US3731870A

US3731870A - Compartmented ice cream carton with interior vertical support and divider, dual opening means and reclosure means

Info

Publication number: US3731870A
Application number: US00139720A
Authority: US
Inventors: K Buttery
Original assignee: Brown Co
Current assignee: Fort James Corp
Priority date: 1971-05-03
Filing date: 1971-05-03
Publication date: 1973-05-08
Anticipated expiration: 1990-05-08

Abstract

A top-opening, rectangular paperboard carton including top, bottom, front wall, rear wall, and end wall panels which together define an enclosure and the top panel of which comprises two members hinged, respectively, to the front wall panel and the rear wall panel. A detachable vertical divider panel separates the enclosure into a plurality of compartments and the top panel members provide separate access means to such compartments.

Description

United States Patent [191 Buttery COMPARTMENTED ICE CREAM CARTON WITH INTERIOR VERTICAL SUPPORT AND DIVIDER, DUAL OPENING MEANS ANll) RECLOSURE MEANS [75] Inventor: Kenneth T. Buttery, Kalamazoo,

Mich.

[73] Assignee: Brown Company, Kalamazoo, Mich.

[221 Filed: May 3, 1971 {2H Appl. No.: 139,720

[52] US. Cl ..229/27, 229/51 TS, 229/51 TC [51] Int. Cl. ,.B65d 5/48 [58] Field of Search ..229/27, 51 TS, 51 TC,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,554,402 1/1971 Lock ..229/27 X [4 1: May 8, 1973 5/1961 Turpin ..229/27 X 3,165,254 1/1965 Moore ,.229/5l TS 3,361,328 l/l968 Buttery .....229/5l TS 3,353,740 I 1/1967 Outwater ..229/51 TC Primary Examiner-Donald F. Norton Att0rney-Gordon W. Hueschen and Talivaldis Cepuritis [57] ABSTRACT A top-opening, rectangular paperboard carton including top, bottom, front wall, rear wall, and end wall panels which together define an enclosure and the top panel of which comprises two members hinged, respectively, to the front wall panel and the rear wall panel. A detachable vertical divider panel separates the enclosure into a plurality of compartments and the top panel members provide separate access means to such compartments.

16 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTED Y 8192s 3131.870

sum 1 OF 2 FIB?) INVENTOR.

KENN ETH T. BUTTERY BY/ ATI'ORN E PATENTEU 973 3731870 SHEET 2 OF 2 ATT RN BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to cartons and, more particularly, to improved cartons for packaging foodstuffs 1 such as ice cream.

Paperboard cartons are a widely accepted means for packaging various materials including foodstuffs. Such cartons usually are erected and filled with the normal access opening or cover means in a sealed condition. Typical such cartons are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,361,328 and 3,410,476.

In the case of foodstuffs, often the content of a particular carton is not used up immediately upon opening but is permitted to stand with the attendant result that the foodstuff contained therein oxidizes and/or discolors. The carton design of the present invention obviates the foregoing drawbacks and provides several advantages with a compartmentalized container whereby foodstuffs contained in a particular compartment remain fresh until desired for use, notwithstanding the fact the carton itself has been opened and another compartment emptied prior to that time.

Moreover, in the case of ice cream, several different flavors can be advantageously provided in separate compartments of the same container.

Another advantage that is derived from the carton design of the present invention is that the present design permits the use of a lower caliper paperboard for construction purposes inasmuch as a divider or bridge within the carton lends substantial structural rigidity thereto. 7

A still further advantage is that the present design, incorporating a vertical divider, provides a back-stop for the innermost end flaps of a carton which provision not only dimensionally stabilizes the carton but also results in a better sealing of the carton ends.

Thus it'is an object of the present invention to provide a carton for the packaging of foodstuffs which is subdivided into several compartments so that the contents of one compartment can be consumed while another compartment remains substantially sealed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a carton design which permits the use of a relatively lower caliper paperboard without sacrificing the structural rigidity of the carton.

