Title:
SEVERABLE CARTON WITH STERILE EDGE
United States Patent 3826421
Abstract:
A carton comprises separable sections connected together at a continuous cut line, covered by a removable tape. Additional cut lines being formed on the carton adjacent to the cut line to provide a sterile edge around the carton upon removal of the tape and separation of the carton's sections.
US Patent References:
/1311541.html
Tomlinson et al. - July 1919 - 1311541
Container
Daller - August 1935 - 2011438
Display container
Ethridge - December 1938 - 2141743
End-closing, top-opening shipping container
Seith - May 1955 - 2708545
/1311541.html
Tomlinson et al. - July 1919 - 1311541
Container
Daller - August 1935 - 2011438
Display container
Ethridge - December 1938 - 2141743
End-closing, top-opening shipping container
Seith - May 1955 - 2708545
Inventors:
Morse, Hugh B. (San Jose, CA)
Foster, Thomas W. (Palo Alto, CA)
Foster, Thomas W. (Palo Alto, CA)
Application Number:
05/108148
Publication Date:
07/30/1974
Filing Date:
01/20/1971
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Assignee:
Fibreboard Corporation (San Francisco, CA)
Primary Class:
Other Classes:
206/438
International Classes:
B65D5/54; B65D17/24; B65D5/54
Field of Search:
206/17.5,46SG,46ST,56AA,63.2R,63.3-63.5 229/51R,51BP,51DB,51AS,51TC
Primary Examiner:
Price, William I.
Assistant Examiner:
Lipman, Steven E.
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Phillips, Moore, Weissenberger Lempio & Strabala
Parent Case Data:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This is a Divisional Application of U.S. Pat. Application Ser. No. 833,008, filed on June 13, 1969, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,620,439, patented Nov. 16, 1971.
Claims:
What is claimed is
1. A sterile carton comprising a plurality of side panels connected together to form a tube, one of said side panels comprising overlapping panel portions, an end closure attached to said panels to close and seal each end of said tube, a continuous substantially cut through line formed in said side panels terminating adjacent an edge of each of said overlapping panel portions to divide said tube into separable sections, a removable tape adhesively secured over said continuous cut line, a tab secured to an underside of said tape, removably attached adjacent to one edge of said overlapping panel portions and extending beyond the edge thereof in overlying and unattached relationship with respect to the other one of said overlapping panel portions to facilitate manual removal of said tape, and additional cut lines formed on opposite edges of said tape extending partially through said side panels adjacent to said continuous cut line whereby sterile edge portions will be formed completely around said tube on at least one of said sections upon removal of said tape and underlying surface portions of said side panels for preventing the contamination of a sterilized item when it is removed from said tube upon separation thereof.
2. The invention of claim 1 further comprising breakable webs disposed in spaced relationship along said cut line and extending thereacross under said tape to join said sections together with said tape.
3. The invention of claim 1 further comprising means forming a non-adhesive area on an underside of said tab overlying an end portion of said tape.
4. The invention of claim 1 wherein outer surface portions of said panels and underlying inner surface portions of said tape are coated with a heat sealable adhesive.
5. The invention of claim 4 wherein said heat sealable adhesive comprises polyethylene.
6. The invention of claim 4 wherein said tape comprises a layer of plastic meterial exhibiting a substantially higher tensile strength than the coating of said heat sealable adhesive.
1. A sterile carton comprising a plurality of side panels connected together to form a tube, one of said side panels comprising overlapping panel portions, an end closure attached to said panels to close and seal each end of said tube, a continuous substantially cut through line formed in said side panels terminating adjacent an edge of each of said overlapping panel portions to divide said tube into separable sections, a removable tape adhesively secured over said continuous cut line, a tab secured to an underside of said tape, removably attached adjacent to one edge of said overlapping panel portions and extending beyond the edge thereof in overlying and unattached relationship with respect to the other one of said overlapping panel portions to facilitate manual removal of said tape, and additional cut lines formed on opposite edges of said tape extending partially through said side panels adjacent to said continuous cut line whereby sterile edge portions will be formed completely around said tube on at least one of said sections upon removal of said tape and underlying surface portions of said side panels for preventing the contamination of a sterilized item when it is removed from said tube upon separation thereof.
