Corrugated Barrier Cartonboard

Abstract

A cartonboard includes a substantially planar facing layer, a plurality of corrugated flutes, and a substantially continuous barrier layer disposed between the facing layer and flutes. The cartonboard may be used to form a carton blank and/or a carton.

1 . A cartonboard comprising:
 a substantially planar facing layer;   a plurality of corrugated flutes; and   a substantially continuous barrier layer disposed between the facing layer and flutes, wherein the barrier layer comprises a polymeric material.   
     
     
         2 . The cartonboard of  claim 1 , wherein
 the substantially planar facing layer is a first substantially planar facing layer, and   the cartonboard comprises a second substantially planar facing layer on a side of the corrugated flutes opposite the first substantially planar facing layer.   
     
     
         3 . The cartonboard of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric material comprises at least one of a polymer film and a polymer coating. 
     
     
         4 . The cartonboard of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric material comprises at least one of a polyester and a polyolefin. 
     
     
         5 . The cartonboard of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric material comprises at least one of polyethylene terephthalate, low density polyethylene, and high density polyethylene. 
     
     
         6 . The cartonboard of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier layer has a thickness of from about 0.5 mil to about 5 mil. 
     
     
         7 . The cartonboard of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier layer is joined the substantially planar facing layer with an adhesive material. 
     
     
         8 . The cartonboard of  claim 7 , wherein the adhesive material comprises polyvinyl alcohol. 
     
     
         9 . The cartonboard of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier layer is joined the plurality of flutes with an adhesive material. 
     
     
         10 . The cartonboard of  claim 9 , wherein the adhesive material comprises a starch-based material. 
     
     
         11 . The cartonboard of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier layer is corona treated. 
     
     
         12 . The cartonboard of  claim 1 , wherein the cartonboard has a moisture vapor transmission rate of less than about 1 g/100 sq. in/day. 
     
     
         13 . A blank for forming a carton, the blank comprising:
 a plurality of adjoined panels, the plurality of adjoined panels each having a first dimension extending in a first direction and a second dimension extending in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, the plurality of adjoined panels including
 a first panel, a second panel, and a third panel, the third panel being disposed between the first panel and the second panel, the first panel, second panel, and third panel being joined to one another along respective first and second fold lines extending in the first direction, 
 a first top end flap joined to the first panel along a first tear line extending in the second direction, 
 a second top end flap joined to the second panel along a first fold line extending in the second direction, and 
 a closure flap joined to the second top end flap along a second fold line extending in the second direction; and 
   a second tear line extending in the second direction substantially across the first panel proximate to the first tear line.   
     
     
         14 . The blank of  claim 13 , further comprising a fourth panel joined to the first panel along a third fold line extending in the first direction. 
     
     
         15 . The blank of  claim 13 , further comprising
 a first bottom end flap joined to the first panel along a third fold line extending in the second direction, and   a second bottom end flap joined to the second panel along a fourth fold line extending in the second direction.   
     
     
         16 . The blank of  claim 13 , formed at least partially from cartonboard comprising
 a substantially planar facing layer,   a plurality of corrugated flutes, and   a substantially continuous barrier layer disposed between the facing layer and flutes.   
     
     
         17 . The blank of  claim 16 , wherein
 the substantially planar facing layer is a first substantially planar facing layer, and   the cartonboard comprises a second substantially planar facing layer on a side of the corrugated flutes opposite the first substantially planar facing layer.   
     
     
         18 . The blank of  claim 16 , wherein the barrier layer comprises at least one of a polymer film and a polymer coating. 
     
     
         19 . The blank of  claim 16 , wherein the barrier layer comprises at least one of a polyester and a polyolefin. 
     
     
         20 . The blank of  claim 16 , wherein the barrier layer comprises at least one of polyethylene terephthalate, low density polyethylene, and high density polyethylene. 
     
     
         21 . A carton, comprising:
 a plurality of adjoined panels that surround an interior space, the plurality of adjoined panels including
 a first panel and a second panel opposite one another, and 
 an end closure assembly foldably joined to the first panel and the second panel, the end closure assembly including
 a first top end flap joined to the first panel along a first tear line, 
 a second top end flap joined to the second panel along a fold line, the first top end flap and the second top end flap being at least partially superposed with one another, and 
 a closure flap foldably joined to the second top end flap, the closure extending into the interior space; and 
 
   a second tear line extending substantially across the first panel, the second tear line being proximate to the first tear line, the first tear line and the second tear line defining a tear strip.   
     
     
         22 . The carton of  claim 21 , wherein at least a portion of the closure flap is in an at least partially contacting relationship with a side of the front panel facing the interior space. 
     
     
         23 . The carton of  claim 21 , wherein the tear strip comprises a tab extending outwardly from an edge of the first panel. 
     
     
         24 . The carton of  claim 21 , wherein the tear strip is for being removed, so that end closure assembly is operative for hinging along the fold line. 
     
     
         25 . The carton of  claim 21 , formed at least partially from cartonboard comprising
 a substantially planar facing layer,   a plurality of corrugated flutes, and   a substantially continuous barrier layer disposed between the facing layer and flutes.   
     
     
         26 . The carton of  claim 25 , wherein
 the substantially planar facing layer is a first substantially planar facing layer, and   the cartonboard comprises a second substantially planar facing layer on a side of the corrugated flutes opposite the first substantially planar facing layer.   
     
     
         27 . The carton of  claim 26 , wherein the second substantially planar facing layer comprises a side of the cartonboard facing the interior space. 
     
     
         28 . The carton of  claim 25 , wherein the barrier layer comprises at least one of a polymer film and a polymer coating. 
     
     
         29 . The carton of  claim 25 , wherein the barrier layer comprises at least one of a polyester and a polyolefin. 
     
     
         30 . The carton of  claim 25 , wherein the barrier layer comprises at least one of polyethylene terephthalate, low density polyethylene, and high density polyethylene.