Gable top container

Claim 2

A gable top container of sheet material including a tubular body having four sidewalls; a bottom closure fixed to said body; a pair of opposed roof panels inclining toward each other and overlying the top of said body; a pair of opposed end closure panels enfolded between said roof panels from the opposite gable ends formed by the later; first and second pairs of foldback panels, each pair of foldback panels being joined to opposite sides of a respective one of said end closure panels along fold lines which are in proximity with said roof panels, said foldback panels being folded against the underside of said roof panels; a ridge panel surmounting each of said roof panels; a ridge panel surmounting each of said foldback panels, each pair of ridge panels surmounting a pair of foldback panels being hinged together at the apex of the contiguous end closure panels and being folded about said hinge joinder in face-to-face relation between the ridge panels surmounting said roof panels, wherein the improvement comprises lower and upper score lines located in each of said pair of roof panels, said lower and upper score lines defining an elongate beam section extending diagonally from the upper edge of their respective roof panels toward the lower corner thereof contiguous with one of said closure panels, the upper end of said beam section being tapered to terminate substantially in a point on said upper edge, said lower score line extending continuously from said upper edge to said lower corner, the lower end of said upper score line terminating at a point longitudinally spaced from said lower corner and laterally spaced from said lower score line, said lower end of said upper score line defining the lower end of said beam section, the plane of said closure panel lying in the area defined by said beam section.

Claim 3

The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein said lower score line includes first, second and third score portions, said lower score line second portion extending generally parallel to the plane of said one end closure panel, said lower score line first portion interconnecting the upper end of said lower score line second portion and said upper edge, and said lower score line third portion interconnecting the lower end of said lower score line second portion and said lower corner; and said upper score line includes first, second and third score portions, said upper score line second portion downwardly diverging outwardly from said lower score line second portion, said upper score line first portion interconnecting the upper end of said upper score line second portion and said upper edge, said upper score line third portion extending from the lower end of said upper score line second portion in a downwardly converging direction toward said lower score line second portion, said upper score line third portion terminating at a point spaced from said lower score line second portion and said lower corner.

Claim 4

The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein said first and second score lines are arranged so that the plane of said end closure panel is closer to said lower score line second portion that said upper score line second portion.

Claim 5

The invention as recited in claim 3 wherein said four sides are of substantially equal width, the apexes of said pair of opposed end closure panels being located substantially at the midpoint of the upper edge of their Respective roof panels, and the point of intersection of said first score portion of each of said upper and lower score lines with the upper edge of the respective roof panels being substantially at the midpoint of said upper edge.

Claim 6

The invention as recited in claim 4 wherein said upper score line second portion extends in a diagonal straight line forming an angle with the upper edge of its respective roof panel, said angle being in the range from 44* to 49* and the plane of said one of said end closure panels extending generally parallel to said upper score line second portion.

Claim 7

A gable top container of sheet material comprising a tubular body having four sidewalls integrally joined along four corner edges, a bottom closure fixed to said body, a pair of opposed roof panels inclining toward each other and overlying the top of said body forming a gable opening having a top longitudinally extending ridge, a first enclosure panel extending angularly through said gable opening to close one end thereof, said closure panel having an apex disposed proximate the ridge of said gable opening and at a medial point therealong, the improvement comprising a second closure panel for closing the opposite end of said gable opening, said second closure panel including an end closure panel integrally hinged to the upper edge of one of said sidewalls along a fold line, and a pair of foldback panels flanking said end closure panel and integrally connected thereto along upwardly converging fold lines, said fold line panels being integrally joined to respective roof panels, said end closure panel having a first section extending angularly upwardly from said integral hinge through said gable opening and having the form of a trapezoid, and a second section extending angularly upwardly from said first section and joined thereto along an integral junction line, said second section having the form of a triangle and terminating at an upper apex, a weakened line of severance extending transversely across said second section and portions of said foldback panels, said weakened line of severance being proximate and parallel to said junction line, said foldback panels underlying said respective roof panels, each of said roof panels having pry score lines extending diagonally from the medial point of upper edge of its respective roof panel toward the lower corner contiguous with said end closure panel, said pry score having an elongate portion disposed above the plane of said second section and parallel thereto.

