Carton with opposing wave-shaped panel and squared panel and blanks for constructing same

Abstract

A carton is described that comprises opposing wave-shaped and squared panels wherein the two opposing panels preferably comprise a wave-shaped front panel and a squared back panel. Also disclosed are single, flat die-cut blanks that may be used to form the present carton. The carton comprises a wave-shaped front panel further comprising two opposing wave-shaped fold lines that approximate single sine waves having a frequency equal to the height of the carton and two opposing straight fold lines that are the top and bottom edges to the front panel. The present carton may optionally comprise a hinging cup-shaped lid in hinging arrangement with the front panel to open forward toward the consumer, or may optionally comprise four top flaps resembling a cereal box top closure.

1 . A blank for forming a six-sided carton having a height, a width and a depth, comprising:
 a square or rectangular rear panel  50 ;   a second left-side panel  55  foldably connected to the rear panel at a straight fold line  51 ;   a second right-side panel  60  foldably connected to the rear panel at a straight fold line  53 , said fold lines  51  and  53  substantially parallel and equal in length to the height of the carton;   a square or rectangular bottom panel  70  foldably connected to the rear panel at a straight fold line  52 , said fold line  52  perpendicular to both fold lines  51  and  53 ;   a left bottom glue flap  65  foldably connected to the bottom panel at a straight fold line  67 , said fold line  67  perpendicular to fold line  52 ;   a right bottom glue flap  75  foldably connected to the bottom panel at a straight fold line  71 , said fold line  71  parallel to fold line  67  and perpendicular to fold line  52 ;   a wave-shaped front panel  10  foldably connected to the bottom panel at a straight fold line  13 , said fold line  13  parallel to fold line  52  and perpendicular to both fold lines  67  and  71 ;   a first left-side panel  5  foldably connected to the front panel at a wave-shaped fold line  9 , said fold line  9  comprising the approximate shape of a single sine wave with frequency equal to the height of the carton;   a first right-side panel  14  foldably connected to the front panel at a wave-shaped fold line  12 , said fold line  12  comprising the approximate shape of a single sine wave with frequency equal to the height of the carton, said wave-shaped fold line  12  curving in parallel with wave-shaped fold line  9 ;   a square or rectangular top panel  24  foldably connected to the front panel at a straight fold line  11 , said fold line  11  parallel to fold line  13 , and fold lines  9 ,  11 ,  12 , and  13  comprising the contiguous boundary around said front panel  10 ;   a rear glue flap  35  foldably connected to the top panel at a straight fold line  25 , said fold line  25  substantially parallel to fold line  11 ;   a left side glue flap  20  foldably connected to the top panel at a straight fold line  23 , said fold line  23  perpendicular to said fold lines  25  and  11 ;   a right side glue flap  27  foldably connected to the top panel at a straight fold line  26 , said fold line  26  substantially parallel to fold line  23  and perpendicular to both fold lines  25  and  11 ;   a left lid glue flap  30  foldably connected to said rear glue flap at straight fold line  34 , said fold line  34  perpendicular to fold line  25 ; and,   a right lid glue flap  37  foldably connected to said rear glue flap at straight fold line  39 , said fold line  39  substantially parallel to fold line  34  and perpendicular fold line  25 , and   wherein top panel  24 , left side glue flap  20 , right side glue flap  27 , rear glue flap  35 , left lid flap  30 , and right lid glue flap  37  collectively comprise a hinging cup-shaped lid hingeably connected to the front panel by straight fold line  11 .   
     
     
         2 . The blank of  claim 1 , wherein said wave-shaped fold line  9  and said wave-shaped fold line  12  comprise identical and superimposable single sine waves. 
     
     
         3 . The blank of  claim 1 , wherein said second left-side panel  55  further comprises:
 a wave-shaped cut edge  57  opposite and substantially parallel to fold line  51 ; 
 a straight cut edge  56  of approximate length equal to the depth of the carton and substantially perpendicular to fold line  51 ; 
 a straight cut edge  58  of approximate length equal to the depth of the carton, parallel to cut edge  56  and substantially perpendicular to fold line  51 ; 
 wherein said wave-shaped cut edge  57  approximates the shape of a single sine wave with frequency equal to the height of the carton, and wherein wave-shaped cut edge  57 , straight cut edge  56 , straight fold line  51 , and straight cut edge  58  comprise the contiguous boundary of said second left-side panel  55 . 
 
