Carton And Method Of Making Same

Abstract

Disclosed is a carton and a method for forming the carton from a single construction. A sheet of material is processed to form a blank with apertures. The blank is folded to form panels that make up the walls and lid of the carton. A rack is formed with slots and apertures to secure contents within the carton.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A carton, comprising:
 a bottom panel;   a front panel coupled to the bottom panel;   a back panel coupled to the bottom panel;   a first side panel coupled to the front panel and the back panel and the bottom panel;   a second side panel coupled to the front panel and the back panel and the bottom panel; and   a rack comprising at least one aperture and at least one slot.   
     
     
         2 . The carton of  claim 1 , wherein said carton comprises a single construction. 
     
     
         3 . The carton of  claim 2 , wherein said carton comprises one of the following: paperboard, durable paper, composite paper, cardboard, plastic, and metal. 
     
     
         4 . The carton of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a top panel; and   an edge flap.   
     
     
         5 . The carton of  claim 4 , further comprising at least one slip adapted to receive the edge flap. 
     
     
         6 . The carton of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more side flaps. 
     
     
         7 . The carton of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more side flaps are affixed to at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel. 
     
     
         8 . The carton of  claim 1 , wherein the rack is affixed to the bottom panel. 
     
     
         9 . A method of producing a carton, comprising:
 providing a blank comprising a bottom panel, a front panel, a back panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, at least one large aperture disposed in the front panel, and at least one small aperture disposed in the front panel;   performing the following steps in any order:   folding the blank to position at least one section of the front panel substantially orthogonal to the bottom panel;   folding the blank to position at least one section of the back panel substantially orthogonal to the bottom panel;   folding the blank to position at least one section of the first side panel substantially orthogonal to the bottom panel;   folding the blank to position at least one section of the second side panel substantially orthogonal to the bottom panel;   folding the blank to position the at least one large aperture and the at least one small aperture within an area bounded by the bottom panel, the at least one section of the front panel, the at least one section of the back panel, the at least one section of the first side panel and the at least one section of the second side panel.   
     
     
         10 . The method of producing a carton according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 providing a sheet of material; and   cutting the sheet of material to produce the blank.   
     
     
         11 . The method of producing a carton according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 folding the blank so that the at least one large aperture forms a slot; and   folding the blank so that the at least one small aperture is aligned with the slot.   
     
     
         12 . The method of producing a carton according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 affixing together at least two of the bottom panel, the front panel, the back panel, the first side panel, and the second side panel.   
     
     
         13 . A carton, comprising:
 a bottom panel;   a front panel coupled to the bottom panel;   a back panel coupled to the bottom panel;   a first side panel coupled to the front panel and the back panel and the bottom panel;   a second side panel coupled to the front panel and the back panel and the bottom panel;   a rack comprising at least one aperture and at least one slot; and   wherein the carton is manufactured of material selected from the following: paperboard, durable paper, composite paper, cardboard, plastic, and metal.   
     
     
         14 . The carton of  claim 13 , wherein the carton comprises a single construction. 
     
     
         15 . The carton of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a top panel; and   an edge flap.   
     
     
         16 . The carton of  claim 13 , further comprising at least one slip adapted to receive the edge flap. 
     
     
         17 . The carton of  claim 13 , further comprising one or more side flaps. 
     
     
         18 . The carton of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more side flaps are affixed to at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel. 
     
     
         19 . The carton of  claim 13 , wherein the rack is affixed to the bottom panel.