Dual Purpose Pie Carton

Abstract

A carton suitable for both shipping and displaying an item, particularly a bake good, such as a pie, is disclosed. The carton includes a top panel a bottom panel, first and second side panels and first and second end panels. According to an embodiment, a detachable panel section is provided in the top panel and the first side panel, and a substantially transparent film is attached to an underside of the top panel and the first side panel behind the detachable panel section. The carton may be opened to remove the item contained therein for cooking or preparation. The carton can be converted to a display configuration by completely detaching the detachable panel section from a remainder of the carton such that the transparent film forms a display window. When the carton is in its display configuration, the item may be placed in the carton such that the item is visible through the display window.

1 . An assembly for forming a carton, the assembly including:
 a carton blank comprising
 a bottom panel, 
 a first side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel, 
 a top panel foldably connected to the first side panel, 
 a second side panel foldably connected to the top panel, 
 a plurality of end flaps, and 
 a detachable panel section defined by a tear pattern in the blank; and 
   a substantially transparent film attached to an underside of the blank and disposed behind the detachable top panel section.   
   
   
       2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the detachable panel section comprises a detachable top panel portion disposed in the top panel. 
   
   
       3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the detachable panel section comprises a cut-away corner section configured to enable gripping of the detachable panel section. 
   
   
       4 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the detachable panel section is disposed in at least one of the top panel, the first side panel, the second side panel, the first top end flap and an end flap of the plurality of end flaps. 
   
   
       5 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the plurality of end flaps comprises a top end flap foldably connected to the top panel and a bottom end flap foldably connected to the bottom panel; and   the top end flap and the bottom end flap are configured to be selectively attached to each other and selectively detached from each other for closing and opening the carton, respectively.   
   
   
       6 . The assembly of  claim 5 , comprising
 at least one tab in the top end flap; and   at least one cutout in the bottom end flap, wherein
 the top end flap and the bottom end flap are configured to be folded in overlapping relationship and releasably, adhesively secured together with adhesive; and 
 the at least one tab is configured to be inserted in the at least one cutout to secure the first top end flap and the first bottom end flap together when the top end flap and the bottom end flap are not adhesively secured together. 
   
   
   
       7 . The assembly of  claim 1 , comprising at least one cut line segment configured to form a vent in the carton. 
   
   
       8 . The assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one cut line segment comprises a cut line segment formed in a fold line between one of the plurality of end flaps and the top panel. 
   
   
       9 . A carton comprising:
 a bottom panel;   a top panel;   a first side panel;   a second side panel;   a first end panel;   a second end panel; and   a detachable panel section in at least one of the top panel, the first side panel, the second side panel, the first end panel and the second end panel, the detachable panel section being defined by a tear pattern; and   a substantially transparent film positioned behind the detachable panel section.   
   
   
       10 . The carton of  claim 9 , wherein the detachable panel section is located in the top panel. 
   
   
       11 . The carton of  claim 10 , wherein the detachable panel section comprises a cut-away corner section configured to enable gripping of the detachable panel section. 
   
   
       12 . The carton of  claim 9 , wherein the detachable panel section is located in at least one of the top panel, the first side panel, the second side panel, the first end panel and the second end panel. 
   
   
       13 . The carton of  claim 9 , comprising at least one vent opening for releasing steam from the carton. 
   
   
       14 . The carton of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one vent opening comprises a cut line segment in a fold line between the first end panel and the top panel and/or a cut line segment formed in a fold line between the second end panel and the top panel. 
   
   
       15 . The carton of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the first end panel comprises a first top end flap foldably connected to the top panel and a first bottom end flap foldably connected to the bottom panel; and   the first top end flap and the first bottom end flap are configured to be selectively attached to each other and selectively detached from each other for closing and opening the carton, respectively.   
   
   
       16 . The carton of  claim 15 , comprising
 at least one tab in the top end flap; and   at least one cutout in the bottom end flap, wherein
 the top end flap and the bottom end flap are configured to be folded in overlapping relationship and releasably, adhesively secured together with adhesive; and 
 the at least one tab is configured to be inserted in the at least one cutout to secure the first top end flap and the first bottom end flap together when the top end flap and the bottom end flap are not adhesively secured together. 
   
   
   
       17 . The carton of  claim 9 , wherein the carton is configured to contain a pie. 
   
   
       18 . A method of preparing a food item, comprising:
 transporting the food item to a location in a carton comprising
 a bottom panel, 
 a top panel, 
 a first side panel, 
 a second side panel, 
 a first end panel, 
 a second end panel, and 
 a detachable panel section and a substantially transparent film positioned behind the detachable panel section, wherein the detachable panel section is defined by a tear pattern and is located in at least one of the top panel, the first side panel, the second side panel, the first end panel and the second end panel; and 
   after transporting the food item to the sale location, detaching the detachable panel section such that the food item can be viewed through the substantially transparent film.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , comprising:
 opening the carton after transporting the food item to the sale location;   removing the food item from the carton after opening the carton;   cooking the food item after removing the food item from the carton;   placing the food item inside the carton after cooking the food item; and   reclosing the first end panel after placing the food item inside the carton.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the first end panel comprises a top end flap and a bottom end flap configured to be folded in overlapping relationship;   opening the first end panel comprises breaking an adhesive bond between the top end flap and the bottom end flap; and   reclosing the first end panel comprises inserting at least one tab of the top end flap in a corresponding cutout in the bottom end flap.   
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 18 , comprising placing the carton on display after detaching the detachable panel section. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the carton comprises at least one vent opening configured to vent steam from the carton. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein detaching the detachable panel section comprises gripping a cut-away corner section of the detachable panel section and pulling the detachable panel section. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the food item is a pie.