     
     
         4 . The blank of  claim 3 , wherein said second right-side panel  60  further comprises:
 a wave-shaped cut edge  62  opposite and substantially parallel to fold line  53 ; 
 a straight cut edge  61  of approximate length equal to the depth of the carton and substantially perpendicular to fold line  53 ; 
 a straight cut edge  63  of approximate length equal to the depth of the carton, parallel to cut edge  61  and substantially perpendicular to fold line  53 ; 
 wherein said wave-shaped cut edge  62  approximates the shape of a single sine wave with frequency equal to the height of the carton, and wherein wave-shaped cut edge  62 , straight cut edge  63 , straight fold line  53 , and straight cut edge  61  comprise the contiguous boundary of said second right-side panel  60 . 
 
     
     
         5 . The blank of  claim 4 , wherein said first left-side panel  5  further comprises:
 a straight cut edge  7  of approximate length equal to the height of the carton, opposite and substantially parallel to wave-shaped fold line  9 ; 
 a straight cut edge  6  of approximate length equal to the depth of the carton and substantially perpendicular to cut edge  7 ; 
 a straight cut edge  8  of approximate length equal to the depth of the carton, parallel to cut edge  6  and substantially perpendicular to cut edge  7 ; 
 wherein said wave-shaped fold line  9 , straight cut edge  8 , straight cut edge  7 , and straight cut edge  6  comprise the contiguous boundary of said first left-side panel  5 , and wherein said first left-side panel  5  and said second left-side panel  55  substantially overlap with wave-shaped cut line  57  in registration with wave-shaped fold line  9  when the carton is formed from the blank. 
 
     
     
         6 . The blank of  claim 5 , wherein said first right-side panel  14  further comprises:
 a straight cut edge  16  of approximate length equal to the height of the carton, opposite and substantially parallel to wave-shaped fold line  12 ; 
 a straight cut edge  15  of approximate length equal to the depth of the carton and substantially perpendicular to cut edge  16 ; 
 a straight cut edge  17  of approximate length equal to the depth of the carton, parallel to cut edge  15  and substantially perpendicular to cut edge  16 ; 
 wherein said wave-shaped fold line  12 , straight cut edge  15 , straight cut edge  16 , and straight cut edge  17  comprise the contiguous boundary of said first right-side panel  14 , and wherein said first right-side panel  14  and said second right-side panel  60  substantially overlap with wave-shaped cut line  62  in registration with wave-shaped fold line  12  when the carton is formed from the blank. 
 
     
     
         7 . The blank of  claim 6 , wherein the wave-shaped fold line  9 , the wave-shaped fold line  12 , the wave-shaped cut edge  57 , and the wave-shaped cut edge  62  comprise identical, superimposable single sine waves of frequency equal to the height of the carton, when the carton is formed from the blank. 
     
