US3388787A - Shadow boxes - Google Patents

Description

`lune 18, 1968 l.. J. GROWNEY 3,388,787

SHADOW BOXES Filed Oct. 22, 1965 4 SheetS-Shee l LAWRENCE J. GROWNEY L. J. GROWNEY SHADOW BOXES 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed Oct. Z2, 1965 mw j d, S wm l:11. f n L vw i@ wm NR) .v n x" mqlll. NFIWMI* w\M Imm 2 Q NN 51ML Lf m am@ m@ s wm V K. qm v Nm INVENTOR LAWRENCE J. GROWNEY NHH ATTORNEYS June 18, 1968 Filed OCT.. 22, 1965 L. J. GROWNEY SHADOW BOXES 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR LAWRENCE J. GROWNEY BY wm, MX 22m# ATTORNEYS June 18, 1968 L J. GROWNEY 3,388,787

SHADOW BOXES Filed Oct. 22, 1965 4 SheetS-Sheei 4 United States Patent O ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to shadow boxes which are readily folded to a generally flat planar configuration for purposes of shipment and storage and are equally readily unfolded to a generally tubular configuration for receiving and displaying products packaged therein. This is achieved by securing a terminal end portion of a front panel to a rear wall of the carton and forming therewith a slot which sl-idably receives a projecting tongue of another front panel. Due to this sliding arrangement the carton can be readily folded, and when unfolded the front panels are automatically disposed relative to each other at an angle no greater than 180 degrees.

An object of this invention is to provide a novel carton which includes a carton body having a pair of side walls, a rear wall and a front wall, the front wall including a pair of side front panels, an upper front panel and a lower front panel, the side front panels each being joined by an associated fold line to the carton body, the upper and lower front panels having associated edges, the edges and fold lines defining a display opening of the carton body through which an article in the carton body can be viewed by prospective purchasers, one of the side front panels being secured to one of the walls, another of the side front panels being slidable relative to the one side front panel, and means for interlocking the side front panels to define an angle of less than 180 degrecs therebetween in a first position of the carton, and the interlocking means being disengageable for folding the carton to a generally flat planar configuration for purposes of shipment and storage.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel container blank formed of a generally planar elongated sheet material member having a plurality of transverse fold lines dividing the member into first side, back, second side and front Walls respectively, a first front panel being joined along a first transverse fold line to the first side panel, a second front panel being formed generally from the material of the front wall, the second front panel being partially defined by a second transverse fold line and a pair of transversely spaced cut lines in the front wall, the second front panel normally lying in the plane of the member but being foldable out of the plane along the second transverse fold line, the pair of cut lines partially defining an opening in the front wall, the first front panel being divided by at least a pair of transverse fold lines into at least three panel portions, one of the three panel portions being a free terminal panel adapted to be secured to the back wall, the second front panel being provided with a slot in longitudinal alignment with the free terminal panel and being relatively movable therewith between folded and unfolded positions of the erected blank, the distance between the first transverse fold line and one of the pair of transverse fold lines being substantially equal to the width of the second front panel, and the distance between the pair of cut lines being substantially equal to the length of the first front panel and the length of one of the three panel portions.

With the above, and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear the nature of the invention will be 3,388,787 Patented June 18, 1968 "ice more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claims and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a carton blank prior to being set up into a collapsed carton, and illustrates various walls and panels of the blank including a front panel formed from the material of a front wall and another front panel joined to a side wall along a transverse fold line.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the carton blank of FIGURE 1, and illustrates the initial folding of the blank along transverse fold lines incident to the complete setting up of the carton.

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the carton blank of FIGURES 1 and 2, and illustrates the final folding step which transforms the carton blank into a folded collapsed carton.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken generally along line 4-4 of FIGURE 3, and illustrates a pair of relatively slidable front panels of the carton with one of the front panels being secured to a rear wall of the carton body.

FIGURE 5 is a front perspective view of the completely set-up carton, and illustrates a viewing or access opening formed in a front wall of the carton and the front wall panels defining an angle of generally degrees therebetween.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional View taken generally along line 6-6 of FIGURE 5, and more clearly illustrates the relationship of the front panels, and in phantom outline, an article packaged in the carton.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken generally along line 7-7 of FIGURE 6, and more clearly illustrates the relationship of the front panels and the position of the article in the carton.

