Folding carton

Abstract

A blank for forming a foldable carton is provided, along and the carton formed thereby, where the blank includes a center panel having a first side and an adjacent second side, a first side panel attached to the center panel at the first side, a second side panel attached to the center panel at the second side, where the first and second side panels intersect at a corner of the center panel so as to form a unique acutely angled arrangement at said intersection which is configured to form a corner of the carton having minimal visible raw edges.

1 . A blank for forming a foldable carton, comprising: 
 a center panel having a first side and an adjacent second side;    a first side panel attached to the center panel at the first side;    a second side panel attached to the center panel at the second side;    wherein the first and second side panels intersect at a corner of the center panel so as to form an acute angle at said intersection.    
   
   
       2 . The blank of  claim 1 , wherein the intersection is delimited by a first edge of the first side panel and a second edge of the second side panel, wherein the first and second edges each include adjacently disposed common portions and diverging offset portions, the diverging offset portions forming the acute angle, the adjacently disposed common portions forming a linear cut.  
   
   
       3 . The blank of  claim 2 , wherein the offset portion delimits a spacing between the first and second edges.  
   
   
       4 . The blank of  claim 2 , wherein the first edge further comprises a first extending edge which tapers in toward the first side panel and where the second edge further comprises a second extending edge which tapers in toward the second side panel such that the first and second extending edges diverge from one another in a direction away from the intersection.  
   
   
       5 . The blank of  claim 2 , wherein the first side panel is foldable at the first side into an upright position relative to the center panel and wherein the common portion of the first edge is pivotal at the intersection into a position atop the common portion of the second edge.  
   
   
       6 . The blank of  claim 5 , wherein the second side panel is foldable at the second side into an upright position relative to the center panel and wherein the common portion of the second edge is pivotal at the intersection into a position atop and in contact with the common portion of the second edge to form a corner of the carton having minimal visible raw edges.  
   
   
       7 . The blank of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second side panels are configured to be oriented into a position generally perpendicular to the center panel such that a corner of the carton is formed at the intersection having minimal visible raw edges.  
   
   
       8 . The blank of  claim 2 , wherein the first side panel includes a side tab extending therefrom capable of folding into a position generally perpendicular to a remaining portion of the first side panel and wherein the side tab comprises the first edge.  
   
   
       9 . The blank of  claim 1 , further comprising a linear cut at the intersection, wherein the linear cut is delimited by the first and second side panels, wherein the linear cut extends from a vertex of the acute angle and terminates at the center panel, and wherein the acute angle is approximately forty-five degrees.  
   
   
       10 . A blank for forming a foldable carton, comprising: 
 a rectilinear center panel having first and second opposite sides and third and fourth opposite sides;    first, second, third, and fourth side panels respectively attached to the first, second, third, and fourth sides of the center panel;    first and second side tabs attached to opposite sides of the first side panel and extending freely therefrom;    third and fourth side tabs attached to opposite sides of the second side panel and extending freely therefrom;    wherein the first, second, third, and fourth side tabs form acutely angled intersections with the third and fourth side panels at corners of the center panel.    
   
   
       11 . The blank of  claim 10 , wherein the first, second, third, and fourth side tabs and the third and fourth side panels are configured to be oriented into a position generally perpendicular to the center panel such that corners of the carton are formed at the acutely angled intersection, wherein the corners have minimal visible raw edges.  
   
   
       12 . The blank of  claim 10 , wherein each of the acutely angled intersections comprises adjacently disposed common portions and diverging offset portions, the diverging offset portions forming an acute angle.  
   
   
       13 . The blank of  claim 10 , further comprising a linear cut at each of the acutely angled intersections, wherein the linear cut extends from a vertex of an acute angle at the respective intersection and terminates at the center panel, wherein the acute angle is approximately forty-five degrees.  
   
   
       14 . The blank of  claim 10 , wherein the first, second, third, and fourth side tabs include cut scores formed in a surface thereof.  
   
   
       15 . The blank of  claim 14 , wherein the cut scores are disposed linearly on the first, second, third, and fourth side tabs at an angle to the third and fourth sides of the center panel.  
   
   
       16 . A carton, comprising: 
 a bottom;    a first side extending generally perpendicular from the bottom; and    a second side extending generally perpendicular from the bottom;    wherein the first side intersects the second side at a corner of the carton;    wherein the intersection at the corner comprises an acute angle and a linear cut formed by edges of the first and second sides;    wherein the intersection forms the corner with minimal visible raw edges.    
   
   
       17 . The carton of  claim 16 , wherein the acute angle is approximately forty-five degrees, wherein the linear cut is delimited by a first edge of the first side and by a second edge of the second side, and wherein the linear cut extends from a vertex of the acute angle and terminates at the bottom.  
   
   
       18 . The carton of  claim 17 , wherein the first side includes a first edge proximate to the intersection and the second side includes a second edge proximate to the intersection, wherein the first and second edges diverge from one another in a direction away from the intersection.  
   
   
       19 . The carton of  claim 16 , further comprising an extending panel which extends from the first side panel and includes a first portion and an adjacent second portion wherein the first portion is shaped and sized approximately equivalent to the first side panel and the second portion is shaped and sized approximately equivalent to the center panel.  
   
   
       20 . The carton of  claim 19 , wherein the first side panel is foldable into a position substantially perpendicular to the center panel, the first portion of the extending panel is foldable into a position atop the first side panel substantially perpendicular to the center panel, and the second portion is foldable into a position atop and in contact with the center panel.  
   
   
       21 . The carton of  claim 20 , wherein the extending flap comprises a printing surface which is exposed when the extending flap folded into the position over the center panel.