Easy Opening Feature for a Taped Carton and Method Thereof

Abstract

An easy opening feature to open a sealed and taped carton, such as a partially perforated tab, adjacent an opening in an end panel of the carton where an adhesive strip is placed over a top panel of the carton and extends down the end panel and over at least a portion of the tab. Upon removing the tab from the carton the adhesive strip is removed along with the tab. A method for opening the carton comprises applying a force to lift up on the partially perforated tab to remove the tab from the carton and to continue lifting upward to remove the remainder of the adhesive strip from the top panel.

1 . A sealed, filled carton having an easy-opening feature, the carton comprising:
 a bottom panel, a top panel, a pair of side panels connecting the top and bottom panels, and an adjacent pair of end panels also connecting the top and bottom panels, at least one end panel having an opening therein;   a removable tab adjacent the opening;   a pair of major flaps and a pair of minor flaps on both the bottom and top panels, the major flaps covering the minor flaps when sealed; and   a tape strip covering adjacent edges of the major flaps on the top panel to seal the carton, the tape having an end that extends along a portion of the end panel containing the opening and terminates at the tab.   
   
   
       2 . The carton according to  claim 1 , wherein the tab contains a weakened area along one portion of the tab to form an area of perforation. 
   
   
       3 . The carton according to  claim 1 , wherein the end of the tape strip at least partially covers the tab and does not extend into the opening. 
   
   
       4 . The carton according to  claim 1 , wherein the tab has a lower edge that is not perforated, the lower edge further defining a portion of an upper edge of the opening. 
   
   
       5 . The carton according to  claim 1 , wherein the tab is semi-circular in shape with only a curved edge portion being perforated. 
   
   
       6 . The carton according to  claim 1 , wherein the carton contains two openings, one opening on each end panel, and accordingly two tabs, one tab adjacent each of the openings. 
   
   
       7 . The carton according to  claim 1 , wherein the tab has a width that is at least as wide as a width of the tape strip placed over the tab. 
   
   
       8 . The carton according to  claim 7 , wherein the width of the tab is about 2 inches and a radius of the tab is about 1 inch. 
   
   
       9 . The carton according to  claim 1 , wherein the opening is used as a handhold to carry the carton, which can be used without disturbing the partially perforated tab. 
   
   
       10 . The carton according to  claim 1 , wherein the carton is used for storing packaged or unpackaged products therein. 
   
   
       11 . A method of opening a taped carton having an easy-opening feature, the carton having a bottom panel, a top panel, a pair of side panels connecting the top and bottom panels, and an adjacent pair of end panels also connecting the top and bottom panels, at least one end panel having an opening therein, the method comprising the steps of:
 grasping a partially perforated tab having a weakened area along a portion of the tab, the tab being adjacent the opening in the end panel and at least partially covered by an end portion of a tape strip extending across adjacent edges of a pair of major flaps on the top panel and further extending along a portion of the end panel;   lifting up on the tab to remove it from the weakened area in the end panel; and   removing the tape strip from the end panel and the edges of the major flaps as the tab is continually lifted up.   
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the end of the tape strip at least partially covers the tab and does not extend into the opening. 
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the tab has a lower edge that is not perforated, the lower edge also defining a portion of an upper edge of the opening. 
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the tab is semi-circular in shape with only a curved edge portion being perforated. 
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the end of the tape strip remains adhered to the tab as the tab is lifted up and removed from the weakened area. 
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising the step of carrying the carton utilizing the opening as a handhold, which can be used without disturbing the perforated tab. 
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the carton contains two openings, one opening on each of the two end panels, and accordingly two tabs, one tab adjacent each of the openings. 
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the end of the tape strip remains adhered to the tab as the tab is being lifted away from the weakened area and is continually lifted up. 
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising the step of storing items within the interior of the carton. 
   
   
       20 . A sealed carton having an easy-opening feature, the carton comprising:
 a bottom panel, a top panel, a pair of side panels connecting the top and bottom panels, and an adjacent pair of end panels also connecting the top and bottom panels and each end panel having an opening therein;   two partially perforated tabs, one tab adjacent each opening;   a pair of major flaps and a pair of minor flaps on both the bottom and top panels, the major flaps covering the minor flaps when sealed; and   a tape strip covering adjacent edges of the major flaps on the top panel and extending along the end panels to seal the carton, the tape having an end that terminates at a portion of one of the tabs without extending into its respective opening.   
   
   
       21 . A sealed, filled carton having an easy-opening feature, the carton comprising:
 a bottom panel, a top panel, a pair of side panels connecting the top and bottom panels, and an adjacent pair of end panels also connecting the top and bottom panels, at least one end panel having an opening therein;   a removable tab adjacent the opening;   the top panel comprising a pair of flaps having adjacent edges, the flaps being pivotable between an open and a closed position;   a tape strip covering adjacent edges of the flaps to seal the carton, the tape having an end that extends along a portion of the end panel containing the opening and terminates at the tab;   product contained within the carton;   the tape strip being adhered to the edges of the pair of flaps and having a bond strength of at least 3½ pounds per square inch;   the tab being at least partially joined to the end wall by a weakened region having sufficient strength to permit the filled carton to be supported by manual engagement of the tab without fracturing the weakened region;   the tab being removable by application of outward manual force in excess of the outward manual force associated with supporting the filled carton by the tab so that the tape can be peeled off of the carton by fracturing the weakened region, then pulling the tab up and across the top of the carton.