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken generally alongline 8--8 of FIGURE 7, and clearly illustrates terminal tabs of one of the front panels in sliding relationship to slots between the other front panel and the rear wall.

FIGURE 9 is a top plan view of another carton blank constructed in accordance with this invention, and illustrates various walls and panels of the blank prior to forming a collapsed carton therefrom.

FIGURE l0 is a top plan view of the blank of FIG- URE '9 and illustrates the folded configuration of the blank defining a collapsed carton.

FIGURE l1 is an enlarged sectional View taken generally along line 11--11 of FIGURE l0, and illustrates the sliding relationship between a pair of front panels and the attachment of one of the front panels to a rear wall of the carton.

FIGURE l2 is a perspective view of the carton of FIGURE 1l after the latter has been completely set up and illustrates an opening formed in a front wall of the carton upon the inward folding of the front wall panels.

FIGURE 13 is an enlarged sectional view taken generally along line 13-13 of FIGURE 12, and more clearly illustrates the relationship of various panels of the carton in the erected tubular condition thereof.

A novel carton constructed in accordance with this invention is illustrated in FIGURES 4 through 8 of the drawings, and is generally referred to by thereference numeral 15. Thecarton 15 is formed from a blank 20 which is best illustrated in FIGURE 1 of the drawings.

The carton blank 2t) ('FIGURE 1) is a generally planar elongated sheet material member constructed from paperstock, plastic or similar resilient material.

The carton Iblank 20 includes a back orrear wall 21 which is of a generally rectangular configuration and is defined by a pair of spaced parallel transverse fold 3 lines 212, 213, alongitudinal fold line 24, and an opp'osite parallellongitudinal edge 25.

A -irst side Wall orpanel 26 is joined to therear wall 21 along thefold line 22. Theside Iwall 26 is of a generally rectangular configuration, and is defined by thefold line 22, a pair 4of spaced parallellongitudinal fold lines 27, 2-8, a pair of aligned transverse edges 30, 3i1, atransverse fold line 32 parallel to thetransverse fold line 22, and cutlines 33, 34 between thetransverse fold line 32 and the respectivetransverse edges 30, 31.

An upper side ap 3'5 is joined to theside wall 26kalongthe fold line 27 and alower side iiap 36 is joined to theside wall 26 along thefold line 28.

A second side wall orpanel 37 is joined -to the rear Wall 211 along thetransverse fold line 23. Thesecond side wall 37 corresponds in general outline to the outline of thefirst side wall 26 and is defined by the transverse fold line 213, a pair of parallellongitudinal fold lines 40, 41, a pair of spacedtransverse fold lines 42, 4.3, atransverse fold line 44 parallel to thetransverse fold line 23, andarcuate cut lines 45t, 46 between thetransverse fold 4line 44 and the respectivetransverse fold lines 412, 43.

An upper 'flap 47 is joined to the side wall 317 along thefold line 40 while alower fiap 48 is similarly joined to theside wall 37 along thefold line 41.

Afront Wall 50 is joined to theside wall 37 along thefold lines 42, 43. The front -w-all 50 includes anupper front panel 51 and alower front panel 52. Theupper front panel 51 is defined by thefold line 42, alongitudinal fold line 53, acut line 54 merging with thecut line 45 and parallel to thefold line 53, and atransverse fold line 55. Thelower front panel 52 is defined by thefold line 43, alongitudinal edge 56, a cut line '57 merging with thecut line 46 and parallel to thelongitudinal edge 56, and afold line 58 parallel to thefold line 43.

Anend panel 60 is joined to theupper front panel 51 of the front wall '50 along the fold line `53 and corresponds to alower end panel 61 joined to the rear wall 21 'along the fold line .2!4. Theend panels 60, 6Fl includerespective end fiaps 62, 63.

Aterminal panel 64 is joined to thefront wall 50 along thefold lines 55, 58. Theterminal panel 164 is of an irregular configuration and is defined by an upper edge 65, a transverse edge 66, a lower edge 6-7, thefold lines 55, 58 and an irregular cut line generally referred to by thereference numeral 68. Portions 70-72 of the cut line or edge y68 define a generally inverted C-shaped slot or opening, generally referred to by thereference numeral 78, which functions in a manner to be described more fully hereafter.

