GB1564017A

GB1564017A - Dispensing carton having cutting edge protective strip

Info

Publication number: GB1564017A
Application number: GB3969976A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: International Paper Co
Current assignee: International Paper Co
Priority date: 1975-09-29
Filing date: 1976-09-24
Publication date: 1980-04-02
Also published as: DE2642998A1; FR2325564B3; FR2325564A1; CA1032122A

Description

(54) DISPENSING CARTON HAVING CUTTING EDGE PROTECTIVE STRIP (71) We, INTERNATIONAL PAPER COM- PANY, a corporation organised under the laws of the State of New York, United States of America, of 220 East 42nd Street, New York, State of New York, United States of America, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to a carton for dispensing lengths of a sheet material from a supply of such material. More particularly, it relates to a dispensing carton having a cutting edge that is enclosed and protected prior to opening of the carton, which opening is effected by removal of a tear strip which maintains the cutting edge inside the carton.

Typical dispensing cartons for sheet materials are formed from paperboard and have a plastic or metal cutting edge attached to a front panel disposed outside the carton for cutting the material in a desired length.

However, it has been found when such cartons are stored or moved in transit in contemplation of sale to the consumer that the cutting edge is either damaged or it damages other cartons nearby. Thus, it is desirable that the cutting edge be enclosed in the carton prior to use by the consumer. In addition, because metal or plastic cutting edges are prone to injure a consumer's hands during use, it has been found to be desirable to utilize cutting edges made of paperboard.

However, if a dispensing carton having a paperboard cutting edge is stored or shipped with the edge on the outside of the carton, the edge is even more prone to damage than a metal or plastic edge. The present invention, therefore, may provide a dispensing carton having a cutting edge which is protected prior to use of the carton.

U.S. Patent No. 3,516,587 discloses a carton having a tearing edge which is disposed inside the carton when it is not in use. The carton disclosed has one side wall divided by a tear strip into upper and lower portions.

Upon removing the upper portion and tear strip, the tearing edge is released for use.

The cartons of the present invention, in contrast, have a removable tear strip attached integrally to the uppermost portion of a bottom front panel so that no portion of this panel is removed with the tear strip.

The present invention may provide an improved dispensing carton which has a cutting edge that is protected prior to use of the carton.

The present invention may provide a blank for erecting into a carton having the above features.

Features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawings showing preferred embodiments of the invention.

According to the invention there is provided a carton for dispensing lengths of a sheet material from a supply of such material within the carton, said carton comprising a plurality of panels including a top panel, a rear panel, a bottom panel, a top front panel, a bottom front panel; and end flaps attached each to a corresponding one of said panels to form the carton, said top front panel having a free end and a cutting edge at said free end for severing lengths of the material from the supply; and a removable tear strip connected to said bottom front panel along the uppermost boundary thereof, said tear strip being secured to either one of said top front and top panels to secure the carton in a closed configuration in which the bottom front panel externally overlies the cutting edge on the top front panel to protect said cutting edge, removal of said tear strip establishing the carton in an opened configuration allowing the sheet material being dispensed to pass across said cutting edge and to be severed thereby.

The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention showing a blank from which the carton can be erected; FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the erected carton of Figure 1 showing the tear strip partially removed from the carton; FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 2 showing the carton end panels in dotted line and a roll of sheet material; FIGURE 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken along lines 44 of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 2; FIGURE 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along lines 5-5 of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 2;; FIGURE 6 is a cutaway view taken along lines W6 of Figure 5 of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 2 showing a portion of the cutting edge of the carton; FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional, cutaway view taken along lines 7-7 of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 2 showing the carton's top front panel placed on the outside of the carton during the operation of dispensing lengths of material after the tear strip has been removed; FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the present invention showing the tear strip partially removed from the carton; Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 9-9 of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 8 showing the end flaps of the carton in dotted line and a roll of sheet material; and Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional, cutaway view taken along lines 10-10 of the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 8 showing the carton's top front panel placed on the inside of the carton after the tear strip has been removed.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, an improved carton of the present invention is erected from a carton blank having a top panel 10, rear panel 11, bottom panel 12, bottom front panel 13, and top front panel 14. The designation top front or bottom front indicates a panel generally disposed perpendicular to a bottom panel, attached to either a top or bottom panel, and having a free or unattached end, which end is not attached to another panel. The blank further includes various end panels, 15-24, attached to panels 10-14 to form the carton.