Still other objects will readily present themselves to one skilled in the art upon reference to the ensuing specification, drawings, and the claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention contemplates a vertical divider panel which is detachably secured between the top panel and the bottom panel of a carton. The top panel of such a carton comprises a pair of partially overlapping top panel members which provide separate access means to each of the several compartments within a carton. I

The carton of the present invention can be defined as a top-opening rectangular paperboard carton which includes top, bottom, front wall, rear wall, and end wall panels together defining an enclosure. The top panel comprises a first top panel member hingedly connected to the front wall panel and a second top panel member hingedly connected to the rear wall panel. One of the top panel members partially overlaps the other top panel member and is adhesively affixed thereto. A substantially vertical divider panel separates the defined enclosure into a plurality of compartments and is detachably secured to the underlying top panel member and to the bottom panel.

In one embodiment of this invention cover means having a novel hinge is provided by a longitudinally ex- BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a carton blank cut and scored so as to provide a carton of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the blank shown in FIG. 1 with one portion thereof folded over prior to gluing;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the blank shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 completely folded and ready for gluing and erection;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an erected carton of this invention with end flaps at one end thereof folded away to show interior detail;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a carton of this invention with the end flaps folded over in a sealing position;

FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of a carton of this invention showing the carton with one internal compartment open;

FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of the carton shown in FIG. 6 with both internal compartments open; and

FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of the carton shown in FIG. 7 in reclosed condition.

DESCRIPTION OF, THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the following description reference will be made to the accompanying drawings for a better understanding of this invention. In the drawings all parts are numbered and the same numbers are used to identify the same parts in the several figures. Additionally, areas v 16 and 17 hingedly connected thereto. Similarly, front having an adhesive applied thereon are indicated by stippled shading, areas that are debossed are indicated by a series of vertical lines, and areas that are embossed are indicated by a series of horizontal lines. The terms debossed and embossed are used with reference to the outer surface of the carton as constructed.

Referring to FIG. 1, carton blank 10 comprises bottom panel 11, and front wall panel 12 and rear wall panell3 both hingedly connected to bottom panel 11. First top panel member 14 is hingedly connected to front wall panel 12 and second top panel member 15 is hingedly connected to rear wall panel 13.

Bottom panel 11 is provided with bottom end flaps wall panel 12 is provided at its ends with front

wall end flaps

18 and 19 hingedly connected thereto and rear wall panel 13.is provided at its ends with rear

wall end flaps

20 and 21.

First top panel member 14 is provided with first top panel

member end flaps

22 and 23, and second top panel member 15 is provided with second top panel

member end flaps

24 and 25 in a similar manner. First top panel member 14 also-includes

tear strips

26 and 27 longitudinally disposed along the outer edge of member 14. Cut scored region 28 is also provided on top panel member 14 and delineates the affixation zone for tear strip 29 of second top panel member 15.

Divider panel 30 is detachably secured to first top panel member 14 along

tear strips

26 and 27 with the perforations thereof also serving as a line of weakening for divider panel 30 along which subsequent detachment can be made. In constructing a carton, divider panel 30 is detachably affixed to bottom panel 1 1, for example by means of glue flap 31 delineated by line of weakening 32 and constituting an affixation zone. Alternately, divider panel 30 can be detachably secured to bottom panel 11 by means of intermittent glue spots in the affixation zone in which event line 32 can be a score such as a crease score or the like rather than a line of weakening.

First top panel member 14 forms a first recloseable cover means together with

end flaps

22 and 23 which are adhesively affixed to

tabs

33 and 34, defined by lines of weakening 35 and 36, respectively, in respective front wall end flaps l9 and 18. Affixation is achieved by means of

adhesive regions

37 and 38 which are situated on

end flaps

23 and 22, respectively. The cover means so formed hinges on crease score 39 provided in front wall panel 12 substantially parallel to the juncture of front wall panel 12 and first top panel member 14. Crease score 39 is spaced from the aforesaid juncture of panel 12 and top panel member 14 by about the width of

tabs

35 and 36 at the line of hinged connection thereof to front wall panel 12.

Tabs

35 and 36 are, of course, hingedly joined to front wall panel 12 contiguous to the juncture of said panel 12 and top panel member 14.

In a similar fashion a second recloseable cover means is formed by second top panel member 15 together with

end flaps

24 and 25 adhesively affixed by means of adhesive regions 40 and 41, respectively, to

tabs

42 and 43 defined in respective rear

wall end flaps

20 and 21 by lines of weakening 44 and 45 such as perforation lines. Second recloseable cover means hinges on crease score 48 in rear wall panel 13 spaced from and substantially parallel to the juncture of rear wall panel 13 and second top panel member 15.

