Reclosable carton

Abstract

A reclosable carton ( 11 ) is provided which may contain objects nearly the size of the carton that can be readily dispensed and where the carton can be conveniently re-closed by a user. A specific pattern of tear lines on the top ( 17 ) and front ( 19 ) panels allows easy opening and re-closing and allows for a reduction in packaging material usage to save production costs. The reclosable carton design reduces the risk of tearing other areas of the carton and maintains its integrity when it is opened by a user.

1 . A reclosable carton  11  comprising:
 (a) a blank  10  including a front panel  19  and top panel  17  connected at a fold line  28  having two spaced apart tear lines  58 ,  121 ,  122 ,  126  defining a reclosable portion  22 ,  26  extending across said fold line  28 , the front reclosable panel  26  having a finger tab  50  connected to the front reclosable panel  26  at a fold line  49 , a back panel  18  connected to the top panel  17  at a fold line  24 , said back panel connected to a bottom panel  14  at a fold line  20  and a glue panel  12  connected to bottom panel  14  at a fold line  16 , the glue panel  12  having a locking slit flap  45  connected to the glue panel  12  at a fold line  46 , wherein each of the front, top, back and bottom panels have opposite end flaps  38 ,  36 ,  34 ,  30  connected at fold lines  37 ,  35 ,  33 ,  32  to each of the front, top, back and bottom panels respectively, wherein each end flap has two spaced apart lateral edges  100 ,  104 ,  106 ,  110 ,  112 ,  116 ,  118 ,  130  and an axial edge  102 ,  108 ,  114 ,  120 ; 
 wherein the glue panel  12  is attached to front fixed section  25  with adhesive, wherein the reclosable portion  22 ,  26 , finger tab  50  and locking slit flap  45  are kept free of adhesive during assembly of the carton; 
 (b) each of the tear lines has a first end  134  and a second end  132 , wherein each of said tear lines intersect the fold line  24  at a point at least 3 mm from each of the adjacent top panel end flap lateral edges  110  at the first end  134 , wherein each of said tear lines intersects fold lines  35  at a distance of at least 3 mm from each of lateral edges  110 , wherein each of said tear lines extends partially along each of the fold lines  35  along leg  58 , wherein each of said tear lines is spaced at least 3 mm from each of the lateral edges  106 , wherein each of said tear lines intersects the fold line  28  between the top and front panels at a point at least 3 mm from each of top panel end flap lateral edges  106 , wherein each of said tear lines intersects the fold line  49  and wherein each of the spaced apart second ends  132  of the tear lines is positioned at an edge  200 ; and 
 (c) said glue panel  12  defining a locking slit  44 , said front reclosable section  26  having a tuck flap  42  connected to the finger tab  50  at a fold line  49  wherein the tuck flap is positioned to engage the locking slit  44  when the finger tab  50  is flexed in order to close the reclosable section of the carton after its initial opening along the tear lines. 
 
     
     
         2 . The reclosable carton of  claim 1  wherein the top panel end flap axial edge  108  and bottom panel axial edge  120  overlap by no more than 1 mm after assembly of the blank  10  into the carton. 
     
     
         3 . The reclosable carton of  claim 1  wherein top panel  17  further comprises:
 (a) a pair of opposite fixed triangular segments  23  having legs  51 ,  51 ′ of respective lengths d 5  and d 5 ′ extending along fold line  28  and adjacent legs  52 ,  52 ′ of respective lengths d 3  and d 3 ′ extending along fold line  35 ; 
 (b) a pair of opposite fixed triangular segments  27  having legs  54  and  54 ′ of respective lengths d 1  and d 1 ′ extending along fold line  24  and adjacent legs  56  and  56 ′ of respective lengths d 3  and d 3 ′ extending along fold line  35 ; 
 (c) wherein fold line  28  has a length of d 6 , fold line  35  has a length of d 4  and fold line  24  has a length of d 2 ; and, 
 (c) wherein
   ( d 1+ d 1′)/ d 2= A  where A is in the range of 0.18 to 0.30;
 
   ( d 3+ d 3′)/ d 4= B  where B is in the range of 0.35 to 0.55; and
 
   ( d 5+ d 5′)/ d 6= C  where C is in the range of 0.15 to 0.26.