Paperboard carton

Claim 2

In combination with a paperboard gable top container having a gable ridge, said container including foldably connected vertical front, back and side walls and front and back pairs of gusset panels, the improvement which comprises: a. a first pair of non-vertical panels foldably connected to said back wall; b. a second pair of non-vertical panels, each foldably connected to a respective one of i. said side walls, ii. said first pair of non-vertical panels, and iii. said back pair of gusset panels; and c. a handle, foldably connected to said second pair of nonvertical panels.

Claim 3

The improved container of claim 1 wherein the lower end of said handle is secured to said first pair of non-vertical panels and the upper end of said handle is secured to said gable ridge.

Claim 4

The improved container of claim 2 wherein the upper end of said handle is disposed within the gable ridge and said gable ridge slopes downwardly from the front of said container to back of said container.

Claim 5

The improved container of claim 3 wherein said container is coated with a thermoplastic material.

Claim 6

The improved container of claim 4 wherein the upper end of said handle is heat sealed to said gable ridge.

Claim 7

The improved container of claim 1 wherein each oF said second pair of non-vertical panels is comprised of first and second foldably connected sub-panels, each of said first sub-panels being foldably connected to said handle and a respective one of said first pair of non-vertical panels and each of said second sub-panels being foldably connected to a respective side wall and a respective one of said back gusset panels.

Claim 8

In combination with a paperboard gable top carton having a gable ridge, said carton including foldably connected vertical front, back and side walls and front and back pairs of gusset panels, the improvement which comprises: a. a pair of non-vertical triangular panels foldably connected to said back wall; b. a pair of quadrilateral panels each foldably connected to a respective side wall, a respective one of said rear gusset panels and a respective one of said triangular panels; c. a pair of connecting sub-panels, each foldably connected to a respective one of said triangular panels; and d. a handle foldably connected to each of said quadrilateral panels, the end of said handle being secured to said connecting sub-panels and the upper end of said handle being secured to said gable ridge.

Claim 9

In combination with a paperboard gable top carton having a gable ridge, said carton including foldably connected vertical front, back and side walls and front and back pairs of gusset panels, the improvement which comprises: a. a pair of non-vertical triangular panels foldably connected to said back wall; b. a pair of quadrilateral panels each foldably connected to a respective side wall, a respective one of said rear gusset panels and a respective one of said triangular panels; c. a pair of connecting sub-panels, each foldably connected to a respective one of said triangular panels; and d. a handle foldably connected to each of said quadrilateral panels, the end of said handle being secured to said connecting sub-panels and the upper end of said handle being secured to said gable ridge.

Claim 10

The improved carton of claim 7 wherein said carton is coated with a thermoplastic material.

Claim 11

The improved carton of claim 8 wherein the lower end of said handle is heat sealed to said connecting sub-panels and the upper end of said handle is heat sealed within said gable ridge.

Claim 12

The improved carton of claim 9 wherein each of said quadrilateral panels is comprised of two foldably connected, triangular sub-panels.

Claim 13

The improved carton of claim 10 wherein the fold line which connects each of said two triangular sub-panels is an extension of the fold line which connects said back wall to a respective side wall.

Claim 14

In combination with a paperboard blank for forming a gable top container, said blank having longitudinal score lines which define front and back wall panels and transverse score lines which define bottom and top closure flaps, said top closure flaps including gable forming flaps, the improvement which comprises: a. two side wall panels, each of which includes a back gusset panel; b. a pair of handle flaps, the top edge of said gable forming flaps being above the top edge of said handle flaps; and c. sub-panels foldably connecting each of said handle flaps to a respective one of said back gusset panels.

Claim 15

In combination with a paperboard blank for forming a gable top container, said blank having longitudinal score lines which define front and back wall panels and transverse score lines which define bottom and top closure flaps, said top closure flaps including gable forming flaps, the improvement which comprises: a. two side wall panels, each of which includes a back gusset panel; b. a pair of handle flaps, the top edge of said gable forming flaps being above the top edge of said handle flaps; and c. sub-panels foldably connecting each of said handle flaps to a respective one of said back gusset panels.

Claim 16

The blank of claim 12 wherein the width of said blank is approximately 22.8 inches.

Claim 17

The blank of claim 13 wherein said blank is coated on both sides with a thermoplastic material.

Claim 18

The blank of claim 14 wherein said thermoplastic material is polyethylene.

Claim 19

In combination with a paperboard blank having a longitudinal score lines which define front and back wall panels and transverse score lines which define bottom and top closure flaps, the improvement which comprises: a. side wall panels, each of which includes a gusset panel and a foldably connected side wall sub-panel in the upper rear corner thereof; b. a back wall panel which comprises: i. a vertical wall forming section, ii. at least two pairs of foldably connected back wall sub-panels, each pair said two pairs of panels foldably connecting a respective one of said side wall sub-panels to said vertical wall forming section, iii. a pair of carrying handle flaps each foldably connected to a respective sub-panel of said at least two pairs of said back wall sub-panels.

Claim 20

In combination with a paperboard blank having a longitudinal score lines which define front and back wall panels and transverse score lines which define bottom and top closure flaps, the improvement which comprises: a. side wall panels, each of which includes a gusset panel and a foldably connected side wall sub-panel in the upper rear corner thereof; b. a back wall panel which comprises: i. a vertical wall forming section, ii. at least two pairs of foldably connected back wall sub-panels, each pair said two pairs of panels foldably connecting a respective one of said side wall sub-panels to said vertical wall forming section, iii. a pair of carrying handle flaps each foldably connected to a respective sub-panel of said at least two pairs of said back wall sub-panels.