Lines of weakening 35, 36, 44 and 45 can be lines of cut-through perforations with small residual bonds or the like. Preferably, the terminal portions of these lines of weakening abutting the respective front wall panel 12 or rear wall panel 13 are cut score lines only, i.e., not cut through, so as to, minimize a possibility of leakage.

In order to enhance sealing and to provide a substantially flat carton end,

tabs

33, 34, 42 and 43 are embossed. Similarly, the

outermost portions

46 and 47 of rear wall end flaps 20 and 21, respectively, are debossed so as to receive the overlapping portion of front wall end flaps 18 and 19, respectively.

Adhesive regions

49 and 50 on rear wall end flaps 21 and 20, respectively, serve to adhesively affix said end flaps 21 and 20 to respective bottom end flaps 17 and 16. Front wall end flaps l8 and 19 are adapted to be affixed to respective bottom end flaps l6 and 17 and to rear wall end flaps 20 and 21 by means of

adhesive regions

52 and 53, respectively. First top panel member end flaps 22 and 23 are adapted to be affixed to front wall end flaps l8 and 19 by means of

adhesive regions

54 and 55, respectively. Second top panel member end flap 24 is adapted to be affixed to both end flaps 18 and 20 by means of adhesive region 56 and to first top panel member end flap 22 by means of adhesive region 58. Similarly, second top panel member end flap 25 is adapted to be affixed to both end flaps 19 and 21 by means of adhesive region 57 and to first top panel member end flap 23 by means of adhesive region 59.

Aligned, partially overlapping tear strips 60 and 62 are provided in top panel member end flaps 22 and 24, and similar tear strips 61 and 63 are provided in top panel member end flaps 23 and 25. These tear strips serve to release the recloseable cover means and to render the same operational upon severance of the lines of weakening 35, 36, 44 and 45.

Upon assembly of a carton from the blank shown in FIG. 1 said blank is folded over as shown in FIG. 2 with first top panel member 14 superimposed over front wall panel 12 and divider panel 30 partially overlapping bottom panel 11 so that glue flap 31 of divider panel 30 can be adhesively affixed thereto. Thereafter rear wall panel 13 and second top panel member 15 are folded over as shown in FIG. 3 so that tear strip 29 is in substantial registry with cut scored region 28 which bears an adhesive thereon. When tear strip 29 has been adhesively affixed to cut scored region 28 the result is a folded tube with divider panel 30 detachably secured in place. The obtained folded tube can be waxed at this stage of construction, if desired.

To erect a carton of this type further for filling, the folded tube-like blank is squared up as shown in FIG. 4 on a conventional squaring machine or the like. Thereafter one end of the carton is closed by first folding bottom end flap such as flap 17. Rear wall end flap 21 and front end wall end flap 19 are then folded in, the latter overlapping the former and seating in debossed region 47 thereof. Thereafter first top panel member end flap 23 is folded over and then second top panel member end flap 25, partially overlapping end flap 23.

If heat-activatable adhesive is applied on the indicated adhesive regions affixation of the several flaps is accomplished by heating these regions and then suitably pressing down the flaps. In the alternative, a hot melt adhesive may be applied on the aforesaid areas at the machine erecting the cartons so as to accomplish the same result as with a pre-applied heat-activated adhesive. When using a hot melt adhesive, the need for heat-activating machinery is, of course, obviated.

The erected carton can now be filled through the remaining open end in the usual manner and the open end subsequently closed in a sequence substantially as hereinbefore described. That is, referring to FIG. 4, bottom end flap 16 is first folded in, than rear wall end flap 20 and front wall end flap 18 followed by top panel member end flaps 22 and 24 in that order. Alternatively, the first-mentioned carton end may be closed and/or tacked, as with glue, but not sealed, and then both carton ends sealed simultaneously after filling.

A sealed carton is shown in FIG. 5.

The sealed carton may be opened first as shown in FIG. 6 by removing tear strips 60, 62, 61 and 63 and also tear strip 29 which exposes reclosure tab 64 and reclosure'opening 51 which is adapted to receive tab 64. Upon folding back the second cover means defined by second top panel member 15, tabs 43 and 44 (not shown in FIG. 6), and upper portions of end flaps 24 and 25 along score line 48 access is gained to the rearwardmost compartment of the carton.