     
         8 . A blank for forming a six-sided carton having a height, a width and a depth, comprising:
 a square or rectangular rear panel  50 ′;   a square or rectangular rearward top panel  35 ′ foldably connected to the rear panel at a straight fold line  54 ′;   a second left-side panel  55 ′ foldably connected to the rear panel at a straight fold line  51 ′, said fold line  51 ′ substantially perpendicular to fold line  54 ′;   a second right-side panel  60 ′ foldably connected to the rear panel at a straight fold line  53 ′, said fold lines  51 ′ and  53 ′ substantially parallel and equal in length to the height of the carton and substantially perpendicular to fold line  54 ′;   a square or rectangular bottom panel  70 ′ foldably connected to the rear panel at a straight fold line  52 ′, said fold line  52 ′ substantially parallel to fold line  54 ′ and perpendicular to both fold lines  51 ′ and  53 ′;   a left bottom glue flap  65 ′ foldably connected to the bottom panel at a straight fold line  67 ′, said fold line  67 ′ perpendicular to fold line  52 ′;   a right bottom glue flap  75 ′ foldably connected to the bottom panel at a straight fold line  71 ′, said fold line  71 ′ parallel to fold line  67 ′ and perpendicular to fold line  52 ′;   a wave-shaped front panel  10 ′ foldably connected to the bottom panel at a straight fold line  13 ′, said fold line  13 ′ parallel to fold line  52 ′ and perpendicular to both fold lines  67 ′ and  71 ′;   a first left-side panel  5 ′ foldably connected to the front panel at a wave-shaped fold line  9 ′, said fold line  9 ′ comprising the approximate shape of a single sine wave with frequency equal to the height of the carton;   a first right-side panel  14 ′ foldably connected to the front panel at a wave-shaped fold line  12 ′, said fold line  12 ′ comprising the approximate shape of a single sine wave with frequency equal to the height of the carton, said wave-shaped fold line  12 ′ curving in parallel with wave-shaped fold line  9 ′;   a square or rectangular forward top panel  24 ′ foldably connected to the front panel at a straight fold line  11 ′, said fold line  11 ′ parallel to fold line  13 ′, fold lines  9 ′,  11 ′,  12 ′, and  13 ′ comprising the contiguous boundary around said front panel  10 ′;   a left top flap  20 ′ foldably connected to the first left-side panel  5 ′ at a straight fold line  6 ′, said fold line  6 ′ comprising a substantially collinear extension of fold line  11 ′;   a right top flap  27 ′ foldably connected to the first right-side panel  14 ′ at a straight fold line  15 ′, said fold line  15 ′ comprising a substantially collinear extension of fold line  11 ′; and   wherein, left top flap  20 ′, right top flap  27 ′, forward top panel  24 ′, and rearward top panel  35 ′ collectively comprise a top closure to the carton, when the carton is formed from the blank.   
     
     
         9 . The blank of  claim 8 , wherein said wave-shaped fold line  9 ′ and said wave-shaped fold line  12 ′ comprise identical and superimposable single sine waves. 
     
     
         10 . The blank of  claim 8 , wherein said second left-side panel  55 ′ further comprises:
 a wave-shaped cut edge  57 ′ opposite and substantially parallel to fold line  51 ′; 
 a straight cut edge  56 ′ of approximate length equal to the depth of the carton and substantially perpendicular to fold line  51 ′; 
 a straight cut edge  58 ′ of approximate length equal to the depth of the carton, parallel to cut edge  56 ′ and substantially perpendicular to fold line  51 ′; 
 wherein said wave-shaped cut edge  57 ′ approximates the shape of a single sine wave with frequency equal to the height of the carton, and wherein wave-shaped cut edge  57 ′, straight cut edge  56 ′, straight fold line  51 ′, and straight cut edge  58 ′ comprise the contiguous boundary of said second left-side panel  55 ′. 
 
     
     
         11 . The blank of  claim 10 , wherein said second right-side panel  60 ′ further comprises:
 a wave-shaped cut edge  62 ′ opposite and substantially parallel to fold line  53 ′; 
 a straight cut edge  61 ′ of approximate length equal to the depth of the carton and substantially perpendicular to fold line  53 ′; 
 a straight cut edge  63 ′ of approximate length equal to the depth of the carton, parallel to cut edge  61 ′ and substantially perpendicular to fold line  53 ′; 
 wherein said wave-shaped cut edge  62 ′ approximates the shape of a single sine wave with frequency equal to the height of the carton, and wherein wave-shaped cut edge  62 ′, straight cut edge  63 ′, straight fold line  53 ′, and straight cut edge  61 ′ comprise the contiguous boundary of said second right-side panel  60 ′. 
 
     
     
         12 . The blank of  claim 11 , wherein said first left-side panel  5 ′ further comprises:
 a straight cut edge  7 ′ of approximate length equal to the height of the carton, said cut edge  7 ′ opposite and substantially parallel to wave-shaped fold line  9 ′ and substantially perpendicular to fold line  6 ′; 
 a straight cut edge  8 ′ of approximate length equal to the depth of the carton, said cut edge  8 ′ substantially parallel to fold line  6 ′ and substantially perpendicular to cut edge  7 ′; 
 wherein said wave-shaped fold line  9 ′, straight cut edge  8 ′, straight cut edge  7 ′, and straight fold line  6 ′ comprise the contiguous boundary of said first left-side panel  5 ′, and wherein said first left-side panel  5 ′ and said second left-side panel  55 ′ substantially overlap with wave-shaped cut line  57 ′ in registration with wave-shaped fold line  9 ′, when the carton is formed from the blank. 
 