Claim 8

A gable top container of sheet material comprising a tubular body having four sidewalls integrally joined along four corner edges, a bottom closure fixed to said body, a pair of opposed roof panels inclining toward each other and overlying the top of said body forming a gable opening having a top longitudinally extending ridge, a first enclosure panel extending angularly through said gable opening to close one end thereof, said closure panel having an apex disposed proximate the ridge of said gable opening and at a medial point therealong, the improvement comprising a second closure panel for closing the opposite end of said gable opening, said second closure panel including an end closure panel integrally hinged to the upper edge of one of said sidewalls along a fold line, and a pair of foldback panels flanking said end closure panel and integrally connected thereto along upwardly converging fold lines, said fold line panels being integrally joined to respective roof panels, said end closure panel having a first section extending angularly upwardly from said integral hinge through said gable opening and having the form of a trapezoid, and a second section extending angularly upwardly from said first section and joined thereto along an integral junction line, said second section having the form of a triangle and terminating at an upper apex, a weakened line of severance extending transversely across said second section and portions of said foldback panels, said weakened line of severance being proximate and parallel to said junction line, said foldback panels underlying said respective roof panels, each of said roof panels having pry score lines extending diagonally from the medial point of upper edge of its respective roof panel toward the lower corner contiguous with said end closure panel, said pry score having an elongate portion disposed above the plane of said second section and parallel thereto.

Claim 9

The invention as recited in claim 6 wherein said roof panels are identical terminating at lower parallel and generally horizontally extending edges, and said integral hinge includes first, second, and third portions, said second portion extending horizontally and disposed slightly above said lower edges of said roof panels, and said first and second portions interconnecting the outer ends of said second portion and respectively one of said upwardly converging fold lines at adjacent sidewall edges and at a point below the elevation of said horizontally extending lower edges of said side roof panels, said first and second portions tending to pull said apex of said enclosure panel into sealing engagement with said apex of said first end closure panel.

Claim 10

The invention as recited in claim 6 wherein the fold lines defining said second section of said enclosure panel are discontinuous on either side of said weakened line of severance.

Claim 11

The invention as recited in claim 8 wherein said closure panel includes a coating of thermoplastic material permanently bonded on the exterior side thereof, a tape overlying the exterior side of said weakened line of severance, at least the surface of said tape confronting said closure panel being formed of thermoplastic material heat sealable to said thermoplastic coating on said closure panel, said tape being bonded to the entire marginal area of said closure panel, said tape being bonded to the about said weakened line of severance by the heat sealing of said thermoplastic materials, said fold lines defining said score lines of said second section of said closure panel terminating at a point below the lower edge of said tape.

Claim 12

In a gable top container of the type having a pair of inclined roof panels defining first and second gable openings; a ridge panel surmounting each of said roof panels, said ridge panels being disposed in confronting relation, a first end closure including a panel of triangular configuration inclined upwardly and inwardly into said first gable opening and having its apex terminating proximate the midpoint of the upper edges of said roof panels, a ridge panel surmounting said first end closure and folded into face-to-face relation and disposed between said confronting ridge panels surmounting said roof panels, pry scores formed in the surface of each of said roof panels, each of said pry scores extending from the upper edge of its respective roof panel diagonally downwardly toward the lower corner of said second gable opening, the improvement for closing said second gable opening, said improvement comprising a second end closure including a panel having a lower edge and a pair of converging side edges which meet at an apex, said panel being inclined upwardly into said second gable opening, said apex being positioned proximate said apex of said first closure panel, each of said converging side edges having lower ends located below the lower edges of said roof panels, said lower edge of said closure panel having first, second and third portions, said second portion being substantially horizontal and having ends spaced from said converging side edges, said first portion extending downwardly from one of said ends of said second section to the lower end of one of said converging side edges, said third section extending downwardly from the other end of said second section to the lower end of the other of said converging side edges; and foldback panels interconnecting the outer edges of said closure panel and the outer edges of said roof panels.

Claim 13

In a gable top container of the type having a pair of inclined roof panels defining first and second gable openings; a ridge panel surmounting each of said roof panels, said ridge panels being disposed in confronting relation, a first end closure including a panel of triangular configuration inclined upwardly and inwardly into said first gable opening and having its apex terminating proximate the midpoint of the upper edges of said roof panels, a ridge panel surmounting said first end closure and folded into face-to-face relation and disposed between said confronting ridge panels surmounting said roof panels, pry scores formed in the surface of each of said roof panels, each of said pry scores extending from the upper edge of its respective roof panel diagonally downwardly toward the lower corner of said second gable opening, the improvement for closing said second gable opening, said improvement comprising a second end closure including a panel having a lower edge and a pair of converging side edges which meet at an apex, said panel being inclined upwardly into said second gable opening, said apex being positioned proximate said apex of said first closure panel, each of said converging side edges having lower ends located below the lower edges of said roof panels, said lower edge of said closure panel having first, second and third portions, said second portion being substantially horizontal and having ends spaced from said converging side edges, said first portion extending downwardly from one of said ends of said second section to the lower end of one of said converging side edges, said third section extending downwardly from the other end of said second section to the lower end of the other of said converging side edges; and foldback panels interconnecting the outer edges of said closure panel and the outer edges of said roof panels.