The blank 20 includes a pair of front panels, generally referred to by thereference numerals 74, 75.

Thefront panel 74 is joined to theside wall 26 along thefold line 32 and includes a pair ofp'anel portions 76, 77 joined to each other along atransverse fold line 78 parallel to thetransverse fold line 32. Thepanel portions 76 are defined by thefold lines 32, 78 and portions of upper and lower longitudinal edges y80, 8d respectively. Thepanel portion 77 is defined by thefold line 78, portions of theedges 80, 81, transverse alignededges 82, 83 and a pair of fol-d lines 84, 85 between which is a cut line 86.

A third -terminal panel Ip'ortion l87 is joined to thefront panel portion 77 by the fold lines S4, 85, and is defined by the fold lines '814, 85, the cut line 86, longitudinal edges 90, 9'1, and atransverse edge 92.

Thefront panel 75 is joined to theside wall 37 along thefold line 44, and is defined by the fold -line 44, thecut lines 45, 46, portions of thecut lines 54, 57, afold line 93, a -transverse edge 94, afold line 95 and anedge 96.

A tab orflap 97 is joined to thefront panel 75 along thefold line 95 while another ap or tab `98 is joined to the front panel T along thefold line 93. The distance between the flaps y97, 98 corresponds generally to the distance between the edges 90, 91 of the terminal flap l87 for a reason which will be more apparent hereafter.

The carton blank 20 is set up or erected to form thecarton 15 by first folding the carton blank 20 about thefold lines 42, 44, 4B and 78, las is shown in FIGURE 2 of the drawings. In this initial folded position of the carton blank 20, thepanel portion 77 of thefront panel 74 is brought into overlying relationship to thepanel portion 76 and the terminal panel orflap 87 overlies theside wall 26. Theupper front panel 51, thelower front panel 52 and thefront panel 75 overlie portions o'f both thesecond side wall 37 Iand therear wall 21. Thetabs 97, 98 overlie therear wall 21 while theterminal panel 64 overlies the rear wall 2'1 adjacent thefold line 22.

Adhesive A is applied to the side wall 2-6 and to the terminal panel l87 at selected areas indicated by stippling in FIGURE 2 of the drawings.

lAfter the adhesive A has been applied to the selected areas theside wall 26 is folded about thefold line 22 in overlying relationship to theterminal panel 64, as is best illustrated in FIGURE 3 of the drawings. This same folding of theside wall 26 about thefold line 22 brings theterminal panel portion 87 and the adhesive thereon into overlying contacting relationship with the rear wall 211 throughtheslot 73 of theterminal Ip'anel 64. In this manner theterminal panel 64 is secured to the interior of the side wall 26 (FIGURE 4) and theterminal panel portion 87 is secured to the rear wall 211. It is to be noted, however, that the front panel and theterminal tabs 97, 98 thereof are not attached to the rea-r wall 211 but rather, thetabs 97, 98 are slidable in slots (unnumbered) defined between theedges 82, 83 (FIGURE 8) of thepanel portion 77 and therear wall 21.

The now collapsedcarton 15 is unfolded to the generally tubular configuration illustrated in FIGURES 5 through 8 of the drawings by unfolding the carton in the direction of the unnumbered headed arrows in FIGURE 4 until thewalls 21, 26, 37 and thepanels 5I, 52 define a generally tubular rectangular carton body, generally referred to by the reference numeral 101. As the carton body is unfolded from the position illustrated in FIGURE 3 to the position illustrated in FIGURE 6 thepanel portions 76, 77 of thefront panel 74 are unfolded from a position overlying contacting each other to the position shown in FIGURE 6 in which thepanel portions 77, 78 are in a generally common plane. This same unfolding slides thetabs 97, 98 from the position illustrated in FIGURE 4 more closely to theside wall 26 to a final position illustrated in FIGURE 6 of the drawings. In this position thefront wall panels 74, 75 are disposed at an angle of approximately degrees (FIGURE 6) and define a chamber C into which an article B, such as a tube or similar container of shampoo, toothpaste or other similar material, is housed.