2. The invention of claim 1 further comprising breakable webs disposed in spaced relationship along said cut line and extending thereacross under said tape to join said sections together with said tape.
3. The invention of claim 1 further comprising means forming a non-adhesive area on an underside of said tab overlying an end portion of said tape.
4. The invention of claim 1 wherein outer surface portions of said panels and underlying inner surface portions of said tape are coated with a heat sealable adhesive.
5. The invention of claim 4 wherein said heat sealable adhesive comprises polyethylene.
6. The invention of claim 4 wherein said tape comprises a layer of plastic meterial exhibiting a substantially higher tensile strength than the coating of said heat sealable adhesive.
Description:
Hospitals and the like require the packaging of pharmaceutical and medical items in sterilized containers prior to their use. Such containers have generally comprised sealed plastic bags, subjected to a gas sterilization process. When such a bag is opened the torn edges thereof tend to contaminate the removed items to thus render it non-sterile.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of this invention is to overcome the above briefly described problem by providing a serverable carton adapted to provide a sterile edge at least substantially therearound to prevent an item from becoming contaminated upon its removal from the severed carton. The preferred carton embodiment covered by the appended claims is illustrated in FIGS. 11-14 and essentially comprises a plurality of side panels connected together to form a closed tube and a continuous cut line formed in the panels to divide the carton into separable sections. A removable tear tape is adhesively secured over the cut line and cooperates with means disposed thereunder to provide sterile edge portions completely around the carton upon removal of the tape. Therefore, upon carton separation contamination of the packaged item is prevented since it can only contact such sterile edge portions upon removal thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an erected first carton embodiment of this invention;
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a blank utilized to form the FIG. 1 carton;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged, plan view taken at the intersection of two overlapped and sealed panels of the FIG. 1 carton;
FIGS. 4-6 are partial, enlarged isometric views illustrating three progressive opening stages of the FIG. 1 carton;
FIGS. 7 and 8 are partial, isometric views of a second carton embodiment;
FIG. 9 is a partial, isometric view illustrating a modified end closure which may be employed with the aforementioned cartons;
FIG. 10 is a partial, top plan view of a blank utilized to form the FIG. 9 end closure;
FIG. 11 is a partial, isometric view illustrating an erected third carton embodiment;
FIG. 12 is a partial, top plan view of a blank utilized to form the FIG. 11 carton; and
FIGS. 13 and 14 are partial, isometric views illustrating two progressive opening stages of the FIG. 11 carton.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 illustrates a first carton embodiment formed out of the cut and scored blank illustrated in FIG. 2. The blank comprises a plurality of consecutive side panels 10, 11, 12 and a fourth panel comprising overlapping panel portions 13 and 14. Parallel scorelines 15 and 16 cooperate with transverse scorelines 17-20 to define the side panels and also identical end closures at opposite ends of the carton.
The right end closure, for example, comprises a scoreline 21 disposed parallel to scoreline 16 to define gusset fold panels 22 and 23. Such panels are hingedly attached to side panels 10 and 12, respectively. The scorelines further define an end panel 24 hingedly connected to side panel 11 and a second end panel comprising overlapped panel portions 25 and 26 connected to side panel portions 13 and 14, respectively.
Referring to the erected carton of FIG. 1, side panel portions 13 and 14 are secured together in overlapped relationship to form a closed tube having a rectangular cross-section. The attached gusset folds 22 and 23 are formed in a conventional manner. A scoreline 27 (FIG. 2) defines a closure flap 28 which is adhesively secured to overlapping flap portions 29 and 30. The fully sealed and erected FIG. 1 carton would normally be subjected to a conventional gas sterilization process.
This invention is essentially drawn to the hereinafter described means for providing sterile edge portions completely around the carton upon opening thereof. The carton is divided into separable sections by a substantially continuous through cut line 31 having a plastic tape 32 adhesively secured thereover. The tape is preferably bounded by parallel, limited depth cuts 31' to facilitate "clean" and expeditious tape removal. U.S. Application Ser. No. 717,810, assigned to the assignee of this application and filed on Apr. 1, 1968 by Ernest C. Pellaton for "Apparatus and Method for Forming Taped Articles," discloses an apparatus and method for applying the plastic tape to the blank.
