Clamshell Carton

Abstract

A clamshell carton with a slotted lid hinge and method of using same. The clamshell carton may include a container body, which may include, a floor panel and a plurality of side panels extending about a periphery of the floor panel, the plurality of side panels may include a first side panel, a second side panel, and a rear side panel. The clamshell carton may further include a container lid a top panel, which may include a plurality of a lid side panels extending about a periphery of the top panel, the plurality of lid side panels may include a first lid side panel, a second lid side panel, and a rear lid side panel. The clamshell carton may further include a moveable joint formed between the rear side panel and the rear lid side panel, wherein the container lid may be connected to the container body by the moveable joint, and wherein the container lid may be configured to be movable between a closed position and an opened position; and one or more slots formed along the moveable joint

That which is claimed: 
     
         1 . A clamshell carton, comprising:
 a. a container body, comprising:
 i. a floor panel; and 
 ii. a plurality of side panels extending about a periphery of the floor panel, the plurality of side panels comprising a first side panel, a second side panel, and a rear side panel; 
   b. a container lid, comprising:
 i. a top panel; and 
 ii. a plurality of a lid side panels extending about a periphery of the top panel, the plurality of lid side panels comprising a first lid side panel, a second lid side panel, and a rear lid side panel; 
   c. a moveable joint formed between the rear side panel and the rear lid side panel, wherein the container lid is connected to the container body by the moveable joint, and wherein the container lid is configured to be movable between a closed position and an opened position; and   d. one or more slots formed along the moveable joint.   
     
     
         2 . The clamshell carton of  claim 1 , wherein the moveable joint comprises a fold line at the intersection of the rear side panel and the rear lid side panel, and wherein the fold line is weakened via one of perforations, scoring, or slits, and wherein the container lid is separatable from the container body by tearing along the fold line. 
     
     
         3 . The clamshell carton of  claim 1 , wherein the container body further comprises a front latch and the container lid further comprises a front latch slot, wherein in the closed position the container body front latch is configured to be received by the container lid front latch slot to secure the container lid in the closed position. 
     
     
         4 . The clamshell carton of  claim 3 , wherein the container body front latch comprises a generally downward angled hook configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The clamshell carton of  claim 1 , wherein the container body and the container lid comprise a generally triangular shape. 
     
     
         6 . The clamshell carton of  claim 1 , wherein the container lid is configured to fit over the container body in the closed position, and wherein the lid side panels are exterior to the container body side panels in the closed position. 
     
     
         7 . The clamshell carton of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more slots comprise two slots spaced substantially evenly apart from one another. 
     
     
         8 . The clamshell carton of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more slots comprise three slots spaced substantially evenly apart from one another. 
     
     
         9 . The clamshell carton of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more slots comprise four slots spaced substantially evenly apart from one another. 
     
     
         10 . The clamshell carton of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more slots are generally ovular in shape. 
     
     
         11 . The clamshell carton of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more slots have a width of about ¼ inch. 
     
     
         12 . The clamshell carton of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more slots comprise a length in the range of about 1 inch to about 2 inches. 
     
     
         13 . The clamshell carton of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more slots comprise a spacing therebetween in the range of about ¾ inches to about 2 inches. 
     
     
         14 . The clamshell carton of  claim 1 , wherein a center horizontal axis of the one or more slots is in horizontal alignment with the moveable joint formed where the rear side panel and the rear lid side panel intersect. 
     
     
         15 . The clamshell carton of  claim 1 , further comprising a window formed within the top panel. 
     
     
         16 . The clamshell carton of  claim 15 , wherein the window comprises at least one of a transparent film or a semi-transparent film. 
     
     
         17 . The clamshell carton of  claim 1 , wherein the container body first side panel and second side panel are each tapered increasing in height as they extend away from the container body rear side panel. 
     
     
         18 . A method of using a clamshell carton, comprising:
 a. providing a clamshell carton, comprising:
 i. a container body, comprising:
 1. a floor panel; and 
 2. a plurality of side panels extending about a periphery of the floor panel, the plurality of side panels comprising a first side panel, a second side panel, and a rear side panel; 
 
 ii. a container lid, comprising:
 1. a top panel; and 
 2. a plurality of a lid side panels extending about a periphery of the top panel, the plurality of lid side panels comprising a first lid side panel, a second lid side panel, and a rear lid side panel; 
 
 iii. a moveable joint formed between the rear side panel and the rear lid side panel, wherein the container lid is connected to the container body by the moveable joint, and wherein the container lid is configured to be movable between a closed position and an opened position; and 
 iv. one or more slots formed along the moveable joint. 
   b. placing contents into the container body; and   c. folding the lid portion along the moveable joint to the closed position.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the container body further comprises a front latch and the container lid further comprises a front latch slot, wherein in the closed position the container body front latch is configured to be received by the container lid front latch slot to secure the container lid in the closed position. 
     
     
         20 . A method of using a clamshell carton, comprising:
 a. providing a clamshell carton in a closed position with contents housed inside, the clamshell carton comprising:
 i. a container body, comprising:
 a floor panel; and 
 a plurality of side panels extending about a periphery of the floor panel, the plurality of side panels comprising a first side panel, a second side panel, and a rear side panel; 
 
 ii. a container lid, comprising:
 a top panel; and 
 a plurality of a lid side panels extending about a periphery of the top panel, the plurality of lid side panels comprising a first lid side panel, a second lid side panel, and a rear lid side panel; 
 
 iii. a moveable joint formed between the rear side panel and the rear lid side panel, wherein the container lid is connected to the container body by the moveable joint, and wherein the container lid is configured to be movable between a closed position and an opened position; and 
 iv. one or more slots formed along the moveable joint. 
   b. opening the container lid by folding the lid portion along the moveable joint to the open position; and   c. removing the contents from the container body.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising removing the container lid from the container body by tearing along a weakened fold line formed along the movable joint.