Claim 14

The invention as recited in claim 10 wherein said second end closure has a horizontal line of severance extending across the upper portion thereof, said line of severance completely tranversing said end closure panel and a substantial portion of each of said foldback panels.

Claim 15

A paperboard blank for forming a container of rectangular formation and having a gable top, said blank being formed with laterally spaced-apart score lines extending vertically from the lower edge to the upper edge of the blank, a score line extending transversely on the blank in downward spaced relation to the upper edge thereof, said latter score line, in conjunction with said vertically extending score lines, defining opposed front and rear wall panels and opposed sidewall panels, a second transversely extending score line arranged intermediate the upper edge of said blank and said first transversely extending score line and defining, in conjunction therewith and with said vertically extending score lines, a front roof panel surmounting said front wall panel, a rear roof panel surmounting said rear wall panel, and an area surmounting each of said sidewall panels, each of said areas being provided with converging score lines inclining upwardly from said first transverse score line to said second transverse score line and defining in each of said areas an end closure panel and a pair of foldback panels hinged to the end closure panel, said second transversely extending score line, in conjunction with said vertically extending score lines, defining ridge panels surmounting said front and rear roof panels and each pair of said foldback panels, and a weakened line of severance tranversing upper portion of said end closure panel and extending across a portion of said foldback panels, wherein the improvement comprises upper and lower pry score lines located on each of said roof panels, said score lines defining an elongate beam section extending diagonally from the uppEr edge of its respective roof panel toward the lower corner thereof contiguous with one of said end closure panels, the upper end of said beam section being tapered to terminate substantially at a point on said upper edge, said lower score line extending continuously from said upper edge to said lower corner, the lower end of said score line terminating at a point longitudinally spaced from said lower corner and laterally spaced from said lower score line.

Claim 16

A paperboard blank for forming a container of rectangular formation and having a gable top, said blank being formed with laterally spaced-apart score lines extending vertically from the lower edge to the upper edge of the blank, a score line extending transversely on the blank in downward spaced relation to the upper edge thereof, said latter score line, in conjunction with said vertically extending score lines, defining opposed front and rear wall panels and opposed sidewall panels, a second transversely extending score line arranged intermediate the upper edge of said blank and said first transversely extending score line and defining, in conjunction therewith and with said vertically extending score lines, a front roof panel surmounting said front wall panel, a rear roof panel surmounting said rear wall panel, and an area surmounting each of said sidewall panels, each of said areas being provided with converging score lines inclining upwardly from said first transverse score line to said second transverse score line and defining in each of said areas an end closure panel and a pair of foldback panels hinged to the end closure panel, said second transversely extending score line, in conjunction with said vertically extending score lines, defining ridge panels surmounting said front and rear roof panels and each pair of said foldback panels, and a weakened line of severance tranversing upper portion of said end closure panel and extending across a portion of said foldback panels, wherein the improvement comprises upper and lower pry score lines located on each of said roof panels, said score lines defining an elongate beam section extending diagonally from the uppEr edge of its respective roof panel toward the lower corner thereof contiguous with one of said end closure panels, the upper end of said beam section being tapered to terminate substantially at a point on said upper edge, said lower score line extending continuously from said upper edge to said lower corner, the lower end of said score line terminating at a point longitudinally spaced from said lower corner and laterally spaced from said lower score line.

Claim 17

The invention as recited in claim 12 wherein said lower score line includes first, second, and third portions, said lower score line second portion extending diagonally and downwardly along said respective roof panel at an angle between 45* and 50* with said upper edge of said respective roof panel, said lower score line first portion interconnecting the upper end of said lower score line second portion, said upper edge of said respective roof panel, and said lower score line third portion interconnecting the lower end of said lower score line second portion and said lower corner; and said upper score line including first, second, and third portions, said upper score line second portion downwardly diverging outwardly from said upper score line second portion, said upper score line first portion interconnecting the upper end of said upper score line second portion and said upper edge of said respective roof panel, said upper score line third portion extending from the lower end of said second score portion in a downwardly converging direction toward said lower score line second portion, said upper score line third portion terminating at a point spaced from said lower score line second portion and said lower corner.

Claim 18

The invention as recited in claim 13 wherein said front and rear wall panels and said opposed sidewall panels are of substantially equal width, and the upper end of said beam is substantially at the midpoint of the upper edge of said roof panels.