   
   
       4 . The packing container of  claim 1 , wherein the box is manufactured from a packing material selected from the group comprising: cardboard, paperboard, corrugated paper, chipboard and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       5 . The packing container of  claim 1 , wherein the punch-in portion is defined by the first perforated link and the second perforate link such that the punch-in portion comprises a shape selected from the group comprising: a rectangle, a square, a semi-circle, a triangle and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       6 . The packing container of  claim 1 , wherein the first end surface comprises a pair of first access panels, wherein one first access panel corresponds to the top surface of the box and one first access panel corresponds to the bottom surface of the box.  
   
   
       7 . The packing container of  claim 1 , wherein the first perforated link and the second perforated link comprise a plurality of perforations having a perforation length, wherein the perforation length is from about 0.067 inches to about 1.0 inches.  
   
   
       8 . A method for gaining access to goods within a packing container comprising: 
 providing an access panel in an end surface of a packing container, the access panel having a punch-in portion and a tear-way portion wherein the packing container is retained in a closed configuration with a length of packing tape having a tape end at least partially covering the tear-away portion;    pushing in the punch-in portion to expose a gripping end on the tear-away portion; and    ripping the tear-away portion from the end surface such that the tape end is torn from the packing container wherein further ripping of the tear-away portion removes the length of packing tape from the packing container.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein pushing in the punch-in-portion comprises tearing a perforated link between the punch-in-portion and the tear-away portion wherein the gripping end is exposed.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein ripping the tear-away portion comprises tearing a perforated link between the tear-away portion and the end surface.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein providing an access panel in the end surface comprises providing an pair of access panels, a first access panel provided in a first end surface and a second access panel provided in a second end surface, wherein the length of packing tape at least partially covers the tear-away portion of both the first access panel and the second access panel when the packing container is retained in a closed configuration.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein providing a pair of access panels comprises providing a pair of access panels in both the first end surface and the second end surface, the first end surface and the second end surface each comprising a top access panel and a bottom access panel wherein a top length of packing tape at least partially covers the tear-away portion of the top access panel on both the first end surface and the second end surface and wherein a bottom length of packing tape at least partially covers the tear-away portion of the bottom access panel on both the first end surface and the second end surface when the packing container is retained in a closed configuration.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 loading the packing container with a bulk packaged good and closing the packing container with the length of packing tape such that the packing container is retained in the closed configuration with the tape end at least partially covering the tear-away portion.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the bulk packaged good is selected from the group comprising: a frozen dough product and a refrigerated dough product.  
   
   
       15 . A packing container comprising: 
 a box having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side surface, a second side surface, a first end surface and a second end surface, the top surface defined by a first hinged flap and a second hinged flap formed in a closed configuration wherein the first hinged flap is attached to the first side surface and the second hinged flap is attached to the second side surface; and    a length of tape having a first tape end and a second tape end, the length of tape retains the first hinged flap and second hinged flap in the closed configuration such that the first tape end resides on the first end surface and the second tape end resides on the second end surface, and    a means for accessing the first tape end on the first end surface without grabbing the first tape end; and    a means for removing the first tape end from the end surface without grabbing the first tape end.