The article B is readily viewed -by a prospective pur- Chaser through an opening or window, generally referred to by thereference numeral 105, which is defined by the fold lines 32, 44, and the cut lines 54, 57.

The article B is preferably packaged in thecarton 15 after theflaps 36, 48 and thepanel 61 has been colsed in the manner best illustrated in FIGURES 7 and 8 of the drawings. The end panel 61 (and/or the end panel 60) prevent thecarton 15 from collapsing and thus define interlocking means which prevent thefront wall panels 75 and theportions 76, 77 of thefront wall panel 74 from similarly collapsing toward the position illustrated in FIGURE 4 of the drawings. The article B is then inserted through the open upper end of the carton body 101 after which theflaps 35, 47 and theend panel 60 are closed. As is best illustrated in FIGURE 8 of the drawings, the article B is longer than theopening 105 and the upper and lowerfront panels 51, 52 serve to retain the article B in the position illustrated in FIGURES 7 and 8 of the drawings.

Another novel carton constructed in accordance with this invention is best illustrated in FIGURES through 13 of the drawings, and is generally referred to by thereference numeral 115. Thecarton 115 is formed from a carton blank (FIGURE 9) which is generally referred to by thereference numeral 120.

Thecarton blank 120 is similar to thecarton blank 20 of FIGURE l and includes an enlongated sheet material member formed of paperstock or similar resilient material.

Thecarton blank 120 includes arear wall 121 of a generally rectangular configuration. Therear wall 121 is defined by atransverse fold line 122, atransverse fold line 123, alongitudinal fold line 124 and a longitudinal edge 125.

A first generally rectangular side wall orpanel 126 is joined to therear wall 121 along thefold line 122. Thefirstside wall 126 is defined by thetransverse fold line 122, a longitudinal fold line 127, an opposite parallellongitudinal fold line 128, a pair of alignedtransverse edges 130, 131 and afold line 132.

Anupper side flap 135 is joined to theside wall 126 along the fold line 127, while alower flap 136 is joined to theside wall 126 along thefold line 128.

A second side wall orpanel 137 of a generally rectangular configuration is joined to therear wall 121 along thefold line 123. Theside wall 137 is defined by thefold line 123, a pair of spaced parallellongitudinal fold lines 140, 141, a pair of alignedtransverse fold lines 142, 143 and atransverse fold line 144 between and in alignment with thefold lines 142, 143.

A front wall, generally referred to by thereference numeral 150 is joined 'to theside wall 137 along thefold lines 142, 143 and 144. Thefront wall 150 includes an upperfront panel 151 and a lower or bottomfront panel 152.

Thefront panel 151 is of a generally rectangular configuration and is defined by thefold line 142, alongitudinal fold line 153, acut line 154 parallel to thefold line 153, and a fold line 155.

The lowerfront panel 152 is defined by the fold line 143, alongitudinal edge 156, acut line 157 parallel to thelongitudinal edge 156, and afold line 158.

Anupper end panel 160 is joined to the upperfront panel 151 along thefold line 153 and corresponds to alower end panel 161 joined to therear panel 121 along thefold line 124. Theend panels 168, 161 includerespective end tabs 162, 163.

End fiaps 147 and 148 are similarly joined to thesecond side Wall 137 along the respective fold lines 14), 141.

Aterminal panel 164 is joined to the front wall 159 along thefold lines 155, 158. Theterimnal panel 164 is of an irregular configuration and is defined by anupper edge 165, atransverse edge 166, alower edge 167, thefold lines 155, 158 and acut line 1,68 having a central generally inverted C-shaped slot oropening 173.

Thecarton blank 120 includes a pair offront panels 174 and 175. Thepanel 174 is joined to theside wall 126 along thefold lines 132 while thefront panel 175 is joined to theside panel 137 along thefold line 144.

Thefront panel 174 includes a plurality ofpanel portions 176, 177, 173 and 179. Thepanel portion 176 is defined by thefold line 132, anupper edge 188, a lower edge 181, transverse alignededges 182, 183, and atransverse fold line 184 which is partially slit at 185, 186.