When the blank illustrated in Fig. 1 is erected into the carton illustrated in Fig. 2, top front panel 14 is placed inside of bottom front panel 13. Referring to Figs. 3 and 9, a cutting edge 25 (best illustrated in Fig. 6) depends downwardly from top front panel 14 and is protected by bottom front panel 13 prior to opening of the carton for use by the consumer. To maintain cutting edge 25 within the carton prior to its initial opening, a removable tear strip 26 (see Fig. 2) is secured to the outer surface of a portion of the carton adjacent the iuncture of top panel 10 and top front panel 14. Upon removal of tear strip 26, cutting edge 25 and top front panel 14 are released so the carton can be opened and sheet material severed from the roll of material (see Fig. 3).

Tear strip 26 is in the uppermost portion of bottom front panel 13. Most preferably, tear strip 26 is affixed to top front panel 14.

As illustrated in Fig. 2, to remove tear strip 26 from bottom front panel 13 and top front panel 14, two score lines 27 and 28 are provided. Score line 27 is made through the inner surface of bottom front panel 13 and score line 28 is made through the outer surface of panel 13, so that tear strip 26 may be easily removed from this panel by the consumer when desired, but not so easily that the tear strip is torn from the carton during storage or transit. It is contemplated that other means for separating tear strip 26 from bottom panel 13 may be utilised.

For example, a single fold line between tear strip 26 and bottom front panel 13, which is at least partially scored, may be utilized.

Tear strip 26 may be secured to top front panel 14 by many conventional means. It is preferred that these structures be glued together in such a manner that strip 26 can be removed without damaging the carton.

In addition, it is preferred that the glue which is applied to tear strip 26 for this purpose not be applied at the ends of strip 26, so that the ends may be easily grasped by the consumer when the tear strip is to be removed. The ends of strip 26 may also be embossed or folded slightly upward to make for easy grasping.

In addition to releasably securing tear strip 26 to top front panel 14, it may also be secured to top panel 10. As illustrated in Fig. 8, if strip 25 is affixed to panel 10, it is preferred that it be affixed near the juncture of panel 10 with panel 14. It is apparent that in these instances bottom front panel 13 will be of a greater height than in the carton illustrated in Fig. 2.

Thus, when the cartons of the present invention are erected and marketed for use by the consumer, the structure of the preferred cartons of this invention, as discussed above, will be the same as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 9. Upon removal of tear strip 26 by the consumer, the carton is opened and top front panel 14 and its cutting edge 25 are then placed on the outside of the carton. The sheet material 29 can then be grasped and brought into contact with cutting edge 25 so that the desired length can be severed from the roll of material. In Fig. 7, the operation of severing the material is illustrated using the embodiment of Fig. 2.

After the material has been severed, the end of the sheet material will remain between top front panel 14 and bottom front panel 13 so that it is easier for the consumer to withdraw the material in the next usage because the end does not slide back onto the roll. However, it is contemplated that top front panel 14 and cutting edge 25 can be placed back inside the carton after usage, as indicated in Fig. 10. This choice of placement of cutting edge 25 after usage can be made with either the embodiment of Fig. 2 or of Fig. 8.

Cutting edge 25 may be integral with top front panel 14 or may be attached thereto.

It is contemplated that edge 25 may be formed in the free end of panel 14 by die cutting a single line of teeth in the outermost edge of this panel. Edge 25 may be made from plastic, metal, paperboard, or any other conventional material known for this purpose and may then be attached to panel 14.

Preferably, edge 25 has the structure iliustrated in Fig. 6. In this drawing cutting edge 25 is formed from two serrated edges, each defined by a line of teeth and held together adjacent one another, so that each tooth of one edge is positioned between two teeth of the other edge. The teeth of the first edge are designated as A and of the second edge as B in Fig. 6.

A cutting edge of this structure made of paperboard is disclosed, particularly in Fig.

6, in U.S. Patent No. 3,193,427, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. This patent discloses that the paperboard cutting edge may be impregnated with a material that stiffens and hardens the teeth of the edge. Further, it discloses a method for making a dispensing carton having such a double-layer, serrated edge. The method generally includes die cutting a carton blank, making a single serrated line cut in a panel of the blank, folding together the portions of the blank around the serrated line cut, and adhesively joining the portions together. The method also includes applying the hardening impregnate to one surface of the blank approximate the serrated line cut prior to erecting the blank into a carton.

Although a hardening agent may be applied in the above manner, in making the cartons of the present invention it is preferred that the teeth of cutting edge 25 be impregnated by being sprayed with a hardening material.

The method of spraying a hardening material against one surface of the paperboard under a sufficient pressure so that the material penetrates substantially the entire thickness of the paper board is also known. The cutting edge and method described above are useful in the process for making the cartons of the present invention.

The process includes die cutting a carton blank, such as illustrated in Fig. 1, from a supply of paperboard material. The paperboard most preferred is conventional solid bleached, sulfate paperboard, clay coated on one side, having a thickness from about .016 inch to about .022 inch. In the blank cutting step, the Improvement includes cutting the blank to form removable tear strip 26 in the uppermost portion of bottom front panel 13.

