Carton

Abstract

A carton. The carton may include a floor panel; a plurality of side panels extending about a periphery of the floor panel, the plurality of side panels may include a front side panel, an opposing rear side panel, a first side end panel, and an opposing second side end panel. The carton may further include a corner gussets extending between adjacent side panels; a closure portion, wherein the closure portion may be configured to secure a top opening of the container portion; and an arrangement of vent openings, and wherein the floor panel, side panels, and corner gussets may be configurable to form a compartment region.

That which is claimed: 
     
         1 . A carton, comprising:
 a. a floor panel;   b. a plurality of side panels extending about a periphery of the floor panel, the plurality of side panels comprising a front side panel, an opposing rear side panel, a first side end panel, and an opposing second side end panel;   c. corner gussets extending between adjacent side panels, wherein the floor panel, side panels, and corner gussets are configurable to form a compartment region;   d. a closure portion, wherein the closure portion is configured to secure a top opening of the container portion; and   e. an arrangement of vent openings.   
     
     
         2 . The carton of  claim 1 , wherein the closure portion comprises, closure flaps extending from an uppermost edge of the side panels forming a moveable joint where the closure flaps and corresponding side panels intersect. 
     
     
         3 . The carton of  claim 2 , wherein a first closure flap and a second closure flap are adapted to engage with one another when in a folded closed position. 
     
     
         4 . The carton of  claim 3 , wherein the first closure flap and the second closure flap are configured to interlock with one another via a tab formed on one of the first closure flap or the second closure flap and a corresponding slot formed in the other of the first closure flap or the second closure flap. 
     
     
         5 . The carton of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the vent openings are formed substantially in the closure portion of the carton. 
     
     
         6 . The carton of  claim 1 , wherein the vent openings are of a generally semi-circular shape. 
     
     
         7 . The carton of  claim 2 , wherein a bottom edge of one or more of the vent openings are formed along one or more of the fold lines. 
     
     
         8 . The carton of  claim 2 , wherein a bottom edge portion of one or more of the vent openings extends slightly below one or more of the fold lines, and the remaining portion extends into its respective closure flap. 
     
     
         9 . The carton of  claim 2 , wherein one or more of the vent openings are formed in one or more of the closure flaps. 
     
     
         10 . The carton of  claim 2 , wherein one or more of the vent openings are configured as any one or more of a through-hole, a punchout, or a vent flap. 
     
     
         11 . The carton of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more vent openings, when configured in the through-hole configuration, are defined by an opening devoid of material. 
     
     
         12 . The carton of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more vent openings, when configured in the punchout configuration, are defined by a perforated line or a score line formed about a part of, or all of, a periphery of the vent openings, and wherein the vent openings are partially or fully removable about the perforated line or the score line. 
     
     
         13 . The carton of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more vent openings, when configured in the vent flap configuration, are defined by a perforated line or a score line formed about a part of a periphery of the vent openings, and wherein the vent openings are partially removable about the perforated line or the score line. 
     
     
         14 . The carton of  claim 1 , wherein the carton comprises a single piece of material comprising a plurality of fold lines, and wherein the plurality of fold lines are configured to allow the carton to be transformed from a flat pre-folded first configuration to an assembled folded second configuration. 
     
     
         15 . The vented carton of  claim 2 , wherein one or more of the moveable joints are weakened, and wherein one or more of the closure flaps are configured to be removable from its respective side panel by tearing along a respective one of the weakened moveable joints. 
     
     
         16 . The carton of  claim 1 , wherein the corner gussets are configured to be foldable and securable to an inner surface or outer surface of one of their adjacent side panels, wherein securing the corner gussets to their corresponding adjacent side panels secures the compartment region in its formed state. 
     
     
         17 . A method of using a vented carton, the method comprising:
 a. providing a vented carton, comprising:
 i. a floor panel; 
 ii. a plurality of side panels extending about a periphery of the floor panel, the plurality of side panels comprising a front side panel, an opposing rear side panel, a first side end panel, and an opposing second side end panel; 
 iii. corner gussets extending between adjacent side panels, wherein the floor panel, side panels, and corner gussets are configurable to form a compartment region; 
 iv. a closure portion, wherein the closure portion is configured to secure a top opening of the container portion; and 
 v. an arrangement of vent openings; 
   b. placing contents into the compartment region;   c. closing the top opening of the compartment region using the closure portion; and   d. venting the carton via the vent openings.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein venting the carton comprises partially or fully removing material covering one or more of the vent openings.