Thepanel portion 177 is defined by thefold line 184, portions oftransverse edges 187, 188 and a fold line 19t) having slits (unnumbered) corresponding to theslits 185, 186 of thefold line 184.

Thepanel portion 178 is defined by thefold line 190, portions of theedges 187, 188 and afold line 191.

Thepanel portion 179 which defines a terminal panel of thecarton blank 128 is defined by thefold line 191, portions of thelongitudinal edges 187, 138 and aterminal edge 192.

Thefront panel 175 is of a generally rectangular configuration, and is defined by thefold li'ne 144, portions of the cut lines 154, 157, a pair of alignedtransverse fold lines 195, 196 and a shallow generally C-shaped slot or edge 194 between thefold lines 195, 196. A pair ofslits 193 are formed in each of thefold lines 195, 196.

Atab 197 is joined to thefront panel 175 along thefold line 195 while a similar tab 19S is joined to thefront panel 175 along thefold line 196.

Thecarton blank 120 is formed into thecarton 115 in much the same manner as that heretofore described in the formation of the carton blank 20 into thecarton 15. Adhesive A is first applied to the panel portion 1'76` of thefront panel 174 `after which thepanel 177 is folded along thefold line 184 into overlying adhesive contact with thepanel 176, as indicated in phantom outline in FIGURE 9 of the drawings. This places theterminal panel portion 179 in overlying relationship to theside wall 126.

The front wall 151)` is thereafter folded along thefold lines 142, 143 into overlying relationship to portions of thesecond side wall 137 and therear wall 121. This same folding action places theterminal panel 164 in overlying relationship with therear panel 121 adjacent thefold line 122, as indicated in phantom outline in FIGURE 9, the now folded condition of the carton blank 120 corresponding generally to the condition of the carton blank 2G illustrated in FIGURE 2 of the drawings.

Adhesive is then applied to theside wall 126 to each side of theterminal panel portion 179 and to thepanel portion 179 itself which overlies the side wall 126- as indicated by the adhesive areas A on theside wall 126 and thepanel 179.

Thereafter a third fold is made along thefold line 122, as indicated in phantom outline in FIGURE 9 bringing theside wall 126 into adhesive contact with theterminal panel 164 and the terminal panel 179' in adhesive contact with therear wall 121 through the slot or opening 173 of theterminal panel 154, as is best illustrated in FIGURE ll of the drawings. This folding corresponds to the folding of theside wall 26 of the carton blank 20 about thefold line 22 between the positions illustrated in FIG- URES 2 and `3 of the drawings.

Thecarton 115 is now in the flat state illustrated in FIGURE 10 of the drawings, and is unfolded to a generally tubular configuration by unfolding the carton in the direction of the headed unnumbered arrows in FIG- URE ll of the drawings. As thecarton 115 is unfolded from the collapsed to the tubular configuration thereof, thetabs 197, 198 slide relative to thepanel portions 177, 178 of thefront panel 174, and the panel portions 177- 179 folds from the generally planar position illustrated in FIGURE ll to an overlying position illustrated in FIGURES l2 and 13. A portion (unnumbered) of thepanel 176 adjacent thefold line 184 is received in theslot 194 between thetabs 197, 198 (FIGURE 13) and maintains thefront panels 175, 176 in angular relationship defining therebetween an angle of substantially degrees. The interlocking between thepanels 176 and 175 prevent the collapse of thecarton 115 as do theend panels 160, 161 when closed in the manner illustrated in FIGURE l2 of the drawings.

An article (not shown) is housed in the carton in the same manner as the article B is housed in the chamber C of thecarton 15. The article (not shown) is similarly capable of being observed by a prospective purchaser through an opening (unnumbered) defined by the cut lines 154, 157 and thefold lines 132, 144.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that novel and advantageous provisions have been made for carrying out the desired end. However, `attention is again directed to the fact that additional variations may be made in this invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A carton which is readily folded to a generally fiat planar configuration for purposes of shipment and storage and is equally `readily unfolded to a generally tubular configuration for receiving a product comprising a carton body, said carton body including a pair of side walls, a rear wall, and a front wall, said front wall being formed of a plurality of front panels, a first of said front panels being joined to said carton body by a first fold line, a second of said front panels being joined to said carton body by a second fold line, a selected one of said front panels having a line dividing said selected one front panel for folding relative to itself, one of said front panels being secured to one of said walls, and means for interlocking said front panels to define an angle of less than 180 degrees therebetween in the unfolded position of said body to maintain said body in the tubular configuration thereof.