Opening of the second cover means also exposes tear strips 26 and 27 the removal of which permits the opening of first cover means as shown in FIG. 7. First cover means is defined by first top panel member 14, tabs 33 and 34 (not shown in FIG. 7) and upper portions of

end fiaps

22 and 23 and is folded back along score line 39 in front wall panel 12 thereby providing access to the forward compartment of the carton.

Reclosing of the carton can be accomplished by returning both cover means to the position shown in FIG. 8 and by inserting reclosure tab 64 in opening 51 provided in first top panel member 14.

Once the contents of one of the compartments has been consumed or. removed therefrom, vertical divider 30 can be removed, if desired, by detaching the same from bottom panel 11 in any convenient manner, for example, by severing glue flap 31 from divider 30 along line of weakening 32.

The foregoing embodiments of the present invention are intended as illustrative but are not to be construed as limiting. Still other variations within the spirit and scope of this invention will readily present themselves to one skilled in the art.

Iclaim:

l. A top-opening rectangular paperboard carton including top, bottom, front wall, rear wall, and end wall panels together defining an enclosure and said top panel comprising a first top panel member hingedly connected to the front wall panel and a second top panel member hingedly connected to the rear wall panel, partially overlapping the first top panel member and being adhesively affixed thereto; and

a substantially vertical divider panel separating said enclosure into a plurality of compartments hingedly connected to the first top panel member, adhesively affixed to the bottom-panel, and having lines of weakening provided in said divider panel along the juncture of the divider panel to the first top panel member and along affixation zone to the bottom panel;

said first top panel member being provided with a tear strip along the juncture thereof with the vertical divider panel.

2. The carton of claim 1 wherein the second top panel member is provided with a detachably connected tear strip in the region thereof which is adhesively affixed to the first top panel.

3. The carton of claim 1 wherein each end wall panel comprises bottom end flap, rear wall end flap, front wall end flap, first top panel member end flap, and second top panel member end flap, each flap adapted toat least partially overlap another of said flaps and said flaps together forming a substantially liquid-tight end wall panel; said rear wall end flap and said front wall end flap being adhesively affixed to the bottom end flap and to each other; said first top panel member end flap being adhesively affixed to the front wall end flap; said second top panel member end flap being adhesively affixed to the rear wall end flap and to the first top panel member end flap; and said first and second top panel member end flaps being provided with substantially aligned, overlapping tear strips across the width of the respective flaps.

4. The carton of claim 3 wherein first tab means hingedly joined to the front wall panel at an upper portion thereofis defined in each front wall end flap by a line of weakening and is adhesively affixed to the overlying first top panel member end flap, wherein second tab means hingedly joined to rear wall panel at an upper portion thereof is defined in each rear wall end flap by a line of weakening and is adhesively affixed to the overlying second top panel member end flap, and wherein a score line is provided in each of said front wall panel and said rear wall panel substantially parallel to the juncture of said front and rear wall panels with the respective first and second top panel members but spaced therefrom at a distance substantially equal to the width of said tab means at their respective junctures to the front wall panel and the rear wall panel;

said first tab means, together with a portion of the first top panel member end flap and the first top panel member, being adapted to form a first recloseable cover means for said carton hinging along the score line in the front wall panel when said overlapping tear strips in the first and second top panelmember end flaps are removed, the first tab means defining line of weakening is severed, and the tear strip provided in the first top panel member is removed;

said second tab means, together with a portion of the second top panel member end flap and the second top panel member, being adapted to form a second recloseable cover means for said carton hinging along the score line in the rear wall panel when said overlapping tear strips in the first and second top panel member end flaps are removed.

5. The carton of claim 4 wherein the first recloseable cover means is provided in the first top panel member with a reclosure opening means and] the second recloseable cover means is provided in the second top panel member with a reclosure tab means adapted to be receivedinto said reclosure opening means.

6. A top-opening rectangular paperboard carton including top, bottom, front wall, rear wall, and end wall panels together defining an enclosure and said top panel comprising a first top panel member hingedly connected to the front wall panel and a second top panel member hingedly connected to the rear wall panel, partially overlapping the first top panel member and being adhesively affixed thereto;

each end wall panel comprising bottom end flap, rear wall end flap, front wall end flap, first top panel member end fiap, and second top panel member end flap, each flap adapted to at least partially overlap another of said flaps and said flaps together forming a substantially liquid-tight end wall panel; said rear wall end flap and said front wall end flap being adhesively affixed to the bottom end flap and to each other; said first top panel member end flap being adhesively affixed to the front wall end flap; said second top panel member end flap being adhesively affixed to the rear wall end flap and to the first top panel memberend flap; and said first and second top panel member end flaps being provided with substantially aligned, overlapping tear strips across the width of 1 the respective flaps; and

a substantially vertical divider panel separating said enclosure into a plurality of compartments and detachably secured to the first top panel member and to the bottom panel.

