Blank for making containers and a resulting container having a decorated end panel

Abstract

The present invention is directed toward a polygonal container and a blank for making the polygonal container. The ends of the polygonal container are provided with a plurality of pie-shaped triangular sections that can provide unique decorative experience to the user of a consumer product contained and dispensed from therein.

1 . A blank of foldable material, said blank comprising:
 a flat, substantially rectangular, blank of foldable material having top, bottom, left and right side edges, and a plurality of interconnected body panels disposed between said left and right side edges, each of said panels extending from said top edge and said bottom edge;   said top edge and said bottom edge having a plurality of peaks and valleys, a first portion of said plurality of peaks and valleys being joined by curvilinear lines and a second portion of said peaks and valleys being joined by straight lines, said curvilinear lines joining said peaks and valleys of said top portion being adjacent at least one of said straight lines joining said peaks and valleys of said top portion;   a first plurality of fold lines adjacent both said top edge and said bottom edge, comprising a plurality of identical arch-shaped lines and a plurality of straight vertical lines, said arch-shaped fold lines arranged side by side with the sides meeting and terminating at points on the valleys of both said top and bottom edges, said straight vertical fold lines connecting the apexes of said arched shapes and the peaks along said top and bottom edges between the sides of the arches;   a second plurality of arch-shaped fold lines disposed between and connecting said apexes of said arched shapes, each of said arch-shaped fold lines separating each of said panels into a first body region and a second region containing said plurality of fold lines adjacent both said top edge and said bottom edge;   whereby joining the right and left side edges to first form a cylinder having a circumference defined by a plurality of said first body regions and then folding the top edge inward along said fold lines and folding the bottom edge inward along said fold lines forms a substantially flat panel at the top and a substantially flat panel at the bottom, each of said substantially flat panels having integrally-formed support ribs which abut end to end.   
     
     
         2 . The blank of  claim 1  wherein said plurality of straight vertical lines further comprise a series of perforations that separate adjacent distal ends of each of said plurality of inter-connected body panels. 
     
     
         3 . The blank of  claim 1  wherein said plurality of interconnected body panels further comprises five body panels. 
     
     
         4 . The blank of  claim 3  further comprising an additional score line disposed in one of said plurality of interconnected body panels. 
     
     
         5 . The blank of  claim 1  wherein said first plurality of fold lines and said second plurality of fold lines are pre-creased and said plurality of straight vertical lines are perforated to facilitate folding. 
     
     
         6 . The blank of  claim 1  wherein said blank is formed from a paperboard material. 
     
     
         7 . The blank of  claim 1  wherein said blank is foldable into a finally folded container. 
     
     
         8 . The blank of  claim 7  wherein said finally folded container is suitable for containing a consumer product. 
     
     
         9 . The blank of  claim 8  wherein said consumer product is selected from the group consisting of tissue products, facial tissues, paper toweling, bath tissue, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . A polygonal container comprising:
 a flat, substantially rectangular, blank of foldable material having top, bottom, left and right side edges, and a plurality of interconnected body panels disposed between said left and right side edges, each of said panels extending from said top edge and said bottom edge;   said top edge and said bottom edge having a plurality of peaks and valleys, a first portion of said plurality of peaks and valleys being joined by curvilinear lines and a second portion of said peaks and valleys being joined by straight lines, said curvilinear lines joining said peaks and valleys of said top portion being adjacent at least one of said straight lines joining said peaks and valleys of said top portion;   a first plurality of fold lines adjacent both said top edge and said bottom edge, said first plurality of fold lines comprising a plurality of identical arch-shaped lines and a plurality of straight vertical lines, said arch-shaped fold lines arranged side by side with the sides meeting and terminating at points on the valleys of both said top and bottom edges, said straight vertical fold lines connecting the apexes of said arched shapes and the peaks along said top and bottom edges between the sides of the arches;   a second plurality of arch-shaped fold lines disposed between and connecting said apexes of said arched shapes, each of said arch-shaped fold lines separating each of said panels into a first body region and a second region containing said plurality of fold lines adjacent both said top edge and said bottom edge;   whereby joining the right and left side edges to first form a cylinder having a circumference defined by a plurality of said first body regions and then folding the top edge inward along said fold lines and folding the bottom edge inward along said fold lines forms a substantially flat panel at the top and a substantially flat panel at the bottom; and,   sealing means disposed within a region of each flat panel circumscribed and formed by said top and bottom edges respectively.   
     
     
         11 . The polygonal container of  claim 10  wherein said plurality of straight vertical lines further comprise a series of perforations that separate adjacent distal ends of each of said plurality of inter-connected body panels. 
     
     
         12 . The polygonal container of  claim 10  wherein said plurality of interconnected body panels further comprises five body panels. 
     
     
         13 . The polygonal container of  claim 12  further comprising an additional score line disposed in one of said plurality of interconnected body panels. 
     
     
         14 . The polygonal container of  claim 10  wherein said first plurality of fold lines and said second plurality of fold lines are pre-creased and said plurality of straight vertical lines are perforated to facilitate folding. 
     
     
         15 . The polygonal container of  claim 10  wherein said blank is formed from a paperboard material. 
     
     
         16 . The polygonal container of  claim 10  wherein said blank is foldable into a finally folded container. 
     
     
         17 . The polygonal container of  claim 16  wherein said finally folded container is suitable for containing a consumer product. 
     
     
         18 . The polygonal container of  claim 17  wherein said consumer product is selected from the group consisting of tissue products, facial tissues, paper toweling, bath tissue, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The polygonal container of  claim 10  wherein said sealing means further comprises at least two tabs disposed on and adjacent said top edge, said tabs being engageable in a face-to-face relationship when said top edge is folded inward along said fold lines forming said substantially flat panel. 
     
     
         20 . The polygonal container of  claim 10  wherein said substantially flat panel comprises a plurality of pie-shaped triangular sections, each of said pie-shaped triangular sections being substantially bounded by two of said plurality of straight vertical lines and one of said second plurality of arch-shaped fold lines.