2. A carton which is readily folded to a generally fiat planar configuration for purposes of shipment and storage and is equally readily unfolded to a generally tubular configuration for receiving a product comprising a carton body, said carton body including a pair of side walls, a rear wall, and a front wall, said front wall being formed of a plurality of front panels, a first of said front panels being joined to said carton body by a first fold line, a second of said front panels being joined to said carton body by a second fold line, a selected one of.said front panels having a line dividing said selected one front panel for folding relative to itself, said first and second front panels being slidable relative to each other between tne planar and tubular positions of said carton body, one of said front panels being secured to one of said walls, and means for interlocking said front panels to define an angle of less than 18()l degrees therebetween in the unfolded position of said body to maintain said body in the tubular configuration thereof.

3. A carton which is readily folded to a generally fiat planar configuration for purposes of shipment and storage and is equally readily unfolded to a generally tubular configuration for receiving a product comprising a carton body, said carton body including a pair of side walls, a rear wall, and a front wall, said front wall being formed of a plurality of front panels, a first of said front panels being joined to said carton body by a first fold line, a second of said front panels being joined to said carton body by a second fold line, a selected one of said front panels having a line dividing said selected one front panel for folding relative to itself, and said first and second front panels being slidable lrelative to each other between the planar and tubular positions of said carton body.

4. The carton Vas defined in claim 1 wherein said front wall is further defined by a pair of axially spaced top and bottom front panels, and said front panels being in converging relationship from said top and bottom front panels toward said rear wall.

5. The carton as defined in claim 4 wherein said carton body is provided with end iiaps, and said end flaps prevent the collapsing of said carton from the tubular to the planar configuration thereof.

6. A carton which is readily folded to a generally flat planar configuration for purposes of shipment and storage and is equally readily unfolded to a generally tubular configuration for receiving `a product comprising a carton body, said carton body including a pair of side walls, a rear wall and a front wall, said front wall including a pair of side front panels, another front panel, said front panels each being joined by an associated fold line to said carton body, said another panel having an associated edge, said edge `and fold lines defining an access opening of said carton body through which an article in said carton body can be viewed, one of said side front panels being secured to one of said rear wall, another of said side front panels being slidable relative to said one side front panel, means for interlocking said side front panels to define an angle of less than degress therebetween in the unfolded position of said body to maintain said body in the tubular configuration thereof, `and said one side front panel is divided into at least three panel portions by at least a pair of fold lines parallel to each other and to the carton body axis.

7. The carton as defined inclaim 6 wherein means are provided for guiding the relative sliding between said side front panels.

8. The carton as defined inclaim 6 wherein said one side front panel is divided into at least three panel portions by at least a pair of fold lines parallel to each other and to the carton body axis, and means are provided for guiding the relative sliding between said side front panels.

9. The carton as defined inclaim 6 wherein said interlocking means is formed by a portion of said one side front panel received in a slot of said another side front panel opening toward said last-mentioned portion in the unfolded tubular configuration of said body.

10. The carton as defined inclaim 6 wherein said carton body includes at least one end fiap closing an end portion of said body and preventing the collapsing of said body from the tubular configuration to the fiat planar configuration.

11. A carton blank comprising a generally planar elongated sheet material member having a plurality of transverse fold lines dividing said member into first side, back, second side and front walls respectively, a first front panel being joined along a first transverse fold line to said first side wall, a second front panel being formed generally from the material of said front wall, said second front panel being partially defined by a second transverse fold line and a pair of transversely spaced cut lines in said front wall, said second front panel normally lying in the plane of said member but being foldable out of said plane along said second transverse fold line, said -pair of cut lines partially defining an opening in said front wall, said first front panel being divided by at least a pair of transverse fold lines into at least three panel portions, the distance between said first transverse fold line and one of said pair of transverse fold lines being substantially equal to the width of said second front panel, and the distance between said pair of cut lines being substantially equal to the length of said first front panel and the length of one of said at least three panel portions.