Claim 21

The blank of claim 16 wherein the top edges of said handle flap do not extend beyond the top edges of said closure flaps on said side wall panels.

Claim 22

The blank of claim 17 wherein said blank is coated with a thermoplastic material.

Claim 23

The blank of claim 18 wherein the width of said wall panels is approximately equal.

Claim 24

The blank of claim 19 wherein said blank has a width of approximately 22.8 inches.

Claim 25

In combination with a paperboard blank having longitudinAl score lines which define front, back and side wall panels, a lower horizontal score line which defines bottom closure flaps, an upper horizontal score line which defines upper closure flaps on said front and side wall panels and transverse score lines on said upper closure flaps which define gable top closure means, the improvement which comprises: a. a gusset panel in the rear upper portion of each of said side wall panels, the lower end of each of said gusset panels terminating at said upper score line, b. a pair of side wall sub-panels each foldably connected to a respective one of said gusset panels; c. a first pair of back wall sub-panels each foldably connected to a respective one of said side wall sub-panels; d. a second pair of back wall sub-panels each foldably connected to both the remainder of said back wall panel and a respective one of said first pair of back wall sub-panels; and e. a pair of handle flaps each foldably connected to a respective one of said first pair of back wall sub-panels.

Claim 26

In combination with a paperboard blank having longitudinAl score lines which define front, back and side wall panels, a lower horizontal score line which defines bottom closure flaps, an upper horizontal score line which defines upper closure flaps on said front and side wall panels and transverse score lines on said upper closure flaps which define gable top closure means, the improvement which comprises: a. a gusset panel in the rear upper portion of each of said side wall panels, the lower end of each of said gusset panels terminating at said upper score line, b. a pair of side wall sub-panels each foldably connected to a respective one of said gusset panels; c. a first pair of back wall sub-panels each foldably connected to a respective one of said side wall sub-panels; d. a second pair of back wall sub-panels each foldably connected to both the remainder of said back wall panel and a respective one of said first pair of back wall sub-panels; and e. a pair of handle flaps each foldably connected to a respective one of said first pair of back wall sub-panels.

Claim 27

The blank of claim 21 which further comprises a pair of foldably connected connecting flaps each foldably connected to a respective one of said second pair of back sub-panels and to a respective one of said pair of handle flaps.

Claim 28

The blank of claim 22 wherein the top edges of said handle flaps do not extend beyond the top edges of said closure flaps on said side wall panels.

Claim 29

The blank of claim 23 wherein said blank is coated with a thermoplastic material.

Claim 30

The blank of claim 24 wherein the width of wall panels is approximately equal.

Claim 31

The blank of claim 25 wherein said blank has a width of approximately 22.8 inches.

Claim 32

In combination with a paperboard blank which is scored to define wall panels, a manufacturer''s joint panel, bottom closure means and gable top closure means, the improvement which comprises: a. a back wall forming panel which comprises i. a vertical wall forming portion, ii. a first pair of triangular panels each foldably connected to said vertical wall forming portion, and iii. a second pair of triangular panels each foldably connected to a respective one of said first pair of triangular panels and to a respective side wall panel along a respective longitudinal score line; b. a pair of side wall panels each of which includes i. a side wall forming portion, ii. a triangular side sub-panel foldably connected to said side wall forming portion and a respective one of said second pair of triangular panels, and iii. a rear gusset panel foldably connected to a respective one of said triangular side sub-panels; and c. a pair of carrying handle flaps each foldably connected to a respective one of said second pair of triangular panels.

Claim 33

In combination with a paperboard blank which is scored to define wall panels, a manufacturer''s joint panel, bottom closure means and gable top closure means, the improvement which comprises: a. a back wall forming panel which comprises i. a vertical wall forming portion, ii. a first pair of triangular panels each foldably connected to said vertical wall forming portion, and iii. a second pair of triangular panels each foldably connected to a respective one of said first pair of triangular panels and to a respective side wall panel along a respective longitudinal score line; b. a pair of side wall panels each of which includes i. a side wall forming portion, ii. a triangular side sub-panel foldably connected to said side wall forming portion and a respective one of said second pair of triangular panels, and iii. a rear gusset panel foldably connected to a respective one of said triangular side sub-panels; and c. a pair of carrying handle flaps each foldably connected to a respective one of said second pair of triangular panels.

Claim 34

In combination with a gable top paperboard carton made from a unitary blank and including vertical front, back and opposed side walls, the improvement which comprises a stationary handle fixedly mounted and foldably connected to said carton, said handle being recessed such that, at all times, the vertical terminal edges of said handle lie within the planes defined by said vertical side walls and the top edge of said gable top is above the top edge of said handle.

Claim 35

In combination with a gable top paperboard carton made from a unitary blank and including vertical front, back and opposed side walls, the improvement which comprises a stationary handle fixedly mounted and foldably connected to said carton, said handle being recessed such that, at all times, the vertical terminal edges of said handle lie within the planes defined by said vertical side walls and the top edge of said gable top is above the top edge of said handle.