Carton with pressure sensitive opening device

Abstract

A device for breaking a series of perforations or cuts to open a carton or otherwise separate materials connected by a frangible severance line includes a pair of fold lines that converge away from the severance line, a collapsible line perpendicular to severance line and between the pair of fold lines, and third fold line perpendicular to and intersecting the collapsible line. A tear in the severance line is initiated by applying pressure in vicinity of the intersection of the collapsible line and the third fold line, which causes the device to apply tension to the frangible line, which is further weakened by having an elongated perforation that it centered on the axis of tension, and neighboring perforations that are angled toward the axis of tension. The angle of each perforation with respect to the axis of tension preferably varies depending on its location relative to the axis of tension.

1 . A carton, comprising: 
 a first wall having a frangible line formed therein; and    an opening device for breaking said frangible line, said opening device being defined by at least a portion of said frangible line and by a pair of convergent fold lines each originating near said frangible line, the opening device comprising a collapsible line disposed between said convergent fold lines such that said collapsible line is disposed transversely to said frangible line;    wherein said convergent fold lines and said collapsible line cooperate to break said frangible line when pressure is applied proximate to said collapsible line.    
   
   
       2 . The carton of  claim 1 , wherein the opening device further comprises a transverse fold line disposed between said convergent fold lines such that said transverse fold line is disposed substantially perpendicular to and intersects said collapsible line.  
   
   
       3 . The carton of  claim 2 , wherein said opening device further comprises: 
 an elliptical score line disposed between said convergent fold lines and having a major axis that coincides at least in part with said transverse fold line.    
   
   
       4 . The carton of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said frangible line defining said opening device comprises a weakened portion that is adjacent to said collapsible line.  
   
   
       5 . The carton of  claim 4 , wherein a portion of said frangible line comprises a plurality of interrupted cut lines in series with one another and with said weakened portion, the plurality of cut lines being angled toward said collapsible line.  
   
   
       6 . The carton of  claim 1 , wherein said collapsible is disposed along the direction of convergence of said convergent fold lines.  
   
   
       7 . The carton of  claim 4 , wherein said weakened portion is perpendicular to said collapsible line.  
   
   
       8 . A carton, comprising: 
 a top wall;    a pair of opposed side walls each having upper and lower edges and each hingedly connected along said upper edges to said top wall;    a bottom wall having side edges hingedly connected to said lower edges of said side walls;    an end wall hingedly connected to end edges of each of said side, top, and bottom walls;    an article dispenser including a removable portion formed from at least a portion of said side, top, and end walls, the removable portion being defined by a frangible line; and    an opening device for breaking said frangible line, said opening device being defined by at least a portion of said frangible line and by a pair of convergent fold lines each originating near said frangible line, the opening device comprising: 
 a severance line disposed between said convergent fold lines, said severance line being disposed along the direction of convergence of said convergent fold lines; and  
 a fold line disposed between said convergent fold lines and perpendicular to said severance line.  
   
   
   
       9 . The carton of  claim 8 , wherein said frangible line is continuous.  
   
   
       10 . The carton of  claim 8 , further comprising a collapsible line disposed between said convergent fold lines, said collapsible line being disposed along the direction of convergence of said convergent fold lines.  
   
   
       11 . The carton of  claim 10 , wherein a portion of said frangible line comprises a plurality of interrupted cut lines in series with one another and with a weakened portion, the plurality of cut lines being angled toward said collapsible line, and the weakened portion being adjacent and perpendicular to said collapsible line.  
   
   
       12 . An opening device for breaking a frangible line connecting a first section of material to a second section of material, said opening device being defined by at least a portion of said frangible line and by a pair of convergent fold lines each originating near said frangible line, the opening device comprising: 
 a collapsible line disposed between said convergent fold lines; and    a fold line disposed between said convergent fold lines and perpendicular to and intersecting said collapsible line;    wherein said fold line, said convergent fold lines, and said collapsible line cooperate to break said frangible line when pressure is applied proximate to the intersection between said fold line and said collapsible line.    
   
   
       13 . The opening device of  claim 12 , wherein said collapsible line is disposed along the direction of convergence of said convergent fold lines.  
   
   
       14 . The opening device of  claim 12 , wherein said collapsible line is perpendicular to said frangible line.  
   
   
       15 . The opening device of  claim 12 , wherein said first section of material and said second section of material are disparate.  
   
   
       16 . The opening device of  claim 12 , wherein said first section of material and said second section of material are constructed of the same kind of material.  
   
   
       17 . A method for opening a carton, wherein the carton includes a top wall, a pair of opposed side walls each having upper and lower edges and each hingedly connected along said upper edges to said top wall, a bottom wall having side edges hingedly connected to said lower edges of said side walls, an end wall hingedly connected to end edges of each of said side, top, and bottom walls, and an article dispenser including an at least partially removable portion formed from at least one of said side, top, end, and bottom walls, the removable portion being defined at least in part by at least one frangible line, the method comprising: 
 applying downward pressure to an opening device for breaking said frangible line, said opening device being defined by at least a portion of said frangible line and by a pair of convergent fold lines each originating near said frangible line, the opening device comprising: 
 a collapsible line disposed between said convergent fold lines, said collapsible line being disposed along the direction of convergence of said convergent fold lines;  
 a fold line disposed between said convergent fold lines intersecting said collapsible line;  
   discontinuing the application of pressure when said frangible line tears sufficiently to grasp an edge of said removable portion, said edge being defined by said frangible line;    grasping said edge; and    tearing at least a portion of the remainder of said frangible line until the carton is open.    
   
   
       18 . A carton, comprising: 
 a first wall having a frangible line formed therein; and    an opening device for breaking said frangible line, said opening device being defined by at least a portion of said frangible line and by a pair of convergent fold lines each originating near said frangible line, the opening device comprising: 
 a fold line extending between said convergent fold lines such that said fold line is disposed transversely to said convergent fold lines;  
 wherein said fold line and said convergent fold lines cooperate to break said frangible line when pressure is applied proximate to said fold line.  
   
   
   
       19 . An opening device for breaking a frangible line connecting a first section of material to a second section of material, comprising a collapsible line disposed perpendicular and adjacent to said frangible line; 
 wherein said frangible line is broken when pressure is applied proximate to said collapsible line.