12. The carton blank as defined in claim 11 wherein one of said at least three panel portions is a free terminal panel, and said second front panel is provided with a slot in longitudinal alignment with said free terminal panel.

13. A carton blank comprising a generally planar elongated sheet material member having a plurality of transverse fold lines dividing said member into first side, back,

econd side and front walls respectively, a first front panel being joined along a first transverse fold line to said first side wall, a second front panel being formed generally from the material of said front wall, said second front panel being partially defined by a second transverse fold line and a pair of transversely spaced cut lines in said front wall, said second front panel normally lying in the plane of said member but being foldable out of said plane along said second transverse fold line, said pair of cut lines partially defining an opening in said front Wall, said first front panel being divided by at least three transverse fold lines into at least four panel lportions, the distance between said first transverse fold line and one of said three transverse fold lines being substantially equal to the width of said second front panel, and the distance between said pair of cut lines being substantially equal to the length of said first front panel and the length of one of said at least three panel portions.

14. A carton which is readily folded to a generally flat planar configuration for purposes of shipment and storage and is equally readily unfolded to a generally tubular configuration for receiving a product comprising a carton body, said carton body including a pair of side walls, a rear wall and a front wall, said front wall being formed of a plurality of front panels, a first of said front panels being joined to said carton body by a first fold line, a second of said front panels being joined to said carton body by a second fold line, said first and second front panels being directed generally toward said. rear panel in the tubular unfolded condition of said carton, said first front panel includes first and second relatively foldable panel portions, each of said first and second front panels having terminal end portions, said first front panel terminal end portion being fixedly secured to one of said walls, said second front panel terminal end portion being freely movable relative to said walls and to said first front panel terminal end portion, and weakening line means for folding said first and second foldable panel portions of said first front panel relative to each other during the folding and unfolding of said carton.

15. The carton as defined in claim 14 wherein said front panel terminal end portions are in sliding relationship to each other, means for guiding the relative slid* ing of said front panel terminal end portions in planes parallel to the carton body axis, and said other front panel terminal end portion being completely disconnected from any of said carton body walls.

16. The carton as defined in claim 14 wherein the one wall to which said one front panel terminal end portion is secured is said rear wall.

17. The carton as defined inclaim 16 wherein said front panels are normally disposed at an angle of no greater than 180 degrees in the unfolded position of said tubularly configured body.

18. The carton as defined inclaim 16 wherein a gap is formed between the terminal end portion of said one front panel and said one wall to which said one front panel terminal end portion is secured, and the other front panel terminal end portion is slidably received in said gap.

19. The carton as defined in claim 18 wherein said other front panel terminal end portion includes a tongue which projects into said gap.

20. The carton as defined in claim 1d wherein the said one wall to which said one front panel terminal end portion is secured is said rear wall, said other front panel terminal end portion includes a tongue projecting into a gap between said rear wall and said one front panel terminal end portion, said front panels are disposed at an angle of no greater than 180 degrees in the unfolded tubularly configured position of said body, and means for interlocking said front panels in said last-mentioned position.

21. A carton blank comprising a generaly planar elongated sheet material member having a plurality of transverse fold lines dividing said member into first side, back, second side and front walls respectively, a first front panel being joined along a first transverse fold line to said first side wall, a second front panel being formed generally from the material of said front panel, said second front panel being partially defined by a second transverse fold line and a cut line in said front wall, said second front panel normally lying in the plane of said member but being foldable out of said plane along said second transverse fold line, said cut line partially defining an opening in said front wall, said second front panel being divided by a fold line into at least a Ipair of panel portions, opening means defined by a panel portion of one of said front panels for receiving a tongue defined by a panel portion of the other front panel, and said opening defining means and tongue being in alignment.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,807,404 9/1957 Cote 206-4531 3,252,566 5/1966 Hanson 206-45.14 3,302,778 2/1967 McGorty et al ZOG-45.14

FOREIGN PATENTS 80,740 4/ 1963 France.

JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

WILLIAM T. DIXSON, JR., Examiner.

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