Convertible display carton

Abstract

A display carton, convertible between a closed configuration and an open display configuration, is used for storing and displaying a packaged product therein. The display carton comprises a base member and a lid member connected to the base member and foldable into a built-in stand-up display or support system. The lid member is folded back behind a bottom wall of the base and a front flap of the lid containing a tab can be folded out to minimize the angle of elevation of the carton, such that the contents therein cannot slide or fall out. In the closed configuration, a fastener is placed at a portion of the lower edge of the front flap, i.e., the tab, and a portion of the bottom wall of the base member, such that the adhesive spans two generally perpendicular surfaces for a secure closure.

1 . A display carton convertible between a closed configuration and an open display configuration, the display carton comprising:
 a base having a bottom wall with two upstanding side walls, an upstanding back end wall and an upstanding front end wall;   a lid connected to the back end wall along a primary hinge, the lid having a top panel with a pair of opposing inclined side panels depending therefrom along a portion of a pair of opposing side edges of the lid and a front end flap depending from the top panel, and a secondary hinge extending between the side edges of the lid, the secondary hinge positioned on the top panel closer to the primary hinge than to the front end flap of the lid and where the distance between the primary and secondary hinge is generally the same as a height of the back end wall of the base and the inclined side panels extend along a portion of the side edges of the lid between the front flap and the secondary hinge; and   a tab positioned along an edge portion of the front end flap opposite an intersecting edge of the top panel and the front end flap, the front end flap and tab together having a combined height that is substantially the same as a height of the front end wall of the base, where a height of the front end flap is less than the height of the front end wall.   
   
   
       2 . The carton according to  claim 1 , wherein the top panel of the lid is divided into at least two segments by the secondary hinge, a major segment and a minor segment, where a length of the major segment is greater than a length of the minor segment, and the minor segment is positioned between the primary and secondary hinges. 
   
   
       3 . The carton according to  claim 1 , wherein a fastener is adhesively secured to a portion of the tab and a portion of the bottom wall of the base when the carton is in a closed configuration. 
   
   
       4 . The carton according to  claim 3 , wherein the fastener is a piece of tape. 
   
   
       5 . The carton according to  claim 1 , wherein the bottom wall of the carton forms an angle of elevation with a display surface when placed on the display surface in the open display configuration, the angle of elevation is less than an inverse tangent of the height of the front end wall divided by a length of the side panel of the lid. 
   
   
       6 . The carton according to  claim 5 , wherein the angle of elevation is substantially equal to an inverse tangent of a height of the front end flap divided by the length of the side panel. 
   
   
       7 . The carton according to  claim 5 , wherein the angle of elevation is between about 15 degrees and about 30 degrees. 
   
   
       8 . The carton according to  claim 2 , wherein the major segment is adjacent to a portion of the bottom wall of the base and the minor segment is adjacent to the back end wall of the base when the carton is in the open display configuration. 
   
   
       9 . The carton according to  claim 1 , wherein a locking member on the top panel of the lid mates with an opening segment on the bottom wall of the base after the lid is folded back along the primary and secondary hinges into the open display configuration. 
   
   
       10 . The carton according to  claim 1 , wherein the front end flap of the lid is adjacent to the front end wall of the base when in the closed configuration and is generally perpendicular to the bottom wall of the base when in the open display configuration. 
   
   
       11 . The carton according to  claim 1 , wherein the tab is foldable between a first position in substantially a same plane as the front end flap and a second position that is at an angle to the front end flap. 
   
   
       12 . The carton according to  claim 1 , wherein the carton is collapsible into a substantially flat orientation when it is empty. 
   
   
       13 . The carton according to  claim 1 , wherein the carton is filled with a plurality of individually wrapped food products. 
   
   
       14 . The carton according to  claim 1 , wherein the carton has a length of about 4 to about 10 inches, a width of about 2 to about 6½ inches and a height of about 1½ to about 5 inches. 
   
   
       15 . The carton according to  claim 14 , wherein the tab has a height of about 0.5 inches to about 1 inch. 
   
   
       16 . A method of converting a display carton between a closed configuration to an open display configuration, the method comprising:
 disabling a fastener extending between a tab of a front panel and a generally perpendicular bottom wall of the carton;   pivoting a lid connected to a base of the display carton above a primary hinge, the lid having a top panel with a pair of opposing inclined side panels depending therefrom and a front end flap depending from the top panel;   pivoting a portion of the lid above a secondary hinge extending between side edges of the lid and positioned closer to the primary hinge than to the front end flap of the lid to position the portion of the lid underneath a bottom wall of the base of the display carton; and   folding a tab positioned along an edge portion of the front end flap of the lid, where the display carton rests upon the intersection of the tab and the front end flap.   
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the bottom wall of the carton forms an angle of elevation with a display surface when placed on the display surface in the open display configuration, the angle of elevation being less than an inverse tangent of the height of the front end wall divided by a length of the inclined side panel of the lid. 
   
   
       18 . The carton according to  claim 17 , wherein the angle of elevation is substantially equal to an inverse tangent of a height of the front end flap divided by the length of the inclined side panel. 
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 16 , further including locking the base and the lid together while in the display configuration.