7. The carton of claim 6 wherein first tab means hingedly joined to the front wall panel at an upper portion thereof is defined in each front wall end flap by a line of weakening and is adhesively affixed to the overlying first top panel member end flap, wherein second tab means hingedly joined to rear wall panel at an upper portion thereof is defined in each rear wall end flap by a line of weakening and is adhesively affixed to the overlying second top panel member end flap, and wherein avscore line is provided in each of said front wall panel and said rear wall panel substantially parallel to the juncture of said front and rear wall panels with the respective first and second top panel members but spaced therefrom at a distance substantially equal to the width of said tab means at their respective junctures to the front wall panel and the rear wall panel;

said first tab means, together with a portion of the first top panel member end flap and the first top panel member, being adapted to form a first recloseable cover means for said carton hinging along the score line in the front wall panel when said overlapping tear strips in the first and second top panel member end flaps are removed, the first tab meansdefining line of weakening is severed, and the tear strip provided in the first top panel member is removed;

8. The carton of claim 7 wherein the first recloseable cover means is provided in the first top panel member with a reclosure opening means and the second recloseable cover means is provided in the second top panel member with a reclosure tab means adapted to be received into said reclosure opening means.

9. An integral paperboard blank for forming a carton cut and scored to provide a bottom panel; a front wall panel hingedly connected to one longitudinal edge of said bottom panel; a rear wall panel hingedly connected to the other longitudinal edge of said bottom panel; end wall members connected to said panels; a first top panel member hingedly connected to the front wall panel; a second top panel member hingedly connected to the rear wall panel, adapted to partially overlap the first top panel member and to be adhesively affixed thereto; and l a divider panel adapted to separate an enclosure defined by said carton into a plurality of compartments detachably connected to the first'top panel member and adapted to be detachably secured to the bottom panel, and having lines of weakening provided in said divider panel along the juncture of the divider panel to the first top panel member and along affixation zone to the bottom panel;

said first top panel member being provided with a tear strip along the juncture thereof with the divider panel.

10. The integral paperboard blank of claim 9 wherein the second top panel member is provided with a detachably connected tear strip in the region thereof which is adhesively affixed to the first top panel.

11. The integral paperboard blank of claim 9 wherein said end wall members comprise bottom end flap, rear wall end flap, front wall end flap, first top panel member end flap, and second top panel member end flap, each flap being adapted to at least partially overlap another of said flaps and said flaps being adapted to form together a substantially liquid-tight end wall panel; said rear wall end flap and said front wall end flap being adapted for adhesive affixation to the bottom end flap and to each other; said first top panel member end flap being adapted for adhesive affixation to the front wall end flap; said second top panel member end flap being adapted for adhesive affixation to the rear wall end flap and to the first top panel member end flap; and said first and second top panel member end flaps being provided with substantially aligned tear strips across the width of the respective flaps and adapted to overlap when the panel members overlap.

12. The integral paperboard blank of claim 11 wherein first tab means hingedly joined to the front wall panel contiguous to the juncture thereof with the first top panel member is defined in each front wall end flap by a line of weakening and is adapted to be adhesively affixed to the first top panel member end flap, wherein second tab means hingedly joined to the rear wall panel contiguous to the juncture thereof with the second top panel member is defined in each rear wall end flap by a line of weakening and is adapted to be adhesively affixed to the second top panel member end flap, and wherein a score line is provided in each of said front wall panel and said rear wall panel substantially parallel to the juncture of said front and rear wall panels with the respective first and second top panel members but spaced therefrom at a distance substantially equal to the width of said tab means at their respective junctures to the front wall panel and the rear wall panel;

said first tab means, together with a portion of the first top panel member end flap and the first top panel member, being adapted 'to form a first recloseable cover means for said carton hinging along the score line in the front wall panel when said substantially aligned tear strips in the first and second top panel member end flaps are removed, the first tab means defining line of weakening is severed, and the tear strip provided in the first top panel member is removed; said second tab means, together with a portion of the second top panel member end flap and the second top panel member, being adapted to form a second recloseable cover means for said carton hinging along the score line in the rear wall panel when said substantially aligned tear strips in the first and second top panel member end flaps are removed, and the second tab means defining line of weakening is severed.

