Gable topped container and paperboard blank

Abstract

A gable topped container and a paperboard blank for forming the containers constructed with ridge panels that are a substantially common width and with an end closure member having an interrupted, weakened line of severance at an elevation higher than the lowermost edges of the ridge panels with the uppermost edges of the roof panels and end closure member being at a substantially common elevation. The weakened line of severance is coated with a material being of a type for preventing sealing of the ridge panels to the portion of the end closure member covered by said material coating.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In a gable topped container of sheet material comprising a tubular body having four sidewalls, a bottom closure, a pair of opposed roof panels inclining toward each other and overlaying the top of said body, first and second triangular end closure panels being enfolded between said roof panels from the opposite gable ends formed by the latter, a pair of triangular fold-back panels each joined to opposed sides of the .[.second.]. .Iadd.first .Iaddend.triangular end closure panel along fold lines which are in proximity with said roof panels, said fold-back panels being folded against the underside of said roof panels, a separate ridge panel surmounting each of said roof panels and said .[.second.]. pair of triangular fold-back panels, .[.each.]. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.pair of ridge panels surmounting the .[.second.]. pair of triangular fold-back panels being hinged together at the apex of the contiguous .Iadd.first triangular .Iaddend.end closure panel and being folded about such hinged joinder in face-to-face relationship between the ridge panels surmounting said roof panels, the  .[.first.]. .Iadd.second .Iaddend.triangular end closure panel having an end closure member joined to the roof panels, the ridge panels of the roof panels, and to opposed sides of the .[.first.]. .Iadd.second .Iaddend.triangular end closure panel along fold lines which are in proximity with said roof panels, .Iadd.the lower portion of .Iaddend.said end closure member being folded against the underside of said roof panels .Iadd.and the upper portion of said end closure being folded .Iaddend.in face-to-face relationship .[.with.]. .Iadd.between .Iaddend.the ridge panels surmounting said roof panels, the improvement comprising: the end closure member having an interrupted, weakened line of severance extending transversely across .[.an.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.upper portion of said end closure member at an elevation higher than the lowermost edges of the ridge panels with an upper edge of said end closure member being at substantially a common elevation with the uppermost edges of the ridge panels and being sealed to the adjacent ridge panels .[.of.]. .Iadd.surmounting .Iaddend.the roof panels, and   a coating material covering the end closure member at a location about and immediately adjacent the line of severance, said coating material being of a type for preventing sealing of the ridge panels to the portion of the end closure member covered by said .[.material.]. coating .Iadd.material.Iaddend., said coating material extending at least 5/16 inch below the line of severance over the length of the weakened line of severance.   
     
     
       2. A gable topped container, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the ridge panels and end closure member have a polyethylene coating and are heat sealed one to the other. 
     
     
       3. A gable topped container, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the weakened line of severance comprises a straight cut line extending completely through the end closure member with said cut line being interrupted by at least two spaced-apart uncut portions. 
     
     
       4. A gable topped container, as set forth in claim 3, wherein the interrupted portions of the cut line each have a length of not greater than about three times the thickness of the container blank. 
     
     
       5. A gable topped container, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the interrupted, weakened line of severance terminates at locations spaced from the side edges of the end closure member upon which the line of severance is formed. 
     
     
       6. A gable topped container, as set forth in claim 1, wherein a score line extends traversely across the end closure member defining a ridge panel thereon that is of substantially equal width relative to the ridge panels of the associated roof panels for dividing the end closure member into a ridge panel and a pair of triangular fold-back panels. 
     
     
       7. In a paperboard blank for forming a container of rectangular formation having a gable top, said blank being formed with laterally spaced-apart score lines extending vertically from the lower to the upper edge of the blank, a first score line extending transversely of the blank in downward-spaced relationship to the upper edge thereof, said first score line in conjunction with said vertically extending score lines, defining opposed front and rear sidewall panels and opposed first and second end wall panels, a second interrupted transversely extending score line arranged at a substantially common elevation intermediate the upper edge of said blank and said first transversely extending score line and defining, in conjunction therewith and with said vertically extending score lines, a .[.first.]. .Iadd.front .Iaddend.roof closure panel surmounting said front sidewall panel, a rear roof closure panel surmounting said rear sidewall panel, and an area surmounting said second end wall panel, said area being provided with converging score lines inclining upwardly from said first transverse score line to its respective second transverse score line defining a .Iadd.first .Iaddend.triangular end closure panel and a .[.second.].  pair of triangular fold-back panels hinged to the .Iadd.first .Iaddend.triangular end closure panel, converging score lines inclining upwardly from said first transverse score line adjacent the first end wall panel to the elevation of the second score line and defining a .[.first.]. .Iadd.second .Iaddend.triangular end closure panel and an end closure member, the improvement comprising: ridge panels each having substantially a common width surmounting said roof panels and said area, said end closure member and said ridge panels having upper edges at a substantially common elevation, said ridge panels being defined by the second transversely extending score line being substantially parallel to the upper edge of the blank and in conjunction with said vertically extending score lines and said end closure member being defined by the first score line in conjunction with said vertically extending score lines;   an interrupted, weakened line of severance extending transversely across an upper portion of said end closure member at an elevation higher than the second score line; and   a coating material covering the end closure member at a location about and immediately adjacent the line of severance, said coating material being of a type for preventing sealing of the ridge panels to the portion of the end closure member covered by said .[.material.]. coating .Iadd.material.Iaddend., said coating material extending at least 5/16 inch below the line of severance over the length of the weakened line of severance.   
     
     
       8. A paperboard blank, as set forth in claim 7, wherein the ridge panels and the end closure member have a polyethylene coating and are heat sealable one to the other. 
     
     
       9. A paperboard blank, as set forth in claim 7, wherein the material about and immediately adjacent the line of severance extends at least to an elevation of the second score line over the length of said weakened line of severance. 
     
     
       10. A paperboard blank, as set forth in claim 7, wherein the weakened line of severance comprises a straight cut line extending completely through the paper board with said cut line being interrupted by at least two spaced-apart uncut portions. 
     
     
       11. A paperboard blank, as set forth in claim 10, wherein the interrupted portions of the second cut line have a length not greater than about three times the thickness of the paperboard blank. 
     
     
       12. A paperboard blank, as set forth in claim 7, wherein the interrupted, weakened line of severance terminates at locations spaced from the adjacent ridge panels. 
     
     
       13. A paperboard blank, as set forth in claim 7, wherein the second score line is continuous, traverses the entire blank and thereby divides the end closure member into a pair of fold-back panels and a ridge panel.