Zipper cartons with reseal panels and methods of use and assembly

Abstract

A zipper carton includes a first panel having an elongated slot extending therethrough, the slot having a length extending between opposing ends. A locking panel assembly includes a removable zipper tear strip and a locking tab having a linear length that is greater than the length of the slot. The locking tab includes a base projecting from the removable zipper tear strip and a first retention flap projecting from the base and being foldable relative to the base. The locking tab is configured so that when the first retention flap is folded from a relaxed position to a folded position, at least a portion of the locking tab including the first retention flap can be slid through the slot and after the first retention flap passes through the slot, the retention flap automatically resiliently rebounds at least partially toward the relaxed position so as to block retraction of the locking tab from the slot.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A zipper carton comprising:
 a carton body comprising a floor and an encircling sidewall bounding a compartment configured to house at least one trial product;   said encircling sidewall comprising at least one panel having a slot disposed therethrough;   said carton body further comprising a cover panel having a locking panel assembly projecting therefrom;   said locking panel assembly comprising a locking tab configured for disposition in a relaxed position, a folded position, and a rebound position, said locking tab configured for disposition through said slot when in said folded position and to automatically rebound into said rebound position thereafter;   said locking tab comprising a base having a plurality of edges and at least one retention flap extending therefrom, said at least one retention flap foldable relative to said base;   said folded position comprising said at least one retention flap being folded to be adjacent to said base; and   said rebound position comprising said at least one retention flap rebounding to project in orthogonal relation relative to said base.   
     
     
         2 . The zipper carton of  claim 1 , wherein said locking panel assembly further comprises a zipper tear strip connected to at least one of said plurality of edges of said base. 
     
     
         3 . The zipper carton of  claim 1 , wherein said trial product comprises at least one vial. 
     
     
         4 . The zipper carton of  claim 1 , wherein said carton body comprises a configuration selected from the group consisting of: a parallelpiped hexahedron, a hexahedron, a polyhedron, a cylinder, and a cone. 
     
     
         5 . The zipper carton of  claim 1 , wherein said locking tab comprises a first retention flap projecting from a first side edge of said base, a second retention flap projecting from a second side edge of said base, and a third retention flap projecting from a front edge of said base, each of said first retention flap, said second retention flap, and said third retention flap being foldable relative to said base. 
     
     
         6 . The zipper carton of  claim 5 , wherein said third retention flap comprises a projection configured to pivot relative to said base when said third retention flap is folded relative to said base. 
     
     
         7 . The zipper carton of  claim 1 , wherein said slot comprises a tab projecting therein. 
     
     
         8 . A zipper carton comprising:
 a first panel having an elongated slot extending therethrough;   a locking panel assembly comprising a locking tab, said locking tab configurable between a relaxed position, a folded position, and a rebound position;   said locking tab comprising a base, said base comprising a first side edge having a first retention flap projecting therefrom, a second side edge having a second retention flap projecting therefrom, and a front edge having a third retention flap projecting therefrom;   said locking tab disposable through said slot when configured in said folded position, said folded position comprising each of said first retention flap, said second retention flap, and said third retention flap being folded relative to said base; and   said locking tab, after disposition through said slot, configured to automatically rebound from said folded position and into a rebound position, said rebound position comprising each of said first retention flap, said second retention flap, and said third retention flap rebounding at least partially towards said relaxed position.   
     
     
         9 . The zipper carton of  claim 8 , wherein said locking panel assembly further comprises a zipper tear strip connected to said base at a back edge thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The zipper carton of  claim 8 , wherein said relaxed position comprises each of said first retention flap, said second retention flap, and said third retention flap being disposed in a common plane with said base. 
     
     
         11 . The zipper carton of  claim 8 , wherein said rebound position further comprises each of said first retention flap, said second retention flap, and said third retention flap projecting in orthogonal relation relative to said base. 
     
     
         12 . The zipper carton of  claim 8 , wherein said rebound position further comprises said first retention flap and said second retention flap projecting in orthogonal relation relative to said slot. 
     
     
         13 . A carton comprising:
 a first panel having an elongated slot extending therethrough, said elongated slot having a first end oppositely disposed from a second end, said elongated slot defining a length extending between said first end and said second end;   a locking panel assembly comprising a locking tab having a linear length greater than said length of said elongated slot, said locking tab comprising:
 a base comprising a front edge and an opposing back edge with a first side edge and a second side edge extending therebetween; 
 a first retention flap projecting from said first side edge of said base and being foldable relative to said base; 
 a second retention flap projecting from said second side edge of said base and being foldable relative to said base; 
 a third retention flap projecting from said front edge of said base and being foldable relative to said base; 
   said locking tab disposable through said slot after configuration from a relaxed position into a folded position, said folded position comprising each of said first retention flap, said second retention flap, and said third retention flap being folded relative to said base; and   said locking tab further configured to automatically rebound from said folded position to a rebound position after said locking tab is disposed through said slot, said rebound position comprising each of said first retention flap, said second retention flap, and said third retention flap rebounding at least partially toward said relaxed position.   
     
     
         14 . The carton of  claim 13 , wherein said rebound position comprises each of said first retention flap, said second retention flap, and said third retention flap projecting in orthogonal relation relative to said base. 
     
     
         15 . The carton of  claim 13 , wherein said relaxed position comprises each of said first retention flap, said second retention flap, and said third retention flap being disposed in a common plane with said base. 
     
     
         16 . The carton of  claim 13 , wherein said base further comprises a front face, and wherein said folded position further comprises:
 said third retention flap being folded to be disposed adjacent to said front face of said base, said third retention flap comprising a back face oppositely disposed in relation to said front face of said base; and   both of said first retention flap and said second retention flap folded to be disposed adjacent to said back face of said third retention flap.   
     
     
         17 . The carton of  claim 1 , wherein said rebound position comprises each of said first retention flap, said second retention flap, and said third retention flap rebounding between thirty degrees and ninety degrees towards said relaxed position. 
     
     
         18 . The carton of  claim 1 , wherein said first panel is formed as part of an encircling sidewall at least partially bounding a compartment, said compartment configured to house at least one trial product. 
     
     
         19 . The carton of  claim 18 , wherein said at least one trial product is housed within at least one container selected from the group consisting of: a pill bottle, a syringe, a vial, and a tube. 
     
     
         20 . The carton of  claim 18 , wherein said encircling sidewall comprises a transverse cross-section shape selected from the group consisting of: square, rectangular, circular, elliptical, and polygonal.