13. The integral paperboard blank of claim 12 wherein first top panel member is provided with a reclosure opening means and the second top panel member -is provided with a reclosure tab means adapted to be received into said reclosure opening means.

14. An integral paperboard blank for forming a carton cut and scored to provide a bottom panel; a front wall panel hingedly connected to one longitudinal edge of said bottom panel; a rear wall panel hingedly connected to the other longitudinal edge of said bottom panel; end wall members connected to said panels; a first top panel member hingedly connected to the front wall panel; a second top panel member hingedly connected to the rear wall panel, adapted to partially overlap the first top panel member and to be adhesively affixed thereto;

said end wall members comprising bottom end flap,

rear wall end flap, front wall end flap, first top panel member end flap, and second top panel member end flap, each flap being adapted to at least partially overlap another of said flaps and said flaps being adapted to form together a substantially liquid-tight end wall panel; said rear wall end flap and said front wall end flap being adapted for adhesive affixation to the bottom end flap and i to each other; said first top panel member end flap being adapted for adhesive affixation to the front wall end flap; said second top panel member end flap being adapted for adhesive affixation to the rear wall end flap and to the first top panel member end flap; and said first and second top panel member end flaps being provided with substantially aligned tear strips across the width of the respective flaps and adapted to overlap when the panel members overlap; and

a divider panel adapted to separate an enclosure defined by said carton into a plurality of compartments and detachably secured to the first top panel member and adapted to be detachably secured to the bottom panel.

15. The integral paperboard blank of claim 14 wherein first tab means hingedly joined to the front wall panel contiguous to the juncture thereof with the first top panel member is defined in each front wall end flap by a line of weakening and is adapted to be adhesively affixed to the first top panel member. end flap, wherein second tab means hingedly joined to the rear wall panel contiguous to the juncture thereof with the second top panel member is defined in each rear wall end flap by a line of weakening and is adapted to be adhesively affixed to the second top panel member end flap, and wherein a score line is provided in each of said front wall panel and said-rear wall panel substantially parallel to the juncture of said front and rear wall panels with the respective first and second top panel members but spaced therefrom at a distance substantially equal to the width of said tab means at their respective unctures to the front wall panel and the rear wall panel;

said first tab means together with a portion of the first top panel member end flap and the first top panel member, being adapted to form a first recloseable cover means for said carton hinging along the score line in the front wall panel when said substantially aligned tear strips in the first and second top panel member end flaps are removed, the first tab means-defining line of weakening is severed, and the tear strip provided in the first top panel member is removed;

said second tab means, together with a portion of the second top panel member end. flap and the second top panel member, being adapted to form a second recloseable cover means for said carton hinging along the score line in the rear wall panel when said substantially aligned tear strips in the first and second top panel member end flaps are removed, and the second tab means-defining line of weakening is severed.

16. The integral paperboard blank of claim 15 wherein first top panel member is provided with a reclosure opening means and the second top panel member is provided with a reclosure tab means adapted to be received into said reclosure opening means.

Claims

1. A top-opening rectangular paperboard carton including top, bottom, front wall, rear wall, and end wall panels together defining an enclosure and said top panel comprising a first top panel member hingedly connected to the front wall panel and a second top panel member hingedly connected to the rear wall panEl, partially overlapping the first top panel member and being adhesively affixed thereto; and a substantially vertical divider panel separating said enclosure into a plurality of compartments hingedly connected to the first top panel member, adhesively affixed to the bottom panel, and having lines of weakening provided in said divider panel along the juncture of the divider panel to the first top panel member and along affixation zone to the bottom panel; said first top panel member being provided with a tear strip along the juncture thereof with the vertical divider panel.

3. The carton of claim 1 wherein each end wall panel comprises bottom end flap, rear wall end flap, front wall end flap, first top panel member end flap, and second top panel member end flap, each flap adapted to at least partially overlap another of said flaps and said flaps together forming a substantially liquid-tight end wall panel; said rear wall end flap and said front wall end flap being adhesively affixed to the bottom end flap and to each other; said first top panel member end flap being adhesively affixed to the front wall end flap; said second top panel member end flap being adhesively affixed to the rear wall end flap and to the first top panel member end flap; and said first and second top panel member end flaps being provided with substantially aligned, overlapping tear strips across the width of the respective flaps.