In particular, a paperboard blank may be fully coated on each side with a barrier or heat sealable adhesive coating (e.g., polyethylene) adapted to firmly secure the tape thereto when heated. The tape is preferably laminated to comprise a thin inner layer of polyethylene or other suitable adhesive and a thin outer layer, such as a polyester based composition on Mylar, exhibiting a substantially higher tensile strength than the inner layer. The tape-to-carton or polyethylene-to-polyethylene seal and the exceptionally high tensile strength of the tape's outer layer facilitate expeditious removal of the tape.
Such removal will effect a tearing or stripping off of contacted surface portions of the paperboard to leave roughened and sterile edge portions 33 (FIG. 4). It should be noted in FIGS. 3, 4 and 6 that offset or staggered through cut 31 is preferably interrupted at one end by a short limited depth cut 34. A tab 35 is defined on panel portion 13 by an offset portion of cut line 31 and extends at least in part past an overlying or superimposed portion of panel portion 14 in a direction transverse to the cut line. The tab joins and cooperates with surface portions 33 to provide means forming sterile edge portions completely around the carton. A second end of through cut 31 is preferably interrupted by a second, short limited depth cut 36 similar to cut 34.
Thus, upon removal of tape 32 and separation of the carton's sections, a sterilized pharmaceutical or medical package 37 may be removed from the carton (FIG. 6) without contaminating same. Such package may comprise a plastic tray having medical instruments disposed therein and a suitable gauze or towel wrapped therearound. A non-adhesive means at area 38 may be formed on the carton to prevent an end of the tape from adhering thereto to expedite tape removal. In addition, breakable joining webs 39 may be formed in spaced relationship along continuous cut line 31 to cooperate with limited depth cuts 34 and 36 to insure against premature separation of the carton's two sections.
FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a second carton embodiment essentially differing from the first described embodiment in the type of means employed for forming sterile edge portions completely around the carbon. In particular, upon removal of a tape 32a and separation of the carton's sections, a thin sheet or semi-rigid liner 40 is exposed which provides sterile edge portions completely around the carton. The liner may comprise a thin sheet of polyethylene-coated paper, for example, adhesively secured interiorly of the carton's side panels to normally extend across cut line 31a. It should be understood that other types of opening means could be utilized in lieu of the cut 31a-tape 32a arrangement, e.g., a single or multiple limited depth cut line defining a tear strip directly on the side panels.
It should be noted that numerals identical to those appearing in FIGS. 1-6 depict similar structures, with the numerals appearing in FIGS. 7 and 8 being accompanied by a subscript a. Similar structures illustrated in the FIG. 9 and FIGS. 11-14 embodiments are numbered in a like manner, with the common numerals appearing therein being accompanied by a subscript b and c, respectively.
FIG. 9 illustrates a third carton embodiment essentially differing from the FIGS. 1-6 embodiment in the type of end closure employed thereon. The end closure is formed out of the blank, partially illustrated in FIG. 10, comprising side panels 10b, 11b and 12b and 13b-14 b corresponding to like side panels illustrated in FIG. 1. Gusset folds 22b and 23b are suitably arranged to cooperate with flap 24b and flap portions 25b and 26b to form the integrated end closure. Flap 28b is secured over the overlapped flap portions after flap portions 29b and 30b have been folded outwardly thereunder.
The FIGS. 10-14 embodiment is similar to the aforedescribed FIGS. 1-6 embodiment, but essentially differs therefrom in the arrangement of the tear strip and underlying opening structures. In particular, the carton is divided into seperable sections by a substantially continuous through-cut line 31c having a plastic tape 32c adhesively secured thereover. This tape is preferably bounded by parallel, limited cuts 31'c to facilitate tape removal. A through-cut 34, preferably interrupted by small and spaced joining webs, defines a tab 35c on a panel 14c extending past an underlying cut-out 36c formed on a panel 13c.