Next, a serrated cut line is made in top front panel 14 to form first portion 14a and second portion 14b. This serrated cut line is illustrated in Fig. 1. Each portion will have a line of teeth between its ends, which teeth have previously been identified as A and B. The lines of teeth will each define serrated edges and the portions will be integrally connected with each other along uncut, fold line segments 30 at opposite ends of the serrated edges, so that the teeth of one portion mesh with the valleys between the teeth of the other portion.

Rather than apply the tooth hardening material as described in U.S. Patent 3,193,427, it is sprayed under pressure against a selected outer surface of the blank approximate the serrated line cut in panel 14, so that the material penetrates substantially the entire thickness of the blank without appreciably staining its other outer surface. The preferred material is selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, silicone, or nitrocellulose, with the most preferred being polyurethane dissolved in a solvent such as acetone. The hardening material is sprayed against the teeth at a pressure generally between about 600 p.s.i.g. and 800 p.s.i.g.

through a nozzle which is capable of delivering .04 gallons/minute of water under a pressure of 500 p.s.i.g. Other factors which have been found to be important with regard to spraying of the hardening material include placing the nozzle a distance between about .25 inch to about .75 inch from the blank.

so that the spray pattern has a width between about .25 to about .75 when it reaches the blank; moving the blank at a linear speed between about 10.000 ft/min and 20,000 ft/ min in relation to the nozzle; and spraying the material so that at least it covers the entire area between the peaks of the serrated line cut. Of course, these factors are adjustable so that one skilled in the art can achieve a desired spray application by compensating for one factor by varying another.

The portions 14a and 14h of top front panel 14 are then folded along the fold line segments 30 against each other and secured together, preferably using an adhesive. To erect the carton, the various panels 10-14 and end flaps 15-24 are folded along fold lines, such as shown in Fig. 1, and then the panels and flaps are secured together. In the last mentioned folding step, the improvement comprises folding the panels and flaps together so that front panel 14 is folded inside of bottom front panel 13. Finally, another improvement includes affixing tear strip 26 to the outer surface of a portion of the erected carton adjacent the juncture of top panel 10 and top front panel 14.

The portions 14a and 14S are integral with each other at the fold line segments 30 and form top front panel 14 and preferably they are glued together by an adhesive applied between fold line segments 30.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. A carton for dispensing lengths of a sheet material from a supply of such material within the carton, said carton comprising a plurality of panels including a top panel, a rear panel, a bottom panel, a top front panel, a bottom front panel; and end flaps attached each to a corresponding one of said panels to form the carton, said top front panel having a cutting edge for severing lengths of the material from the supply; and a removable tear strip connected to said bottom front panel along the uppermost boundary thereof, said tear strip being secured to either one of said top front and top panels to secure the carton in a closed configuration in which the bottom front panel externally overlies the cutting edge on the top front panel to protect said cutting edge, removal of said tear strip establishing the carton in an opened configuration allowing the sheet material being dispensed to pass across said cutting edge and to be severed thereby.

2. A carton as calimed in claim 1, wherein said tear strip is secured to the top front panel.

3. A carton as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tear strip is secured to the top panel.

4. A carton as claimed in claim 1, where- in said top front panel has serrations defining said cutting edge.

5. A carton as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top panel has a first portion having a line of teeth between its ends defining a first serrated edge and a second portion having a line of teeth between its ends defining a second serrated edge, said portions being connected with each other at fold line segments at opposite ends of said portions and together forming said top front panel, the two lines of teeth being firmly held together adjacent one another to define said cutting edge and each tooth on one portion being positioned between two corresponding teeth on the adjacent portion.

6. A carton as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5 wherein the top front panel is placed inside of the bottom front panel thereby protecting said cutting edge prior to use of the carton.

7. A carton substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. with each other at the fold line segments 30 and form top front panel 14 and preferably they are glued together by an adhesive applied between fold line segments 30. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:-

1. A carton for dispensing lengths of a sheet material from a supply of such material within the carton, said carton comprising a plurality of panels including a top panel, a rear panel, a bottom panel, a top front panel, a bottom front panel; and end flaps attached each to a corresponding one of said panels to form the carton, said top front panel having a cutting edge for severing lengths of the material from the supply; and a removable tear strip connected to said bottom front panel along the uppermost boundary thereof, said tear strip being secured to either one of said top front and top panels to secure the carton in a closed configuration in which the bottom front panel externally overlies the cutting edge on the top front panel to protect said cutting edge, removal of said tear strip establishing the carton in an opened configuration allowing the sheet material being dispensed to pass across said cutting edge and to be severed thereby.