4. The carton of claim 3 wherein first tab means hingedly joined to the front wall panel at an upper portion thereof is defined in each front wall end flap by a line of weakening and is adhesively affixed to the overlying first top panel member end flap, wherein second tab means hingedly joined to rear wall panel at an upper portion thereof is defined in each rear wall end flap by a line of weakening and is adhesively affixed to the overlying second top panel member end flap, and wherein a score line is provided in each of said front wall panel and said rear wall panel substantially parallel to the juncture of said front and rear wall panels with the respective first and second top panel members but spaced therefrom at a distance substantially equal to the width of said tab means at their respective junctures to the front wall panel and the rear wall panel; said first tab means, together with a portion of the first top panel member end flap and the first top panel member, being adapted to form a first recloseable cover means for said carton hinging along the score line in the front wall panel when said overlapping tear strips in the first and second top panel member end flaps are removed, the first tab means defining line of weakening is severed, and the tear strip provided in the first top panel member is removed; said second tab means, together with a portion of the second top panel member end flap and the second top panel member, being adapted to form a second recloseable cover means for said carton hinging along the score line in the rear wall panel when said overlapping tear strips in the first and second top panel member end flaps are removed.

5. The carton of claim 4 wherein the first recloseable cover means is provided in the first top panel member with a reclosure opening means and the second recloseable cover means is provided in the second top panel member with a reclosure tab means adapted to be received into said reclosure opening means.

6. A top-opening rectangular paperboard carton including top, bottom, front wall, rear wall, and end wall panels together defining an enclosure and said top panel comprising a first top panel member hingedly connected to the front wall panel and a second top panel member hingedly connected to the rear wall panel, partially overlapping the first top panel member and being adhesively affixed thereto; each end wall panEl comprising bottom end flap, rear wall end flap, front wall end flap, first top panel member end flap, and second top panel member end flap, each flap adapted to at least partially overlap another of said flaps and said flaps together forming a substantially liquid-tight end wall panel; said rear wall end flap and said front wall end flap being adhesively affixed to the bottom end flap and to each other; said first top panel member end flap being adhesively affixed to the front wall end flap; said second top panel member end flap being adhesively affixed to the rear wall end flap and to the first top panel member end flap; and said first and second top panel member end flaps being provided with substantially aligned, overlapping tear strips across the width of the respective flaps; and a substantially vertical divider panel separating said enclosure into a plurality of compartments and detachably secured to the first top panel member and to the bottom panel.

7. The carton of claim 6 wherein first tab means hingedly joined to the front wall panel at an upper portion thereof is defined in each front wall end flap by a line of weakening and is adhesively affixed to the overlying first top panel member end flap, wherein second tab means hingedly joined to rear wall panel at an upper portion thereof is defined in each rear wall end flap by a line of weakening and is adhesively affixed to the overlying second top panel member end flap, and wherein a score line is provided in each of said front wall panel and said rear wall panel substantially parallel to the juncture of said front and rear wall panels with the respective first and second top panel members but spaced therefrom at a distance substantially equal to the width of said tab means at their respective junctures to the front wall panel and the rear wall panel; said first tab means, together with a portion of the first top panel member end flap and the first top panel member, being adapted to form a first recloseable cover means for said carton hinging along the score line in the front wall panel when said overlapping tear strips in the first and second top panel member end flaps are removed, the first tab means-defining line of weakening is severed, and the tear strip provided in the first top panel member is removed; said second tab means, together with a portion of the second top panel member end flap and the second top panel member, being adapted to form a second recloseable cover means for said carton hinging along the score line in the rear wall panel when said overlapping tear strips in the first and second top panel member end flaps are removed.

9. An integral paperboard blank for forming a carton cut and scored to provide a bottom panel; a front wall panel hingedly connected to one longitudinal edge of said bottom panel; a rear wall panel hingedly connected to the other longitudinal edge of said bottom panel; end wall members connected to said panels; a first top panel member hingedly connected to the front wall panel; a second top panel member hingedly connected to the rear wall panel, adapted to partially overlap the first top panel member and to be adhesively affixed thereto; and a divider panel adapted to separate an enclosure defined by said carton into a plurality of compartments detachably connected to the first top panel member and adapted to be detachably secured to the bottom panel, and having lines of weakening provided in said divider panel along the juncture of the divider panel to the first top panel member and along affixation zone to the bottom panel; said first top panel member being provided with a tear strip along the juncture thereof with the divider panel.