When it is desired to open the carton, progressively illustrated in its various stages in FIGS. 11-14, tab 36 is grasped manually and the tape is torn from the carton. Such removal will effect a tearing or stripping-off of the contacted surface portions of the paperboard to leave roughened and sterile edge portions 33c which insure against contamination of the removed contents. The underside (not shown) of tab 35c preferably has a non-adhesive means formed thereon to prevent it from adhering to the underlying surface portions of tape 32c further facilitate expeditious tape removal.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of this invention is to overcome the above briefly described problem by providing a serverable carton adapted to provide a sterile edge at least substantially therearound to prevent an item from becoming contaminated upon its removal from the severed carton. The preferred carton embodiment covered by the appended claims is illustrated in FIGS. 11-14 and essentially comprises a plurality of side panels connected together to form a closed tube and a continuous cut line formed in the panels to divide the carton into separable sections. A removable tear tape is adhesively secured over the cut line and cooperates with means disposed thereunder to provide sterile edge portions completely around the carton upon removal of the tape. Therefore, upon carton separation contamination of the packaged item is prevented since it can only contact such sterile edge portions upon removal thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an erected first carton embodiment of this invention;
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a blank utilized to form the FIG. 1 carton;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged, plan view taken at the intersection of two overlapped and sealed panels of the FIG. 1 carton;
FIGS. 4-6 are partial, enlarged isometric views illustrating three progressive opening stages of the FIG. 1 carton;
FIGS. 7 and 8 are partial, isometric views of a second carton embodiment;
FIG. 9 is a partial, isometric view illustrating a modified end closure which may be employed with the aforementioned cartons;
FIG. 10 is a partial, top plan view of a blank utilized to form the FIG. 9 end closure;
FIG. 11 is a partial, isometric view illustrating an erected third carton embodiment;
FIG. 12 is a partial, top plan view of a blank utilized to form the FIG. 11 carton; and
FIGS. 13 and 14 are partial, isometric views illustrating two progressive opening stages of the FIG. 11 carton.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 illustrates a first carton embodiment formed out of the cut and scored blank illustrated in FIG. 2. The blank comprises a plurality of consecutive side panels 10, 11, 12 and a fourth panel comprising overlapping panel portions 13 and 14. Parallel scorelines 15 and 16 cooperate with transverse scorelines 17-20 to define the side panels and also identical end closures at opposite ends of the carton.
The right end closure, for example, comprises a scoreline 21 disposed parallel to scoreline 16 to define gusset fold panels 22 and 23. Such panels are hingedly attached to side panels 10 and 12, respectively. The scorelines further define an end panel 24 hingedly connected to side panel 11 and a second end panel comprising overlapped panel portions 25 and 26 connected to side panel portions 13 and 14, respectively.
Referring to the erected carton of FIG. 1, side panel portions 13 and 14 are secured together in overlapped relationship to form a closed tube having a rectangular cross-section. The attached gusset folds 22 and 23 are formed in a conventional manner. A scoreline 27 (FIG. 2) defines a closure flap 28 which is adhesively secured to overlapping flap portions 29 and 30. The fully sealed and erected FIG. 1 carton would normally be subjected to a conventional gas sterilization process.
This invention is essentially drawn to the hereinafter described means for providing sterile edge portions completely around the carton upon opening thereof. The carton is divided into separable sections by a substantially continuous through cut line 31 having a plastic tape 32 adhesively secured thereover. The tape is preferably bounded by parallel, limited depth cuts 31' to facilitate "clean" and expeditious tape removal. U.S. Application Ser. No. 717,810, assigned to the assignee of this application and filed on Apr. 1, 1968 by Ernest C. Pellaton for "Apparatus and Method for Forming Taped Articles," discloses an apparatus and method for applying the plastic tape to the blank.