     
     
         13 . The blank of  claim 12 , wherein said first right-side panel  14 ′ further comprises;
 a straight cut edge  16 ′ of approximate length equal to the height of the carton, said cut edge  16 ′ opposite and substantially parallel to wave-shaped fold line  12 ′ and substantially perpendicular to fold line  15 ′; 
 a straight cut edge  17 ′ of approximate length equal to the depth of the carton, said cut edge  17 ′ substantially parallel to fold line  15 ′ and substantially perpendicular to cut edge  16 ′; 
 wherein said wave-shaped fold line  12 ′, straight fold line  15 ′, straight cut edge  16 ′, and straight cut edge  17 ′ comprise the contiguous boundary of said first right-side panel  14 ′, and wherein said first right-side panel  14 ′ and said second right-side panel  60 ′ substantially overlap with wave-shaped cut line  62 ′ in registration with wave-shaped fold line  12 ′, when the carton is formed from the blank. 
 
     
     
         14 . The blank of  claim 13 , wherein the wave-shaped fold line  9 ′, the wave-shaped fold line  12 ′, the wave-shaped cut edge  57 ′, and the wave-shaped cut edge  62 ′ comprise identical, superimposable single sine waves of frequency equal to the height of the carton, when the carton is formed from the blank. 
     
     
         15 . In combination, a carton formed from the blank of  claim 1  and at least one wave-shaped article enclosed within the carton. 
     
     
         16 . In combination, a carton formed from the blank of  claim 7  and at least one wave-shaped article enclosed within the carton. 
     
     
         17 . In combination, a carton formed from the blank of  claim 8  and at least one wave-shaped article enclosed within the carton. 
     
     
         18 . In combination, a carton formed from the blank of  claim 14  and at least one wave-shaped article enclosed within the carton. 
     
     
         19 . A six-sided carton having a front, a back, a left-side, a right-side, a top, and a bottom, and having a height, a width, a depth, an outer surface, and an inner surface, comprising:
 a wave-shaped front panel;   a left-side panel adjacent and foldably connected to the front panel at a first wave-shaped fold line approximating a single sine wave with frequency equal to the height of the carton;   a right-side panel adjacent and foldably connected to the front panel at a second wave-shaped fold line approximating a single sine wave with frequency equal to the height of the carton, said second wave-shaped fold line curving in parallel with said first wave-shaped fold line;   a square or rectangular bottom panel adjacent and foldably connected to the front panel at a straight front bottom fold line;   a square or rectangular back panel adjacent and foldably connected to the bottom panel at a straight rear bottom fold line; and   a hinging cup-shape lid enclosing the top of the carton, said lid in hinging attachment to the front panel at a straight lid hinging line, said lid further comprising a top panel and at least one glue flap overlapping a portion of the outer surface of at least one of said left-side panel, said right-side panel, or said back panel.   
     
     
         20 . A six-sided carton having a front, a back, a left-side, a right-side, a top, and a bottom, and having a height, a width, a depth, an outer surface, and an inner surface, comprising:
 a wave-shaped front panel;   a left-side panel adjacent and foldably connected to the front panel at a left wave-shaped fold line approximating a single sine wave with frequency equal to the height of the carton;   a right-side panel adjacent and foldably connected to the front panel at a right wave-shaped fold line approximating a single sine wave with frequency equal to the height of the carton, said right wave-shaped fold line curving in parallel with said left wave-shaped fold line;   a square or rectangular bottom panel adjacent and foldably connected to the front panel at a straight front bottom fold line;   a square or rectangular back panel adjacent and foldably connected to the bottom panel at a straight rear bottom fold line;   a top panel further comprising a forward top panel and a rearward top panel, said forward top panel enclosing approximately half of the top of the carton, said forward top panel adjacent and foldably connected to said front panel at a straight front lid hinge line, said rearward top panel enclosing approximately half of the top of the carton, said rearward top panel adjacent and foldably connected to said back panel at a straight rear lid hinge line, said rear lid hinge line substantially parallel to said front lid hinge line.