Expandable carton

Abstract

A leak resistant expandable carton is end-loadable and expandable to retain ice or other matter above a compartment loaded with articles such as cans or bottles. The carton is expanded by separating its top wall with a tear strip and then by raising composite top end flaps, which are hingedly connected to the top wall and to the end walls of the carton. As the composite top end flaps are raised, the top wall sections are raised to be side extensions that are coplanar with and to extend above a pair of side walls. At the same time, the composite top end flaps unfold and are raised to be end extensions that are coplanar with and to extend above the pair of end walls. The side and end extensions are substantially continuously interconnected so that the expanded portion of the carton is relatively rigid and contiguous.

1 . An expandable carton, comprising:
 a top wall, a bottom wall, a first side wall, and a second side wall hingedly connected to one another to form a tubular structure; and   a first end wall and a second end wall each enclosing an open end of said tubular structure, each comprising:
 a composite top end flap and a pair of side end flaps, said composite top end flap being hingedly connected to said top wall, said side end flaps being hingedly connected to said first side wall and to said second side wall, respectively, 
   wherein:
 said top wall is divisible to separate at least a first section of said top wall from a second section of said top wall; 
 said first and second sections, when separated, are movable to respective raised positions to form side extensions of said first and second side walls by raising said composite top end flaps toward said top wall to respective unfolded positions; and 
 each said composite top end flap, when in said unfolded position thereof, forms an end extension of a respective one of said end walls, said side extensions and said end extensions defining a periphery of an expanded portion of said carton. 
   
   
   
       2 . The carton of  claim 1 , wherein each of said first end wall and said second end wall further comprises a bottom end flap, and said composite top end flap of said each end wall is detachably secured in place by said bottom end flap. 
   
   
       3 . The carton of  claim 1 , wherein said composite top end flap of said each end wall comprises a pair of extension panels and a pair of gusset panels. 
   
   
       4 . The carton of  claim 3 , wherein each of said pair of extension panels is hingedly connected to one of said pair of gusset panels. 
   
   
       5 . The carton of  claim 2 , wherein said bottom end flap of said each end wall comprises a tear away tab that is secured to at least one of said pair of gusset panels of a respective composite top end flap to detachably secure said respective composite top end flap to said bottom end flap. 
   
   
       6 . The carton of  claim 3 , wherein each of said pair of extension panels are detachably connected to the other along a severance line. 
   
   
       7 . The carton of  claim 6 , wherein said severance line is capable of breaking as said composite top end flap is raised to said unfolded position thereof to detach each of said pair of extension panels from the other and to enable raising the said first and second sections. 
   
   
       8 . The carton of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second sections of said top wall are defined with respect to one another by one of a tear strip and a severance line. 
   
   
       9 . The carton of  claim 5 , wherein said bottom end flap at least partially overlaps said composite top end flap, and said tear away tab is defined at least in part by a severance line that is in registry with a distal edge of said composite top end flap. 
   
   
       10 . The carton of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second sections, when in said raised positions, are substantially coplanar with said side walls respectively, and said each composite top end flap, when in said unfolded position thereof, is arranged such that said pair of extension panels and said pair of gusset panels are substantially coplanar with said side end flaps. 
   
   
       11 . A blank for forming an expandable carton, comprising:
 a top panel that is divisible to define a first section and a second section;   a first extension panel hingedly connected to said first section and a second extension panel hingedly connected to said second section;   a first side panel hingedly connected to said first section and a second side panel hingedly connected to said second section;   a first side end flap hingedly connected to said first side panel and a second side end flap hingedly connected to said second side panel;   a first gusset panel hingedly connected to said first extension panel; and   a second gusset panel hingedly connected to said second extension panel.   
   
   
       12 . The blank of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a bottom panel hingedly connected to said second side panel;   a bottom end flap hingedly connected to said bottom panel; and   a tear away tab formed in said bottom end flap and defined by a severance line spaced apart from the distal edge of said bottom end flap.   
   
   
       13 . The blank of  claim 12 , further comprising a pair of web panels interconnecting said bottom end flap with said second side end flap and with a third side end flap. 
   
   
       14 . The blank of  claim 11 , wherein said first extension panel and said second extension panel are connected to one another along a severance line. 
   
   
       15 . The blank of  claim 11 , further comprising a tear strip extending between said first section and said second section. 
   
   
       16 . A package, comprising:
 at least one article;   a carton enclosing said at least one article, said carton comprising a tubular structure with a top wall, a pair of side walls, and a bottom wall; and   an end wall for closing an end of said tubular structure, said end wall comprising a composite top end flap that is stowed as an exposed portion of said end wall;
 wherein:
 said top wall is divisible to form at least a first section and a second section; 
 said first and second sections, when divided, are capable of being raised to form side extensions of said first and second side walls; and 
 said composite top end flap is capable of being raised and configured to form an end extension of said end wall, said side extensions and said end extensions defining an expanded portion that extend above said at least one article. 
 
   
   
   
       17 . The carton of  claim 1 , wherein said composite top end flap is hingedly connected to said side end flaps. 
   
   
       18 . The blank of  claim 11 , said first gusset panel is hingedly connected to said first side end flap, and said second gusset panel is hingedly connected to said second side end flap.