12. The integral paperboard blank of claim 11 wherein first tab means hingedly joined to the front wall panel contiguous to the juncture thereof with the first top panel member is defined in each front wall end flap by a line of weakening and is adapted to be adhesively affixed to the first top panel member end flap, wherein second tab means hingedly joined to the rear wall panel contiguous to the juncture thereof with the second top panel member is defined in each rear wall end flap by a line of weakening and is adapted to be adhesively affixed to the second top panel member end flap, and wherein a score line is provided in each of said front wall panel and said rear wall panel substantially parallel to the juncture of said front and rear wall panels with the respective first and second top panel members but spaced therefrom at a distance substantially equal to the width of said tab means at their respective junctures to the front wall panel and the rear wall panel; said first tab means, together with a portion of the first top panel member end flap and the first top panel member, being adapted to form a first recloseable cover means for said carton hinging along the score line in the front wall panel when said substantially aligned tear strips in the first and second top panel member end flaps are removed, the first tab means defining line of weakening is severed, and the tear strip provided in the first top panel member is removed; said second tab means, together with a portion of the second top panel member end flap and the second top panel member, being adapted to form a second recloseable cover means for said carton hinging along the score line in the rear wall panel when said substantially aligned tear strips in the first and second top panel member end flaps are removed, and the second tab means defining line of weakening is severed.

13. The integral paperboard blank of claim 12 wherein first top panel member is provided with a reclosure opening means and the second top panel member is provided with a reclosure tab means adapted to be received into said reclosure opening means.

14. An integral paperboard blank for forming a carton cut and scored to provide a bottom panel; a front wall panel hingedly connected to one longitudinal edge of said bottom panel; a rear wall panel hingedly connected to the other longitudinal edge of said bottom panel; end wall members connected to said panels; a first top panel member hingedly connected to the front wall panel; a second top panel member hingedly connected to the rear wall panel, adapted to partially overlap the first top panel member and to be adhesively affixed thereto; said end wall members comprising bottom end flap, rear wall end flap, front wall end flap, first top panel member end flap, and second top panel member end flap, each flap being adapted to at least partially overlap another of said flaps and said flaps being adapted to form together a substantially liquid-tight end wall panel; said rear wall end flap and said front wall end flap being adapted for adhesive affixation to the bottom end flap and to each other; said first top panel member end flap being adapted for adhesive affixation to the front wall end flap; said second top panel member end flap being adapted for adhesive affixation to the rear wall end flap and to the first top panel member end flap; and said first and second top panel member end flaps being provided with substantially aligned tear strips across the width of the respective flaps and adapted to overlap when the panel members overlap; and a divider panel adapted to separate an enclosure defined by said carton into a plurality of compartments and detachably secured to the first top panel member and adapted to be detachably secured to the bottom panel.

15. The integral paperboard blank of claim 14 wherein first tab means hingedly joined to the front wall panel contiguous to the juncture thereof with the first top panel member is defined in each front wall end flap by a line of weakening and is adapted to be adhesively affixed to the first top panel member end flap, wherein second tab means hingedly joined to the rear wall panel contiguous to the juncture thereof with the second top panel member is defined in each rear wall end flap by a line of weakening and is adapted to be adhesively affixed to the second top panel member end flap, and wherein a score line is provided in each of said front wall panel and said rear wall panel substantially parallel to the juncture of said front and rear wall panels with the respective first and second top panel members but spaced therefrom at a distance substantially equal to the width of said tab means at their respective junctures to the front wall panel and the rear wall panel; said first tab means together with a portion of the first top panel member end flap and the first top panel member, being adapted to form a first recloseable cover means for said carton hinging along the score line in the front wall panel when said substantially aligned tear strips in the first and second top panel member end flaps are removed, the first tab means-defining line of weakening is severed, and the tear strip provided in the first top panel member is removed; said second tab means, together with a portion of the second top panel member end flap and the second top panel member, being adapted to form a second recloseable cover means for said carton hinging along the score line in the rear wall panel when said substantially aligned tear strips in the first and second top panel member end flaps are removed, and the second tab means-defining line of weakening is severed.