In particular, a paperboard blank may be fully coated on each side with a barrier or heat sealable adhesive coating (e.g., polyethylene) adapted to firmly secure the tape thereto when heated. The tape is preferably laminated to comprise a thin inner layer of polyethylene or other suitable adhesive and a thin outer layer, such as a polyester based composition on Mylar, exhibiting a substantially higher tensile strength than the inner layer. The tape-to-carton or polyethylene-to-polyethylene seal and the exceptionally high tensile strength of the tape's outer layer facilitate expeditious removal of the tape.
Such removal will effect a tearing or stripping off of contacted surface portions of the paperboard to leave roughened and sterile edge portions 33 (FIG. 4). It should be noted in FIGS. 3, 4 and 6 that offset or staggered through cut 31 is preferably interrupted at one end by a short limited depth cut 34. A tab 35 is defined on panel portion 13 by an offset portion of cut line 31 and extends at least in part past an overlying or superimposed portion of panel portion 14 in a direction transverse to the cut line. The tab joins and cooperates with surface portions 33 to provide means forming sterile edge portions completely around the carton. A second end of through cut 31 is preferably interrupted by a second, short limited depth cut 36 similar to cut 34.
Thus, upon removal of tape 32 and separation of the carton's sections, a sterilized pharmaceutical or medical package 37 may be removed from the carton (FIG. 6) without contaminating same. Such package may comprise a plastic tray having medical instruments disposed therein and a suitable gauze or towel wrapped therearound. A non-adhesive means at area 38 may be formed on the carton to prevent an end of the tape from adhering thereto to expedite tape removal. In addition, breakable joining webs 39 may be formed in spaced relationship along continuous cut line 31 to cooperate with limited depth cuts 34 and 36 to insure against premature separation of the carton's two sections.
FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a second carton embodiment essentially differing from the first described embodiment in the type of means employed for forming sterile edge portions completely around the carbon. In particular, upon removal of a tape 32a and separation of the carton's sections, a thin sheet or semi-rigid liner 40 is exposed which provides sterile edge portions completely around the carton. The liner may comprise a thin sheet of polyethylene-coated paper, for example, adhesively secured interiorly of the carton's side panels to normally extend across cut line 31a. It should be understood that other types of opening means could be utilized in lieu of the cut 31a-tape 32a arrangement, e.g., a single or multiple limited depth cut line defining a tear strip directly on the side panels.
It should be noted that numerals identical to those appearing in FIGS. 1-6 depict similar structures, with the numerals appearing in FIGS. 7 and 8 being accompanied by a subscript a. Similar structures illustrated in the FIG. 9 and FIGS. 11-14 embodiments are numbered in a like manner, with the common numerals appearing therein being accompanied by a subscript b and c, respectively.
FIG. 9 illustrates a third carton embodiment essentially differing from the FIGS. 1-6 embodiment in the type of end closure employed thereon. The end closure is formed out of the blank, partially illustrated in FIG. 10, comprising side panels 10b, 11b and 12b and 13b-14 b corresponding to like side panels illustrated in FIG. 1. Gusset folds 22b and 23b are suitably arranged to cooperate with flap 24b and flap portions 25b and 26b to form the integrated end closure. Flap 28b is secured over the overlapped flap portions after flap portions 29b and 30b have been folded outwardly thereunder.
The FIGS. 10-14 embodiment is similar to the aforedescribed FIGS. 1-6 embodiment, but essentially differs therefrom in the arrangement of the tear strip and underlying opening structures. In particular, the carton is divided into seperable sections by a substantially continuous through-cut line 31c having a plastic tape 32c adhesively secured thereover. This tape is preferably bounded by parallel, limited cuts 31'c to facilitate tape removal. A through-cut 34, preferably interrupted by small and spaced joining webs, defines a tab 35c on a panel 14c extending past an underlying cut-out 36c formed on a panel 13c.
When it is desired to open the carton, progressively illustrated in its various stages in FIGS. 11-14, tab 36 is grasped manually and the tape is torn from the carton. Such removal will effect a tearing or stripping-off of the contacted surface portions of the paperboard to leave roughened and sterile edge portions 33c which insure against contamination of the removed contents. The underside (not shown) of tab 35c preferably has a non-adhesive means formed thereon to prevent it from adhering to the underlying surface portions of tape 32c further facilitate expeditious tape removal.